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any suggestions on new pain meds

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/10/2007 8:53 PM (GMT -7)
I started humira in June.  We were hoping it would take care of all the body, head & neck aches.  I try not to take my pain meds, but, I'm so miserable if I don't.  Right now I take Lortab 7.5/500 4x a day, but, I believe I'm getting use to them.  They help but only if I double up  or take 1-1/2 at a time.  It takes care of the aches quickley & lasts a little longer.  I have an appt for the end of Sept with the gi & I really don't feel like the Humira is helping in that respect.  I also have been vomitting (just a little) & have a sore throat, sinus problems & eye inflammation.  Anyhow, I'm afraid I need different pain meds & am wondering what would be next.  I'm kind of afraid to get something stronger.  Also, when do I determine if I have given humira enought time to work?  I was severly allergic to remicade.  eyes
Posted 9/11/2007 3:01 AM (GMT -7)
Hi, I am on Remicade and Imuran and I occasionally take pain meds especially with having osterarthritis.
Posted 9/11/2007 11:57 AM (GMT -7)
I am currently taking morphine for pain, it is a slow release 12-hour capsule 2 daily. It helps with my osteoarthritis, and I can sleep a few hours in a row instead of waking up every 15 mins. I have in the past taken oxycodone caps the worked well but only lasted 4 hrs. I understand not wanting to get dependent on pain meds but I would go crazy without some relief. Wish you well.
Posted 9/12/2007 7:28 PM (GMT -7)
thanks for the repies, I have also posted on CP & received quite a few suggestions.  I'm going make a list from all of your posts.  I take humira & imuran already.  Now I've come down with a cold/sinus infrections, along with eye inflammation.  Go figure, its always something.  God Bless.

Posted 9/12/2007 8:01 PM (GMT -7)
If you are taking lortab 4x daily, may I suggest that you ask your dr. for 10/325, the only reason I say this is because
you're getting quite high amounts of aceteminophen per day, which can be harsh on your liver. This is the reason my
doctor gives me the 10/325, plus you get a little more of the narcotic, without doubling up. Maybe they will work better
for you. I've been taking mine now for about 3 years, and I've never had the need to up the dosage, or take more.
I wish you luck...

Ps. could I also suggest you try a muscle relaxer like Soma, I have fibromyalgia, and suffer badly with my lower back
and sciatic nerve, and soma helps more for that kinda pain.
Posted 9/16/2007 2:08 PM (GMT -7)
thanks for the suggestion Vicki, I'm going to the gi in 1 week.  Something definitely needs to change for me.  God Bless everyone!

Posted 9/16/2007 5:37 PM (GMT -7)
Another alternative which I found worked much better than oral medication was a patch. I still had oral meds for break-through pain but after switching to the patch I felt so much better.
Posted 9/16/2007 7:10 PM (GMT -7)
Originally for my crohns pain i was given lortabs. i kept adjusting to them and we kept raising them up higher and unfortunately i ended up haveing a problem taking them when i shouldnt have and taking too many becasue they didnt work for me. i was on methadone for a long time and it was a wonder drug for me. no side effects, no funny feeling or sleepiness and it kept the pain at bay. i had to stop taking it becasue if a new head med i was prescribed, there was an interaction. as of now i am on a fentanyl patch, i take it as much for the CD pain as i do for horrible pain in my back and joints that they attribute to the CD. I was seeing a pain doc and she was the one who started me on them but now my PCP prescribes them for me.
i suggest talking to your doc and if they arent willing or able to write you something else, try a pain management doc, if you can find a good one they will really help you, they have a lot more options.

hope this helps

bunny
Posted 9/16/2007 8:57 PM (GMT -7)
For three months after being diagnosed with crohns my GI was ltterly beeging me to let him write me a script for some pain meds and I told him that if it got to the point that I could not handle the pain I would let him know.Well I did and at first he gave be lorcets 7.5/650mg and it helped for awhile but I winded up on the pain patches and I am now on oxycodone for break through pain.I was like you I did not want to have to depens on pain meds.I shared this concern with my Doctor and he told me that as long as I take it like i'm suppose to that the chances of getting addictive was really low.I tell people all the time that there is a differents between being addicted to pain meds and being depended of them.So if you need them that I would take as your doctor has said,that is why we take them for pain and to be able to have some sort of life.
Posted 9/17/2007 2:22 AM (GMT -7)
If you are sick , do NOT wait for the GI and an appointment ! I use to, no MORE. I go right to the ER and then the DOC has to listen because another doctor is calling ! I do not fool around any more ! The ER Docs and some nurses know who I am by name and sight ! In fact, they are going to name a wing after me..If the doctors ( GI and PCP ) cant get me in, wont call, I just use the ER...They will run all the tests etc , if you go to the doc's most of the time they send you to the hosp for Labs and all the DX test like MRI , Cat scans etc anyway...go to ER and the docs have to listen....Good Luck !
Posted 9/18/2007 12:04 PM (GMT -7)

I took all of the suggestions I recd here...I'm going for a cat scan tomorrow on the abd & pelvis.  GI doc wants to see if the humira has helped the gut first, then from there, address whether or not the risks of the side effects are worth it, then of course the pain meds.  I'm so fatigued all the time & I pray so much just to have the motivation to get the basic things done.  I'm on this site all the time, but, I don't always respond to threads cuz I'm just to tired or just can't focus.  Thats why I don't respond a lot, but, I do read all of them everyday.  God Bless! 

Posted 9/18/2007 2:08 PM (GMT -7)
It can be so debilitating some days, just trying to get through an ordinary day. I think its wise to rest up when your body tells you, sometimes it hard to take my own advise, whats that saying,
"Time and Tide waits for no-one".
Take care,
Tess
Posted 9/19/2007 8:20 AM (GMT -7)
Hmm, I always used to take 2 of the 7.5s. Currently, I've dropped the hydrocodone for Tramadol. Its supposedly better for CD patients & the smaller size is a plus, as is the lack of all the Tylenol so no liver damage risk. I also take Lyrica before bedtime. Going to start back on Celebrex too, but the cost is prohibitive ( as always) even with insurance. But if its joint issues ( like mine) you DO need an anti-inflammatory.

Matthew
Posted 9/19/2007 10:33 AM (GMT -7)
My GP started me on Talwin and it works much better for me. I'm on Neurontin, which interferes with hydrocodone, and I was no longer getting relief. So he decided on this old drug. I only take a half tablet at a time, usually along with one tylenol, and it holds for almost 6 hours. I only take a total of one pill a day.

When I was first prescribed Talwin, the pharmacy had to search for it from several manufacturers, so it must not be used much, at least not in my area.
Posted 9/19/2007 11:00 AM (GMT -7)
I take percocet when I need it and it has helped.
Posted 9/19/2007 1:33 PM (GMT -7)
narcotics help and most cause constipation, so that's fine with me!
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