United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi All,

I have a question ie if one go without medication, how long does the body need to adjust itself so that the pain is not so excruciating or rather none existent since the body get use to it already?

I'm asking because my dad has been going without any pain relieve and am now in great pain. Reason for not taking anymore pain relieve is because suspect might affect his kidney. This to us is bad news. I desparately needed advise on how we as his family can help to reduce his pain. Any advise offer to us is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Hwee Yong

Hi Hwee,

I forgot - what medication was your father on before? Seems from these boards that there are a LOT of options for pain relief, obviously some work better than others & probably those are the ones with more side effects. Was he seeing a pain specialist - since what works for different people may vary, he needs to see a specialist who can pretty quickly evaluate what to try - and what would be better for his kidneys.

Neurontin, Topomax, Eleval (amptriptyline) worked best for John since he couldn't tolerate narcotics. John tapered off these during the past two summers (so he wouldn't be trying to adjust while also in school.) Hope you father wasn't trying to stop cold turkey... that would be rough.

Ellen

Hwee
I emailed you.... hope it helps!

COurt xx

Hi Ellen and Courtney,

Thank you very much for the advise.

My dad is on Neurotine and amptriptyline but the neurosurgeon said that this two pain relieve also will affect his kidney hence we stop it.

Currently, what I do is to use the nerve stimulator to stimulate his bpi hand and at the same time apply some anti-inflammatory cream on his hand. Sometimes it helps. I also try to distract him by helping him to "shave" his beard.

According to my dad, too cold he feel pain... too hot he also feel pain so now we just have to try to adjust and pray very hard that everything will be fine and that the pain will go away soon.

Thanks Courtney for the tips and advise. I hope that my dad will overcome this difficult period soon. He is now 2 weeks without pain relieve.


Cheers,
Hwee Yong

Hi, i was on high dose painkillers of codeine and diclofenac for a long time, morphine for a short time. sorry i can't be precise it was a few years ago. When i came off them slowly, the pain levels went back up but reduced after some time ~ in my case it was months rather than weeks. 5 years after the accident i can get by without pain medication most of the time now, how long ago was your father's injury? Hope his situation improves soon, good luck.

Dave

Hi Hwee..I have emailed you...sorry it took so long to answer...'puter problems!!

Lizzy B :0)

Hi Dave and Lizzy,

Thanks for your advise. I have convey all your advises to my dad.

My dad got injured since 9 August 2003. He did a nerve graft and nerve transfer. Sensation coming back slowly but no movement yet.

It seems that doing things that one likes tends to reduce or rather distract the mind from the pain but my dad always say because of the pain he can't do much. He can't even sit in the living room watching TV programs for say... half an hour. Of course, before he stop taking the medicine, he can sit there for hours but not now. I suppose we have to take it one step at a time. The thing he likes to do is repair but now that his dominant hand is motionless, he felt really helpless.

Death, amptation, all sorts of idea did cross his mind and I always try to talk him out of it. Now, with this kidney issue... he feel even more depress.

Well, guess have to stop writing too much. Have a nice day and thanks everyone here for the valuable advices.


Cheers,
Hwee Yong