Posted by Preston (209.240.200.82) on July 28, 1999 at 06:59:25:
A lot of messages posted about painkillers. Some peoples docs acted as though the patient was just after drugs, others, like Gordon's seemed drug friendly. I was prescibed codiene related drugs quite freely but found on my own what the literature has said all along, that narcotics don't appear to help much (except possibly going back to sleep). In fact I found anything that keeps me asleep makes it worse since I dont wake with the first twinge and get to the O2.
Like a lot of us I've tried non-medical therapies (before I knew about O2) - 6 months with no meds, during the worst of it thought I was knocking at the door of insanity. But I did get 2 benefits - shoulder pain, originally compared to having my shoulder muscles ripped out, eased. Second, I worked my way through feeling like a victim - it only added to the panic and lower number headaches are easier to deal with.
Maybe some of the more experienced heads can add some insight for people newer to this. I'd appreciate any thoughts.