Hello. My husband suffers from terminal Liver disease with complications. We have spoken to our Primary Care Doctor about pain medications for when my husband has a bad spell and is in need of serious relief. The Doctor hears our plea and changes the subject, not addressing it again. My husband has been getting by with a few Darvocets from a friend who is in chronic pain and on pain medications. Last October, my husband was admitted to the hospital and after 4 days was sent home and told to "Get His affairs in order!" Still the Doctor won't do anything to help ease his pain. My husband doesn't even use the medications everyday, maybe 3-4 times a week. Our Doctor keeps saying he will get addicted, but if his life expectancy is limited, why can't he do something to ease his suffering. Please help. C. Lewis awaiting your reply. Thank You Thank you for your Inquiry, Maybe it's time to seek out a new Doctor. One more familiar with your husbands symptoms, preferably a pain management specialist, since your Doctor has proven unhelpful and unwilling to listen to your husbands complaints. Addiction is a stigma unfortunately associated with pain medications. Unjustly so. Browse through Painlab for more on this topic. Your Doctors attitude is not uncommon. In today's political climate, with many high profile legal actions associated with pain medication, many Doctors are too frightened to prescribe them for fear of investigation by the medical boards or the authorities. Good Luck, the Doctor at Painlab.com _____________________________________________ I have been taking Methadone 10mg 3x daily or 4 if needed for Fibromyalgia and degenerative disc problems. My doctor is urging me to see a neurosurgeon and says that he believes surgery is the only answer to my back problems. I have already had 1 prior back surgery due to pinched nerves in my lower back and have only had more problems since. I do not want to go through with another surgery but he says he can't keep writing RX's for me forever. As it is I don't sleep well at night and the added stress is making my pain worse. The Methadone had worked wonderfully for the past 2 years but it seems that maybe I need an increase in the dosage but am afraid to ask him. Without it I have no sense of a normal life. I am never pain free and have not been for 6 years. However, at least with the Methadone I can manage to live a somewhat normal existence. I would appreciate your opinion on the dosage and to see if you think what I take is enough. My pain rate is from an 8 in the AM to 6 for the rest of the day. Thanks Thank you for your Inquiry, Methadone is one of the best chronic pain medications on the market. Not only is it effective but it's also one of the most affordable. Do not worry. Increase your dosage until you can get your pain level down. I have some patients who have been taking Methadone since the 70's. There are no long term effects, only relief! Why can't your Doctor keep writing you prescriptions? Is he under the impression that more surgical procedures will produce a cure for your ailments? Statistics show that 2nd surgeries with the best Neuro-surgeons have a 15% success ratio. Think about it. Best advice is continue with Methadone (increased dosage if necessary) along with some light exercise and Hydrotherapy; swimming, Jacuzzi etc. Good Luck, the Doctor at Painlab.com _____________________________________________ My husband had a L2-3 Hemilaminectomy 8 weeks ago. He did well for 4 weeks, than started to develop muscle spasms in buttocks, posterior thigh pain and progressively more severe pain at the incision site. He has had 2 post-op MRI scans (most recent 3 days ago) and both are negative, show a healing operative site. He can barely walk. Initially he did not need any pain medications, but now takes Percocet 10mg and Valium 5 mg with very little relief. He started on Fentanyl patch's 75mg 2 days ago with still no relief. I had blood drawn yesterday to see if a discitis process is present. I am an RN, so I have removed the Fentanyl and put him back on Percocet 10mg q 4h. His Neurosurgeon is in the OR today, so I will talk with him tomorrow. Does he need more or different pain medications, a referral to a pain specialist?? Pat Thank you for your Inquiry, Your husband, in my opinion, simply needs increased dosages or perhaps trying out different medications. Although, in my experience, all the medications you mention above are very effective in relieving chronic pain and it's symptoms, Valium, Percocet, Fentanyl patches. Perhaps try Oxycontin (Time Release), and Vicoprofen for breakthrough pain. Also, try and persuade your husband to give Hydrotherapy a try if possible. Wading in the warm water, light swimming, Jacuzzi, are all excellent in providing immediate pain relief. Remember that surgery should be your LAST option. Seeing a pain specialist, if you can find one, is highly recommended. Good Luck, the Doctor at Painlab.com _____________________________________________ I would like to know if there are any drugs for Trigeminal Nerve Neuralgias. At he moment, I am suffering from Post-Herp Trigeminal Neuralgia and I can tell you that it is the most horrible and unbearable pain. I am currently going to acupuncture sessions, which have helped a lot. I am also taking Winadeine F and Neurontin. I do feel better but I'm always afraid of having another chronic pain crisis. Thanks, J. Merchan Thank you for your Inquiry, In my experience, I have found Neurontin to be of little help for pain, let alone the chronic variety. The same for Winadeine. Since your attacks are more breakthrough and considering your ailment, or as you describe it, I would recommend trying Tegretol (Carbamazepine) 200 to 400mg. Used primarily as a medication for epilepsy, it can be helpful in controlling your Nerve Neuralgias as well as Post-Herp. Consult your physician and discuss trying the medication on a trial basis. Good Luck, the Doctor at Painlab.com _____________________________________________ I am a 35 year old male married with a son. I was involved in a high speed motor vehicle accident. I was on the passenger side of the vehicle, the side that hit the tree! I was badly injured. Shattered right femur that required nailing, floating right shoulder that was rebuilt with bone from my hip and held together with steel plates. I also survived an Aeortic Aneurysm that was torn and bled but did not burst or I wouldn't be writing this. The list go's on and on with a minor head injury and numerous other broken bones and laceration's. I have been on MSContin for over two years and have fought to reduce it constantly after my recent six surgeries. The lowest I can get it and be able to deal with the constant pain is 30mg x2 a day. Plus Mobicox 7.5 x2 a day. My question is will I be able to take it for the rest of my life with minimal health problems and side effects? And if not what else could I substitute it with to deal with the chronic pain? Lucky to be here. Yours Truly Chronic Pain Sufferer D.M. Thank you for your Inquiry, There is no substantial research proving that taking pain medications for long term or life will have any adverse health effects. In fact, many of my patients have been taking them since the 60's/70's and are in good health, despite still suffering from pain. Many times as a result of surgery. As I tell all of my patients and site visitors who write me, try to get out for a walk or if possible, treat yourself to daily warm water therapy. Do not attempt any future surgeries if possible. Good Luck, the Doctor at Painlab.com
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