Anyone ever have to take perscription pain killers in pregnancy...?

[MySonsClothBum]

no advice but sorry to hear you are in pain

[*Peanut*]

You have to wean off of steroids too (and antidepressants and a lot of other medicines), so don't feel like an addict. It is because your body stops producing its own thing, and if you stop cold turkey your system almost goes into shock.

AND all that cortisol you will be producing (since you will be stressed and in pain) will not be good for the baby.

[charisma3458]

Up until I started the injections for my Crohns I was on steroids for two years straight and before that I was on and off it over the years. I've had Crohns for 7 years, so sometimes I feel fine and other times I have bad flare-ups. I've always been told that if I needed to go on steroids to control a flare-up during my pregnancies that it was fine. With DD1 and DD2 I tried to deal with the flare-ups without steroids until I had them and then had to pay for it by trying to get under control 9 months of an untreated flare-up. Not fun.

For this pregnancy when it's around the time that I'm due for my humira injection my Crohns starts to flare-up or if I'm late on my injection (procrastinating because I dread it), it flares up worse. I was taking ultram because I figured it's a milder pain reliever than percocet but my OB doctor said they would rather me take percocet. Ultram is in the class of ibuprofen, while percocet is tylenol. They said they feel perfectly safe with me taking percocet as needed for pain. I hate taking pain medication (or any medication) during pregnancy, but I figured it's probably more harmful to the baby with me being in pain. When I'm on the bathroom floor curled up in stomach pains that I can't even talk or try to just breath through it. That can't be healthy for the baby to be going through it in me. So my OB just says their not worried about me taking percocet as needed for my Crohns stomach pains and I don't take enough for them to even worry about it harming the baby. They would rather me take something that they feel comfortable with then to have me in bad stomach pains while the baby is in me. For me, percocet takes the edge off my stomach pains and makes it so that I'm not curled up in a ball crying all night. Between injections I'm usually fine, it's the few days that are before I'm due and right after I take it before it "kicks in".

[*Peanut*]

Just to clarify, I was talking about the steroids that they usually give you for herniated disks. I guess I wasn't specific.

[AdeliaGreen]

I have fibromyalgia and have had an injury to my right shoulder which led to a surgery to scrape bone fragments from the joint. The problem in my shoulder went undiagnosed for about 5 years before the surgery with my doc just giving me pain meds and anti-inflammatory drugs instead of sending me to see a specialist Because it went on for so long, it caused problems in my arm, hand, back and neck because of me compensating for the pain.

Originally Posted by *Peanut* Also, when you are in intense pain, your blood pressure goes up. Normally I am pretty low 100/70 or so. When I am in pain it is usually 150/98 or so. That is not good for the baby either.

I did not know this. Scary!

Originally Posted by lauren420 not taking anything (for me) is not an option (I wish it was) the pain is too sever and my BP did go up and the stress from the pain is just as bad as the pain itself. and regualr tylenol was not working at all. Talk to your Doctor, there are definalty safe ways to treat pain in pregnancy.

I have to lay down intermitently throughout the day because standing, walking or sitting hurts way too much. I also can't work because of it.

Originally Posted by *Peanut* When my herniated disc acts up it feels like I have a knife in my shoulder blade and EVERY time I move my neck it feels like someone is digging and twisting the knife in even more. And no, Tylenol won't even touch the pain.

I understand that type of pain. With fibromyalgia, the facia between skin and muscle is very tight and restricted so if someone pokes me or squeezes my arm, it feels like they're sticking me with a knife.

And I agree, tylenol does CRAP ALL!

Originally Posted by lauren420 I have called mother risk, they are AWSOME! Percocet is alot less "storng" (for lack of a better word) than morphine or demerol, and they do consider it a safe option for treating pain. The main ingreadiant is acetominophen, just like in tylenol, the actual narcotic is a very low dose.

Good to know. I love motherrisk They are the ones who helped me get my diclectin (anti m/s meds for you Americans) for free!

Originally Posted by charisma3458 Up until I started the injections for my Crohns I was on steroids for two years straight and before that I was on and off it over the years. I've had Crohns for 7 years, so sometimes I feel fine and other times I have bad flare-ups.

Ugh, I've heard Crohns is very rough.

for all of us dealing with intense pain throughout and outside of pregnancy. I just keep clinging to the fact that once I see this baby's face, it will all be worth it

[lauren420]

Originally Posted by AdeliaGreen I have fibromyalgia and have had an injury to my right shoulder which led to a surgery to scrape bone fragments from the joint. The problem in my shoulder went undiagnosed for about 5 years before the surgery with my doc just giving me pain meds and anti-inflammatory drugs instead of sending me to see a specialist Because it went on for so long, it caused problems in my arm, hand, back and neck because of me compensating for the pain. for all of us dealing with intense pain throughout and outside of pregnancy. I just keep clinging to the fact that once I see this baby's face, it will all be worth it

Oh wow mama, that sounds awful You should talk to your Doc, even in pregnancy, I just don't see the point in suffering for the sake of suffering, if that makes any sense..?

And I totally agree with you, seeing the baby, will make it ALL worth it I hope you can find help and get the relief you need, you sound alot stronger than me, I wish I was strong enough to just deal with the pain!

[AdeliaGreen]

Awww thanks Lauren I've learned to deal with the pain for the most part outside of pregnancy, but it's just so much right now I think I need to take something. Not just for my sanity but also because I can't do anything with my DD or DH most of the time due to pain. It's not fair to them.

I will make an appt to see my doc about percocet and see what he says.

[*Peanut*]

Originally Posted by AdeliaGreen I have fibromyalgia and have had an injury to my right shoulder which led to a surgery to scrape bone fragments from the joint. The problem in my shoulder went undiagnosed for about 5 years before the surgery with my doc just giving me pain meds and anti-inflammatory drugs instead of sending me to see a specialist Because it went on for so long, it caused problems in my arm, hand, back and neck because of me compensating for the pain.

Are you my twin? My right shoulder muscle BURNS all day long (like I am in a marathon and can't stop). But it is mostly my left shoulder blade that feels like there is a sharp object in it (most days it feels like an ice pick... when it is bad it feels like a butcher knife). The right side has been compensating for my left side, so it is always tearing, spasming, burning, etc. The pain radiates into my elbows and somedays into my hands.

My specialist (just went yesterday after 7 years of this) said I might have fibromyalgia. I have all the tender points... and YES they are tender... I can't stand when people touch ANY part of my back or buttocks or the back of my legs and neck. I have had a massage twice in my life and it was like TORTURE. When the chiropractor would adjust me, later on in the night I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. Literally. I remember I really had to pee, and I thought I'd rather pee myself in bed than have to deal with the pain of getting up. Yes, that bad.

ETA: This is what people don't understand - because I can still do many things for myself, people think I can't possibly have a problem. But if they looked a little closer they would notice all the little and sometimes big ways I have changed my life because of the pain. I switch hands at least 4 times when brushing my teeth to let the other side rest, I drink through straws so I don't have to tilt my head back, I can't hold the coffee pot when filling it to even just 4 cups (I have to leave it sitting in the sink), I have a back up camera (with parking and steering guidance) in my car so I don't have to turn my head as much, I have a trunk that opens and closes with a button so I don't have to do it manually, I don't leave the house before 2 pm, because that is how long it takes me somedays to shower and get the baby together, etc, etc.

And I stopped going out and hanging out with people because I never feel that great. When I am out, people always assume I am upset, because my face is expressionless and I am quiet. I am not upset, I am just trying to deal.

And here is just an example of my BP difference: I went in to Urgent Care when my pain meds were *just* about wearing out and I was at 125/81. I got some shots and steroids for the pain. The next day I went into pain management and my BP was 148/98, and I hadn't taken very strong pain killers and was in a good amount of pain. And yes, they took my BP twice.

[AdeliaGreen]

My butt is so painful too! My massage therapist tried to work on my glutes and I wasn't sure whether to kick or laugh. The nerves are so messed up that if hurts and tickles at the same time.

I just started back seeing the massage therapist a few weeks ago and yesterday was only my second visit. I would like to also get into a chiropractor and alternate visits with them every other week. It hurts, but it really does help relieve some of the tension. If it is that painful for you, I'm sure there are other techniques they could try. I find the treatments that cover the most area at once are easier to handle. If they use too much on the tips of fingers, it just feels like stabbing

[*Peanut*]

Originally Posted by AdeliaGreen My butt is so painful too! My massage therapist tried to work on my glutes and I wasn't sure whether to kick or laugh. The nerves are so messed up that if hurts and tickles at the same time. I just started back seeing the massage therapist a few weeks ago and yesterday was only my second visit. I would like to also get into a chiropractor and alternate visits with them every other week. It hurts, but it really does help relieve some of the tension. If it is that painful for you, I'm sure there are other techniques they could try. I find the treatments that cover the most area at once are easier to handle. If they use too much on the tips of fingers, it just feels like stabbing

YES!!! I HATE that! That is why I like messages from men better - the tend to use their palms, and if they do use their fingers, they are wider and don't hurt as much as the women's finger tips!!