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Neuropathic Pain
| What if you experienced even one or a
combination of these sensations ALL at the same time,
EVERY day, 24 hours a day? What if you had this
experience FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? |
| What if you were told by doctors that
there is NO cure very little that can be done to make
the sensations stop, and even less to make the problem
end? |
The estimated 20 to 30 MILLION persons who suffer from
neuropathy (neuro = nerves + pathy=abnormal) live with
unspeakable pain, with few treatments that help.
The pain(s) associated with neuropathy does
NOT respond well to narcotics. In fact, patients can take
very high doses of narcotics with little improvement of
neuropathic pain. If the patient has other pain
conditions, the narcotics CAN be useful for those other
conditions though. But for neuropathy, doctors have been
prescribing neuroleptic drugs (neuroleptic means anti-seizure
medications). The most widely used neuroleptic prescribed
is Neurontin, which can be taken in relatively high doses.
A second choice is Trileptal, which has less sedation effects
than Neurontin. ALL neuroleptics have side effects and can
result in developing seizures if stopped abruptly; they must be
tapered in dose if a patient needs to stop one drug or a
physician may substitute another neuroleptic drug if one drug
needs to be discontinued. As one can see, these are not
medications that should be given or shared with others; these
are serious meds! For information on Neurontin call the
manufacturer, Parke-Davis or Pizor , or for Trileptal, call the
manufacturer, Novartis. Both drugs were
formerly known as anti-spasmodics or CNS depressants based on
the original intent which for the stoppage or reduction of
seizures.
Two newer drugs are being used now: Lyrica
and Cymbalta. The FDA in January 2005 approved a new use
of Lyrica [by Phizer] as a new pain reliever for diabetic
peripheral neuropathy and for postherpetic neuralgia caused by
shingles which afflicts an estimated 150,000 persons every
year. WebMD
describes more about Lyrica. Cymbalta [by Eli Lilly
and Co.], an anti-depressant, was approved in 2004 to treat
diabetic neuropathy. Both of these have been helpful to
some patients with this kind of pain. However, both have
side effects that may make it impossible for some patients to
tolerate (dry mouth, Cymbalta
may cause an increased risk for liver problems, especially
if patients had previous liver disease or alcoholism.
Signs and symptoms of liver damage can include dark urine,
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), itchiness, abdominal
tenderness in the liver area, or unexplained flu-like symptoms.
Liver enzymes may be elevated (need blood tests).
Patients who experience ANY type of untoward
(bad) effect from ANY medication can contact FDA's Medwatch
program at (800) FDA-1088 [(800) 332-1088)] or online at
www.fda.gov/medwatch
Some patients have found relief by using
Infrared Therapy which claims to reduce nitrous oxide in
tissues, thereby improving blood flow. Medicare does not
pay for these devices; it does not appear to be a product
approved by the FDA.
If the neuropathy is caused by mechanical
nerve compression, physical or occupation may help along with
splinting (such as wrist braces for carpel tunnel). If
severe enough, a neurologist may decide that surgery is needed
to release the nerve.
For the majority of patients, treatment is
only with medications, which mostly help to "cover up"
the pain but rarely takes the pain away completely.
Millions of people continue to suffer debilitating pain every
day. Neuropathy remains a little-understood condition, and
is often overlooked by physicians for the utter misery that
neuropathy causes. If you experience any of the symptoms
listed for neuropathy, bring these to the attention of your
doctor and insist that your symptoms are investigated and
treated.
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Urge Congress and the National
Institutes of Health to fund the research dollars
necessary to investigate the causes of this vicious
disorder, and develop better treatments and standards
for treatment! |
What is neuropathy
or neuropathic pain?
Read a chart of "Pain Behaviors" that doctors watch
for in pain patients.
If you would like to read more about why doctors are afraid to
prescribe opioid narcotics, see these web articles:
Who'll
Stop The Pain?
Treating
Doctors as Drug Dealers: The DEA's War on Prescription Painkillers
Ideas
on Liberty
Dr.
Hurwitz Convicted on 50 Counts, Faces Life in Prison
"A Bad Prescription from DEA; The drug agency's misguided campaign against a painkiller"
by Eric M. Chevlen, published in The Weekly Standard, June 4,
2001. Full article online at http://www.cpmission.com/main/misguided.html
Dr. Chevlen also testified on April 25, 2000 as an expert witness before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Concerning "The Pain Relief Promotion Act" --- see http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju62489.000/hju62489_0.htm
See also: Assessing
Pain in Older Adults (with Dementia)
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