How can you tell if someone needs the pain medication for crohns disease is taking it out of habit or just thinks they still need it?

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This is difficult to answer as everyone has their own level of tolerance for pain. Long term Crohn's sufferers often get so tired of all the other symptoms they find they need the pain meds to function day to day so they can deal with the other problems of the disease. Things such as fatigue and cramping and running to the toilet, the stress and the embarrassment. Often the narcotics make some of this less bothersome. Habit or addiction to the drugs is a whole different problem, the ultimate goal is to get through the day as comfortable as possible, the body builds tolerance to daily useage of drugs where more and more is needed to maintain a level of comfort. At some point a level is reached where it no longer helps and starts to create its own problems. Believe me, we do not need any more problems than we already have.
Some of us are lucky enough to have a BOWEL TEAM of several doctors who manage our crohn's and deal with Nutrition, Internal Medicine Doctor,Surgeon and Pain Management.
Others have just our family doctor who may not be up to the latest inovations regarding our specific problem.
Best advice I can give you at this point is speak to your doctor (s) and have them assess your individual concerns, work with them to find solutions.

First answer by Jadeacres. Last edit by Jadeacres. Contributor trust: 168 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question]