Should My Daughter Take Opiates?

Pain Pills
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My 23 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Her hip socket isn't completely developed properly and it pops out of place. Some days it is very painful.

This has been escalating for the past few months, but she didn't feel bad enought to seek treatment until about 6 weeks ago. We assumed it was an old sports injury and were very shocked to get that diagnosis. There is no treatment other than surgery, which would be major. Eventually she will have to have hip replacement. But the dr.said she could last 10-15 without surgery.

She takes Mobic (?), an anti-inflammatory. Today and tonight she has had the worst pain ever and is at home in bed. She's supposed to be at a Hawk's game party in a sky box for her company, and the fact that she cancelled makes me know she is in serious pain. She called me and asked if I thought it would be OK for her to call her dr. and get some pain pills. YIKES!

She and I just had a talk, again, last week about her propensity (?) to addiction. She has never shown any signs of over-drinking or drug abuse. BUT...................

I hate to see her in such pain!But I also hate to see her using pain pills for anything so young. Especially when I know it is an ongoing problem and she may need the pills for years. We are thinking surgery is far down the road.
Even thought she is 23, she still comes to mom for advice and will do whatever I suggest as far as asking for something for pain What should I tell her? Any advice would be appreciated!!!
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Im in the orthopedic field and Have seen cases similar to your daughters, If she has to take meds that will help with the pain let her takewhats needed, I assume she has no history of adddiction tho I would assume it runs in the family. I nurse friend of mine son has severe back problems from a football injury and has been on pain pills for several years, If he doesnt take them he cant get up to go to school or do anything cause pain is so bad. she wishes he didnt have to take them but in his case its needed to fucntion and he still has pain. Your daughter isnt making the pain up I can assure you. and unfortunetly anything other than a narcotic wont touch her pain. You can always ask if an injection into the spinal area would help but there are major risks with this. Best Ray
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Hi Carol-
Would a 2nd opinion help? Or are you pretty comfortable and confident in the diagnosis and surgery options you have been given?

Knowing what you know about addiction, you are justified in being cautious to have her take anything narcotic. With that said, tho, this sounds like legitimate pain and maybe short-term pain meds could help.

I haven't heard of Mobic and can't think of anything it could be. Did you Google it?

I hope I'm not talking in circles, but your daughter is a different person than you. My daughter has to be coerced into taking a baby aspirin for a severe headace, so I don't think I passed the addiction gene (if there is such a thing) down to her.
I think your immediate concern is managing her pain; but she certainly can't be on opiates for 10 years until it is surgically corrected.

I wish I had a magic answer for you...
Love,
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Hey Ramon, can you respond to my post to you?
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Thanks Ramon! Aren't you a PT? Are you familiar with this problem of hers?

Anything you could tell me would be appreciated.

Carol
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Betsy, She is the usually reluctant to take a pill, too. But, she grew up around me who thought the answer to everything was "Take a pill." I know she is in pain, and really needs some relief.

At 23 I was reluctant to take most things, too. At least anything for a medical condition, I mean. I didn't really start "liking" pain pills until my late 30's. Prior to that, I would have a root canal, take a vic or two, and give the rest away. I had a severe back injury in an auto accident at 31 and never took one pain pill. I took Advil, had steroid shots, TENS unit, PT, etc. But would never accept the pain pill RX because I "didn't like them". As we all know, that changed.
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Yeah, you're right, I didn't get into the thick of things until my 30's either.

I looked up Mobic, and it's used for "osteoarthitis in adults." It sounds like it's not a long-term solution either, because after awhile it can cause stomach problems, much like advil can.

Why does your daughter have to wait so long for the hip replacement? Do they just prefer that people in their 20's retain their natural joints for as long as possible?
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Hi Carol,
I am so sorry to hear that your daughter is having problems, and in so much pain. I really don't know what to say. It seems you two have discussed the present and looked on into the future.......I wonder is she worried about taking pain pills..........and if she really had to, would there be someone available to her to hold them, to help aleviate any fears she may have knowing full well what you went through........
I hope that you can help her find a way through this, and I agree with Betsy about a 2nd opinion......it may be something to look into.
Love,
Tina
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Yes, she can only use the Mobic short term due to the side effects. She is currently off of it after taking it daily for 1 month. That is all she has, however, to use as needed. Hence, her desire for something stronger.

We got a referral to one of the top 10 ranked Orthopedists in ATL. I guess we could get a 2nd opinoin, though, and probably should. He told her even with his vast experience, he has never done the surgery which would repair it. He would have to refer her to a guy at Emory University. Apparently it is pretty rare. The hip replacement would come later even if she has the surgery to repair it now. They probably would do it if she insisted. Naturally, we want to hold off as long as possible before subjecting her to the knife! This is the first time is has sent her to bed with pain.

Thanks for talking with me about this . I know I am over reacting, I think. LOL

I will probably suggest she call her dr. Monday. I am not even sure he'll give her opiates, but knowing orthos. like I do, assume he will. Don;t they all?
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Misty...........Hey girl! Thanks for coming on!

She would kill me if I suggested to her that she have someone else hold them!LOL That would imply to her that I thought she had a problem. Plus, she would have to tell them a reason for needing them to do it.

Her two room mates are 3rd year pharmacy students at Mercer. I bet they would think something was up if she went to them. You know I have to keep my secret! LOL It's not a bad idea from where you and I sit, but she would never go for it. Unless she let me hold them........NAH! Just kidding! She is 60 miles away and I wouldn't do that if she were downstairs.

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You know Carol...it was a thought....I didn't know if she had any fear knowing what you went threw to get off of them......
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Carol,
You know, working in oral surgery, we get skeptical and suspicious of people calling us for refills on their pain meds. BUT, often people are in real pain and genuinely need the meds to cope; it doesn't make them high, it just alleviates the pain. I think that would be your daughter's case.

I don't think you're overrreacting either; she's your baby girl!
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Trideltmom- My honest opinion if she is this young, have her get the surgery now. Yes, they will give her a pain killer, but better now than when she is 40.
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Misty, I am so sorry if that sounded like I didn't appreciate or like your idea.
It's a great idea, really! But I just know how my daughter is and she would never go for it. Truly, thank you and I love you!!!!

AMom..........after all the talk here, i think it would be ok to tell her to get them.
My husband just suggested she ask for Toradol. He says it is non-narcotic and worked better for him than Demerol when he had one of his famous "accidents". He is forever forgetting his limitations and had a mishap on his 4-wheeler a couple of years ago. His most recent mishap came when he tried to jump on our son's pogo stick. LOL He cracked his collar bone when he crashed head first onto the cement basement floor. Not funny, but I LMAO!!

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No Carol.....You were fine in what you said.........it was just an afterthought, think my brain is snowlogged.......
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Amom...........you mean all those times I was calling to ask for my 4th refill after having a filling, they were suspicious? That never occured to me.
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Danny........oops, almost forgot..sorry........you really think she should let then cut on her? major surgery, long re-couperation, etc.

How are you doing? You have a lot of snow, too?

Are there any med. prof. on here who know anything about this condition? Let's take a poll.
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Carol-
Toradol is also an anti-inflammatory. I used to take it for headaches, and the doctor called it a "high-class advil."
When I go to the walk-in clinic for a migraine, they give me a shot of Toradol. It takes the pain away without being a narcotic. They also told me they don't prescribe it in pill form anymore because of side effects.
Just thought I'd share that info...
Your doctor should be able to tell you more about it.
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Tri- I have like 10 inches (of snow)....way too much..it was major. Actually, my Grandpa had hip replacement in his 60's and had to use a cane. Now, that was 20 years ago...it has progressed so much further...but the earlier the better...they have new plastics and stuff that make it much more easier. If she waits much longer she will be using a cane or a walker. NO WAY at 23. I say do it now, get it over with, take a pain killer or two and go through therapy


btw- when he died, the only thing I wanted was his cane
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Hey everyone. Gotta run downstairs and snuggle with my l.b. while he watches Aladin. I love it. He murdered 5 asssasins today with paint ball and can clear a double by about 7 feet on the track, but he still wants mom to hold him and watch a Disney movie. Have a good night and stay warm wherever you are!

Love to you all,
Carol