Going strictly to pain medication

A few years before I started getting Botox, I needed something. I was tired of switching preventatives and not EVER getting any relief from ANYTHING. I talked to my DR about going to just pain/management. I didn't want to do this with the stigma involved with narcotics. I just needed a break though. I continued with my injection of benadryl/phenergan. I was given oxycontin slow release twice daily, and I had oxycodone for break-through pain. And so it went for quite a while. I realized that some of the preventatives had caused me to gain weight. A LOT of weight. Well over 100 lbs! I was able to lose this weight over about the course of a year. I will admit that the oxycontin helped, but I still needed the injections and oxycodone near daily for pain.

I am curious to know how many people have tried the pain meds for relief route, as opposed to preventatives. I fully understand the reluctance to go this route, but it really had an advantage for me. I am wondering if many other people have gained massive amounts of weight from preventatives, and in this case I am thinking it was mainly anti-depressants that did it for me. (for migraines, not depression.)

I was scared about the addiction and whatever possibliity. That was never a factor for me. I have heard the "buzz" about oxycontin, in the media and around the block, but to be perfectly honest, I never noticed anything wonky. It lowered my pain, but I didn't feel anything else. Since that experience, I have decided that if your pain medication is working properly, the right dosage and taken responsibly there shouldn't be any buzziness. I feel like that is the biggest addictor out there. It is true you have to taper off, but you still have to do that with any drug you build up. OK OK so I am rambling....sorry!

I never got any relief with preventatives. Only side effects that were not worth it. I did gain 8 pounds on Inderal when I was for the last time going to"give it a try". I have since put on a lot of weight. I quit the Inderal two weeks and 8 pounds later. I am still carrying the weight.

I took Fiorinal for years when 30 pills lasted well over a month. As the years went by I am now on Lortab. Imitrex helped a lot but three years ago I had to stop due to high blood pressure. That is when I went on to Lortab since the Fiorinal was causeing gastric problems.

I do well with Lortab and will not go on any preventatives. For me they cause more trouble than they are worth.

I am now in my 50's and waiting for my headaches and migraines to subside. I am not asking for them to go away although that would be wonderful. Just less often and less severe.

Hope some of what I said helps. I am sure others will chime in later.

Kimsmom

I put on about 20 lbs from Lyrica. It really didn't help the headaches though.

I also use Oxycodone for pain relief. It helps a bit. My new doctor just told me to take an Aleave with it (sodium naproxene), which reportedly makes it work much better. He also gets migraines, so I am encouraged to find a sympathetic ear.

I'm on narcotic pain management. Long acting oxycontin and hydrocodone and narco. The oxycontin on it's own did nothing. My experience mirrors yours. No buzz, no complete pain relief, but tolerable pain.

My preventatives, the last was topamax, caused psychosis and tremendous weight loss (40 lbs ).

Yes, there is a huge stigma, and I hate that my body is physically dependent. I also worry what will happen if my Dr drops dead. I have a big problem with constipation and have to be constantly vigilant. ( I have found that White Castle burgers help. Really! Seriously! Had some the other day and things moved better then they have in months. Since the hospitalization with diverticulits my focus on my bowel movements is really pathetic.....)

But today at work when everyone was having to go home because of headaches from industrial fumes, I was the one, YES ME!, that was able to work a 14 hour day so we could stay open. And it was only because I had pain relief.

That is a BIG one with narcs. Constipation! OMG. I would take glycolax (pres. miralax) off and on a couple of times a week to combat that. Yet another 'drug'. I am fortunate for my DR as well. I had to sign a pain contract deal, but I have never had a problem at all. She was pretty casual about it, and just kind of threw in there that I needed to agree to it. I don't think she was concerned at that point. I have had other neuros who were, well, stingy (?) with meds, any meds, but she has migraines herself and she gets it. Some flat out refuse to believe that maybe there isn't a preventative that works. UGH!