Hi, been gone for a bit. Questions!!

Poo2 · 10-28-2004, 07:03 PM

Hi all,

Some of you may remember me but most probably do not. I'll shortly recap. I have had Crohn's Disease for over 16 years. I have horrible abdomen pains that require pain management. I also had a very serious car accident 3 years ago and suffer from soft tissue damage that is very painful in my right shoulder and shoots up into my neck.

My question is this. My Dr. had me on 30mgs of Oxycodone a day. I told him that it really wasn't working anymore and that I needed to change it. Today at my appointment he changed my medication to 60mg of Avinza once a day with Oxycodone 5mg as needed for breakthrough pain. Anyone have experience with Avinza, does it work well for pain, is the dosage comparable to 30mgs of Oxy??

Anyone with info please answer, thanks in advance.

twisten · 10-28-2004, 07:36 PM

I can't answer your questions about Avinza as I've never been on it. I had some questions for you on crohns though as I also have that, hope you don't mind. Do you have active ulcers from the crohns in your bowel that requires pain management? The reason I'm asking is my GI ( and every other one I've seen) is totally against pain management because of the other problems it can cause with our GI systems, i.e. constipation. My family doc doesn't agree though thank goodness!!

Poo2 · 10-28-2004, 08:34 PM

Hi Twisten,

I do not mind one bit about answering your questions. Isn't this what the board is for? I really don't have a lot of people to talk to that have Crohn's so there may be some questions I need to ask you.

I have had 2 bowel resections. My last surgery being Nov. 2002. I have adhesions and scar tissue built up in there where the surgery was done. I also have tried every kind of medication there is for Crohn's and none of it works. I also have ulcers not in the intestinal are but I do in my stomach. I also have a duendum(sp) hernia in there as well. Some people, not all, have abdominal pain with the Crohn's I just happen to be one that does.

My Dr. understands the pain I'm in. He does express his concerns about constipation. I do take stuff like Mirilax and stool softeners to help with that though. I'd rather have a little bit of constipation then having tons of pain. Since nothing has worked for the disease I really have no choice but to be kept comfortable because another surgery is out of the question.

What kinds of meds are you on. Tell me alittle about yourself and you pain.

P.S. My ex-G.I. did not like the pain meds. I don't see a G.I. anymore because I can't find one I like and there's nothing they can do anyway so my Dr. does everything for me.

Look forward to hearing from you and others!

ltedeschi · 10-28-2004, 11:47 PM

I have never taken Avinza but just today was speaking to my friend who is a nurse for a doc that does hand surgery and she said they were using this and geting alot of good feedback. Supposed to be better than oxy
Hope it helps

twisten · 10-29-2004, 11:25 AM

I've been lucky and only needed surgery for the crohns once. I had a fistula but was so infected they couldn't look to see where it was so they did a temporary colostomy. I had just had a hysterectomy before that so they thought that was what went wrong, at that time they didn't realize I had crohns. I wasn't diagnosed for another 3 years after that. I also get terrible abdominal pains when its acting up. I've been on asacol, imuran and mega doses of steroids to control it. I just had a good colonoscopy a couple of months ago so the GI took me off all my crohns meds!! Its only a matter of time until it comes back with a vengeance. I'm lucky that the scar tissue I have doesn't bother me too much, just a bit of pulling once in awhile. What all crohns meds have you tried? I've now been diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis so its going to be fun to find a med for that that won't upset my GI system!!