Shore or anybody else advise on la meds please! - Pain Management Message Board

hedycarter1 · 06-09-2004, 11:27 AM

Hi there,

Okay,

So my pcp took back my care from the PM doctor that only wanted to have me to do the surgery for my neck. I DO not want surgery. My pcp is very kind and has decided that i should not go back to that doctor and that she will perscribe my meds from now on.

She has changed my meds and added morphine sulfate er 15 mgs 2 times a day and reduced my vicodin to 30 a month from 60 a month ( basically 1 a day). I have been on them now for 1 1/2 weeks. I really have not had much of a reduction on my pain yet. As a matter of fact it really only dropped from a 6 - 8 pain level to 5 -6. yesterday I was at a 8 even with the meds and I hadto take 2 vicodin to get any relief.

Why is it not working? Is my dose to low? I also am having headhaches and am a bit sick to my tummy. Does this go away in time?

She will see me now once a month to refill my meds. If I still have ti take more then one vicodin a day I will run out of my bt med way before my appt.

Help!

Thanks\Hedy

hedycarter1 · 06-09-2004, 12:07 PM

Anybody have any thoughts ?

carol632 · 06-09-2004, 02:31 PM

Hedy, the mscontin dose you are on seems not to be strong enough. However, since you have begun experiencing nausea and headache, it's possible that the mscontin doesn't agree with you.

Since you and your pcp have good rapport, I would just tell her frankly what you have told us here. She may want you to try a bit stronger dose or change it to 3 times a day and see if you get better relief and whether or not the nausea & headaches get worse. It's possible she will change you to something altogether different. I really think talking to her is your best route.

Carol

hedycarter1 · 06-09-2004, 02:42 PM

Hi carol,

I see that you have a morphine pump. Is the headaches and nausea common wth morphine? Do these side effect go away in time. I was really hopful that this would work, I have had such high pain levels for so long

I will definately chat with my doctor when I see her about all of this. Its the first la meds that i have tryed. Perhaps I should have be tritaed higher or try another La med. I know from reading this board that many peopl have to try many different meds before they find one that works. I also think that I need a higher dose of bt med.

Thanks for responding!

H

feelbad · 06-10-2004, 06:37 AM

Yes,unfortunetly you sometimes do have run the gamut of trying various meds until you find the right ones that work best for you.I think just about everyone who suffers with chronic pain has dealt with this.it sounds to me that the MS,and the symptoms it is causing,(nausea is a very common reaction to MS,sometimes the symptoms fade and sometimes they don't)might indicate trying a different LA med.Oxycontin works much better for me than MS.although, some people will get nausea with the oxy too.i actually think that the nausea is the most common complaint with using any narcotic really.I would definitely have a chat with your doc about maybe giving the oxy a try and see how you do.I am actually quite impressed with your docs thinking as most wont even consider any LA meds unless you are absolutely dying or something.Don't lose this doc!

Hope you find something soon that really works for you.Marcia