Pain management - HELP

[michellew]

So, I've gotten a preliminarly diagnosis of CD (based on biopsies from my colonoscopy). I have not been given any treatment what-so-ever and probably won't be prescribed anything until I see my GI (post UGI/sbft) in about 2 weeks.

I'me going to see my family doctor this afternoon to ask for somethign to help with the pain, the ilieum pain, that never goes away....it's always there, sometimes more intense than others.

Do you have any suggestions or ideas as to what I MIGHT get? Currently I take a 'cocktail' of extra strength tylenol (x2), naproxen and a back pain med at night to help me make it through the sleep hours without being woken from the pain.....

 

[kllyeve]

Naproxen is a NSAID which is not generally recommended in Crohn's. Wish I knew that as I took it for years for "girl problems" before being diagnosed.

I use a heating pad when I sleep. I sleep on my back and lay the heating pad on my tummy(it has auto shut off to be safe).

I also have Tramacet to take when I need it. And a few hoarded Percocet for really bad days.

 

[PsychoJane]

Uhoh! Naproxen might not be helping you as Kllyeve said. It can be quite hard on the stomach mostly but I would try to avoid it as it can increase the flare. When I am in pain I use codeine because I can get it without prescription, lenoltec for instance but it might not be the best suited for you...

 

[Feather]

My doctor prescribed Tramadol, but he didn't recommended it for chronic pain management (I only take it when I absolutely need to).

 

[michellew]

Well, nothing specifically for pain management per se. I did get a script for presnisone. I didn't really want to go the steroid route, but that's what I have. Here's hoping this will get the inflammation down and then reduce the pain....wish me luck!

 

[KWalker]

I think I had tramadol while I was in the hospital, atleast that sounds like the name. I thought it sucked. I never knew when I was on it and when I wasn't because it didn't make me feel any better. I would recommend talking to your doctor about maybe getting percosettes (that's what I take now) for pain after my surgery, but it definately helps me sleep. If your doctor won't give you any other sort of pain medication, you can actually go to your neighbourhood clinic, and speak to the pharmacist and they have Tylenol 1 with codeine they will give you. I'm not sure if this has a negative affect on us because I didn't know ibuprofen was bad, but I found even the T1's were more effective then that tramadol. You don't need a prescription for it, you just have to explain your case to the pharmacist because it has codeine in it so they keep it behind.

I've learned when asking for pain meds, you have to really make sure the doctor knows you're in pain, even if you aren't at that exact second. I would always try to get pain meds because of stomach problems, but everytime the doctor asked how I was feeling, stubborn me, my response was always "oh not bad".

 

[jenny72]

Just had my ilieum removed in sept. and was in pain for months before and tried everything,the only thing that seemed to work was percosett and trazodone works great for sleep

 

[DustyKat]

My son experienced quite a few months of pain in the lead up to surgery. The doctors here seem to prescribe Endone (Oxycodone) above anything else and it certainly worked in his case. He was working that, when needed, off a base of Panadol x2 4 times a day. The key to pain management is regular doses of medication.

Perhaps now you have commenced on Prednisone the cause of the pain will be treated...:goodluck:...let us know how you get on.

Dusty. xxx

 

[ekay03]

In the states they seem very fond of Hydrocodone. That is what I take for pain. I think it works very well.

 

[michellew]

Thanks everyone! I am currently on 30mg for a week, tapering down 5 mg each week. I return to the GP in 2 weeks, and I get some bloodwork done early next week as well (I've not had any bloods done at all through all of this). I see the GI on the 14th, and I think the next course of action will be Imuran, well, that's what was discussed previously as a treatment.
My GP was hesitant to prescribe the Imuran as he's not that familiar with it, he was more comfortable with the prednisone and tapering me off (hopefully in conjunction withe the Imuran).

This is the FIRST time that I've had to take steroids, when does relief usually come??

 

[ekay03]

Steroids should start working within the first couple of days. The Imuran will take a few months to kick in. I have been on Imuran for 10 years and for me it is still working. Lots of people have trouble w/ the taper. Personally 5mg a week was to steep for me. I had to get 1mg pills and taper like 2 mgs a week. I just wanted to add that in case you find your symptoms start to return when you taper. This is quite common. Good luck

 

[Cpushard89]

I have quite a lot of success with rice socks ( heat applied to the area ) gives almost immediate relief. im also on Tylenol #3 which helped a lot in the beginning but as my body built a tolerance to the meds. Im at the Maximum dose, and it is working less and less so I'm doing a taper to lower my tolerance hopefully it works.

 

[tots]

Hydrocodone for pain managment.

No anti inflamitory meds- Crohns was dx 29 years ago now- no one ever told me. Would have been good to know.....

Prednisone works very fast. I am currently 40-30-20 (10) mg taper every Friday. That is to fast a taper for me. But, I will follow the Drs directions......



Lauren