Are over-the-counter pain medications the biggest sham ever?

I鈥檝e been dealing with knee and back pain for the better part of 15 years now. I鈥檝e tried everything鈥?chiropractor (which helps for about 4 minutes), RLS drugs (thinking my ridiculous sleeping problems were somehow related to knee pain), and prescription pain meds (Lortab, Tylenol with Codeine). The only relief I鈥檝e ever had were from the pain medications鈥?of course, all narcotics, and all terribly addictive. But constant pain is not just about 鈥渂eing tough鈥?and dealing with it, in contrast to what I鈥檝e believed most of my life. It can effect everything鈥?mood, daily activity, and, in my case, a wicked sleep disorder (a few hours of real sleep each night, until I eventually 鈥渃rash鈥?. And trust me when I say that not enough sleep causes a whole host of other issues.

But seriously, has ANYONE ever taken an over-the-counter pain medication and had it do anything other than result in a pleasant stomach ache? All day strong, my ****! What a crock.

US_DR_JD -- The 鈥渞easoning鈥?for my question was based on a script (Lortab) I received when I threw my back out. I never considered pain meds as an option, but found that this solved my RLS, leg pain, and ridiculous sleep disorder. I am, however, getting the impression from my PCP that long-term prescriptions for this med are not prudent. I can鈥檛 tell you how frustrating that is, because nothing else has ever worked.

The analgesic medications available over the counter are for mild to moderate pain. If they do not controol your symptoms, your pain level may exceed this. It is common for people with chronic pain syndromes, to have increased sensitization, and their perception of pain is greater. Also after 15 years your body's habituation to the analgesics you are taking has. most likely, rendered them useless.

People with long term chronic pain conditions need medications for pain relief. However, the medications you mentioned, Lortab and Tylenol #3, are generally effective for about 4-6 hours. 4 hours of pain relief is not significant over a period of 15 years. Also if you look at how these medications work, they really are at their maximum effectiveness for only a few minutes of that time, and there are significant peaks and valleys in the level of pain control. This leaves you in pain most of the time, and looking forward to the next dose. This is a formula which drives addictive behavior.

If you have chronic and almost constant pain, it is better to have a lower dose of medication in your system, which is effective 24 hours a day.

This is the basis that pain management works on. The patients are less likely to become psychologically addicted, however, anyone who takes long-term narcotics may become physiologically dependent. In general, this is not considered a major issue, if we are looking at people with conditions which cannot be cured. If you are going to be in pain for the remainder of your life, being dependent on the medication which decreases that pain is not a significant issue. A significant issue, is if you have the psychological disorders which commonly accompany uncontrolled pain syndromes and the subsequent sleep disorders.

You may want to discuss your situation with a specialist in pain medicine. You don't have to take anything you are not comfortable with, but you deserve the option of having the medications as a choice.

Your pain is obviously too intense for OTC medications. There is other medications out there that your dr will have to prescribe - Unfortunately there is side effects of pain medications including stomach upset and constipation to name a few common ones.
Time to get at the root of your problems and find out why you are in so much pain
Do you have arthritis?
Medications and other treatments can be prescribed depending on your medical condition.
Good luck

If you have to see your doctor for relief, then your beyond the help of general aspirin or Ibuprofen, Tylenol.
We have to be careful now days, we're beyond the "Watkins" man and, his bag of "pharmacopoeia" and, other quick remedies. The counters are full of misconceptions in healing.

Most of the stuff is natural products that takes awhile to work, about four to six months, some, not at all. One problem, some of these have unknown properties when mixed with a prescription can either be dangerous or harmful, creating neutrality in the script.
Most hormones or vitamins should be with a doctors checkup or by his order, You usually just expel the stuff through normal bodily functions making them spendy.

So, the solution is: See your doctor, he'll prescribe to you what is needed after testing to see that you actually need it.

Pain is a very personal issue what hurts one person is nothing to another, but I would seek medical advice over this issue.

Clearly the over the counter meds are not hitting the right spot, so maybe other stronger perscription would be better for you .

I would not advise going the online pharmacy route unless you have fully explord this with your GP, although if you feel thats the only way to go use a site like drugsbuyers.com which will open your eyes to the scams on the net and how chronic pain sufferers are ripped off online and have a list of trusted online pharmacies which dont need a perscription but you pay through the nose for meds which you GP could perscribe for less possible.

Restless Legs are a nightmare amitryipline taken along with pain meds not only has the benefit of easing this but also helps you to sleep, in a low dose.

All these matters could be resolved if you have a friendly GP who can understand your history. You need to calmly explain to your GP how much pain your in, and how it makes you feel.