pain meds and MS - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

needhealing777 · 08-30-2008, 07:31 PM

Is it safe to take pain meds with MS? Is there one better than another or maybe I should say safer? I take Vicodin for Fibro too and want to make sure it won't aggrevate MS.

MSNik · 08-30-2008, 08:11 PM

It wont aggravate MS and it is safe to take pain meds; however addiction to them is a huge problem. Make sure you are not abusing pain meds and try talking to your doc about prescribing the lowest dose and lesser addictive meds first...many people do require some sort of pain med. I take the occasional Flexeril - or even Xanax...both can be addictive, but both are highly prescribed and if I take 3 of them a month- its alot....for some people, pain meds are really necessary, and no Vicodin wont hurt MS- its just not a great thing to be dependent on...
hope you feel better soon.

april1848 · 08-31-2008, 09:58 AM

I agree with Nikki. Pain meds won't hurt your MS but they are terribly addictive. In my line of work I've seen people progress from pain meds to heroin, and that is scary. I take them occasionally though; my doctor gave me Percoset for my joint pain, and it's the only thing that helps, although exercising is alleviating it. I only take a couple a month.

When my doctor prescribed them, I brought up the possibility of addiction. My doc had a long talk with me about quality of life, and he persuaded me to try it. I'm glad now, because I definitely don't have a problem with them and there have been a few days where without them, I would have been bed ridden. It's a good idea to find other ways to alleviate pain. Glucosamine supplements and exercise have worked wonders for me. My advice would be to try other pain-relieving measures and save the Vicodin as a last resort.