I would like to know if anyone has or had any experience with the morphine pump. I have been on almost every pain med thats out there. I'm currently using the duragesic patches (100's). I have been increasing the dosages ever since I started with the 25's. After the patches I don't know what is left.

Thanks
Barbara in Pennsylvania

Hi and welcome to this message board. You didn't mention the cause of your pain. I have seen terminal patients on a morphine pump. The drug dulls the mind and is also a respiratory depressant. Have you tried OxyContin or Methadone? Personally, I would never go on morphine. Sorry I can't tell you more about it except the patients I have seen on it are so drugged they can hardly answer questions or get around. Maybe someone on this message board has more recent information about it for you so keep checking. Dawnsmist

Hi Barbara...a welcome here too. Sorry you are in so much pain. I don't have an answer to your question either, but I did want to say that pain meds are not a long term solution. The body eventually becomes immune to it's effects, so like you are experiencing...we either have to take more, or try another one. Side effects can be devistating too, and sometimes worse than the fm itself.

Have you looked into other aspects of decreasing your pain? How do you handle stress? Do you work full time? Is there any "emotional" baggage from your past that is not dealt with? Do you have support from others?

There are at least two people who have posted this board a few months ago that have had the injector implant. At that time they seemed to be doing well with them. One was allergic to morphine and was using a different medication that was working well. The idea is that it is injected not into the blood stream where the side effects arise. It is injected into the spinal fluid. The injection dosage is small.
Keep looking at this site. Hopefully, one of them will answer your query.

Read the article from Barbara PA, Pain Pump Info - very informative

What pain meds have you been on? See if you can try anything else (like Methadone) first. I am on morphine too, and it's the drug where tolerance goes up the fastest. Mine went up so high that before they changed to long acting I started physically withdrawaling after 4hrs. It's supposed to stay in your system for at least 8, but for some reason I start getting migraines and hot/cold flashes way before that. Are you in a pain clinic?

What was your experience w/ Duragesic Patches? I haven't tried them but they really scare me. I've heard that in heat they'll release more of the drug & then leave you depleted for the rest of the time.

hi, sorry to hear about your pain. I was in the same boat as i have severe fibromyalgia. I have tried everything. Right now i am on a combination of nabilone which has the active ingredient of THC and demerol together. Neither worked on their own but together my life is bearable.

I have been on all types of pain meds, like: Tylenol#3, Tylenol#4, Vicodan (which gave me a terrible headache, oxycotin, a few others I can't even remember, and darvacet(which I still take for breakthrough pain)and finally Duragesic Patches (which have been increased 4 times). I'm on the 100s now with the patches and breakthrough pain meds which I take at least 2 pills 3 times a day, I still have alot of pain.

Not only do I have fibromyalgia I also have osteoarthrtis in my joints. I have had 15 surgeries to date and more to come. Eventually I need both knees replaced and possible a shoulder replacement. I'm hoping my hips hold out. I have been to many doctors who say we can only treat your pain and they can't do anything else. I can't take anti-inflammatory meds because they kill my stomach and I have tried steroid shots and I'm allergic to them, so there is nothing to take for my joints other than surgery to help.

The patches work okay, you don't have to worry much about getting them hot, just don't go out sunbathing or have the sun beating on it and of course no tanning beds. Only, the doctor told me, if you have a high fever you have to take it off, I never had a high fever since I have been on the patches. I never had the experience of them releasing all the medicine.

I'm disabled now , I'm age 44, because of the combination of joint surgeries and fibromyalgia, so working isn't a problem. But staying at home is hard to, I hate being so idle but it is hard for me to even get out of bed in the morning. I worked in the lab at a hospital before I had all these problems and from be very active to being very idle is hard to deal with. I have been disabled for 4 years now. Stress, I think we all have that, isn't much of a problem. I'm divorced, which happened after the doctors told me about the condition I have. I only have one son at home with me. I have a daughter who lives in the same city as I and another older son who is in the Army as a MP at Ft. Sill, OK. My older son I worry very much about because of the upcoming war situation.

But that is basically all I can add. I just wish there were some different options for me.

Hi. I understand your pain. I'm in a wheelchair and used to be very bedbound, now just homebound due to Fibro. It's hard b/c I used to be really active as well & bike 5-15miles a day. Georgetown missed a lot of stuff, told me to start an aerobic exercise regimen. It was the crash and burn phenomenon. The pain was unbearable & I'd push myself in very light physical exertion. I started blacking out.

A lot of people w/ CFIDS experience dizziness. That's due to OI (Orthostatic Intolerance), NMH (Neuro/Neurally Mediated Hypotension), and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia. They're similar to OH, but less severe. In layman's terms, they are blood pressure and minor heart problems almost always present with CFS. Mitochondrial diseases are common as well. That's when your cells are being "starved for oxygen."

Anyway, it is actually dangerous to exercise under these conditions until the circulation, blood pressure & heart rate are stabilized. Over exertion may just put you at risk for passing out. After that they're sending me to rehab to prevent muscular atrophy.

Anyway, please, please think twice about the morphine pump. Use this as a last option. There are other heavy duty pain killers out there. With morphine your tolerance will go sky high and you may never feel relief. Is your doctor willing to try things like LAAM or Methadone? I know people that have tried everything and Methadone has worked. I know someone who is being prescribed Marijuana too. Please look into EVERY option possible.

Hi all! Actually i find it rather strange that nobody mentioned Lorcet 10/650. That is what i have been using for about 8 years now. IT doesn't work as good as it useto but the doctors have tried other drugs that don't help at all (methadone,vioxx,darvocet,trazadone). I wish i could find something that worked 100%

you may also go with Lorcet 10/500 - less Tylenol to aggrevate the liver.

Good luck - Dawn in NH

PS - this is written in March, and the thread is from January - will anyone even see this? Will the person that asked see it??

[This message has been edited by Dawn in NH (edited 03-12-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Dawn in NH (edited 03-12-2003).]

I would like to know if anyone has or had any experience with the morphine pump. I have been on almost every pain med thats out there. I'm currently using the duragesic patches (100's). I have been increasing the dosages ever since I started with the 25's. After the patches I don't know what is left.

Thanks
Barbara in Pennsylvania
to barb in pa im so sorry you have this as well as im sorry fro my self also it has changed my life unbelievably and i too am in horrible pain. i live in new castle pa and went through the worst flare up after the holidays well i dont know the answer fro you id like to know what are the patches and did they help in the begining ive only taked codine 50 mil. for about a year and a half and was in tears all weekend. i finally got a hold of my pain managment doc.and cant get an appt till monday the soonest i almost went to er last night and cried myself to sleep. i know you asked for advice but i wondered if you could explain the patch to me and if they would help b/c the pain is bone crushing and id like to ask the doctor to try something new. ive tried all the anti dep and any kind of codine such as vicoden percocette and topomax which did nothing could you fill me in on this patch and what is does for you. im sorry you having no relief b/c im in the same boat i just havent had it as long as you ive been diagnosed 2 years ago and really need something stronger i have some wonderfull opportunities ahead and need advice on what could help me to funtion so i dont loose them .feel better and write as much as you want i am new to this but my heart goes out to each and every sufferer i have hear every cruel comment you can imagine and its hurt me to my core i have to say there are days when only gods love keeps me hangign on. my mom has been my champion but lives in another state my best friend of 18 years said i make her sick and that im lazy and need to get over it. this board gave me hope and i thank oyu for all your stories you so bravely share b/c im sure weve all heard our share of hurtfull comments. i live in new castle pa so if you have any suggestions for good doctors in my areaid be gratefull. be well and keep me posted on your progress.
keep you head up and talk to your doctor about maybe taking further steps fot relief. one word of advice keep you buisness to your self and those who understand it will save you a lot of hurt.
looking foward to getting a reply
lme in pa

Read the article from Barbara PA, Pain Pump Info - very informative
Hi Barbara,
I am also a newbie to this site. I have had FMS for 5 yrs. I too have tried a multitude of pain meds and patches. You will reach a tolerance and nothing seems to help. The side effects from all the meds. made me have more problems than just pain. I weaned myself off all meds. It was so hard. I thought I would rather die. I am still in great pain. I recently starting seeing a specialist. He put me on Zanaflex (muscle relaxant) and Ambien (sleeping pill). He also suggested a supplement called Fibro-Malic. I am in the process of finding more info. Good luck.
Ondrya