Guest guest Posted March 2, 2006 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 , I have been on Ambien for many years. I have found it eases my pain though I didn't exactly realize how much it might be contributing until I read your note. Let's just say I sleep MUCH better and seem to hurt less when I take it. HOWEVER, if I take the 10mg instead of the 5 mg for several nights in a row I sometimes wake with a " tight " backache and/or headache. And when I tried the new CR 12mg I had a headache until noon. If I don't take it for 2 or 3 nights every two weeks I seem to regain the sleep effect. Hope that helps. I really couldn't function as well without it. Kathy > > Hi... > > I've been in an email discussion with a friend. His wife had > scoliosis surgery maybe 7-8 years ago. She had several complications, > the worst of which is probably RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy). > She has had severe pain 24/7 for years. She's currently being weaned > from an implanted pump (fentynal, morphine and clonodine) which is no > longer effective. She's almost completely bed bound. I think > everyone is convinced that her brain is giving her a faulty pain > response. She's been working with several of the top guys at > Stanford, but even the most respected pain specialist there is telling > them that she's beyond his capability. I can't imagine how awful it > must be to hear that! > > The one glimmer of hope is that she has found that for about an hour > after she takes an Ambien (before she falls asleep), she is relatively > pain free. She can get out of bed, shower, eat, and even exercise. > They're trying to figure out how often she can take the drug and if it > might eventually lose its efficacy. > > I found one message on the internet from another person who > experienced the same phenomenon, so I thought I'd just put it out > there to see if anyone else has seen something like that. > > Regards, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 Hi , I've been taking 5 mg Ambien every night for about four months. For one thing, it gives me the rest I need. I take it about a 1/2 hour before I get into bed. I am always comfortable when I actually get into bed. I thought it was because I was relaxing, knowing I'd be lying down since lying down always helps. But now that I think about it, before I started taking Ambien, I would be in pain till I fell asleep and now I'm not. Hmmmm. (Is this who I think it is, G & L? I think about them.) Bonnie [ ] Ambien for Pain? Hi...I've been in an email discussion with a friend. His wife hadscoliosis surgery maybe 7-8 years ago. She had several complications,the worst of which is probably RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy). She has had severe pain 24/7 for years. She's currently being weanedfrom an implanted pump (fentynal, morphine and clonodine) which is nolonger effective. She's almost completely bed bound. I thinkeveryone is convinced that her brain is giving her a faulty painresponse. She's been working with several of the top guys atStanford, but even the most respected pain specialist there is tellingthem that she's beyond his capability. I can't imagine how awful itmust be to hear that!The one glimmer of hope is that she has found that for about an hourafter she takes an Ambien (before she falls asleep), she is relativelypain free. She can get out of bed, shower, eat, and even exercise. They're trying to figure out how often she can take the drug and if itmight eventually lose its efficacy.I found one message on the internet from another person whoexperienced the same phenomenon, so I thought I'd just put it outthere to see if anyone else has seen something like that.Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 -- I also take ambien, it is funny how somme would comment on how good it made them feel. I was just thinking the same thing recently...it relaxes my muscles just enough for me to settle in. I have been taking it for a few years but never really appreciated the way it makes me feel until this surgery....I wonder what it does to the body to realize that feeling???I must say I have been tempted to take it during the day ealry on after the surgery if I felt lousy, just to get some rest but I resisted..... <pa - In , " Bonnie " <bonnie@...> wrote: > > Hi , > > I've been taking 5 mg Ambien every night for about four months. For one thing, it gives me the rest I need. I take it about a 1/2 hour before I get into bed. I am always comfortable when I actually get into bed. I thought it was because I was relaxing, knowing I'd be lying down since lying down always helps. But now that I think about it, before I started taking Ambien, I would be in pain till I fell asleep and now I'm not. Hmmmm. > > (Is this who I think it is, G & L? I think about them.) > > Bonnie > [ ] Ambien for Pain? > > > Hi... > > I've been in an email discussion with a friend. His wife had > scoliosis surgery maybe 7-8 years ago. She had several complications, > the worst of which is probably RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy). > She has had severe pain 24/7 for years. She's currently being weaned > from an implanted pump (fentynal, morphine and clonodine) which is no > longer effective. She's almost completely bed bound. I think > everyone is convinced that her brain is giving her a faulty pain > response. She's been working with several of the top guys at > Stanford, but even the most respected pain specialist there is telling > them that she's beyond his capability. I can't imagine how awful it > must be to hear that! > > The one glimmer of hope is that she has found that for about an hour > after she takes an Ambien (before she falls asleep), she is relatively > pain free. She can get out of bed, shower, eat, and even exercise. > They're trying to figure out how often she can take the drug and if it > might eventually lose its efficacy. > > I found one message on the internet from another person who > experienced the same phenomenon, so I thought I'd just put it out > there to see if anyone else has seen something like that. > > Regards, > > > > > > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 Dr. Bridwell gave me a script for Ambien after my last surgery, but not after the first two. They kept trying to give it to me in the hospital, but I refused since I was sleeping the majority of the time anyway. The last few nights I've been lying awake in bed thinking I should get it filled (days and nights are not quite regulated). I'm embarrassed to admit it, but today is the first day I was up early enough to catch all of Ellen! But I can stay up 'til 2:30 or 4:00 am without even realizing it. This will not be good when returning to work, so I think I'll go get that Rx filled. I suppose it is one disadvantage to living without kids - no one makes you get out of bed! After reading these posts, I'm thinking there may be more than one reason Dr. B decided to prescribe Ambien. I've been afraid I'd become dependent on it. Have I mentioned that I'm a little strong-willed? See how helpful this place is? I'll certainly let you know if it helps with pain as well. kam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 Yes. :-( > > (Is this who I think it is, G & L? I think about them.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 --Kam, I hate to be a drug pusher..I would try it...I think you will be amazed. I am a tad bit dependent on it, I have had times when I have not had any and had to just make do. I tired the ambien CR recently but like the regular better. I also wanted to offer to fly 2 of my children to your house, the 2 younger ones ofcourse, for a bit, so you can get used to getting up at about 5:30am in prep of returning to work. I really think, like ambien, it will help!!!!hehehehe... nothing liek a few little kids to force you butt out of bed in the morning!!! You sound so much better!! It makes me smile, I was worried about you back a few weeks ago, you hate to think that someone is suffering in pain so much!!! Let me know what you think of the ambien, I will be curious.since a few of us have admitted it makes us feel better..., PA - In , " advokam " <advokam@...> wrote: > > > Dr. Bridwell gave me a script for Ambien after my last surgery, but not > after the first two. They kept trying to give it to me in the hospital, > but I refused since I was sleeping the majority of the time anyway. The > last few nights I've been lying awake in bed thinking I should get it > filled (days and nights are not quite regulated). I'm embarrassed to > admit it, but today is the first day I was up early enough to catch all > of Ellen! But I can stay up 'til 2:30 or 4:00 am without even realizing > it. This will not be good when returning to work, so I think I'll go get > that Rx filled. I suppose it is one disadvantage to living without kids > - no one makes you get out of bed! > > After reading these posts, I'm thinking there may be more than one > reason Dr. B decided to prescribe Ambien. I've been afraid I'd become > dependent on it. Have I mentioned that I'm a little strong-willed? > > See how helpful this place is? I'll certainly let you know if it helps > with pain as well. > > kam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 , I will keep your friends in my prayers. I was just having a conversation with a friend of mine (she is having revision surgery March 7 & 14 with Dr. Bridwell and is a lurker here) about a woman in similar circumstances (minus the Ambien). It really makes me count my blessings to have gotten relief from chronic pain as there are so many who do not. I cautioned my friend against building up Dr. Bridwell - or any other doctor, for that matter - as 'the' answer since sometimes even the best doctors can't help. How blessed we are! Please let us know if any solutions come out of this 'side-effect' of Ambien. Debilitating pain sucks! kam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 --- , Do you have any knowledge, and I know you are not a doctor, but you seem to know alot about meds and other things, why ambien makes some of us feel so good, relaxed??I don't even get the same relief from vicodone. Just wondering.I thought I was the only one who felt so great after a dose of this drug..I was kind of surprised to see the other posts. < PA In , " Racine " <linda@...> wrote: > > Yes. :-( > > > > > > > (Is this who I think it is, G & L? I think about them.) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 Hi ... The only thing I've heard is that it's a hypnotic agent. I hope to find out more. -- > > > > > > > > (Is this who I think it is, G & L? I think about them.) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2006 Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 Coincidentally, I happened to catch a commercial for ambien on television last night. It is described as being a short-term remedy for insomnia. Perhaps it has muscle relaxant effects. In a message dated 3/4/06 2:01:19 AM, linda@... writes: i ... The only thing I've heard is that it's a hypnotic agent. I hope to find out more. -- > > > > > > > > (Is this who I think it is, G & L? I think about them.) > > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2006 Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 ---, That is interesting. If you find out more i'd be interested. I just find such good relaxation after a dose or even a half dose, I break the 10 mg in half. , PA In , " Racine " <linda@...> wrote: > > Hi ... > > The only thing I've heard is that it's a hypnotic agent. I hope to > find out more. > > -- > > > > > > > > > > > > > (Is this who I think it is, G & L? I think about them.) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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