Alternative Pain Medicine

Hi all!

I posted in the Adult Section just now - but wanted to post here as well.

Looking for some alternatives to pain medicine - my BF is currently taking VICODIN (6-8 pills per day) to manage his chronic pain from CF and also to deal with the pain that comes with his recent lung surgery (left lung had collapsed recently)

His current pain doctor feels that he is abusing the pain medicine, he is a 26 year old male (BF)

Looking for some suggestions/help! We are in the process in looking for a new doctor for a second opinion but I would love to hear some alternative pain medicine that helps with the pain in the inner chest wall + back...OPEN to any idea! Been researching the T.E.N.S machine, anyone use it?

ANY HELP would be amazing :)

xoxo

Girlfriend to Patrick <3
 

chris27rocker

New member
First off, I'm sorry to hear of his/your problems. Pain has been a new challenge for me in the last couple years, and it's definitely the hardest thing I've had to deal with.

That said, I have had experience with the TENS. It's good for surface pain - muscle, mild joint pain, skin deep stuff. For pain that's inside the lungs, not any help. I used it after trying every med known to man, and it seemed to help lengthen the time I could go between doses of Ultram. I'm off that, and now able to use Aleve 1x/day to manage.

For me, my best tools have been ice packs for chest pain, hot for everything else. The TENS isn't great, but definitely worth a trial. It's akin to pinching one arm to distract from a bee sting in the other - the bee sting still hurts but you won't notice it as much.

I don't know where your BF is in terms of looking at a future transplant, but if they put in his chart that he's abusing pain meds, it could affect his chances of being considered, so take these options seriously! Best of wishes for you both. <3
 

jbrandonAW

New member
Pain comes from inflammation. If you treat the inflammation you can help get rid of the pain. - in theory. I have had alot of issues with pain in the last 3 years and I believe it was in part to the pain meds. Once you've been on them for 30 days your body is addicted -not by choice but chemically addicted. I found that I needed to be off pain meds for 30 days before I could tell how much pain I was actually in anymore. Ive been off all meds for 3 months and for the first time ever I can tell ibuprofen actually works.

I do still have pain, and to be honest I use mj to help. I know smoking doesn't seem like a great idea so you can eat it too, but its the only thing that works for me that I can actually function on. My dr knows -hates the idea. But she knows. Smoking actually fixes my pain, anxiety, lack of appetite, and it causes me to cough. I get more mucus in one smoking session then I do from doing cpt all week.

Next get rid of the processed foods, sugar, and white flour. Those things right there will get rid of 1/2 your inflammation/pain issue. Next add foods to your diet that help get rid of inflammtion (this one you will have to google because im still researching it all - check out my blog www.insidecf.blogspot.com im working on a post about it)

exercise and stretching

next try baths in epsom salt, maybe like 1-2 a week. its super cheap.

massage, accupuncture

thats about all i have, its been working for me. Im now not on any pain meds.
 

beautifulsoul

Super Moderator
That said, I have had experience with the TENS. It's good for surface pain - muscle, mild joint pain, skin deep stuff. For pain that's inside the lungs, not any help.

I agree with this statement. TENS units are used mainly for muscle pain not internal organs. I love my TENS unit. I use it on my upper and lower back. It feels like you're getting a deep "massage" I avoid narcotics which is easy to do in my city/state because doctors are VERY strict with those kinds of meds. I'm limited to Tylenol only because of my kidney transplant. (no NSAIDS) I take muscle relaxers for extra pain relief.

I hope you and your bf can figure out what works for him in the long run

Hugs to you
 

LittleLab4CF

Super Moderator
Like too many here I know way more about pain management then I want to. The world be damned, you do what whatever gets you through the day. One of the less desirable things of living 62 years with CF has been 62 years of exquisite pain. Pain Management specialists from acupucturists to neurologists have done their best. Both extremes and every camp between has given me something of value. TENS units lay like a museum's overflow exhibits stores in my junk pile. I have an auricular TENS that clips a wire on my earlobe and the other end has a sping probe for seating on acupuncture points in the ear. I didn't dream this one up but I designed a commercial A. TENS unit for the doctor's future endeavors.

Meditative Yoga and a biofeedback unit can separate pain from suffering. It can do a lot more if you really put your mind to it, so to speak. Last year my abdomen went off kilter and NO amount of narcotics could make it bearable. I was quite literally being driven mad with pain and losing my mind was equally untenable. I dissociated from my body until it passed. This is neither easy to do nor practical much beyond a bedroom. Autonomic processes continued while I went to more pleasant places in my mind.

Going to pot has its merrits and detractions which sounds familiar. I had gotten a MMR (Medical Marijuana Registry) card some years ago when Colorado Law settled on MM just in case it was later redacted, I would likely be grandfathered in. Smoking anything is out and correctly informed that cannabis can cause constipation I have been reluctant to start with pot. I inhaled what Clinton probably did fake, and all things considered, not only would I make it legal but make it also manditory for 18yr olds and up. IT DOES NOT RESOLVE PAIN. It isn't anything like a narcotic analgesic but sure feels better. I did muddle through some on line studies and consulted all 6 of my doctors before trying MM. I am always the scientist and though there is absolutely nothing cannabis, I don't know. It probably kept me managed in my twenties and just didn't notice. I use a good vaporizer, designed for volatilizing canabanoids. My lungs are fairly healthy and though I might commit suicide from self loathing, I probably could smoke tobacco and not just keel over. I believe it helps my lungs from a standpoint that for whatever reasons, my lungs aren't tortured by each breath. This is not to be taken as reliable information, it is my experience and therfore a singular anecdote. It seems to have intangible qualities when it comes to my lungs. Ten years ago I was hospitalized about every three months for pneumonia/meningitis. Four hospitalizations a year for just the lesser ravages of CF that is killing me. I have had no pneumonia since I started vaporizing MM. FYI anything non medical is best grown indoors and in sight.

A lot has been done with the Micky Mouse brain stunners. The term describes an odd looking device that can focus an electromagnetic field into certain areas of the brain and stimulate them. It can work like magic, no drugs, no pain. It needs to be met part way by a necessary attitude believing it will work. It sounds like hokum but the doctor who first offered it up is one of the world's top CF/GI doctors.

Don't mess with narcotics and don't let your doctor tell you how to manage a pain he can't begin to comprhend. If you are looking at pain that should resolve as he heals, a potential monkey on the back is worth watching out for. In my twenties I took no pain meds. By thirty I was a month on and a month off. By forty I was wearing a fentanyl patch. This was a point of no return. My pain management is palliative.

Pancreatic autodigestion is a medical metric for pain like kidney stone pain or labor and birth. They don't often speak about how bad pancreatic pain can be as it begins to cross the bounaries of human limits to tolerate it. The worst pain on earth is the worst one has felt. Apples and oranges do not begin to cross the chasm of tolerable and unbearabe pain. If his pain isn't going to lessen and/or likely getting worse get to a pain management specialist. Narcotic addiction is not likely after a couple months of Vicodin, but everybody is different. I am on massive amounts of fentanyl, one of the most powerful narcotics with FDA license. Narcotics are not just stronger or weaker, because 10mg of morphine, a fentanyl equivelent is closer to a thousandth of that 10mg as dosages are in mcg (micrograms) and my body deals with a fraction comared to all other available narcotics. The half lfe of a drug has to do with how long the narcotic works. Chemically it is the rate a drug is metabolized or broken down. Fentanly has a short half life on the order of minutes to a couple hours. Hydrocodone, morphine and such could be a day. Small amounts of narcotic is generally helthier over large amounts of a less powerful drug. A lesser narcotic could easily be more damage to the kidneys and liver.

The doctor's concern he might be abusing Vicodin could be true or not. One thing for sure narcotic management is frequently a mess for everybody. I am successful because I can and have been on the same protocol with no increase in the regiment or drug quantity since I was stablized on it over ten years ago. My sister went pillar to post, doctor to doctor until a doctor reported her the DEA. Then she had both real pain and no access to CII drugs.

Multple approaches is a kind of moderation by not over depending on any one therapy. It is amazing what a little pampering can do for pain and for the mind. A body massage is refreshing and calming. Formal foot massage or Reflexology, a massage depolarizing blunted nerves in the foot's acupuncture points is not to be casually dismissed. Dr. Scott Hompland, a noted pain specialist, determined that sometimes pain is caught in nerve memory. And it a kind of neural congestion, complete with the inflamation. He would numb and squeeze the crap out of a nerve, from its source to where he could no longer get to it. Another odd sounding but successful therapy.

There are fifty things at least I could rattle on about alternative therapies. I meditate, pamper, and tried or use every single thing I posted on. FYI his doctor pretty much anticipates and therefore holds a bias skewed toward protecting himself from what quickly can degenerate into a medical nightmare of epic difficulties when doctor and CF family get to deal with addiction. Chemically I am fated to a degree. But with expertise, tapering of dilauded (morphine sulfate pills) is not hard.

LL
 
what about natural medicine like homeopathy made from turmeric, green tea, ginger, rosemary, cat's claw, devil's claw, and willow bark or pineapple and others?
do any of you have any experience here
 

Solo

New member
Like jbrandon said, pain comes from inflammation. If you cut that down drastically, you also cut the pain down. I'd suggest first things first, watch what you put in your body. I'd abandon all extra sugar, maybe add some Brazil nuts, broccoli, and especially "cold-pressed" Extra Virgin Olive Oil. You can dip almost anything in it; it has a stong taste, but it's not too bad.

I'd say it's not a bad idea to add fish oil. Getting your Omega 3's is vitally important to reduce inflammation.

Of course, exercising is also important, and I can't stress enough that stretching is a great tool to put your body at ease.

Good luck with your BF Nicole!
 
Thank you for your response - I do apologize that I just saw this. What an intelligent and experienced soul you are! I enjoyed reading your response as it was so informative. We are doing what we can currently - he is being seen by Pain Management doctor at USC and he really emphasizes with Patricks pain. Patrick's latest PFT score reported his lung function was at 24%, we are exploring all of our options but currently his pain levels are very high. We are beginning to explore double lung transplant options, if anyone has any information or advice please let us know! PS we live in Southern California!



Like too many here I know way more about pain management then I want to. The world be damned, you do what whatever gets you through the day. One of the less desirable things of living 62 years with CF has been 62 years of exquisite pain. Pain Management specialists from acupucturists to neurologists have done their best. Both extremes and every camp between has given me something of value. TENS units lay like a museum's overflow exhibits stores in my junk pile. I have an auricular TENS that clips a wire on my earlobe and the other end has a sping probe for seating on acupuncture points in the ear. I didn't dream this one up but I designed a commercial A. TENS unit for the doctor's future endeavors.

Meditative Yoga and a biofeedback unit can separate pain from suffering. It can do a lot more if you really put your mind to it, so to speak. Last year my abdomen went off kilter and NO amount of narcotics could make it bearable. I was quite literally being driven mad with pain and losing my mind was equally untenable. I dissociated from my body until it passed. This is neither easy to do nor practical much beyond a bedroom. Autonomic processes continued while I went to more pleasant places in my mind.

Going to pot has its merrits and detractions which sounds familiar. I had gotten a MMR (Medical Marijuana Registry) card some years ago when Colorado Law settled on MM just in case it was later redacted, I would likely be grandfathered in. Smoking anything is out and correctly informed that cannabis can cause constipation I have been reluctant to start with pot. I inhaled what Clinton probably did fake, and all things considered, not only would I make it legal but make it also manditory for 18yr olds and up. IT DOES NOT RESOLVE PAIN. It isn't anything like a narcotic analgesic but sure feels better. I did muddle through some on line studies and consulted all 6 of my doctors before trying MM. I am always the scientist and though there is absolutely nothing cannabis, I don't know. It probably kept me managed in my twenties and just didn't notice. I use a good vaporizer, designed for volatilizing canabanoids. My lungs are fairly healthy and though I might commit suicide from self loathing, I probably could smoke tobacco and not just keel over. I believe it helps my lungs from a standpoint that for whatever reasons, my lungs aren't tortured by each breath. This is not to be taken as reliable information, it is my experience and therfore a singular anecdote. It seems to have intangible qualities when it comes to my lungs. Ten years ago I was hospitalized about every three months for pneumonia/meningitis. Four hospitalizations a year for just the lesser ravages of CF that is killing me. I have had no pneumonia since I started vaporizing MM. FYI anything non medical is best grown indoors and in sight.

A lot has been done with the Micky Mouse brain stunners. The term describes an odd looking device that can focus an electromagnetic field into certain areas of the brain and stimulate them. It can work like magic, no drugs, no pain. It needs to be met part way by a necessary attitude believing it will work. It sounds like hokum but the doctor who first offered it up is one of the world's top CF/GI doctors.

Don't mess with narcotics and don't let your doctor tell you how to manage a pain he can't begin to comprhend. If you are looking at pain that should resolve as he heals, a potential monkey on the back is worth watching out for. In my twenties I took no pain meds. By thirty I was a month on and a month off. By forty I was wearing a fentanyl patch. This was a point of no return. My pain management is palliative.

Pancreatic autodigestion is a medical metric for pain like kidney stone pain or labor and birth. They don't often speak about how bad pancreatic pain can be as it begins to cross the bounaries of human limits to tolerate it. The worst pain on earth is the worst one has felt. Apples and oranges do not begin to cross the chasm of tolerable and unbearabe pain. If his pain isn't going to lessen and/or likely getting worse get to a pain management specialist. Narcotic addiction is not likely after a couple months of Vicodin, but everybody is different. I am on massive amounts of fentanyl, one of the most powerful narcotics with FDA license. Narcotics are not just stronger or weaker, because 10mg of morphine, a fentanyl equivelent is closer to a thousandth of that 10mg as dosages are in mcg (micrograms) and my body deals with a fraction comared to all other available narcotics. The half lfe of a drug has to do with how long the narcotic works. Chemically it is the rate a drug is metabolized or broken down. Fentanly has a short half life on the order of minutes to a couple hours. Hydrocodone, morphine and such could be a day. Small amounts of narcotic is generally helthier over large amounts of a less powerful drug. A lesser narcotic could easily be more damage to the kidneys and liver.

The doctor's concern he might be abusing Vicodin could be true or not. One thing for sure narcotic management is frequently a mess for everybody. I am successful because I can and have been on the same protocol with no increase in the regiment or drug quantity since I was stablized on it over ten years ago. My sister went pillar to post, doctor to doctor until a doctor reported her the DEA. Then she had both real pain and no access to CII drugs.

Multple approaches is a kind of moderation by not over depending on any one therapy. It is amazing what a little pampering can do for pain and for the mind. A body massage is refreshing and calming. Formal foot massage or Reflexology, a massage depolarizing blunted nerves in the foot's acupuncture points is not to be casually dismissed. Dr. Scott Hompland, a noted pain specialist, determined that sometimes pain is caught in nerve memory. And it a kind of neural congestion, complete with the inflamation. He would numb and squeeze the crap out of a nerve, from its source to where he could no longer get to it. Another odd sounding but successful therapy.

There are fifty things at least I could rattle on about alternative therapies. I meditate, pamper, and tried or use every single thing I posted on. FYI his doctor pretty much anticipates and therefore holds a bias skewed toward protecting himself from what quickly can degenerate into a medical nightmare of epic difficulties when doctor and CF family get to deal with addiction. Chemically I am fated to a degree. But with expertise, tapering of dilauded (morphine sulfate pills) is not hard.

LL
 
G

goherbs87654

Guest
Hey, sorry to hear about your bf. It seems that you are very loving and caring for him. Anyway, I don't know much about medicines and stuff but what we use here are herbal medicines. Maybe you can consult with your elderly relatives or friends on what herbal medicines works for that kind of condition.
 
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