Morphine usage and control of pain. One pain sufferers journey.

[scholey23]

I have written several responses to enquiries on the use of morphine in controlling pain. Some have remarked on addiction to morphine, excessive use of morphine, effectiveness of morphine etc.

I have suffered with Chronic Pain Syndrome since 1989 following a fall on my back and disc herniation of the l3, l4 s1 area of the spine. I have had a fusion performed on the spine and diagnosed with nerve root damage and disc degeneration disease.

I am not a pain specialist, doctor or anaesthesia specialist. I am just an ex police officer who has tried many different forms of treatment and have done extensive research into pain and it’s problems, diagnosis and cure.

I have had treatment from exercise, acupuncture, medications of every kind and finally having morphine injected directly into the spinal column. Some or all had some effectiveness on controlling the pain. This was all done over several years.

My studies led me to explore the use of drug pump therapy and electronic stimulation. I have argued and bullied doctors to get me on different treatments and eventually I was assessed by a pain specialists who used this method of treating pain. I was tested both physically and mentally to ensure I would be a suitable candidate for either a pump or stim. The tests revealed that I would best for a drug pump and morphine which I have had inserted in my abdomen.

It has been a very long time to finally have some relief of pain. The pump has been changed three times over the years (5-7 years of life expectancy per pump.)

I am now on Hydro Morphone which is stronger than morphine sulfate but uses a smaller amount. My pain levels have dropped from 10/10 to 3/10 approx., and I get the pump refilled every three months depending on usage

However, this is not the be all and end all of pain treatment. There is a great deal of psychology, exercise and mental concentration required. You have to really think about the pain before any form of treatment is begun or continued.

I am not addicted to morphine because it’s effacacy is used on the pain and not the hallucinating regions of the brain.

Every pain and every patient is different.

[MIA501]

Good day to you! I would like to Thank you for your post on morphine. I have to take 60mg morphine 2 times a day. They are slowly released over a 12 hour period. For me they are the best form off pain killers, they do not take away all my pain!But they do help easy it. For break through pain I have the fast release morphine 10mg but I can go up to whatever my body allows me to between 10mg upto 40mg. I do not need to take these all the time. But someday and nights are wose than others. I know people say that morpine is an addiction but I know my limits on morphine for my pain.I do not agree that they are addicted. I have been on morphine for over 10 years. They works for me. I have a lot off long term multiple illnesses. And take lots of different medications. I was under a pain specialist for a long time! He was fantastic and he helped me a lot ! I was put me on lots off other pain killers....Some I though had worked but after about 2 or 3 weeks back to sqaure one.I'm interested in the way you take your morphine and how it works for you?

What is hydro morphine?

My days off seening the pain specialist are long gone as people at our GP surgery started a vendetta and got my pain specialist removed from our surgery. Simply because he couldn't take on any new patients.He was fully booked up he only worked at our GP surgery a few days a week.

He has a private clinic nearby !

If I could afford to go to see him privately I would but I can't.

Anyway sorry for babbling on!!

Reading your post was a help to me. Please accept my apologies for an typos as sometimes it happens. Hope your pain will be ok today. Take it easy rest up when you can. Stay safe.

[scholey23 in reply to MIA501]

Been there, done that. First, Hydro Morphone is a stronger version of morphine sulfate but does allow for smaller doses to be used.If you visit Medtronic.co.U.K. You can read all about the SYNCHROMED II drug pump. There are other manufacturers available but this is the one I use.

[Fairyland1]

Good morning I have just read your post on the use of morphine and very interested in the use of a pump I am a 54 yr old ex- nurse and was born with a dislocated hip which at the age of 38 (arthritis)I had my first hip replacement ( it’s a re-surfaced hip) then again 11 years later a full hip replacement I am now left using a walking stick and can hardly walk so use a mobility scooter! I have arthritis in all my joints now knees, hips shoulder and all finger joints my gp was good and after many years got my pain under an acceptable level so I now take 100 mgs of longtec ( the long acting morphine ) and I can take up to 4 5 mg if shortec but a new dr at my med practice is insisting I reduce my intake down which I don’t want to do I know my limits and I can now live without being wrecked by pain. Take care all !

[scholey23 in reply to Fairyland1]

Keep fighting

[tonymarmont]

Hello , mine is not the same pain cause as yours Scholey it is Post Herpetic Neuralgia and was very pain full on damaged nerve 9 on left lower chest, and I have used Kaillo pads r to move the pain to a less painful area on my back it works for me , but the Kaillo staff are very helpfull and will advise you tony

[scholey23 in reply to tonymarmont]

Sorry I have no knowledge of what you are talking about. I have discussed the use of morphine as it related to my own. case only.

[GobbyGeordieLass]

BIU@🙂