Dear Fellow Sufferers,

I suffered a massive head injury 5 years ago, was in a coma for 34 days, and hospital for 6 months.

Things are going much better now as I am beginning work in my own company as well as dating a very sex young lady. The issue with my dating is awful. I am dating a sexy woman who's body is well suited for Penthouse or Playboy magazine. Furthermore, she LOVES sex and is just wild in the sheets!

Herein lies the problem ... this damn pain medicine I'm on (Opana 40), I **NEED** after breaking my neck in 3 places. This med works wonders on my pain but just KILLS any desire for sex. She has a body so incredibly gorgeous, it's as if its carved out of marble ... I am about as interested in her phenomenal body as I am in doing my taxes!!! IT'S TERRIBLE. The truth be told, Opana destroys all interest in sex.

I'd like to know from my fellow TBI sufferers ... how have you folks conquered this problem? Btw: This is not an issue for "Viagra." What I'm asking is if anyone knows of something that can restore my desire and overcome this damn medicine?

Also, please no comments on the silly crap about "oh, I might be gay and don't know it." For the record, I've always been a wild-man in bed (with ladies) and this pain medicine just KILLS that desire.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Joe,

Get your hormone checked with a blood test. You may be deficient in Testosterone and DHEA among others. The pain meds may interfere with them. Beware, hormone blood tests can be expensive if your insurance does not cover them. A smart doctor can make a diagnosis and report the medical necessity of the blood work

I take a DHEA tablet every morning. I was on Bio-Identical testosterone for a few months but it cause too much adolescent face blemishes.

The Testosterone I took was a cream that I rubbed onto a hairless area on my body (butt cheek). Applying T to hairy areas makes the hair grown faster and thicker, except not on the head.

If you need a reference to a good hormone specialist, try https://www.womensinternational.com/..._referral.html

It made a big difference. The DHEA helps with the regulation of other hormones so not I only need the DHEA.

Actually, it is, if only in an indirect (stopgap) manner. Mark is exactly correct; opioids can & do suppress several hormones including testosterone (which has a lot to do with libido/desire), DHEA, cortisol, pregnenolone, and others. They (opioids) can affect your thyroid as well.

Dr. Forest Tennant has written a lot on this subject:
http://www.foresttennant.com/

http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...tractable-pain

http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...in-update-2010

He has recommendations for bloodtest screenings & supplemental treatments.

Unfortunately this is an area in which many PM doctors (heck, doctors in general) are not well versed. Many will just hand you a scrip for testosterone cream (which will help), but it may not be going far enough, and depending on many factors, may not be the best route to go. Like everything else, that's a case by case basis, and best addressed with the help of a doctor.

Best Wishes,

Doc

Mark & Dr. Smith,

THANKS VERY MUCH. I had my hormone level checked and I was DREADFULLY low on testosterone. As of tomorrow, I am now starting a regiment of testosterone. It's an IM injection ... Basically, it's the same concept of how body builders "juice" on steroids. However, unlike them, I'm doing a strict regiment of "anabolic steroids" for health purposes.

So, if anyone else is in this predicament ... Please look into doing this. Regardless of your location (I'm in Florida), these clinics are national and have places all over the USA.

Thank you both very much for the advice ... it was a great idea and will post my results on this board. If anyone else needs help with finding a doctor for hormone balancing (even if you're over the age of 30), it's worth looking into. Just email me.

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Get your hormone checked with a blood test. You may be deficient in Testosterone and DHEA among others. The pain meds may interfere with them. Beware, hormone blood tests can be expensive if your insurance does not cover them. A smart doctor can make a diagnosis and report the medical necessity of the blood work

I take a DHEA tablet every morning. I was on Bio-Identical testosterone for a few months but it cause too much adolescent face blemishes.

The Testosterone I took was a cream that I rubbed onto a hairless area on my body (butt cheek). Applying T to hairy areas makes the hair grown faster and thicker, except not on the head.

If you need a reference to a good hormone specialist, try https://www.womensinternational.com/..._referral.html

It made a big difference. The DHEA helps with the regulation of other hormones so not I only need the DHEA.[/QUOTE]