Crohns and pain meds

[4javids]

I gotta know how many of you suffer from severe crohns and what pain meds do you take if any.

 

[UnXmas]

I've been addicted to codeine for a long time. It helps enormously, but it is an addiction. I'm trying to find alternatives, I'm seeing a doctor to discuss it soon. The only painkillers that have any effect on me are the addictive ones, they make me feel almost too well. I've had morphine just as a short term measure after surgeries. After one major, major surgery, I had oxycodone via IV, and I didn't have much pain, even though it had been emergency, open surgery. But when they stopped the oxycodone, I had withdrawal that was worse than pain.

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen do nothing for me. I've been given them for all kinds of pains and have never once felt any benefit from them, paracetamol can't even bring my temperature down, and if I take much of it I feel sick. Opioids (codeine, morphine, oxycodone) work but they're all addictive and you become tolerant to their benefits. The only other kind of med that's helped me with pain is diazepam, which I was also given as a short term measure while in hospital, but that's addictive if taken long term too.

Are you having trouble managing pain, 4javids?

 

[heatherlynne]

I take oxycodone, super just as needed because it is really addictive and terrible to get off of. At one point during my journey I found myself becoming really dependent on vicodin so I took myself off of it. That was a struggle but I was using it so frequently and for just minor discomfort. had some withdrawal symptoms. I work in health care and have seen some of the nasty effects of pain medication. For me, overall, it's nice to have on hand because sometimes the pain is ridiculous but I moderate myself. I'm afraid of the addiction To be honest. Anyway, I hope that helps. For moderate pain I use tylenol, though it makes me nervous for my liver.

 

[24601]

Over the last 19 years since my Crohn's diagnosis I've used (at different times and for various lengths of time, but not including hospitalizations) codeine, tramadol, percocet, morphine, oxycontin and fentanyl patches for pain as well as paracetamol.

I'm a bit of an unusual case I guess in that I have no issues with addiction - even when I'm taking opioids every day long term I have no problem getting off them. But that is an important issue to be aware of with opioids.

My biggest reservation about relying on pain meds to deal with Crohn's is that you can be masking a symptom that needs to be treated and that can lead to more severe problems down the road. Not that I don't think it's important to relieve severe pain as that's definitely debilitating and takes its toll but it's better to treat the actual cause of the problem if you can and prevent it from getting worse.

Also opioids cause constipation - which can be useful if you suffer from frequent bowel movements but, if you don't need this effect, the constipation they cause can be severe and a real problem in itself.

 

[UnXmas]

I'm a bit of an unusual case I guess in that I have no issues with addiction - even when I'm taking opioids every day long term I have no problem getting off them. But that is an important issue to be aware of with opioids.

I'd be very interested to know the reason for this. What kind of dosages and length of time have you taken them for?

 

[24601]

UnXmas - I'm prepared to believe that I'm a strange one with respect to this and I think my doctors are too but they've never looked for any reason behind it. I guess we all have different susceptibilities for addiction whether it's to alcohol or pain meds or any other substances. And I'm definitely not saying that it's not possible for me to get addicted to anything (especially if you factored in all the other circumstances that can contribute to addiction) but I never have even when I took codeine phosphate for 2+ years every day, several times a day - I don't remember the dosages now 14 years later. The other meds I used for shorter periods of time - over months rather than years.

I don't want anyone to think I'm saying addiction is not something you need to keep an eye on when you are taking opioids but I do also think it's good to know that addiction is not inevitable for everyone. Not that addiction seems like the most important thing when you have a continuing need for the pain med - this always irks me in hopsital when the pain team start getting anxious about giving pain meds when we are in pain. I always think lets deal with the pain first and then deal with any issues afterwards. But I guess I'm lucky because I've never encountered any.

 

[palapu]

I have been on Paracetmol, trying to avoind Codiene and Cocodomol as they give constipation

 

[Salad_Shooter]

I have liquid Dilaudid. I use it under my tongue for a few minutes before swallowing. Yes, it works better than tablets. Plus, I am at such a low dose, and Dilaudid tabs are too small to split as they are not scored. I also take liquid vitamins. The only pill I take anymore is Soma and it's crushed.

Bamba, I do not get the same action from pills as I do from liquids. Liquids and sublinguals work much better for me.

 

[rahrah2]

Prednisone for 3 months, weaned off that, and am now on 6-mp and Humira as a combination therapy.

 

[tots]

hydrocodone- it has saved my life!!

lauren

 

[Pug Gamer]

I have been on codydramol, then cocodamol and recently due to bad constipation I've been moved on tramadol. I found codiene was horrendous for constipation for me. I haven't found any of them work at all when I have a flare up though.

 

[scottsma]

Has anyone found the soluble pain relief works better than the tablet form?

Yes,I much prefer Solpadeine.But although I only took 2 twice a day it made my BP high.I now take Tramadol and Amitriptalyne,but I don't think it does the job,for me.I'm going to ask my GP if it's ok to take an extra Tramadol if I feel I need it.I always take my meds as prescribed.

My BP is normal now.

 

[Bufford]

I take Percocete, and have had no problems. I try to avoid taking them until I really need to, that way I use less and understand better what is going on inside of me. Usually I need them after doing an afternoon of heavy work, or in the evening to quiet the pain so I can sleep.
I often break the pill in half to reduce the amount. Opiates work better by using the smallest dose possible. Without opiates my quality of life would be misery.

 

[Bufford]

I may also add that I have been taking Percocete for 15 years and have not needed more than a couple a day, and have not needed to go any stronger. The less one takes the better they work.

 

[Ian_H]

I take oxycodone, super just as needed because it is really addictive and terrible to get off of. At one point during my journey I found myself becoming really dependent on vicodin so I took myself off of it. That was a struggle but I was using it so frequently and for just minor discomfort. had some withdrawal symptoms. I work in health care and have seen some of the nasty effects of pain medication. For me, overall, it's nice to have on hand because sometimes the pain is ridiculous but I moderate myself. I'm afraid of the addiction To be honest. Anyway, I hope that helps. For moderate pain I use tylenol, though it makes me nervous for my liver.

Yea I agree I was on the Vicodin train for a few months. I used it for a bad flare and had many left over after the severe pain went away. So i started using them for moderate crohns pain and found that coming off sucked! I use tylenol sparingly but usually just deal with it now. If I need a presciption pain killer my doc and I use Tramadol. Now only hard pain killers if I am in the hospital.

 

[SB7]

Hydrocodone-acetaminophen 5-325 for when I have a flare. Usually doesn't help much if I give the pain a head start. Eventually, when I get to the hospital and I finally get in the back, that is if I haven't already passed out from the pain, they give me Dilaudid.