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They all can do damage, just depends how much wants to spend on their damage.
If these pain drugs were a breeze and did a good job, I'd work with them. But when I was in the rehabs for the knee, and on the oxy, good grief, horrible side effects. I'll take my chances with ibuprofen every 6 hrs and other pain remedies I work with.
Last edited by jaminhealth; 08-10-2018 at 05:12 PM..
They all can do damage, just depends how much wants to spend on their damage.
If these pain drugs were a breeze and did a good job, I'd work with them. But when I was in the rehabs for the knee, and on the oxy, good grief, horrible side effects. I'll take my chances with ibuprofen every 6 hrs and other pain remedies I work with.
Right.
"Pain" is very subjective.
I physically birthed four kids without anesthesia. One of them weighed 9 lbs and all of them weighed over 7 lbs. Believe me, this wasn't a walk in the park. In fact it was at some point in each situation, agony.
I've also had very extensive surgery, which I was told in the scheme of things is very, very acutely painful, on both Achilles tendons. The recovery time takes months - not days, not weeks, but months. Oh and after that fun I got to experience plantar faciatis as well as neuropathy. Good times.
Was all that very, very painful? Yes. And with the Achilles tendon surgeries, I took opiates for about a week afterwards. Did I WANT more after a week? Yes. Could I have justified requesting more? Yes. Would doctors have prescribed more? Yes. In fact, I was prescribed opiate pain relief for two weeks, and I filled the prescriptions - but put the unused pills (at least a week's worth) in my safe, where they still are to this day.
Now I have a very painful joint issue in my wrist. Basically my wrist cartilage is disintegrating. My tendons are all jacked up as well, and swollen. I could probably convince a doctor - just about any doctor - that I need opiates. And opiates would probably get rid of my pain for that matter. In fact, I went to the doctor today and the first thing he asked me was "What pain level are you experiencing and what are you doing for the pain?" I know I could have told him "This, this and this and nothing is working very well," and that would have been a mixture of truth and falsehoods. And I could have probably gotten a prescription for some sort of opiate.
But I can keep the pain at bay without opiates. Am I pain free? Nope. But guess what - I'm also not addicted to opiates.
Pick your poison I guess. But I personally prefer to go through life with as few prescriptions as possible. I don't consider living "pain free" to be some sort of God given right either. At what cost? That's the question that only each individual can answer, but I know what my acceptable price point is.
I physically birthed four kids without anesthesia. One of them weighed 9 lbs and all of them weighed over 7 lbs. Believe me, this wasn't a walk in the park. In fact it was at some point in each situation, agony.
I've also had very extensive surgery, which I was told in the scheme of things is very, very acutely painful, on both Achilles tendons. The recovery time takes months - not days, not weeks, but months. Oh and after that fun I got to experience plantar faciatis as well as neuropathy. Good times.
Was all that very, very painful? Yes. And with the Achilles tendon surgeries, I took opiates for about a week afterwards. Did I WANT more after a week? Yes. Could I have justified requesting more? Yes. Would doctors have prescribed more? Yes. In fact, I was prescribed opiate pain relief for two weeks, and I filled the prescriptions - but put the unused pills (at least a week's worth) in my safe, where they still are to this day.
Now I have a very painful joint issue in my wrist. Basically my wrist cartilage is disintegrating. My tendons are all jacked up as well, and swollen. I could probably convince a doctor - just about any doctor - that I need opiates. And opiates would probably get rid of my pain for that matter. In fact, I went to the doctor today and the first thing he asked me was "What pain level are you experiencing and what are you doing for the pain?" I know I could have told him "This, this and this and nothing is working very well," and that would have been a mixture of truth and falsehoods. And I could have probably gotten a prescription for some sort of opiate.
But I can keep the pain at bay without opiates. Am I pain free? Nope. But guess what - I'm also not addicted to opiates.
Pick your poison I guess. But I personally prefer to go through life with as few prescriptions as possible. I don't consider living "pain free" to be some sort of God given right either. At what cost? That's the question that only each individual can answer, but I know what my acceptable price point is.
For me it's not the addiction issue, I don't believe I have that issue. A cup of coffee daily is my addiction drug. BUT, for me, the oxy didn't do that much for me after a while, and the side effects, I was falling asleep all the time, lost appetite and the constipation, my god, I live with enough of that in my life anyway without the oxy to make it all worse. The only time I'm in good shape pain wise is when I'm sound asleep after my sleep regime each night. As I sit here, my shins are tingling, back is killing me almost, and neck is achy...but I've learned to tolerate a lot. And spine/butt hurts. But I will not get those oxy pills that are in my drawer from the rehab..nope.
I physically birthed four kids without anesthesia. One of them weighed 9 lbs and all of them weighed over 7 lbs. Believe me, this wasn't a walk in the park. In fact it was at some point in each situation, agony.
I've also had very extensive surgery, which I was told in the scheme of things is very, very acutely painful, on both Achilles tendons. The recovery time takes months - not days, not weeks, but months. Oh and after that fun I got to experience plantar faciatis as well as neuropathy. Good times.
Was all that very, very painful? Yes. And with the Achilles tendon surgeries, I took opiates for about a week afterwards. Did I WANT more after a week? Yes. Could I have justified requesting more? Yes. Would doctors have prescribed more? Yes. In fact, I was prescribed opiate pain relief for two weeks, and I filled the prescriptions - but put the unused pills (at least a week's worth) in my safe, where they still are to this day.
Now I have a very painful joint issue in my wrist. Basically my wrist cartilage is disintegrating. My tendons are all jacked up as well, and swollen. I could probably convince a doctor - just about any doctor - that I need opiates. And opiates would probably get rid of my pain for that matter. In fact, I went to the doctor today and the first thing he asked me was "What pain level are you experiencing and what are you doing for the pain?" I know I could have told him "This, this and this and nothing is working very well," and that would have been a mixture of truth and falsehoods. And I could have probably gotten a prescription for some sort of opiate.
But I can keep the pain at bay without opiates. Am I pain free? Nope. But guess what - I'm also not addicted to opiates.
Pick your poison I guess. But I personally prefer to go through life with as few prescriptions as possible. I don't consider living "pain free" to be some sort of God given right either. At what cost? That's the question that only each individual can answer, but I know what my acceptable price point is.
wow, jolly good for you. Perhaps a " Saint" even. What's your point?
wow, jolly good for you. Perhaps a " Saint" even. What's your point?
Why the snark?
My point is that "excruciating pain" is different for different people, and that living a "pain free" life isn't some natural born right to any of us, though of course we all would love to live without excruciating pain.
But since SOME pain can be made worse with other factors thrown in - stress, depression, etc - and since opiates are usually addicting (not always but usually) it's best to take all things into consideration and try other methods to deal with pain and factors that aggravate that pain before taking opiates. Also, try to be objective when considering the pain we're in. Is part of our dependence on opiates to relieve that pain tied into an addiction, albeit a "legal one," to the medication? Are we really in such agony that an addiction is a trade off we consider to be worth it? In some cases, yes. In other cases, maybe not.
For me it's not the addiction issue, I don't believe I have that issue. A cup of coffee daily is my addiction drug. BUT, for me, the oxy didn't do that much for me after a while, and the side effects, I was falling asleep all the time, lost appetite and the constipation, my god, I live with enough of that in my life anyway without the oxy to make it all worse. The only time I'm in good shape pain wise is when I'm sound asleep after my sleep regime each night. As I sit here, my shins are tingling, back is killing me almost, and neck is achy...but I've learned to tolerate a lot. And spine/butt hurts. But I will not get those oxy pills that are in my drawer from the rehab..nope.
Gotcha.
For me, Vicodin did remove the pain. I mean flat out removed it, other than what I would call some discomfort. But Vicodin messed with my sleep pattern. It made me able to doze but I could not really SLEEP. That felt good the first couple of days but then by day three I was incredibly tired - still able to doze, and still not able to get into any deep sleep.
I appreciate people wanting to help but at this time there is no cure for RSD especially if you have had it for a long time which is true for most people. Now- sometimes you can get through it if NEWLY diagnosed but it is so hard to diagnose and that is the frustration.
I will say today they know more about CRPS or RSD therefore are able to diagnose sooner. I probably had it for 10-15 yrs before they finally figured it out what it was....the damage was done.
My wife broke her wrist and developed RSD from that injury back in 2002. It took 3 years for a diagnoses although a couple of doctors mumbled the word RSD when they dismissed her because in hindsight they wanted nothing to do with this horrible condition. As a spouse of someone with RSD it was the worst situation I've ever encountered----The delivery of healthcare, insurance companies, pharma co., scores of mediocre doctors, lawyers, employers..........Although she was eventually diagnosed with RSD, qualified for medicare (before the ACA) her doctor of 6 years at the time dismissed her because she did not accept medicare. Her treatment during the search for a competent pain specialist consisted of doctors wanting to implant pain pumps, absolute assumption that she is a drug seeker although nothing in her past or medical history would indicate such behaviour. She litterally had to jump through hoops every month in order to control her agony. Stress is a killer, stress for anyone with CRPS/RSD is the worst condition to be in.
For me, Vicodin did remove the pain. I mean flat out removed it, other than what I would call some discomfort. But Vicodin messed with my sleep pattern. It made me able to doze but I could not really SLEEP. That felt good the first couple of days but then by day three I was incredibly tired - still able to doze, and still not able to get into any deep sleep.
And the constipation - LOL - not good.
I took vicodin once after having my wisdom teeth pulled years ago. Never again! I vividly remember I slept like the dead that night, sat on the side of the bed in the morning barely able to hold my head up. It felt like my head was nailed to my shoulder. I was SO groggy and hungover. Hated how I felt.
A few years ago I broke my ankle and went to the ER. I was offered and took Dliaudid for the pain. Never again! It took care of the pain, but I was WIDE awake and unable to sleep for the rest of that day and night. Not high just unable to sleep.
I took Tramadol one time for a back injury and wasn't able to sleep either.
I am cautious about taking any prescription pain meds now due to my past reactions. I've never had excruciating or constant pain and am very sympathetic to those who do. Working in a hospital for years will show you people in pain. Discomfort for one person may be big time pain to another and vice versa. I'll let others decide how to deal with their pain and am glad there are options for them.
For me, Vicodin did remove the pain. I mean flat out removed it, other than what I would call some discomfort. But Vicodin messed with my sleep pattern. It made me able to doze but I could not really SLEEP. That felt good the first couple of days but then by day three I was incredibly tired - still able to doze, and still not able to get into any deep sleep.
And the constipation - LOL - not good.
I have a family story about Vicodin addiction and won't go into it -- I may have skirted around it over my time here, but rehabs are full of patients from that pain drug addiction. And hearing loss, a loved one had the sudden hearing loss issue. Deaf from that drug and probably other ones mixed in.
I am cautious about taking any prescription pain meds now due to my past reactions. I've never had excruciating or constant pain and am very sympathetic to those who do. Working in a hospital for years will show you people in pain. Discomfort for one person may be big time pain to another and vice versa. I'll let others decide how to deal with their pain and am glad there are options for them.
I feel much the same way. But opiates ARE potentially problematic and I think that drug companies downplayed the dangers to doctors for a long time, then because the drugs do work to relieve pain in spite of their other problems, patients often demand them - and I really can't blame someone for wanting pain relief that WORKS - but let's not be in denial about how potentially problematic these drugs are, because they ARE more dangerous than many other drugs which may also not offer as much pain relief. And let's not pretend that addiction to these drugs, even for those who have legitimate pain, doesn't happen because it USUALLY happens with long term use - and then you have not only the pain (legitimate reason to want the drugs) along with the addiction (illegitimate reason to want the drugs) all wadded up together in the demand for these drugs.
I had an uncle who had a painful back condition. This guy was super super smart - I mean as in NASA smart. He had a great career. He was on top of his game, but he developed a very painful back condition.
Long story short, he got addicted to opiates. His career and marriage faltered and then both failed. I remember so clearly my dad saying to him, "Don't beat yourself up - you were doing great til you got sick." And he said, "The illness isn't what destroyed my marriage or career or even my overall quality of life. My addiction to pain pills is what destroyed everything."
Maybe, maybe not but he died alone, penniless, and an addict till the day he died. But he wasn't in pain - except when he couldn't get his pills - and then even he admitted that part of his frantic attitude toward getting his pills was his addiction - it wasn't just the pain.
When my grandmother's bone cancer became terminal, and everyone knew there was no chance for her to recover, she was prescribed opiates. She said, "But I don't want opiates - I don't want to get addicted." The doctor told her, "Let's be honest - it doesn't matter if you become addicted - these will relieve the pain for you during your last six months on this earth." That's hard, but it was the truth. The doctor KNEW she would become addicted to those drugs, but he also knew they would relieve her pain.
Get this - she so fought against it that she wouldn't take the pills (she did get morphine shots at the very end but they were in her IV so I am not sure she knew - we were just wanting hospice to give her some relief which they did). But my dad went and got the prescriptions refilled anyway, and hid the pills away for some future possible emergency. And guess what - my brother stole them and used and sold them.
Lots of potential issues with them. But they do relieve pain well.
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