RSD and Pain Medication
 

Hi Pix,
I don't know whether those drugs hinder our condition or not so maybe I shouldn't be answering you but I'm chiming in because while I was staying in a nursing home they gave me Oxycodone and it helped rather well probably because it dulls the pain.
Being an opiate it works differently than the non-opiate cocktail I take now. (I chose not to go the narco route.)
This is what I was told by my neurologist. Opiates dull the system to were we don't notice the pain and what I'm taking, Gabapentin, Cymbalta and Amitrptyline dull the sympathic nerves at where they signal the brain.
Since the cocktail does rather well I'm sticking to it.
Maybe this will help, maybe not. Oh well, be safe and good luck...

Hey Pix!

Sorry you are having this issue with your PM dr. I have never heard of Percocet or any other opiate exacerbating our condition. Sometimes this type of pain medication is the only thing that helps someone with RSD/CRPS because they cannot tolerate anything else. Many do benefit from the type of meds Russell mentions, unfortunately I am not one of them as I have MANY allergies and cannot take anything in capsule form (pork allergy = no gelatin). Have you tried any of those other non-opiate meds?

I currently take Vicodin when I just can't take the pain anymore. I do not take it often as it gives me a bad headache.

If you have tried and failed all of the other modalities and your dr is gonna take you off something that helps you, then you may need to have a serious chat with her or move on. Do you keep a journal of your pain and how when you take Percocet it helps/reduces it? If not, write down some specific examples to show her so she can see how much it is actually helping you. I would search online how opiates are used in the treatment of RSD/CRPS pain. I googled it and many sites popped up with supporting info. Print something substantial and take it with you to your next appt!

Good luck!!
Nanc
:hug:

Hey Russ!

I am currently taking Gapapentin and Effexor as well - the Percocet is for when the pain gets intense. Unfortunately it seems I have about 1 or 2 good days a week, the rest are pretty poor. Mostly the Perc's help me dull down the pain enough to sleep more than anything, but there are days when I can tell you exactly what time they stop working.......

Thank you for your input - I appreciate any and all insight from others going through this!

Hi Nanc -

I have done exactly that, printed a lot of supporting information regarding the use of opiates in our treatment. If it comes to switching doctors, I am going to have to fight workers comp all over again, but it won't be the first time. Worker's comp is awful, and what I find amazing is that this same doctor prescribed pain medication, 20mg a day, two weeks before, and suddenly said "oh, they make your condition worse. I won't prescribe anymore". A total 180 from the previous visit. I wonder how much workers comp controls these doctors and their treatment of our conditions. My attorney wondered the same thing........

Anyway, thank you for your input as well. I really do appreciate it.

Hope you are all doing well, and having more "good" days than "bad"!!!!!

Hugs,

Pix

Pixie Girl,

Opiates worked really really well for me early on as well. Brought the pain from an 8 average to like a 2 or 3. I could time the 4 hour window of pain reduction exactly. I used that window to do a whole lot of mirror and massage therapy. And a whole lot of other stuff if you're interested: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread205597.html) :)

I was fortunate to be able to wean myself off of them gradually, since I could tell the potency was beginning to wane, plus I'd read many sources online that indicated that pain directly results from withdrawal symptoms over longer term use. The Hooshmand site references this.

All in all - my opinion is that opiates are awesome if used "appropriately" - but highly dangerous and addictive over anything more than the short term. I'm so sorry that your doctor is straight cutting you off like that - it is very difficult to go cold turkey in my experience. Maybe you could talk to him about the fact that this is the ONLY thing that helps and you would appreciate the opportunity to discontinue your use gradually instead of all at once causing further fear and stress and pain.:hug:

Hey again Pix!
Didn't realize you were dealing with WC, that certainly does complicate things. Thankfully I did not have to fight that fight, but have seen where so many on here have. I wonder too how much "influence" WC has over your dr/treatment. But if the treatment is bad and not working for you, then it is a fight worth fighting...your well being is worth the fight!! i wonder if her 180 has to do with WC or with all the drug issues going on. I have seen (on here) where some drs are refusing to prescribe any opiates...umm, really? I would be saying goodbye doc!!

And thanks, but unfortunately I am having more bad days than good here lately :(

Hope that printed material helps you out!!
Nanc