What are you using for pain for your teenagers? My 14 yr. old son always has pain but is having more pain as a result of herxing (bad spasms, etc.).
Of course, I would much rather avoid narcotics but I don't want my son suffering either. Did you get the meds from your LLMD or another doc?
I am interested in Rife machines. Have you used them for your teens? Did it help? Which one? What frequencies, etc.? Do you use them all the time or just for herxing?
Your input will be grately appreciated. Thanks.
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
The only medication that has helped my daughter with pain is Vicodin. We tried to avoid it, as we have addiction in the family. But, she got no relief from anything else.
We got it through the LLMD.
Sorry, your son is in pain. I know it's hard to watch our children suffer.
Take care, mom.
Kelly
Posted by Blackstone (Member # 9453) on :
I'm in my early 20s and occasionally I take one percocet (stronger than vicodin, but less side effects/nausea). Which usually is enough to make my night more comfortable.
I'm afraid I'm still skeptical of rife machines so I havn't been down that route, and NSAIDs and over-the-counter pain medicine do nothing for what I attribute to "lyme pain".
I'm afraid I can't be of much help, but if you can't find anything else speak to your LLMD (if wiling) or a pain management specialist.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
When I was 14, I had severe pain from Lyme. Then undiagnosed. I was never prescribed anything but prescription ibuprofen (advil) and naproxen sodium (aleve).
The first time I took Vicodin, as an adult, I cried because I realized I could have taken something that would have stoppd the pain when I was a teenager.
Narcotics, when used properly by people in pain, do not cause addiction. Physical dependency, where the dose needs to be increased for the same effect on pain, is a normal response. It is just the body adapting to the meds and doesn't mean addiction.
If you can find a good pain specialist, I recommend that route. But good pain specialists are about as hard to find as LLMD's. Even harder to find one who believes in Lyme. But it's worth a shot.
There are many ways to control pain, depending on the type of pain. But don't write off narcotics. They get a bad rap and do a lot of good.
-Aniek
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
AnnieK is right on...
Unfortunately this kinda pain takes heavy duty pain relievers...
NSAIDS are a waste of time and only lower the immune system fighting your lyme.
A TENS UNIT may be prescribed for your son...placing the electrode pads in certain areas may interfere with pain signals to the brain and back...
A GOOD pain managment md will recommend this...
Methadone may be another choice...due to it's easy withdrawal...
But don't take them like asprin like Anna Nicole's kid or mix them with other stuff...
DAILY HOT TUB ROUTINE may help also....
People with chronic pain rarely become addicted...
zman
Posted by notcrazykate (Member # 10458) on :
hoping, I'm sorry your family is going through this. I cannot imagine how awful it must be to watch your son suffer and not be able to offer relief.
I understand your hesitation to use narcotics for him. What if you only had them on hand to use in times where it's particularly bad?
For those of you who have found relief with the use of pain meds, how did you discover this worked and what kinds of pain does it help?
Over a year and 6 doctors later I've gotten absolutely no input about pain management, except "do stretching exercises" from one brilliant duck.
The vast majority of the time my pain isn't severe enough that I would use meds (don't like putting stuff into my body that's not supposed to be there), but there are times (like now!) when it's nearly unbearable - no position is comfortable, cancel all plans, can't walk, fighting tears kind of pain - and if there's something that will make it better, then why hasn't it been offered to me?
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
kate,
I worked with a pain specialist before my lyme diagnosis. He found me the right pain treatment.
I at first was very weary of pain meds. But after over a year of constant, severe pain that was so bad I couldn't use my hands, I decided to try anything.
The pain specialist I worked with had physical therapists and a pscyhologist in house. He never had me see the pscyhologist, but I did work with the pt.
Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :
Does your son want pain meds?
I find that I feel generally better, especially as related to aches and pains if I get myself into a hot tub most days and get a massage about every two weeks.
Posted by hopingandpraying (Member # 9256) on :
Thanks so much to all of you. I'm always learning many things from this site and very much admire all of you for helping any way you can. God bless you.
My son has Lyme , babs & bart. He has pain in the muscles and skin so he can't be touched. TENS units and pain patches are out of the question.
We were doing the Epsom salt baths but he hurt even more after them. He tried a combo of Celebrex, Toradol & Neurontin and had an allergic reaction (it didn't help with the pain either!). We did this through a hospital pain clinic. I don't care to return there.
They prescribed Lidocaine patches which we couldn't get on him. I'll ask Dr. J. about prescribing Vicodin but I don't think he prescribes pain meds.
I will talk to our local pediatrician about this. No-one should suffer in pain.
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
I use to take propoxy to kill the pain. My llmd said it was not as strong as the other narcotic meds. I am also skeptical about rife machines. Dr. B does not recommend them, but others swear by them. I guess it is a personal choice. As far a methadone goes. I would not go near that. 20/20 had a investigation on that drug and how people are accidentally overdosing on it and dying of heart failure. Ask you llmd for the safest drug for your child.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Flexeril might be a good option for your son if he has muscle pain. It does make you tired, I started at 5mg a day and increased by 5mg every week. That way I could adapt.
But it took until I got to 20mg, (4 weeks), for it to help.
I think pain clinics outside of hospitals may be more creative. I suggest finding one that is multi-service, with doctors, physical therapists, maybe even social workers or psychologists. A place that approaches pain multi-dimensionally.
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
HOPING PLEASE
NEVER use TORADOL...IT ALWAYS GIVES ME MORE PAIN AND AGONY...
The damn ducks give it as a pain reliever...it's a NSAID...
The Flexeril is something I use as well...and may help him sleep... Just don't give it to him when he's walking the high wire or anything!
TALWIN is something my DR J in Hermitage gave me.
YES SAVEBABE I also saw that 20/20 about methadone... Too bad it was WAY after I used it for over a year and a half.... I"M STILL HERE>.....
You must abuse that stuff to die!
Look there are certain pain meds for ACCUTE pain and certain for CHRONIC pain...
You do need to see a pain management clinic or doctor to get on the right track...
However...since my last dose of two months of ceftriaxone and followed by one month of clindamycin and then two months of KETEK and Flagyl...
I only get minimal Pain....cept when I have one of those troublesome transient pain things....which last a week to 12days...not every month...about every three.
Whenever I'm active I try and take one flexeril before I bowl...and one right after with an advil or two... The advil works as a very mild anti-inflam...the ONLY NSAID I will take... And the flexeril helps the muscles untighten after I warmed them up and then they cooled down...Kinda like chemical stretching...
Good luck
zman
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
I was allergic to celebrex I am pretty sure I tried every other antiinflammatory they make...
they didnt help at all.
I dont know if they give it to kids but I have taken ultracet....
It is not a narcotic. It never killed the severe pain but it took the edge off. THey also make ultram but ultracet worked much better for me.
For some reason things with tylenol in it always worked better for me.
Maybe you can ask your dr about this.
Hoping your son finds some relief soon.
Best wishes
Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
My sons use Tramadol/Tylenol.
Posted by Beverly (Member # 1271) on :
Hi hopingandpraying,
My son used aspirin with codeine, regular aspirin, motrin, benadryl and coffee.
My son has lyme and Babesia and was aslo helped by doing a whole lot of detox to lesson the herx which I found was making his pain a lot worse. He was in too much pain to take a very high dose, so low dose abx was a real must for him
I hope you find something that works for your son and he feels better soon.
PS: Have not read all above posts, too tired to read much. Beverly
[ 11. December 2006, 12:27 PM: Message edited by: Beverly ]
Posted by AmandaPI (Member # 5587) on :
I'm currently using a Duragesic patch and percocet for breakthough pain...I'm not sure about that for younger people though.
I swore that I would never take narcotic meds again after being prescribed methadone and deciding to stop. The detox was worse than anything I have ever experienced.
The pain got so bad that I could not function and I decided to go back on pain meds but NEVER methadone.
I hope that your son finds some relief. I think that pain can be managed in a reasonable way when it interfers with the quality of life in such a horrible way.