Ear pain

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Dav1965
Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I had 2 neck dissections and 95% of my tongue removed and replaced with my thigh. Plus chemo and radiaion. Also several surgeries on my tongue to try and shape it right for speaking and eating. My left ear hurts really bad but the doctor says he can see nothing wrong with it. He thinks its just nerve damage from the dissecton. Anybody else have this pain and what can i take for it. over the counter pain meds dont help. My last surgery was March 15 2011. I hate to keep asking for oxycodone. Thanks David

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  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #2
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    pain
    Hi David,
    Bigger pain requires bigger pain meds and oxycodone is just a tiny little guy. The only thing that worked for me was Dilaudid and it worked very well. No need to suffer, especially after what you've been through. Ask for something bigger and don't take no for an answer. I've found that my docs are very willing to help with pain and are able to prescribe something immediately. Hope you're pain free soon,

    Bob
  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
    #3
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    Dilated
    They gave me some of that in the hospital and i am scared of that. That is a little to good for me. I am scared i might like that a little to much. I dont know if the shot is stronger than the pill but the shot was tough. David
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #4
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    Dav1965 said:

    Dilated
    They gave me some of that in the hospital and i am scared of that. That is a little to good for me. I am scared i might like that a little to much. I dont know if the shot is stronger than the pill but the shot was tough. David

    nerve damage requires a different treatment
    My husband has nerve damage from the radiation he received for hypopharyngeal cancer.

    Jim now takes Neurontin and Cymbalta, both known to help with nerve damage pain, as well as hydrocodone for break-through pain, although that is less and less.

    Talk to your doctor and perhaps get a referral to a pain clinic where they are used to treating nerve damage pain.
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #5
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    Dav1965 said:

    Dilated
    They gave me some of that in the hospital and i am scared of that. That is a little to good for me. I am scared i might like that a little to much. I dont know if the shot is stronger than the pill but the shot was tough. David

    shot
    The shot is stronger than the pill. Much stronger. The pills can be dosed according to what you need. Try not to worry about liking it too much. When pain meds are taken for pain it's rare to become addicted. I took them when I needed them and then tapered off when I was done. Still got a full bottle of them that hopefully will never be used.

    Bob
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
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    adventurebob said:

    shot
    The shot is stronger than the pill. Much stronger. The pills can be dosed according to what you need. Try not to worry about liking it too much. When pain meds are taken for pain it's rare to become addicted. I took them when I needed them and then tapered off when I was done. Still got a full bottle of them that hopefully will never be used.

    Bob

    Hi David

    I too have very bad pain in the left ear and the doctors tell me the same thing that there is nothing they can do for the pain except give me pills for the pain. I take Tramadol for it but it only works sometimes. Do you have any drainage from the ear, if so you might have an infection for me sometimes a strong antibiotic helps but only last a few months before the pain comes back again.

    All the best to you
    Hondo
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #7
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    Hondo said:

    Hi David

    I too have very bad pain in the left ear and the doctors tell me the same thing that there is nothing they can do for the pain except give me pills for the pain. I take Tramadol for it but it only works sometimes. Do you have any drainage from the ear, if so you might have an infection for me sometimes a strong antibiotic helps but only last a few months before the pain comes back again.

    All the best to you
    Hondo

    Ditto
    I get wicked pains in my left ear sometimes. (neck dissection side) I have some liquid Roxicet left from rads and when I get desperate I take that.

    I get a few pains in my ear most every day. Hurts bad about once a week. Gets wicked every month or two. I have no idea if anything I am doing causes it to get worse. I see no correlation.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #8
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    Hondo said:

    Hi David

    I too have very bad pain in the left ear and the doctors tell me the same thing that there is nothing they can do for the pain except give me pills for the pain. I take Tramadol for it but it only works sometimes. Do you have any drainage from the ear, if so you might have an infection for me sometimes a strong antibiotic helps but only last a few months before the pain comes back again.

    All the best to you
    Hondo

    Ditto
    I take the same thing that Hondo takes. Tramadol, it helps me alot. Might be worth a try.

    John
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #9
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    Noellesmom said:

    nerve damage requires a different treatment
    My husband has nerve damage from the radiation he received for hypopharyngeal cancer.

    Jim now takes Neurontin and Cymbalta, both known to help with nerve damage pain, as well as hydrocodone for break-through pain, although that is less and less.

    Talk to your doctor and perhaps get a referral to a pain clinic where they are used to treating nerve damage pain.

    nerve pain another opinion
    My husband was treated for nerve pain in his ear for three years when in actuality it was the cancer pressing on the nerve. The problem with those meds is the side effects which all have. Constipation, sleepiness, dizzy and confusion were the worst. When he asked what an EKG was I knew it was bad. He also fell alot leading to injuries. Right now he takes Lortab which is working well but he hasn't started treatment.

    Blessings,

    Debbie

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