Just a vent for the regulars really

[marycarmel]

I threw out my back yesterday doing absolutely nothing.  Now, I herniated the disk at L5S1 about 25 years ago.  Every few years it flares up for a bit and I would do percodet, ice, rest and then I'd be good to go.

Trouble now is my tolerance for pain meds is so high.  I had been off everything for a while but recently went back to oxycodone 50 mg a day.  This is for RSD in my hand from a joint implant that didn't work out.  Now having an acute problem, the back pain is just not covered by the dosage I'm on.  I was given 10 mg. flexaril to help.

This is one of the reasons I wanted off pain meds ... because when something acute comes up, you either have to up your dose or suffer it out.

Pain management is such a difficult path.

[marycarmel]

Thanks.  Seems like a lot of the older posters who had such great input aren't here anymore.  I hope it's because they're living life without pain.

Back is still out.  I switched from my pain management after they wouldn't help me get off Fentanyl and 60 mg. of oxycodone every four hours plus a boatload of other meds.  It wasn't working on the pain and I just felt I needed to bring my tolerance down.

I was on an as-needed basis, but dealing with the pain with other things like lidoderm patches, topical gels.  I use gabapentin here and there but it makes me sound drunk, even at low doses.  

I'm waiting for approval from worker's comp to see a new pain management doctor to work with me.  My primary care is not comfortable managing my pain on higher levels than the 50 mg. and I clearly need a little more than that right now.

Worker's comp is a huge PIA.

[Weathergirl21]

Hi Mary...

I'm sorry to hear of your situation and flare with pain:( It's sad that this board has been so quietly lately with all the members that used to be here...Obviously it's always nice to have new people...but I miss some of the others as well.

I also have Flexeril for use of muscle spasms as my opiates don't really touch that type of pain...

Do you have a prescription for nerve pain like Lyrica, Neurontin or Cymbalta? This can be very helpful especially with spine/disc issues as well as the RSD.

I'm not sure of your situation if you see an actual PM Dr. to handle your chronic pain...but usually they will move someone to a long acting medication and then have medications like the Percocet or OxyIR for breakthrough pain when a flare hits.

So...if your prescription has been to take the full 50mg a day of Oxycodone for more than a few months and you take this every single day...then it seems very appropriate to move to Oxycontin or another ER (extended release) meds.

I use MSContin as my ER med and OxyIR 5mg for my breakthrough pain.

I aggravated my herniations back in July when I lifted a suitcase the wrong way so I can empathize.

Anyway...I hope that this flare gets better soon for you or that you can meet with your Dr. to come up with a better plan to prepare for these types of situations.