Non-addictive pain management without insane side effects? Does it exist?

My mom has a lot of pain in her back from a fall that she took at work a few years ago, and she has just started to take meds since the pain is too much for her to be standing on her feet all day at work without any...

However, she is having problems with her meds. The doctor has prescribed her tramadol, T2's, T3's, percs, and a bunch of other crap and although the pain has gone away, she gets horrible side effects. Tramadol worse than any though. She took 1 time release tablet once a day for 3 days and had to deal with withdrawl for about 2 weeks!

She doesn't like the opiates which make her drowsy because she doesn't want to look like a zombie walking around since her job is basically ALL customer contact-based.

Is there such a thing as a drug which relieves chronic pain but doesn't have the drowsy effect or the hellish itchiness associated with codeine/tramadol? I suggested a prescription for pot, but the stigma associated with pot users is so great that it's actually more socially acceptable to get hopelessly addicted to narcotic painkillers than to smoke some ganja... I also suggested she could try edibles but she still doesn't want to be high (I can't explain to her that medical doses of MMJ shouldn't get you high because she just can't understand how someone can take pot and NOT get fucked up)

 

Also when she told the doctor she would stop taking tramadol and described all the side-effects she was getting, the doctor actually told her "if you stop taking the medication, find a new doctor"... Which seems odd to me?

 

Have x-rays been taken to determine what is actually causing the pain? Drugs will lessen the symptoms ,but wont fix anything. That doctor sounds like a quack to me.

 

There no relief from an addiction to feeling good.

 

It sounds like she needs to take the doctors advice and find a new doctor. There are non-addictive NSAIDS available. They are anti-inflammatory drugs though. They might work fine for a sprain or something, but not deep nerve pain usually associated with back injuries. There are even some powerful NSAIDS out there though, with serious side-effects. I used to take Indomethacin for an anke injury and that stuff would put me to sleep. Even 50mgs.

 

There are no "good" pills, I'd bet you anything, that will help to really alleviate pain. Hey - I'll be the first to admit that a couple of loratabs and I'm cleaning and working like a demon. lol But, in dealing with PAIN, it barely takes off the edge.

Acupuncture is the only way to truly help pain management. It has certainly been my experience. I only hope the pain in my back doesn't start the bad flares again, because her sessions have gone up to $100/each.

However, if you can find something that does help pain, it's subject to make you chronically constipated, zonked out, or something. Acupuncture - nada...you even get a good night's sleep.

 

Oh - and another thing - if your mom eats some magic brownies - she BEST NOT be at work, because I can promise you the farm she WILL FEEL something. Edibles DO get you high. lol

Poor thing...I wish the opiates made me feel all drowsed out. If I were in customer service, I could serve up a storm! lol Good thing I only get them (pain killers/opiates) when I get a broken bone. ha The acupuncture could help in ways that would shock both of you.

 

I would like to see the outcome of this thread as well. My mother also has severe chronic pain in her wrists from advanced osteoarthritis and complications from botched surgery to fix it. But she is so afraid to go on hard opioids. She is scripts Hydrocodones but doesn't even take them because they are too weak to help the pain. She works in a pharmacy in a hospital so she can't be "drowsy" or "drugged up" either. I also unfortunately feel that her seeing me get hooked on opioids scared her too much. But she should also see that even on Suboxone, I never appear drugged up. In fact, she doesn't even think I am on it 90 percent of the time I am (because she'll remind me to take my dose when I already have...).

 

Would definately try to find another doc. Never heard of a doc forcing opids on someone before. Usually you have to beg for what little they will give. I have chronic back and neck pain as well. There are a few things you came try. I have had cortizone and facet blocks to my back. Some people get results with those. Unfortunately I didnt get lasting relief from those. I am going for something called an RFA raido frequancy ablasion where they burn the nerves causing pain. The concept scares the crap out of me but if it works it will be worth it. Ill let you know how it comes out. Seems like not too many people have had this done. I can find information on the internet about it but can't seem to find people who have been through this so.

Some other non-surgical/medication methods would be to get a tens unit. This helps a bit. There are things like chiropractic care that a friend of mine swears by and accupuncture but trying to get insurance to pay for either of these is next to impossable ( at least it was for me ).

 

I have had chronic lower back pain for over 15 years. For pain management I use kratom, acupuncture, yoga and aspirin. I haven't had any debilitating flare ups in 7-8 years, but the persistent nagging ache rarely goes away completely.

Kratom isn't any where near as addicting as opiates, I can go without it with no withdrawal or other negative effects.

 

yes there are some try inversion it flips you upside down and releases your spine and stretches it out ive been through 3 different types of spinal shots worst pain ever did nothing, pain management bad idea as well if you cant control em which happens alot, and every substance you can think of try inversion also water therapy releases the spine as well

 

If she has nerve pain due to her back issues pinching I HIGHLY suggest Neurontin (The only side effect is that it acts as an antidepressant sort of). Other than that Ibuprofen (I am prescribed 800mg), a muscle relaxer (I'm on Zanaflex but it DOES make me very sleepy so I have to cut the pills into quarters. Flexeril seems to have the least side effects, to me anyway. You really aren't gonna find one that doesn't have SOME sort of side effect.), and Physical Therapy or low impact exercise/yoga.

 

thats good advice there ^ that was my script for my back gabapentin( neurontin) wich actually also helps anxiety tizanidine(zanaflex) mostly it depends on where your moms damage is ive heard that in a study of 100 people without pain got mri s and 55 percent of there reports showed some abnormalities. they have non narcotics like godmachine mentioned that target specific things neurontin (nerve damage) flexeril and zanaflex for muscle damage and spasms its most likely in the l5 s1 region thats near the tailbone but id just check the dr on it some are quacks one messed my mom up so bad implanted a microchip electrical stimulator didnt do shit just so he could experiment around try all types of shots and meds that really messed her up long term definately check with a trusted family physician before going through with anything thats my advice on it

 

Not to be Debbie Downer here, but I've tried neurontin, and dreamed the most God-awful shit you can imagine. Clear, vivid as hell mess that I can still recall. I'd have to about be in a wheel-chair to try that stuff again. I'm serious.

Actually acupuncture really does work, but it has gotten ridiculous expensive (at least around here) AND according to how bad you are hurting, what it is, etc, you are going to have to go at first for consecutive treatments...there was a time I went 4 times a week for about 2 weeks. Then it was down to 2 times a week, and eventually I was lucky enough to "ease" on out with not needing treatments because I didn't hurt. I went for "tune-ups" for a time, like once a quarter. Yeah, it was about $55/treatment then...now it is $125. sweet bejebus

But back to that neurontin - I've read that "lucid" dreaming had been noted with this...but for me it was more like Real Life Nightmare From Hell stuff. Just sayin'...it affects people different.

 

Wow. I've been taking Gabapentin for years for neuropathy and I haven't had anything like that happen. Yeah, I guess different people react to it in different ways though. Although not perfect, it has helped out quite a bit with the weird pains I was having in my feet and legs from diabetes. Everything from a cutting sensation to electrical shocks. But it doesn't seem to help with my back issues. I have pinched spinal nerves too, and even that decompression therapy wouldn't work for me, because my spine is fused. So I take meds for it.

 

I like it when you post though, because I like looking at that cat.

 

i was on Gabapentin for a while started at 100mg x 4 a day then eventually moved up to 300mg x 4 a day, it did nothing for the RSD in my foot or my back which would cause intermittent numbness in my right quad in my leg or even for the pinched ulnar nerve in my left elbow causing numbness in my left pinky and ring finger, AND it also didnt help any opiate withdraws, although i may not have taken high enough doses, i would say the most i took was around 1800 to 2100 mgs max, and never really repeated that dosage. I do however still have a script for 300mg x 30 with 4 refills and i have another for 300mg x 120 with no refills, just in case. I suppose i could try the higher dosages out for withdraws..........

i havent been posting much do to my keyboard, lol now it works so i should be expressing my views and ideas moe!

 

For withdrawals I was taking 2800-3200mg per day. For me it worked very well. I guess the level of addiction could have something to do with it.

 

for me i had 3 knee sugries, they say i have the knees of someone in there 70s,the suboxone helps with it for sure.

 

OK - you have officially tickled the patootie out of me.

Gray Socks would greatly enjoy being admired. oh and fyi - the "spot" (orb) shown on his upper right chest wasn't there in a picture taken one minute later. :sunny: