Posted on other depression forum, anxiety forum but not here!

Hi Kels..

Welcome to the chronic pain board...I'm sorry to hear about your issues as well as the passing of your brother.

There really is nothing to fear about Percocet. There is nothing more addictive in one medication than another.

It's all about the user and how they take the medication. I would certainly speak to your Dr. about addiction running in the family. My mom is a recovered alcoholic and has been sober for over 25 years. But I mentioned this to my Dr. when I first started pain management.

He told me not to worry at all and we will work together on making sure we have a comprehensive pain program.

A person who is actually addicted to narcotics take the pills to get a high, not for pain management. They also take more than prescribed. They buy/sell drugs with friends. They combine other things like alcohol with them. As well as some of them Dr. shop which is go from Dr. to Dr. getting opiate prescritpions.

They also crush, snort, or inject the opiate...not just take one/two as directed by the prescription.

I don't think you have to worry about any of that.

The main thing is making sure that you don't use an opiate as the only means to lower your pain level. It's meant to be one small piece of the puzzle.

Along with exercise, yoga/stretching, aqua therapy, PT, massage, ice, heat, acupuncture, TENS unit, injections, a muscle relaxer, a nerve pain medication if needed, an antidepressant if needed, sleep med if needed, eating healthy, not smoking, counseling, etc.

Each one of these modalities will put a small dent in the pain and all together helps lower it to a manageable level.

The key to chronic pain mgmt. is not looking for zero pain or that "rush of well being" when using an opiate. Most people with chronic pain when they take an opiate they don't even feel it....they just feel a bit less pain.

***Another key point is to NOT TELL anyone besides one trusted family member who is part of your health care team. NO ONE...not friends...not roommates, not co-workers....need to know or should know that you are taking medication.

Percocet, when taking as needed....and as directed...is a good opiate and good piece of the puzzle to help with pain.

And just know that down the line with chronic pain...many patients are moved to a long acting medication.

Oxycontin is just Oxycodone...the exact same opiate in Percocet...just in "continuous" form. So again...there is nothing to fear using this.

Just work closely with your Dr. and if for some reason you found yourself "craving" this medication once you start taking it, for helping with stress, or to feel great...then you can talk immediately with your Dr. to figure this out.

As I mentioned...studies show that it's not the medication that causes someone to be addicted...it's the behavior of the user.

You have chronic pain...you go to a reputable Dr.....and working on using as many of the other modalities that I above mentioned, you should be fine with using Percocet for pain mgmt. as directed...

Good luck...keep us posted..

Hello and welcome to the CP part of HW.

I have to agree with the others here about this issue.

I don't get the general impression that you are a drug seeker of any kind. I know today I was thinking that I never even feel my meds anymore...just less pain when I take them. At first, I have to warn you that you may feel a little different or high when you start a new or stronger med...this is normal and just part of the process of adjusting to the medication. As your body adjusts, your feelings will change and, if they don't, it will be time to discuss the issue with the Dr. They don't want us to feel high or even to be a zero pain...it's just not on the realm of possibility. A 3-4 on the pain scale is about the best you can expect realistically (IMHO).

I to have issues with taking oxycontin. I don't know why. I guess it is just the stigma that has been attached to the medication. It honestly believe it is a good medication for some, and I even take oxycodone several times a day....but I asked my pain management Dr not to give me oxycontin as a long acting medication and he gave me something else (MsContin). It's working quite well, but may need to be upped at my next visit. When I first started taking it, I had a hard time adjusting and felt funny and overwhelmed. After about a month, I got all of my meds under control and find that my days are much better than they were before we made the switch.

I had an RFA the same day they did the med change and I will have trigger point injections in a few weeks. These are just two of the other things they do for me other than medications to help with pain. I'm sure you will have many things to consider before they just give you meds to fix a problem. I hope you will find relief with those things and don't need the med change or increase (if that is what you feel is best for you). There really are many options available, depending on your conditions.

Good luck!

Hi Kels...

I'm sorry you are dealing w/ pain issues.... The others gave you really good thoughts and advice.

Many PM doctors prefer prescribing a long-acting medication... especially for a chronic condition. So, I'm not surprised - given your diagnosis - that she suggested Avinza (long-acting morphine sulfate). I was on Avinza for a couple of years - with no side effects and relatively good pain control.

I hope it works for you.... let us know.

--Tina

Thank you Tina! Susie, I was on Neurontin 300mg 4x's daily. She increased it to 600mg 3x's daily. Trust me, if I had to choose, that'd be a heck of a predicament! I cannot deal with the neuropathy without Neurontin. If I don't take it, my legs are heavy, I have shooting pains, my knee throbs, my toes tingle.

But I'm just curious if I should get another opinion. How does she really know its nerve damage? It was the first time I saw this doctor, referred by my orthopedic surgeon. I'm just wondering if I'm jumping the gun on this. I want relief from my pain SO BAD but I want children (my husband and I tried our first year of marriage and then-boom-back problems!) I just wished so badly she'd say we can do this and this and you'll have relief (at least long enough to carry our child). I'm sorry venting.

Thank you guys!

if your in pain find the best combo of opioids you can and take them. Morphine and Hydromorphone are 2 great options.