Honest Husband and Father

[MRXXX]

I am very new at this so bear with me as I may ramble a bit ........ I am a Auto/Diesel mechanic have been for years . I have never been addicted to pain killers as I have a very high tolerance for pain . I have been known to get a script of hydrocone and it last for months and months as I only take it whenand if I needed it .

On march 22,  2011 I had a work related accident where I recieved a 3rd degree chemical burn to my lower left leg its behind and above my ankle part of it was on the outside of my achillis tenden . My company and their workmans comp ins prolonged proper treatment for about a month before I was referred to the burn unit @ vanderbilt in nashville tn ................. I had been complaining of severe pain running from deep down in the burn site and rolling up my leg to about mid ways to the center of my buttock ............ After the surgical debriment and skin graph the surgeon referred me to a pain specialist as he said he had to go very deep to remove all the damaged burnt tissue through the fatty tissue and close to the bone . I might add after I woke up from surgery they did a nerve block to paralyze my left leg to give me atleast 24hrs of pain free time ...... before surgery they had me taking 2x 7.5 hydrocones every 4-6 hrs for pain . Right after surgery they gave me percocet 5mg 2 at a time every 4-6 hrs for pain ........... When I finally went to the pain managment dr he had given me one script of 10mg percocet every 4-6 hrs .......... On my next visit he dropped to hydrocone 10's as needed 3-4 times daily they have also tryed neurontin and lyrica which doesnt help just contributes to mood swings and severe depression .

I should also mention that I have 3 compressed discs at l4 l5 and s1 with arthritis in the s1 region which I have lived with ......... My problem right now is the hydrocodone 10's are helping the back pain but barely taking the edge off the nerve damage pain . and I have had to go from 1 hydro 10 3-4 times a day to taking 3 or 4 10's once a day because I feel my immunitie to the one 10 at a time does nothing and when i take the 3 - 4 once a day what i do is take 2 10's and then 1 or 2 more in about an 1hr or 2hr after the first 2 .............

I went and saw a spine specialist and had an epideral steroid injection which did no help at all and he said if it was the discs in my back causing the nerve damage and pain in my leg then he could remove the discs well it didnt help at all ................

So here is my question obviously the hydrocone 10's are built up in my system so I will suffer with pain for 3days and take none then I hurt so bad I have to take them to ease the pain and on the days I dont take them I do take my prescribed xanaxes  to ease my axiety that is quite a bit worse than it is when Im takin the hydrocodone ...........

Am I looking at an addiction here or have these dr's just not found the right treatment for what Im going through ?

Any help and advice is apprecited in advance . THANKS TO ALL IN ADVANCE

[MRXXX]

Wow I am very impressed with what lil feedback , I have gotten so far . Thanks to everyone who has chimed in and I look forward to more . THANKS AGAIN GUYS

[irishann]

Im like the others in the fact that I believe in taking meds when needed. I wanted to express my..I don't know what to call it...but I feel awful about your leg! My friend in college got 3rd degree burns on her bum due to an allergy to the surgical antiseptic they put on your skin...so that skin removal....oh my god! I can't imagine. I would think if you need them, its understandable...but I really can't say...but you have tons of support here! We are all here for you!
irishann

[MRXXX]

Yes I am still taking the lyrica 75mg 3 times a day it just isnt seeming to help . I am currently waiting to hear back about a return appt to the workmans comp pain managment dr and maybe try and get a referl to a neuroligist .......... If they could just come up with somthing to to manage this problem so I can have a lil bit of a normal productive life I will be happy .At this point its looking kinda hopeless . I kinda feel like the dr's dont understand the pain Im in and its frustrating to keep hearing they dont understand why and it makes no sense why Im experiencing what im experiencing

[Reign30]

How about on days that you don't take the Hydrocodone, use the Lyrica/Gababitin for pain.  I know they aren't as affective as the other stuff, but it ease the anxiety and pain abit.  It's what i use to get myself clean.  I understand your situation, I am in same position as you a few years ago.

Cut down the bad stuff...raise your pain tolerance again and hopefully in time, you can go without the hydro and oxy.

[atthebeach]

i should have said any alternatives besides meds. i saw you tried the neurontin and lyrica.

[atthebeach]

hi and welcome. so sorry to hear about your injury. ouch.
your suspicion is correct. your body has built up a tolerance and needs more of the meds.
hydros are extremely addictive. your brains endrophins and pain receptors have been shut down by the drugs. you will need to continue to increase your dose.  the pain you experience after you stop is rebound pain. it is your brain screaming at you to take another pill. the withdrawal from the meds starts after 24 to 48 hrs without any. the anxiety is also a symptom of the withdrawals.
have you tried any alternatives to manage the pain besides the hydros?
debbie

[0421]

Sorry I don't know how to answer that, I know you have a real reason to be using, I am going to get he11 for saying this but maybe you do need them right now, the best thing you can do is use only what and when you need it, Don't take it just because that is the way it is prescriped. I also used it for legit reason but 4 &1/2 years later I was using more than I needed and quit taking two of them. I wish someone whould of warned me that taking as prescriped was the wrong way to go, use only what you need and see what comes down the road. You are aware of the addiction and that is a good thing, keep an I on your comsuption of them and you will do okay. good luck and prayers to you, Bethany