OT Pain Management
I am writing this as "OT" as it is my wife that suffers from chronic pain. She has had back and rib pain for over 20 years now, and has taken Darvacet for relief for as long as I have known her. Recently, the flair up was so bad that she was brought to tears - and she is not a "squirter" by nature. She went to the acupuncturists yesterday, which seemed to have brought minor relief.
We are going to get her in to see a Pain Management specialist, and perhaps a nerve doc.
Not to single anyone out.... but I am worried about pain meds from posts that I have read here. I am afraid that some of these quacks will just write script, and that my ol' lady will end up with a monkey on her back. I have also read here of a device called an interferon (sp?).
Any help on this subject would be GREATLY appreciated.
- Chris
Haven't seen either of them recently on the Boards but you need some advice from KoKoMo Dan or Carbonblob Fred. Heres a shortcut to Freds profile. Maybe you can send him a mesage if he is lurking during his own journey and issues:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/carbonblob/
He's a great guy and will hekp if he can. He has been through it with his back pain and meds.
Sorry I couldn't be more help.
Chris,
Dan and CB will "Have the Goods" on this topic.
I had pain management for about a year
And my "Go To" device was a TENS Unit.
TENS-Unit-Info
I wore it 24/7 and it was like a switch that turned off my pain.
as for the interferon, I think of that as a cancer treatment,
But it is also used for Multiple Sclerosis and autoimmune disorders.
Is her pain from one of those?
That's Avonex, or maybe Betaseron.
If the pain is from the immunune system attacking nerve tissue
(as with MS) it blocks such attacks at the cell receptor sites.
Hope she gets relief soon!
Best Wishes-
Dx
Capricious; Impulsive, Semi-Predictable 
On November 8, 2007 at 1:34 PM Pacific Time, carbonblob wrote:
hey Chris,sorry to hear about your mate and her problems. the bad news is that the drugs will help the most and you've already read problems with that. i will say if she can take them as prescribed she might stand a chance of living on them but no matter what, the more you have to take the more they alter your personality. they are just so strong they overpower the mind.
there are many many approaches to pain relief. i would suggest you get a couple of opinions. first there will be lot of test and probably an MRI to see the problem. next would be the best solution to help with pain. there might be nerve blocks or a series of spinal injection, like i had (thora****pidurals) to see if those will help.
either way you go it will be a while until they figure out the way to go. there are just too many treatments available and her source of pain needs to be pinpointed first and that may take some time. now i don't want to scare her away from drugs. there are many non narcotic drugs out there as well. for me they just didn't work.
i think you're trying to mention my interferential device. unlike a tens unit that Dx described, the IF device sets up a third subsonic wave that penetrates very deeply into the spine and provides relief whereas a tens unit is more superficial. so for me i use non narcotic drugs, an IF device, lidoderm patches, heat, cold all sorts of remedies. i have to say, soaking in our hot tub after a long day is the most relaxing and seems to loosen my muscles the best but ice is the best for reducing swelling. i just hate to use it!
so keep up posted. you may have to go to a few pain specialist until they click but remember, they'll run test, procedures and in the end might use drugs. that's not to say it's all bad if they do but DO express your concerns about it. i know you will. there's no way you can be a normal person and take large amounts like i had to. a small amount might work. also, see if she needs to use long or short term drugs. the morophine for me, long term, made me sick and unable to work. so i had to take tons of the short term meds and that hooked me big time. they are just so powerful the doctors admit they are way more powerful than heroin. again, not to be an alarmist but really check all alternatives first which i know is the reason you are posting this question. feel free to email me privately if you have any questions or concerns. good luck......carbonblob
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