These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT
be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An indi
vidual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
[posted 05/13/2000]
Question: The doctor’s have been giving me Vicodin for pain, for my Tic Douloureax. It helps but should I worry about taking 3 pills a day when needed? They are 5/500mg. Vicodin. They give me 30 pills at a time. Then I have to go back for more. It seems dumb to go back to the doctor all the time.
I’m with Kaiser and I don’t know what to do? And I don’t think they know either!
Answer: If you can get pain relief with other methods you would be better off. Vicodin is an addictive narcotic. If that is all that relieves the pain then use it. But, there are usually other options for tic douloureax. Neurontin is commonly used as is tegretol. Ablation of the nerve through a pain clinic is an option. Finally, topical capsaicin cream (available OTC) when used for at least a month in the distribution of the nerve can also be helpful.
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