Non-narcotic pain relievers?

[adina91]

You couldn't have said it better. That is exactly how I feel. But, you are right! I shouldn't have to justify it to anyone and feel ashamed. I think that a good pain management doc is the ticket for me, I don't know why I have been putting it off. I made an appt with my PCP for a referral today.

Beth - are you thinking of doing the same?

[ams5796]

I guess what always puzzles me is how surprised my oncologist is when I tell him about the rectal pain that I have. Am I really his only rectal cancer patient that experiences this?

Ann

[Bill5107]

Hmm...at times I wonder about my Oxycontin. . . I'm not clear how much I need it if chemo is really working, but no-one wants to talk to me about it. They'll say something like "yes Bill, you are comfortable because the pain meds are working..." not really answering whether or not it's likely that I even really need them now. 'course I'm more than a little worried that they are of course 100% right and then I'll be in pain and have to get back on lol! Feels a bit like catch-22.

It's a good reminder anyway Liz. . . I'll keep your comments in mind next time I ask about it.

[beth568]

I guess what always puzzles me is how surprised my oncologist is when I tell him about the rectal pain that I have. Am I really his only rectal cancer patient that experiences this?

I'm often surprised by the same thing. My current onc is just out of a fellowship, so he's still relatively new to this, and I can understand that he hasn't seen it all yet. But even some of the most experienced docs don't always seem to understand exactly what happens with us. I suspect it may be because there are lots of people who are embarrassed to ask about it, either because they don't want to talk about their bowel habits or because they don't want to "bother" the docs with questions.

I'm going to ask for a referral to the pain management clinic at MGH. I had a great experience with them when I had my leaking epidural and associated brutal headache. And yes, Liz is right - it's wonderful to have someone take your pain seriously. In the mean time, I do get some relief from hot baths, higher doses of ibuprofen, Calmoseptine, heating pads, etc. It's just that I have periodic episodes that are much, much worse, and I want to have something in my arsenal to deal with them.

Thanks for all these wonderful responses. It really does help to know that you guys understand the experience. My husband seems continually baffled by this, even though I've explained to him exactly what's going on. I think it's hard to imagine what this pain is like if you haven't experienced it. I'm not quite ready to consider a permanent ostomy yet, but I do need to find a way to change this pattern, I think.

[Guinevere]

Tramadol

^ This is what I take and it helps. Only side effect seems to be an upset stomach sometimes later after it wears off.

Beth, my surgeon was kind of taken aback by the pain I was experiencing before the surgery and it wasn't until my onc asked about it that she realized just how much pain I was in. By that time, I was taking Tramadol but, sometimes, it wasn't enough. I'm allergic to anything Codeine even synthetics so she prescribed Dilaudid. Ahhhhhh...sweet relief!! I only took it when I needed to but, like you, was glad I had "big gun" in the arsenal to help with the pain. I know it's narcotic but it could be that, sometimes, that's what you need. The pain management clinic sounds like a good idea as well. That option wasn't open to me.

[jeanette57]

Great topic! I am a careful diabetic, 2 weeks ago started stage 3 colon treatment. I came in with 35 "kidney killers" medications the surgeon, on doc or radiation are not allowed to give me. Advil and over the counters on the kidney list. I am taking small amounts of Tramadol, no problem or side effect. when pain get to bad will have Fentanal patches (spelling). I am on a Brat diet but taking st paddys off to eat real food but no beer.. oh well

In CO my friend juices Mary Jane and has great results - Az not into the medical mj but On doc believes in it! Stuff stinks but did watch YouTube video- so it may help. In just not ready for that stuff. I hopr to god the nurses are correct you can not get addict if your in pain.

I have to stay up until I finish my 32 oz drink-my beloved caregivers are worst than military. Yick- I have to eat 80 grams of protein tuesday-yuck oh well treatment isn;t to bad in week 3!
jeanette

[tdsamal]

After my lung resection I had horrible pain that could not be controlled so the surgeon sent me to a pain specialist. This was not a good experience for me. His office was filled with people who were trying to get off drugs and the only thing he wanted to do was put me on Methadone and give me injections in my spine. I wouldn't agree to it because of the injections (honestly didn't think I needed them). I thought he was crazy and couldn't get out of the office soon enough. Later though I heard of people taking Methadone for pain with great results. Maybe I should have given it a try but I just didn't feel at that point it was an option for me. It really scared me. Just sharing my experience with you. Good luck!
Tammy

[beccab1]

Eric has had a lot of pain issues because of late radiation damage. He used percocet and then vicodin and ended up abusing them. Now that narcotics are off the table, he has successfully been able to take tramadol responsibly as directed by his surgeon. He maxes out at 4 per day (I count them all the time because of what happended when he was taking vicodin) and sometimes he doesn't take more than one. He says it really helps and he doesn't get the the euphoria that caused his problems with the narcotic pain killers.

[gracie]

My GI Doctor gave me Ultram for this pain? The pain was severe accross my hips and rectum. Then my Onc gave me q 12 Oxicoten.

It totally shut down my system for better than 6 days. I was having to take Laxatives and nothing was helping me much. I did ask for Percocet and leave the Oxicoten off. (He refused me?) He said I had to have both.

I went to my Radiation dept and told how the Oxicoten did my system so she put in the same PC system all Doctors are suppose to read, (No Oxicoten)
I told her the percocet did work and she gave me a script for it.
It got pretty easy if the Onc refused me what I really needed I just went to the radiation dept and got what worked for me.

I only took the Percocet until the radiation and 5FU was working and the pain not so bad.
When the percocet worked so well, I still wonder why the Onc wanted me to take 'Both' the Oxicoten and Percocet and refused to give me Percocet unless I took the Oxicoten too?
gracie

[BrownBagger]

Ultran is Tramadol. I do get mild euphoria from Tramadol, and my doc prescribes it both as a pain reliever and a mild mood enhancer. It works well for me--one (50 mg tab) first thing in the morning is usually all I need. Been doing that for years and I've never developed a tolerance or constipation nor had a bad experience with it. For me, it's just about the perfect drug. It's a prescription drug, but not technically a narcotic.