Suggest Treatment For Pain In The Legs

Posted on Wed, 22 Feb 2017

Question: I have some deep, open wounds in my legs from a pseudomonas infection. The pain in one leg is tolerable (Tylenol manages it well) but the lesions on the other leg are excruciatingly painful. Any pressure at all on the site shoots me up to a 7 or 8. I'm also taking Hydromorphone 4mg but all that does is dull the pain very slightly. It's as though the drug misses the target. Hydrocodone didn't do any better. I know my nerves will be better as I heal, but in the meantime do you have any suggestions for a different pain killer? I really don't want to sink into an opiate fog (I take the Hydromorphone only at night, one pill before going to bed). And then I'm awake all night trying to find a position that doesn't press on that leg.

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Discussion follows

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
Hydromorphone is only a pain killer, it doesn't have anti inflammatory action. You can take Diclofenac tablet 100 mg sustained release once or take a 75 mg tablet twice a day depending on the pain.
In addition you require proper antibiotics and local treatment depending on the culture sensitivity report.
Do get back to me if you have further questions.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (28 minutes later)

Thank you, but I do not understand how inflammation became part of my query. I don't have any visible or apparent inflammation; the pain apparently happens because of nerves within the infected tissue. What I was looking for was advice on killing the pain.

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thanks for your input

Detailed Answer:
Please upload a picture of the wound if you can.
If it is already healed with no visible wound and you want a medicine to decrease the sensation in the nerves, you can use Neurontin 300 mg at bed time with your doctor's consent. It is not a narcotic and doesn't lead to habituation.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar