I am just full of questions this week. Sorry guys.
So, I have chronic headaches. When they get bad, they get REALLY bad. And usually, I would go to the ER and they would give me a combination of drugs that basically shuts the headache down. Unfortunately, one of these drugs is an opiate.
But, let me first say that I have tried EVERYTHING. Triptans (like Imitrex and Zomig), muscle relaxants (like Baclofen), NSAIDs (Aleve, Advil), antidepressants, prescription anti-emetics (Compazine) - we're talking everything (at one point in time) and the only thing that has ever worked when they get this bad is going to the hospital.
So I don't know what to do. I don't know if I should call my Addiction Psychiatrist (who also does some pain management) and see what he has to say, if I should say f*** it and just go to the hospital, or if that would be a relapse even though I'm not seeking. I could see a pain specialist but that won't help me right now. i just don't know anymore and since I'm not a 'normal' person, I can't be treated clinically like a normal person, unless I lie, which I don't want to do.
But I don't know what to do. What do some of you with chronic pain issues do about getting adequate pain relief? About addressing your chronic pain issues?
Somebody help please.
SP
SP
Nobody should have to live in pain just because they are an addict. If it is that bad, and you need it for pain, that is not addictive behavior. As long as you are honest and use as directed by your doctor, there is nothing wrong with needing pain relief...especially when all other avenues have been exhausted.
I have 3 herniated discs, and when it flares up the pain is tremendous. I haven't taken anything opiate wise for it...but there may come a time when i need to.
I'm sorry about your headaches, I know they can be crippling.
I hope the pain subsides soon, but you do what you got to do and remain truthful to others and yourself about everything.
Good luck
Stac
Nobody should have to live in pain just because they are an addict. If it is that bad, and you need it for pain, that is not addictive behavior. As long as you are honest and use as directed by your doctor, there is nothing wrong with needing pain relief...especially when all other avenues have been exhausted.
I have 3 herniated discs, and when it flares up the pain is tremendous. I haven't taken anything opiate wise for it...but there may come a time when i need to.
I'm sorry about your headaches, I know they can be crippling.
I hope the pain subsides soon, but you do what you got to do and remain truthful to others and yourself about everything.
Good luck
Stac
So another silly question, what do I do to be truthful?
Who do I tell what? What do I tell who?
Who what who when how good f***ing god.
But thank you,
SP
Who do I tell what? What do I tell who?
Who what who when how good f***ing god.
But thank you,
SP
Stacey, Good post you took the words right out of my mouth. Shantel
Whenever I go to a doctor, hospital, dentist, etc. when they ask if I have any allergies I tell them I am allergic to narcotics. I break out in addictions. Well, not really, but I would. What I DO tell them is that I am a recovered addict. I have abused opiates, benzos, barbituates and alcohol and to please not give me them unless it is absolutely necessary. So far they have not had to give me anything that might start up my addict behaviors.
Kat,
That makes perfect sense.
But there is no question that opiates are an incredibly effective tool in pain management, and what happens when you have abused them, but in some situations they are the only things that work.
I'm sorry if I'm being irritable right now. I'm just in a buttload of pain and I hate myself for not being a normal person and I really have no idea what to do.
And Stacey, you made a ton of sense... but I feel paralyzed.
I'm sorry all.
That makes perfect sense.
But there is no question that opiates are an incredibly effective tool in pain management, and what happens when you have abused them, but in some situations they are the only things that work.
I'm sorry if I'm being irritable right now. I'm just in a buttload of pain and I hate myself for not being a normal person and I really have no idea what to do.
And Stacey, you made a ton of sense... but I feel paralyzed.
I'm sorry all.
Once I stopped abusing opiates I was amazed at how well aspirin, tylenol and ibuprophen work. It was like they improved them or something <G> Give them a try first, honey. They really CAN work. If all else fails, call your addiction doc.
I'd go to the hospital if it's that bad. Tell them the situation.
Just don't hide anything... you have no reason to. You are in pain. PAIN pills are for PAIN.
Have you tried Toradol?
Maybe they can give you a shot of that. It works wonders.
Stac
Just don't hide anything... you have no reason to. You are in pain. PAIN pills are for PAIN.
Have you tried Toradol?
Maybe they can give you a shot of that. It works wonders.
Stac
In the ER a shot of toradol works pretty good...not a narcotic. Are you on an AD?
At the hospital, they give me dilaudid, toradol and phenergan. I have tried toradol and phenergan alone, to no avail.
Yesterday and today I have tried Imitrex, Aleve and compazine.
And yes, I'm on an anti-depressant.
I'm trying everything.
I'm just tired.
Yesterday and today I have tried Imitrex, Aleve and compazine.
And yes, I'm on an anti-depressant.
I'm trying everything.
I'm just tired.
An opiate might not even work with the sub in your system.
I have found not many docs even know what it is; when I went to the er, they didn't know what it was.
I hope you feel better.
I have found not many docs even know what it is; when I went to the er, they didn't know what it was.
I hope you feel better.
I'm just going to call my AP and see what he says...
Hey SP:
It always seems like you're talking my language. I'm a chronic pain person too. Right now it's my leg (I won't bore you with the details) BUT for years I had migraine headaches. Sometimes only an opiate will break them, be up-front with the doc, but it may be an opiate you need. If they give you a shot and not a prescription - that may help. I Don't know if a narcotic shot will "awaken your addiction" and make you crave and I don't even know if it'll work if you're on sub. Have you heard of topamax as a preventative? Non-narcotic, usually used to treat seizures, is getting a lot of attention for preventing migraines. As a plus, my doc said lots of people lose weight when they take it. Toradol, imitrex, maxalt, etc., etc., non of those worked for me either. I used to get phenergan & stadol, that's what it took. There is also a combo called DHE (I Ithink) it's a combo of bennedryl, reglan & something else. Lots of people say it works for them. It didn't work for me. Eventually, thankfully, my migraines ceased - however, I broke my right leg & everything went wrong and I've had 12 operations so far (in only 2 years), and now there is a chronic pain issue for which they give me lortab, which I haven't yet been able to take as prescribed. The doc's don't know what to do except try to put me on methadone, which I refuse to take (if I went there, it would take me all the way down, I just know it). You can't live in pain, and it sounds like you've been very honest with your healthcare people - which is great, but they have to do something to break it, or you could end up in the hospital with an irretractable migraine - trust me, you don't want to go there. I was given IV Diluadid after my surgeries, but I liked it way too much, maybe there's something else, maybe stadol? I don't know, but ask about the topamax as a preventative I've heard so much good about it. Good luck and I hope you feel better! .
It always seems like you're talking my language. I'm a chronic pain person too. Right now it's my leg (I won't bore you with the details) BUT for years I had migraine headaches. Sometimes only an opiate will break them, be up-front with the doc, but it may be an opiate you need. If they give you a shot and not a prescription - that may help. I Don't know if a narcotic shot will "awaken your addiction" and make you crave and I don't even know if it'll work if you're on sub. Have you heard of topamax as a preventative? Non-narcotic, usually used to treat seizures, is getting a lot of attention for preventing migraines. As a plus, my doc said lots of people lose weight when they take it. Toradol, imitrex, maxalt, etc., etc., non of those worked for me either. I used to get phenergan & stadol, that's what it took. There is also a combo called DHE (I Ithink) it's a combo of bennedryl, reglan & something else. Lots of people say it works for them. It didn't work for me. Eventually, thankfully, my migraines ceased - however, I broke my right leg & everything went wrong and I've had 12 operations so far (in only 2 years), and now there is a chronic pain issue for which they give me lortab, which I haven't yet been able to take as prescribed. The doc's don't know what to do except try to put me on methadone, which I refuse to take (if I went there, it would take me all the way down, I just know it). You can't live in pain, and it sounds like you've been very honest with your healthcare people - which is great, but they have to do something to break it, or you could end up in the hospital with an irretractable migraine - trust me, you don't want to go there. I was given IV Diluadid after my surgeries, but I liked it way too much, maybe there's something else, maybe stadol? I don't know, but ask about the topamax as a preventative I've heard so much good about it. Good luck and I hope you feel better! .
Sp....I am worried about you. I know I am not in a position to give much advice yet, especially about sub. I know nothing. But I do get migranes and the only thing that works for me is maxalt. I tried imitrix (sp) Or what ever the other one is and it didn't help at all... neither do opiates they just lessen the pain a little. Maxalt works like a charm every single time. You might ask about it. I don't think you should do anything without checking with the Dr. that gives you the sub. Seems scary to mix anything with that without asking. I don't think opiates help with migranes at all, they never helped me. L
So I talked to the doc... he was medium helpful. He suggested something called inapsene (which i looked up and it scared me), or to try taking more suboxone. He also said that i "probably don't want to go down the narcotic road" but it wasn't a straight NO, it was more of a "the suboxone will probably decrease the efficacy" - so I'm still stuck (and in excruciating pain). I took another 4mg of suboxone and will see what that does. But it's true (Lola) that really, sometimes the only thing that breaks it is a combinatioN of dilaudid, toradoal andphenergan IV.
And seriously, Ihave tried a laundry list of medications. Some of which work when things aren't so bad. And hell, I Still don't even know if they're mmigraines or some combination headache. And yes I have seen a neurologist, had both an MRI ane a CT.
I don't think it would re-trigger the addictive piece, but I'm not sure. But I do know that even though I'm not sure if the suboxone is relieving the cravings I do know that it has helped me know the difference between craving meds and real actual f***ed up pain....
So that's my story for now.
WE'LL SEE.
I'm such a wuss.... I'm already tired of things being hard. I just want to be normal.
And seriously, Ihave tried a laundry list of medications. Some of which work when things aren't so bad. And hell, I Still don't even know if they're mmigraines or some combination headache. And yes I have seen a neurologist, had both an MRI ane a CT.
I don't think it would re-trigger the addictive piece, but I'm not sure. But I do know that even though I'm not sure if the suboxone is relieving the cravings I do know that it has helped me know the difference between craving meds and real actual f***ed up pain....
So that's my story for now.
WE'LL SEE.
I'm such a wuss.... I'm already tired of things being hard. I just want to be normal.
SP- Dilaudid..that helps I assume. I mean, if THAT doesn't, I don't know what would.
Are these migranes or cluster headaches? Do opiates even work for headaches? I have no idea, since I never used an opiate for a headache. I suppose they would.
If it's crippling, I don't think you really have a choice. You know my background and sometimes, I really just want to die. Literally. When it gets bad, I get admited because I wouldnt take anything outside of a hospital. But thats me. If they offered it to me in the ER and then go home, I wouldnt. If I were you, I wouldnt either.
How often do you get these?
Are these migranes or cluster headaches? Do opiates even work for headaches? I have no idea, since I never used an opiate for a headache. I suppose they would.
If it's crippling, I don't think you really have a choice. You know my background and sometimes, I really just want to die. Literally. When it gets bad, I get admited because I wouldnt take anything outside of a hospital. But thats me. If they offered it to me in the ER and then go home, I wouldnt. If I were you, I wouldnt either.
How often do you get these?
I had the same question as Danny. How often do you get them? And how long do they last?
In the past I suffered from migraines but the older I got the more they faded away. I rarely get one now.
In the past I suffered from migraines but the older I got the more they faded away. I rarely get one now.
I get headaches every few days - lately less, like once a week/week and a half. Most of the time they are fixable on their own, or they just go away. They usually last a day or 2. The worse ones start out like the normal ones, but the progress to crlppling and last for 3+ days if I don't do anything about them.
And yeah, the dilaudid, toradol phenergan (and IV hydration) combo takes it completely out. At least for a few days. If they come back after that they usually aren't as bad.
They definitely arejn't cluster headaches, even though they are localized to one side of my head. I do'nt tear, don't feel like a knife is ripping through my eye, and cluster headaches tend to last between 30 and 120 minutes.
These are more like a mix of a migraine (light and soud sensitivity, nausea, unilateral) and a tension headache (pulling, gripping, can't movem y head).
This sucker ain't going nowhere....
Who knew this could be such a ridiculously hard decision to make.
And yeah, the dilaudid, toradol phenergan (and IV hydration) combo takes it completely out. At least for a few days. If they come back after that they usually aren't as bad.
They definitely arejn't cluster headaches, even though they are localized to one side of my head. I do'nt tear, don't feel like a knife is ripping through my eye, and cluster headaches tend to last between 30 and 120 minutes.
These are more like a mix of a migraine (light and soud sensitivity, nausea, unilateral) and a tension headache (pulling, gripping, can't movem y head).
This sucker ain't going nowhere....
Who knew this could be such a ridiculously hard decision to make.
When it gets bad, I get admited because I wouldnt take anything outside of a hospital. But thats me. If they offered it to me in the ER and then go home, I wouldnt. If I were you, I wouldnt either.
How come? Just wondering...
if they admitted me, I would have a panic attack for sure, and I just couldn't deal with that on top of all of this.
If I were to go to the hospital, I would jsut get the meds and go home, and refuse them to prescribe something for me to take with me (which i have done in the past).
How come? Just wondering...
if they admitted me, I would have a panic attack for sure, and I just couldn't deal with that on top of all of this.
If I were to go to the hospital, I would jsut get the meds and go home, and refuse them to prescribe something for me to take with me (which i have done in the past).
I thought the whole point of taking Sub is so that you won't take opiates? Doesn't Sub block the effects of opiates? What would be the sense or use of taking them? Lots of people have migraines...debilatating ones and they don't take pain meds. I think that because we have done this for so long we think that nothing else will work. But if you give your body a chance to heal, other meds will work. I've had migraines for 30 some years and it's what got me in the mess of addiction in the first place, I haven't taken anything stronger than motrin for a headache in the last 3 years and I get by just fine. It doesn't totally take the headache away but it makes it tolerable. Sometimes we just have to slow down and realize that we're not going to feel good for a day or so. Bottom line, you don't need to take a pill for every ailment. It's time to start getting out of the habit.
