new to site - Pain Management Message Board

shayna1962 · 01-24-2005, 02:44 PM

Hi - I just registered with this site. I've had chronic low back pain for over 2 years and was diagnosed with SI joint dysfunction. I was on Vicodin but was worried about too much Tylenol and I wasn't getting enough relief. My doctor put me on Duragesic which works good, but doesn't last the 3 days. She recently referred me to a pain management clinic as she thought I could get therapy and medication for break-through pain. I went to the appointment and was a bit shocked; the PM doctor agreed that I did have SI joint dysfunction, but said I should not be on Duragesic and he would not prescribe anything for BT pain. He said I was "too young" and would get addicted! He wants to do a SI joint injection, which I have had before and only helps temporarily, and he didn't mention therapy. This is a large, well-known hospital with a PM program that is rated very high. I told my doctor what he had said and she was shocked. When the patch wears off, the pain gets horrible. Sitting for prolonged periods, standing, lifting, etc. all makes the pain worse. Unfortunately my job requires me to sit for about 90% of the time which increases the pain. I don't know where else to go, most doctors seem to be very against narcotic use for chronic pain. This PM doctor also said it would be different if I was 80 instead of 42, then he would prescribe something for BT pain! It's very frustrating since I was always an active person, and now with this pain there's not too much I can do. My doctor did mention that she could possibly switch me from Duragesic to Oxycontin, but I have never had Oxy and I have heard it doesn't last 12 hrs just like the patch doesn't last 3 days. If anyone can offer any information it would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking about switching to Oxy but would like info from someone who has been on it - such as how well it works, how long it will last, if it's better/worse/etc. than Duragesic.

twisten · 01-24-2005, 03:17 PM

First off, welcome to the site. Peeps in here are great so I hope you decide to stick around here with us.
I'm assuming it was your family doc that sent you to the pm doc?? If so I would ask her to refer me to a different one for another opinion. Is it not possible for the family doc to give you your scripts for pain meds every month?
As for the duragesic when I was on it it didn't last me the 3 days either. I had bt meds to help for the last day. Oxycontin also didn't last 12 hours for me and I didn't get adequate pain relief from it either. Right now I'm on Mscontin 30 mg in the morning and 60 at night. I also have 10 mg of oxyir for bt and can take 2 and if things are really bad 3 per day. Right now my doc is trying to lower my bt useage. Mscontin doesn't work for 12 hours for me either so I'm hoping to ask her to switch me to hydromorphcontin the next time I see her because its supposed to last longer. I saw her last week but she wasn't in a good mood so I chickened out!! Sorry this is so long, I get "talking" and don't know when to quit!!

Marcy

mike j · 01-24-2005, 06:51 PM

I am glad you joined us Welcome.I would recommend getting a second opinion for another pain management clinic. Ask your doctor for another referral. You're very fortunate to have a general practitioner with compassion. I would also recommend doing some research about pain. learning how to express yourself and filling out a pain diary would be very beneficial for you. I was also on the patch. It ornly lasted 48 . we are very fortunate to have a lot of good people on this board. I will be curious to see what shoreline would recommend. He is very knowledgeable and helpful. Take care of yourself. mike

BrittleBones · 01-25-2005, 04:47 AM

Hi Shayna and welcome! I'm pretty new to this site as well. I've only been posting about 2 weeks now. So far I think I have found everything I've been looking for right here on this website. After searching through tons of bulletin boards and chatter rooms, this one is the best. My last operation was to fuse both my left and right sacral joints. They had started to move and this caused me so much pain. I couldn't do anything without screaming in pain.

The doctor explained to me that when most of your back is fused and can't rotate or really move the way it was designed to move, something else will try to take over the functions of the impaired joints. He said that SI joints aren't designed to move like our vertabrae are, but in a small percentage of folks who have had as many fusions as I've had, they do move. So I had bilateral sacral fusions this past July. The left SI joint healed nicely and I'm without pain on that side. The right side is still giving me a great deal of pain. The fusion is healing well, but for some reason the pain is still there. It's very frustrating.

I'm still on crutches and I can't get around without a wheelchair if I'm going to go any distances (the mall, etc.) How did you end up with SI problems? I'm very curious to know the history and progression of your joint disease. All the best - Kathy Mac

kds01 · 01-25-2005, 07:06 AM

Hi Shayna and welcome. I too am on the Duragesic patch and it does not last the full 72 hrs. My doctor has offered to write the prescription so that I can change it every 48 hours and I just got word that my insurance will pay for it. As you probably know, they are expensive. You can ask your dr. if you can change it every 48 hrs. Some people here have said that the side effects were too numerous with the change every 48 hrs but everyone is different. I am going to give it a shot. Good luck to you, let us know what you do.
Kimberly