[chaos]

Yay? I'm just wondering what I need to ask for to deal with the breakthrough pain. I'm worried about going through more med trials. Maybe somebody here can offer a suggestion of a really good drug that will work for me. Here is what I've dealt with already (during this or in the past).

Currently taking:
Oxcarbazepine, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Levothyroxine, B12 combo w ALA and some other stuff, Magnesium, medical marijuana, mirapex

What hasn't worked:
Gabapentin (made me too stupid),
Tramadol (horrible reaction that involved puking),
Vicodin (either doesn't work or if I take enough for it to work it does my stomach hurts even w food),
Percocet (I got addicted in hospital off half what I was told to take, took 6 weeks to ramp down and stop, but man that was a good high)
Advil (I can take it on a case by case basis, but not continuously or my stomach will hurt)
Despiramine (took it at night, woke up all sweaty and feeling horrible at a really low dose, had to stop it)

I have to work, I already have a harder time concentrating on work. I can't be all spaced out all the time. The pot works to help me deal with most things, but I can't use it at work, and it only helps so much. I need something for breakthrough pain and also when I'm at work. So I'm guessing maybe two things. I also have a generic only rx plan, at least until Nov when it renews. I can't afford anything out of pocket right now, at least for a few months from now.

I'm kind of afraid to take more opiates considering what happened with the percocet. I need something that works, doesn't make me "high" (I could have one that does that as long as I have another option for work, I can be as high as a kite the other 16 hrs in the day as long as I'm good for work), doesn't upset my stomach, and something non-addictive.

So what are my options?

[pabb]

ordinarily you don't get high unless you are taking more than you need. Have you tried Morphine? Methadone?

[chaos]

I've had morphine twice, both times in the hospital via IV. The first time was when I was induced to have my daughter, I felt like I was going to puke until I actually fell asleep. The second time was when I was burned, I don't remember what happened then, it helped obviously as I was in extreme pain.

I have not had methadone. I read it's a synthetic and my brother mentioned he has a hard time with synthetics, so I don't know how it'll affect me. I have thought about it, maybe try it on a day I don't have to do anything and see how I feel. It'll either work or it won't.

And yeah, the percocet did get me high off a low dose. I read about an enzyme CYP2D6, that I might have a hard time with some opiates because of this enzyme. This might be what caused me to get addicted off the lower dose and feel the euphoria from it. I still need to understand this part of it and talk to the doctor about it.

I have a couple hours until I go if anybody has any suggestions.

[Wide-O]

If you worry about addiction, I would really stay away from methadone.

I have seen people trying to kick that habit, and it's plain horror. It's easier to kick off heroïne...

I would really only consider it as a last resort IMHO.

[chaos]

Yeah, so much fun trying to find something to help me that won't make me addicted, will actually work, and not make me totally sick!

[chaos]

Well, she wants to do an MRI to make sure I don't have MS. She was really surprised it hadn't been done yet. She got me a prescrip for Lidocain and Capsacian creams. Gave me info on a stimulator implant. I'd love to hear from any of you who have one of those. She went over med options, but I think I want to look into the stimulator first.

[mrsD]

We have a forum for the SCS implants. There have been some
posters there using this implant for PN pain.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum118.html

[Wide-O]

For a bit of fun you can also make your own capsaicin cream, and experiment with the strength that works best for you:

For example:

2 Tablespoons Habanero Powder
2 Cups Olive Oil
¼ cup Beeswax

You'd heat this up to melt the wax, let it cool, and put it in a jar. A little sting when applying is normal, but it shouldn't burn, so you may need to experiment with the ingredients.
This would make a high strength cream with only natural ingredients. For even more fun, grow your own peppers.

(Warning: always wear gloves when handling the powder or peppers.)

[mrsD]

I use Cayenne pepper I get in large size containers to keep rodents out of the flower pots and plantings. I sprinkle some on the soil, and they get a snoot full once and never come back!

I can't stand the pepper creams on my skin however, so I don't use them.

[Wide-O]

Oh sure, it doesn't work for everyone. Could this - in your case - be linked to not digesting nightshades easily?

I should have added that in case of skin reaction, the cream should be disused immediately. I only mentioned it because Chaos doc. recommended them.