Hi I haven't posted in a long time, I'm glad I found the new Brain talk 2.
My 76 year old mother has Idiopathic PN and has almost no relief from huge doses of both Morphine and Oxycontin given during the day. She is also on a low dose of Atavan for anxiety. She was also on a lot of Neurontin, but has been plaged with this itchy rash for almost a year that may be because of the higher dose of Neurontin so we are discontinuing it to see if that resolves. She has been plagued with intestinal problems and constipation, no doubt intensified by the morphine usage. She also has severe Nausea, a lot of time. She would like to DIE! She has a strong heart so that isn't going to happen any time soon. She is in severe pain most every day and Moans aloud. It is very hard to be around someone in that much pain and not be able to do anything to help. My brother has been staying with her , but is just exhausted trying to help her. She is in the hospital again because of some sort of bowel problem, posible infection... I find it very distressing as I also have PN. I had the test to check for a inherited link and they said it wasn't. My mother was a waitress most of her working years and a smoker for 60 years. I on the other hand am a Pet groomer and was exposed to a lot of organophospate poisons back in the late 70's and 80's.
Are there any new therapy's that could help my mothers PN?? What about the canibus? Please any ideas?
Thanks,
Kristy

Welcome to this forum. I'm sorry your mother has PN and hope we can help.

Have you read through the "Sticky: Important Links/stickies" section at the top of the thread listings? There is much more good information there than you'll possibly get in one thread like this.

Hi Kristy, I am very sorry to read of your mothers terrible ongoing pain, it must be awfull for her and extremely hard for you and your brother too.

Unfortunately, after a while our bodies seem to build up a tolerance against pain killers and become less affective sometimes, and then doc's usually increase the dosage, up and up to maximum dosage and then are scratching their heads for what to do next, is your mum being looked after by a pain specialist ? if not, it might be worth a thought.

I am sorry i can't remember if you have previously told us if your mothers PN is restricted to certain areas or is affected all over by PN, if its the extremities like feet, hands, i have heard good reports from people using " The re builder, TENS machines and other electrical stimulator's , i believe they do get some relief whilst using these appliances, but i am not sure how long they continue to get relief once the machine has been turned off.

My Pn was in my feet and it started creeping up my legs, i found relief with strong magnets, they increase blood circulation, which brings purities, oxygen in the blood and they cut some of the pain signals to the brain, those electrical appliances do the same, but i taped my magnets on and left them on 24/7, only taken off for bathing, they won't take all the burning or pain away, but i found they helped me considerably, but if its body wide pain i am afraid they wouldn't be of much help.

I am sure others will come along shortly and share their experiences.
I really hope that something can be done to relieve your mothers pain.

Brian

a bit more to bounce off of? Couldn't hurt.

I guess others would ask, how diagnosed, what tests...the results? All those things affect how each of us is treated [age is NOT a treatment issue!] and how we can deal with it for the future....

The pain doesn't always seem to include a 'future', BUT there is!

Good thoughts and hugs all round - j

PS the constipation could be due to the MEDS? Look at what's taken and web up the fine print...betcha the plugged-ness IS there! Omega Oil and liquid fiber stuffs are good to help things along... Don't know what care your Mom is under, but, you'd a thunk!?

is not really just small fibre autonomic dysfunction. I've not heard of too may 76 year olds with anxiety. It seems that so many of us with PN also have "ANXIETY".

Does anybody else have any opinions on that?

My PN started in 2004 and was confined from my knee to my toes. I too wanted to die from the severe pain. A friend told me to find a chiropractor who did electrical therapy. Not talking about a 9 volt TENS unit. His machine went to 400 volts. I went 3 times a week for 12 weeks. 3 treatments before i could feel anything. Each week i had to lower the doseage until i got down to about 15 volts then i bought a TENS unit. I use it 1 or 2 times a day plus take 120 mg. twice a day o f MORPHINE SR.
I will pray your Mother gets relief soon.

Pray to God


George