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Posted 8/2/2012 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
My name is Alex and I'm currently 20 years old. I know there is a great deal of stigma around my age group, but please see past this as I am not part of the drug seeking statistic.

I suffer from an internal vascular hemangioma which is located in my lower left thigh along with muscular and nerve damage as a result of multiple procedures in the attempt to reduce and eradicate the mass. I have been on hydrocodone continuously for about a two years or so and a few months ago the dosage was increased to 10mg. I'll be honest, it's not as effective as I would like it to be and for the past year it just takes the edge off of my pain. For a few months I was in Canada and down there they don't have hydrocodone so they put me on oxycodone. I absolutely hated them. They were ineffective and all they did was make me loopy and high. I forgot to mention, I'm also taking cymbalta and I have a topical anti inflamitory cream along with a tens unit. Reason im on the cream opposed to taking Advil is because Advil gives me bad indigestion and heart burn if I take if for more than a few days.

Like the pain has become so bad that somedays I'll just start crying. Like I haven't been able to walk long distances without a cane for so long and it just takes so much out of you. Somedays I lay in bed wishing I were dead. That's one of the reasons why I'm on cymbalta. It not only helps with nerve pain, but it helps with depression and like all I want is pain relief. When I met my pain specialist he said that they will try to make me as comfortable as possible, but most times I'm afraid to ask for something stronger or more effective. Only reason why I'm on a higher dose was because my mom called him and told him what was happening. Like I know y'all understand how I feel which is why I'm here.

Are there any medications similar to hydrocodone, but won't make me high or loopy? All I want is pain relief and maybe something will work amazingly to the point where I can function semi normally again. I see him in Monday and am going to try and tell him that I'm still in pain. Like I know no medication will be 100% and I've come to accept that, but I just don't know what to say.
Posted 8/2/2012 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Alex! Welcome! Please don't feel uncomfortable talking about meds here, this is a judgement free zone. :-) We all know (in one way or another) all about chronic pain and nobody is going to berate you here.

I'm sorry to hear of your medical situation. If sounds very painful!! I also take Cymbalta and hydrocodone (with others). I've been on hydrocodone for so long that I don't get any "loopy" feelings - or maybe I'm just naturally loopy and I don't notice it! LOL It sounds like you need your dosage adjusted if you are still in pain. The more open and honest you are with your doctor, the better. She or he is there to help you! :)
Posted 8/2/2012 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
I forgot to say--- for some people finding the right combo of meds for them can take some time. I know time is precious, especially when you are suffering, but don't be afraid to try things. :-) Hopefully you can get the right combo for you figured out quickly and you can get on with life as normally as possible. :-)
Posted 8/2/2012 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks :)
Posted 8/2/2012 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Alex

I am so sorry you have to be suffering so much at such a young age.

There are so many pain meds out there, we are all individual, your best bet would be to lay your cards on the table and tell the doctor how much pain you are in and just how you are struggling to cope. Don't be afraid of getting upset, most of us do at some point, male and female. Your doctor needs to know how you are suffering. Don't be afraid to take a parent, friend or relative with you for support. Sometimes that can help reiterate the pain you are in.

I am on fentanyl patches, they are changed every three days. They work well for me. I have sevredol for breakthrough. It's a good combination.

I hope your visit with your doctor goes well and you manage to agree on pain meds which will help you to enjoy life again. Keep in touch and let us know how it goes.

Take care

Jane
Posted 8/2/2012 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Alex and welcome to the chronic pain forum. I am glad that you found us but very sorry that you have to be here. With that being said you have come to a friendly group that understands life with chronic pain.

You have asked about pain medication and please understand that is a very difficult question for any of us to answer. Everyone metabolizes medications differently and there is no way of knowing if what I took would help you at all. It is a real crap shoot trying to guess that one. The best thing to do is talk to your dr and explain how this medication is not helping.Tell him how you are wanting to have quality life and right now that is now happening. Just be open and honest with him. Your dr specializes in pain mgt so he knows what medications work for people and should be able to help you. I suggest making a list of what medications you have taken in the past and whether or not they helped or not and let your dr see this list. If possible since the dr listened to your mom about how things were going for you, try getting her to go with you to this appt and she can help verify the problems you are having.

You are right there is a stigma with drs and young people when it comes to pain medication. The drs are often leery and are not willing to work with the patient, but that is not what I am hearing about your dr.

Please let us know how your appt goes with the dr. Take care...Susie
Posted 8/2/2012 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, dont worry about your age, pain doesn't pick any age group for problems, I'm 28 with my spinal cord being crushed in half by a totally messed up disc, and a fracture in the vertabrate (which I just found out yesterday the fracture has gotten bigger) and I'm quickly making the transition from cane to walker as my legs are slowly becoming less responsive. You have a few options if you're on hydrocodone, but I am not a doctor what I have isnt really a recommendation, just a couple things from my bery limited experience.

You can talk to you PM about a nerve block, I had one two months ago and it worked pretty good for a few weeks on my leg pains, but I understand that they can last longer for other people, might be a good option if it works that way you might not have to worry about pills for a while.

Theres also a patch thats called Butrans, that worked for me better than hydrocodone, you change it out every seven days. I had a couple of side effects from it, like wierd pain in the muscles in my upper body after the 4th to 5th day of each patch, and some drowsiness which I kept under control with large amounts of dr. Pepper.

The only other medication that I've been on is Nucynta, which is supposed to be similar in strength to oxycodone, but seems to be geared more toward nerve pain than muscular skeletal pain, it takes the edge off my back, alot better than hydrocodone, but doesn't seem to have the same effect for me as oxycodone, but it is very powerful, and leaves me in a bit of a fog, much similar to that feeling when you just woke up, again, a coulle dr peppers or some coffee helps lol. The 50mg had far less fogginess than the 100 mg.

These are a couple of things that I've been on, that you could discuss, but in the end, what works for one person may not work for another, and the pro's know alot more than I do. Just be honest, and explain your pain as best you can, and be open to suggestions from the doctor.

Ive seen a few posts on here that say pain is a condition like any other that needs to be treated, and I just found out yesterday that it can have severe effects on the rest of your body, since my blood pressure was through the roof, which they believe is a direct result of the pain I've been in for going on five months now.

Hope things get better for you and you get some relief. As the acronym of my screen name implies, we're too young for this lol.
Posted 8/3/2012 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks and I remember I use to be on a medication called darvocet and it worked pretty good, but I later found out that the FDA called it off the market and that's how I ended up on hydrocodone. Like another reason why i feel hesitant to going up the chain and am nervous is because I'll get to a point where if I had a severe accident that no pain killer will work. I also hate having to worry at the end of the month whether or not my dr will be in the office to call in my rx. Just somedays it feels like I'm a crack head trying to get my next fix and from my understanding, the higher up the chain you go the worst the withdrawals can get. Like that's one of the main reasons why I'm hesitant. I hate having to live like this. But I'll talk with him on Monday to see what we can do.

I remember the first time I saw him and he assessed me and looked into my eyes and told me he believed I was in pain. I nearly broke down. It was just this sense of relief. I've suffered for 16 long years and no one would listen to me. I even had a large tumor documented and they kept telling me to take Advil, to take Tylenol and it was only when I moved down to Texas a dr started to help me. She was just my family dr and only could do so much, but nevertheless she was the first one to believe me. Then she referred me to a pain specialist and I was so scared that he would just write me off and tell me I suffered from no pain, but when he said those words. It was just this sense of relief. It was like everything is going to be okay.

Also thanks for the suggestion about dr pepper. If I get something and it makes me feel tired I'll take you up on that.
Posted 8/3/2012 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there...Welcome to the boards...Sorry to hear you are having pain issues:(

Have you been treated with corticosteroids? Or any other nerve pain medications besides the Cymbalta? That seems to be the two major types of medication that is used to help treat this particular issue. There is Lyrica and Neurontin as well. They are all three different types of medication even though they all treat nerve pain. So if one doesn't work, then it's good to try another.

Are the Drs. done with treating you as far as procedures like laser treatments or anything else?

An opiate is effect to a certain extent but it will only work to dull the pain a bit as it's not meant to take in high enough doses to get rid of all the pain.

And as you mentioned if they feel you are to need continual pain management, it's good to try and attack the actual types of pain. And since nerves are involved...nerve pain medications work best for this.

The corticosteroids are meant to help the inflammation which then in turn will help with the pain.

How about a muscle relaxer? Would that be something that could help?

Since you said you got too loopy and felt high with the Oxycodone....that is really the next step in line after Hydrocodone. May I ask what is your regular dosage for the Hydro each day?

Morphine in oral formula is another medicine that may help in low doses. They have an extended release as well as immediate release formula. As I mentioned...if you are going to need continual care...I would think moving you to a low dose of something that is long acting is the next step. This way you are not chasing the pain all day and only take a pill twice or three times a day.

May I ask why you think your Dr. is not going to treat you each month? Has he mentioned wanting to take you off the Hydrocodone? Have there been any issues with you taking more than prescribed and running out early?

If not...then I can't imagine why they would not keep prescribing each month if that is their treatment plan.

The downside to move to any other medication is that is moves to Schedule 2 medicine which is where you have to have a physical prescription to take to the pharmacy so it's not something with refills or having them call in (in most states).

It sounds like you need to have a good chat with your PM Dr. the next appt. and let them know that this plan isn't working well enough and what else can you all do to try and make things more bearable. Perhaps start a pain journal where you can log each day and what makes things better and what makes things worse.

Chronic pain mgmt. is really about using every possible modality to help put a dent in our pain. Perhaps things like daily exercise and stretching might help to keep the area from getting too stiff. Or even something soothing like aqua therapy. Or maybe a TENS unit would help with the nerve pain.

And the other medicines I mentioned. Hopefully you and your Dr. can find a better comprehensive plan for you.

Keep us posted..
Posted 8/3/2012 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome to HW Raptured Planet, your post makes me very upset and brought tears to my eyes. I can tell you that when I first injured my back I was told it was nothing, take advil, motrin, etc..... So for years thats what I did. By the time I made it to PM, I was so bad, surgery was the only option. I feared greatly the stigma of using meds. I do have a great dr who supports me very well. I opted to stay at very low doses at my own peril. I would say I could of had a much more productive last few years had I increased meds as my dr recommended, just a choice we all need to make.

I am really rambling here sorry.

Being honest with your dr will be your best bet. Keeping a pain journal of what makes things worse and what helps can show your dr that you are not just looking for a "high". It sounds like you have a good relationship with your dr. These days drs need to be on there toes since they are scrutinized by the government anymore. It hurts the good pts and can make things frustrating, but if you are on the up and up you have nothing to worry about. Also keeping track of the things you cant do, and what sort of accomodation you use is also helpfull. Dont be afraid to be brutely honest about what you are missing out on as a young adult. Admitting to my dr that at 35 that intimacy was gone was very embarrassing but very important for him to know.

Again rambling, I am recovering from surgery and my combo of meds is getting me off track here. Hopfully something made sense,lol.

Just want to give you a big hug and wish you luck at your appointment!

Shell
Posted 8/3/2012 5:00 AM (GMT 0)

Snowbunny21 said...
Hi there...Welcome to the boards...Sorry to hear you are having pain issues:(

Have you been treated with corticosteroids? Or any other nerve pain medications besides the Cymbalta? That seems to be the two major types of medication that is used to help treat this particular issue. There is Lyrica and Neurontin as well. They are all three different types of medication even though they all treat nerve pain. So if one doesn't work, then it's good to try another.

Are the Drs. done with treating you as far as procedures like laser treatments or anything else?

An opiate is effect to a certain extent but it will only work to dull the pain a bit as it's not meant to take in high enough doses to get rid of all the pain.

And as you mentioned if they feel you are to need continual pain management, it's good to try and attack the actual types of pain. And since nerves are involved...nerve pain medications work best for this.

The corticosteroids are meant to help the inflammation which then in turn will help with the pain.

How about a muscle relaxer? Would that be something that could help?

Since you said you got too loopy and felt high with the Oxycodone....that is really the next step in line after Hydrocodone. May I ask what is your regular dosage for the Hydro each day?

Morphine in oral formula is another medicine that may help in low doses. They have an extended release as well as immediate release formula. As I mentioned...if you are going to need continual care...I would think moving you to a low dose of something that is long acting is the next step. This way you are not chasing the pain all day and only take a pill twice or three times a day.

May I ask why you think your Dr. is not going to treat you each month? Has he mentioned wanting to take you off the Hydrocodone? Have there been any issues with you taking more than prescribed and running out early?

If not...then I can't imagine why they would not keep prescribing each month if that is their treatment plan.

The downside to move to any other medication is that is moves to Schedule 2 medicine which is where you have to have a physical prescription to take to the pharmacy so it's not something with refills or having them call in (in most states).

It sounds like you need to have a good chat with your PM Dr. the next appt. and let them know that this plan isn't working well enough and what else can you all do to try and make things more bearable. Perhaps start a pain journal where you can log each day and what makes things better and what makes things worse.

Chronic pain mgmt. is really about using every possible modality to help put a dent in our pain. Perhaps things like daily exercise and stretching might help to keep the area from getting too stiff. Or even something soothing like aqua therapy. Or maybe a TENS unit would help with the nerve pain.

And the other medicines I mentioned. Hopefully you and your Dr. can find a better comprehensive plan for you.

Keep us posted..

Thanks for the advice and as of now I currently use cymbalta (makes me very nauseous and am being switched off to a different nerve medicine) I also have a tens unit which does help with muscular pain and nerve, the dosage of hydrocodone I'm on is 10mg 3x daily and I also use a prescription anti inflamitory cream which was custom made by some pharmaceutical company. I've tried Robaxin which burns my stomach and am planning to ask to try flexeril again. I use to take it before I was on any narcotic and it helped slightly, but I'm hoping that with the hydrocodone that slightness is better than nothing. Also there is only one more surgical option left for me because of the type of tumor I have and where it is, they cannot cut it out without me losing the majority of my thigh. That would cause more harm then good. So I am seeing a world renowned surgeon who specializes in my rare tumor. He said there might be something they can do. Also to answer your question about procedures ive had, I've had 7 sclerotherapy sessions done and the last one had bad complications some of the solution leaked out onto my muscles and nerve endings and sclerosed them. Also I usually don't run out early as I just bite my tongue and try and ride out the bad days. Some days are good and some are just aweful. Like I thought I had it bad and to add the nerve pain and more muscular... It's unbearable at times. It feels like someone injected my veins with acid, while jabbing a knife into my thigh. Then I have pain which shoots from my lower left thigh down to my big toe and every time it hits my toe it feels like someone is sticking a needle into it. I also get cramping in between where the leg and groin connect and pain occasionally shoots up there.
Posted 8/3/2012 5:02 AM (GMT 0)

Shell74 said...
Hi and welcome to HW Raptured Planet, your post makes me very upset and brought tears to my eyes. I can tell you that when I first injured my back I was told it was nothing, take advil, motrin, etc..... So for years thats what I did. By the time I made it to PM, I was so bad, surgery was the only option. I feared greatly the stigma of using meds. I do have a great dr who supports me very well. I opted to stay at very low doses at my own peril. I would say I could of had a much more productive last few years had I increased meds as my dr recommended, just a choice we all need to make.

I am really rambling here sorry.

Being honest with your dr will be your best bet. Keeping a pain journal of what makes things worse and what helps can show your dr that you are not just looking for a "high". It sounds like you have a good relationship with your dr. These days drs need to be on there toes since they are scrutinized by the government anymore. It hurts the good pts and can make things frustrating, but if you are on the up and up you have nothing to worry about. Also keeping track of the things you cant do, and what sort of accomodation you use is also helpfull. Dont be afraid to be brutely honest about what you are missing out on as a young adult. Admitting to my dr that at 35 that intimacy was gone was very embarrassing but very important for him to know.

Again rambling, I am recovering from surgery and my combo of meds is getting me off track here. Hopfully something made sense,lol.

Just want to give you a big hug and wish you luck at your appointment!

Shell

I never thought of a journal. Thanks for the idea. I'll start keeping track of my pain on a daily basis along with the things I have a hard time doing.
Posted 8/3/2012 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
From more of you descriptions....it really sounds like terrible nerve pain. So I wonder if Lyrica or Neurontin which as I mentioned are really good nerve pain medications added to the Hydrocodone would help.

And als there is a SCS unit which is a spinal cord stimulator which may be an option.

You have certainly endured a lot in your young years and it sounds like you have been responsible with your medications so I hope your Dr. would allow you to move up as needed.

When is your next appt. with your PM Dr.?
Posted 8/3/2012 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
I totally relate to you. I just turned 25 and have had chronic pain since I was 22. Its really difficult when your young for the pain and medication part. People think "oh your young, you bounce back so quickly". I also understand how it is scary to talk to your doctor about certain things. I have had great doctors and some not so great ones. So its hard to trust them and its hard to believe that they trust you, or least don't put you in a group. I recommend talking to your doctor and also telling him your fears for not being completely open about how much pain your in. As far as medication goes, as everyone has been commenting; everyone is different. For me I can only take percocet and not vicodin. I get woozy and sick from that. My doctor also put me on duragesic patches which definitely helped. You have those on constantly and change them every three days. Then you take your oral medication as needed for breakthrough. If your doctor does recommend this I would start on the lowest dose. Just because if you don't like it, or you eventually don't need it, its easier to taper down that way.
Posted 8/3/2012 6:22 PM (GMT 0)

Snowbunny21 said...
From more of you descriptions....it really sounds like terrible nerve pain. So I wonder if Lyrica or Neurontin which as I mentioned are really good nerve pain medications added to the Hydrocodone would help.

And als there is a SCS unit which is a spinal cord stimulator which may be an option.

You have certainly endured a lot in your young years and it sounds like you have been responsible with your medications so I hope your Dr. would allow you to move up as needed.

When is your next appt. with your PM Dr.?

This coming Monday at 10am. Like He is a really sweet and kind doctor and I have no idea why I'm so nervous for asking for more pain relief. I'm guessing it was from all of those years of suffering that I became a bit paranoid. Like they even remember me by name and I've only been going there for a few months. My guess is that I'm their youngest patient.

Post Edited (Raptured Planet) : 8/3/2012 12:49:05 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/3/2012 6:22 PM (GMT 0)

missfancypants said...
I totally relate to you. I just turned 25 and have had chronic pain since I was 22. Its really difficult when your young for the pain and medication part. People think "oh your young, you bounce back so quickly". I also understand how it is scary to talk to your doctor about certain things. I have had great doctors and some not so great ones. So its hard to trust them and its hard to believe that they trust you, or least don't put you in a group. I recommend talking to your doctor and also telling him your fears for not being completely open about how much pain your in. As far as medication goes, as everyone has been commenting; everyone is different. For me I can only take percocet and not vicodin. I get woozy and sick from that. My doctor also put me on duragesic patches which definitely helped. You have those on constantly and change them every three days. Then you take your oral medication as needed for breakthrough. If your doctor does recommend this I would start on the lowest dose. Just because if you don't like it, or you eventually don't need it, its easier to taper down that way.

Thanks :)
Posted 8/3/2012 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
The key with your PM Dr. is to not ask for more opiates directly....It's about letting him know what your pain levels are....what makes it worse/better. And then ask him what are his suggestions to possibly help things a bit more.

Hopefully the new nerve pain he is moving you to as well as the Flexeril will help some.

With chronic pain....the normal range for Drs. to get us to is about a 5 or so on the levels.

As long as you are open to anything/everything to help with your pain...there shouldn't be any reason to be nervous. The part that Drs. don't like, with any age, is if someone were to come in and keep asking for higher and higher doses of narcotics and say that nothing else works but those.

Since you are seeking less pain with all sorts of modalities...they should be happy to try and help you in any way they can.

Keep us posted..
Posted 8/3/2012 8:57 PM (GMT 0)

Snowbunny21 said...
The key with your PM Dr. is to not ask for more opiates directly....It's about letting him know what your pain levels are....what makes it worse/better. And then ask him what are his suggestions to possibly help things a bit more.

Hopefully the new nerve pain he is moving you to as well as the Flexeril will help some.

With chronic pain....the normal range for Drs. to get us to is about a 5 or so on the levels.

As long as you are open to anything/everything to help with your pain...there shouldn't be any reason to be nervous. The part that Drs. don't like, with any age, is if someone were to come in and keep asking for higher and higher doses of narcotics and say that nothing else works but those.

Since you are seeking less pain with all sorts of modalities...they should be happy to try and help you in any way they can.

Keep us posted..

I'm opened to anything. I don't care if it was eating a banana. If it helps I'll do it. Opiates do help, but if there are other things we can try then I'd be glad to try them.
Posted 8/5/2012 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Im on the butrans patch works pretty good and does not make me high or loopy at all.
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