I’ve been really interested in people’s interpretations of Rudo’s scars and the pain they cause.
What interests me is that people think Rudo’s pain can be managed with over the counter painkillers.
For example, there is a difference between Tylenol (that is a brand) and Advil (that is also a brand). They have different ingredients, so it’s always better to call them by their ingredients because well…those are brands.
Ibuprofen (Advil) is an anti-inflammatory painkiller. If you have an ear infection, that’s what you take. Ibuprofen reduces the production of chemicals responsible for causing the pain and the responses your body has.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol/paracetamol) is not a good anti-inflammatory painkiller. Acetaminophen is weaker than ibuprofen when it comes to inflammation because it is easily overwhelmed with the concentration of the chemicals causing the inflammation. It works similarly to ibuprofen by inhibiting pain responses. As well, acetaminophen is a good anti-convulsant.
So…if you’re writing about Rudo’s pain…ibuprofen won’t help him.
As well…both of these medications only treat mild to moderate pain.
Over the counter painkillers are far, far too weak to do anything. I’ve been on the max dosage a human can take of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) alongside an intense anesthetic and it wasn’t enough. I was still in an insurmountable amount of pain, I just didn’t care. I was too busy tripping the fuck out.
But all things considered, I think Rudo’s disability aligns a lot with osteoarthritis and peripheral neuropathy. But obviously this is a punk post apocalyptic fantasy manga so. It’s probably not that. But it is the closest translation of his condition that I could find.
So he could take either a steroid or an opioid. Yes, those. The ones doctors try hard to avoid prescribing because of how addictive they are.
There are different types of steroids, and since Rudo’s pain seems to be a bit deeper than just inflammation and skin-on-skin contact (due to the tremors he experiences) only anti-inflammatory steroids wouldn’t address all the symptoms he has. Those are usually drugs like methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone, cortisone…there’s more.
And this is especially important, I don’t think immunosuppressive medication would be a good idea considering where they live and what they do everyday. This takes out a lot more steroids. This limits our options.
So, would he take opioids?
There are two that don’t affect the immune system, hydromorphone and oxycodone. You may know them by their brand names. Exalgo ER and OxyContin. Exalgo ER is for people with Advanced Pain, people who have become tolerant to opioids.
Our little buddy would start off with OxyContin.
But…what makes Rudo’s condition very terrible is that if we’re headcanoning him as having bad days and okay days, then the irregular use of OxyContin would regularly fuck him up. Stomach issues, muscle aches, chills and sweating, tearing up and having a runny nose, irritability, anxiety, joint pain, muscle cramps, insomnia, backaches…uh. But at least he’d feel high and relaxed?
Long term use would also fuck him up, it can weaken the immune system, damage organs, impaires breathing and increases your changes of getting a respiratory infection, it worsens mental health and cognitive performance, it causes endocrine disruption and experiencing that during puberty would give him osteoporosis for real…hmm.
Sorry to say this but. Our guy is fucked.
My treatment plan: local anesthesia and laughing gas. Yep, what dentists use. There are gel forms of local anesthesia, which have been a big help for me personally.
Local anesthesia is over the counter too! So if they’re tight on resources, you could always default to that.
So all in all, don’t write about someone giving Rudo some over the counter painkiller, it won’t do anything.
Instead write about Eishia giving him laughing gas and a local anesthetic. He still won’t be able to use his hands, but he wouldn’t be in misery.
“But Rudo would be too worried about looking pathetic in front of Eishia!”
Local anesthetic and melatonin. There. Enjin can throw it at him from across his room.
Now you’re canon compliant AND realistic.
PS: Yes, my posts are very long. I am very wordy, but I don’t want to say what I think and then leave it at that. Going through why I think so and so is much more effective. I am basically dragging you all through the process that led me to my conclusion.
