Prostate Cancer - Pain

[JoeyDad]

So, I have advanced Pc. I’ve had 3 infusions of Pluvicto and I’m feeling ok. But, I continue to have pain in my right hip…this area had been radiated before. I can take Norco …it helps. Or I can take oxycodone, which knocks you out for a few hours. What do you guys do?

[Hidden]

Its been said, take the minimum amount that gets the job done.

When you do opioids, the only thing better is more opioids. Which can not be good.

Even after surgery, I refused Norco.

Nsaids dont work?

[Fightinghard in reply to Hidden]

Terminal

nasids DO work -to a point. But cancer pain can easily overwhelm their pain blocking ability.

I also hate opioids and live on 24/7 nsaids. But I use low dose Percocet couple days a week to supplement the constant nsaids when needed. As my cancer pain increases I expect to need opioids more and more. I hate them, but need them.

One big difference exists between pain after surgery and cancer pain. (I also refused opioids at home after major heart surgery)

Pain from surgery or injury will slowly improve over time as your body heals, so you can focus on that and suffer through the short term pain

Pain from incurable cancer will generally not improve and will likely get worse over time. As the constant pain ruins any QOL, the opioids in proper dosage can minimize the pain and give back at least some level of QOL.

My opinion is to add a good pain management specialist to your care team and listen to them as they should be able to find a pain treatment plan to help you find a balance of pain reduction and keep as much QOL as you can.

Best wishes and do whatever works best for you.

[SteveTheJ in reply to Hidden]

Jumping into the firepit. Opiods are not addictive for everyone. I had chronic hip pain for 20 years well before cancer and budgeted them only when needed. It's possible. But definitely stop taking them if, er, you can't stop taking them.

[Tall_Allen]

IMO, no one should have to suffer. See a pain specialist. One gets immune to the sleepiness with continued use. Medical marijuana might help pain meds work better.

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

You are correct about no one should suffer.

The OP is talking about opioids.

However, I have witnessed many, including my family, when one starts doing opioids, the QOL is gone.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Hidden]

Obviously, you haven't lived with someone in chronic, debilitating cancer pain or you wouldn't offer such bad advice. Opioids are a godsend, and the last thing someone with bone pain from cancer needs to hear is a well-meaning person like you telling them to suffer through it.

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

I have, one was my mother with lung cancer. Im MY house. Opioids, yes relieved the pain, but what is life when just laying there.

Second was my brother with Aids.

When relegated to opioids, they both chose to ask the Dr for a final bolus.

They were both EOL.

You make assumptions. Have you lived with someone??

I didn't tell the OP to suffer with it. Once on opioids, there's no going back, just more.If they are not EOL, then they should seek another alternative.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Hidden]

Both of my parents used opiates to escape from horrible pain due to cancer. And opiates added to their QOL - it did not detract from it. Pain is what detracts from one's QOL.

Sleepiness is an initial problem, but that goes away with continued use. Morphine is infinitely titratable - one can always take more as long as one goes up slowly. And fentanyl can be used for breakthrough pain.

I'm sorry your personal experience led you to unfounded beliefs about opiates. Would you rather your mother suffered? That is a decision for the patient to make.

[Kaliber in reply to Tall_Allen]

amen brother TA …. Maybe opiates aren’t for everyone but they are a game changer in my life. Thank goodness for that relief.

😁😁😁

[Kaliber in reply to Hidden]

I take opiates , norco and dilaudid for my widespread skeletal pain and have been taking it for 4 years now. Opiates are what allows me to get out and enjoy the QOL in life. Without them I’d prolly just let myself croak. For me , opioid pain relief is a miracle . I can’t remotely imaging life without them. Just IMHO, others experience may vary , but opiates make my miserable life bearable.

Just say’in

❤️❤️❤️

[London441 in reply to Hidden]

There really needs to be a better distinction made between the use of opiates as palliative for extreme pain and turning to them when other options would be equally effective without the tolerance, constipation, risk dependency etc.

‘What is Life when just laying there’? When one is dying, laying there in an opiate stupor vs being in constant excruciating pain is vastly superior. We can’t know his condition or pain level. That’s why he should have a palliative care specialist.

‘I refused Norco even after surgery’ tells us nothing, and may easily be an apples to oranges comparison for him.

[carbide in reply to Hidden]

I am not on opiate and have had no need, yet, thank God.You mentioned quality of life - well without opiates having metastasized cancer and all the treatments has definitely lowered my quality of life, if I should need opiates or any other pain medication I will take them. It's your choice also.

Best luck

[spencoid2 in reply to Tall_Allen]

I use the minimal amount of morphine. Just at night to dull the pain so I can sleep. Otherwise with hot flashes frequent urination and persistent pain I would get no sleep at all. Personally I think (if it works for you ) morphine is safer and better than the new stuff.

[Tall_Allen in reply to spencoid2]

I don't believe in pain, and hope you take whatever you need. 👍

[mrscruffy]

I don't like opioids but they do have a purpose. Crazy as it sounds my pain has been alleviated by the use of Psilocybin. Controversial but works wonders for me , not everyone's cup of tea and no science behind it

[Kaliber in reply to mrscruffy]

interesting … do you buy the mushroom gummies or use them n some other form like natural carpofores ?

Thanks ❤️❤️❤️

Mushroom gummies

[mrscruffy in reply to Kaliber]

I have a friend that grows a couple different strains, eat them dried. Micro dose and larger doses. Without admitting guilt someone at my house will be growing next month

[Kaliber in reply to mrscruffy]

yayahahahaya … they are “ extremely “ short acting for me. But I’ve never tried them with a palliative intent before. Might be time for a revisit. Growing them is pretty easy once you get the details ironed out. I had a shroom lab back in the mid 70s when mason jars were in vogue. I grew a small , Pacific northwest , species compatible with wide mouth jars. Growing carpofores in stages with jars lining a room … you can basically pick daily . After the initial use, eating them again sooner than about 4-5 weeks, they have little to no effect on me.

Today, there are “ spore syringes “ and prepackaged grow medium cubes. Just inject the lur-loc add moisture and wait to pick them yayahahahaya yayahahahaya. Shockingly easier than the early days.

They are available , as gummies , from local home delivery services , all 156 services in town offer them, but they are what seems WAY to pricey for what you get. Growing them seems like a no brainer. They taste awful, like chit raw, maybe gummies are a way better way to eat them.

While you are about it, you might give Delta-8 a try if you haven’t already. The mood enhancement’s are literally amazing and light / moderate pain management is mentioned ( by my friends ) right up there with the strong mental benefits. You get delta-8 gummies at CBD stores usually. There are zero federal laws related to delta-8 except it must contain less than .003 % delta-9 cannabinoid’s.( marijuana ). One fourth of a gummy cube , mornings, is surprisingly helpful, and if you want to, eat a whole one for hours of fun. LOTs of fun. Delta-8 is all over the place, slipped in under the radar … it’s an impressive tool for your cancer supplement toolbox.

❤️❤️❤️

[mrscruffy in reply to Kaliber]

Ya my friend was swearing by the effects of shrooms on cancer so I tried them skeptically and damn if she wasn't right. Ya the syringes and grow boxes are slick. My friend has made all the mistakes so she will be walking me through it, I may just try the Delta

[Kaliber in reply to mrscruffy]

❤️❤️❤️

[spencoid2 in reply to mrscruffy]

funny that you mention it i never made the connection. i had more pain before i did a guided mushroom trip with a fairly high dose. we have some mushrooms and should remember to eat them occasionally. i was also microdosing for a while. should start again. also want to do MDMA to reset my brain about having a terminal disease and to improve my married life.

[mrscruffy in reply to spencoid2]

I take a micro dose for 2 consecutive days, then a pretty good amount for a good trip then 2 more micro doses, my MO approves as he says there is still so much we don't know about shrooms. My wife says for the next week after dosing I am a happier person. After first big dose pain was cut in half then the next week's big dose mad pain disappear

[JoeyDad]

thanks to all of you that responded….VERY helpful and comforting!

[spencoid2]

I think this might be the place to mention this. I was taking aberaterone and at that time was having a fair amount of pain. Oxycodone was prescribed and it did nothing. I am not totally sure that this is true but I read that codeine does not reduce pain but is metabolized into morphine which does. Abiraterone apparently prevents this process so the codeine does nothing?

[Hidden]

My husband takes 5mg time release Morphine twice a day, three times if needed. He also has 5mg fast acting tabs if he needs them. Only occasionally gets a little sleepy but otherwise no difference and of course has to be aware of possible constipation.

[j-o-h-n]

I mainline chocolate chip ice cream (two scoops)...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 05/18/2023 10:31 PM DST

[Scoofer33]

JoeyDad, as Tall Allen suggested above, I believe the drowsiness of Oxycodone wears off as you become acclimated to it. I take 20mg OxyContin ER (Extended Release) for chronic pain and 20mg Oxycodone IR (Immediate Release) for breakthrough pain. I have relatively few problems with this regimen other than getting the OxyContin (always seems to be a struggle getting shipments from CVS on time for some reason). These drugs just level me out to function as close to normal as possible.

[JoeyDad in reply to Scoofer33]

thanks Scoofer. I hop that my fatigue will pass. Good luck!!!!