Doctors claim oxycodone exacerbates pain but nothing else helps

Posted by Jenny @fairymystry, Jun 12 12:12am

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

yram | @yram | Jul 12 12:02pm

I have severe pain too. I believe mine is psychological. She could see a psychiatrist. perhaps they could help. I take antidepressants but they seem to have stopped working.. i have been on them for 43 years. So the doctors don't have many antidepressants left to try since I have been on just about all of them . Hope she finds help

anniesezu812 | @anniesezu812 | Jul 13 10:57am

Hello,
I have been in pain management for many years. My story started with a small abdominal muscle tear that was unrepaired for 6 horrendous years. It has destroyed my health but that's a very long story.
To answer you question YES I have been told opiods exacerbate pain ( I'm on opiods). I have severe digestive issues ever since the injury and esting/ movement are incredibly difficult . It was recently brought to my attention that several years ago Clev Clinic suggested the intercoastal pain may have affected my Celiac Plexus. My new PCP has ordered Pancreatic blood work and a whole set of other tests. Has anyone mentioned Celiac Plexus pain to your friend. It affects all digestive organs including the pancreas and mine now causes severe throaic pain. It's excruciating. I am researching the Celiac Plexus Block designed for cancer patients...not sure which Block your friend had. One has to be very careful playing with nerves. I'm a Spinal Cord Stimulator horror story...Celiac Plexus affects virtually all major digestive organs so pain is extensive and severe....hope this might help your friend.
PS I just started Lyrica, initially it helped but no longer....nerve pain is unrelenting and deeply discouraging. Gd luck!

mzb | @mzb | Jul 13 11:06am

Ive had 4 spinal surgeries and live in chronic pain. I take my opiods sparingly because I have gotten some things corrected so I weened myself down but I wonder if I would have certain debilitating pain if I were not on them

suesea | @suesea | Jul 14 6:27am

This is a crazy thread to me. If I didn't have my oxycodone for pain relief, I couldn't function as I'm allergic to NSAIDS and Tylenol. The idea that oxy causes pain seems ridiculous.

blfids | @blfids | Jul 14 4:35pm

I am also allergic to nsaids. I take 1 oxycodone a day, 5-235 with Tylenol for fibromyalgia symptoms. I have tried everything else and nothing works. I also have gone off oxycodone for 4-5 months at 2 different times and was on excruciating pain and couldn't function. Went back on it and I can at least have a little bit of a life now. My doctor is well aware of how it works for me and is not concerned as I have never increased it for probably like 10 years. I hate taking it because of the stigma surrounding it and the guilt I feel telling other doctors who look at me like a drug addict. It's hard but it works for me. Maybe someday something else will come out and work better.