Chronic Pain; The Need to Adjust Medication

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Chronic Pain; The Need to Adjust Medication
Adjust font-size:+– Published March 26, 2010 by:
Gary Davis

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I was faced with a very difficult decision several weeks ago. I have had terrible pain for several years as a result of a fall. I was leaving a house and I slipped on the top step of the porch. I flew all the way to the edge of the bottom step and cracked about four or five vertebrae at the bottom of the spine. As a result I developed fibromyalgia. Then I was put a narcotic called Oxycodone. I was put on a fairly high dose. It has gone down as far as effectiveness.

The pain had become unbearable so I was started on a medication that kills pain by affecting the nerves. Actually that is the theory that the medical profession has about fibromyalgia; it is best treated by nerve medication and/or antidepressants.

My doctor also suggested moving me to methadone. Methadone is a very strong narcotic and it will simply put you away, hence my decision. When you are 60 years old, do you throw in the towel and simply resign from life to cover the pain with strong medicine. I don't think you do.

I have found something that my doctor and I worked out and it is something that may help you.

I switched to a milder medication with the nerve medication. It is called Tylenol with Codeine or "Tylenol #3." I took this with the new nerve medication. However, I was also put on a swimming regimen as well as a diet including water. This minimized the pain but did not keep it down like the Oxycodone did. After a few weeks I began to hurt severely even with the Tylenol #3.

During this time I had been continuing the prescribed exercise and diet.

The doctor then moved me up to a medication that was stronger than Tylenol #3 but not as strong as Oxycodone. That was Hydrocodone.

This medication so far has continued to work.

What is the lesson learned?

Your body is going to get used to medications, especially narcotics. The thing you must do is employ other things trying to battle the pain. By doing this you can continually reduce medication then, if necessary, increase it. The value is that you save whatever time and damage to your kidneys.
******* CHRONIC PAIN SUCKS!!!******

I understand ive been taking MS Contin for just over a year and pure 30mg codiene tablets for about 3 yrs I have a degenerate spine then had a serious car accident smashing my head open and caused further back problems this medication isnt workin as well as it used to there for upped the dose of morphine by 100mg to 400mg a day and 300mg of codiene I went and saw a pain specialist who gave me oxyNorm oxycodone 30mg which failed to work I have to see him again in april but dont know wot to do I have been told dialudid is a good one but I dont know I am goin to ask him about it. Im only 30 but struggle without my meds. By the looks of things im goin to be on this Shit for ever which doesnt bother me as long as it eases the pain and allows me to work and support my wife and 2 kids. Its a roller coaster I know but wot else can I do ive tried all the nerve drugs and physio and all that without success.so pills it is. But thank god for the poppy! When used as directed and not abused like many I know it really is a good pain killer only problem is very addictive and ur tolerance rises im goin to try stoppin for a day then cuttin back so my current dose works as well as it once did but I can tell u this - I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO WITHDRAWLS!:( anyway today is the day I havnt had any morph today just codiene see how I go. 1 more thing wot do u know about diludid?and wot strengths are there?

PainKiller wrote:

I understand ive been taking MS Contin for just over a year and pure 30mg codiene tablets for about 3 yrs I have a degenerate spine then had a serious car accident smashing my head open and caused further back problems this medication isnt workin as well as it used to there for upped the dose of morphine by 100mg to 400mg a day and 300mg of codiene I went and saw a pain specialist who gave me oxyNorm oxycodone 30mg which failed to work I have to see him again in april but dont know wot to do I have been told dialudid is a good one but I dont know I am goin to ask him about it. Im only 30 but struggle without my meds. By the looks of things im goin to be on this Shit for ever which doesnt bother me as long as it eases the pain and allows me to work and support my wife and 2 kids. Its a roller coaster I know but wot else can I do ive tried all the nerve drugs and physio and all that without success.so pills it is. But thank god for the poppy! When used as directed and not abused like many I know it really is a good pain killer only problem is very addictive and ur tolerance rises im goin to try stoppin for a day then cuttin back so my current dose works as well as it once did but I can tell u this - I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO WITHDRAWLS!:( anyway today is the day I havnt had any morph today just codiene see how I go. 1 more thing wot do u know about diludid?and wot strengths are there?

Have you ever thought about methadone? Reason I am saying this is because once you reach a dose that helps your pain, you will be able to stay there. Your tolerance does not grow with this drug. I took it for pain and only had 60mgs of long acting (which was methadone) used roxi for breakthru pain. Once I reached the dose where I was comfortable , I stayed there and didnt have to increase at all. I hope you find something that helps you. Best of luck.

Thanks for ur reply and no I havnt thought about methadone I thought that was just for comin off morph. I'll talk about it with this dr wen I c him. I still want to know about diludid though.does methdone come in tablet form also does it I thought it was liquid. Hmmm. Anyway i'll see wot happens thanks again.

Dilaudid is hydromorophone. From what I have heard orally it isnt as good as it is IV and not so sure you want to go that route. Very addicting. It comes in 2, 4 and 8mgs I think. When addicts get a hold of it they bang it for the high it WILL produce. Its very, very addicting. Also wanted to mention here in the US they just came out with Exalga, its a once daily dosing of Hydromorophone. One dose all day. Very long acting. I was thinking methadone for you so you would not have to keep titrating up. You could get to a dose that makes you feel comfortable and the pain is tolerated, then you can stay there. Its very long acting.

Thanks again, I have been led to believe hydromorphone was 1 down from morphine... I really dont know . But the thought of being on methadone sounds scarey.i'll sought it out with my pain dr wen I go see him on the 23rd I think. I have 2 drs a GP who I go to ta get my morph and codiene and then this pain dr he sent me to see who is testing me on different Shit atm he gave me oxyNorm 30mg and it was Shit didnt do anything but ive heard diludid is really good I just dont know next time I go to the clinic i'll talk to him about diludid and methadone and Wots best hope we'll work it out? Cheers.:)

If you keep going with the short acting drugs you will have to keep titrating up and going on higher doses of everything. With methadone its so long acting you can stay put at a reasonable dose and you wont have to keep titrating UP. For your pain issues and the fact you are prolly going to be on pain meds the rest of your life, this might be a good idea. I am not telling you that this is your only choice, Exalga might be available for you there in OZ. Check it out. You want to be on a long acting pain reliever, not short.

Has anyone tried Savella? This with my other pain meds has been wonderful, since my first pill. It apparently has more then twice the noro (cant remember the spelling)please check it out. I've been on every med mentioned. 12 long years.
gentle hugs to you all.

Fibropain wrote:

Has anyone tried Savella? This with my other pain meds has been wonderful, since my first pill. It apparently has more then twice the noro <--[QUOTE who="PainKiller"] do u mean nuro as in nurological?(cant remember the spelling)please check it out. I've been on every med mentioned. 12 long years.
gentle hugs to you all.

Never heard of that drug wot is it? And if it isnt derived from opium wot use is it to me?

Fibropain wrote:

Has anyone tried Savella? This with my other pain meds has been wonderful, since my first pill. It apparently has more then twice the noro (cant remember the spelling)please check it out. I've been on every med mentioned. 12 long years.
gentle hugs to you all.

There is no NORCO in Savella. Its a combination of norepinephrine and Serotonin. Savella basically is an antidepressant.

Its not derived from Opium either.

People please look up drugs before touting them on this forum. You could really hurt someone if they think its something that its not, for instance this person thinking Savella has norco (hydrocodone) in it when all it is is norepinephrine and Serotonin.

Here is a Website for you to do so. www.drugs.com

Seritonin. Thats wot I need I was put on avanza apparently helps my seratonin levels cos I get emotional over nothing and im talking about NOTHING id get teary over something on the simpsons. Anyway they help I dont cry over lisa and bleeding gums murphy having a D&M HaHa. And MDMA dont work either wen I was seritoninless not that I get on it but I have tried it a few times ages ago and yeah... Nothing! Apparently MDMA works on ur seritonin and I had faark all. Avanza is an antidepressant and also raises ur seritonin levels apparently. Well im not interested in meds that arent going to stop the pain and in my experience narcotics are the only thing that work. So there. Nerr!

OMG I'm so sorry I never said, opium, or Norco I said,it was noro, meaning norepinephrine. I simply said "has anyone "CHECKED IT OUT?"
no not an approved antidepressant because of the amount of norepinephrine pain relief.

I'm so sorry to have offended so many, I was looking for friendly conversation.
Yes for those who wanted to hurt me and twist my words I'm in tears. Like all of you I take lots of meds and still hurt. just wanted to pass on a little bit of help. Gosh I can't believe I'm in tears over a few words. Sorry again
Happy Easter

Savella, the brand might not be approved as an antidepressant but it sure is one. Its considered an SNRI.

Here is some info on Serotonin and Norephineprine which is what SAVELLA consists of.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin%E2%80%...

Also, a few words? we were not trying to be mean or anything, just want the correct INFO out there. I think Topix isnt a forum you should post on if a few words make you this upset. I am sorry if I upset you but I get in a "mood" when bad info is out there. Norephinephrine is NOT a pain medication either. It helps with Fibro because one's receptors are screwed up.

And its good for you to understand what you take and what they are called.

If your looking for both actions, pain relief from an opioid and norepineprine, then you can ask your doc for this drug. Not sure if its out yet...but its pretty new...Its called NUCYNTA and its generic is Tapentadol.

There is less potential for abuse with this drug.

Back pain can be cured by following simple remedies like Acupuncutre, Consuming Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 supplements, Try to apply Capsaicin cream, and taking Music therapy & massage therapy, Doing simple Yoga....

Try these remedies for effective results....

jacksonandrews wrote:

Back pain can be cured by following simple remedies like Acupuncutre, Consuming Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 supplements, Try to apply Capsaicin cream, and taking Music therapy & massage therapy, Doing simple Yoga....
Try these remedies for effective results....

Are u f*cking kidding me? U have never experienced the back pain I have and if u did u would never have said wot u just did because it is all BS! Ive suffered from degenerate spinal disks for many yrs and have only gotten worse then just a few yrs ago I had a serious car accident which smashed my head wide open and made my back 10times worse ive done physio and chiro and accu and all sorts of BS before starting on painkillers and it did absolutely f*cking nothing! So dont u dare come waltsing on in here giving me ur natural is the best way BS im f*cking sick of dumb ass naive pricks like urself thinking we all just need a little bit of natural physio and yoga. Go f*ck urself asshole.until u experience real back pain which u obviously havnt dont u f*cking dare tell me and all these other pain sufferers that we have it all wrong and all we need to do is yoga. OMG people like u make my blood boil. F*ck off u'l be late for ur yoga class.