Morning everyone
A question I have been asking myself.
All the problems we have,with pain control, would you say that the problems, with medications actually mask the medical conditions that we have and make them worse
Just a thought
All the best
BOB
I suppose there is that possibility. For myself I would be unable to function each day without my meds to take the edge off the pain, and for that I am greatful; although would like to come off them of course.
I think a lot of people worry that taking medication for pain will "mask" other symptoms but I'm not sure that's always so. If you need the medication to be able to function then that has to be better then avoiding medication and not functioning. Fine, if you've fallen over and your wrist has swollen up it's probably best to go to A&E to get it checked for breakages rather than blindly taking paracetamol and ignoring it. And it's probably highly likely that they will give you something for the pain - or they would struggle to fix it if you were writhing about in agony. But chronic pain isn't the same as acute pain.
Of course, these words of "wisdom" are from one who blamed a string of strange symptoms on gabapentin, only to discover it was migraine. But, as my dad would say, don't do as I do, do as I say, and if you're worried about any side-effects that crop up see a pharmacist or GP (as it said on the box of gabapentin).
If I took the amount of opiates David takes I would be flying round the ceiling.
Because he suffers with chronic pain they go straight to the areas needed. There is no way he could even open his eyes without this drug.Not would he want too.
Yes he is an adict now if you want to use that term but as he'll never get better does it really matter?
If I have a headache, say, I have a choice to take something or not. Chronic pain sufferers have the same choice - but would you want to come off all your medication?
The GP and pain clinics don't just hand them out. Over many years experience they have built up an armoury of drug and their aim is to get the right cocktail for you.
That isn't masking anything - it is helping you to, hoprfully, have some sort of funtionality.
Pat x
Hello Pat
Do you feel that the contraindications Of medications we take mask those of our conditions, therefore hiding what we need to know about our conditions. Of course a chronic pain is a non productive pain, It becomes a problem when other conditions begin too appear and they are not picked up because of your existing pain control this can mask the new condition. and prevents early diagnosis of say a cancer, whatever.
We all know that we become used too the medications we take, they become inefficient in time. We then need changes to our script when they no longer work and have to enter a circle of further medications.
All the best
BOB
Thanks Bob, i understand what you are saying and can only relate from David's experiences.
For over 18 months he had severe pain in his right hip. As this was his 'goog' side and carried him for 30 years the first reaction was a worn out hip. The pain meds he was on didn't touch it although continued to work very well on the bits they had been prescribed for.
You would have thought otherwise!
Examinations and scans revealed Bursitis which continues to be a serious painful condition.
Similar pain in right shoulder through continuous use of walking stick when not in whelchair.
So medical profession scratching heads as to what to do next. Exercises help a little and yoghurt filled with water and frozen gives some relief.
So in our minds the opiates reach the parts.
I am still a firm believer in mind over matter but that could be another thread for discussion!
As ever
pat x.
Prior to a RTA in 1995 which left me with chronic pain I would not take a single tablet and would question the wisdom of others in doing so,in contrast,I don't think there's a med I have not had, my current regime consists of: MST-Sevredol-Gabapentin-Temazepam, been there with the Butrans, Fentanyl,Oramorph,Pain management etc etc. What I now cannot deny is that without some form of medication if only to take the edge off my pain, I would not be here to comment. No one has the right to condenm or condone the taking of medication as each person is an individual who has the right to 'control' their pain in any way they find helpful! Have a good day!
Not many questions as easy as this one on here.
No.
I don't take meds because I appear to be sensitive to all those tried so far. I also cant bear feeling that horrible druggy feeling. I can take aspirin and that's it. Thank God for aspirin! I pursue an alternative path, acupuncture etc, all expensive. I am not a purist. If there was a pill or potion, I would gladly take it!
Hi all, every morning I decide to take the first meds of the day and then try and endure the pain without any medication. Very seldom do I accomplish it.I consider myself lucky if I only have to take pain relief twice a day instead of four times. If they do the job, I am first in line.
I also used to be against taking tablets but in those days I was fit and healthy. I would never believe that I would be crippled by arthritis in my early forties! So be it. Have a good day all.
I know I keep on and on about not using meds, that's how I choose to live my life at this present moment. And I consider myself very lucky to be able to do so. Most of my pain is made by my brain and relates to an injury that has now been resolved. It makes sense to me to use my brain to counteract the pain.
I have been taught to read my pain, pay attention to the important ones and ignore the recurrent ones. The down side is that I spend 4 - 5 hours a day doing pain strategy things like exercise, meditation, walking, resting, which I fit in around my work and housework.
Before the pain I did not do many of these things and if I had, I may not be in the situation I am in now.
I know what the pay off is if I stray from my very safe daily routine, and I build in more strategies to cope.
The few pain killers I have tried took away my life, I slept, I was not in the present time, unsafe (the grill caught fire and I was sitting in the kitchen saying "this is nice, we've got a fire in the kitchen!"), unable to do anything.
What ever path we choose, with or without meds, we are a slave to it. I often wonder what I used to do with the time I now spend on alternative therapies. Some people think I am selfish by doing what I do to reduce my pain, but I think it would be even more selfish to trade in my independence and personal safety for medication. I have a home and a family to look after and perhaps when my daughters leave, I can explore pain killers more.
Constantly focusing on the pain makes it worse. Certain people and situations make it worse, so by pushing it to the background of your thoughts, you are reducing pain with no effort. Sometimes as much as 30% reduction.
Several normal bodily processes can affect a back pain and if these are addressed, a high % of back pain melts away.
Ladies with back pain could consider hormone therapy to stop periods. During a period, hormones are released which loosen the pelvic joints, which can cause minute instability and irritate and already sore back. Other hormones increase fluid retention within the tummy which again causes pain in the back because of altered weight distribution. This could reduce your back pain by 30%.
Constipation can aggravate a back problem. Increased weight in the abdomen and increased colon diameter can irritate a back pain by internal pressure.
I have worked in the NHS for 15 years and understand fully that in some cases painkillers are the only answer. I agree with talgarth and don't condone or condem their use. But I do despair if people new to chronic pain have not tried alternative therapies before meds, or alongside meds. Any time with no or reduced meds is a bonus, especially if its going to be for the rest of your life. Surely, if an hour of yoga gives you the same result as a med in reducing pain, then its better to do an hour of yoga and keep the meds for the future, when old age will play a part in your pain as well.
Morning Zanna
Now I also take a much reduced medication that I did in the past, as I also realize that strong medications are not a panacia to a healthy life We all need to try and use positive thinking to assist on making life decisions,although periods happen in life were we seem to loose the plot.
My deep fear is that pain control can mask other problems that may develop at different times of life. Also many people may use these props and expect the edge of life to be the same. as if not on these medications.
Things to think about
All the best
BOB
I suppose meds could mask other diseases or conditions, but there are usually a set of symptoms rather than just pain on its own. And its the combination of symptoms that the diagnosis is made from. A lot of things can be detected by blood tests, so you could ask for an annual screening of the things you are worried about, if you like.
I don't mind loosing the plot from time to time. It gives me a wake up call and makes me address issues I may have been putting off. I go with the flow rather than be scared by it. It is part of having a chronic condition and chronic pain. It maybe inconvenient when it happens but respecting it for what it is usually means its short lived.
Denial can mask a lot of things and be potentially harmful to recovery as well.
I think if we get to know our bodies, know what aches and pains are normal for us, then we can differentiate whether new ones need exploring or not. Though I also think that having a chronic condition and chronic pain means that we do attend drs for more check ups than normal. And the knowledge that a serious physical trauma in your life will bring on old age diseases (arthritis etc) quicker is always at the back of the mind. And new reasearch shows that a lot of back pain is due to infection in the spinal bones, maybe infection sits in other bones and causes problems with the joints and mobility there as well.
I think just being sensible, keeping an eye on your body as a whole will help to discover anything that may be masked by meds.
I don'tt take pain killers. However i have just spent two weeks taking Erythromycin an antibiotic. However it is also has anti-inflamatory effects. It has reduced the pain in my shoulder considerably. The MRI scan showed an inflamed bursa and a tear in a tendon.
My suspicion is I had an infection which caused a lot of problems. GP does not believe this because it runs counter to his medical education.
I have been having problems with very intense muscle spasm at the point I am still half asleep and have not fully woken up. My shoulder is feeling the strain of these muscle spasms. I am trying to find ways of not making the muscle spasm worse. If I can reduce the muscle spasm I believe my shoulder will recover. Physiotherapist who ordered the MRI scans has no solutions to the problem.
I wonder how pain is caused by muscle spasms that take place when we are asleep.
Hello John
Could the antibiotics reduced the infection,then the swelling followed, In the past I have suffered spasm, although now rare
All the best
BOB
I used to believe this. I think I still do. However, research is building up on the effect of Erythromycin in reducing inflamation.
I have noticed that my head feels a lot clearer after taking the Erythromycin. This does seem to point to infection. The difficulty for the layman we are not the high priests of medicine. I feel that there is the religion of medicine which are run by high priests who get us to believe all sorts of things. We cannot challenge it because the data to challenge it is hidden behind the veil of confidentiality.
The great thing about the internet and forums like healthunlocked is that things that were once hidden from us is now available.
I saw a NHS physiotherapist this morning. She had not seen the MRI scan of my shoulder and gave all sorts of excuses why she did not need to see it. The fact that I had a tear in a tendon and I had no idea how I did it and I needed to see where it was located in order to get some management sense of the situation seemed to totally pass her by. She did not seem to grasp that I had no idea how much strength I could use on my arm or the idea that I was interested in how to strengthen the tendon (if possible) so that I do not tear it more.
A wasted morning, it would have been except that my local council is very interested in the implimentation of the Robert Francis reccomendations. I have an appointment tomorrow regarding them. So my meeting with the NHS physiotherapist will be high on my agenda regarding NHS rhetoric and little interest in action.
I can't take painkillers. At least I haven't found any I can take and still function anyway. But I do feel that GPs don't take me so seriously as they measure pain based on how strong your painkillers are. I do use splints, supports, insoles, shoes at all times, hot baths etc etc
HELLO
Cannot help sorry
BOB
Hello John
bob here good luck tomorrow interested keep informed
The second prognosis
Anyone else been told feet are the cause of your back pain?
