Re: Medication and Limitations

December 23, 2000

,

I understand about differences in pain days.

I can't figure it out either. I just try to deal with the pain day

by day. I'm now taking 10 to 20 mg of oxycontin during the day and

10 mg at night. I also take vicodin in the afternoon if I need it.

Yes, this is a lot, but I don't know what else to do. Sometimes at night

I drink , too. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to do that.

I just get so tired of hurting. Some days aren't so bad, though.

The one thing that consistently helps me is swimming. I try to swim

every day. I always feel better when I'm finished swimming 40 to

50 laps.

Sunny

Marie Hayton wrote:

I am also at a medication level where if I

just told someone what I take, they would be knocked out - but it's like

you say here, that the pain "eats up" the effects of the medication.

There are days where I do "feel" more medicated than others. I don't

know if it's the amount of nourishment in my body that determines this,

as there doesn't seem to be any pattern to it, so I do not drive as a rule

- since my problem is mostly with my arm, it would be provoking it as well,

so I can't.

But I would like to understand why the same amount of medication works

differently on different days - even though I have done everything the

same way, and not eaten anything different.

I guess it's one of the "mysteries" of chronic pain!!?! Anyone else

have these frustrations and experiences with meds?

Holiday Hugs,

H (American in Norway)

"Ray

in Virginia" <hrn@n...> wrote:

> Let me

put my two cents

Hi Ray,

It is so

weird this has been a topic with me lately with my friends. The

holidays

are here so naturally I have been seeing people I haven't in a while.

I tell them

I take enough medication that if they took it they would not need

anesthesia

for surgery! It is true. I also tell them the pain eats the

medication.

This is why I can drive, and do my stock portfolio, manage my

children

etc.

You are right

when you say we all need to know how we feel before driving.

Especially

if we have an eggnog! Be careful celebrating.

I wish you

all a safe, pain free Holiday!

((((((((((Hugs))))))))))

and a pain free minute,

Deb

Listowner

egroups rsd-crps

Deb Genatossio

Planning

Director for American Society for RSD/CRPS (ASRSD/CRPS)

PO Box 1397,

Abingdon, MD 21009

Toll Free

Hotline: 1-866-OUR-PAIN

Main Office:

(office hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 10 am to 3 pm)

online membership:

ASRSD_CRPSegroups

http://www.americansocietyforrsd-crps.org

http://americansocietyforrsd-crps.org/societypages/handbook.html

eGroups Sponsor

Know someone who could profit from our list? Send our direct sign-up

URL: /subscribe.cgi/chronic_pain

or write us at: chronic_pain-listowneregroups

Manage your subscription with several special email addresses:

chronic_pain-owneregroups - Sends email to the list owners

chronic_pain-subscribeegroups - Subscribe to the list through

email

chronic_pain-unsubscribeegroups - Unsubscribe from the list

chronic_pain-normalegroups - Switch your subscription to normal

chronic_pain-digestegroups - Switch your subscription to digest

Know someone who could profit from our list? Send our direct sign-up

URL: /subscribe.cgi/chronic_pain

or write us at: chronic_pain-listowneregroups

Manage your subscription with several special email addresses:

chronic_pain-owneregroups - Sends email to the list owners

chronic_pain-subscribeegroups - Subscribe to the list through

email

chronic_pain-unsubscribeegroups - Unsubscribe from the list

chronic_pain-normalegroups - Switch your subscription to normal

chronic_pain-digestegroups - Switch your subscription to digest

December 23, 2000

>But I would like to understand why the same amount of medication works

>

>differently on different days - even though I have done everything the

>same

>way, and not eaten anything different.

>I guess it's one of the " mysteries " of chronic pain!!?! Anyone else have

>

>these frustrations and experiences with meds?

>

>Holiday Hugs,

>H (American in Norway)

****************************************************************************

Dear H (American in Norway) ~

Hello, my name is Randi. I'm a real newbie on this group ~ but I have been

" officially " diagnosed with diseases causing chronic pain for the last 5

years. I am also an RN. I take high doses of these meds to control my pain:

Neurontin, Ultram, Celebrex and Tylenol. You ask if anyone had the

" medicated " feeling on some days. I can only speak for myself ~ but yes, on

some days I feel " dopey " or kind of spacey. For me ~ I think it has to do

with how much good-quality sleep I get. Ironically, its when I am better

rested (which is rare), that I can really feel my pain meds working! It's

almost like my body is saying " Ok we feel better, so we don't need as much

today! " Sounds ridiculous, I know, but that's how it is for me! Conversely,

when I am sleep-deprived and stressed-out (which is most of the time), then

its almost like I haven't taken any pain meds at all : ( !!

And now, may I ask: why are you living in Norway? If you don't wish to tell

me, that's ok. It's just that I have two aunts that are from foreign

countries. One is from Germany and the other is from Brazil. And when I was

young ~ one of the thing I wanted to do with my life ~ was become an

interpreter! Why I didn't become one, is as they say " another story " . I

hope I have helped you feel like you aren't so alone, by writing you this

e-mail. If you ever want to e-mail me privately feel free to do so! Take

care, my new friend! Hope you are staying warm and relatively pain-free!

Blessings on you, and gentle hugs (((((((((((((((H)))))))))))))))<

Randi

December 23, 2000