percocet concern - Pain Management Message Board

jrod84 · 03-02-2008, 12:21 PM

Hi all..., I was in a bad car accident in October. I have always had back issues, but after this accident, my MRI showed 3 herniations and one disc almost completeley out of place. I have received 2 epidurals already, and they did not work. My Dr. has me on percocet 10/650. I am at the point where i need to take 3 of them to get any relief. I am a teacher, so I do not take them while at school, and just deal with the pain until I get home. On the weekends, I will take 3 twice a day. I asked my PM dr. if he would change the meds to a lower Tylenol dosage since I was concerned with the amount going through my liver. He said "I don't want you taking that many a day"...I dont either, but it is the only way to get relief, and he will not change it because he says..."let's not get confused, and keep it how it is"...I am just concerned about the amount I am taking....any suggestions???
Thanks

hessie28 · 03-02-2008, 02:29 PM

I worried about that too. I was taking it over a year. When I went to pain management the dr. swithched it to just the Oxycodone without Tylenol. She said I did not need the Tylenol. Funny thing is I just got diagnosed with a Fatty Liver. I am overweight but all of a sudden Fatty Liver. I wonder if it is related to all the Tylenol I had in the Oxycodone for so long.

jrod84 · 03-02-2008, 06:42 PM

Well, I do not want that! I think my question is, I felt kind of strange that I told my Dr. I had to take more than prescribed to get any relief, and when I asked for him to change it to a lower dose of Tylenol, he said no. I just do not understand why he would not be supportive of my concerns with my own health! I am truly looking to get off the medication through therapy and epidurals, whatever works, but I am really concerned about the amount of Tylenol I am taking, and he would not change it for me....Is this normal? Should I go to a different PM dr? My family Dr. , when I mentioned it to him, was pretty much on his side, saying "oh, that sounds weird, he's usually a pretty laid back guy. There must have been a miscommunication..." What should I do?

Executor · 03-02-2008, 08:24 PM

In my opinion, you've got a couple of inter-related issues here....First of all, you're safe re: the Tylenol issue. Much of the medical documentation says you can take up to 4000Mg per day, which you're way below. However, your concern is a valid one and is certainly your right to address as a patient. The other poster is correct in that at some point, it would probably be prudent to move to straight Oxycodone.

Just a guess, but the Doc probably doesn't want to script straight Oxycodone because (1) He's probably one of the paranoid Docs who wants to fly below the radar and not script straight Oxy and (2) Probably thinks you'll take less if it has Tylenol in it, especially since you're aware of the situation....Nothing against you personally, but probably does this with everyone.

As to whether or not you should seek another Doc, that's only something you can decide. I will say that there are lots of PM Docs out there that do things differently and you may be able to locate one in your area. However, there may be things about your current Doc that you like and sometimes in life the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence....Be careful what you ask for, you may get it.

Lastly, it's important to note that with more and more PM Docs, you have to get a referral to get into their practice....So keep that in mind if you start looking.

Hope all works out for you, and good luck!

Ex

cmpgirl · 03-03-2008, 08:41 AM

Hey jrod:

I'm probably starting to sound like a broken record to some, but if you find a new PM doc (and I hope you do) It wouldn't be a bad idea to ask about a long acting med such as oxycintin (there are several, but thats what I take). It sounds like you are taking more of the percoset because it's not lasting long enough. Instant release meds usually only work or stay in your system for about 2-3 hours, where a time released/long acting med will slowly release over a period of roughly 8 hours. Instant release are usually prescribed for "breakthrough pain". This method works so much better.

I know that not all docs or all states have the same prescribing rules and regulations, so I don't know if this will be an option for you, but if it is, I can definitely say it changed my life. You'll see that several of us here take these types of meds.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted. cmpgirl