What are some types of pain management that do not involve narcotics and that are not just Tylenol?

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meanstoanend Asked March 2023

What are some types of pain management that do not involve narcotics and that are not just Tylenol?

Cancer sometimes needs treatment for pain.

The pain can be so bad that over-the-counter meds do not work.

Does anyone here have ways to manage cancer pain without narcotics?

My family member is at risk for falls and drinks every day. They can be forgetful so I want to avoid narcotic pain relievers.

His doctor agrees to this, but what are some options since we all don't want narcotics?

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score 8 · Answer 1

If there was an effective way to successfully relieve cancer-level pain without narcotics this would be global news. Some people might get some relief using other non-narcotic therapies, but at some point narcotics will be the only real answer.

Does this person's healthcare provider network have a Pain Management Clinic? Mine does. I hope you can find a solution for your family member.

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score 6 · Answer 2

IMO the fear of narcotics has gone too far when it comes down to something like this, I recommend getting rid of the booze and and allowing responsible use of whatever is needed to manage the pain. My bro with terminal brain cancer was able to regain some quality of life before he died because he was on slow release morphine and I would never even consider depriving anyone of the same.

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Cwillie, was this the patch? My mother has just been moved to a patch (a type of morphine, I don’t know exactly what) from oxycodone pills, and I did not know anything about this method of pain management. Very glad you saw good things. I am hopeful it will be a positive change for my mom as well.

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score 5 · Answer 3

Tylenol is definitely not a good alternative to an alcoholic because of the danger of liver toxicity.

This really is a question for discussion with a doctor and not a Forum. All pain medications, including NSAIDS have side effects, and in their case often a problem with bleeding, especially in the abdomen. The fact that you are dealing with an alcoholic is a serious problem. Really, only an MD can help to decide for EACH individual patient on the basis of illness, prognosis, general condition and pre-existing problems such as the alcoholism.

If you feel that you are getting inadequate help with pain relief for this person I would ask for a consult to a pain relief specialist. I certainly do wish you good luck.

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I would get help from a doctor first
but also I like to gain a broader frame of reference from a multitude of sources.
Because there are hundreds of people on this site, they might have experiences with other types of pain management.
Someone who has medical marijuana suggested that I try getting this for my family member.
This does not prove that marijuana would be effective for this patient but only that other people have had good luck with it.
Someone here advised me that if there were alternatives to narcotics, it would be global news but there are some items of news I tend to miss and especially if they are only talked about on an isolated date as is often the case. Also, the news on some newer medications can change over time.

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score 5 · Answer 4

My FIL passed of prostate cancer which causes terrible pain. He was afraid of getting hooked on narcotic pain relievers. Finally, he was helped to realize that he was going to die and addiction would not be an issue and that the meds would help. Even with the narcotic the pain was difficult sometimes.

Alcohol may be helping with his pain level. When someone is terminal I don't think it makes any sense to withhold anything they want and need. Death is imminent anyway.

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score 3 · Answer 5

Accupuncture, reiki, ibuprofen (prescription strength). But honestly, if he can ditch the alcohol and go with the morphine, he'd be a lot better off.

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score 3 · Answer 6

"Drinks every day." Let's start there.
Drinks every day = forgetfulness.
"At risk for falls." But drinks every day which = forgetfulness partly from drinking + at risk for falls partly from drinking.
Has severe pain, but wants to avoid narcotic pain relievers because drinks every day which is partly or even mostly responsible for making him forgetful and at risk for falls.

His drinking is a major problem that gets in the way of alleviating his present pain. Unfortunately, I don't see any way out of cancer pain without narcotics. Maybe with enough narcotics he won't want to drink.

I'm very sorry for his problem. Some lifestyle choices are a witch.

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score 3 · Answer 7

What options does the doctor suggest?

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score 3 · Answer 8

Even heavy duty narcotics like extended release morphine Doesnt TOUCH cancer pain, in many instances. If your LO insists on drinking to excess every day, and isn't undergoing chemo or immunotherapy, I'd give them the narcotics and let the chips fall where they may. If the pain gets bad enough, they'll put down the booze in favor of the heavy meds. Because what kind of "pain management is there that doesn't involve narcotics but isn't Tylenol "??? Try 5:1 cbc to thc gummies at 5 CBD.com

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score 3 · Answer 9

Your primary concern is falls? Falls will happen even without narcotics or alcohol. You cannot protect against all maladies, only plan for them.

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score 2 · Answer 10

Is this person terminal? If so, stop worrying about making an addict out of an addict.

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I do not think addiction is the concern here but the fact that the person is a Fall Risk is primary concern.

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What are some types of pain management that do not involve narcotics and that are not just Tylenol?

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