So, I recently had surgery, and was prescribed painkillers; they did nothing. This isn't the first time this has happened; I'll explain more inside. When I attempt to search Google, all the results are about managing pain or addiction or things completely unrelated to my question.
YANMD/RN/PA, but maybe that's your profession, or you work in pharma. I recently had abdominal surgery and was prescribed oxycodone for pain management. It didn't do anything; not only did it not stop pain (honestly I'm not even sure I had much) but I also didn't feel "floaty" or "euphoric" or any other feeling. I was just massively constipated and quit taking them two days after my surgery. Hell, I didn't even really take the horse ibuprofen, either.
About 20 years ago, I fell and hurt my back at work. The healthcare professional at the urgent care gave me Darvocet. Nothing.
22 years ago this month, I had my wisdom teeth removed. Codeine. Nothing, and I remember calling the oral surgeon to ask if I could just take ibuprofen instead.
Now, I have a high pain tolerance. I've had migraine since I was 8, usually needing 1-2 Imitrex and naproxen to be able to do things such as see and move off of the couch. I have broken bones including shattering my patella, nerve damage in my left arm, both pinkies are deformed, stitches, concussions, stress fractures, bone bruises, osteoarthritis, burns, rotator cuff injury, horrible menstrual cramps for the past 28 years, a meniscal tear; you name it. I'm super active and somewhat accident prone so some of this is to be expected. Oh yeah, and multiple dental issues (root canals, extractions, breaking teeth, etc) including my third time with braces - which I'm completing right now. Some days I take an Aleve for my arthritis, but that's about it.
I have never had kidney stones nor had a child. I do not know that particular pain, but I know migraine (including the one where I couldn't see) and I know I had an infection in my mouth where it was the closest I have ever come to calling 911 for myself and I've worked in emergency services for almost 16 years.
Also, I don't know if it's related, but when I have dental work done, they use at least two numbing agents and I usually receive 6-8 shots of...something. Not novocaine because I could feel them drill and I was like hey y'all that ain't working please do not do that but not nearly as polite.
But I have friends who've been prescribed opioids that did take their pain down a notch or several notches, and determined they should stop using them when (their words, not mine) "they] started to like they way they felt when using them." Cool for them I guess. I just ended up with a painful chonk in my colon.
Ok, all of that to kind of restate my original question: why don't painkillers work for me? And certainly there have to be other people with similar physiology? Can anyone explain this and are there studies? I haven't been in school for a few years or I'd have jumped on library resources. And I heard the rumor/link about red hair and these types of medicines, but I've always thought it was urban legend. I am not a redhead, but my mom was and her mother was quite auburn. |
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