I am new to this forum and welcome the opportunity to learn more. I am not the patient, my godchild/niece is the patient. She was a former addict, went into the service, did 4 yrs, Honorable discharge and turned her life around. HOWEVER, after being diagnosed with this disease, she says she is in constant pain, unable to walk without all the meds, and says IF she stops taking the morphine she will go thru withdrawel. Sounds like a new addiction to me. BUT, I do not want to jump to conclusions. Are others with this disease in so much pain they regularly take a morphine patch, morphine pills and zanax. I see her at times with her eyes so closed, droggy, incoherent etc. all the signs of an addiction. What are others going thru with pain and drugs, please.. I do not want to see her go back to that dark place in her life.
Sounds like addiction to me. Gary
Thank you. I'm really confused, lots of red flags but as I said, do not want to jump to conclusions. I was hoping by being honest here, others with the disease would comment about their pain and severity. Some readings I've been doing sounds like a lot of pain, but can be controlled or is manageable.
I feel like no one is commenting out of rspect not to hurt my feelings etc. I just need direction.
While CIDP does cause pain, it is different for everyone. The thing that causes nerve pain (substance P) is a different mechanism than the thing that causes regular pain which is why narcotics don't work on nerve pain. Some people may have other pains that respond to narcotics. She shouldn't be doped up and incoherent. She sounds like she is using her pain as an excuse to abuse her medications. Xanax is not for pain. She is right though that she will go through withdrawal if she stops these meds suddenly. Xanax in particular can cause rebound anxiety as well as seizures. Morphine can cause flu like symptoms. She needs medical detox. I know that getting her there is the challenge as most people with addicitons are the last to admit they need help. I would trust your instincts about the red flags...Good luck.
After working with addicts for over 25 years, my suggestion would be to Google all of her meds. which may give you a base line to work from, then talk with a neurologist or a pain management specialist. Gary
clb75: Thank you soooo much for the info and clarification of the pain. makes sense to me now that nerve pain and regular pain are two different things. I knew the zanax wasn't for pain, claims it is for anxiety, but after taking either the zanak or morphine she is nodding etc. We are leaningh towards the zanak for that effect. tom
clb75 said:
While CIDP does cause pain, it is different for everyone. The thing that causes nerve pain (substance P) is a different mechanism than the thing that causes regular pain which is why narcotics don't work on nerve pain. Some people may have other pains that respond to narcotics. She shouldn't be doped up and incoherent. She sounds like she is using her pain as an excuse to abuse her medications. Xanax is not for pain. She is right though that she will go through withdrawal if she stops these meds suddenly. Xanax in particular can cause rebound anxiety as well as seizures. Morphine can cause flu like symptoms. She needs medical detox. I know that getting her there is the challenge as most people with addicitons are the last to admit they need help. I would trust your instincts about the red flags...Good luck.
Morphine and any opiates are bad. I was on oxicontin and got off of them when I realized they bit me. I am on heavy doses of gabapentin which is non narcotic and I can not do without them. My dr also recommends cannabis, but I do not qualify here in Jersey. But a little bit alleviates a lot of pain