lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
Hi, I just returned from my pain management Md and learned something I thought I would pass along. He informed me that getting your pain under control may boost your immune system.
I recently reported in a post here that my viral tests have actually gotten worse recently. My pain management Md beleives the link is in a down immune system worsened by chronic pain. I have suffered horribly and had intolerable pain levels through this disease. He simply commented, "Chronic pain weakens the immune system".
Whether you are pro or con regarding the proper use of pain medications you may want to consider getting your pain under control as much as possible to help your immune system.
Since pain is as real of a medical condition as high blood pressure, high cholestrol and Lyme Disease itself, you will note that medications are usually required to control all of these conditions.
Our society,including many pain-illiterate doctors have developed a stigma attached to the use of pain meds (which is ridiculous) for fear of addiction. As stated in this article: Most people who take their pain medicine as directed by their doctor do not become addicted, even if they take the medicine for a long time. More at this link: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/drug-tolerance-addiction
Instead of thinking about where you are, think about where you want to be. It takes twenty years of hard work to become an overnight success. - Diana Rankin
posted
Hi, Thanks for the links I found them very interesting. I know that some people do not take narcotic pain relivers because they lower
immunity but do not relieze that pain lowers immunity also. I do not like taking pain relievers but have learned to except the fact that taking them helps me more that dealing with the pain.
LuLu
-------------------- "One day at a time"
Current: -1.2 IM bicillin three times a week -1.25 IV Vancomycin every day -IV glutathione and IM B12 -Byron White since Jan. 2011 -ALA, Yasko protocal, Adapten-All, thyrosol, Pekano, phosphalipid exchange, probiotics, oregano... Posts: 390 | From FLORIDA | Registered: Jun 2007
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
Hi Lulu, Yes, I also forgot to mention that the stress of the pain doesn't help. Constant pain is very stressful, stress = high cortisol which doesn't help.
If you are "comfortable" in your body, not experiencing agonizing pain it is less stressful and naturally it makes sense that a stress-less body is one that has a chance to heal.
I have also heard the "arguments" of pain meds lowering the immune system, but I have heard antibiotics do too. Everything we do seems to be wrong, doesn't it?
I think we need to kill the bacteria, remain as stress-free as possible, lower pain levels and other things like light excercise to stimulate oxygen and heat in the body (which the spirochetes hate!)all in moderation.
luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
I am resistent to taking pain meds of any type because I feel I will overwork my inflamed joints if I can feel no pain and then they won't heal. If they hurt, I don't give them painkillers and keep riding them. I rest them. So I only take pain meds when the pain is really bad.
My mother though preaches exactly what you are saying. The body can't heal if it is hurting, so I do seek ways to stay out of pain.
Initially my doctor prescribed Ultram but it gave me horrible headaches. He then prescribed percoset but, believe it or not, I experienced zero pain relief from percoset.
Advil is my very best pain reliever but it wrecked my gut. Aspirin is a little easier on the gut and works almost as well. I use it when I have to.
Avoiding foods I am allergic to works for me most of the time. Also, I have recently begun working with a chiropractor who uses "frequency specific microcurrent" www.frequencyspecific.com.
This is used by professional atheletes to heal muscle and nerve injuries.
It works 100% for me. It takes 30 mins and when done, I am pain free. With each session, my length of time I remain pain free is increasing. Additionally, this is not masking pain like the painkillers do. It is actually healing at the cellular level so I believe it is helping me be cured of my diseases. There are no negative side effects to this treatment.
I will take that kind of pain relief any day over just masking the symptoms.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
One of my LLMD's prescribes Mobic (very renowned LLMD) says it is great for inflammation, also Elavil for sleep and pain in low doses.
My pain management MD prefers Vicoprofen over Vicodin - same thing except no acetaminophen and has ibuprofen instead. He believes that it should be used for breakthrough pain and long acting slow release drugs (such as 10mg Oxycontin - extremely low) be used on a regular basis to keep pain low and to use Vicoprofen for the extreme moments.
lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
Hi Cave, I personally agree with you and your search results. I absolutely prefer (and my pain management Md prefers drugs w/ibuprofen as I stated above) even though they could be a little harder on the stomach. To protect my GI from problems (that NSAIDS may cause) my Md prescribes Nexium. Prilosec and many other proton pump inhibitors will protect the stomach.
I wanted to mention Mobic only because this is a drug an LLMD I saw (President of ILADS/CD57 founder) prescribed for inflammation and Elavil, were his 2 recommendations to me.
I had pain levels beyond what these 2 drugs could touch, so I sought out a great pain managment Md.I found for myself much better relief with the tried and true pain medications.
Truthfully in my opinion - pain management doctor's are the experts at managing pain - and Lyme doctor's are the experts at treating the disease. I don't think Lyme Md's are the best at managing pain, some might be, but I have found much better help "managing pain" seeing a PM Md. Just as pain management Md's wouldn't know what to prescribe to treat Lyme. The 2 are experts in their own fields.
The combined treatments of both doctors have literally kept me alive.
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Thank you for starting this thread. I am a huge advocate of getting adequate pain treatment. Pain has been the worst part of my illness. Before I had pain under control, I felt myself getting lost because I couldn't be a part of the world in the same way.
I've been on vicodin for 3 years now, and I don't take it every day and never take the full daily dose.
But you do need more than just pain meds. I did months of physical therapy and I have to do yoga regularly to keep the pain level down.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Surely someone can share with me where I can get pain meds online. I've been having trouble getting prescribed them. I've gotten anti-inflammatory meds which I'm very cautious about taking as some of them lower the immune system and one that I took for a while, which also happened to do nothing for me, gave me severe lower GI pain and bleeding. Posts: 526 | From NJ | Registered: May 2007
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
I wouldn't be sure of pain meds sold online simply because the FDA has proven many of the drugs they sell are fakes.
Anyone on anti-inflammatories you must be on something to protect the stomach, prilosec, nexium, prevacid, some kind of proton pump inhibitor is imperative. I have used anti-inflammatories but also I take a daily Nexium and have zero issues. It is important to protect the GI from bleeding and these meds work very well, ask your doctor.
Try googling pain management MD, then type your city & state. My PM MD told me this is one way to find a pain management MD.
AND/OR
You can also look under anesthesiologist in your yellow pages (under Medical Doctors) as they are pain management Md's as well. Call & ask them what their main method of controlling pain is and tell them you are looking for medication management.
Call around and ask, ask you LLMD, I am sure there are doctor's that can help, I know they can be hard to find though.
Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
A wonderful thread, thank you for sharing.
I have had pain that altered my life too, your posts helps me to feel not so alone. I have taken so much motrin, aspirin and abx that it really took a toll on my stomach.
Now, I am looking into different alternative methods for helping with pain.
Thanks again for all the links and info..
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