Hello - I am one of those people that got along fine on Darvocet for 10+ years. I know others that say it is like extra-extra strength Tylenol, but for me it worked controlling my back pain so I could be active and productive and not 'high'. Since they stopped production of the Darvocet I went on Vicodin which I knew and confirmed does not do anything for me. It made my head fuzzy without really knowing it which is kind of frightening - but nothing for pain.
So I have been on Percocet for the past 5 or 6 months. I worry about the addictive parts but not as much now as I did when I first started taking it. I am not abusing it and usually have some left over at the end of the month. I do feel the effects of it mentally and I believe my work is showing it. I am missing little details that are important for me to catch in my job!
So, my doc has suggested trying the long acting morphine - she explained how it has a steady release and all that... but I need to know if it will control my pain and let me be a little more clear minded. I know everyone is a little different, but does anyone with experience switching between the two have an example of how they felt to share with me?
I can't work in pain, but I can't work fuzzy either...
Re: Oxy vs Long Acting Morphine for mental clarity?
I know what you mean! Little mistakes drive me crazy...
I take LA Morphine and have for the past three(?) years. YOu might find that you are a little groggy for the first couple of weeks, but that soon wears off, or you get adjusted....whatever! I find that it works extremely well for me for about 7 months out of the year. Then when weather like this damp fall cold hits, I need Percoset for breakthrough pain. I take the morphine twice a day with the option to take it three times a day if I am really in trouble. I have found that I rarely need that mid day one.
I have switched from the percoset with Tylenol to the the straight percoset. I take 1 or 2 15 mg. for breakthrough pain. Because it doesn't contain tylenol, it is better for the liver. I don't have any woozy issues with it. I don't know if that is because of the length of time I have been on it, or perhaps I am just to bull headed!
I have found that the one-morphine does a good job with using the striaght percs as chasers. It keeps the majority of pain at bay...and my surgeon told me that I will live in some degree of pain the rest of my life. I would just like that degree to be as small as possible!
Hope this helps.
The Following User Says Thank You to ibake&pray For This Useful Post: MarjDare (11-04-2011)
Re: Oxy vs Long Acting Morphine for mental clarity?
Hey Ladies,
It is so good to hear from women who I have the work thing in common with. I think it is especially challanging to work and suffer from chronic pain and all of the perceptions/side effects, etc. that go along with taking medication to get you through the day. I have learned first handed not to tell a soul that I take meds as you quickly may get a bad reputation. But, I will tell you what is especially rewarding for me is that I am a counselor for disabled veterans and when I have a CP'er in my office we talk about how hard it is to not be understood and even though they are my clients it is a relief for them and me to understand one another. Because I always say, no matter who you are, if you have not experienced chronic pain, you can't possibly judge or understand what I am going through.
Anyway, sorry for the tangent. I am on the oxy/roxi combination and it works pretty well but, I have built a tolerance which is inevitable and I just had the conversation with my doctor about switching up but, it does scare me a bit. I am pretty clear on the oxy/roxi combo as I have taken it for so long. I had a two level lumbar fusion early this year and my back is not any better as a result. I am actually about 10% worse at this point. As a counselor, I sit all day but, I do walk at lunch and I have an ergonomic chair and a sit/stand desk. My employer has taken very good care of me. In addition to the full time job, I have three boys, 9, 11, and 42 (hahaha). It is imperative that I have some medication to help me survive my day. I have thought of the morphine/roxi combo. Bake and Spray, what is the long acting form of morphine that you take?
Nice chatting with you both. Keep in touch. Heather
Re: Oxy vs Long Acting Morphine for mental clarity?
excuse my newbieness but what is Roxi? a LA Morphine brand name?
Ditto on the don't tell people you work with - it is rare I feel close enough to someone at work to share that kind of thing ever!
MusicCityGirl - do you notice attention to detail mistakes? My employer is great too - and will do whatever I need, but i am more worried about what I am doing!
I was just talking to my spouse about how everything is documented if they decided I made too many mistakes to do my job and fired me... Colorado is a right to hire/firs state - they don't need any reason. I would probably qualify for disability then - but I have 25 more years to work and sock money into retirement etc. I don't want to end up barely able to get by while still in my 40's! I need a solution that works for the pain and my brain!
I find that it works extremely well for me for about 7 months out of the year. Then when weather like this damp fall cold hits, I need Percoset for breakthrough pain. I take the morphine twice a day with the option to take it three times a day if I am really in trouble. I have found that I rarely need that mid day one.
