Posted 10/7/2007 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
HephaistionRNBSN...I moved your post here so more people might find it and help you with some recommendations. Welcome to our family...I admire your integrity. Have you been to a teaching/university hospital? They take difficult cases not only for pain control but maybe surgery to stop the problem.
Hugs,
CHutzie
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I am new here, actually I think I used to visit here and post in the past under a different userid, but I am back. I am a 36y/o Male RN,BSN who has had Chronic pain for 14yrs now. Was rear-ended the summer before my last semester in nursing school. I have DDD, 3 Herniated Discs L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1. I have had everything except surgery. I was one the first 1000 to have the IDET, which worked for about 1 yr. I started taking 6 vicoden ES a day to all the way to 120mg Oxycontin 3xday , 12 Norco a day, Soma 3xday , 1000 Nuerontin 4xday, Vioxx (Which was helped tremendously). I have had a total of 3 pain docs over the 14 years. The first treated me and weaned me from Norco after IDET. I ended up moving to Austin from East Tex at that time. about 6 months later I ended back at Finding New Pain Doc, this was early 2000, when they were prescribing Oxycontin/Norco like candy, It was that Pain Management doc's PA's and Nurse Practicioners that built me up from no meds to the above High doses of meds over 4 yrs. It did treat my pain, I worked as a normal human, I was able to spend quality time with my wife, I still hurt, even with those meds, but I dealt, them meds helped. I hated the Side-Effect maily W/D symptoms every 4hrs. The W/D's got so bad that I flushed my Oxy/Norco about 3yrs after being on them. I spent 5 days in hell, mainly weak, and constant Diarhhea along with hot cold flashes, but I had Hot/Cold flashes every 4hrs with them meds, so I was used to it. After 8 Days I went and fessed up to my doctor and they started me back on the meds at 2/3rd the Oxy/Norc as before. about 1yr after that I finally broke down and decided to go ahead and have surgery. The problem was that the Surgeon, supposudly one of the best in Texas would not touch me because of the amount of meds I was on, He said that he would not be able to control my pain post surgery. So I continued the meds. about 1yr later, I got layed off d/t cutbacks, (BTW I was not working in Nursing, I retired my license d/t ethical reasons, it would not be ethical to stay on meds and work as Nurse) I worked in Technology feild. So we move up near dallas about 2 yrs ago and go back to Pain Management Doc that gave me my Epidurals 12yrs earlier after car accident. This PM Doc would not prescribe Soma, Norco, or Oxycontin. The only use Methadone and other non-narcotic meds...Soma is considered semi-narcotic to them d/t side effects, eventhough it is not a Narcotic. So I am now off the OXY/Norco/Soma. My current meds are 30mg Methadone 2/day , 800mg Nuerontin 3xday, Skelaxin 3xday, Celebrex 200mg 1/day. I am in pretty much constant pain, I have been through 6 jobs in 2 yrs d/t pain and my wife is so frustrated she could scream because I am pretty much housebound d/t pain except for work. There is a positive with Methadone and that is No Hot/Cold Flashes and that is a huge positive. However, I feel crumby all the time, I feel worn down, no energy and yes male hormones fall down to nothing almost. I basically went into male menopause, at least that is what I call it, but my Testosterone was a low normal when on Oxy/Norco. But I am now taking a shot once a week and my Testoterone is rising. I tried Testerone Gel that absorbed almost immedialty when applied but I hated it, and I don't mind needles. So I opted to take the shot once a week. It is not like an insulin/diabetic shot, it is a 1 1/2inch needle in hip, but again it is once a week compared to a daily gel rub. Anyway, One of the reason's I am posting is that I am looking for a New Doc in Dallas,Tx that might be able to give me my life back again. I have found a couple that say the prescribe Oxycontin, Norco and Soma to patients, but I was hoping someone here might be in the area and point me in the right direction. I am tired of not being able to keep a job because of my pain, and letting my wife down because I can't go out with her on the weekends. I am very scared though of getting back on those meds and off the Methadone. Then methadone has always helped some, but not enough, maybe I need higher dose, however my doc won't up it either, my doc is very strict. I am a big man though 6'4" and 310lbs. My main prob is that I am having to supplement my other meds with Tylenol and Ibuprofen 3xday as well, but luckily my Kidneys and Liver and in the green still. They wont stay that way much longer on the amount of OTC meds I have to take in addition to my pain meds, Anti-depressants, Bloodpressure & Allergy meds.
I am a NURSE and I know better, but I have been in almost constant pain since I was 22 and and I am 36 now. The Career I went to school for and Have outstanding loans for I can not even do because of my pain. So If anyone knows a good PM MD in DALLAS please reply.
As Far as METHADONE it has it good points and probably is a godsend for many, but for me it is not working, and I have given it 2 long hard years putting off changing docs, because I did not want it to appear I was Doc Shopping. Also another good point of Methadone is you do not get the RUSH/HIGH from it as other opiates cause, however after going cold turkey off of Norco/OXycontin 2 times, and am very fearful of DETOXing Methadone because I hear it is far worse, and the Oxy/Hydrocodone were bad enough. I hope I gave some insight between Methadone and other Opiates. As another Wise Poster to the forum said it is a very personal decision. The Hot/Cold flashes went away about 4-6 months into the Methadone.