Ask your doctor or pain clinic

@wishingtobepainfree If you ever need a great doctor who does prescribe pain meds, see Dr. Joseph Regimbal in Lakewood/Tacoma area. He was great to me when we lived there.

I had great DR at UW that prescribed all my meds. I think WA state was not quite as strict as Missouri and Kansas are. Makes me sick that people with true pain issues cannot get pain meds because of the crazies that abuse, especially when you have been taking with no abuse or selling of drugs.
That's why I thought I would share my experience.
Hope you are doing well.
Happy Holidays

I wish I had options besides opioids. I can't take NSAIDs. I can't take tramadol or toradol oral. I can't take lyrica, cymbalta, or neurontin. I already have a Spinal Cord Stimulator and have had numerous physical therapy sessions and PT actually makes my pain worse. So... what options do I have besides opioids? I'm game for any other options! Let me know if anyone has ideas to send past by specialist besides "the DEA wants us to decrease your opioids."

@faithwalker007.... How many opiods do you take? or were you taking? The doctor lets my husband take 2 of the 10's a day.. I can get by somewhat with
1 and a half of the 535's a day..of course 3 are better.... They should surely give you enough to keep the pay at bay. I can't take any of those that you also cannot take. We have almost no options... We who can't tolerate the other things! Last time they tried me on one Lyrica pill. I went into atrial fib and had to stay in the hospital for three days. It is no joke for us sensitive girls! Opioids are it I'm afraid. Maybe change pain doctors? Are you near Lakewood or Tacoma? Try to see Dr. Regimbal. He gave me all meds I needed when we lived there.

You poor thing on not being able to take these meds. Have you tried medical Marijuana or CBD products, or just pot in general?
That's about all that comes to mind. Maybe others have better ideas.

I'm living just north of Kansas City, Missouri. This is home for me.
Was taking 15mg extended release morphine, allowed 3 per day. Now I'm taking 100mg of tramadol 3xday.
I'm also on Lyrica, Cymbalta, meloxicam, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, etc. I deal with degenerative disc disease, 3 herniated discs, fibromyalgia, but the worst is nerve damage in my lower right abdomen and pelvis. Not sure if you have heard of AIP, that's another issue I have, the good thing is haven't suffered from in several years. When that hits I barely move and can't even carry on conversation the pain is so severe even taking morphine. The nice thing switching from morphine to tramadol is the tramadol is not extended release. I was so lucky finding the dr here that I'm seeing, he also switched my muscle relaxers to something stronger. My abdomen spasms almost 24/7..
Sure hope you find a dr in your area that will help you.

I never did answer you and I apologize. I’m in 30mg OxyContin bid and Percocet 10mg qid for breakthrough pain. I have the following disease states:
Migraines headaches
Epilepsy
Irritable Bowel Disease
Small Intestinal Resection
Traumatic Osteoarthritis in my left knee
Complete and total right knee replacement of my right knee
Lumbosacral plexopathy
Torn rotator cuff in left shoulder
Torn rotator cuff in right shoulder
Ruptured and separated labrum surrounding right shoulder
Right wrist carpal tunnel
High Risk for Infectious C. difficile Colitis (hx of infections so far)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 2 (Causalgia)
Symptoms include severe neurological, nerve, and physical pain including muscle cramps, joint pain, migraines, stomach cramps, hand and foot pain, hip and back pain, mobility limitations, and sensitivity to touch. Heat and cold changes to the body- areas affected by pain can change by more than 1-2 degrees.
I also have a DRG Spinal Cord Stimulator from Abbott/St. Jude which handles approximately 20-25% of my Pain load on Good days, 10-15% on average days, less on bad.
My total pain management covers about 40% of the pain load.

@faithwalker007
Renee, with a 40% pain reduction, what would you say your overall pain level is on a 1-10 scale? Just trying to quantify how much residual pain your meds, stimulator, etc. leave you with. Another question, more rhetorical, do you think one person can handle pain better than another person? Is there anything to what I used to hear about how some people are more "stoic" than others, meaning they do not feel the pain as much as another person might? Interested in your opinion. Best, Hank

@jesfactsmon @faithwalker007 Hank. Interesting questions. I am particularly interested in the latter as I have been prescribed some painkillers that according to the MME dosage scale I feel should leave me in no pain but it still is unbearable for many hours a day,
Especially the bottom of my feet. It is not even half of the MME scale but if I ask for more it would put me there. Renee, is this me being unable to handle pain appropriately? If I still feel pain is it appropriate to ask for me if it puts me at the halfway mark? I feel so very selfish and hope the myofascial release therapy will eventually cure it but even if it does it could take up to a year. Is 3-4 hours out of bed a day acceptance? I still feel my quality of life is so poor I cannot do more than wash dishes or make the bed on good days. Thanks so much for both of your wise opinions.

Hank,
Women have twice if not more the pain receptors than men biologically. It’s not fair or right to ANYONE to compare themselves to how another handles a pain load. That will drive them into depression faster than a speeding bullet. DO NOT DO THAT TO YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
As for me? I spend most of my day in my recliner, the equivalent to my bed. I spend 40% of my day (on a good day) doing things around the house that will help my husband and me be productive. I organize my craft room, paint, wipe down the kitchen and clean the kitchen IF it’s not overwhelming. I even groom my service dog! Not all of these and definitely not at once.
I spend time with my hubby and play with our dog who is painfully neglected by me on my down days.
This is my life and I have compensated not BECAUSE of the pain but in spite of it.
Pain does not control me. I live my life anyway and I’m happy. I breathe through it and have learned that it is another feature of me that people will either accept or not.
My quality of life is the defining factor and management of that factor affects it, yes.
Just like my seizures, migraines, and other diseases which I have affect it.
But they don’t DEFINE OR CONTROL who I am. I am Renee, child of God, wife of James, mother of Sean, and warrior.
That is who I have always been and will continue to be.
Please, people, don’t let an indicator, something your body is using to try to help you, overwhelm you into taking your purpose for life away.