Pain

[PurpleMinded]

I had my left kidney removed in March 2017, and have had phantomm pain where it used to be. The surgery also seemed to exacerbate my interstitial cystitis.

I am allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol), with aspirin I have breathing problems. My pain doctor has prescribed 10mg Oxycodone IR up to three times per day for severe pain.

I have asked both the pain specialist and my Nephrologist what I should take for milder pain. They immediately go to Tylenol, but see I can't take it. They say ibuprofen or naproxyn, both of which cause stomach upset.

Is it wrong for me to take 5mg oxycodone for milder pain? I average 10mg per day, go without some days, and other times need the max. I get no stomach problems with the opiates. (In fact, the constipation side effect masks the diarrhea that my Carcinoid would normally cause.) I get sleepy a MN do won't drive after I've taken the oxycodone.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi Purpleminded,

No one here should tell you it is ok to use a narcotic.Your doctor prescribed it, so follow what the doctor says. Never self medicate, especially with narcotics.

Bottom line, it can be addictive and once you build a tolerance for it, you will need more and more. In the states, you need an act of God to get refills for oxy. Most doctors where I live hardly prescribe it anymore for general pain.

My concern is your doctor tells you to use something that you are allergic to and then tells you to use ibuprofen which is known to be very bad for CKD.

You might want to look into doing a form of meditation developed by Jon Kabot-Zinn for pain. It does work.

mindful.org/jon-kabat-zinn-...

mindfulnesscds.com/