For most of the 9 years since I crossed over into pain land I was on hydrocodone (norco), dose = 5 a day. At various times during the first 7 years my primary doc would send me to a pain managment doctor and the outcome was generally not that good for me. An example. Once I was sent to this very high end Beverly Hills anesthesiologist/pain specialist. I took my neurological reports in that showed I had a peripheral neuropathy, fairly advanced back then. The doctor then performed a 12th century examination which consisted of using his thumbnail to press into each of my toe nails as hard as he could, all the while his medical assistant, a gal dressed in a business suit, watched. Finally he got off his knees and pronounced that I did indeed have a serious neuropathic problem. He then takes me off of norco, and puts me on 100mcg fentanyl patches, which in a short time caused me to mildly rear end two cars because I was so drugged my reflexes were too slow to brake. My primary put me back on Norco. Then I moved to another state and was referred to another pain clinic, at which time I was first prescribed oxycontin, after going through several other different meds which didn't agree with me. At the time i was way too sick to really be able to tell the difference; but my personality changed and I had a ton of family problems. This year when I came back to the U.S. I had no insurance and could not afford oxycontin, so went back on norco, which worked just fine for 6 months, until I got insurance again and was referred into a pain mgmt clinic at a medical school here in Portland. I have been on oxycodone SR, which I think is probably the same compound as oxycontin, if it isn't I hope someone will post the difference. My health is better and this time around I can really tell that my quality of life has gone down since starting the oxycodone 7 8 weeks ago. Years are piling onto my face, my eyes are always bloodshot, and many more little side effects that are hard to manage. My question, and sorry it took me so long to ask, is has anyone else ever had this kind of problem going from short acting to long acting pain meds? I don't know if I can take it. I only take 2 20mg pills a day, but they really seem to pile the stress on me. All input is greatly welcome...Paulo
Welcome to the Boards! There are alot of wonderful people here who care.
First of all, oxycodone is not for you. List it as an allergy from now on. Secondly, tell the prescribing doctor what you told us. These lifestyle and quality of life changes need to be noted and taken very seriously. Thirdly, the doc who put you on Fentanyl patches from norco, at 100mcgs, is an idiot. No wonder you had a car wreck, I am surprised you were breathing. He should have started you on the 25 or 50 mcg and monitored you from there. I know you were highly over medicated, but did the Fetanyl help your pain? Maybe the patch is an avenue for you, just at a much lower dose.
Also, going from short-acting to long-acting meds is a great step, but it can be tricky to determine what meds work well for you. There are MANY more you can try. Most pain docs start you off too low, then work you up to the right dose. There is LA Morphine, Methadone, Fentanyl, Opana, and some I think I am missing.
The bottom line is, there are options for you. You MUST be your own advocate and speak up with your doctor. The purpose of these meds os to increase your quality of life, not decrease it. Make the next available appt. with your PM and tell him what the Oxy is doing to you, AND your quality of life. Discuss with him your experience with Fentanyl, including the starting dose and car accident.
By the way, Oxycodone SR is a long-acting oxycodone. It is Oxycontin, and can be listed as oxycodone CR or SR, which is the long-acting formulation. The oxy SR is simply oxy with no tylenol, that is formulated to last 12 hours, though only lasts 8 hours for some. What is your dose, and does it help your pain at all?? Keep us updated and give us some more info if you can so that we can help you!
Amanda, yes, the Beverly Hills doc was an idiot, and I got off the patch in a week and back on norco. I have at different times been on MS contin, which is going to be my next choice, as it worked well the last time a few years back. I do have flexibility as I go to a pain center at the med school and they provide my primary with a list of choices. Some days are not as bad as others, but I try to live right and I definitely should not be watching an accelerated aging process; and I agree, quality of life should not go down but should go up, that's the whole idea. So glad I found this site. I can make the connections (most of the time), but this time around I am really squeezed by what my insurance formulary offers, which is oxy, short and long acting, and morphine, short and the contin. Ultram is also there but for me it is a useless med. And you are right on another point. Sometimes i can actually get 12 hour coverage from one pill. But other times it can go as low as 6 hours, but generally 8 hours seems to be the average. I don't notice any problem with the short acting oxycodone for breakthrough pain, but this long acting stuff is really not good for me. Again, many thanks for straight talk and a gentle shove towards taking action. While I do have some close family ties, I have long ago realized it is better for all concerned that I keep my medical issues to myself, which makes a place like this all the more useful and a positive experience. There is no one I could have had this conversation with who would have even understood my dillema and been knowledgeable enough to offer sound advice as you have. Many thanks...Paulo
just a thought for you here since you mentioned you have no problem with the short acting oxy?it could be the specific type of generic oxycontin that you are actually reacting to and not actually the oxycodone itself,you know what i mean?i had a similar nasty experience with the endo version of oxycontin,oxy ER?it was absolute hell for me and i never ever had any problems at all with the name brand i had been on for a few years.once i went back onto the name brand,everything went back to normal.it was a really horrible reaction i had too.the thing is,every type of generic has different fillers and different types of delivery systems too.any part of that aspect could be the possible problem.trying the name brand version or even seeing about a different drug co version of another generic really should be tried before completely writing off what 'could" have been the best med ever for your pain.this just really does sound like a possible 'filler' reaction moreso than oxy itself reaction.you should just see about trying a different one before DCing it all together.if you do okay with regular oxycodone,you realistically shouldn't be reacting to the oxy in oxycontin,ya know?just one possibility for your reaction that is VERY likely.good luck,i hope you can at least try the name brand or just another generic.please let us know how things go,K?Marcia
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3-22-01,herniated C-6-7
11-20-01,placement of hardware for failed fusion
9-22-03,removal of cavernous hemangioma that was inside spinal cord. Neuro damage to L hand L leg and R leg.
Again, many thanks for straight talk and a gentle shove towards taking action. While I do have some close family ties, I have long ago realized it is better for all concerned that I keep my medical issues to myself, which makes a place like this all the more useful and a positive experience. There is no one I could have had this conversation with who would have even understood my dillema and been knowledgeable enough to offer sound advice as you have. Many thanks...Paulo
This is so true. This message board is the family that we can actually talk to about our problems and get knowledge and understanding in return.
I also agree with memere, it may be the maker of the oxy that you're having a problem with. I only get brand now because the generic just didn't work as well for me.
Please keep us posted. How's the winter in Portland? I'm up north of Seattle and we actually had snow this weekend. Does the weather affect your pain?
Arizona sounds great this time of year!! Take care.~Mush
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undiagnosed lung and back pain after pneumonia in '03, tmj, migraines,(two failed surgeries for) Kienbock's disease
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