Am I ever going to stop having awful pain flares from everday life errands?? - Pain Management Message Board

skych · 03-01-2008, 07:38 PM

Hi Friends,

Am I ever going to stop having these awful knock me down pain flares???

All I did today was lay on the couch until 11 am doing my studies, take a shower and do my hair. Then I rested for a while and I went to run some errands at 3 stores to buy a few items. A total of 30 minutes of driving and yes I did push a shopping cart but all that was in it was one container of Home Defense spray for the house and a bag of bulbs for my yard. Then into another store where I baught a massager for my neck and a bath rug. Then the 3rd store where I purchased an orchid flower. I came home I made a few sprays with the home defense because it has become warm enough to promt the ants to come out. Then dug one fist size whole with my hand put a flower bulb in it and covered it. Put the new flowers by the living room window. Before I even left from the stores I felt it comming on.

I took the break through meds but still have an elevated pain level. Tonight will be the first night I am able to take the Morphine sulfate a second time. So at 7:30 I can take my second dose.

What is the conversion from 8 10/325 percocets a day then going to the Morphine Sulfate????

I will be on 60 mgs of the morphine sulfate a day 30 mgs 2 x a day. Is that where it converts or what??? Does that 60 mgs equal to or greater than the percocets??

I just can not take these flares.

So you guys know the difference between a something is wrong pain and a left over surgery pain or a strain or something right? I just know that the Hot Dagger pain is from something that is wrong in my cervicle spine. i just hate it when that thing flares because it takes my frigging breath away!!!!!
The pinching and burning in my neck I am uncertain at this point if it is something wrong or if it from the surgery and all the moving around they did to everything in my neck. But pinching??? Not sure.

I feel kina bummed right now! The doc, NS, says to soon to tell anything. The PM says I need to wait a couple weeks to do the facet block and rhizotomy so I have no choice bu to wait.

Why they dont just order a disco gram! If the facet block and rhizotomy do not help I am going to INSIST upon further tests.

So sad and tired of living on my stupid couch. Yes I have been out walking, not today for exercise or yesterday either. I needed some rest, but I need to move a little without it killing me and making me need to come home and lay down for 2 hours.

Okay....I will breathe now and work on trusting that nothing bad is going on and that God is taking care of me and that the docs are floowing protocall and WILL get to the bottom of all this when some more time passes.

The one Ortho doc I saw a 10 days ago did say that a person should typically feel a huge improvement by the 90 day post surgery mark and I am 7 days away from the 60 day mark.

Urrrggggg!!!! I am so darn sad and frustrated. I do think the LA med helps better than the percocet but just not quite enough.

Kind words please.
Chrissy

cmpgirl · 03-01-2008, 08:29 PM

Hey Chrissy:

I'm sorry you're having a nasty one. I hope in the next few days you'll start to see a difference from the LA meds. It does take a couple of days of regular dosing to get everything into your system and your body used to the change. I forgot what you had for BT meds/dosage, but there a lots of ways to dose your meds out and everyone does what works for them. Just as an example, this is pretty much how I dose each day (I talked this over w/my PM):
1st dose in a.m. - I take what I call the "med combo" this consists of my first Oxycontin (LA), along with 1 of my BT, which is Vicodin 7.5/500 and 1 of my Soma (Muscle Relaxer)

About 4 or 5 hours later I will usually take a BT

About 4 or 5 hours later (usually around dinner) 2nd "med combo"

Then between that and bedtime I take a BT or sometimes 2 BT (rarely)

At bedtime (usually around 1 a.m. for me) My last "med combo".

Now I know this is just the way that works best for me, but I thought the rough outline of sorts might help you work out a schedule with your PM that works best for you.

Hope I wasn't too confusing and I hope the next few days just get better and better for you. I know what a drag it is to work out a good schedule, but when you do it is really worth it. Take care and God Bless, cmpgirl

ozzybug · 03-02-2008, 05:54 AM

Chrissy-
I am so sorry you are having a bad flare. I wish I could just make ALL of our pains go away! It really does get you down, but sweetie, just know that you aren't alone. We are all here for you.

I can't help with the conversions, but wanted you to know I'm sending positive thoughts your way.

ms_west · 03-02-2008, 06:03 AM

Chrissy, I can so understand what it is like to wonder if you are going to stop having awful pain flares after everyday errands. I also experience the need to sleep to recover. For example: yesterday we went out for 2 hours, with hubby driving, motorized scooter whenever possible, and I came home and slept for 3 hours. It just totally wipes me out everytime. I wonder if the strength will ever return.

I am glad the LA medicine is helping you out. I know when I made the switch it made a whirl of difference for me. Is your breakthru percocet too? Is it possible that you have built a tolerence to the percocet and need to try something else for breakthru?

I amazed at your strength for all that you have been thru. Keep on Truckin' you are doing a great job.