1. < Chronic Pain

Abilities and Life Expectancy (living life)

Posted by pfbacon @pfbacon, Jul 17, 2020

Some of us are taking medicines that were, or still are, considered addictive drugs, like narcotics, prescription pain killers, and pot. According to my doctors, we end up taking these when other medicines, like anti-seizure meds and over-the-counter pain meds, don't work any more (I have Neuropathy, it's progressive, and progressively painful). My doctors are reluctant to say what my life expectancy will be once I start taking those.
Can we use narcotics, pain killers, and pot for decades? Are we lucid enough to take care of ourselves? If not, who takes care of us? Perhaps some of you who have been doing it for awhile will be willing to tell us how long you've been using such medicines and what it's like: can we go on working? Driving? Do you live independently or in hospice or with family? Thank you ... Peggy

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

jasl | @jasl | Aug 13, 2023
In reply to @becsbuddy "@pfbacon Are you worried about having to take narcotics in your future and how will you..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@pfbacon Are you worried about having to take narcotics in your future and how will you take care of yourself? I don’t take narcotics or any pain meds but, as an oncology (cancer) nurse, I have a lot of experience with them. Many of the patients on the unit where I worked , took large amounts of narcotics, but they acted just like you and I. The body adjusts to each increase in dosage. It’s not like a drug addict; they want the drugs, but the body doesn’t need them ( for pain relief). For a person with cancer, the body both wants and needs the drug. Their mind is completely with it.
Also, if a person needs to start taking high doses of a drug, they can be referred to a palliative care doctor. They treat everyone, not just cancer patients. Their speciality is pain management. They aim to help you get “more life in your days, rather than days in your life.” The whole palliative care team helps you to figure out what you want to do to get life in your days.
Do you have any other thoughts or questions?

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The truest comment I’ve read in a long time about pain medication. As you said, they act like you or me. I could cry as I’ve been forced into a nontreatment state for 3 years. I cannot get pain medicine. I don’t live a life that is lively. No one should live like I do. And, although I know this goes against Human Rights and Patient Rights, it does not go against the right of the government to withold medication from a paitent with four pain inflicting diseases. Try suing the DEA or the DOJ, or the CDC. I have never in my life seen anything so horrible as the way pain patients are treated today. This is absolutely horrible. Classififed as a pain patient and tortured for it. Defending your right to use cannabis along with an opiate when cannabis STILL sits in a Schedule 1 classification knowing full well that cannabis AT MINIMUM helps with appetitie, wasting disease, nutritional deficiencies. Many of us cannot eat because of pain.
I am sure we are the laughing stock of China.
I did not do anything to acquire a disease. In fact, I was bitten by a Lyme tick and we know the history of Plum Island, and then I developed other issues. I feel betrayed and forelorn. This is truly shocking that the government of the United States refuses to allow pain patients their medication. Wow. What an experiment on the human race.

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eddiestella1 | @eddiestella1 | Aug 14, 2023

I have been taking hydromorphone for two years. It’s one of the strongest meds you can take. It’s an after surgery medication. I take the max of what you can take every three hours. It was first prescribed to me after one of 9 failed back surgeries. I can tell you over time it stops working. I can’t take any other pain meds because one I am highly allergic to and the others make me sick. Im taking hydromorphone due to chronic pain. I am going to stop taking it because if I need to have a surgery I need something that will work with the pain. So if you can help not taking pain meds I highly recommend that. If you are on it for a short time then it can be helpful.

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jenatsky | @jenatsky | Aug 14, 2023

Life is what you make it to be for yourself. We each have our own vision of what we hope it to be but essentially we have little control no matter how hard we try. At 72 I’m not planning on more surgery so as long as my meds control my chronic pain this adds to my wellbeing I’m good. When this is no longer the case I’ll decide then on plan B.

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maggie1955 | @maggie1955 | Aug 14, 2023
In reply to @merpreb "Wow, @pfbacon. I've certainly thought about this many times over the years. One thing that has..." + (show)
@merpreb

Wow, @pfbacon. I've certainly thought about this many times over the years. One thing that has helped me decide this is deciding what is important to me: Living as high a quality of life that I can and the 2nd is living it as pain-free and as comfortable as I can.

A few years back I had to go back on anti-depressant medications. I told my husband that I had no intention of ever being off of them again. I had not seen him that happy in ages! lol.

I think that it's the same thing as you. How do you want to live the rest of your life? What's better for you, being a bit high with less pain or not being able to do much because you have so much pain. Can you do this for decades? Maybe not, but if it's working for you and you are living a life that you want then by all means do what you want.

I also think that if you need certain medications and your doctors are reluctant to give them to you, you need to ask why? I have lung cancer and my doctors are very careful with what they prescribe for treatment because they might need the "bigger guns" later on.

My husband is older than you but he's had arthritis for years. Up until last year, he refused any medications (yes he's one of those!) He has used exercise (one of the best things for arthritis), salves, and heat. I think that your fears are realistic about the effects of stronger drugs. If down the road, you need stronger meds, then you will need to be very careful.

I'm wondering if you are asking about life expectancy you are asking how long will you live, or how long will you live a meaningful life?

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I have chronic pain from adult onset scoliosis. I was diagnosed 2 years with a mild.l case. This year I am in pain in upper middle back almost every day. I scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic doctor next week. I'm afraid my scoliosis has gotten worse and I'll have to wear an orthopedic brace. God help me that I don't have surgery in my future.

I was hospitalized for lower back pain 2 years ago. It was excruciating. Robaxin was a godsend. I guess back issues will be in my life forever.

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1 reply
jenatsky | @jenatsky | Aug 21, 2023
In reply to @maggie1955 "I have chronic pain from adult onset scoliosis. I was diagnosed 2 years with a mild.l..." + (show)
@maggie1955

I have chronic pain from adult onset scoliosis. I was diagnosed 2 years with a mild.l case. This year I am in pain in upper middle back almost every day. I scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic doctor next week. I'm afraid my scoliosis has gotten worse and I'll have to wear an orthopedic brace. God help me that I don't have surgery in my future.

I was hospitalized for lower back pain 2 years ago. It was excruciating. Robaxin was a godsend. I guess back issues will be in my life forever.

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Maggie I don’t know whether you exercise or not but staying limber especially the spine if important with scoliosis. I’m having upper back issues currently too and receiving PT and do a home exercise program 2x day. It will save your back from surgery!

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ruthblaze | @ruthblaze | Aug 22, 2023

Yes to all your questions taken as prescribed most medicines are beneficial no one questions treatments for cancer or heart disease but we are to feel guilty taking pain meds. I take my meds including medical marijuana they help me to have a life I’m 78 years old and responsible

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