posted
My 14 yr. old son's LLMD will not prescribe pain meds. His local pediatrician gave him 500 mg. Hydrocodone 2x's day as needed for pain. My son says it doesn't help. Doc will not increase doseage, told us to add Magnesium.
This past week he has been going through a major herx (terrible pain, spasms, twitching and had some vomiting and diarrhea). He has chronic pain from Lyme and babs, treatment since June 2006 includes Mepron, Zith, Tinidazole, MSM, Magnesium, fish oil, Juice Plus, Theralac, B-complex.
We went to a pain clinic at a major teaching hospital before my son was diagnosed with Lyme. It didn't help, he had an allergic reaction to some of the pain meds, and it was a bad experience.
Are there any good LL pain docs in Illinois or neighboring states? It hurts me to hear my son moaning all day long (Mother's Day included) and I'm so frustrated because I don't know what to do! Help...please.
Posts: 9020 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
ByronSBell 2007
Unregistered
posted
pain meds do absolutly nothing for me except makes me worse. I do find slight success with small dose Ativan. It is an anti-anxiety drug that helps me when going through a rough herx. I calms me down and relaxes me since I start getting all uptight and upset when herxing which can make herxing even worse!!! Sometimes it actually helps my pain... might want to just give it a try, helps wth sleep as well
IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
hi terese,
ASCRIPTINE, is OTC and reasonable.
drs. had me use that for the past 4 wks. to cut down on taking MAJOR PAIN MEDS they had me on after my hip surgery.
i'd take the RX high dosage pill; 3 hrs. later take ONE ASCRIPTINE, and later EX S tylenol! it really helped with pain.
you'll have to check w/pharmacy that it doesn't have thigns your son is allergic to in it.
it's worth a try. they are horse pills.
IP: Logged |
posted
You need to take your son to see either a pain management specialist, rheumatologist, or a neurologist. They all deal with pain, its just a matter of who is closest and who you can get in to see.
I'm so sorry your son is suffering. Vicodin is pretty weak stuff when it comes to this kind of pain .
Take Care, K-lyme Posts: 227 | From CA | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
I would look for a physiatrist. Many pain specialists are physiatrists. They often see a larger picture of pain and work with physical therapists.
Be aware, you are unlikely to find a LL pain specialist. They just don't exist. But you can still get your son's pain managed.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Remember that there are different kinds of pain. Opiates and opioid are not always the best pain medication (though, in many cases they are!)
You should try and find a pain management specialist like others have said. From the symptoms you describe, opioid drugs may help, but won't fix everything.
Do you know what is causing the gastrointestinal problems? My initial hypothesis would be the antibiotics and magnesium.
In many forms magnesium can really upset the digestive tract. Perhaps talk to your LLMD about cutting the dose on those and see if that helps that aspect.
Nausea and such can be made worse by opiates/opioids so your son may be more comfortable if you could get that under control.
As far as twiching and spasms go, a light muscle relaxant might work here, or even an anti anxiety drug like Xanax or Ativan.
For the pain itself, depending on the kind of pain you could try a stronger narcotic. However, the dangers of dependancy do increase as you go up, depending on the frequency and dose you son would take them. However, at 2x a day its unlikely that there would be any ill effect.
Also, its important to note that about 30% of people get ill from generic hydrocodone, including that under the label Lortab. You could try brand name Vicodin (have the doctor write for brand name medically required) or the Vicodin ES (extended release) formula and see if that helps?
Or, you could move up to Percocet if your pain management doc thinks its a good idea.
You could also look into drugs that treat nerve pain or arthrtic pain, such as neurontin. These are usually not habit forming and can be combined with other painkillers.
I hope you find what you need for your son to be comfortable.
Edit: Spacing for easier reading
[ 14. May 2007, 06:33 PM: Message edited by: Blackstone ]
Posts: 691 | From East coast, USA | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks to all for your replies. I will consider them. I called his local pediatrician and he said to try 1 Vicodin every 6 hours instead of every 12. We'll see.
Posts: 9020 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
djf2005
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11449
posted
hoping & praying-
i too suffer with lots of pain from my lyme and/or co infections.
its to the point where i just stopped taking the meds because they didnt help anyway.
i was on percoset 4-5 a day and morphine.
like byron said, they also make me worse.
crazy kind of pain that MORPHINE doesnt help???
send me a pm when you get a chance, i will see if there is any way i can help
-------------------- "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
Don't have any answers but just wanted to chime in that I was in bodywide agony for years 24-7 with Lyme and now I have only a slight knee twinge once a month-
So there is hope- chronic pain was horrible- not having it is a blessing- I am grateful for that every day-
Also had 3 women like that in local group just in agony-
I never took pain meds because of addiction issues-
these women- all 3 were 24-7 loaded to the gills-
I worried about them re addiction- one of them was on Oxycontin and unlimited morphine AND vicodin and anything she could get her hands on- ALL THE TIME! She could barely hold a conversation she was always so woozy but she was a Lyme tiger activist- great woman! Once I made the mistake of being in her passenger seat- whoo-hoo was that a scary drive!!!!!!!!!
The other two I worried about more because both had been "clean & sober" pre pain meds!!!
The first two women ended up with Happy Endings like I have- one is in full remission after IV Rocephin- and has been for years now- and she was sick 9 years pre-IV-
the other had multiple "MS" brain lesions heal on IV Rocephin and is like me on maintenance abx but doing great- and even though formerly she had had addiction issues she was able to go off pain meds when her pain was gone- successfully- and is a great Lyme activist and an incredible woman-
But the third woman- a woman with Borrelia Parkeri- she got addicted to pain meds and went "out" on her sobriety and was unable to keep seeing her LLMD because she was loaded all the time- and she declined in health and was terribly ill- then got cancer and the RF/ cancer killed her- so be careful with addiction- it can kill, too- I always wonder if she had been able to stay sober- she would have gotten RF tx- and then maybe would have been able to fight the cancer- I don't know- but she was a sweet woman- a good person-
Both others who were on massive amounts of pain killers were able to go completely off of them successfully- thank goodness*)!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And neither have any pain today~!!!
Both had been sick for years and years!!!!!!!
SO you don't need to share the last story with him but the women who did well maybe!!! Take care of him and be good to yourself, too, Best wishes, Sarah
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Just an update - my son is still having pain (a little bit less) but still hurting a lot. I do not give him the Vicodin continually and have only tried it several times. He still says it doesn't do anything.
His pediatrician (Homeopathic specialist)is trying a new remedy for the pain which I'm hoping will work. If we can just get rid of the pain, then it's half the battle!!
Thanks to all of you for all your suggestions and info. I appreciate it very much. God bless.
Posts: 9020 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
WHY do you want to do treatments that CAUSE pain?
I am serious, I cannot for the life of me understand THAT.
WHY NOT try Buhner's Herbal Protocol, and be sure to add in the Milk Thistle, Red Root tincture and Sarsaparilla to keep the herxed down to a minimum.
I still have Lyme, but at least MOST OF THE TIME, I do not feel bad. Certainly NOT in constant pain.
I threw my back out three weeks ago, pushing a car, (which I knew I shouldn't have done), and THAT pain alone is devastating to me. I can hardly do any work these days, but I keep pushing, taking a little ibuprofin, which helps some, and resting every 5 or 10 minutes.
Other than that, and having horrendous side effects for 4 or 5 days, because I tried ONE Levitra, I have been doing pretty good for the past year.
The only abx I have had for about a year or so, is three weeks of Amoxicillin for prostatitis, and now have been on it for about 10 days as I have bought a couple of goats, and haven't had the money to get them tested yet, for Brucellosis, which I understand has many symptoms the same as Lyme, and is just as difficult to get rid of. AND we humans can get it VERY easily from the goats and/or dogs.
Anyway, TRY the herbs. Get rid of the abx for awhile, and SEE IF he doesn't do better. Remember MANY people NEVER get help from the antibiotics. Some do.
posted
Your statement "Why would I do treatments which cause pain?" really made me angry! For your information, I am trying EVERYTHING, be it abx , vitamins, acupuncture, etc. just so my son will get better!!!!!!
How dare you make such a statement when you have no idea what we've been through!!!!!!!!!!
After a year on abx and a multitude of other things, he has gotten BETTER! If I had the money, I would buy a Rife machine, KMT, continue Acupuncture and have him drink Mangosteen every day.
I have asked his LLMD about adding herbs and things to his protocol and we are sticking to this right now. Nothing has been ruled out, however.
Perhaps you mean well, but you certainly need to think before you put forth such hurtful statements!
Posts: 9020 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
Hoping --
Just a reminder that vicodin contains significant amounts of acetominophen, which can be extremely hard on the kidneys.
There have been several recent cases of inadvertant acetominophen overdose -- folks took different pain products/cold relief products/sleeping aids without realizing that each one contained acetominophen.
Acetominophen works wonderfully well on me but does not seem to help the hubby a bit.
Just one other thing, about pain: we've found 4 very different causes of the pain, and it's pretty hard but very important to sort them out.
-- pain from LD/coinfections going about their daily business
-- pain from die off and endotoxin release (herx)
-- pain from secondary conditions, like mineral/vitamin depletion (from abx),inflammatory reactions to leaky gut, etc
-- pain caused by the meds themselves.
The hubby just went through the last one.
Our current doc also recommended extract of parsely for the pain (which the hubby didn't try) and burbur (which he did). He thought the burbur was pretty helpful (it didn't do a thing for me).
One of the other, pretty severe, side effects of pain is the inability to sleep -- which then feeds the pain cycle. I'm a huge believer in addressing the sleep issue early and often.
Good luck to you and your son -- it's frustrating and demoralizing picking your way through the pain land mines. I know that the care and support you're giving your son will really help his recovery.
Just to give you hope, almost all my pain, which used to be pretty bad, is completely gone with treatment (I seem to have gotten rid of everything but Bb, and that looks like it's coming under control).
PS: One additional tool to consider -- a Lymie friend of mine who is intolerant of many drugs has been using sleep-inducing and self-hypnosis CDs to help stave off pain and insomnia and kick-start healing.
It's too soon to tell how she's doing on the healing front, but she said her sleep has improved dramatically and her pain is lessened. I've just started using similar CDs myself (my insomnia is still a big problem).
I'm interested in finding good self-hypnosis CDs -- anyone who has recommendations can PM me. Most of the CDs I've listened to have very condescending, really annoying narrators. Really, really, really annoying.
Instead of some smarmy nerd reading his own stuff in a tone of voice that lets you know that he completed his PhD when he was 12 and walked on water when he was 5, while you, you pathetic and unelightened peasant, have yet to get half way through the letter A of the encyclopedia Brittanica or communicate with your first angel...
...why don't they hire some actor with a great voice who knows how to talk you into doing what's good for you? Like, say...Antonio Banderas. I'll go to sleep for Antonio Banderas.
How is your son doing tonight? I hope he is getting some relief.
Pain from Lyme & co-infections is similar to post-surgical pain!!!! If you've ever had surgery and then not had painkillers, it is unbearable!
I know the pain your son is going through. He's right, Vicodin, Percocet, Morphine barely touch it.
My LLMD told me the spirochetes invade or attach to the nerves and irritate it. It's like pouring water on a livewire: it's going to spark, BIG TIME!
From your description, it almost sounds like he's dealing with nerve pain. Lyrica or Neurontin or perhaps Cymbalta may work more effectively than the opiods. He will have to try them to find out.
One of the biggest pain relievers for me (for muscle spasms & muscle pain) was ultrasound and facia release. Pain management clinics should have ultrasound available, some chiropractors have ultrasound.
My LLMD's nurse told me her theory on why it worked so well for me (my physical therapist, dr. & I didn't know why it worked, but it did). Her theory was ultrasound increased blood flow to the area which in turn brought more oxygen to the area which in turn killed the spirochetes.
I hope you find something that works effectively for your son. Different things work for different people.
Oh, there is something called Low-Dose Naltrexone. (This is not the high dose Naltrexone which is used much differently). In low doses, it stimulates the immune system and restores a sense of well-being which is so important to us Lymies. If you do a search, you will find lots of good info on it. You ahve to get it through a compounded pharmacy by prescription. Some pharmacies have different fillers, so check that out to make sure your son isn't allergic or so they could substitute a different filler that is non-allergenic for your son.
Well, I just wanted to share some thigns that helped me. They may or may not help your son, but talk to your dr. about them and see if he wants to try them (especially since your son's pain isn't tolerable right now.)
Kayda
Posts: 582 | From midwest | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged |
minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
Just wanted to add that I was in great pain during the first 4 months of babesia treatment. It was die off, not the meds.
Very gentle massage helped the most for the muscle pain. If there is a massage school anywhere near you, you might find a student who will do it for low cost or free.
Hot packs (the microwavable kind filled with barley) directly on my face, top of my head, and back of my head helped with the really agonizing headaches I was having at the time.
-------------------- ********************* RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem! (Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)
quote:Originally posted by hopingandpraying: Your statement "Why would I do treatments which cause pain?" really made me angry! For your information, I am trying EVERYTHING, be it abx , vitamins, acupuncture, etc. just so my son will get better!!!!!!
How dare you make such a statement when you have no idea what we've been through!!!!!!!!!!
After a year on abx and a multitude of other things, he has gotten BETTER! If I had the money, I would buy a Rife machine, KMT, continue Acupuncture and have him drink Mangosteen every day.
I have asked his LLMD about adding herbs and things to his protocol and we are sticking to this right now. Nothing has been ruled out, however.
Perhaps you mean well, but you certainly need to think before you put forth such hurtful statements!
SORRY, you took my help in the wrong way.
BUT IF I don't know WHAT all you are going through, is that MY fault?
Or is it yours for not coming clean on EVERYTHING that you have been going through?
AND what makes you think you folks have the corral on ALL pain in this world?
Please, do not blame ME for trying to shake you up. THANK me for IT.
Obviously, I have NOT made you mad ENOUGH YET!
I will try to do better.
AND DON'T TELL ME that you have TRIED EVERYTHING! YOU HAVE NOT!
NOT ONCE in that sentence did you mention HERBS.
Vitamins sure won't help. Abx sure won't help. As a matter of fact, some of them will hurt.
Do you think "I" have not felt PAIN in my life? I have spent YEARS going through pain. Car accidents, in traction; Polio; Lyme; many broken bones, several surgeries, many months in hospitals, it goes on and on.
YOU know a lot less about me, until NOW at least, than I knew about you previous to that post.
Have you tried stopping ALL abx for awhile, and TRYING Devil's Claw, Red Root Tincture, Milk THistle, Sarsaparilla, Hu Zhang, Cat's Claw, Nettle, Stephania Root, Periwinkle, C-Salts, Sali-Pipe, Garlic, Andrographis, etc., etc..?
WHEN you have done that for a few weeks, then MAYBE you can say you are trying everything. AND while doing it, cut back on ALL pain meds. He is probably addicted by NOW. I have been there, done that too.
IF you are REALLY looking for help on this, don't be coming down on ME or ANYONE ELSE for making AWAKENING suggestions. I find THAT is what it takes. SWEETSY talk doesn't make it for MOST people. They read it and forget it.
Read my standard signature. IT applies to YOU too. I have to re-read it once in awhile myself, just to remind myself to make a change IF necessary.
I think you mean well, but some people do not respond to just the herbal protocal. We are all really different. But if it works good for you GREAT! I'm glad your not suffering as much.
Also some of us are in more pain then others, some have a higher pain tolerance too.
Hoping ---- If the Vicodin isn't helping him, then maybe you can try other things like Motrin or asprin/codeine or as Kayda has suggested Low-Dose Naltrexone. I know it has helped alot of people with pain. Vicodin never helped me with my pain either.
Its very hard seeing a child suffer in pain, and being a loving mother you want to take it away anyway you can. I hope he continues to improve.
It took me about 4 - 6 months of severe pain before I started feeling better. I remember one morning waking up and something was different.....
I laid there for a minute.... and said to myself "Its GONE!!!" That feeling like a truck ran you over, it was gone. All I could do was cry, and not tears of pain but tears of joy to actually not wake up with pain.
posted
Read this that I just Googled on the net. There is a whole lot more articals on it, but you SHOULD get the picture with this one. Jim. ##
The Dangers of Vicodin From Mark Cichocki, R.N., Your Guide to HIV / AIDS. FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! LK was prescribed Vicodin for pain control after he broke his shoulder in a car accident. He followed his prescription to the letter, only using the Vicodin when he was having pain. And the drug worked well for awhile. Two weeks after his injury, LK found that the prescribed dose was not taking care of his pain so he took more Vicodin. On occasion, he took the drug sooner than he was supposed to. It seemed to LK that he needed more medication to achieve the desired pain relief. He asked his doctor for a new prescription. Two weeks later he had already used a month's worth of Vicodin. When his doctor refused to write a new prescription, LK went to other doctors; he went to his dentist; he went to emergency rooms around town. LK was hooked on Vicodin. This scenario is typical in people who have become addicted to Vicodin. Sponsored Links Vicodin Detoxification Rapid detox from Vicodin and all prescription painkillers www.opiates.com
Vicodin Addiction Call 24/7 For Vicodin Treatment - 19 Years Experience In Recovery www.DrugRehabCenter.com
Vicodin - Free FedEx Vicodin - 7.5-750mg x40 pills $33 1-800 Support. All orders processed USMedCenter.com While the original intent of the medication is control of real and legitimate pain, misuse leads to addiction. What is Vicodin? Vicodin is actually a combination of two pain relievers; acetaminophen, commonly known by the trade name Tylenol; and hydrocodone, a synthetic codeine. Vicodin is one of the most widely prescribed pain relievers and has become one of the most frequently abused.
posted
I think I need to clear something up right away -my son was prescribed Vicodin back in January. I am NOT giving it to him every day, in fact I've only given it to him several times since then. Because it isn't helping, I DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM ANYMORE!
I always look for alternative treatment and do not like toxic medicines. When a child is moaning every day because of muscle spasms and twitching saying "It hurts!", it's like Chinese water torture, day in and day out.
I just purchased Bryan Rosner's book "The Top 10 Treatments for Lyme Disease" as well as "Homeopathic Treatment For Lyme" by Peter Alex. I'm trying to study them as much as possible. I will consult with his LLMD Doc J (the best, as a matter of fact). Systemic Enzyme supplementation looks as if it might help with pain but I don't know if teenagers can take it.
JimBob - I'm sorry you have to vent at me because you are suffering. There are better ways to bring your point across without biting people's heads off! "You can attract more flies to honey than you can to vinegar." I wish you well.
To the rest of you - thank you for your concern and suggestions. I come to this website for help and support and I try my best to help others who are in the same boat.
Posts: 9020 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
Sorry, Hope, I wasn't venting at you at all for any reason.
You were the one who was saying she was desparate, and when I offered some REAL advice, you took offense and jumped down MY throat.'
I only responded in a way, I THOUGHT IF you were really humble and honestly looking, you would pick out what you could use of it, and be on your way to a real honest to God healing for him. Not the superficial coverups of pain pills.
They are good for a week or two, but that is about it, then they become addictive. I KNOW from experience. I rarely take any of that stuff anymore. I prefer to suffer through it MOST of the time.
Sugar coating the Devil doesn't make him any sweeter.
You obviously have very strong feelings about pain meds and abx. None of us know why that is but your intolerance, intended or otherwise, borders on cruelty.
And I didn't read anywhere that you are a mother and have a child suffering. A little bit of empathy would lighten the barbs of your advice.
The quote you use for a signature is quite old and trite by now. Proverbs and pop psychology rarely help people. And the THINK thing.....how about FEEL! How about CARE! How about LOVE!
I tried not to jump in the middle of this post, but I read and re-read all of the responses and I just couldn't stop myself.
I truly enjoy gleaning information from LymeNet, it has been an amazing source of support for us.
It's just when someone gets involved in dictating or belittling others as they try to help a loved-one I get a tad cranky.
Having Lyme disease I'm sure is horrible, having a child who has it is maddening.
I'm a parent of a very sick young lady. Our daughter, Nikki, has confirmed Lyme and 3 co-infections.
She's been ill for over 6 years. The pain that she has had to endure is beyond anything I think that I could have ever handled.
Regardless of anyone elses opinion, either on this board, or from anyone else, you have to do what is right for your child and only you can determine what that is.
My wife and I have struggled with the pain medication issue for about 5 years now. We've gone back and forth between what is worse; the symptom or the treatment.
Pain meds are not meant to be a cure, they are meant to control suffering. Our daughter's quality of life has been horrible, but I can't imagine how much worse it would have been without the pain medications.
She is being treated for the disease by one of the best, in my opinion, Lyme doctors in the western U.S.
She is also fortunate to have an outstanding & caring Pain Mgmt Specialist. Her pain doctor doesn't necessarily agree with the Lyme diagnosis, but he sees his job as helping with her quality of life.
She is definitely dependent on her pain meds, but I would argue that she is NOT addicted to them.
She never shows the slightest sign that she is doped up or incapasitated by the drugs. She has never been able to totally stop the pain, regardless of what narcotic she takes or how many she takes.
She has, at various times, been prescribed just about every known narcotic there is; Vicodyn, Darvocet, Dilaudid, Percocet, Oxycontin, Norco, Methadone, Morphene, etc., etc.
She is now down to only two narcotics and one antidepressant. She takes Norco (Hydrocodone) for her joint/muscle pains and Methadone to help her sleep at night and she takes Zoloft for depression (the depression is caused mainly by the pain).
She has weened herself off of Oxycotin and Dilaudid in the past 4 months without significant withdrawals.
Again, it is my opinion that you must do whatever it takes to care for your family. Only you, as the parent, can see what is best for your child.
There are tons of opinions out there, but they are not in your shoes. They have their own problems and they will take care of them in the manner that suits them.
For us, relying on God to guide the way has been the most important ingredient in our success in treating this horrific disease.
Nikki is not well by any means, but the progress she has made in little over 18 months has been remarkable.
From a wheelchair and hospital bed to a smile and hope has been nothing short of a miracle for her.
Okay, off the soapbox and back to work.
You take care and keep us informed as to how your son's recover progresses.
I also wanted to mention that our daughter has done extremely well since she underwent 9 weeks of Hyperbaric O2 treatments.
Drop us a line periodically.
LymeDad
Posts: 681 | From California | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I would also like to chime in on my experience regarding pain meds:
I have been on many long term pain meds (lyrica, etc). I still was not getting much relief, so my doctor prescribed Norco. I have never been addicted to pain meds, and in fact, don't get any "extra" benefit from them other than pain control.
I was taking them sporadically and found that my pain was still affecting my ability to function. My doctor then suggested that I take them on a regular basis and not wait until the pain is intolerable. He said the medication will be more effective if taken on a regimented basis, and therefore works as a preventative measure as well.
I take one Norco in the morning, afternoon and evening and my pain has been greatly reduced. I've been doing this for 4 months now. It may be worth investigating if you put him on a strict Vicodin schedule for a few weeks, that he may improve.
Posts: 38 | From behind the definitions | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
I'm glad your daughter is improving with the Hyperbaric O2 treatments. Please keep us posted on her progress.
I also do NOT believe in people becoming addicted to pain meds when they actually need them.
I used to take 8 - 10 pain pills a day (over two years ago at the beginning of treatment) Now I may take a few a week. I am in no way addicted, I am in LESS PAIN. And when your in pain what is wrong with making the pain less?
You obviously have very strong feelings about pain meds and abx. None of us know why that is but your intolerance, intended or otherwise, borders on cruelty.
And I didn't read anywhere that you are a mother and have a child suffering. A little bit of empathy would lighten the barbs of your advice.
The quote you use for a signature is quite old and trite by now. Proverbs and pop psychology rarely help people. And the THINK thing.....how about FEEL! How about CARE! How about LOVE!
###
Actually, Jan, MANY here KNOW about MY experience with the abx AND pain. I have had plenty of both in MY lifetime. Some experience was GOOD and some was bad.
I didn't know that I WAS intolerant of either. JUST be careful and cautious of both. There are SOME better alternatives, but many of you don't know that.
And I may not be a MOTHER, but I have 5 children, and my youngest was on plenty of meds for 38 months for his Lieukemia starting at age 2 and a half. At THAT time there was only a 60% chance he would even survive. BUT he did, and he is 19 now. Now there is a 85% chance they will survive with that treatment.
His MOTHER and I BOTH administered the chemo drugs to him for those 38 months. And I was the one who took him to the Marshfield clinic 64 miles away to have the chemo done that we weren't allowed to give him. His mother was too addicted to her own (illegal) drugs and alcohol and cigarettes to take him there.
Oh, yes, SHE is a NURSE.
MAYBE THAT gives you just a little bit of insight into SOME of MY experiences with meds.
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
If it's muscle pain, I really recommend talking to a doctor about a muscle relaxer. Flexeril worked very well for me.
You can't just take it as needed though. It works best taking it every day. You can start on 5mg and increase by 5mg every week until a dose works. I first noticed a difference at 20mg, so that took 4 weeks. But it was worth it.
I have tried many herbal supplements for pain. They just aren't strong enough.
I believe in treating pain aggressively. It stresses the immune system. I do not think we can get healthy when we are in tremendous pain.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
How is your son doing now?
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
My son has tested negative for Babesiosis for the first time after a year and a half of treatment! He still has the chronic pain, however, and hurts to be touched. Still no hugs.
I think he has been experiencing one heck-of-a herx since May of this year. Right now he has very bad back & spine pain (which is where his pain is mostly located, in the trunk).
His LLMD says the organisms are in his nerve root. He might be starting IV Gamma Globulin treatments, but it depends if the Lyme literate neurologist our LLMD works with determines if he is a good candidate for it.
My son's C3d Immune Complex results are high (many antibodies) which could result in him developing an autoimmune disease. Doc says it would be eradicated with IV treatment.
No, he has not tried Tramadol with Tylenol (he might be allergic to it). Please continue praying for him, as we do you. Thanks for the concern, help and wishes.
Posts: 9020 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic