We all do it. Have a headache? Menstrual cramps? Is that knee acting up and aching? Then it's time for a few Advil, Tylenol, whatever. And we try to take something to help our pain and discomfort, but it's not easy to always have something with us. Meanwhile, time is passing by, the headache is double in nature and is becoming a migraine, simply because the issue was not addressed chemically when it was at it's most receptive: When Your Pain First Begins.
I am addressing the issue of taking medications to alleviate/lessen your pain, with the spotlight on medication management of Chronic Pain.
When you first feel pain, that is the optimum time to take your medications. If you have a 'BTP' medication prescribed, (Break Through Pain), usually you have some leeway in how it has been prescribed by your doctor that manages your pain. Break through pain is felt at times, despite being on a controlled release medication; the pain literally breaks through that medication's effectiveness, which then requires the Breakthrough Pain Medication--which is usually an instant-release in it's chemical makeup.
Using your BTP medication, along with a long-acting one; (these can be labeled as: Long-Release-LR, Slow Release-SR, Controlled Release-CR), is the most effective way to battle your chronic pain.
Usually, these BTP meds are written to take every 4 to 6 hours. When the pain hits, try to take your BTP medication ASAP. Don't wait to unload the groceries, finish that sinkful of dishes, attend to that stack of paperwork. Put yourself and your pain issues first. If you do not have your pain under control, you won't be of much use to anyone; especially yourself. The entire process should take you less than five minutes, a mild trade-off for ignoring your pain and then suffering needlessly for hours.
This is a situation in which taking your medication immediately means exactly that--right away. Waiting will only serve to perpetuate the entire pain cycle. You must take your main medication if that has been forgotten and skipped, and/or focus on your breakthrough pain medication as your next line of defense.
Keeping on top of that pain is imperative. If you wait to take your meds at the first sign of BTP, you will experience the terrible seeming non-response of your BTP meds. They are in there working, but they are now fighting a battle much bigger than when it first began. The time for meds is when it starts to hurt.
Called-'Chasing The Pain', failing to address your pain immediately will only result in the never ending cycle of pain, medications and other modalities you use to help such as heat and ice, pain that is not responding, waiting in more pain until it is time for another dose, and the cycle continues.
If you take medications for your pain, keep them with you if you aren't at home; and the most important to remember is that taking them at the first twinge of pain is the answer to better pain control. Keep on top of your body's signals. Pain is always the indicator of something wrong. Tend to your pain. Pay attention. No Chasing allowed!
Gentle Hugs...
***NEXT POST--IS IT LEGAL TO CARRY YOUR SECURITY MEDICATIONS? ***
Sunday, April 18, 2010
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Fantastic Post!! I do this exactly as you've described. A lot of times I anticipate the pain and take the BTP meds BEFORE the activity that's going to cause the pain. After all these years, I just know when I'm going to have a problem so I take the meds to stop the pain before it starts.
ReplyDeleteSometimes people think they're needlessly taking pain meds if there's no pain yet. But I know when it's going to hit based on something I'm going to be doing. My goal is to have NO PAIN.
I never quite get there but anticipating pain and taking meds before it starts really keeps the pain level way down below what it would be if I waited to take the meds when the pain hits.
Hope you're doing okay. I think about you a lot!!
Sending ((((((cyberhugs))))))))
I agree wholeheartedly with your very thoughtful and carefully written post. The only problem I have is some of my breakthrough medications are not compatible with driving - so I have to wait. Bearing in mind I rarely drive further than ten miles from home its not as bad as it could be but often I have obligations involving driving.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of blogs where people seem not to have had the cycle of pain or pain management explained appropriately and therefore suffer.
I also think pacing and multi disciplinary approaches to pain management is not accesible enough.
There seems to be much confusion with regard to tolerance and addiction with prescription medications and often patients do not take medications because they are worried about addiction.
Too many times medications are handed out without enough discussion about efficacy.
Excellent post.
Just found your blog, and am in that post pain high that I get after a bout of it. I've never bothered to look on the web for... others coping with pain. Well written, and hang in there.
ReplyDeletenice post
ReplyDeleteHi Sherlock!!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to quote a part of your comment if you don't mind, for it brings something up that I totally forgot to touch on--The taking of meds BEFORE the pain hits. Here's your words that really got to me:
"Fantastic Post!! I do this exactly as you've described. A lot of times I anticipate the pain and take the BTP meds BEFORE the activity that's going to cause the pain. After all these years, I just know when I'm going to have a problem so I take the meds to stop the pain before it starts.
Sometimes people think they're needlessly taking pain meds if there's no pain yet. But I know when it's going to hit based on something I'm going to be doing. My goal is to have NO PAIN.
I never quite get there but anticipating pain and taking meds before it starts really keeps the pain level way down below what it would be if I waited to take the meds when the pain hits."
THAT, my dear, is exactly what I do too--stop the pain BEFORE IT HITS. And if we know our bodies well enough, and our pain, of course our desire is to be pain free. But when it is like hitting some people over the head repeatedly to explain to them that taking pain meds BEFORE the pain even hits, most just go automatically into that "oh, but that would mean I'm addicted." WHICH SHOWS TWO ISSUES: UNFOUNDED FEAR, AND NON-EDUCATED ON THE SUBJECT OF WHAT ADDICTION REALLY IS.
TREATING PAIN PROPERLY DOES NOT EQUAL ADDICTION.
ADDICTION IS NOT TOLERANCE,AND ADDICTION IS NOT DEPENDENCE.
Thanks for your always insightful words...
Gentle Hugs ((((Professor)))) <3
Dear Achelois,
ReplyDeleteSuch a true pleasure to read such an educated fellow pain patient, and I'd like to quote you also as this comment stood out (among others in your words worth quoting)-----
"There seems to be much confusion with regard to tolerance and addiction with prescription medications and often patients do not take medications because they are worried about addiction."
Confusion is correct, it is such a pure look at our society and the popular misinformed general public that equates pills with addiction.
Older patients tend to have an aversion in general to taking pain medication. Meanwhile, there are too many people out there in pain, simply for the reason they hang onto an old wive's tale.
Addiction is a sad, very real issue, it hits home in every way; and there are NO recoverED drug addicts, there are simply drug addicts. Just like an alcoholic. A 'recovering' addict or, and, alcoholic. It is a battle between the drink or pills or IV drug abuse.
Isn't it ironic that from my post about carrying your meds; addiction finds it's ugly face in. That's because you are right that patients are not taking needed medication because of fear, misinformation; and possibly 'the peanut gallery' starts to have an opinion and it is usually incorrect.
It is up to the patients pain doctors to explain all these issues--deeply and thoroughly, dispelling all myths.
Thank you for a very thoughtful comment honey....
Gentle Hugs......<3
Dear Ben,
ReplyDeleteI just spent a great time over at your maritime magazine....watching the video at the bottom..to Queen's "Don't Stop me Now"--so fun!!! Are you the ship's Captain?
I am glad that you are looking around for Chronic Pain blogs and found mine; there is a lot of great information around. Thank you for your visit, and I really hope that you do come back, and you know you are NOT ALONE!!
NIEL: Thanks for reading and so glad you enjoyed the post!
Gentle Hugs....