Just an introduction

Hello all, I am pretty new here, and asked a question before, and I appreciate all the answers, but just wanted to let you in on my issues. First, I have diabetic neuropathy in both feet and ankles. The diabetes has been reversed, but the neuropathy is irreversible and my feet are in constant pain. Then, I have, in the lumbar, 2 bulging discs and 1 herniated disc. I have been through the steroid injections, epidural injections, facet point injections, and I forget the name of the procedure, but it is where they burn the nerve endings at the spine so they don't transmit the feeling of pain to the brain. That was my last procedure, and I am sick and tired of procedures. My doctor (thank God for him!) has me on Oxycodone 10/650 4 times a day, and Oxycodone 15mg and Morphing for breakthrough pain and more severe pain as needed. After reading some of the things in this forum, my next visit I will be talking to him about something a little more controlled release rather than all of it being immediate release as I believe it will control my pain better. And it would be easier to take something twice a day rather than trying to remember it 4 times. I usually forget it, and end up in worse pain and have to take the stronger med to work it out. I gave up trying to walk through stores like Walmart, and just use their electric carts as the pain in my low back can just about bring me to my knees after just a few minutes. I am pretty sedentary as I don't have much faith in my ability to do much without it being an excruciatingly painful experience.

I am happy to find this forum, and hope that I can learn many things about which I can discuss with my doctor. You have already all been more helpful than you know.

 

Hi JoJoGal, and welcome again. Neuropathic pain is the pits - I'm sorry that you're dealing with it.

Just from personal experience, I definitely feel it goes better to have extended release meds than to rely only on immediate release ones. I take Oxycontin every 12 hours, and just have oxycodone IR on hand for breakthrough pain.

As your pain seems to be mostly nerve related, have you ever been on any of the 'nerve pain' meds - Lyrica, Neurontin, Cymbalta, etc.?

As far as logging out, if you look at the top of your screen, you'll see the main Navigation Bar and below that a smaller mid/dark blue bar. On the left hand side it will say Log Off | My Profile |

Laura

Hello JoJo!

I'm glad to see that you have posted again!

I have to say I'm really at odds with or how your Dr is scripting your med's here, but it sounds like you have a plan for your next visit. Like Laura said, I think you will be much happier with an ER med….such as the Oxycontin. That being said….it may be hard for your Dr to mentally script it with all that is going on around the country concerning the Oxycodone products these days.

I do take 30mg X3 of Oxycontin…but my Dr is not real happy about it….plus it has little effect on me these days…so were headed towards the pain pump.

There are other med's that you can try….but it sounds like you have tried most of them. It's not a fun place to be is it! I hate it!

Good to see you again,


SE

Thanks for the responses. I got an appointment set up with my DR for February 7th to see about getting on a controlled release med. But I have another question. A few years ago, I had oral surgery done, and that DR prescribed Oxycontin twice a day. It made me sick, anywhere from 6-8 hours after I took it, without fail. Do I still need to worry about that? Or since I am on the Oxycodone regularly now, will that not be a problem? I am concerned about it because I don't want to throw up twice a day.

Thanks Straydog. Yes I think an extended release will baluch better. I wake up in a lot of pain and half the time forget to take it again until my pain surges and then I realize I forgot it. Then I feel like I have to dig my way out of that situation. But I am getting my mess from a PCP so I hoping he is willing to change my meds. I will keep you guys posted with what he says and does for me.

In the event your dr is not willing to rx an extended release you may want to consider asking to be referred to a PM dr. Most of us on here are under the care of PM drs simply because they are trained to handle pain issues better than our PCP's. And the other thing is most PCP's do not like to write scripts for pain meds long term. Its a thought, but its your decision as you know what kind of a relationship you have with your PCP. Switching drs can be so stressful

Keep us posted on how you are coming along.

JoJo Welcome to the forum, if your already taking Oxycodone you should not have any trouble with Oxycontin, as it is the same med just forulated to be time released. Usually when pain meds make one nauseated or causes vomiting it is because of the dosage, usually the higher the dosage the more chance it will make you sick, this usually goes away after your body adjust to the medication. If the pain medication does make you sick allot of times a doctor will start a patient off on a lower dose, and gradually increase the strength till if controls the patients pain. If your PCP is willing to treat your pain that is terrific! I used to have a doctor that did that, he was an internal medicine doctor but also an Oncologist, and most Oncologist treat their patients pain. In fact I think they are allot of times, even better at doing it than allot of PMs are! As they really do understand pain, and how to treat it. They have to since they deal with cancer patients! Anyway if your PCP takes care of your pain you are really fortunate, as your PCP knows more about you than any PM doctor would. ( at least that is the case most of the time!) I am happy for you that your PCP does that!!!

White Beard