United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi there,
With my healing/recovery from my BPI, I'm in a stage where it feels like my "injured muscles/nerves" are waking up as I never used to feel pain in certain injured areas and I am now. A nerve conduction study has confirmed this by showing I am finally able to get singals to/from the injured areas. It's great news but in turn, it's giving me A LOT OF PAIN at moment. Usually soon as I wake up to various times of the day, it's becoming a hassle. I'm on 400mg (2 X 200mg time relase) tramal, 150 mg lyrica, paracetamol to supplement at times (usually after meals) and also of recent, back on oxycontin. I'm a weird case with opiates as (I've never been a recreational user nor have ever had opiates outside of medical reasons) and morphoine has NEVER worked (after operations/last years traffic accident), well not in quantities I have been given. And I guess it is related (directly), oxycontin has a (lot less) effect on me. Last week or two, I started on 10mg dose each time (2 daily time release), 2 days later, needed 20mg. Another 3-4 days later, on 40mg each time. Now I'm taking 80 mg each dose after a week from going on 40mg and it is JUST relieving pain, no 'high' or full relief, just giving me some/most of pain relief.

Which is good but I can see myself needing 120-160mg in a few days again, it will most likely keep raising until I either heal from this stage (who knows when? As most of us know, nerves take a looooong time to do things). Anyway my G.P and pain management specialists have talked about possible anti-depressant use. So far I felt I haven't needed it but lately, starting to think I will most likely need it if this keeps up (needing more oxycontin every few days). I just took 80mg of oxycontin 2-3 hours ago and hmmm, I'm slightly feeling pain but can't see any motor control effects from it on me etc, still, I won't risk it by controlling a vehicle or machinery.

I've been rather 'scared'/weary of taking anti-depressants as I've seen quite a few people (some were friends) who have had bad episodes with anti-depressants. I was wondering if people have either needeed or need them in (nerve) pain relief or know of them. And if so, what possible ones could I be prescribed (if there is a target group) or is it too wide to mention as it relies on an individuals circumstances on what is prescribed. Main reason I want to know is I'm seeing the pain management specialist in 4 days so I'd like to do some background research on them if I can to prepare myself with questions/knowledge for thursdays meeting.

Thanks for reading and I wish you all a good Easter.


Message was edited by: wazza

Hi, I have had such problems myself. I have had 5,10,20 &40MG of oxycontin and never had relief for very long. Also percocet for the break thru pain. I too was taking the pills more then prescribed because I just wanted relief. My mornings are the best time for me and then as the day goes on the pain gets worse and I'm on the heating pad and in bed by 4:00. I have 2 children and a husband and that's when they are all getting home. It's not how I want to exsist!! My husband called the dr for me without me knowing because he realized it's been 8 months that I have been suffering and in this day and age that should not be!! I was given the Fentanyl patch 50MG and 4MG of dilaudid for break thru pain and I have to say what a difference!!!! Of course there is still pain but I can function more and make it later before having to get in bed with heating pad and being shot!! I also take 150MG of lyrica at bed time and 10MG of valium at bed or I wouldn't be able to sleep. I have heard of anti-depressants as well but have not tried nor do I really want to!! I feel I'm taking more of my share of medicine. I hope I have been of some help and just know as I have found recently about this board we are not alone!! Have a Happy Easter!!!
Gina

Hi,
Elavil is a common anti-depressant used in low doses for nerve pain relief. I take 20 mg at night for nerve pain associated to a spinal cord injury I have and it does help. I also take neurontin (400mg x4 a day) and if the pain is bad at night/during the night I add 75mg of Lyrica.

The type of antidepressants they use are called Tryciclic, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine, and nortriptyline. I've been on the first two, and as I mentioned am still on elavil at night. They are always given in low doses for pain, so less chanve of tere being side effects.

Good luck,
Marieke (31, LOBPI)

Gina Mc: Thanks for sharing your story. It really shows there are "others" out there who know how "we" feel. The worst was when this initially happened (it's very rare it seems in Australia as everyone told me at the start, not many or ANY other people in hospitals the doctors know of have been suffering same injury) so I really felt alone and I might have been the only person feeling what I was feeling (the pain + suffering both mental + physical). It may sound odd (to outsiders?) but it was very relieving when I found this site and posts from people in similar/same position I was/had been at times.

Tears of joy were shed at the start, that's for sure I'm glad to offer any assistance when I can and email and/or Instant Message(MSN or ICQ) when I can. I've only ever spoken to one other person who has BPI and he was a friends cousin actually, in Australia as well!! Just another state. I guess we spoke for 6-8 hours the first time, maybe longer. Time seemed to disappear while chatting to someone else about what we were going through. Only thing is, he avulsed some nerves so was in a bit of worse shape than I was. We still got to talk heaps tho

Thanks for the names marieke, I'll research them when I wake up later today. It's 1:30AM here and I'm slowly feeling the need to sleep so I don't want to wake up my mind by doing internet research. I NEED to get to sleep when 'my time is due' or else I just miss sleep altogether which isn't a good feeling, especially missing 2-5 days of 'real' sleep = zombie time.

I too feel best in morning usually but since my "latest stage" where all/most of my damaged nerves seem to be waking up etc, where I was doing passive arm movements easily, now they are beginning to hurt like hell! I hope this means I am on the road to recovery (of whatever I can regain ), so the pain is worth it for sure. I just wish we had a video camera on hand to see my partners face (and mine) the first time she sees I am able to move my arm from hanging position to wherever on it's own. If that happens, look out Melbourne. The screams of joy will be drowning out the city for a few days/weeks

I've been waking up in pain past 4 days which sucks as usually I wake up ok and feel worse as time goes on (I guess from gravity working against my subluxed shoulder for a start). If I do recover to an extent where my right arm is back in 'working condition' and the pain stops or whatever, I don't think I will know what to do with myself for a while. In 2 days time it marks the 13th month of the injury so I hope the superstition of "13" does something (good) and I make another step closer in the milestones of recovery Not getting my hopes up as "higher the hopes, the further you can fall" but I like to think of the positives instead of negatives. It does make time go by easier

Well I guess I've gone way too off topic in my thread but at least in this forum, no one seems to mind. It's a very friendly forgiving understanding forum.

THANK YOU ALL WHO CONTRIBUTE IN HERE, your time is appreciated in ways I can not express by mere words. Much love goes out to you all. My partner also thanks you all, she has seen the joy I get from reading in here when I can and anything that helps me is A-OK in her book Poor girl is sleeping at moment, she's had to put up with a lot! We had a good bonding session yesterday and mentioned if she ever needs any of the help she has given me since the injury, I'm there with bells on for her. I'm fairly sure we'll be staying together *heart flutters * but if not, I'll be there if she ever has a time of need. The things we have shared will never be broken but I think (and so does she ) that our love will never stop. It's been a while for us but every day feels like the first day in love and we have that "feeling" for each other. Even if I am in pain and yelling/lashing out at the world, she understands it's what I need to get by and we cuddle/giggle at "the bad episodes" when I'm feeling better

I'd better stop before I start crying over my laptop, that would be a funny reason to bring it back for repair. "Err, I spilt water on the keyboard, just enough that it looked like tears from me crying" hehe

Thanks again all, I love you people...

Hello....

Just wanted to say that my husband tried cymbolta(spelling is most likely wrong) for help with pain even though it is an anti depressant, however it did not help him. He has been on the fentanyl patch for almost 10 months and is already up to 100mg, so the drs added methadone and he has so much pain relief it is amazing!!!! He still has pain but nothing like he used to be. methadone takes about 2-3 months to get a good dose in your system and it is also time released, but in my husband's mind it is a lifesaver. For the first time in a year he can walk with out bending over.
As for the anti depressants as a pain reliever we have had no luck. But best of luck with whatever you try!
Beth

Hello,
just letting people know I have been prescribed endep (amitriptyline)

25 mg, taken once at night. It's been 4 days and so far I can say NICE! A common side effect is drowsiness and this has been perfect for me as I have had insomnia basically ever since the accident 13 months ago. Past 4 days I have had a solid 7-9 hours sleep each night. I have NOT done that except on hospital and taken stuff to sleep. The pain management specialist said it's most likey I've had an amitriptyline @ hospital (or more than once).

Anyway, it's been 1 hr and I'm almost falling asleep so it's been a major godsend to me. Helping out with pain in some way and helping out in sleep in a MAJOR way

Glad to hear it's working!
Marieke (31, LOBPI)