Posted: 11/1/2010 5:25:46 PM EDT
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A question for anyone how has a suggestion. I’m fighting peripheral neuropathy. They are controlling the pain with drugs. However, if things ever go really, really bad in this country, will those drugs be available? Heck, there isn’t anything to say that the New Madrid Fault won’t go off tonight in my neck of the woods and there won’t be any medicine deliveries for a couple of months.
Has anyone come up with any ideas what to do for those folks with chronic pain? How can we prepare? |
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I deal with chronic pain and soreness in my right shoulder, chest, and arm––doc says it's from damaged nerves. I've been taking neurontin for it, but I've been out for over a week now and it's no better or worse than on the meds. The best thing that seems to help (ironically enough) is physical exertion––which I'm sure will be plentiful post-SHTF.
For those who have truly debilitating chronic pain, I dunno. I do believe that many folks today are so used to lving totally pain-free (whether through drugs or lack of exertion) that they will have a really rough go come some type of long-term SHTF event. I suppose in those shoes I would learn how best to control/moderate the pain without drugs, and then grin and bear it as much as possible. I often wonder what people in earlier times did to treat pain. (I'd assume alcohol and opiates have long been used.) |
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A lot of people have gone to Essential Oils, massage, and natural medicine. It works for some but not for all. There is a book called Essential Oils Desk Reference. Amazon.com has it. It has a lot of great information. Just a thought. There is treatment information on just about everything in there. I look at the book as another point of view.
RLTW |
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Personaly for my self i have no need, but my wife has had years of cronic pain and many, many surgeries. I have over time built up a emergency supply of certain meds that i feel will either be hard to come by or Expensive with out some form of prescription coverage.
This can be a difficult thing to do, especially when it comes to opiates (this has been coverered may times here) but the best thing IMHO is to start Now, and as time goes, you will build a supply. and as well with your preps, OPSEC. Zar |
| I have arthritis in my shoulders and also have a nagging back injury. Every time I get a prescription of my anti-inflammatory Naproxen Sodium filled, I skim a half dozen off the top to build up my emergency supply. It's not like I'll die without it, but it sure makes life a little more pain free. |
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I am dealing with a chronic pain problem as well. the best thing you can do is to wean yourself off of the meds now. Narcotics and narcotic analogs are habit forming and build a tolerance to the point that a lethal dose may not control the pain any more. I found a real pain management clinic that taught me how to deal with the pain and use other techniques than drugs.
It isn't easy, but it is worth it in the long run. Ops |
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I have arthritis in my shoulders and also have a nagging back injury. Every time I get a prescription of my anti-inflammatory Naproxen Sodium filled, I skim a half dozen off the top to build up my emergency supply. It's not like I'll die without it, but it sure makes life a little more pain free. Why would you waste money on prescription naproxin unless your prescriptions are free? It's available OTC as Aleve and various generic formulations. |
| Other than finding a homeopathic cure that works, your best/only bet might be cultivating your own supply of poppies or kratom, but that's a mighty legal quagmire to try to set up ahead of time (in the case of poppies, at least. Kratom is unregulated at the moment). |
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the weed idea might not be too bad of an idea, but based on the fact that this is a gun board, I would be hesitant to suggest it. YMMV.
Find yourself a good chronic pain class. I did. (I had a traumatiic neck injury with spinal cord involvement that left me with nerve damage and a BUNCH of titanium in my neck, and all the chronic pain associated with both). They can teach you many techniques for dealing with the pain. Slow rate diaphragmatic breathing, visualization, distancing, self hypnosis, distraction are a few I remember off the top of my head. They can also teach you to alter your behavior to lessen the likelihood of a pain flare up (might not work with neuropathy, as it may be internally aggravated, not externally). These can lessen the need for pain meds. Now that we have lessened the need, it is realistic that we also have to accept that there are going to be flare ups and at some point, you are going to need pain meds. You can build up a stockpile fairly easily if you are taking your pain meds irregularly by simply calling in a refill while there are five or ten pills left in the bottle. This is much harder to do when you are taking a set number of pills per day. As far as nuerontin,it seems like it only works for a little while at best. Ask about Lodine, there are a plethora of pain management meds on that level, so you may end up rotating them as you develop a resistance to them. Again, with a pain management class and actually USING the what you learn, you can lessen the amount of pain meds you need, therefore lengthening the time you can stay on each med effectively. I am not an MD, hell I am not even in the medical field any more, but I am a chronic pain sufferer and my wife has a myofascial pain disorder that they haven't been able to nail down yet, so I have developed a familiarity with both sides of the chronic pain world. As stated above, exercise is almost always a good idea. endorphins are great for pain. You may want to look into the gate control theory of pain management as well. Accupuncture worked great, but its not really sustainable in a SHTF situation unless you happen to be the neighbor of an accupuncturist... |
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I think it depends on what causes your pain. The OP has Peripheral Neuropathy. That's not your normal joint or muscle pain, but rather a nervous system condition. I don't have that, but I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I can tell you that chronic pain like this sucks. Bad. Those of you suggesting that the OP stop taking his meds and learn to deal with it –– I don't think you understand. I take a bunch of stuff to control my condition in an attempt to avoid pain killers 24x7 and further degeneration:
For the most part this cocktail is effective at keeping the disease in check. When I have to quit taking any combination of these because of an infection or conflict w/ other meds a flare-up is guaranteed. Sometimes it happens even on the meds. Though there are varying degrees of intensity, the net result can be pain driving you to the fetal position because its so intense, and never ending w/o some sort of strong pain meds. There is no "suck it up". I suspect the OP's condition is similar. I worry about the meds running out often, and dont have an answer. I don't think smoking dope or staying drunk are it. Long winded TAG... Breaking OPSEC again, -Slice ETA: For clarification, I'm not suggesting that a pain management clinic is a waste of time –– they're valuable. |
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I think it depends on what causes your pain. The OP has Peripheral Neuropathy. That's not your normal joint or muscle pain, but rather a nervous system condition. I don't have that, but I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I can tell you that chronic pain like this sucks. Bad. Those of you suggesting that the OP stop taking his meds and learn to deal with it –– I don't think you understand. I take a bunch of stuff to control my condition in an attempt to avoid pain killers 24x7 and further degeneration:
For the most part this cocktail is effective at keeping the disease in check. When I have to quit taking any combination of these because of an infection or conflict w/ other meds a flare-up is guaranteed. Sometimes it happens even on the meds. Though there are varying degrees of intensity, the net result can be pain driving you to the fetal position because its so intense, and never ending w/o some sort of strong pain meds. There is no "suck it up". I suspect the OP's condition is similar. I worry about the meds running out often, and dont have an answer. I don't think smoking dope or staying drunk are it. Long winded TAG... Breaking OPSEC again, -Slice ETA: For clarification, I'm not suggesting that a pain management clinic is a waste of time –– they're valuable. Homeslice is correct. This condition isn’t something you can go off your meds and just learn to live with. I’ll investigate pain management. Maybe it has something to offer. I’ve always underdone my meds and have been working to build up a supply. The marijuana route, I guess I could explore. I don’t know anything about this route, though. For example, is marijuana an opiate? This is the class of pain relievers that I’m using right now. They do a good job on killing neuropathy pain, but aren’t worth anything for a headache. I’m not sure why. Any other ideas would be appreciated. |
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I think it depends on what causes your pain. The OP has Peripheral Neuropathy. That's not your normal joint or muscle pain, but rather a nervous system condition. I don't have that, but I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I can tell you that chronic pain like this sucks. Bad. Those of you suggesting that the OP stop taking his meds and learn to deal with it –– I don't think you understand. I take a bunch of stuff to control my condition in an attempt to avoid pain killers 24x7 and further degeneration:
For the most part this cocktail is effective at keeping the disease in check. When I have to quit taking any combination of these because of an infection or conflict w/ other meds a flare-up is guaranteed. Sometimes it happens even on the meds. Though there are varying degrees of intensity, the net result can be pain driving you to the fetal position because its so intense, and never ending w/o some sort of strong pain meds. There is no "suck it up". I suspect the OP's condition is similar. I worry about the meds running out often, and dont have an answer. I don't think smoking dope or staying drunk are it. Long winded TAG... Breaking OPSEC again, -Slice ETA: For clarification, I'm not suggesting that a pain management clinic is a waste of time –– they're valuable. Homeslice is correct. This condition isn’t something you can go off your meds and just learn to live with. I’ll investigate pain management. Maybe it has something to offer. I’ve always underdone my meds and have been working to build up a supply. The marijuana route, I guess I could explore. I don’t know anything about this route, though. For example, is marijuana an opiate? This is the class of pain relievers that I’m using right now. They do a good job on killing neuropathy pain, but aren’t worth anything for a headache. I’m not sure why. Any other ideas would be appreciated. Marijuana isn't an opiate. Poppies are - the medicine you're prescribed (unless it's a synthetic opioid) started life as a bunch of flowering plants. People have been cultivating the poppy plant for ages for recreation and medication. Kratom is a plant that isn't technically an opioid, but it binds to some of the same receptors in the brain and does provide pain relief for some people. It's unregulated. |
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I think it depends on what causes your pain. The OP has Peripheral Neuropathy. That's not your normal joint or muscle pain, but rather a nervous system condition. I don't have that, but I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I can tell you that chronic pain like this sucks. Bad. Those of you suggesting that the OP stop taking his meds and learn to deal with it –– I don't think you understand. I take a bunch of stuff to control my condition in an attempt to avoid pain killers 24x7 and further degeneration:
For the most part this cocktail is effective at keeping the disease in check. When I have to quit taking any combination of these because of an infection or conflict w/ other meds a flare-up is guaranteed. Sometimes it happens even on the meds. Though there are varying degrees of intensity, the net result can be pain driving you to the fetal position because its so intense, and never ending w/o some sort of strong pain meds. There is no "suck it up". I suspect the OP's condition is similar. I worry about the meds running out often, and dont have an answer. I don't think smoking dope or staying drunk are it. Long winded TAG... Breaking OPSEC again, -Slice ETA: For clarification, I'm not suggesting that a pain management clinic is a waste of time –– they're valuable. Homeslice is correct. This condition isn’t something you can go off your meds and just learn to live with. I’ll investigate pain management. Maybe it has something to offer. I’ve always underdone my meds and have been working to build up a supply. The marijuana route, I guess I could explore. I don’t know anything about this route, though. For example, is marijuana an opiate? This is the class of pain relievers that I’m using right now. They do a good job on killing neuropathy pain, but aren’t worth anything for a headache. I’m not sure why. Any other ideas would be appreciated. Don't read me the wrong way, I am not suggesting that you go off your meds cold turkey. What I am saying is this: Opiates work VERY well for the short term. Long term, they bring the triple problem of addiction, sensitization, and tolerance. Sooner or later, you will need to increase the dosage due to nerve sensitization, and the longer you are on the meds, the more reactive the pain nerves become. Tolerance increases at the same time, so even higher doses are needed to achieve even minimal control. I have a similar problem to the OP, I have some nerve damage in my spinal column due to some herniated discs from a traffic accident. Neurogenic pain is a bitch. There is no real treatment other than managing the pain. I am suggesting to you and HomeSlice that there are other methods that control pain without the narcotics and narcotic analogs. I had gotten to where a near toxic dose of Oxy's would barely do it, and ended up driving into someone's front yard without knowing how I got there, I still cannot remember most of 03 and 04, it seems like I was sleepwalking and my behavior was showing the effects of high doses of narcotics. A good pain management clinic will get you as far away from narcotics as possible. They will teach you how to manage much of the pain by mental techniques, saving the drugs for major flareups and enabling you to live as normal a life as possible. I still have a few hydrocodone tabs around, and maybe take about six or so in a year's time. I use a muscle relaxer about once a month or so. The bad part is still with me, I cannot think under stress, can't remember what I did with stuff from one minute to the next, get over emotional, etc all of which is the aftereffects of heavy narcotic use. I do realize that for some folks, narcotics are the final option and there is no other way. I am suggesting that before you take that step, investigate other techniques and methods while you still have enough brain cells working to make an informed decision. Feel free to Email or IM me at any time. Ops |
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Ween yourself off your pain meds every now and then for a period of time to see what real life feels like. You can build up your meds during the period of time you're not taking them. This, sorta. re-evaluate your pain. Learn to live with some. /ruptured disc in my lower back, surgical metal in both my legs, maimed hand, post-sugical nerve damage in my shoulder. I don't take anything regularly. |
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I am dealing with a chronic pain problem as well. the best thing you can do is to wean yourself off of the meds now. Narcotics and narcotic analogs are habit forming and build a tolerance to the point that a lethal dose may not control the pain any more. I found a real pain management clinic that taught me how to deal with the pain and use other techniques than drugs. I had some chronic pain subspecialty training as part of my anesthesia residency, though it's not part of my practice now. Much of what's been said in this thread is true. I could nitpick minor details, but no point. Anyone who has chronic pain would be well served by going to a clinic and physician who specializes in chronic pain. Most will do their absolute best to minimize and/or wean narcotic (opiate) pain medications, and will be delighted that a patient is interested in reducing opiate use. One of the most painful problems (for us  ) is the chronic pain patient who's been managed by a nonspecialist for a long time, who comes in dependent upon opiates, with a massive tolerance. Attempting to wean narcotics from unmotivated people is frustrating and nearly impossible. Fibromyalgia patients on fentanyl patches made me want to put a gun in my mouth ... after putting a gun in the mouth of the guy who rx'd the patches in the first place. But I digress.
Good management of nontrivial chronic pain over the long term always, always has to involve multiple approaches - not just drugs, but coping mechanisms, behavioral modification, and even psychiatric evaluation and counseling. Few people deal with chronic pain for an extended period without having some kind of dysphoria or depression, which feeds back on the pain they perceive. Most don't need antidepressant drugs, but many benefit from basic counseling and pain management advice. Even the skeptical ones who are sure they don't need to see a shrink. Actually, especially those guys. The only other thing I'll add to this thread concerns opiate use and some definitions. Maybe this is the nitpicking I said I wouldn't do 3 paragraphs back, but words have meaning and it's hard to have an accurate conversation or discussion if everyone isn't using the same definitions. There is a huge difference between dependence and addiction that isn't well understood by most people, especially laypersons but also many doctors, and this unfortunately dissuades a lot of patients (and doctors) from even judicious and appropriate use of opiates for chronic pain. Tolerance - reduced effect of a given opiate dose over time, 100% of people experience this Dependence - withdrawal symptoms after stopping a chronically administered opioid, 100% of people experience this Addiction - compulsive use of the drug (theft, diversion, deception, rx forging, doctor shopping), mood effects sought over pain control effects, impaired social and professional lives, very, very few people taking chronic opioids (even high doses) for chronic pain become addicts Fear of addiction is overblown in chronic pain patients. The real risk of ever-increasing opiate doses is that other fruitful, non-opiate drugs or pain management techniques may not be explored. Opiates have their place in chronic pain management. They will never be replaced, because they work. It is overly cautious and generally inappropriate to exclude opiates from treatment for fear of addiction. |
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I am dealing with a chronic pain problem as well. the best thing you can do is to wean yourself off of the meds now. Narcotics and narcotic analogs are habit forming and build a tolerance to the point that a lethal dose may not control the pain any more. I found a real pain management clinic that taught me how to deal with the pain and use other techniques than drugs. I had some chronic pain subspecialty training as part of my anesthesia residency, though it's not part of my practice now. Much of what's been said in this thread is true. I could nitpick minor details, but no point. Anyone who has chronic pain would be well served by going to a clinic and physician who specializes in chronic pain. Most will do their absolute best to minimize and/or wean narcotic (opiate) pain medications, and will be delighted that a patient is interested in reducing opiate use. One of the most painful problems (for us ) is the chronic pain patient who's been managed by a nonspecialist for a long time, who comes in dependent upon opiates, with a massive tolerance. Attempting to wean narcotics from unmotivated people is frustrating and nearly impossible. Fibromyalgia patients on fentanyl patches made me want to put a gun in my mouth ... after putting a gun in the mouth of the guy who rx'd the patches in the first place. But I digress.
Good management of nontrivial chronic pain over the long term always, always has to involve multiple approaches - not just drugs, but coping mechanisms, behavioral modification, and even psychiatric evaluation and counseling. Few people deal with chronic pain for an extended period without having some kind of dysphoria or depression, which feeds back on the pain they perceive. Most don't need antidepressant drugs, but many benefit from basic counseling and pain management advice. Even the skeptical ones who are sure they don't need to see a shrink. Actually, especially those guys. The only other thing I'll add to this thread concerns opiate use and some definitions. Maybe this is the nitpicking I said I wouldn't do 3 paragraphs back, but words have meaning and it's hard to have an accurate conversation or discussion if everyone isn't using the same definitions. There is a huge difference between dependence and addiction that isn't well understood by most people, especially laypersons but also many doctors, and this unfortunately dissuades a lot of patients (and doctors) from even judicious and appropriate use of opiates for chronic pain. Tolerance - reduced effect of a given opiate dose over time, 100% of people experience this Dependence - withdrawal symptoms after stopping a chronically administered opioid, 100% of people experience this Addiction - compulsive use of the drug (theft, diversion, deception, rx forging, doctor shopping), mood effects sought over pain control effects, impaired social and professional lives, very, very few people taking chronic opioids (even high doses) for chronic pain become addicts Fear of addiction is overblown in chronic pain patients. The real risk of ever-increasing opiate doses is that other fruitful, non-opiate drugs or pain management techniques may not be explored. Opiates have their place in chronic pain management. They will never be replaced, because they work. It is overly cautious and generally inappropriate to exclude opiates from treatment for fear of addiction. GASDOC09 Many thanks for the good advice. I’ll see about getting into a pain management clinic to see what can be done in addition to the meds. I live in a rural area and my neurologist is very difficult to get to see. There just isn’t enough capacity in this region for the need. So I don’t get much beyond the quick basics with her. She is only allowing me so much Tramadol per month to prevent dependence, and I cut her offer down to build up a just-in-case supply, but I know that tolerance is coming. I’d still like to hear any suggestions from folks expanding upon what types of other options after TEOTWAWKI situations. I’ve heard the essential of medical marijuana and about poppies and another plant that isn’t regulated. Any other suggestions from the homeopathic medicine folks or others are welcome. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I have arthritis in my shoulders and also have a nagging back injury. Every time I get a prescription of my anti-inflammatory Naproxen Sodium filled, I skim a half dozen off the top to build up my emergency supply. It's not like I'll die without it, but it sure makes life a little more pain free. Why would you waste money on prescription naproxin unless your prescriptions are free? It's available OTC as Aleve and various generic formulations. Aleve doesn't work nearly as well as the Naproxin 'scrip I get...makes my achilles tendon troubles disappear..... |
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I have arthritis in my shoulders and also have a nagging back injury. Every time I get a prescription of my anti-inflammatory Naproxen Sodium filled, I skim a half dozen off the top to build up my emergency supply. It's not like I'll die without it, but it sure makes life a little more pain free. Why would you waste money on prescription naproxin unless your prescriptions are free? It's available OTC as Aleve and various generic formulations. Aleve doesn't work nearly as well as the Naproxin 'scrip I get...makes my achilles tendon troubles disappear..... aleve is naproxin. No difference. You sure your prescription isn't naprocin? |
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I am dealing with a chronic pain problem as well. the best thing you can do is to wean yourself off of the meds now. Narcotics and narcotic analogs are habit forming and build a tolerance to the point that a lethal dose may not control the pain any more. I found a real pain management clinic that taught me how to deal with the pain and use other techniques than drugs. I had some chronic pain subspecialty training as part of my anesthesia residency, though it's not part of my practice now. Much of what's been said in this thread is true. I could nitpick minor details, but no point. Anyone who has chronic pain would be well served by going to a clinic and physician who specializes in chronic pain. Most will do their absolute best to minimize and/or wean narcotic (opiate) pain medications, and will be delighted that a patient is interested in reducing opiate use. One of the most painful problems (for us ) is the chronic pain patient who's been managed by a nonspecialist for a long time, who comes in dependent upon opiates, with a massive tolerance. Attempting to wean narcotics from unmotivated people is frustrating and nearly impossible. Fibromyalgia patients on fentanyl patches made me want to put a gun in my mouth ... after putting a gun in the mouth of the guy who rx'd the patches in the first place. But I digress.
Good management of nontrivial chronic pain over the long term always, always has to involve multiple approaches - not just drugs, but coping mechanisms, behavioral modification, and even psychiatric evaluation and counseling. Few people deal with chronic pain for an extended period without having some kind of dysphoria or depression, which feeds back on the pain they perceive. Most don't need antidepressant drugs, but many benefit from basic counseling and pain management advice. Even the skeptical ones who are sure they don't need to see a shrink. Actually, especially those guys. The only other thing I'll add to this thread concerns opiate use and some definitions. Maybe this is the nitpicking I said I wouldn't do 3 paragraphs back, but words have meaning and it's hard to have an accurate conversation or discussion if everyone isn't using the same definitions. There is a huge difference between dependence and addiction that isn't well understood by most people, especially laypersons but also many doctors, and this unfortunately dissuades a lot of patients (and doctors) from even judicious and appropriate use of opiates for chronic pain. Tolerance - reduced effect of a given opiate dose over time, 100% of people experience this Dependence - withdrawal symptoms after stopping a chronically administered opioid, 100% of people experience this Addiction - compulsive use of the drug (theft, diversion, deception, rx forging, doctor shopping), mood effects sought over pain control effects, impaired social and professional lives, very, very few people taking chronic opioids (even high doses) for chronic pain become addicts Fear of addiction is overblown in chronic pain patients. The real risk of ever-increasing opiate doses is that other fruitful, non-opiate drugs or pain management techniques may not be explored. Opiates have their place in chronic pain management. They will never be replaced, because they work. It is overly cautious and generally inappropriate to exclude opiates from treatment for fear of addiction. Thanks gasdoc for that info. Very useful and interesting.
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