Medical Advice: Painkiller Induced Constipation?

[angel2write]

Sorry- I know this is kind of a gross subject. But I need advice.

My son has either a really bad bulging disc or a herniated disc (paperwork from doctor confusing). We are trying to get him into physical therapy and get some steroid shots to ease the pain and help with healing.

BUT... everything is moving so slowly. He's been in agonizing pain for well over a month now. He is subsisting on painkillers. He's taking Lortab three times a day.

Now he's having bad trouble with constipation. Either from inactivity from the illness, from nerve compression from the bad disc, or from the painkiller (or a combo of all three) he's got bad constipation.

My family doesn't HAVE this. I've never really dealt with it. Even my babies all tended to go the opposite direction. I don't know what to do, and our doctors can't seem to find the time to help even with more important things (like faxing the referral for the physical therapy to the physical therapists' office instead of MY HOME PHONE NUMBER!!! :mad::mad::mad: I've called them three times, and three times they've programmed the fax machine to keep redialing my home phone number. We've been playing this game all day. Morons.)

I've got him taking fiber pills three times a day, eating more fruit & veg, drinking water, and today I gave him a laxative pill. Nothing.

HELP! What do I do???

 

[Muzikluvr]

Warm Water helps, like coffee temperature. No need for the coffee. ;) Also, rubbing his tummy from right to left may help, just a gentle rub, one direction... HIS right to HIS left.

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

I don't know how old he is, but If worse comes to worse I would ask your Dr. what type of enema to give him.

Either administrate it yourself, or set it up and let him do it himself, or take him to a place and have it done professionally.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Hope it helps.

Thoughts of recovery for your son.

Be well

 

[Queen Boudica]

Oh that sounds awful, sorry this is happening.

Not much I can suggest, although my son is taking a stool softener called osmolax, it uses the bodies own water to soften the stools so making them easier to pass. Not sure if that would help.

 

[angel2write]

He's fifteen. I've thought about the enema... but gosh, I think he'd die of embarrassment. I hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

Oh 15, yeah that's a tough one. I would go with the stole softeners. And/or more laxative pills. Give them a chance to work.

If he's not eating normally he may have way less waist to :poop:.

Try not to worry too much.

PS. Pick up the PT referral and take it over there yourself. The Dr office probably thinks they're doing you a favor by faxing it. I don't know.

 

[evergreen]

My gf had cancer and was on some heavy painkillers. Hospice gave her senna for a stool softener. It is an herbal stool softener, and you can take several. It helped her a lot.

I have found taking a magnesium supplement helps me with muscle cramping AND it also helps soften my stool.

I do recommend the senna though since I have seen it work first hand for patients on pain killers.

 

[ClairBear226]

Before you go with anything invasive, I'd dry good old fashioned prune juice. Preferably warm. If it helps, tell him Warf from Star Trek drinks it, and says it's a warrior's drink! :ninja: Keep pushing lots of water also. BTW, bananas can constipate too, so might want to avoid those for now.

 

[Whitneys story]

Poor guy and the constipation is not helping the disc issue. I would recommend talking to your pharmacist as they would know the side affects of the pain med. Possibly having suggestions for a resolve. Whitney

 

[ClairBear226]

Lortab can have a side effect of constipation. No question about it. I stand by my earlier suggestion, but also second Whitney's. Pharmacists are a wealth of information that many of us don't think to access. They're often easier to get ahold of than an MD, and may actually know more about certain meds than a physician. Think about it. Meds are their whole business, lock, stock and barrel. I hope he feels better soon.

 

[amethist]

angel2write, ask the Dr for some tablets to take once a day before any pain killers. My husband has to take these if he has to take pain killers for his back.

The ones he takes are called Lansoprazole 30mg strength. We are in the UK so maybe they would be called something different where you are.

They help to protect your stomach while you are taking the strong pain killers, and any that are know to cause stomach issues.

 

[intothelight]

Angel,

I don't have anything to add, but don't let it go too long. Make sure you check with a doctor if it has been more than a few days. If you don't get a response from the doctor, be persistent.

Deb