Need Advice on Meds b4 new PM appt next week....

diva78 · 03-30-2005, 07:23 PM

I am going to a new PM doctor that my ortho has suggested through his practice. The one that I have been going to is too far away and was a pain to get into. This new one is down the street from me so its much better! My appt is next Tuesday and my Ortho said that I need to tell him about how my hydrocodone is not working as efficiently because I've been taking it for over 8 months now and I think that my body has built up a resistance of some sort. Anyway...anyone out there reccommend another medicine that works good for pain besides lortab? Thank you~

tammys · 03-31-2005, 12:10 AM

I have not gone to PM, but I have had really good surgeons and primary care doctors in my past. I can't believe they have kept you on the same pain meds for 8 months. My doctor changes my meds every month so that I do not build up a tolerance and also I do not become dependant on any one particular pain med. I bounce from Ultram, Lortab, Tylox and Lodine. My muscle relaxers are changed also. I bounce from flexeril, zanaflex and robaxin. I know alot of people stay on the same medicine for years at a time, but I guess I am just too nervous to stick with one. I do not want to become addicted. Tylox is a good strong pain medicine. I take it when nothing else works.

Good Luck!!! Keep Smiling!!!
Tammy

mel1977 · 03-31-2005, 12:51 AM

I am currently taking 10/325 of percocet. One thing to be weary of: the amount of tylenol you are taking. I was on 5/325 but I was taking two at a time up to four times a day (not now though) and if you do the math, that is a fair amount of tylenol. (even though you CAN have up to what, 4000mg a day?) Anyway, my PM doc said that was an awful lot so he bumped me up to the tens. So now I can take say one ten and get 1/2 the acetametaphen. That is one thing to ask about. even though it is a higher dose, it might help keep you from taking so many at once (if that is ever an issue). Other than Vicodin, I don't know what else to suggest. Hope your appt goes well though!

Read66 · 03-31-2005, 03:34 AM

My PM has me on MS Contin(Morphine Sulfate Tab SR 12HR 15mg) I take one three times a day. They help keep my pain tolerable as long as I don't overdo it.

Like you I took Vicodin and Percocet for many months and I think I also built a tolerance up for it. Seems better now.

Be real open with your PM. In my experience they seem alot more interested in controlling your pain then the surgeons.
Barb

diva78 · 03-31-2005, 11:50 AM

Thank you guys....I really appreciate all the knowledge that you bring to the table here. I wrote all of these medicines down that you all have mentioned and I will be sure to bring this all up when I see him next week. I am just really anxious to see a good doctor. My last PM doc made you feel like he didn't really have the time for you when you were talking to him. First you waited 40 minutes just to be seen by him and then he'd come in....touch you a couple places and if you say that your meds aren't working he'd look at you with those eyes of "maybe she's a drug seeker"...I'm so tired of having to justify my pain! I mean if the MRI shows theres a bulged herniated disc between L3-L4...and I have gone through many injections and I'm in tears on many days of the month...then maybe...just bmaybe..I really do have back issues and really need pain medicine. Its just unbelieveable that you have to basically yell kick and scream to get someone to listen and address your concerns, you know? Uggghhh...thanks for letting me vent here! Again...thank you for all of your advice and I will surely put it to good use. Love to you all and make today a great day!