pain medications

Is there anyone else out there that has to take medication for pain management? Since I have been taking pain meds, I notice that it is much harder to lose weight!! Does anyone else have this problem? Any tips for this situation?

Hi. I had to gain weight but I know at the pain clinic I was at some people had issues with weight gain and meds. Can you talk to your doc about alternative?Also make sure you are not trying to loose vanity pounds because when you are recovering from something your body needs nurishment for those meds to work and you to heal. Feel better.

Long term pain meds suck. Ideally, you only use them for as long as it takes to get the cause of the pain under control. About 17 months of continuous use made me gain, then cutting back the dose greatly helped my weight loss efforts. I absolutely did not cut back without talking to my doctor, and I wouldn't advise that anyone do this without close medical supervision. Whatever your medical issues are, maybe they can be controlled in ways that leave you less dependent on painkillers.

I was on a pain management program for about a year before finally having surgery. The main side effect I experienced was constipation from the scripts, along with nausea if I took a full dose. So I felt bloated and sick, what a winning combination!

I made myself work out even with the nausea, mostly because I'm really stubborn and hated to admit the nausea was that bad. But it was bad, I won't lie to you.

How long will you need to be taking the meds, do you know? Any chance you can dial them down a bit? I know when I cut my dosage in half (with my doctor's ok), I still had pain but the edge was off enough that I could function. Would that be an option for you?

Hi! Thanks for the info. I have been on pain meds for about a year. Unfortunately, I have a spinal condition that will require me to continue pain management for a lifetime. Surgeries didn't work. Do you know of any particular exercises that are helpful but not stressful on the lower back? I talk to my doctor constantly about this! I,ve tried so many different meds. Finally on some that don't make me feel doped up. Appreciate anymore info. you might have!

I did pain management 6 months prior to surgery and 6 months after surgery. I gained 20lbs during this time, I was limited to how much exercise I could do and since my problem was my abdomen any exercise that would tighten those muscles in there was out for me. I did the walking thing weekly but the weight still piled on. Once I could return to a daily routine without pain pills I gradually took the 20lbs off with the help of more exercise including weights once off restrictions.

How long will you have to be on the meds for?

oops just noticed your last post. Wow lifetime of pain management but at least your not feeling all dopey anymore............Try asking the doc if there are specific things you can do to keep the weight from coming on or if you might be allowed certain exercises. Good Luck.

Learning2diet, have you considered yoga? You can modify almost every pose to meet whatever physical restriction you have now. Plus the yoga will increase your flexibility along with your strength. It's not a cardio workout so you won't get that part of an exercise program, but IMO the benefits are fantastic, even if you do very gentle yoga.

To Angiethe1_2005's point, walking can also help. The only downside is it takes a while to walk the distance you'd need to do. But it's still a good cardio choice and is easy on your joints.

You guys are terrific! Yoga is something I never thought about! It sounds good. Any web sites yall know of that would be good to learn more about it?

i've been on opiates for i-don't-even-know-how-many years.  i've never gained weight on them, but have had other side effects.  right now i'm on oxycontin + morphine/hydromorphone (Dilaudid) as necessary.  i have DEFINITELY found that not all opiates are created equal in terms of side effects.  Fentanyl (available to outpatients as Duragesic patches or Actiq + other lollypops) is by far, imo, the pure opiate agonist with the fewest side effects - unfortunately, for me and others, it has a very short half-life, and the transdermal system used to 'overcome' that results in very uneven dosing.  however, some people have no problem with even absorption.  i've also heard some very good things about methadone having fewer sides than other opiates (and methadone is MUCH cheaper than, e.g. fentanyl, which is quite expensive)

for me personally, opiates seem to depress appetite (although i'm at the point where this is no longer an issue, whenever i've tried to decrease the dose, i'm suddenly HUNGRY again and am able to eat much larger quantities of food than i would otherwise want to).  it is very difficult to disentangle the effects of opiates from the underlying conditions its meant to treat (and lifestyle issues).  for many people, it's simply impossible to eat while they're in pain, so relieve the pain and they gain weight.  it's quite common to see people on opiates lose weight, but it's usually due to reduced eating (opiates do suppress the 'appetite center'; interestingly, though, there's some research that shows that in heavy people, they have the OPPOSITE effect - they cause increased appetite.  imo, this issue is far from being resolved).  there's no doubt that opiates can cause many people to crave sweets. 

one thing that opiates DO do is suppress anabolic hormones like testosterone (through LH suppression) - this is a very bad thing if your goal is muscle-preserving fat loss. 

Original Post by learning2diet:

Hi! Thanks for the info. I have been on pain meds for about a year. Unfortunately, I have a spinal condition that will require me to continue pain management for a lifetime. Surgeries didn't work. Do you know of any particular exercises that are helpful but not stressful on the lower back? I talk to my doctor constantly about this! I,ve tried so many different meds. Finally on some that don't make me feel doped up. Appreciate anymore info. you might have!

I know how you feel. I've been on oxycodone every three hours for the past 6 months straight. FINALLY having surgery in 13 days. Can't wait! As far as other things that halped me (although my back/leg pain is associated with pelvic problems) a tens unit from my physical therapist works wonders when the pain rx and advil don't touch it. Also some gentle yoga stretching can help especially after a warm epsom salt bath to loosen things up. But you should always check with your doctor about that.  Have you tried physical therapy?

Thank you so much for posting about pain meds. I am in the same boat. I have Chiari Type 1 malformation, a brain disorder. I was on pain meds last year and needed a full hysterctomy for another problem. Then, BAM six months later I was diagnosed with this disorder. I had decompression surgery in June, but it did not relieve my symptons. (Severe headache, neck and jaw pain.) So, I am going through surgically induced menopause and have to be on the pain meds for the Chiari. Sounds fun, eh? :) 

I just take it one day at a time and try to remain positive. Most days I do really good. Some days, I just need to eat whatever I want. But, I know that I have to watch my diet and exercise for the rest of my life. It is hard to get motivated if you have too many meds in your system. (Ah..I am feeling good. I might as well sit on the couch and eat donuts because I don't care!) What I found is that I have to find a suitable amount of meds that work for me. I don't want to be high, I just want to control the pain. I take half a pill at a time. If that doesn't work, I will take a full pill. I have three kids I have to take care of. I need to keep my pain in check. But, if the pain gets too bad and unmanagable, I have to check out. You have to find what works best for you. Remember, everyday is a new day. You get to start over. Try to do some type of exercise everyday. Even a small amount helps.

Also, I am curious, anyone else out there have Chiari? I would love to find or start a support group.