Hi, Am new to this board but think it may be very helpful. Am very curious about other's experiences and knowledge about using Norco (shortacting) vs. Avinza (longacting) for control of pain from aggressive osteoarthritis which I have. Had been using Norco taking 1 in the early a.m. and one half in the afternoon but that doesn't keep the pain under control enough for me to want to move much. Mornings are the best. My doctor recently has had me try Avinza but it has some unpleasant side effects, constipation, drowsiness and ongoing stomach pain. The drug dulls the pain but does not really take the edge off to where I would feel like walking or the like. What other pain meds have others used that are effective in really stopping the pain. Truly if I could adding WD-40 in coffee would probably ease up joints a lot but that's not an option... Stiffness & pain are keeping me from living my life like I want to. TIA for any input. -Pam aka Pandag
Pandag...You might want to talk to your doctor and consider switching to Methadone. I have been on it for over two years after being on Oxycontin, Duragesic (Fentenyl) and and many short acting meds. It's one of the stronger meds in use and I feel it does a great job in controling my pain. I take no break through meds and Meth makes you a "Non clock watcher" that so many are (including me) when you are on other medications. It might be worth your time to ask your doctor about making the switch.
I can share my limited experience with both meds. I have been on the ever increasing amount of hydrocodone for about 5 years. During that time, I switched to Avinza..hoping to find a LA med that would eliminate or at least minimize my need for the hydrocodone. I tried for a 2 week period and found that at first, it was great. I could wake in the morning and I wasn't in screaming pain..I could move and it felt great. Then, it quickly lost any effect at all. My doctor upped the dose..the usual approach to finding the "right" amount. I tried that for a month. I believe it was 60 mg. per day. I believe I even tried the next amt. up. While it was still doing nothing for the pain, I was throwing up daily. I guess I hung in hoping to 1. either lose weight, or 2. give my body a chance to adjust. It just never did and I gave it up. I went back to an increased dose of hydrocodone, but while it worked for me, I just felt there had to be a more healthy choice of meds..I didn't like the ongoing use of the acetaminaphin. I have diabetes and would like to protect the few working organs I still have..) During this time, I had major surgery for cancer..morphine didn't do a thing. After enough to stop my breathing, I learned that it just didn't work for me. I tried percodans. Didn't do a thing. Oxycodone, hydromorphin and dilaudid. Kept going back to the vicodans. Now I'm looking at surgery to fix a messed up shoulder..fracture, slap lesion, rotator cuff tears and a messed up hand that also needs surgery. (skiing accident). So..I'm now on fentanyl. 75mcg/hr. This board has been invaluable in helping me understand the dynamics of pain receptors, nerve functions, what and why different meds work differently on each individual. The best advice is to establish a real good and honest relationship with your physician. There really are some good ones out there. I just fired my shoulder surgeon and am now looking for one that I can talk to and who will give me the confidence in his/her ability to treat me correctly and who will listen and be willing to step out of the box for solutions. Keep communicating and keep reading. There are ways to treat on-going, chronic pain.
) During this time, I had major surgery for cancer..morphine didn't do a thing. After enough to stop my breathing, I learned that it just didn't work for me. I tried percodans. Didn't do a thing. Oxycodone, hydromorphin and dilaudid. Kept going back to the vicodans. Now I'm looking at surgery to fix a messed up shoulder..fracture, slap lesion, rotator cuff tears and a messed up hand that also needs surgery. (skiing accident). So..I'm now on fentanyl. 75mcg/hr. This board has been invaluable in helping me understand the dynamics of pain receptors, nerve functions, what and why different meds work differently on each individual. The best advice is to establish a real good and honest relationship with your physician. There really are some good ones out there. I just fired my shoulder surgeon and am now looking for one that I can talk to and who will give me the confidence in his/her ability to treat me correctly and who will listen and be willing to step out of the box for solutions. Keep communicating and keep reading. There are ways to treat on-going, chronic pain.
