oxycontn question - Pain Management Message Board

dave1502 · 06-21-2002, 02:28 PM

Hello everyone for about a year i have been seeing several doctors and i have a big problem I have severe pain in my legs and my hips I also have numbness from my private area to my feet i have numbness any time i sit down are twist my legs it is very severe and it causes me to fall a lot and twist my ankle i was wondering if anyone has the same problem with the same thing I take norco 2 every 4 hours 3 twenty miligram pills of oxycontin in the morning and night I take neurontin 800 mill 4 times a day nothing helps i also take dicyclomine 20 mill and canasa supositories when needed for bleeding i have seen several neurolagists they tell me that i have either a bulging disk [very doughtful with my m.r.i.]what he thinks i have is a pinched nerve in my hip if that is what it is it is inoperatable but i honestley think if he opened me up in my hip i think they could do something what do you think i also worry about the addictiveness of the medicines if i ever do get better cause i have run out of medicine before and it scares me if there is a doctor could you please reply our someone that is goeing threw the same thing thanks very much for your reply and may god be with us all thru are hard times

sincerly
DAVID T. R.

davidc66 · 06-21-2002, 03:30 PM

David, The neuro symptoms you have are very worrysome. There are other tests besides MRI that should be done to be sure you don't have a nerve root comression causing the numbness. Meylograms,CTscans can be very telling so can a discogram. Have they done an EMG, nerve conduction study yet. I would think a neuro surgeon or orthosurgeon should be the one to order and interpret the tests.

As far as the meds being addicitive, Yes you do become dependent but if the pain generator was removed you could taper off the meds reletively smoothly if done corectly. There is a huge difference betwenn physical dependence and psychological addiction. Addicts will never be satisfied with any dose of meds, they will continue to escelate the dose to maintain the euphoric feeling that you feel when you first start on a medication.

You have to be your own advocate and demand the referals to the correct specialist. Ideally a surgeon to hopefully correct the problemm. Here is an interesting link that shows the path of nerve pain and at what level it originates from. It may give you an idea of where the problem is but this is nothing you can really self DX. Good luck and check this limk, David
Just click on different areas of the back, you can move right up the spine and it will show the path the nerve takes
[url="http://www.talaria.org/derm/dermmap.html"]http://www.talaria.org/derm/dermmap.html[/url]

[This message has been edited by davidc66 (edited 06-21-2002).]

jane2 · 06-21-2002, 04:50 PM

I have nerve symptoms in my legs that are similar. Only in the shins and feet. Feels like the bones are broken but it is the muscles that are hurting. Very painful and keeps me being able to walk much. I had an EMG and it proved there there was something going on at the nerve/muscle junction all the way up to the spine. Everyone assumed Lumbar, but like you my discs are fine. So something is pressing on the nerves. Looks like pinched nerves L4, L5. I have a bulging disc in my neck too. Like you I am wondering where the problem starts.

The EMG tell a whole lot. It can tell how far the nerve problem goes. Not much fun, but not the worst. I would take a good dose before. It can tell if the nerve is damaged. They can test the activity level and the nerve/muscle junction. I would have that done.

I take MS Contin 30 to 45 mgs X 3. That would be the equivalent of 20 to 30 OxyContin X 3. I find three times a day helpful. I take neurontin too - only 600. I take Valium, which helps. Sometimes when it is bad I have to take Zanaflex or Soma at night. Those are muscle relaxers.

Sounds really painful and debilitating.

jane2 · 06-22-2002, 09:30 AM

The deramtome maps, like the link David gave, are good for figuring out which nerves are effected. These nerves travel from the spine through the pelvis and coud get pinched or compressed in other places besides the spine. Can be hard to locate the problem.

CAPTAIN · 06-24-2002, 08:28 PM

You got some good advice to your post. John i belive gave you some good one's on testing. But don't wait like did with my neck. After four surgurys my left arm and hand are still numb!! Now after 10 year's my right arm is doing the same thing. What im trying to say is don't wait get all those test asap!! As for the drug's don't worry about adiction the pain wil eat most of it,but think what life would be with out them. About the oxycontin if it were me, i would switch to mscotin i find it's better with less side efect's.Along with your doctor you should find a Center For pain Management they will help with the drug's so you won't have to take all those meds. That your on now.wish you well.........Captain