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...

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meganK08 05/29/2009

Hey guys Im feeling kinda awful tonight. I was just wondering too Ive read about many people on here who have been on one pain medicine for years and i ws wondering do you ever switch the dosage I mean you do not have to answer if you do not want to. I met and was diagnosed with Neuropathy last June. I was started on percocet but in August my dr decided he didnt like how much tylonol I was getting I was tiny then lol a few months later after the switch to oxycodone I just used the oxy for breakthroug and was put on fentanyl, and now again see that was November hmm April he put me on dilaudid Im not sure how to spell it for breakthrough. Ive been having to use it as my main med because the patches started to give me little itchy blisters they hurt so Im off that now. But it hasnt been a year yet and I feel silly for everything seeming to go up and up and up when I never wanted to have to use these. When I was diagnosed I was hoping that the Lyrica could just take care of all of the horrible pain but it doesnt touch it sometimes and neither does that one dilaudid every 4-6 hours. Im kinda scared from being here it doesnt sound normal Ive always had a high metabolism and Ive read a lot of books and talked to my dr. He just said it was just the trying to find the right combination so that I could go backto my "normal" life. That sounds so far away now. I hate my life now somedays I have a hard time getting out of my house because of the pain and if I use a scooter at the store I just Ive started to hate people. They can be so mean when they really cannot see how hurt you feel inside and how hard a day to day activity like doing laundry can be. I go to the center in July Im very worried, excited, and scared but my main question was how many times you guys have had to switch do you really stay at one dosage for years? Is it really just finding the right combo? I feel so silly for asking

deleted_user 05/29/2009

i started on a fently patch, which is a change, i find it helpful, everyone developes tolerance, it is normal..hugs

deleted_user 05/29/2009

my pain dr changes my meds so i do not build up a tolerance to them also so it does not damage my liver. have you tried neurotin for your neuropathy? it is a nerve med. simular to lyrica. i found it a bit stronger. i am doing the trial for the spinal cord stimulator next week it is sappose to greatly help my neuropathy, i will let you know. hope you feel better

deleted_user 05/29/2009

Yes, when i see the pain doctor she is always increasing the level of medication i am on.
When i first went to the pain doctor i was on 3 tablets a day now i am on 8 tablets a day.

mountainmom 05/29/2009

Yes, I am having the same issue as you, my doctor says the same thing "looking for the right combo" and it looks like we may have finally found it after almost two years. I am on 6 different meds now at once.

I can see as I try all different kinds of meds that each person is different and it takes trial and error to find the right one for you. My doctor sees me every 2 weeks and readjusts things if necessary.

I was (still am kind of) in horror as each new medicine had to be added, or deleted and a new stronger one tried... but this is the best combo yet and finally providing some serious pain relief for me, but no where near back to my "normal" life- I think "normal" has a new definition for me now...as well as good day and bad day and pain levels... :) lol

Hope that helps.

deleted_user 05/29/2009

I can not count the times that I was changed from different drug combos, I could guess at least 25 times if not more. Since we are all different and some have a higher tolerance to pain killers than others, and vice-versa, your PM Doc is going to try and try again until he finds the combination that works for you.
Chronic pain is a journey, and it could be a difficullt one. Be grateful that you have a Doctor that is willing to work with you, many others don't have that luxury. Take care,

mysteryqueen 05/29/2009

I was on many of the same meds as you; I started out on Vicadin. Then 9 mos. later ended up in hospital my pain was so bad. I have had 10 epidurals and 4 facet injections with stearoids. I was on Oxycontin and Percocet for breakthrough. Then a stupid doctor in Turlock, CA put me on methadone. What a nightmare that was!! My wonderful pain specialist put me on Opana, a synthetic morphine, ER20mg and 5mg for breakthrough 6 times daily. I love Opana because you do not get high or tired from it. I have been on it about 2 years. I can live my life again and spend time with my 11 grandchildren.

deleted_user 05/29/2009

My pain mgmt doc suggests rotating opiates every 6-9 months. Each one works on the brain a little differently so when that happens time for "opiate rotation". I hope that helps

be well

deleted_user 05/30/2009

He took the tylenol out of your life, and now has you on pure percocet, oxycodoneAPAP, has tylenol, Oxycodone pure, is Oxycontin, just a generic, without tylenol, the patches made me have rashes and other weird shit, but they worked, but im off them, cant handle the itches, lol, Lyarica works well taken with a ten mg, percocet at night for me, at least i dont have the pure hell of pain all night , good luck to ya

deleted_user 05/30/2009

Actually he did a good thing for you as tylenol can really do a number on your liver if your on it for a long time. I\'ve had the same PM doc for 10 yrs and she pretty much goes with what I tell her I need or how my pain is going as to whether we go up or down on dosages. I\'m on oxycontin for LA and percocet for BT. I think it just depends on the person, their tolerance to the meds and the doctor. I also think it makes a big difference on the kind of relationship you build with your PM doc.

deleted_user 06/20/2009

I tried to change from Methadone to Morphine and that was a nightmare. The Doc thought that by giving me the same amount of the Morphine it would work. No!! I had to go up to 360 mg. Morphine just to have the same effect as 120 mg. Methadone. Needless to say, that only lasted one week. Went back on Methadone. I am going to try to get something besides Oxycodone 15 mg. for BT because it just does not help.

deleted_user 07/14/2009

I have been on Moraphine & Lyrica, the Lyrica worked but I gained weight & hands & feet swelled so cant take it. I am now on Oxycotin & Oxycodone. Your body gets used to the same drug after taking it for so long so they shouyld switch you every so often. I have had chronic pain & been on meds for 4 years now & getting ready to switch again in August because the Oxy is not working anymore, either that or they will raise the dose again if there is a higher dose.

deleted_user 07/14/2009

Rhonda, I heard that Methadone was a very wonderful drug & works well. But I can not remember why my pain dr said I could not take it. I asked her to take me off the Oxycotin & Oxycodone & put me on that.. I will have to ask again.

deleted_user 07/14/2009

is it okay to add or ask why everyone is on these drugs? for me i have spinal stenosis / myelopathy so i am scheduled for a laminectomy and a three disk fusion. i am not really sure how i feel about all of this yet - its taken me almost 5 years to get myself to this point.

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