Drugs that are Safe for Liver Pain
This blog about liver pain is different than my first blog or youtube. With liver cancer, Tace, chemo ablation – I’m like most of you, I try to handle pain bravely. But recently there has been a huge shift in my ideas about pain. I’ve had to look at drugs that are safe for liver pain. Let’s take a look at types of pain, medication, pros and cons, and the mental stress of living with pain.
Chronic Pain – The dull constant throb can be from joint pain, stiffness, or a stress headache. It can lasts for hours.
Acute Pain – The sharp stabbing like a nerve has been hit makes you kind of twitch. It feels like an icepick and we keep trying to get relief.
Your pain may be from nerve damage, neuropathy, Hepatitis C Treatment. It may be liver pain, or back pain. You need some relief!
Drugs that are safe for liver pain
Some that are prescribed are Hydromorphone, Tylenol, and Oxycodone. Also Percocet, Vicodin, and Vicoprofen, which have ibuprofen and acetaminophen in them. Most of the time the opiates and NSAIDS are not used with advanced liver disease.
The Good –
Sweet relief! When I feel pain, I want to sleep. Drugs like morphine can help with this. When the pain is less, you are able to move around, and your muscles don’t get weak or stiffen up.
The Bad –
Hateful. Pain meds may kind of take away any social awareness. A person can feel mean and say things that are regretted later, even to people they love.
Brain dead. Honestly, it’s hard to have a conversation, especially with Hepatic Encelopathy.
Constipation. Pain meds can slow down your bodily functions. Walking and drinking water can help. Taking a stool softener may loosen things up, but getting off the pain meds is the only real relief.
The Ugly –
Addiction. Some people became addicted even after a short time on pain meds, such as with a surgery or a car wreck. The doctor can help to wean you to a lower class of drugs. Eventually, you should be able to tolerate an over the counter medication.
After TACE, I refused to take meds, and was in constant pain. A call to the doctor reassured me that it was okay to take some meds for a short time and in small doses.
How to Manage Pain
I rely on deep breathing, prayer, meditation, and gentle exercise. For more about this, check out this blog. Sometimes it works, and other times? Not so good. For a long term pain, I would suggest a pain management class, or my stretch video on youtube.
Constant pain can make you want to give up on life. You begin to think you will always feel this way. Self- pity brings discouragement and that is stressful. When pain keeps you from relaxing it turns into a vicious cycle. I used music and made this soundcloud to help ME during painful times.
There are meds and also tools to help you manage pain. Talk to your doctor about which drugs are safe. Ask for help. Never feel like you are alone in pain.
Suggestions: I encourage you to speak to your doctor, and take care of your body. Give yourself some love. Rub that painful place and allow your mind to picture healing and health. Use medication as your doctor prescribes it. Feel the love that all of the Best Friend’s share as we go through this together.
Love you with all my heart, Karen:)
You’re gonna wanna read more on What’s Next with liver disease. Click-it Here!
pics via jewishworldreview.com, a holy experience.com,
13 thoughts on “Drugs that are Safe for Liver Pain”
I’ve had most of the liver related issues you have but didn’t experience much pain from them; I have a high tolerance. Prior to TX I had pain from spinal and other orthopaedic problems. I had doctors fighting over treatments. The problem with NSAIDs weren’t directly liver related but from portal gastropathy causing ulcers. My hepatologist said Celebrex, my PC, Ultram. Eventually Celebrex won but my PC refused to write the prescription and leaving it to the hepatologist to own it.
For neuropathic pain drugs like Cymbalta, Neurontin and Lyrica can be effective. When my back pain became chronic and severe the pain doctor gave me a methadone with Cymbalta cocktail which worked like a charm during the 3 months I had to wait for surgery. Methadone is highly addictive but I weaned off in the recovery center with fentanyl.
Post TX and spine surgery I had another set of dueling docs. Liver said Tylenol or Vicodin, ortho said naproxen. This time ortho won and that’s what I continue to use today.
Consistency in dosing and scheduling help, too. You don’t want your pain meds wearing off at 4:00 am. Naproxen last 10 – 12 hours so I take it at 8:00 pm and again at 7:00 am and it keeps me pain free most of the day. Hope I could provide some insight.
You’ve certainly given us a lot of insight. I’m so sorry that you had to have surgery. Bravo to you for getting through it. Double bravo for weaining off the pain meds!
It took me a while to understand that if I didn’t stay on top of the pain, it could get worse.. You’re right. You def don’t want it wearing off in the middle of the night.
Thanks so much for your help! Love you, xoKaren:)
Thanks for your open contributions. Just because we were told as children to ‘buck up’ and not cry over a knee scrape or elbow bump doesn’t mean that we have to endure when life brings constant pain. Yes, drugs overuse can be debilitating; but constant pain also stops a person from thinking straight.
PS: Years ago when I travelled in Asia I was given a little bottle of opium pills. Those things certainly stopped the nastiest case third-word diarrhea in its tracks. I should at the local pharmacy and see if they sell them here. ;:>)
PPS: I always thought that smithereens were teeny, itty, bitty pieces.
Interesting that you thought Smitherines was a magical place somewhere out past Timbuktu!
I see that you are right! Smitherines is about getting that tumor blown into little bitty tiny pieces. I’ll go for that! Idk if my memory is bad, or HE is setting in. Probably both. Thanks for setting me straight!
For sure it’s not an opiate induced brain fog. Let me know how easy it was for you to find some of that down on at the corner pharmacy. haha!
It’s great hearing from you as always. I hope you’re doing well..
xo Karen:)
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Introducing a new patient registry tool launched by Hepatits Foundation International. HepPRN is patient centered, and focused on making sure patients control who sees their data and how it is shared: Click here to visit the website.
I just wanted to send you a big, warm, comforting E-HUG!!!
You’ve passed a rough time. Take your pill and go right ahead and bawl your head off. When you are done, blow your nose, and watch a happy movie all bunchy under the covers. Repeat as needed.
Hugs: XOXOXOXO!
Ive got a problem Im on methadone maitenance program Ivhe got terrible painful stiffness in the AM And pm when you relax sleepness nights and just feel rough except when I take my medications but that seems to where off by nightfall
It really troubles me to think of you lying there in pain. It is so very hard to find the strength to get up and move when your joints ache. I can promise you that if you can make yourself do some gentle stretches, it will help. Take it slow and do a few more every day.
I call it bed yoga some days. I will take 20 minutes before I get up and just wake up my body slowly.
xo to you. Karen:)
am maze and currently feeling sevare stomach pains at the lower left side of my tommy please what could it b
Lower left pain could be anything from kidneys to bowels. For females, the ovaries are also located there.
Please contact your doctor for more information. If pain is severe, you could be in trouble. It could even be pain radiating from your gall bladder. ok? Thanks! xo Karen:)
I been diagnosed with nash liver disease, I’m it constant pain that radiates from middle of my back on my right side up under my ribs to middle of my chest then it goes back to my right side and under my right armpit. I have told my doctor about this and he said that he’s scared to give me any pain meds I live when this pain day in and day out. Is there any advice u can give me on how to get relief. I have a fairly high pain tolerance but this is keeping me from getting any sleep.
Hey there! I am so very sorry to hear about your pain. Are you seeing a hepatologist? That is a GI doctor that specializes in the liver. Has the doctor told you about changing your diet? Karen has some good ideas for liver healthy diets on her home page, upper right hand side there is a drop down box.
I hope you can get some relief.
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