Is the prescription ever enough ? - Pain Management Message Board

shawley · 08-08-2007, 03:07 PM

As most of you , you probably suffer from your med's not working long enough right ? I take Hydrocodone 10MG 3 times a day , every 8 hours but around the 4-5 hour mark my pain is worse. On bad day's I take an extra one to help with my pain and some days I take less than 3 a day..I always try to balance them out. I'm affraid to ask any doc's for something stronger because then they make me feel like a crimanal . So I guess I'm happy I got what I have . It's just very hard comming off oxycodone 15 MG twice a day and Morphine 30 MG twice a day , thats 90MG's down to 30MG's . I don't get the relief I got from the other drugs but mentally I'm better. Hard choice isn't it ? But I'm glad I don't take them anymore..I could use another 5MG stronger med though to break up this pain , or one more Hydro a day.

But like I said , I won't push it with these doctors. I pitty folks who suffer from this horrid back and leg /feet pain. I wish there was a miracle drug out there. I hope some day everyone on here can say there all better and live a normal life again.

Shawley

Baybreeze · 08-08-2007, 04:47 PM

I don't know Shawley, when I've had excruciating pain, it seemed no pain killers i've tried helped, though i've not tried all of them. Some meds maybe helped a little, but not enough. Half the time i've had pain, i've had no meds for it, so I think i've just gotten to the point where I just suffer and bear it somehow when I do have bad pain. Thankfully my last bout of sciatica was indeed helped by the nerve block I finally had. So far, the nerve pain's not come back. However, since the meds in the injections wore off, I have widespread joint pain, swelling, and other symptoms which may or may not be related. It used to go away after 2 or 3 weeks, but now it's running on close to weeks. My entire spine is aching (arthritically, not due to nerves), ankles, hands, knees, and hips, UGHHHHH. And this humidity is just kililng me. I've been tring to take ibuprofen constatnly, but it's not doing anything. I finally called me rheumy today to make an appt and all of a sudden I can't get in til the end of August, so whatever. So I'm stuck feeling & looking like Ms. Frankenstein Tin Woman for now <LOL>. I don't even know if he would give me any meds or just give me those darn lidocaine shots that only last a couple hours.

Shoreline · 08-09-2007, 09:33 AM

Hi Shawly, it's great you have been able to decrease your med intake, but as far as Hydrocodone or any short acting med, It really doesn't matter what strength you take, they still only last 4 hours at best. A 30 mg oxycodone tablet doesn't last any longer than a 10 mg tablet. Obviously it's stronger and would provide more pain relief along with more side efects during that 4 hours, but stronger doesn't make it last longer. If you want longer lasting that's what the LA meds are for, if you have to take short acting meds every 4 hours, I don't really see any advantage in short acting around the clock over long acting. You become just as dependent on short acting meds as long acting and you have the ups and downs like a rollercoaster as the meds wear off and then kick back in. Unfortunately what your describing is the need for long acting meds. It's the same tough decsion for all.

Good luck, Dave

johnny4 · 08-09-2007, 04:32 PM

Hi Shawley,

I am glad you are able to lower your meds. I am in the process of trying to reduce my pain meds - from 30 mg ms contin three times per days down to hopefully half that amount - my goal is three 15 mg ms contin tablets per day.

My reason for trying to lower the dosage is driven by the fact that I am so sedated now that I can not function on a job. Just curious if that is involved in what you are trying to do or if you have dealt with that issue. So far I have been able to lower my ms contin total daily from 90 mg to 75 mg. I have just been doing this for a few days and I sure feel more alert and able to function.

Best wishes you as you press forward. You are brave. And that encourages me and I am sure others who desire to reduce or get off the heavy meds.

John

Fabrashamx · 08-09-2007, 07:57 PM

Hi shawley,

What are the chances you could switch to a long acting med? It sounds like you arent getting good coverage from the hydrocodone.

Hugs, Fabby