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Doctors claim oxycodone exacerbates pain but nothing else helps
Hello. I have reached out to the forum before on behalf of my best friend with chronic pain and I am back again with another query....
My best friend had yet another upper endoscopy today to attempt to find a cause for the constant and intense abdominal pain that she suffers. She has a long history of food allergies, gastroparesis & other gastro issues spanning most of her 49 years but, several years ago she began a cycle of getting pancreatitis repeatedly with 6-12 months in between. The abdominal pain has never gone away & is so intense that she can no longer work, especially since she had a nerve block a couple of years ago that she claims actually made it worse. She now relies heavily on the oxycodone & it doesn't take her pain completely away but she is able to function at least. It is the ONLY thing that seems to work for her and she hates it because of the side effects.
Today after the latest endoscopy, this doctor joined a series of docs that have suggested that the oxycodone she takes to relieve the pain is actually exacerbating the pain and that she should consider getting off of it. The doctor that renews her prescription for it monthly doesn't seem to see that as an issue & my best friend doesn't know what to do because of course she'd love to get away from the oxy but the pain is too intense without it and no one seems to have an alternative for her.
I guess I came here to ask if anyone else has heard that the opioid they take for pain may be making it worse & if there are non-opioid alternative that actually work for this type of pain.
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Hi, thank you for your message. To answer: Nothing, they tried gabapentin and Celebrex; they did NOTHING. Then told me to take Aleve. I spend days in bed. I have a DX of CRPS, but they won't give me any tramadol or anything else that I had a great track record with in Penna. I'm trying a new pain doctor next week & will ask about this med patch for you. Thxs
Hey Mark , I hear you and agree. Amen. I was taking low-dose narcotics and having a semi-productive life until I moved to a state that prohibits them outside of an institution. I'm miserable & searching for a solution. Just Sayin' My issue isn't cancer or spine so there's no one specialist: just a lot of broken fused bones and torn nerves.
I've been reading all this, and I have 2 comments. This is in response to someone who made a comment about the Gut-Brain connection. (1) I am a clinical hypnotherapist and used to work with patients for pain pre- and post-op. Many years ago the Cleveland Clinic had a hypno program where I did some supervision, but that's ended. I'm retired now, but I'm sure there are free online pain meditations that could be relaxing—some visualizations. I listen to Insight Timer for some different meditations. It's free, but their website wants you to sign up, so you have to work around that. The other thing: Since none of my doctors will Rx narcotics for me, the orthopedic surgeons use a compounding pharmacy in Fla called injury Scripts. They make a cream that is Gabapentin6% Ketoprofen 5%, Cyclobenzaprine HCI 1%, Lidocaine 1% But 240 grams can be anywhere from $55 -100 depending on if they are doing a 2-for-1 sale. And you need someone to help rub it in for hard-to-reach places. So that's inconvenient. But it does help. since I can't use Volteran. And it's good for those extra painful areas.
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1 ReactionThe nerve burning in your back has a 3-6 month effectiveness period I have had three. I also have neuropathy in my feet and take 100mg of Pregabalin which I have found helps. I use heat packs when it is cold weather as well. I also take paracetamol/codeine and tramadol for lower back pain due to herniated discs. Pregabalin was originally started to stop sharp jolts of nerve pain due to my back, it was continued and the dosage was raised after I was hospitalised for other reasons and have developed drug induced diabetes.
It is not good for your lung membrane I believe, and it raises your bodies "normal" oxygen expectations. So, when you are off it your symptoms are worse. I was on oxygen for 3 months due to Pulmonary Fibrosis and my condition worsened rapidly.
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1 ReactionI'm sorry, but there was a misspelling. I was referring to Oxycodone not oxygen. Spell correct must have taken over.
I'm so sorry for all your pain. all leading to more pain. UGH I'm having a new MRI and hope that will lead to a better diagnosis and clear treatment. I am allergic to the Pregabalin and some of the other meds but thank you for your suggestions.
In my situation I need spinal nerve ablation (by burning the nerves) because it’s the last resort for me. I am looking forward to July 30–the first step in the process where they numb the nerves to test for a good/bad result. Otherwise it’s just drugs with cognitive and meditation therapy. I left oxycodone years ago and take Hydromorphone only to get out of bed in the morning. It seems like so many are shut out by their doctors which is demoralizing. Change if you can.
I too have gotten so much worse pain. Drs say I have opioid disorder because it’s not helping as much
Lumbar and cervical spinal stenosis:/ diabetic/Graves’ disease:/ recently told I have dercums. What the heck!!!!
Vic
Wow, so sorry! It's just goes on doesn't it? What the heck is right!