Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group pain meds morphine

Forgive the obvious but is anyone on morphine. I am on codeine/paracetamol, tramadol, celebrex, but still cannot get more than 3 hours sleep before phase 8 pain and stiffness racks me out and up I get. I found skin patches good but being stoned all the time made for some problems with exercise (e.g. a bicycle crash I am still recovering from 4 years later).

I don't qualify for biologics and don't like the sounds of it. Oh, and my wife is sick of living with a downer depressed pain dude so she, fair enough, wants out. She will take the early teen kids and I am planning, though poverty, to undertake the life of a cycling hobo in Australia. Work's getting too hard, gave up full time 5 years ago, but now getting constant work injuries though bamboo spine and overstrained muscles. No more work. There's the scene.

Any ideas?

Cymbalta has been a miracle med for me and my two sisters.

As for narcotics, I would recommend you fast cycle through a few more to see how you do.By "fast cycle" I mean ask your doctor to prescribe 3-6 doses of each medicine, and let you try several 1-2 day trials.

Narcotics are my only option for breakthrough pain now, because of the NSAID allergy.

Morphine takes the pain away for me, but it also takes away my ability to sleep.

Tramadol relieves pain, but I can't sleep, and I get back spasms.

Codeine works great for pain, but it makes me VERY constipated and I can't breathe if I take more than 15mg.

Oxycodone works great for pain, however I inebriated on 1/2 of a 5mg tablet.

Dilaudid gives me a horrible headache.

I'm going to probably try a couple more, but for now I am going to stick with codeine for daytime pain and just have a small prescription of oxycodone around for severe pain flares.

Sorry the marriage is going south. That's sad.

Hi Scotty,

That is a difficult scene. I am sorry that your wife wants out. AS can be quite an endurance test, for partners too no doubt. It is hard to be cheery with someone else when you are in bad pain day in and day out and are going with so little sleep.

Some decent sleep can really help me tolerate pain; I remember the vicious circle though. Maybe there are approaches you haven't tried yet that could improve your quality of sleep? I know at one point I simply didn't realize the extent to which an uncomfy mattress was contributing to me waking up in pain multiple times per night. A new mattress actually made a difference, not enough, but some. Maybe a med to help with sleep, or even a heated blanket? Small things can add up.

Perhaps you could keep trying different pain meds too, until you find something that you tolerate. I haven't tried morphine so can't help in that regard but hopefully someone else here can. Keep reaching out to your doc or pain clinic and treat yourself gently.

I am sorry that you don't qualify for biologics, you sound like a candidate with your severity.

I hope that your wife will hang in there with you, until you can find a way to bring your pain under better control.

My best to you,
mig

P.S. I don't qualify for biologics either. My mom died of cancer at 57, my sister at 62. I'm ANA+, so can't take sulfasalazine, and have hemiplegic migraines so can't take... crapola - can't remember. Anyway... sorry that you can't take the biologics.

Sorry for all your going thru..sorry about your marriage it makes me sad that someone wants out because someone is sick (not trying to judge) Im not sure whee I would be if my husband wanted out...

Several people here are on morphine but they need to be the ones to tell you if they decide so hopefully they will chime in..I have been on te patches and yes they are rough but help if you cant get anything else. I also do oxycontin but it isnt helping much anymore but I do them like 40mgs 2 x a day, 50mg tramadol 2 x a day..I am alos on a biologic Remicade and it has really helped..oh and I am on cymbalta which has helped..Im thinkin morphine is gonna have to be aoption here pretty quick.

Hope you get some answers.

Lisa

Hi Scottyj.

I havent seen a Rhuemy as yet but am on a waiting list here in Bundaberg. I read that you don't qualify for biologics.

My question is. What are biologics and What do you need to qualify for them here in Qld? I am used to the Qld Health System. I am so far on Endep, panadol Oesteo, and Mobic for the pain.

Have tried Celebrex, patches and a few others that didnt work for me.

Cheers Carol

since i'm on LDN, pain meds not an option, i use a lot of heat and ice instead. ice is especially necessary. i wear a flector patch over my SI as that is the inflammation that makes me 100% disfunctional when its bad.

have you considered going to a pain clinic? they are especially skilled at managing pain, in ways you may not have even considered.

sorry to hear about your wife wanting out. that scenario unfortunately is not that uncommon. i know how blessed i am that my husband has stood by my side all these years, but i certainly don't take that for granted.

i've heard of others who wear pain patches or have a pain modulator surgically placed inside them (if i have that correct?). there are options, and a pain clinic would be most likely to help you sort them out.

Sorry to hear about your marriage. That truly sucks. Both my husband (prostate cancer) and I have major medical issues and lean on each other heavily for support.

I hope you two can work out your differences in time. A friend of mine and her spouse separated for a time, but managed to work things out when the constant friction (for them) was reduced to the point they could discuss their situation.

Can't help about the morphine as I've never taken it. Managing poorly on percocet 7.5, along with gabapentin and zanaflex. Cymbalta helped for about 2 months, but many have done well with it. Hugs to you for what you are going through.

Antibiotics, my new friend. I too am on morphine and I am in the process of weaning off of it and codiene as well since I no longer have Ankylosing Spondylitis. I hear I am one of the first 3 people cured of this dreaded disease.
I have friends in Australia so I know they quit prescribing antibiotics as a treatment there for fear of creating super human laboratories spawning uber bugs which will wipe out the human race faster than illegal camping laws, no sleeping allowed for the homeless, and the stress of move along sailor additude which has resulted in all the OccupyWallStreet protests all over the world. We are facing a genocide of the poor here in the good old USofA Who would have thought it could happen here. People are sick of being so poor and losing their housing and the resulting illegalness of their existance. I hope your wife and children will remember how much they love you, and I also wish you luck with the pain meds. Withdrawl is hard. I know because I am going through that now. I am in no pain, just addicted to the morphine still. I had surgery in July to repair the calcification of my shoulder joint from when I still had AS. My Rhummy assures me I am well have been for 4 years now so if I can do it so can you. I suggest you save some money and hobo it in some land where you can get hold of the antibiotics. I wish you love and best of luck of withdrawal from the pain meds. Here in the USA I have seen to many persons die from an overdose. Don't be that guy, OK? Love yourself. Get well. Here is my testimony and my hope for you. Be strong. KellY Pritchard.

So are you saying that by prescribing antibiotics (not sure which ones) but that alone can cure AS?