theweaver2
10-11-2006, 12:09 PM
I just read a disturbing article....
It said most doctor's just aim for a 20-30% level of pain relief when they should actually be aiming for a 75% level of relief. It said most doctors are content to just take the edge off their patients pain and then feel they are doing all they can by doing so.
How sad is this?
I know I went two years w/o having my pain levels treated. Well, they were treated at the 20% level. And, I also feel that untreated chronic pain is why I am here today with pain levels so high my nervous system is screaming and I can hardly stand to be touched. Taking a shower is uncomfortable...
However, my new PM gave me a script for methadone which is working well. For how long... I don't know. He is adding some other drugs for pain relief and planning on some injections.
Right now I have to say I have 75-80% pain relief and am sooooo happy. I feel like shopping, cooking, can actually sleep for hours at a time and am delightfully surprised to hear my laughter once again.
I wonder how many people at this site get the 75% pain relief that should be achieved. I wish I could find more articles on pain relief and how we, as patients, are often denied that.
Barb
It said most doctor's just aim for a 20-30% level of pain relief when they should actually be aiming for a 75% level of relief. It said most doctors are content to just take the edge off their patients pain and then feel they are doing all they can by doing so.
How sad is this?
I know I went two years w/o having my pain levels treated. Well, they were treated at the 20% level. And, I also feel that untreated chronic pain is why I am here today with pain levels so high my nervous system is screaming and I can hardly stand to be touched. Taking a shower is uncomfortable...
However, my new PM gave me a script for methadone which is working well. For how long... I don't know. He is adding some other drugs for pain relief and planning on some injections.
Right now I have to say I have 75-80% pain relief and am sooooo happy. I feel like shopping, cooking, can actually sleep for hours at a time and am delightfully surprised to hear my laughter once again.
I wonder how many people at this site get the 75% pain relief that should be achieved. I wish I could find more articles on pain relief and how we, as patients, are often denied that.
Barb
Sponsor
Director
10-11-2006, 03:38 PM
Hey Barb: I've been on Methadone for going on four years now. I have found the 75% reduction in pain to be about what I have on Methadone. Before, I was getting 25-50%, depending on what I was taking and at what dose. Oxycontin worked great until I my tolerance went through the roof. The Duragesic Patch (Fentanyl) worked good too, but I have found Meth to be the best in pain reduction.
Once I titrated up to my present doseage, I haven't had an increase in over three years and I take no BT meds either. I'm glad your doctor was understanding enough to put you on Methadone. There are still a lot of docs that shy away from it.
Once I titrated up to my present doseage, I haven't had an increase in over three years and I take no BT meds either. I'm glad your doctor was understanding enough to put you on Methadone. There are still a lot of docs that shy away from it.
theweaver2
10-11-2006, 07:46 PM
Director... your post has given me hope.
Congrats on meth helping for over 4 years. I have read that once the needed dose of meth is achieved, it can often be sustained for a long time and sometimes even to the point where dosing has to be only once a day. I am dosing 3 times a day currently and am finding I need the 5mg for the continued relief although I have tried the 2.5 a few times.
My doc "squeezed" me in that day and quickly prescribed the meth for me. My appointment was messed up and they had me scheduled at a different office so I don't know how much history he had for me. All he knew was that I was titrating from oxycontin. lol However, I wonder if he knew I was only coming down from a 20mg dose and not some mega dose of oxycontin lol. I had been on the oxycontin only 7 months and, like you, I was definitely becoming used to that dose as it wasn't helpling my pain at all. I was happily surprised that the low level dose of meth is working so well for me.
I hope I have a good relationship with my new pain doctor. He seems to know what is going on with my pain and I hope he has some more ideas to help me gain my life back.
I'm surprised that the high does of oxycontin didnt give the relief the meth did. Just shows you how our bodies respond differently to different things.
I wish you continued success and thanks for your feedback !!
Congrats on meth helping for over 4 years. I have read that once the needed dose of meth is achieved, it can often be sustained for a long time and sometimes even to the point where dosing has to be only once a day. I am dosing 3 times a day currently and am finding I need the 5mg for the continued relief although I have tried the 2.5 a few times.
My doc "squeezed" me in that day and quickly prescribed the meth for me. My appointment was messed up and they had me scheduled at a different office so I don't know how much history he had for me. All he knew was that I was titrating from oxycontin. lol However, I wonder if he knew I was only coming down from a 20mg dose and not some mega dose of oxycontin lol. I had been on the oxycontin only 7 months and, like you, I was definitely becoming used to that dose as it wasn't helpling my pain at all. I was happily surprised that the low level dose of meth is working so well for me.
I hope I have a good relationship with my new pain doctor. He seems to know what is going on with my pain and I hope he has some more ideas to help me gain my life back.
I'm surprised that the high does of oxycontin didnt give the relief the meth did. Just shows you how our bodies respond differently to different things.
I wish you continued success and thanks for your feedback !!
kelsey1
10-11-2006, 09:19 PM
Hi all,
when i was on norcos i was only at 20-30% pain relief. I am on oxycodone 30 mg now ,and pain relief now is about 80% thank god,kelsey
when i was on norcos i was only at 20-30% pain relief. I am on oxycodone 30 mg now ,and pain relief now is about 80% thank god,kelsey
Fabrashamx
10-12-2006, 02:34 AM
Hi Barb, Interesting that you should bring this up, as I just had a conversation with my doctor about this very subject. I feel i have about 70% pain control on most days, 30-50% on the bad days. My doctor said the key to successful pain management is QUALITY OF LIFE. For most of us, the types and quality of pain we have is severe, If you go to a doctor that aims for 100% pain control, 100% of the time, that would mean we would be heavily sedated, almost comatose, before that 100% constant relief could be achieved. But there is NO quality of life in such a state! Only a drugged fog. Pain free would mean for the majority of us, that the things that make life worth living, relationships with our mates and children and friends, would suffer terribly, as we would be nodding off all the time. Also that level of pain control would tend to make you more lethargic, you would gain weight and lose muscle tone, so your pain would become rapidly worse and not better or even able to 'hold your ground' health wise. I can see where this would be beneficial to the terminally ill, but for people who have decades of life left to live, not so much. So by accepting that we will have some pain, we are able to strive for a happy medium of a level of pain control that still allows us to participate in and enjoy our lives as much a possible. Interesting subject, I have enjoyed reading the posts and look forward to seeing what others have to say.
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
theweaver2
10-12-2006, 12:26 PM
Hi Fabby,
I hear you loud and clear !!
I also have migraines, which used to be pretty much daily and my neuro is now giving me botox injections for that which has helped tremendously.
So, my daily life is used to pain. And, I can live with a level 2-3, which I have done most of the past 20 years.
What it hard to live with is the level 10 pain that has me crying myself to sleep most days. The relief I get from narcotics, though I denied them for 2 years, is worth some of the fog lol.
The oxycontin didn't bother me in so far as it didnt sedate me. But, I did get used to my 20mg dose quickly (3 months). And, you just can't keep kicking that one up. I have switched to the methadone, which I hear takes some getting used to. I am groggy now, but don't know if the fog is from meth or Lyrica.
I am currently trying to find out if my problem with pain is just the fact it was been untreated for so long, thus creating nervous system pain syndrome. It's been a long haul and 2 surgeries. Right now I will take some "fog" in tradeoff for some pain relief.
I'm glad you found a tolerable level with 30mg of oxycontin and I hope you can continue to get relief at that level and not have to keep going upward for relief.
I'm curious though. How long have you been on the 30mg and is that twice a day or 30mg throughout the day.
Thanks for your response. It is interesting to see what doctor's and people consider a tolerable pain level.
Barb
I hear you loud and clear !!
I also have migraines, which used to be pretty much daily and my neuro is now giving me botox injections for that which has helped tremendously.
So, my daily life is used to pain. And, I can live with a level 2-3, which I have done most of the past 20 years.
What it hard to live with is the level 10 pain that has me crying myself to sleep most days. The relief I get from narcotics, though I denied them for 2 years, is worth some of the fog lol.
The oxycontin didn't bother me in so far as it didnt sedate me. But, I did get used to my 20mg dose quickly (3 months). And, you just can't keep kicking that one up. I have switched to the methadone, which I hear takes some getting used to. I am groggy now, but don't know if the fog is from meth or Lyrica.
I am currently trying to find out if my problem with pain is just the fact it was been untreated for so long, thus creating nervous system pain syndrome. It's been a long haul and 2 surgeries. Right now I will take some "fog" in tradeoff for some pain relief.
I'm glad you found a tolerable level with 30mg of oxycontin and I hope you can continue to get relief at that level and not have to keep going upward for relief.
I'm curious though. How long have you been on the 30mg and is that twice a day or 30mg throughout the day.
Thanks for your response. It is interesting to see what doctor's and people consider a tolerable pain level.
Barb
theweaver2
10-12-2006, 12:29 PM
Hi all,
when i was on norcos i was only at 20-30% pain relief. I am on oxycodone 30 mg now ,and pain relief now is about 80% thank god,kelsey
Kelsey - 80% is wonderful !! How long have you had that kind of relief? Do you work? I am fortunate that I don't have to work. I feel like my IQ has been cut in half with drugs and pain.. lol
I wish all our doctors would understand that 80% pain relief is wonderful and forget the fact some of us need narcotics to achieve this and are NOT just seeking these drugs to get high.
ty for your response !!
Barb
when i was on norcos i was only at 20-30% pain relief. I am on oxycodone 30 mg now ,and pain relief now is about 80% thank god,kelsey
Kelsey - 80% is wonderful !! How long have you had that kind of relief? Do you work? I am fortunate that I don't have to work. I feel like my IQ has been cut in half with drugs and pain.. lol
I wish all our doctors would understand that 80% pain relief is wonderful and forget the fact some of us need narcotics to achieve this and are NOT just seeking these drugs to get high.
ty for your response !!
Barb
Fabrashamx
10-12-2006, 06:03 PM
Hi Barb, I'm not the one who said I was taking Oxycontin, I am currently taking Tramadol (Ultram), and Oxycodone, 10 mgs, and Baclofen. I have a good level of pain control for the most part, I still have nightmare days and nights, But for the most part I am as active as my condition (DDD&Nerve damage) will allow me to be. I know a lot of people don't like the Tramadol for a miriad of reasons, But I have been on it for over a decade now and it works very well for me, as long as I have the oxycodone for breakthrough pain.
Your Friend, Fabby :wave:
Your Friend, Fabby :wave:
theweaver2
10-13-2006, 11:10 AM
Sorry Fabby,
Your right... sometimes reading one post after another and the info blends lol.
I am also glad you are getting such relief. It's good to hear the "relief" stories on this board also. I often cry when reading all the untreated pain people go through.
Take care !!
Barb
Your right... sometimes reading one post after another and the info blends lol.
I am also glad you are getting such relief. It's good to hear the "relief" stories on this board also. I often cry when reading all the untreated pain people go through.
Take care !!
Barb