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Posted 7/13/2009 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
I am so worried and frustrated.

I just started at a pain clinic 3 weeks ago. their first plan was to put me on 15 mg oxycodone every 4-6 hours. I am also on cymbalta 120mg

at first it seemed to work. now my muscle pain is so bad again and my joints arent doing well either. I was up all night in pain last night. I didnt sleep a wink. I have a follow up tomorrow (thank goodness) at the pain center. I am nervous to see what they can do. do I have a lot of choices left? My doctor did talk about an extended release medicne before but I worry that is not strong enough. basically I just am worried!!!!!!!!!!!

any advice appreciated

melissa

 

Posted 7/13/2009 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Melissa, I am so sorry to hear how much of a problem it is to get your pain under control. It is a very frusterating and aggravating situation for you, I am sure. I have been there, and still am many times. And I know others here on the forum have that problem as well. That is one of the many things I personally love about this forum. We all experience several of the same problems. That is when the support comes in.

I am glad you have a follow-up appt. today with your pain management doctor. And yes there are other things that may can be done. There are many different pain medication choices out there. And many of them are helpful and you may see benefits. Alot of the reason for the follow-up appt. are to see how you are doing on what was previously given. Just explain how you feel. They are big on the description of your pain, well mine is anyway. They want your pain described in terms like: sharp, stabbing, aching, dull,etc. And also the pain number that you feel. I do think that your doctor is willing to change your meds. He said before about the long acting,or time released meds. That is an option. Do not be afraid. You are not alone. You have our support here. And we are here for you. Don't forget that!!! This chronic pain business is horrible. It is life changing. And there is nothing good from it.That we all know. It is just learning how to treat it and doing all the things we can do. You will make it. Hang in there.

I personally have been having a hard time dealing w/ my pain. I will only touch briefly on this. I have had to learn to use other things to try to help deal with it better. I thought before that was what the pain meds are for...I learned differently!! I have used heat. Ice is used by many people, who get good results from it. Personally, I can't get past the pain from the cold!! But try it. It may be beneficial to you. I have also used many of the creams that are available. Now, they don't last long for me. But it does help. And I have been at the point many times, where a little help is better than no help at all. Hot showers or baths are helpful. Just try some of these options and see if they help you at all. I wasnt too sure before. But speaking from experience, it does help. Also, trying to do other things that can take the focus off of the pain is helpful. It may be hard at first, but it also helps. That is something on a personal level. It could be reading, listening to soft music, taking a nice long bubble bath in candle light, watching tv, writting letters to people you haven't written to lately, going for a drive, going for a walk. You get the picture. The choices are endless. You just have to find what works for you. I never have been a big tv watcher, but recently(past couple days) Lifetime has become a good friend of mine!!! yeah

Good luck on your doctors appt. I hope things go well. Don't be nervous. Be honest and explain to your doctor how you feel. Be open to suggestions. And don't be afraid to try new things or meds. I do hope you are able to get some relief from your pain. Post as often as you need to. It does help. I am sorry I got long winded. I need to work on that one. I always have been a talker. Also, it sounds like you could use a hug!

((((((((((((((((Melissa))))))))))))))))

Anice

 

Post Edited (anice) : 7/13/2009 6:50:47 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/13/2009 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
i am sorry that you feel poorly. do you have fibryomyalgia? i have it. i take 60mg cymbalta (once a day) & 100mg lyrica (3xs a day) which combined almost makes me fibro free. there are those nights when my when i couldn't do anything but lie in bed with the pain in my legs. you should habe a good relationship with your dr by now & don't be ashamed to ask for higher dosages. as far as lyrica goes, there are smaller dosages- which is better because it made me very sleepy in the beginning & I barely ever have a medicine that makes me sleepy. once you adjust, you will be fine. maybe ask your dr for some samples?
and as for the ER pills, don't be afraid, they work wonders. i absolutly was denying oxycontin (i had friends die of od'eing- but they were misusing it) this was nearly some 10 years ago and many adjustments have been made to the med since. back to the story, i was so afraid and now i don't know why. i tsrusted my drs knew what was best for me so i decided to give it a shot. we tried many medications before trying oxy- kadian, duragesic (the patch) , ultram, the list goes on. but oxy was the best for me. so don't be afraid to try something different, you need it if you are going to get some relief. so please check into it.
below is my med list, i am on them all except for the oxycontin, i now have the pain pump so it replaced oxycontin. and that was another item i wish i wouldn't have fought so hard against. i barely have any pain anymore. i was a pain scale of about 7 constantly- now i am at about 1&1/2 to a 2.....and my surgery was only last week!
hopefully this will help you make the right decision for you. there is a website called askapatient.com that will go over all medication. there are people like us who use their meds properly and there are also comments from people who are looking for a good time.
Posted 7/13/2009 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
I am right with you Merrygirl.... taking the same thing.... 15mg of Oxycodone.... I find it helps some... but not enough.....

I think it has something to do with getting the generic version of Roxycodone...... which is the 15mg Oxycodone.... maybe ask your Dr this.... I didn't know generics have less of the active medication in them...

That's what pain management is all about.... finding what works for you..... don't be afraid to just be honest with your Dr.... at this point my Dr knows I am not looking for meds but rather looking to control my pain... I'm still working on a script from Jan that was for one month!

Also have you tried meditation? I just started doing this... finally got the hang of it.... I have an alarm set on my iPhone everyday to remind me.... it's only takes less then 8 minutes....

Hop you find the right combo for you and hope you get some winks!
Hang in there!
Posted 7/13/2009 5:27 PM (GMT 0)

 

 

MerryGirl,

Sometimes the short acting pain meds are just not good enough for the pain that we go through.  Most of us here take long acting meds...I take Methadone along with 30 mg. Oxycodone.  Some take Morphine ER, Oxycontin, just to name a few.  Maybe you should talk to your Dr. about puting you on a longer acting pain med and also a Breakthrough Pain med. 

 

All you can do is tell them what is going on and be HONEST.  If something isn't working they need to know.  If they don't know what's going on how can they make it better?

 

Good Luck at your appt. and keep us informed.

It takes a while before we get the right mix of meds to help, so don't feel intimidated....

'Me.

Posted 7/13/2009 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Merry,
You've been given some great advice (Anice's post was GREAT, as well as the others). There are many things we all need to learn to do in addition to our pain meds, and it can take a long time to find the right balance. And sometimes that balance needs to be readjusted. Just don't hide your real pain from your doctor. I think sometimes we tend to minimize our pain once we get into the office. A pain journal might help - at least writing down your symptoms, how long the medicaiton lasts, if it helps or not. But just be honest and ask for more help.

Good luck!

PaLady
Posted 7/13/2009 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
merrygirl
Everyone has given you excellent advice, Talk to your Pain Doctor and telll them the problems your having and the pain your experiencing, and let them work their magic, but be mindfull it can take some time to get you dosage right to control your pain, and even then, your body is always changing and so will your pain and thus the treatment of it. So even though on one visit your pain is under control that doesn't mean that it will be so on all your other Doctor visits! As your pain changes so will your meds have to be changed or dosage changed to keep it under control! I wish you well with your appointment!

White Beard
Posted 7/13/2009 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
There are all types of pain medications and other medications out there. Just because one is not working don't give up and be bluntly honest with your doctor(s) how they are or are not working. It is not always how strong a medication is so much as how well you respond to it.

For example. Darvocet is considered a pretty mild pain reliever as far as the more "heavy duty ones" go. My wife can take 1 of those for any pain she rates under an 8 at it will send her into la-la-land for hours. Me I can take a bottle of that stuff and it has less effect than a couple of Excedrin. It has always been that way, even long before I started having chronic pain.
Posted 7/13/2009 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the great advice as usual. I keep a daily log and it includes m y overall pain level for the day. maybe I will print that up and bring it with me tomorrow.I Am so sore!


I try everything for this pain. I meditate, swim, soak in a hot epsom salt or plain bath, I use heat and ice, capsacin ointment I do have fibro but cant take lyrica or neurontin b/c is makes me suicidal. cymbalta has been good, but now I am at the max dose of that..I guess I will see what the pain doc has to say in the am.
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