Is the oxycodone is that short of long acting pain med?
If it is short you should probably get the long acting one and if it is long you should get the stronger dosage of it.

The vicoden should only be used as needed as in rarely because as you know the more you take it the more it will not help and that can happen very quickly. Then when you need it you will not have anything. It should not be for daily needs only when a unexpected flare comes up. Now do you have a relationship with doctor where you can call doctor over the phone to increase or do you have to make a appt. If so make it today and see if they can get you in today.

Every day is tough. I have my TENS unit blasting away, went through my morning Bible study, got the stuff I needed to get moving...............and away. I will not let pain win. You sound strong. Maybe you should talk to your doctor about a different approach to your pain. If it's in your spine, maybe a spinal cord stimulator. I had the trial and it worked great for me. Massage therapy, acupuncture, the list goes on.

Anyway, enough about me. I hope you have a great day.

David.

The oxy is the smallest dose and short acting. I guess my doc always starts that way when it's something new. The problem is...I see her every 4 weeks to check in, I can never talk to her between visits and she's only at the clinic a couple days a week.

I sometimes feel like I've been thrown to the wolves...just trying to get by until I have my next appt.

I also have neurontin to take for nerve pain, but it really messes me up so I only take 1 later in the day.

Thanks for listening,

Cherry

just a random suggestion but maybe try the paleo diet? Theres websites on it, also called the caveman diet...I did it for about a month and I think it helped me sleep and manage pain better. A nutritionist helped me do it. Maybe its worth seeing a nutritionist as a different form of treatment instead of pills? Not sure it would help but you never know! Hope your feeling better! xxx

I feel very bad for you. I'm not going to classes for about a week now. i've to study in home because I can't stand those chairs or the walk from the car to the classroom.

Maybe you can talk to your doctor about some treatments. I had a radio frequency done about three years ago and it helped a lot with my upper back pain. The pain is now getting back in that spot, but I'm going to do another one. I just feel bad I can't do this treatment all over my body to get rid of all the pain.

Hope you feel better.

I feel so sorry for you having to work in pain. I remember that feeling every day at 5 a.m. when I would rise to get ready for work. I kept doing it for two years in constant daily pain until mentally I had to admit that I just could not keep on. The adjustment is still so difficult mentally but my body enjoys not having the battle every day. I hope you can find something to get more pain relief and that you can continue working.

I feel for you, too. I work from home 3 weeks a month and travel the last week. If I wake up with a high pain level (usually in Winter) I tend to take to bed as soon as my hubby gets home and pick up my work when I feel better. Today I'm trying to catch up and am thanking God my pain levels are down. It's difficult to do but I make myself work- in addition to being a full-time mom to a 2 year old. Right now I'm preparing for a work trip at the end of the month and just got my schedule which scares me a bit. I'll be in Edinburgh, Scotland with people I work with and there's always the chance I'll have a flare-up of RSD. No one there knows I have RSD. The best I can do is take what I'm prescribed.

Good Luck and take care, and be careful!

I'm not working right now, but my pain has definitely affected how quickly I've been able to get stuff done on my dissertation. I'm also worried about what's going to happen when I get back into the job market (hopefully with my Ph.D. completed!). I'm already thinking about getting into university teaching, potentially while doing some classes online so I could work from home.

It's the uncertainty that gets me. I can me (relatively) fine for months, then go through stretches where I'm in a lot of pain and need a lot more pain meds for weeks at a time. How do you explain that to an employer?

I think I'm fortunate that at least my disability is recognized federally through the VA - I'm considered 20% disabled right now, and am seriously considering putting in a request for a reevaluation, since I'm developing mobility issues that weren't present at my last evaluation and am now and daily opiate therapy.

I'm done work for the day. If it wasn't so hard on my body, I'd still enjoy what I do. When my right shoulder and then everything connected hurts this bad, I almost cry trying to wind perm rods and give haircuts. That describes my last few hours...agony. It's way beyond playing 'catch up' at this point.

I'd like to take a neurontin to see if that would help, but I have an appt. with my therapist at 3:00 and have to drive. It's only 10 miles, but I wouldn't dare drive around the corner feeling messed up.

Sorry to complain so much. I can't even think straight right now.

You aren't complaining, you are venting. Big difference. Vent away. :D

I can't tell you how grouchy I was this morning. I had to go to the grocery store, so I did not take my Valium or Percoset to deal with the still significant effects of my recent spasm on my lower back. Driving was uncomfortable to say the least.

At least now I'm on the coach. I gritted my teeth and got through it, and I didn't endanger anyone by driving while under the influence of drugs. It pretty much sucked, though.

Oh Hun, I can imagine how hard that must be! I was a hairdresser many years ago. I changed careers back in 1990 and went the corporate route. Still, I have to do my family's hair, and it takes an extra dose of breakthrough meds, and then I'm down for days after. I just tried hanging up a few pieces of laundry and my shoulder felt like it was being ripped from my body without anesthesia! I don't know how you can do hair day after day with chronic pain. My heart goes out to you.

Even with a desk job, I finally had to give up working. I tried working from home for a few months, but between the pain and brain fog, I just had to give up.

A few suggestions - could you look for a job teaching in a cosmetology school or training for a chain? Try keeping a pain journal to take to your next PM appointment and maybe the doc can adjust your meds to allow you better function. Also ask about a TENS unit. Mine does help with certain pain. Other than that, start doing anything you can to prepare for a length of time without income. If you reach the point where you have to file for disability, even if you have disability insurance through work, it is often a long and difficult battle to get approved.

I will keep youin my thoughts and prayers. Gentle Hugs