What pain relief options does a recovering addict have?

Dr. Gupta,
Congatulations on your 40th birthday!

I recently celebrated my 53rd birthday and with diet and continued excercise remain fit and in good health. I have been a cyclist since 1991 when I was diagnosed with HIV, and I believe that regular exercise combined with great medical care from doctors in Boston, Miami and Los Angeles, where I have lived have contribued to my well being.

I've found that being informed and pro-active is indeed the best medicine!
Thank you for the continuing great advice on improving and maintaining good health.

Dave F.
Long Beach, CA

When prolotherapy is often curative for many pain problems, why isn't there more discussions in the press about this amazing treatment that uses the body's own immune repair mechanisms?

with the fda attention now focused on narcotic /tylenol medications ,and long overdue ,i feel that it is time perhaps the fda take narcotic pain reliver reserch to the next level ,ie. the synthetic structure of hydrocodone is effective in treating chronic pain,however the addiction tendencies in this formula provide a great risk to the patient becoming dependent on the medication with moderate to long term use ,as well as the paitent developing tolerence to the medication,thus requiring the paitent to consume higher dosage to maintain a involentary physical dependence,when this vicious cycle occurs recovery seems to be elusive,it is of upmost importance that when drug manufactures develope such medication ,the addicttion tendences of the medication must also be reserched and evaluated prior to fda approving the medication,a fourmula effective in treating chronic pain however with physical dependence probable it seem as though the paitent is trading one for the other .

Jolene,

I've been sober quite a while now and also had lots of dental work done in that time. Good of you to jump in there for 'your friend' but understand that it's HIS recovery - he's the one has to be upfront with the dentist and doctor instead of quietly taking a script for a few perks "just in case" he needs 'em later. Yeah, he can always call back the dentist if that's REALLY the case, but it's unlikely. That 'just in case' is too tough on the mind of an addict, the prescription starts to out-talk our common sense... And you being around for moral support can certainly help him do just that. I've had teeth out with barely a need for anything afterward, tends to depend on how much of a struggle is involved - more yanking and pulling = more soreness afterward. Tylenol really do work, so do ibuprofen and naproxen, and silly as it sounds a ice cube right on the sore spot for the first few hours can really calm things down, too. Tell him for me,,,

Meeting maker make it!
There's no gram like the program!
NA or Amen!

Dear Dr Gupta:

I am a Mayo Clinic trained physician practicing in the Indianapolis area. I watched your Housecall program today. I take issue with the implication that the reason the African American Reverand's wife did not get diagonsed with ovarian cancer until it was too late because of the color of her skin.

I worked on the development of a rapid screening test for ovarian cancer at a Biotechnology firm. I was a member of a group called Ovarcoming Together whose mission was to educate women about the warning signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer because of the fact that they can be vague and discounted by their physicians. I know plenty of well to do white women in this area who experienced the same thing as his wife. Look at what happened to Gilda Rander – her symptoms were discounted as is outlined in her book. I have a good friend (white) who had that happen and she died within 6 months of the diagnosis when it was finally made. What Ovarcoming Together educates women to do is seek and demand a consultation with a Gynecological Oncologist if they are not satisfied that their symptoms are being taken seriously. But I fear that a consultation with a Gynecological Oncologist is exactly the kind of services that no one will get under the reforms being proposed by the current administration. You might want to review one of the cases that Hannity brought forth where a women was told she had no hope and had 6 months to live and went to MD Anderson on her own with her advanced cervical cancer and is now alive 8 years later.

To imply that she didn't get diagnosed with ovarian cancer simply because she is black is disingenuous and very bad reporting which misrepresents the facts.

Respectfully,

Sally Booth M.D.

My fiancee is a recovering addict who has fallen somewhat back to old habits, he is asking me for help and I am willing to help as much as I can but his question is, though he knows he's responsible for his own recovery , I still render to him the support, prayers and help that he needs but what does he do when no ones watching? Need help right away.

Dr Gupta I watch you and cnn all the time and I'm very impressed. My best friend Cathy has trigeminal neuralgia. She had a pad installed in her head by Dr kassam in pittsburgh pa about ten years ago. She moved to mass. and started having more problems and ended up with Dr Eskander at mass general, She is now having problems with the batteries and is thinking of putting a new battery and pad in witch would mean an other operation.She has tried pain meds that have caused many problems side effects and addiction. She doesn't know witch doctor to go to and is in a great deal of pain. She is a wonderful person and I wish I could help her. I know I'm asking alot but I hope you can give me some guidance. Thanks Steve.

Dear Dr. Gupta:

I watched your program on addiction. You asked a man "what does addiction feel like?" I wanted to give a better answer and suggest some form of research.

Addiction affects a person the same way water does. The same impulse that comes when we are dying of thirst. Picture the proverbial cowboy lying in the sand, the sun beating down and scorpions crawling by while he drags himself to the river and you aren't sure he will make it.

Just as he starts to take his sip of water, if you were to say, " if you don't take that sip of water there will be world peace forever and ever, he would say, let me take a sip and think about it. He is not in a state to make competent decisions.

Perhaps, if doctors could find a way to humanely research how to stop the urge to drink water when a person is dying of thirst, then that could stop the addiction cycle.

I hope some kind of magic is found because addiction ruins everything.

Truly,

Mercy

Dear Dr. Gupta,

I have a friend who is a drug and alcohol addict in recovery, however he has relapsed a few times recently and has been struggling to get back on track with his sobriety. In addition to this at different times he hurt both his back (pulled muscle) and then later his shoulder (partially separated). His Dr is aware that he is in recovery and some of the drugs his Dr. has prescribed are Valium, Darvocet and Percocet. In addition to these at the same time he has taken 2 different anti depressants – Wellbutrin and Effexor. He claims that there is nothing to worry about in regard to his taking these medications for pain, but I am greatly concerned. Do you have any advice or suggestions?

Tramadol is quite habit forming. Better options is toradol, if the doctor is ok with that (kidney issues, GI issues can pose problems). Often people will do quite well with Marcaine local anesthetic, and if there is a problem, returning for a second marcaine anesthetic injection. Unfortunately, tramadol is quite reinforcing for addicts.