My two cents on pain,
I never had much painuntill almost 15 years post. The doctors were always tellin me its in my head, and I would smirk, like DUH! So I started smoking pot and it helped me get to sleep, I swear ItWorked. I began using advil and aspirin cominations then tylenol. Y'all can say it doesn't do anything but it would take the edge off and I'd stop sweating and shaking. The doctor that I have now was horrified and asked if I'd ever had anything else that worked (beside pot). I had vicodin from my sister one night and I slept better than I could remember. I told him about it and my tylenol habit and he gave me a script for 240 vicodins a month and glyco-lax for the side effect. These aren't the strongest but as I deform and grow older I am starting to feel the old pain again.
You guys have described your pain as pins and needles. Some of you don't even try to describe it and I think I know what your feeling. I feel as if I'm slowly twisting and being bent. I begin to sweat and loose the ability to concentrate. Now what I'm feeling turns to full blown dysreflexia episode. There is no scale of pain because I'm on the verge of a stroke and breathing has become difficult. At this point I drop 3 valiums and 2 hydrocodones.
Roll it back to where I feel like I'm being bent and twisted,,take 2 hydrocones. episode subsides. Although I will still need to lay back and relax, but I think it is from the hydrocone causing me to be drowsey.
I don't know if this helps anyone but my point is, don't wait to take the pain meds even if it is a slight overdose.
john
In a message dated 10/21/2006 4:41:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Thanks Corie........I agree , Hard to understand why some people must endure so much pain., I guess we will just try to hang in there and take life a day at a time. Dan***
Corie Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi Dan...I wanted to respond to your post because my pain has increased as time has gone by. I have been injured 13 years and my pain started a couple months after my injury and has gotten steadily worse over the years. I have severe burning and needles basically from my chest down to my feet. I have tried all kinds of medication and none have helped or only helped a little and for a short time. I also tried Lyrica, but it did not do anything for my pain. I have heard from other people with spinal cord injuries who have pain that some people's pain gets less over the years and others get worse, so I'm not sure why some people are forced to endure this horrible pain and that it gets worse. Also, like you and Ron (and others on the list), I also have a syrinx, which I found out about five years ago. I had the shunt surgery done, hoping it would reduce my pain, but did nothing for it. Fortunately I haven't lost any function.
Anyway, just wanted to pass on my experience...
Corie
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 6:50 AM
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] LYRICA
Kathy and others.........has your pain increased as time has gone by ? I just passed 9 years as a quad, I thought In time things would get better but it seems to be the opposite. The 1st 3 or 4 years I could sleep like a baby most of the night but now I suffer most the nights in pain getting very little good sleep rest-- I feel exhausted all the time. I take amitriptyline ( elavil ) at nights to sleep and it helps some. At night it seems my blood does not circulate good, I think I may try one of those air pressure relief electric mattresses that shift your weight when I can afford it, I know a few of the quads say they really help. Anyway I'm just curious to know if most of your pain levels increased -- got better -- or remained about the same ??? Dan
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hi Ron,
I had been taking neurotin for 7 years and it had increased to 1200 mg 3x a day. My neuropathy really covers me all over and I can take different muscle relaxers , pain pills, and botox shots
and still have pain.
My doctors had told me about lyrica and it is the "new" miracle medicine that is suppose to work wonders. I have been on it for 6 weeks and they have raised it once. I am taking 300 mg 2x a day and they say it can be increased a lot more. My baclofen has also been increased to 20 mg 3x a day. Right now I am super sensitive to touch. Bathing is horrible, I can't stand the feel of the bath cloth and towel going up and down my skin. I am crying by the time I am dressed. Then I have to take the pain pills.
The pain clinic is a new doctor to me and he says if I will hang in there he believes that lyrica will solve my pain when we find the right dose. I wish they could increase it faster.
Kathy in Mississippi
