posted
I have tried many NSAIDs and other pain meds that haven't really made a dent in reducing the pain I have. My doctor finally prescribed extended release morphine at 5 mg for me to take every day. I was surprised. I thought she might prescribe me Vicodin or percocet, and I think they make extended release versions of these as well. I am concerned about tolerance and abuse, words that I have heard of when people caution others on narcotic use. I asked her about it, and she told me that since I am taking a low dose and it is in extended release form I shouldn't have a problem, and sincere I also don't have an addictive personality.
I asked her if perhaps Percocet extended release would be better and she said she wasn't aware of there being such a drug, but even if there was she wouldn't prescribe it because she said she would have to report it to the DEA. I am wondering if I should b taking the morphine every day. Any words of advice?
Posts: 723 | From boston,ma | Registered: Jan 2011
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Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
Unfortunately, breaking the pain cycle is what is needed in chronic pain, and this requires taking pain meds every day instead of only when the pain gets to be too much to tolerate.
Other options include herbal or homeopathic remedies.
Epsom Salt soaks can also be helpful for musculoskeletal pain (join/muscle pain).
I use Nettles for joint pain (Buhner recommends 1200mg/day for this purpose in his "Healing Lyme" book) with good results.
I also use the following homeopathic remedies for various types of pain:
Arnica - for any injury, bruised pain, muscle pain.
Hypericum - for nerve pain, nerve injuries, shooting pain, injured fingers/toes, post-operative pain, pain after tooth extraction (I used this after wisdom tooth surgery, along with Arnica and also homeopathic Phosphorus - and did not need any other pain killers).
Cuprum Met. - for painful muscle cramps (magnesium & calcium supplements also help tremendously for this).
Causticum - helps me with sciatica-like wandering leg pains (from Lyme).
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
I have no problem with taki the morphine every day, I just don't want to build a tolerance to it is what I was trying to explain.
Posts: 723 | From boston,ma | Registered: Jan 2011
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posted
That 5mg is a super low dose if it's MS Contin you're talking about--extended relief morphine.
Also, there is a difference between addiction and dependency. Pain is hard on our systems and we need to address it. If nothing else works right now . . .
If you need the pain meds, take them as prescribed. Then when you don't need them anymore taper off slowly.
Unless you're allergic and based on my experience, you should be fine. Don't live in pain if you don't have to.
Posts: 331 | From West Coast | Registered: Jan 2012
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posted
I take Gabapentine....Im down and out without it. It makes the pain feel different than it usually does...turns it into numbness....but this is neuro pain. Im not sure what your feeling. Im not totally pain free...but I can deal with the pain that is left over.
Posts: 27 | From MN | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
I have tried to find as many meds as possible that I could handle, and then rotate them, so as not to build up too high on any of them, since tolerance does happen with meds.
The other thing I have tried to do is find any other methods to reduce pain, whatever works.
For example, waving manual tools emitting 660 nm red light over painful areas can reduce pain.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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I am in the same boat as you. I tried just about everything under the sun with little relief. When I was prescribes the ms`contin I had the exact same questions and concerns.
You are on a super low dose so if it helps you stick with it and put your worries aside. I will elaborate later when I have more time but I can assure you that I have not had any issues whatsoever.
Take the med, enjoy the relief it provides and that by default will allow you to focus on other things than the constant pain.
Again, I can elaborate later but wanted to send you some encouragement for now
-------------------- If you play at the beach, expect to get some sand in your shorts Posts: 223 | From central pa | Registered: May 2010
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