Here is the question that you asked on the "Hey Lorster, Knock-Knock" thread.
Edited by inflamedOnline - 10?December?2008 at 3:24am
I believe that at the time that the post was written where you are talking about I was doing enbrel, mtx and prednisone. At one time in my RA journey, I was a big advocate of the use of opiods, believing them to be a healthy and safe choice of RA pain relief. I started out on vicoden, went to hydrocodone. At that time I was concerned about all of the acetametaphyn I was putting thru my liver along with the mtx and so was cold filtering the hydracodone to remove the acetametaphyn. Shortly after I asked my doctor to switch my opioids to oxycodone hcl, which is pure, no coctail mix. I soon became using them for the feeling. Opioids are a sneaky-snake drug with many bad side effects. Costipation is one ugly and dangerous side effect. Constipation can lead to weak areas in the colon and even tears in the colon. Constipation can cause hemmoroids. Opioids can cause all kinds of digestive tract problems. Opioids can cause depression. Opioids can cause anxiety attacks. Opioids can cause the very same pains that they are being taken for. The mind will mimmick the pain just to get the opioids. Anyway, after a anxiety attack from cold turkey opioid quit, I decided that I never wanted another anxiety attack. Never had one before and never want one again, they are scarey. I then pretty much regulated my RA pain with prednisone, raising and lowering my dosage with my doctors permission. To me it's ridiculus to have such pain when it can at least be regulated with prednisone or that a different RA drug can be prescribed. I now just let the rituxin do it's job. I no longer take any mtx, was taking 25mg and am still weaning down from the prednisone. This is long, I know but you may find that some of your pain is actually addict pain, no offense and I would strongly suggest that you use the prednisone to regulate your pain. It's surprising what a difference a few more mgs can make. Also if you are in such pain, I would talk to doctor about changing your RA drug.
LEV
Lev,
Thank you for the answer. I am positive that my pain is not from the use of Hydrocodone (vicodin). My joints are swollen , red, stiff and painful. Hopefully the plaq will kick in and the flair will subside and I will not need pain pills.
I believe predisone is a miracale drug fro most, but for me, ughhh...I hate to even talk about it. Many people get addicted to so many things. Thank you for your concern. I can honostly say in my heart of hearts I am not adddicted to vicodin. It does not stop my pain completely but it helps keep me moving. I take no more than 2 a day and sometimes none. I am sorry you had such a bad run with it, and I appreciate your strong feelings about it, sorta like I feel about predisone. Having MS , docs love their steroid use....I am not a fan.
I believe exercise is important to help control pain also. Thanks Lev, and Happy Holidays
I have a close friend that got addicted to Lortab. She almost lost her home. She stopped paying all her bills, including her mortgage so she could buy them on the street. She was getting a prescription from her doctor for 6 of the 10mg pills a day, but that wasn't enough for her.
I could easily get addicted to prednisone if my RD let me have enough. It's like magic in a little white pill for me. I feel good, lose weight, breathe easier, and I don't have any pain! What more could I want?
Not everyone gets addicted to Lortab. There are horror stories with all the medications. I prefer to be Pred. free and take an occassional Lortab. Lev prefers Pred. to Lortab. I now have bilateral cataracts due to Pred. and a loss of bone density. For me Pred. is much worse than a couple of Lortab a week. We're all different and react differently. Some of us have more of a addictive personality than others. It's between you and your doctor. Lindy Hey Lev, you better be careful, I am beginning to like you, that is a very nice bit of advice and will help me too, I wish you would be like this always, no offence meant, but you are so nice when you are nice. I am trying to be good also as I don't like to be nasty, believe it or not. Hope we can get on now, Merry Christmas and all the best for 2009. Regards Janie.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com