Pain Meds

[valeriedl]

I don't know if it's just me but it seems like any time that I have a problem that needs pain medication, the medicine doesn't seem to do a thing for me.

I have problems with my back and it seems every few months the pain gets so bad that I have to go to the dr and get a pescription. This last time that my back acted up again I still had some pills at home that I took, but I made an appt with the dr also. I asked him for something stronger and he gave it to me, but even that didn't seem to help.

Could having epilepsy or some of the epilepsy meds have something to do with the pain meds not working?

[mel239]

I was given -forgot what-from doc for lower back pain-didnt work so he gave me tramadol-just like eating sweetarts-no effect.Ive also noticed that even ibuprofen doesnt do a thing for headaches.So you may be onto something.

[Birdbomb]

Over the last 40+ years I think I have taken almost everything out there for my Osteoarthritis and RA and now I take morphine, but it doesn't seen help my back pain either. There is one and it's an OTC pain reliever ALEVE.

When was the last time you had your back evaluated? Mine was in 04 when we had a bad auto accident until now. My pain management doctor has ordered new films to see how much more damage there is. You might want to get a referral to a pan management physician. They don't mess around either.

[Endless]

Valerie,

What a great question. I used to take hydrocodone for my migraines. Now that my seizures are under control I hardly ever get them (the headaches are postictal). The hydrocodone didn't even put a dent in the headaches, then (before meds and with seizures), or now (with the occational headache). I wonder if it's the seizures, or the seizure-type brain and not the meds that makes the difference?

On a different question in the same category, my doc had me take a meperidine before my surgery to see if I could tolerate it. Kind of a pre-trial because I have a terrible time with any kind of meds. Anyway, about 12 hours after I took the meperidine, after it had completely worn off, I had an all day aura and two simple partials. I think that painkillers are a seizure trigger for me. That seems counter intuitive.

Anybody else had a seizure from taking painkillers?

It makes me want to never take them again and just grit my teeth and live through the pain after surgery instead. We'll see if I still think that way afterwards when I'm in pain. lol...

[mel239]

I will have to start looking for a connection.In my personal,untrained opinion,I think the anti-epileptic drugs dull the brains senses and they cant respond fully to painkillers.I had 5 injections thru pain mgmt in Apr and may.I think they were great.Had a followup-he was very pleased,said we could do another series in 3 mos. and call him if I felt the need.Couldnt even lift my arms to peel a potato or do anything counter-high.Now,have a hard time getting out of bed,but ZERO pain after Ive been up an hour.

[Birdbomb]

<snip>...Couldnt even lift my arms to peel a potato or do anything counter-high.Now,have a hard time getting out of bed,but ZERO pain after Ive been up an hour.

OMG! I'm like that too. May I ask do you have both fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis? The fatigue is unbelievable. My fibro is being treated with Cymbalta, it helps quite a bit but I tire quickly.

[Nakamova]

I was prescribed percocet for post shoulder surgery pain last year, and it did seem to do the trick. However, it's possible that my pain was not as bad as what some of you have described above, and my anti-epileptic drug dose is relatively low so it may not have been enough to interfere.

I also wonder if certain kinds of epilepsy are more likely to be desensitized (by either the seizures or the meds) to pain relievers.

[valeriedl]

It was about a year ago that the dr did the tests on me and found out that I have a slipped disc and arthritis. I don't remember exactally what type of arthritis it is but I think it was rheumatoid.

I do take a TON of epilepsy meds plus I have a VNS implant.

As you said Mel that the epilepsy drugs do things to the brain, and I'm sure that the implant does it too. Having epilepsy messes with your brain in general too.

My husband also had a pain killer (don't remember what type) but it was very strong. When he takes it he gets "doped", if that's how you describe it, on it. He kept asking me if I was ok or felt wierd, but nope I was fine. I think it did dull the pain a little, but not like I believe it should have considering how strong he said it was.

[mel239]

No arthritis after they took xrays,gave me steroids for swelling though.I dont think I have the pain points all over for fibro,just the area in my lower back and shots did the trick although it feels locked up in the morning

[little fruitcake]

Val I have noticed the same results with pain meds but never connected this with my E-meds. I have an old shoulder injury and have been given several different pain meds that other people say knock them out. But they have little effect on me. Now I just take a BC powder and put on a Ben Gay heat patch and I get some relief from those. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.