Newbie here! DIfference between 7.5 vicodin and Percocet? - Pain Management Message Board

soccermama · 05-23-2003, 07:28 PM

Hi all-
I am new and also found this board by surfing, It is so helpful to just know I am not the only one living with chronic pain! Alittle history, I have a BAD right Knee, had DR tell me Tuesday I needed a TKR ( total knee Replacement) I am 40 by days... he said my knee looks like a 80 yr old women's! UGH- No wonder I am always in pain. I am getting a 2nd opinion in June to see within the next 6-9 months I will forgo this TKR.I am saddened I can barely enjoy what I used to, like running and soccer.I am a spectator now!
I have been taking either 5/500 vicodin or 7.5 ones for months and months... plus vioxx. I am getting no relieve and am getting tolerate to the meds fast.
I have one DR that prescribes Percocet but not real often, they seem to help better, is there a big difference? It is awful because the Ortho DRs will not prescribe narc's they just want to cut you up, I have to go to Internal med DRs to just get meds to make my life liveable right now.
Also is there any one out there ~40 that is facing this dilema with the TKR? Thanks for listening

chumbo · 05-23-2003, 08:05 PM

soccermamma, vicodin, has hydrocodone in it, and percocet has oxycodone in it, The oxycodone is somewhat stronger. Also hydro is schedule lll, and oxy, is schedule ll. I never got much relief from vicodin myself. I have been taking kadian, which is a time release morphine. Alot of PM Dr's are prescribing long-acting meds for chronic pain, and use short acting for BT pain.

Anyways welcome to healthboards, there is a wealth of info here!!
Good Luck!
Chumbo

soccermama · 05-23-2003, 08:19 PM

Chumbo-
Thanks for the info, what is a PM? Is it a Pain Management DR?
If I prolong the surgery, I may need to go to something stronger, because I am still in a lot of pain and the Vicodin doesn't usually cut it, and sometimes the perc's don't either... I have bone on bone in my right knee and just walking, sitting I am in pain!! UGH .This is a great place to get some REAL answers. ~Mindy

Jack Beanstalk · 05-23-2003, 09:08 PM

Howdy Soccermaw !
Chumbo hit it close with the med question and,yes,PM is pain mgmnt.I,m pretty sure you are not gonna get the relief you need by going to any other docs.They are all just too Opiodphobic.Pain Docs are usually not bothered by Rxing Controlled Drugs like Opiates and Amphetamines.They sometime Rx the 2 together to offset the terrible drowsiness that can come from the Opiates.My doc has me on Methadone,which is superior in pain relief but has very sleepy side-effects.He also gives me Dexedrine to keep me alert in order to drive safely and function well at work.If it were not for him,I would not be able to work.I can tell you this much:you may be hard-pressed to find a dr. that will give you a long-acting opiate for knee pain.Most of them don,t seem to think the nerves and receptors in the knee would render such meds.I know better,I,ve had 4 knee surgeries and they hurt AWFUL!!It may help you to do a search for Pain Medicine Physicians in your area.Call around,ask around,talk to a few Pharmacists.They know who treats pain.Nice to have you here,hope you find a good doc!Jack Beanstalk

NaeNae · 05-23-2003, 09:37 PM

Hi Soccermama!

I am somewhat new to pain myself, have had back issues since the end of December and have been through the rigamaroo with pain meds. However, I wanted to give you some encouragement regarding your TKR. My mom had it donw the end of March (she's 50 years old) and she recovered wonderfully! She said it wasn't as bad as she was expecting. She just said she made sure she had pain meds, and didn't wait until she was in pain. Don't be afraid to ask for them. They also gave her an IV of Morphine and let her control it. She says at times she cranked it up! She said don't overdo it, but make sure you do your physical therapy, it helps so much. Just a few days after her surgery she was taking small walks down the street and back just to keep it moving.

Good luck!

Renee