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How far down Hydrocone Road must I go?

Age 45.  Have degenerative osteo-arthritis stemming from multiple injuries sustained in 1981, including three separate breaks to the backbone.  Also have advanced osteoporosis.

I experience pretty much constant pain for past three years now.  For two years I have been on Hydrocone, which has become less and less effective.  I am currently taking 10mg yellow tabs, can't really make 180 tabs last three weeks.  I literally can't get out of the house in the morning without at least 5 or 6 tabs, that would be the minimum just to feel "normal", i.e. able to move and have some semblence of a will to live.  I can survive the rest of the day without additional medication if I have to, but become so cross, moody, and uncomfortable that it's not something I'd do unless I had no choice.

My doctor talks about sometime in the future it may become necessary to switch to stronger pain meds.  From the research I have done, I think we should do this now, I don't like the idea of ingesting all of the Tylenol in these Hydrocones (Tylenol has always been basically useless for me, Tylenol would only ease my pain if I happened to choke to death on it).  It is hard for me to discuss with DR because I am afraid I will be viewed as exhibiting "drug seeking behavior" and have my pain meds taken away, as it is I'm constantly having to request early refills and getting lectures about it.

I have tried a couple of times to just stop taking the Hydrocone, I used to live without it after all.  I rapidly become very sick; nauseated, hot/cold, weak, rapid breathing, unbelievable fatigue and apathy toward life at all.  Sorry, it's more than life is worth to feel like THAT.  If I thought that's all there was I wouldn't have it.  I have been strongly tempted to secure additional Hydrocone via internet pharmacies but am certain my DR would find out about it and boom, no more pain meds.  I feel trapped.   They made this drug like this on purpose, didn't they?  Damn big pharm!

How far down Hydrocone Road do I have to travel before it's too far and I can get some better pain relief?  I do have a home and a family to support, and it's ridiculous to tell someone with all of our medical technology I have no choice but to be in dire pain and depressed all the time.  

Any suggestions?
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Avatar universal
I really think you could do better with a doctor that understands pain management better.
If you have insurance with good prescription coverage a time released pain killer like MS
contin or oxycontin.  Or the doctor could give you a low dose oxycodone without the tylenol, like 5 or 10 mg tablets.  Some doctors prescribe a quick acting med like oxyfast
or fentanyl pops for patients whose worst pain is first thing in the morning.  

If you have a legitimate need for the painkillers the doctors could manage it better, giving you safer medicines and probably controlling it better without having to increase actual dosage that much..  Good luck in dealing with your pain.  For me I had to suffer for ten years but finally getting better. I really hope you start feeling better soon.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
YOU NEED TO GET ANOTHER PAIN M DOCKY..IM 45 YRS OLD TOO HAVE  ALOT OF PAIN ISSUES TOO. VICS WOULD  DO ANYRTHING TO ME OR YOU..UR TAKING WAY TO  MUCH..YOU NEED TO BE ON SOMETHING THAT LASTS AROUND THE CLOCK.. IVE HAD  MY PROBLEMS WITH LOWER BACK AND BOTH SEVER PAIN IN KNEES..I WAS ON 120 MGS OF METHADONE 4 MONTHES AGO..NOW ON IT AGAIN..THATS WHAT YOU NEED..THIS WILL DO WONDERS COMPAARED TO VICODIN..I CANT BELIVE THEY WOULD EVEN THINK OF THAT DRUG..AT THE VERY LEAST OXYCODONE..IT 3 TIMES THE STRONG AS THEM.,.LIKE   80MGS OF OXYCOTIN   OR PERCOSETS..UR NEVER GOING TO GET ANY RELIFE WITH THAT..TAKE THE ADVICE..FROM ALL ON HERE...THIS IS THE 1ST TIME I EVER HEARD OF A PAIN DOCKY KEEPING YOU ON THAT..ALOT OF PAIN M DOCKYS WILL USE THE HYDROCONE  TO START THE TOLORNCE  OF A STRONGER OPIATE....................GOOD LUCK MY FRIEND                 JAMES
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
That is TOO much tylenol. Assume lowest, 325mg/tab I think. 180 /7 *325mg = 8357 mg (or 8.3grams) of tylenol a day! There are stories out there of people with No health problems that die from 4000 mg (4 grams) a day one time.

Get on Duragesic or time release something, then just get the opiates. It took me months to get off of 20 mg vicodin a day and doing it little by little.

Good luck. Differing opinions always welcome.

DH
Helpful - 0
501792 tn?1261111106
Those are withdrawls and it defenitly sounds like you are taking way too much.
  I am confused by one thing in your post. You say that you and your DR have talked about going on something stronger but then you say you are afraid asking him may point to 'addict behavior'
   why are you concerned about this if you and your DR have aleady discussed the option of putting you on stronger meds?

  I think you may want to consider some other options such as NSAIDS, ant-depressants or anti-convulsants. They are used to treat pain often by DR's and I have tried a few myself.  It seems you have gotten to a point where you are concerned by your own use of narcotics.  Talking to your DR anout trying some non-narcotic options may be something to think about.
    You taking way too many pills and enough acetompenephine to cause stomach problems and potentially problems with your liver also.
        No one can tell you what you should or shuldnt do, thats for you and your DR to decide.  But You are really putting your body at risk with the amoung of medication you are taking.
  Also if you want to come off the medication but cant because of the withdrawls there are meds to help you do this.
  Talk to your DR about all the options and see what he says

Best of Luck
Helpful - 0
82861 tn?1333453911
I wouldn't go so far as to say your behavior is drug seeking or addictive.  It's more like normal physical dependence and something in medical parlance called "pseudo addiction" meaning the patient exhibits similar behavior to an addict but it is due to pursuing pain relief instead of the high.

Since you've taken that much hydrocodone for so long, your body is physically dependent on it.  You will have to taper your dose down slowly to avoid withdrawal.  Depression is also part of the withdrawal process.

You would probably do better with something long-acting like the fentanyl patch so you get more of an even coverage with the medication.  Hydrocodone is so short acting that you're constantly fighting peaks and valleys with the pain.  If you have something that gives you overnight relief, you won't have to get up in the morning and swallow your entire daily dose of pills just to get out of bed.  

A word of warning though - you think your experience with withdrawal from the hydro was bad?  It's 1000 times worse with fentanyl.  While it works very well, it has its own drawbacks just like any other narcotic does.  That's the conversation you need to have with yourself and with your doctor.  So-called "big pharm" has nothing to do with it.  If you want narcotic pain relief, you really need to think long and hard about what you're getting into.
Helpful - 0
356518 tn?1322263642
When you stop the hydro you are in withdrawel and the amount your taking is WOW! That is entirely too much and you need to discuss this with your dr. You are xibiting typical drug seeking behavior by repeatly asking for early refills and with the amount your taking that is extrme. Tell your dr you need more relief and the amount of tylonol your taking is staggering.
Helpful - 0
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