It's my opinion that anyone dealing with long term pain issues should have a pain management doctor. There are many medications and treatment modalities that can be used to control pain much better than narcotics. Before turning to a narcotic do your research and find out the different modalities, devices and treatments being used for pain control. You may just be surprised. "Recent research has shown that the spread of pain receptors near the site of tissue damage is controlled by a chemical known as nerve growth factor (NGF)." Tanezumab is an injectable nerve growth factor inhibitor that is in phase 3 clinical trials for osteoarthritis. To learn more about pain management go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/sep/04/chronic-pain-drugs-medical-research
The bad thing about narcotics is that our bodies get used to them leading to increased dosages in order to have the same pain relief effect...this causes dependence. Eventually the narcotics quit relieving pain because you can't bump up the dosage any higher. They can also mess with the receptor sites and cause the feeling of increased pain when there really isn't any physical cause. It can easily become a vicious cycle and many people form psychological addictions along with the physical addiction that you will form if narcotics are taken frequently and for an extended period of time.
Staying healthy, active, ice and elevation has helped reduce the pain far more than narcotics. Narcotics have a place but they must be used sparingly. You may be saying but "you don't understand how much I hurt" I was placed in a coma because my heart couldn't handle the extended period of time and the level of pain that I was experiencing with a neuro condition in 2000. I was on max dosages of IV narcotics. Months later my life depended on having a port placed in my chest. They couldn't numb me because of the level of narcotics my body was used to. I felt every slice of the scalpel and every stitch. This was a very difficult lesson to learn. I do understand pain beyond pain. Save the narcotics for when you really need them and don’t use them as your first line of defense in managing your pain.
I am not a physician and the above is in no way to be taken as medical advise. This is my interpretation of what I have been told by my physicians and from what I have read. Always consult with a professional for case specific accurate information.
Oh my gosh, that is so scary... To have felt every slice because you couldn't be numbed! I'm worried now... I have surgery on Thursday and have been taking 7-8 oxycodone 5mg tablets a day. It's not a huge amount but it's still significant. I have asked my pain management doctor if I should worry and he didn't seem to have a problem with it, I'm just going to speak to my anesthetist about it in detail before the op on Thursday morning.,,,. I am undergone general anesthetic too, is that different to what you underwent ? Good post, I'm currently battling physical addiction due to the amount of surgeries I've had, it's something I am going to have to deal with after the operation... But it will be a slow weaning process, one I'm not looking forward to! You are dead set right though, steer clear of them and only use sparingly and only if you absolutely need them. Addiction creeps up on you overnight and then you're stuffed!!!
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DeleteCarol in your business at the Pain Management Doc did they every use biofeedback? I am very interested in the results.
ReplyDeleteSheila,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response. They didn't use biofeedback in the office where I worked. However, I have seen patients at a hospital clinic do very well with biofeedback techniques. Biofeedback can be used for pain control, relaxation, reduce stress and many other things. It helps people to tune in with what is going on in your body and learn how to take control over how your body reacts to specific stimuli.