Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
my daughter thinks I should go lay down for a nap, but I worry if I do I will spend another night unable to sleep.
Today is my second day working to wean off of the vicoden and onto time release morphine. I have been on it before, back when I first crushed my spine, almost 10 years ago. The dosage is staying the same for mg of opiates in this switch... 30mg of vicoden a day being switched out for 30mg of morphine. The good thing is there is no Tylenol in the morphine, so it will be nicer to my liver.
The other good thing is that so far today, I have only had one vocoden and I DON'T HURT! I have not been in a place where my pain was down to a 0 or 1 in YEARS. I usually hang out around 7 to 9. This low feels a bit scary. I am not sure how to proceed. I am worried that movement will bring pain. But it has been my goal to be functional again, which requires movement. But how much can I do?
Today my daughter and I spent three hours running errands - about half of that was in the car, the other half four different places. I walked without a cane and without my Service Dog in her harness to balance me.
I do feel like I am in the place on the edge of sleep, just before nodding off where you are not quite awake and not quite asleep. The weird part is that I have had that sensation since 7am this morning when the morphine entered my system. I don't like the sensation, just on the edge of nothing or alertness, but really neither. If it was not for the fact THAT I DON'T HURT, I would set the morphine down and never look at it again.
Why would someone take this crap if they didn't have to? Is this really the feeling that people look to have? I don't understand.
Today is my second day working to wean off of the vicoden and onto time release morphine. I have been on it before, back when I first crushed my spine, almost 10 years ago. The dosage is staying the same for mg of opiates in this switch... 30mg of vicoden a day being switched out for 30mg of morphine. The good thing is there is no Tylenol in the morphine, so it will be nicer to my liver.
The other good thing is that so far today, I have only had one vocoden and I DON'T HURT! I have not been in a place where my pain was down to a 0 or 1 in YEARS. I usually hang out around 7 to 9. This low feels a bit scary. I am not sure how to proceed. I am worried that movement will bring pain. But it has been my goal to be functional again, which requires movement. But how much can I do?
Today my daughter and I spent three hours running errands - about half of that was in the car, the other half four different places. I walked without a cane and without my Service Dog in her harness to balance me.
I do feel like I am in the place on the edge of sleep, just before nodding off where you are not quite awake and not quite asleep. The weird part is that I have had that sensation since 7am this morning when the morphine entered my system. I don't like the sensation, just on the edge of nothing or alertness, but really neither. If it was not for the fact THAT I DON'T HURT, I would set the morphine down and never look at it again.
Why would someone take this crap if they didn't have to? Is this really the feeling that people look to have? I don't understand.
I l glad someone finally had the sense to give you time-release med because you are in pain all day!
As you get used to it, though, your weird feelings will hopefully level out and you can enjoy a break from your constant pain.
Take care.
Lynn
When I was on this stuff, don't remember the dosage, when I first crushed my spine, I would spend up to an hour with socks duct taped over my hands to keep me from clawing the ants out from under my skin with each dose.
I am really hoping that my system gets used to it and that does not happen again. This was day three. On day seven I am supposed to stop taking vicoden all together and take a second dose of extended release morphine. The doctor's goat is to keep a steady amount of meds in my system so I stop doing the roller coaster I have been on.
Hugggss Laurie
When I first started Oxy, I had to stay home because it made me off balanced. After a week or so, I didn't get that feeling anymore. I only got pain relief. Now I'm climbing small mountains and hiking the beautiful forests of New Hampshire. My pain level is at a 2. But after 14 years in pain, a level 2 is a blessing!
Good luck. I hope all works out.
Joey
I hope you feel better soon and get used to your new meds, Yadlim. You deserve to have your pain under control. I hope it all levels out and works out well for you. Hugs to you and to everyone.
Hang in there Jeremy. I would say go a week or two without any meds and see if you can. Most times in my life of chronic pain I have backed away from taking daily pain meds. Maybe you can only take one Norco for when you have to move. I did that for years - just with vicoden.
Yesterday I put the new pain regime to the test. I went out to my horse and rode... I hurt by the time I was done, but more from muscles that I have not worked in a month than back pain. I mean I only rode for about 20 minutes, but it was enough for my legs and butt to tell me that I have not ridden in a month!
I did not get knocked down until I went with my daughter to Costco on the way home so we could order replacement glasses for her. I had to stand for about 20 minutes, which was about 18 minutes too long. I did not have my Service Dog, walker, or even cane in the car. This left me with NO help in standing other than a counter for a small portion of the time.
Oddly enough, when I stress my pain over what I would normally be able to take, I am still not FEELING most of the pain, I just know it is there. That is to say, the other effects that usually come with the pain were there;shallow breathing, dizziness, loss of balance, loss of direction, slurring of words.
I would really like for my head to clear enough to drive... I have not been able to drive, other than a couple times of not taking my pain meds for 1/2 a day first, for better than a year now.
Day five (?) now, still have the same feeling of the edge of numbness and fully alert.
Hang in there and good luck.
Actually, other than the flu I have right now, my thinking is the clearest it has been in over a year. As long as I am completely sedentary, not standing up for anything other than one or two bathroom breaks during the day, I am ok painwise. The moment I do ANYTHING my pain shoots upwards past my ability to cope.
I am only on 30mg a day, so if there is any convincing my doctor, there is possibility of a higher dose.