lower back pain since jpouch

Doctors *do* prescribe opiates for chronic diarrhea. Lomotil is an opiate with minimal risk of addiction. At the other extreme is DTO (deodorized tincture of opium), which works remarkably well for the purpose. Other opiates, like codeine, also have this effect. Other than Lomotil doctors try to save these as a last resort, for a few reasons:
1) they can be extremely addictive
2) people can develop a tolerance to the effects (although the anti-diarrheal effect seems to persist better than the pain reduction)
3) doctors can be put under intense scrutiny for prescribing "too many" opiates, in some cases being tormented by medical boards and/or having their licenses threatened
4) there are often less serious medications that work just fine with fewer side effects (opiates can be sedating)

Opiates are a "comfortable" choice for symptoms that are temporary or for the terminally ill. They are an "uncomfortable" choice for chronic conditions which are less likely to clear up on their own. Opiates are a bit like prednisone in this regard.

Hi,
I've had chronic back pain since (and even before) my total collectomy and pouch creation...at first it was the inflamation of the colon that was held responsible for it and then it was the k pouch (same pouch but on the abdominal wall with a stoma exit) and now we just accept that it is scarolitis which is basically a general inflamation of the sacrum and pelvic joints etc...I try to stay 'light' on it meaning only using OTC meds like NSAIDS (advil etc) but I realise that I am going to have to up the meds one day...For now, what really helps is exercise (usually the case when there is inflamation)...so I feel better after long walks, work outs or stretching and yoga...you have to find your own method to control the pain and make sure that it is 'only' inflamatory pain and not a symptom of some other problem (absecess etc)...
Sharon

you might have adhesions. if there's pulling in your front it can hurt your back. adhesions and tight muscles are usually the culprit. drugs can only take you so far, and even though you say you feel great on norco, after awhile it will make you sluggish. It's not great taking opiates long term. Try stretching and maybe some diet changes, of course the occasional norco if you need it, but you will need more and more to get the same effect.

I also have back pain. Not everyday but maybe 2 to 3 times a week. I just take Motrin. I don't know what else to do. This is the first I have heard of anyone else having it. Glad to know I am not alone!!! I don't take any pain meds.

I'm jumping on the band wagon with this as well... My lower back and sacrum hurt most mornings and evenings. I was in a narco, then weaned to tramadol, and now all I have to take for it is liquid gel Aleve. Some days I really need something stronger and will be mentioning this to my Dr next visit.

As for narco stopping the diahrea, yes it does and at night it's wonderful... The reason being, that it slows digestion and can cause uncomfortable constipation feeling if taken too much.

If your primary diagnosis is UC, and this low back pain/upper buttock pain has been going on for 3 months or more, it could be enteropathic arthritis, which is a type of spondyloarthropathy. NSAIDs work well for many people (I used them for years), but for many of us with IBD, they are a curse along with being a blessing, as they can cause pouchitis. Careful evaluation by a rheumatologist is key to getting the right treatment.

Narcotics are useful for pain (I take small amounts daily), but do nothing for the underlying inflammation. I have been dealing with related symptoms for over 20 years, but was not diagnosed until 2006, when the sacroiliac pain began a decade after colectomy. I am not saying you guys have it, but it is something to explore rather than just taking pain pills.

Oh, and Grandma- Motrin IS a pain med! Hope you tolerate it, since it can cause inflammation in the pouch.

Jan

OK...so I feel a little silly for asking, but have you gone to PT for it? It's been 6 years since my surgery, but I remember for months and months after I was hunched over with back pain. No one knew what it was. I basically told my general doctor he better write me a script, because I definitely needed to do something. I could barely walk. Well...within 2 weeks, I was a different person. I'd ditch the pain meds and try that for a while, personally. Hope this helps!