Opiates and Nerve Pain

One other thing, that hasn’t been mentioned…true “nerve” pain responds poorly to Opiates. It says that all over the web, and I’ve experienced it myself. SO…don’t “over-anticipate” the effects if you DO get on an Opiate Program.

That said, I truly believe what Dick and others have said about the many facets of pain. Nerve pain doesn’t restrict itself to simply the nerves…it radiates outward, makes muscles tense up and stiffen, causes headaches, etc., all of which CAN be helped with opiates. But, in my experience, when my arm nerves are “roaring”, and it’s like they’re on fire…opiates won’t even help that.

Seek pain control, but just don’t expect a “silver bullet”, if you know what I mean. At the pain clinic I go to, their definition of effective pain relief is if they can reduce a chronic pain patient’s discomfort by at least 50%. I am pain-free about 70% of the time, and I take Percocet 5-6 times a day. And, like Limekat said, no one can tell. I still work, still “with-it”; in fact, I’m a heck of a lot more “with-it” than I was “without-it”. Before pain meds, the pain was like a constant companion, over-shadowing everything. I had to concentrate every second to work beyond the pain.

Seek help.

Elmo.