Pain meds

[ganna64]

My Dr. wants to put me on pain meds and I am really nervous about it. I've only ever taken Tylenol. My blood pressure goes up when in pain, which lately is all the time. So scared of getting addicted to anything. Any advice to calm my nerves? Thanks

[NorasMom]

No real advice, but do YOU want pain meds? Is your pain increasing to the point that just Tylenol won't fix it and it's interfering with your life? I don't take any, either, but I've also been blessed with the kind of discomfort that can be fixed with Icy-Hot or a heating pad.

Carefully research what he wants you to try, figure out whether you prefer pain to possible addiction, and then go from there. Hopefully the two of you can work together to find a happy medium, but under no circumstances should a doctor put you on drugs you really don't want.

[ganna64 in reply to NorasMom]

I don't want pain meds, but it has come to the point that I am never without pain. And I can tell you that after 23 years battling this awful disease, I am getting tired. I have tried whatever you all can suggest. For long periods of time. I don't take any meds I don't have to. Only on Levothyroxine, Baclofen. Tylenol and Salonpas. Not on any ms therapies because of side effects. Right now, she put me on a second round of prednisone. Hoping to get me back on track after yet another uti. Started that today so I guess we'll see. Anyway thank- you all for listening.

[Sandydemop]

hi Ganna, i've done a lot of research on opiates and they are not made for long term/chronic conditions! i would recommend trying everything else first. diet change, exercise, meditation, physical therapy, everything you can think of. I take 500 mg magnesium glycenate for pain. Opiates are a last resort for me. the idea of tolerance and needing more and more scares the daylights out of me.

[ganna64 in reply to Sandydemop]

Scares me too.

[hairbrain4]

Have you considered taking NSAIDS such as ibuprofen or naproxen rather than Tylenol? I take naproxen when I have pain. It doesn't always get rid of it but takes the edge off & they aren't addictive. I wouldn't want any of the opioids either. You don't have take anything you don't want to take so don't let your Dr push you.

[ganna64 in reply to hairbrain4]

Dr. doesn't approve of NSAIDS for me anymore. Different for everyone. But not for my age, 68.

[whwiechm in reply to ganna64]

I am 74 and take Advil for knee pain occasionally. I've never heard of it being ruled out because of age.

[hairbrain4 in reply to ganna64]

I'm 67. My Dr would rather me use NSAIDS than opioids. I've actually never heard of an age limit. If you have liver disease I can understand your Drs statement as they can be hard on the liver. My Dr keeps an eye on that through routine blood tests every 6 months.

[hairbrain4 in reply to hairbrain4]

Sorry NSAIDS are hard on your kidneys rather than the liver. Some days my brain doesn't work very well😂

[ganna64 in reply to hairbrain4]

No worries,

[BlanketTime1]

without knowing a thing about you, i can just tell you my story. for years my dr prescribed, i nodded my head and then threw away the scripts. i was afraid of getting addicted. in 2016 my pain became so bad i could barely get out of bed. i gave in and started taking my meds. i felt really silly for not taking them. there are some who might take enough drugs to be completely off their heads, but what the meds should do is take away enough of the pain so that you can function. i currently take an opiate, spasticity meds and nerve pain meds. last year i even lowered my opiate and nothing horrible happened.😃

i hope you will see medication as just another part of your medical plan.🤗

[starlight5 in reply to BlanketTime1]

Agree

[Elizt3]

Wondering what kind of pain you have? I take gabapentin for pain in my feet and left hand. I agree that opiates are not intended for treatment of chronic pain, if possible. There are a variety of meds that can help with chronic pain, including antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Exercise can help me at times as well. I wish you the best and hope you can find some relief.

[kwhompus]

small amounts of madicinal marijuana will take the edge off the nerves , but do your research first, it's not for everyone.

[ganna64 in reply to kwhompus]

Thank-you.

[leking1]

Hi Ganna, like most here, I fought taking medications, until I learned something new about myself. For the most part, Baclofen and Gabapentin, take care of the pain I have daily, at least to a point that it is bearable. Until they didn't. I know that I have several vertebrae in the lumbar area, and in the cervical area of my spine that have detiorated to the point that all are doing is squeezing my spinal cord until it, and I, want to scream. I learned, after 40+ years of fighting MS, in her various forms, that if the pain gets bad enough, I just want it to STOP! So, I now take Tramadol. Not every day, and certainly not every 6 hours as prescribed. It helps, a lot. No, I don't worry about becoming addicted. I don't take Tylenol, because it messed up my liver panel so badly it scared me silly. We each have to make the choices that feel right for us. I hope you can find what will stop your pain, that you can feel good about taking.

[starlight5 in reply to leking1]

Agree

[ganna64 in reply to leking1]

Thank-you, I guess at this time I just want to make sure I have exhausted all avenues.

[SandraKOE]

just because you’re prescribed pain medication doesn’t mean you will become addicted. I’ve taken Tylenol with codeine for years(no nsaids due to bad kidneys). One every am, then we’ll see. The rx is for 4 times daily. Rarely do I ever take that many. But when you hurt, you hurt. If taking a couple of tablets a day let’s you function then take them.

[starlight5 in reply to SandraKOE]

Agree.

[ganna64 in reply to SandraKOE]

Thank-you.

[starlight5]

I find it interesting that taking the commonly prescribed ms drugs like baclofen, tizanidine, gabapentin, ampyra, lyrica, cymbalta, diazapam, etc. daily for years and most likely forever isn't considered addiction. Yet when tramadol or an opiate is taken daily, it's addiction.

None of the aforementioned meds helped me. Tramadol does. I have never felt any type of high or euphoric effect from tramadol, only a decrease in ms symptom pain which allows me to function.

After 23 years you know what doesn't work for your pain. Will you let fear keep you from finding something that does?

[ganna64 in reply to starlight5]

Thank-you.

[twooldcrows]

i take gabapentin and baclofen ...hope you find something to curb the pain for if you can then it is easier to get up and get some exercise nothing major just to get all working again ...i am not a doctor but i know myself if it hurts you sometimes just have to push thru it ....love and much happiness filled with laughter to help ...

[ganna64 in reply to twooldcrows]

Thank-you.