IMO the chronic pain scale from 1☹️ -10😀 is the most ridiculous way to gauge pain... Doctors just ask you to rate your pain, never touching you or putting you through movements to check on said pain.... What number do people out there usually fall on and rattle off for a number?

I usually say 6-7 normally, 8, 9, 10 are for extreme pain. 10 pain has only happened a few times in my life IMO

From google:

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Access to prescription opioids and to heroin have contributed to the current opioid epidemic. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), an estimated 3% to 19% of people who take prescription pain medications develop an addiction to them.

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Why is heroin even considered in determining this statistic? That is an Illegal substance, not a regulated and monitored pain med that is controlled and prescribed specifically for individual needs. That's like limiting the ability to own a honda civic because people in Lamborghinis get in accidents and die.. Sometimes Hondas get in accidents too, although significantly less than sports cars, but people still need to get to work. Just like pain patients need to be able to work. Both of these items facilitate it.

Could the 81% to 97% of us please live our lives in peace already... so tired of even thinking about this topic, my pain, I'm tired of hurting. To be frank at this point I'm tired of existing.

We're human. Were not test subjects or a statistic to create overreaching rules to govern over. Our health and well being around this topic should ONLY be in the hands of the professionals individually treating us. If we are unfit to be treated that is their decision alone. I'm personally in a situation where I'm being undertreated, and I'm a lucky one. I personally don't understand how I'm allowed some relief but the right amount is unobtainable. It makes me wonder, are they saying and logging they're treating my pain while really just mistreating oud? If that were the case than I'm definitely crazy and need to be seeing an addiction specialist, not a pain management team. If they're mislabeling my treatment plan then that sounds like malpractice. I've never misused any substance or broken a single law beyond going at most 10 over to pass... It just makes me sick to even hear a statistic when I think about how productive and fulfilling my life used to be, compared to now... suffering in pain, being house bound and avoiding all interaction with people and activities I used to be ecstatic for.

I'm sharing my experience, because after reading this subreddit and what happens in the US with opioid analgetics, I feel like it could be useful for a lot of people. DXM is cheap and easily avaliable in the United States, and I think that with chronic pain there's no shame in utilizing anything to reduce your suffering and increase your quality of life. I also think, that dissociatives are criminally underresearched and underutilized.

Tl;dr DXM can take away the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. I knew it long time ago, but recently tried it personally with my current dose being 90-110 MME. I am lucky enough to be in Europe where we don't have this stupid witch hunt, and generally I'm given as much pain meds as I need. But even I have some tricky situations and it saved me from turning into a blob of suffering couple of times.

So, if you're out of meds and your doctor/pharmacist gives you a middle finger and says "I don't like you, go suffer". Taking a middle 2nd plateau dose will prevent you from having those nasty muscle and joint aches. It will also make you feel wonky and kinda drunk. Both author from erowid and I can confirm that while experiencing opioid withdrawal, DXM doesn't trip you out too much and just make you feel normal. But still, on average I find it harder to act sober on DXM compared to opioids. Keep that in mind if you have to see other people.

I can't say for sure how good is it as an actual painkiller. It did work for me with lower back pain (stenosis and later post op pains after fusion), but I don't know if it is as universal as opioids, and works equally for all types of pain. But if you suddenly cut from your supply of painkillers, at least you won't have to suffer withdrawals on top of your chronic pain. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to take it for pain relief daily for numerous reasons. It's better suited for tolerance management or for emergency cases when you don't get your refill in time and don't want to suffer.

Before taking DXM check for the drug interactions, because there are plenty of those. Telling about all interactions will take a lot of time, so do your own research. I only say that it acts as monoamine reuptake inhibitor. On the day I take it I skip my dose of sertraline and bupropion. And I would probably stay away from it entierly if I was taking MAOIs.

Some notes:

There is a DXM FAQ that was made for recreational users, but it has a lot of useful information. There're also a lot of dose calculators online. This substance is generally safe in a sense that you won't die if accidentaly take 600mg instead of 300mg, but overdose can be unpleasant. I also strongly recomend against mixing it with opioids even at lower doses. It potentiates the effects and increases the risk of overdose. If you want to use it for tolerance management it's much safer to skip 1 or 2 days fully replacing them with DXM and then go back.

Even though dissociatives bust tolerance to other drugs, once you develop tolerance TO dissociatives, it's very hard to get rid of it.

Next day after the dose I'm incredibly tired and sleepy, other DXM users I know report the same thing. If you take it two days in a row, it accumulates. Another thing is that redosing can lead to psychotic episode. The reason is something something liver enzymes. To get there you need to redose multiple times a day, and personally I never had this issue. But keep in mind that multiple redosing with this substance is undesirable.

Ketamine and PCP or their analogues can cause Olney's lesions in human brains. Some dissociatives can cause permanent brain damage, there are documented autopsies of daily ketamine users. But it's not true for DXM and memantine. Just in case if you heared about it.

I think I covered everything important. I also recoment to read the DXM FAQ. I know how it looks, I tell people to eat overdoses of OTC cough meds that have a reputation of a cheap and dirty drug. But when people are fighting for their refills or live in pain because they aren't prescribed enough meds, they deserve to know what other options they have.

P.S.

Don't demonize the drug addicts. They are not the reason why you struggle to get your pain meds. They are another scapegoat just like you. The only reason why you struggle to get you pain meds is because someone on the top decided you shouldn't have them. Whether you are in pain or a "drug seeker", you are a person in need and you deserve to have a maintenance dose of a drug that makes you feel normal. Without any restrictions or shame. I wish everyone a nice day with no pain <3

I need to vent guys this will be a long one. So I have been dealing with chronic pain for the past 7 years give or take, it’s been getting progressively worse. I first noticed it in 3rd class and by 1st year I had sign out of PE permanently and have regularly rest classes where I could lie down with ice packs for 40mins (classes which my school only gave for 3 weeks then “forgot about”). As of now I have seen every doctor in my area and have done countless tests but nobody can figure out what exactly is wrong with me and I am at the point where I need to drop out of school because I can’t go in for more than 2 days at a time without every fiber of my being screaming at me to the point I just want to tear myself to shreds but I don’t even have the energy to do that. I spoke about it with my sister and she was SUPER supportive about it and agreed that I shouldn’t force my body to take on more than it can handle and we started looking at alternate education options. Yesterday my mom told my that from Monday I have to start going to school all day everyday regardless bc if reflects poorly on her. Even though my school have never questioned my attendance because they understand what I am going through. I tried to tell my sister about it but it took like 10 minutes to type it all out and I hear my mom on the phone to her giving her a bs version of what happened so when she responded to my message it was a complete 180 from what we had been talking about for the last week. She kept repeating that I need to get over it and get back to school and sit the leaving cert and stop using my disabilities as an excuse because my nephews have disabilities and they go to school every day even though THEY DONT HAVE CHRONIC PAIN AND SEVERE POTS. I literally spent the last few months coming to the realization that I can’t keep up with the others anymore and that I need to start putting myself first and have been going through a really hard time accepting and mourning the future I won’t have knowing I won’t have the highest grades and won’t get the job I’ve wanted since I was 5 or any of the details I’ve held onto but what got me through is knowing I had my sisters support in entering this new chapter of my life where I put my needs first and take a route more suitable to my needs and then she did an COMPLETE 180 on me making it out to be my fault that I’m even suffering with all this and I just need to get over it. I literally bawled my eyes out to her the other day talking it through and explaining to her about my imposter syndrome and all that and how I was scared dropping out would be a huge mistake and she was so reassuring and now I’m terrified she’s right I should just get over it but I know in my heart that this isn’t something I can just get over this isn’t a matter of oh if you go in for a whole week it will get easier. I can’t do it I’ve tried so damn hard. I really wanted it to work but I just can’t do it and nobody understands that. I really want to drop out but I know they will just hold it against me and I don’t think I can take hearing that from my family. They’ve always held me to such impossibly high and hypocritical standards. My mom dropped out of school for the sake of it and she won’t let me drop out even though I physically CANT go. I really feel she doesn’t get a say in it because as far as I’m concerned she’s no parent or caregiver and the entire family agrees on that but that’s a rant for another sub. I just feel like I can’t go on with this anymore and I have no idea what to do. Stay in school and live every day in unimaginable agony or drop out and still be in agony just not as much except not have an education and have to put up with your emotionally/mentally/financially abusive mom 24/7

Would Parents with Chronic Pain Be Interested in a Children’s Book About Showing Love Despite Disabilities?

Hi everyone,

I’m a parent living with chronic pain, and I know firsthand how difficult it can be to balance parenting while dealing with physical limitations. There are days when I can’t do everything I wish I could with my children, and I often worry about how they see me when I’m struggling.

I’ve been working on a children’s book designed to help parents with chronic pain or disabilities show their children that they are loved, no matter what challenges they face. The story, Mummy Can’t, But Mummy Can!, highlights how even when a parent can’t do something the “usual” way, they always find a way to connect, love, and be there for their child in meaningful ways.

I wanted to ask: 1. Would this be something you’d be interested in as a parent with chronic pain? 2. Do you think there’s a need for books like this—ones that help children understand and navigate having a parent with a disability? 3. Would you buy a book like this for your own child? If not, is there something that would make it more helpful for families in similar situations?

I know how isolating it can feel to parent with chronic pain, and my hope is to create something that offers comfort, reassurance, and connection for both parents and kids.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Mom just passed and I have my own disabilities, and I moved back in with them because of my own chronic untreated pain. They died in truly devestating ways for me. But now I feel like I miss that anchor in my life. Now I can spend entire days recovering from over exerting myself. I don't feel guilty, I lost my drive. I lost that "no matter how horrible I felt I had to feed mom and dad, most days, if I had the strength, I'd focus and push myself to feed them a meal that was better then they would otherwise choose. (I was getting better at cooking 😇)

My question is i am alone and do not know what to focus on. (Selling the house soonish, bring my things together in coherence ... i feel so lost.

Could I get that angry about "time"? A general foe that does not involve others.i miss the adrenaline I used in the beginning where I hated this pain so much I pushed my body as hard as it could until it equaled the pain in my head/neck. I just don't know anymore. Trying to prove to my siblings they left things of value has been difficult. Ugh, but I do it Bc it helps mourn.

Any one similar out there that has some words of advice?

Isn't there genetic testing available that determines which opioids work best for you, and which do not?

Through experience, I know that Codeine and Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco) deliver ZERO pain relief for me.

Many people don't even BELIEVE me because of Vicodin's extreme popularity.

so i‘ve been seeing a lot of users talk bad about mentioned medication, can anyone explain why they are bad? i

‘ve been having horrible sleep (im in rather good pain management rn) and im really considering taking both of these to get better nights. it seems nothing works for me, i‘ve tried a LOT.

what are the pro and cons?

thank you!!

My fiancé (28M), has dealt with a series of bilateral, lower extremity soft-tissue issues over the last 5-years. Each injury occurred on its own (meaning he’s never injured both legs simultaneously) while he was doing hamstring stretches. The pain is in a very specific area of his legs, which is very low hamstring/very upper calf, almost directly behind his knee cap. In the beginning, he would manage these injuries with rest, ice, elevation, Tylenol, and ibuprofen. Eventually, within a couple of weeks, he would be back to his baseline. At the time, his baseline was relatively active. Although he was unable to exercise the way he did in high school and early 20s (basketball and weight lifting), he was at least able to stand for long periods of time and walk long distances. Over time, he continued to have re-aggravations in both of his legs. Eventually, the re-aggravations began to happen just while he was simply walking. The amount of time it took for him to heal became longer and longer, and pain became nearly constant.

During the first few years, he saw many different doctors. He had blood draws to look for autoimmune disorders (all labs came back normal), he had MRIs (all scans came back normal). He was referred to various different physical therapists who attempted to reduce his pain and regain strength and lengthening in his hamstrings. However, he had no success with recovery.

Fast forward to approximately 8-months ago… The re-aggravations were continuing to happen more often and he was eventually unable to return to his baseline. At this point, he was unable to completely straighten his legs. Since then, his legs have never gone straight. They are constantly bent (while walking, standing, lying in bed, even sleeping). At this point we went back to his primary care provider, who then referred him to an orthopedic doctor. The orthopedic doctor confirmed once again that structural integrity of his legs was not the issue. He was then referred to a neurologist, who ordered scans for his nerves in his low back and lower extremities. Again, there were no anatomical abnormalities. The neurologist then referred him to a physical therapist who specializes in mind-body connection, as it was becoming apparent that this was becoming a mental game. He began living his life in fear of re-aggravating his pain and compromising his gait to reduce his discomfort. He is currently seeing this same physical therapist, and has been for about 6-months. However, he seems to only be declining and has shown no improvement in any sense.

This prompted another visit to the doctor. The neurologist he saw last year referred him to a sports medicine physician. We saw her for the first time about 2-weeks ago. She prescribed him with flexaril (a muscle relaxant) which has done nothing for him. She did an ultrasound to assess for inflammation in his soft tissues. She found no inflammation, which means that steroid injections would be ineffective. She mentioned the possibility of CRPS. However, she does not specialize in this diagnosis, so she referred us to a CRPS specialist, who we will be meeting with in about 2-weeks. She did conduct an interesting procedure where she injected lidocaine into his knee joint. She was able to manually extend his legs. Although they were not completely straight, they went the straightest they have been in over 8-months. This confirmed, yet again, that his inability to straighten his legs is not due to the structural integrity of his legs being compromised, but rather an inappropriate pain reaction (i.e. a neurological origin).

This change in health has caused a significant negative impact on his mental health. He is an otherwise healthy, young adult, who grew up playing sports, skiing, golfing, etc. Friends and family have continuously commented on his legs (again, his gait is incredibly compromised. His legs are noticeably bent, he is unable to walk heel-toe, and his toes are externally rotated). They are genuinely concerned, but it only makes my fiancé more embarrassed and insecure when people ask if he is okay. He feels guilty that we are not able to do things we used to do as a couple. Even something as mundane as going to the grocery store has become a battle. He began seeing a therapist about a month ago to help navigate his emotions.

Here is the kicker: we are getting married in a little over 7-months. As you can imagine, this is something that has been on both of our minds consistently throughout this journey of finding the right treatment for him. I am so worried that he will not be feeling confident on our wedding day. The last thing I want is for him to feel insecure, embarrassed, and most of all, be in pain on our wedding day. We are both just really struggling with the situation right now.

Has anyone experienced a similar situation? Does anyone have any treatment suggestions? As a registered nurse myself, I have become his advocate at his appointments, as he really struggles with expressing his symptoms and advocating for further treatment. If anyone has any suggestions that I could bring with to his appointment with the CRPS specialist, I would be forever grateful. Nerve blocks? Shockwave therapy? Myofascial release?

Looking for any and all input/suggestions. Since this has been occurring over the last 5-years, I’m sure there’s bits of the story I have forgotten. Please let me know if there are any clarifications I can provide.

Thank you.

I feel like i genuinely cannot conceive normal pain anymore

I got a partial yesterday. Dr sends in remaining in a new prescription today to same pharmacy. Pharmacist refuses to fill it saying he can't find the schedule 2 med and that I should come back tomorrow if they can find it. Then he questioned the dose being to high even though I just had back surgery 2 weeks ago. Then he wouldn't use the prescription coupon that I used the last 3 times to include yesterday. Oh the joys of getting refils

I read that Tramadol is an SNRI (increases serotonin and norepinephrine like antidepressants do).

Is it normal for Tramadol to cause brutal mood swings about 6-10 hours after your last dose?

Do ALL opioids cause such brutal mood swings 6-10 hours after your last dose? Or is Tramadol different?

Hey peeps. Anyone here anemic? Does it make you crave sugar? I am about to make an appointment with my GP, but kind of wanted to get some answers from people dealing with it. I’ve apparently been anemic for a while (among other things) and I can not get enough sugar. I want cookies and chocolate bars and the frosting off of cupcakes. I’m craving it like nobody’s business. I don’t normally have a sweet tooth, so this is weird. Anyone else just plunging their face into cake icing?

I know y’all will get this… you know that point, when you’re in so much pain, the thought of something as simple as taking a shower fills you with dread??? But then, you get in the shower, and the blazing hot water hits all the right points, and then you don’t want to get out of the shower. So, you sit on your shower chair, with your liquid lava hitting the back in all the right places and don’t want to get out? Yeah, I was so there. Now I’m exhausted.

A little bit about me, I am a recovering heroin and benzodiazepine addict. I have been in a medication assisted treatment program off and on since 2018, and suboxone has been the main medicine that providers have given me. Suboxone has worked wonders in regards to keeping me sober, but in the process has unfortunately begun to rot the teeth right out of my head.

So because of this I have been experiencing a lot of tooth pain, which is torture on top of the chronic pain I deal with due to a slipped/bulging disc. The suboxone also did not even touch my pain at all, even when I split my dose up into multiple times a day.

I stopped taking the suboxone and switched to methadone. I made this choice four days ago, and the amount my quality of life has improved since I've made the switch has almost had me in tears. I can't even recall a time since I've been diagnosed that I've been this pain-free. I can walk, lay down, stand for longer periods without having my back muscles start spasming, etc...

It makes me so incredibly happy that I've found a source of reprieve from the constant pain and suffering. I hope everyone on this sub finds their reprieve some time soon :-)

I (23F) don’t have a specific reason for this post. I think I just need advice, encouragment or maybe to just vent.

For about a month now I have been experiencing pain all over my body that has altered my life for the worse. The list of illnesses in my mind freak me out and the doctors seem to be of little help right now. All my bloodword has been coming out fine, which you would think gives me relief but instead I’m left feeling more scared, confused, and lost.

My mind has concluded a couple of things: fibro, an autoimmune diease, or a chronic illness. I hope so badly it is none of these and something more simple that can be fixed but I feel distraught. I am only 23 and I cannot accept this agonizing pain will follow me forever. It has only been a month but I have lost the will to live. I take such good care of myself and yet here I am. My body feels out of control, it is no longer mine and it feels like its crumbling. I understand this is what life is about but it feels like such a harsh awakening. I’ve been spoiled my entire life with health and now that it is gone I feel distraught. Life is unfair. Life is a continous cycle of suffering and I hate it. I hate I’ve been dealt with this. I see no light at the end of the tunnel. I know I need to be positive but I am at stage 1, denial and confusion.

Any positivity/advice is greatly appreciated. *If anyone is wondering here are my symptoms -Muscle/bone pain in all of my body that jumps around (can last 5 minutes to the entire day) -An insane burning sensation in my legs -Muscle twitching -Sleep disturbances because of the pain -Tingling sensations that come and go -Malaise -Panic attacks -Depression

Hello! I've tried so many damn things, for so many years, and this is the first that seems like it helps consistently without terrible side effects! I know meds are different for everyone, but I'd never heard of this one, until my pain specialist brought it up, and she said it was new to her as well. None of my other doctors, or chronic pain friends have heard of it either! It's an off label Alzheimer's drug, which I also appreciate, because I'm at high risk for dementia, and recently quit weed. Even a chance of increased brain function and memory is awesome! Especially since most pain meds have made it worse for me. I started it right when I was quitting weed, and a couple months after quitting kratom, and it's really taken the edge off both the withdrawals, and my baseline pain. Very exciting to be getting some relief like this after trying shit for 20+ years! Hope this can help someone else.

I have Ankylosing Spondylitis and have suffered with chronic pain since 2004. I was on long term opiate therapy for almost that whole time until a series of personal events led me to research learned pain. Or neuroplastic pain. Some great scientific research had been done by real doctors well after my diagnosis. What I learned from this book literally changed my life and I’ve been off all of pain meds for almost two years now. I still experience pain from my illness here or there, but my overall pain levels are lower and quality of life higher. This book had all the tools I needed for my own journey, but even if it didn’t I believe it would have pointed me towards doctors I already had access to for the same results. If you have chronic pain, you should definitely read or listen to this book!!!

So I finally got a refill of my medicine after days of not having it, and I felt weird and headachey at first so I took some headache medicine (excedrin brand) ((safe to take with my meds)) And now I feel... almost high? I feel like there's something missing in my body and like something is wrong but I'm not hurting?

Is that what no pain is like? Or am I actually just high off my meds?

The New Yorker cartoon by Suerynn Lee

This is meant for a smile on a Friday, not to upset anyone. At least we were acknowledged enough to get Ms Lee published!

💪

personally.....zofran. or a nice klonopin 💕 (i promise im not an addict im just trying to make light of taking so many meds)

My name is Darin, and I'm sick with several chronic disorders such as Crohn's disease, degenerative disk disease and scoliosis. I've tried and tried to start at home self care treatments like physical therapy and excersize. And everything I do. I wind up discovering a new avenue of pain. May anybody here recommend me aerobic excersizes for somebody with a limited range of motion. At least until next month. I'll see a physical therapist then and that person will probably be able to assist me with that pretty well. Thank you.

$15.50 USD per 50mg dose. Its really is just for acute pain. Its really for addiction, not pain. Its made on the false assumption that pharmasuitical opioids are abused in any significant number. Still it might be useful for breakthrough pain, it doesnt sound like there are any opioid interactions to worry...

But I dont think there are lots of insurance companies that are interested in buying $15 pills when they can buy old timey opioids for pennies a pill. This drug might cure cancer, but none of us will ever see it. They dont care about addicts that much....

This drug is dependent on the Gate Theory of pain, where chemical gates can block pain transmission to the nervous system. Gabapentin blocks the calcium channels, Suzetrigine does the same to the sodium channels....

My psychiatrist tells me that if the combo I'm in now doesn't work (prozac 40 , trazodone 150, quetiapine 25) she will put me on cymbalta, I'm terribly scared of this medication since I've heard the stories, but I do kind of wanna try it if it helps my pain, I'm very suicidal and hopeless so I'm willing to try things, but I was thinking if perhaps I should try something else first like lyrica or gabapentin before going to cymbalta, what do you think?

The FDA has been approved the first novel non-opioid drug in 20 years for acute pain, Suzetrigine . The phase 2 trials for lumbar radiculopathy were not successful but poorly designed. After reviewing the research I think that a proposed better designed phase 3 clinical trial may have different results. I have links to the research and NOPAIN act which means medicare will have to cover it and the FDA spproval. I have taken a long time trying to understand the mechanism of this soon to be available medication and I am optimistic.

I went to see a McTimoney chiro today, on the advice of my acupuncturist. I would go to my usual PT, but they literally refuse to touch me anymore because I'm "too complex". I have all sorts of issues that seem to result in other things going wrong.

The pain varies in severity, but it's more than my whole body seems locked, and every time I try to fix it, it gets worse. Case in point, went to see an oesteopath two years ago, and ended up in hospital two days later with the worst head pain of my life, to the point they thought I had a brain bleed (I didn't.) That only resolved randomly six months later, when my jaw cracked on its own.

Today's chiro has told me I have:

• Limited flexibility of my neck
• Forward head position
• Shoulders rolled back past my butt (instead of a neutral straight line from butt to shoulders)
• Twisted spine / Tilted to the right
• Extreme tightness of my pelvis/hips

She also said she thinks stress and anxiety have locked my system up, and my body is primed to the brim with the stress and fear response, and its overflowing. I can believe that, since I have longstanding mental health issues too.

She also said that western medicine will have me believe the skull is rigid and has no flexibility to move. She said that it has movement, which can upset the menges. So when I said I'd broken my nose twice in my life, she said that could have also set foundations for my whole system, esp the nervous system being very on edge - as did being born premature. Basically I've been "primed for fear" from the moment I was born.

Being McTimoney, she wouldn't be cracking/popping anything, but she would use "light cranial pressure" to encourage my body to release the tension. She demonstrated this on my arm, and it was a VERY light pressure. She said she might use a thing that looks like a massage gun to encourage my bones to realign without cracking.

I don't know what to do. I can see her logic to most if this, and certainly the standard doctors aren't helping, neither is my PT who won't now see me.

But equally, I don't want to damage myself further.

Thanks in advance for any advice.