Severe back pain, and 2 surgerys now - Pain Management Message Board

rlcowboy · 01-04-2004, 08:02 AM

I was going to pain managment after my spinal fusion 6 months ago and was taking oxycontin 40 twice daily with pecocet twice also. The bad thing is that my pain was still getting worse so I am home from surgery #2 just 10 days now, I had a degenerative taken out and a artificial one put in, this time they cut me open from the front to get the disc out but I am having surgery AGAIN in two weeks so that he can cut my back open again to extend my screws and rods to hold that new disc. Bad thing is my doctor said I am addicted to the pain meds cause I had to have so much pain med after surgery cause my tolerence is now high, so even though I'm having a third surgery in two weeks he is really cutting my pain meds way down and I am really sufering do to the pain!!!To me 3 back surgerys in 9 months is alot to go through and without my pain meds at this point I dont know what I would do, but I see that my doctor wants me off them now and I am hurting more than ever right now, thinking about talking to another doctor about it, I dont know what to do at this point? I still have 30 metal stapels in my stomach that have to come out, not looking forward to that either!

Now all I'm taking is oxycontin 20 twice daily with two percocets, I was taking double this before surgery?

twisten · 01-04-2004, 12:29 PM

Doctors like this make me so mad. You're probably physically dependant not addicted. There is a difference but not a lot of doctors care to find out. My GI doctor once told me I was addicted. I mentioned this to my Neuro and he blew, even sent the other doc a letter explaining the difference!! Of course you will have a high tolerance, you've been on pain meds for awhile. If it was me I would be looking for or at least asking another doctor's opinion on the pain meds. It seems cruel to me to leave you suffering as you are. Is this your pain management doc that is doing this to you? I would think he should know better. Please let us know how you make out.

carol632 · 01-04-2004, 01:33 PM

Ohhh, brother! How cruel. You are most likely dependant not addicted and he should know the difference. I don't know if you can find another doctor to take over your case, but I would sure try. Three surgeries in such a short time, to fix his own mistake by using the wrong hardware in the first place, and then cuts your meds. Come to think of it, I would find another doctor and a good attorney! This guy does not impress me at all.
Carol