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Pain Pill Addiction and Neuropathy - Looking for Guidance

Posted by mom29907 @mom29907, Feb 2, 2020

I am a neuropathy sufferer, CMT, with minimal pain right now. However, my mother suffers from painful peripheral neuropathy. She is the reason I joined this group. I am looking for advice and guidance. My mother was treated by a neurologist for years and prescribed Percocet. She became addicted. Recently, her neurologist referred her to a pain clinic. Her Percocet prescription needed increased and he told her he could not do it. At the pain clinic, she was prescribed methadone. Upon her return visit, the doctor at the clinic "released" her, said she was an abuser of her pills. So, she not only is dealing with chronic pain she is suffering from withdraw symptoms from years of pill addiction. Watching this is heartbreaking. I am desperate to get her treatment for both conditions but she isn't making it easy. I am looking for suggestion for successful treatments that don't involve opioids. I was going to encourage her to try laser therapy but don't think that will be an option due to how expensive it is. Any guidance, suggestions, etc. would be so greatly appreciated.

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bupster | @bupster | 2 days ago
In reply to @woogie "wilcy, I, too have spinal stenosis with neuropathy in my feet. I haven't heard of Kratom..." + (show)
@woogie

wilcy, I, too have spinal stenosis with neuropathy in my feet. I haven't heard of Kratom but I do go to the local hospital's pain clinic. My doctor has prescribed three pain pills which I take three times a day. Gabapentin is one of them. I don't know all the side effects but I do know if I forget to take my pills at a certain time, my pain tells me I forgot. I wanted to ask you, "Have/has any doctor(s) told you that you need surgery? Seven of the best surgeons told me I need a rod, cage, fusion, I can't remember what all. I don't want it so that is why I go to the pain clinic. Even a pain clinic doctor said I really need surgery! I worry about my feet and legs because they don't get the circulation they need. I have pain in my feet, do you?

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just from my experience of two years on Gabapentin, 1) it didn't help my pain and 2) it caused serious depression

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andyjustin | @andyjustin | 1 day ago
In reply to @artemis1886 "I don’t know what state or where you live. There are State laws to protect pain..." + (show)
@artemis1886

I don’t know what state or where you live. There are State laws to protect pain management patients. Depending on the law inn your state you can sue for lack of medical care. The only way a pain management doctor can drop you is if you took more than you were prescribed. It is important to keep track of your opioids. I put mine in a pill container . Then my pill bottles are locked up. I do four weeks at a time. One in morning and one at night. My prescription reads take one pill every 8 hours for 20 mgs of OxyContin but I only take two except on my bad days. Truthfully, I would rather do medical marijuana than opiates.
You can take seizure medications for neuropathy, elavil, neurontin and lyrica. Some of the neuropathy medications can make you feel like you are loosing your memory. Medical marijuana gummies indica 10thc/10cbd. I tried it in Colorado and California. It took away the pain at night. I live in Texas. There is a person that drives in from Austin to see my pain management doctor.
He is in Colleyvillle. He upped my prescription without me asking.
My attitude is it’s not going to get better.. I am 62 and I prefer to be in less pain and able to function than not to be able do to nothing.
Mine is autoimmune neuropathy.
Sjögrens, Lupus, Dysautonomia, severe axonal sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy, SFN, (small fiber neuropathy), CAN- cardiac autonomic neuropathy, spinal bifida, and seizures caused by dysautonomia. I told my pain management doctor that I don’t want to live my life in pain.

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I really appreciate your post. I don’t think anybody should be denied pain medication , there are many different types of pain medication. Yes, some are very addictive but necessary if you have to live with autonomic neuropathy for the rest of your life who’s to judge what type of pain medication you should have it’s a personal decision. There are many options and thank you so much for your post.

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cit10jetjockey | @cit10jetjockey | 22 hours ago

With the cost of pain medication and what one goes through to get them, try a 6 pack of Bud Light with a Cheese and Sausage Pizza every day. The pain will go away. You might belch some but who cares. Beer’s a excellent pain killer.

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