90 years in dire pain. Should I start on prescribed opiods?

90 years in dire pain? And you are just considering this now?

Yes, yes, a hundred times yes!

Don't take this remark the wrong way but if you are over 90 years old the odds are that you won't be alive long enough for long term damage from the opiods. Again I apologize if that sounded harsh.

Why would you hesitate?
Sorry, I don't usually disagree with Alva but I can't understand why anyone would choose to suffer when relief is available. The medication has been prescribed by a doctor that knows the diagnosis, and IMO addiction is a boogey man that causes far too many to hesitate far too long (especially in someone who is 90). If side effects are a concern then pay careful attention to dosing and diet and use laxatives as needed.

Yes, definitely. And be sure to add in stool softeners or Miralax if constipation becomes an issue. What good is an Rx if you don't use it as needed to relieve terrible pain?

Good luck!

Yes you should take the prescribed medication to help you.

I recommend adding a magnesium supplement to your nightly regimen to keep your bowels healthy. Because opioids will cause constipation and then you will potentially have other issues.

I hope that you find some relief, chronic pain is miserable and messes with your head.

Yes, by all means. This current panic over the so-called opioid epidemic is leaving a lot of people in excruciating pain for no reason. The main cause of addiction and overdose is illegal drugs, not prescriptions. Yes, some people do become addicted after having a prescription, but that can be managed without denying patients the pain meds they need. In someone who is 90-years-old, the idea that they are somehow going to become an addict in the few years they have left is absurd.

Since this is posted under End of Life and Palliative Care we can perhaps assume that this is a question about the comfort meds supplied by Hospice.

My advice to use the meds remains the same.

I am so sorry that you are suffering.

Please don’t remain in dire pain.

Certainly speak to your doctor about meds to manage your pain.

Hoping that you will find relief very soon.

Cali, what I said was that opioids are seldom the answer to long term pain. And in fact, they seldom are. This person should be taking this issue up with a pain control physician. We may all have differing opinions on this and that is fine. I do believe in opioids being given, absolutely, for specific cases, for specific ills, and for specific amounts of time. Having seen the side effects of opioids often as a nurse, in patients who have serious problems secondarily to them and ARE still in rebound pain, I will continue to believe as I believe about them overall. Again, that is that their use is appropriate for many things, generally they are of no help (again of NO HELP) for chronic due to rebound pain.
Certain the OP should see his or her own physician. Sometimes things actually require more than a pill. In some cases it is necessary to address the nerves themselves with ablation. I wish this OP luck.

If it brings you immediate and much-needed relief, then yes but maybe start with half of the prescribed dose just to see how your body reacts to it. Call the pharmacy and ask if the pills can be broken in two and still be effective. Opioids can make you loopy, so if you can be with someone while taking the first few doses, I would do that. If you are on other medications as well, please consult your doctor or even call the pharmacy before you add an opioid into the mix.

Without knowing all the details of what is causing the pain, it is possible to use the opioids as temporary relief while you look into other pain relief options. Some medical centers have pain clinics, so call your insurance provider to see if this is an available option.

For example: if the pain is from osteoarthritis, there are excellent, non-opioid, minimally invasive therapies covered by insurance. My mom is 91 and has issues with arthritis and cartilege loss in her knees. She had gel injections and it worked great and continues to work great.

My MIL is in LTC, is 85 yrs old. In 2009 she broke her back, which already had osteoporosis. She has a lot of back pain now since she is barely mobile. They put lidocaine patches on her, which work pretty well. When she takes pain meds she does become severely constipated, so this is a very real side effect. I wish you relief now and in the future!

I’m very sorry you are in such pain. Absolutely start prescribed opioids. That is what they are there for. I pray that you get relief very soon.