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Do opioids help with your chronic pain? - Successfully?

Posted by creyn51 @creyn51, Jan 5 11:25am

I used Opioids Post Surgery after my surgeries failed - successfully for 3 months. CRPS had set in both feet. Immediately after prescribing my third prescription for Opioids, my Surgeon pronounced me cured and discontinued any further care. December of 2016 was the last time I received a narcotic for my Pain. Just when I needed them the Most, I was Banned from any further Successful Pain Medication as Every New Pain Clinic told me that Opioids do Not Work for CRPS.
At a time when they are needed the most I have been Red Flagged as a Criminal Medicine Seeker and heard every excuse that Opioids do Not Work,and, are Not acceptable for long term use of over 3-6 months. Not even a Trial. I am unable to use NSAIDS. Gabapentin and Lyrica do not work and had too many side effects,
My research showed that Opioids should be used immediately if Nothing Else Works as TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE in treating CRPS. DO Opioids work on Your Pain? Do No Harm _ Do Nothing...

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

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linda6101 | @linda6101 | Aug 6 11:28am
In reply to @horseskisses "Yes opioids are appropriate for severe pain and that includes chronic pain when used correctly. As..." + (show)
Profile picture for horseskisses @horseskisses

Yes opioids are appropriate for severe pain and that includes chronic pain when used correctly. As u age they become more dangerous because our body can’t secrete as well. These opioid free doctors need to feel our pain. I’m now on medical cannabis but will need more pain control as I decline.

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Norco is the only way that I can get through my day, as far as a normal life concerns. I get them from my pain specialist because he tried 10 minimally evasive procedures to relieve the pain and none helped, including the spinal stimulator. I am 73.

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jenatsky | @jenatsky | Aug 6 12:15pm

@carol1024 regarding your statement about opioid’s being recommended to treat chronic pain is not correct. Many studies have been done to support this finding. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556253/
I too was in a similar situation as yours needing up to 6 a day Percocet, which was ineffective and I switched to a buprenorphine patch which I change every 7 days. I still receive a prescription for Percocet #28 but only need a few a month. Here is some info on buprenorphine.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4675640/

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suecutuli | @suecutuli | Aug 6 12:32pm
In reply to @blfids "I feel like we should be shouting out loud about this but then we really would..." + (show)
Profile picture for blfids @blfids

I feel like we should be shouting out loud about this but then we really would be considered a drug addict. Unfortunately, I do feel stigmatized from using an opiod, even though I only take 1 a day and have for over 10 years. I can't take any nsaids at all. It does work for me and it means I can have a normalish life and at least function. If a person does not need them that is great. But no one is inside my body dealing with chronic pain. Thankfully I have a understanding doctor who treats me a real person. I can bet there are many more out there who are reading this that are afraid to respond as then they may feel like a drug addict too. I was there but now I love reading how it has actually helped others instead of made them suffer. If they come out with something that works just as well but is not an option I would try it. I was put on an antidepressant for pain 4 years ago. What a joke, not to mention trying to taper off of it which actually took 3 years to do. It messed me up really bad. I have zero bad reactions to an opiod so that is what I use.
Didn't mean to go off on a tirade.

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I appreciate everything you said. Without them I truly believe I would have left the planet. It’s been 18 years since my bad accident. Sometimes they worked so well I really thought I could live with the pain.
I detoxed myself 7 times only to find my quality of live severely degraded. Now as I get to have more age/ autoimmune problems I’ve accepted I will also be on them. Does not mean I do t have stigma, constant stress of doctors- so much so I now have Lichen Planus. Thank you very much.
And like you said I dare anyone to try to live in my shoes wo pain meds!

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carol1024 | @carol1024 | Aug 6 11:25pm
In reply to @jenatsky "@carol1024 regarding your statement about opioid’s being recommended to treat chronic pain is not correct. Many..." + (show)
Profile picture for jenatsky @jenatsky

@carol1024 regarding your statement about opioid’s being recommended to treat chronic pain is not correct. Many studies have been done to support this finding. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556253/
I too was in a similar situation as yours needing up to 6 a day Percocet, which was ineffective and I switched to a buprenorphine patch which I change every 7 days. I still receive a prescription for Percocet #28 but only need a few a month. Here is some info on buprenorphine.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4675640/

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I don't remember saying that opiods was "recommended" for treating chronic pain. It is however, what works for me. I have never needed 6 hydrocodone a day. The MOST I have ever taken is 4 and that's only a few days a month, depending how strenuous I am and how much bending I do. You do what works for you.

It was horseskisses that said they were appropriate for chronic pain when used correctly and I totally agree with that statement.

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jw9 | @jw9 | Aug 10 3:56pm
In reply to @suecutuli "I appreciate everything you said. Without them I truly believe I would have left the planet...." + (show)
Profile picture for suecutuli @suecutuli

I appreciate everything you said. Without them I truly believe I would have left the planet. It’s been 18 years since my bad accident. Sometimes they worked so well I really thought I could live with the pain.
I detoxed myself 7 times only to find my quality of live severely degraded. Now as I get to have more age/ autoimmune problems I’ve accepted I will also be on them. Does not mean I do t have stigma, constant stress of doctors- so much so I now have Lichen Planus. Thank you very much.
And like you said I dare anyone to try to live in my shoes wo pain meds!

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To think what you've been through..."detoxed myself 7 times..." Here we are able to compare notes and honor what a difficult path chronic pain is. I also say, it's about quality of llfe. I find everyone has their own strengths to get by, but a better quality of life means the most.

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kenc | @kenc | Aug 11 8:29am

Locate a clinical physician who is employed by the hospital as General Practitioner. Some states require physicians to be licensed to prescribe narcotics, and you are being provided some bunk over the time limit for the effective use of opioids. I know of people who receive a constant feed of narcotics through and infusion from an appliance attached to their bodies for many years.

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valleygirl1955 | @valleygirl1955 | Aug 12 3:16pm

Opioids are the only thing that helps me live a semblance of a normal life and have been for over 20 years now. I have a very bad spine and other chronic ailments and have now just underwent hip replacement surgery. I am currently trying very hard to wean myself off the extra pain medication prescribed since the surgery so I can return to my normal dosage and my regular pain management team. It is hard as this hip has brought out a whole of other problems; but all the Doctors say "give it six months"! Hopefully it won't take that long. Opioids do work if used correctly and those of us who are on them for "life" are not drug addicts; but rather drug dependants. There is a major difference.

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marialyce | @marialyce | Aug 13 11:43am
In reply to @sallyrenee "I recently had a friend tell me that her mom and aunt were both taking gabipentin..." + (show)
Profile picture for sallyrenee @sallyrenee

I recently had a friend tell me that her mom and aunt were both taking gabipentin for nerve pain and developed early dementia. I’m going to speak with my doctor about weaning off of it. For me when I’m taking so many medications it’s hard to tell where side effects are coming from, and what is working and what isn’t. The weight gain , shortness of breath, and a brand new heart murmur made me decide a more health conscious route. I was in a viscous cycle! Wake up pain, take Vicodin, prednisone, gabipentin, methocarbamol, Diclofenac, and two Advil and in a half hour I could semi function. With swelling Lasix and potassium were added on top of my enalapril HCTZ, Lexapro, bursar, and folic acid.

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Diclofenac is an anti inflammatory and is contraindicated when using advil or another nsaid. Please do not take both. I can’t imagine any well read physician would prescribe that combination. You are at a higher risk for a gi bleed.

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marialyce | @marialyce | Aug 13 11:45am
In reply to @kforrest "opioids did not lesson my hip arthritis pain. my son told me to get off them...." + (show)
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opioids did not lesson my hip arthritis pain. my son told me to get off them. I was slurring my words, so I did. I have found some over the counter pain meds helpful. I don't like meds. wish I could find someone who would prescribe hormones like progesterone with estrogen low dose as I am over 65.

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Hormones won’t help your hip pain. Did you try Celebrex or Diclofenac

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