Intercostal block on Tuesday!!! - Pain Management Message Board

trowftd3 · 03-18-2007, 12:35 AM

Well, I'm finally going in for an intercostal block on Tuesday. My pm doc only started suggesting it a year and a half ago.LOL

For those of you who don't 'know' me. I caught pneumonia Feb 8, 2003 in my upper right lung. Well, the pneumonia went away (after 3 courses of antibiotics) but the pain in my lung never did. I have pain under my collarbone and in my back next to my shoulder blade 24/7...365 days/year!!! I've had trigger point injections, injections under my collarbone, hot rock massage, magnet therapy, and facet blocks to no avail.

I've been on oxycontin with oxycodone for breakthrough which my doc just changed to the 25mcg patch last week. I was taking 110-120 mgs of oxycodone a day and he said this was really high. I know he's concerned with tolerance but it does bother me that he says this a high dose. I know he's seen higher...is he just trying to convince me? He's the head of his dept at a MAJOR university. Sorry, but I don't like either option...A: he's lying to me or B:he thinks that 100mgs is a high dose. It makes me a little less condfident about his abilities.

Anyway....sorry...I'm having a block on Tuesday to see if he can at least get rid of the pain near my shoulder blade. And I hope he's going to increase the dosage of the patch because the 25mcg isn't working.

What are the usual side effects of the patch? I've had a headache with the first two days of each patch. It goes away on day 3. I've also been tired...not sleepy or woozy but exhausted and drained. That's one thing I liked about oxy, it gave me energy. I'm tired enough I don't need anything that makes me more tired!!

The doc also talked about methadone and opana. I know methadone makes you sleepy. Has anyone taken opana yet?? It's oxymorphone, right? Is it a long acting drug? Is there a short acting oxymorphone? What is it called?

If you're still reading this(LOL) thanks for hanging in there and any advice is welcome....anyone with intercostal block experience???....or patch experience??....or opana???? THANK YOU~Mush

mudbone · 03-18-2007, 07:31 AM

Opana worked for me but my complaint was it made me tired. I hear its a very powerful drug so be careful.It scared me enough to change. You have to take it on an empty stomach-no food 2 hours before of 2 hour after you take it.