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Percocet isn't working, What now?
Some History of my condition. I have a rare hereditary illness, lacking plasma that holds the cells together on bottom of feet. It was never too bad ( I can handle tons of pain) but 5 years ago it was so bad I couldn't walk at all and was so painful. My doctor, being young and eager ,instantly put me on Fentanyl 75ug/h patches instead of working his way up. I couldn't function, but he said in time I would. Until one day , on the second set, I felt like I was overdosing . I needed advice badly from him and he was too busy to help,so I said screw that and an actual Pain Management doctor was for me. I was put Oxycontin CR 20 mg 3x a day and Norco only for breakthrough pain. I was on that for years.
Finally to the point. I fell down marble stairs and did extensive damage to my knees. I go to a milieu of Pt my legs are getting stronger but the pain has worsened. I was given just Norco for the past 2 years and it was fine. noticed my body was getting addicted and needed more for relief so I asked to go to pain management to get something stronger. For some reason, the stronger an opiate is the less of a chance I have addiction of withdrawals. I am on Percocet 2x daily and it doesn't work. I read up on dosing and no matter how I change a dose it in NO WAY works. So to the nitty gritty. Did the Fentanyl and Oxycontin oh and I forgot Methadone ( do you know how much you are judged if you take methadone for pain, but I digress) mess with my tolerance. How do I talk to my doc about this and not seem like a pill junkie. I worked in Pharmacy for years, I know how pain med people are seen.
Finally to the point. I fell down marble stairs and did extensive damage to my knees. I go to a milieu of Pt my legs are getting stronger but the pain has worsened. I was given just Norco for the past 2 years and it was fine. noticed my body was getting addicted and needed more for relief so I asked to go to pain management to get something stronger. For some reason, the stronger an opiate is the less of a chance I have addiction of withdrawals. I am on Percocet 2x daily and it doesn't work. I read up on dosing and no matter how I change a dose it in NO WAY works. So to the nitty gritty. Did the Fentanyl and Oxycontin oh and I forgot Methadone ( do you know how much you are judged if you take methadone for pain, but I digress) mess with my tolerance. How do I talk to my doc about this and not seem like a pill junkie. I worked in Pharmacy for years, I know how pain med people are seen.
Hi RXQueen,
Welcome to our Pain Management Community. I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing with your pain medications and pain control.
I'm having computer problems and this is the fourth time I have written this and lost it....so will make it shorter then planned. Sorry.
You use the word addiction often in your post. Please don't confuse addiction with dependance. There are several reputable studies that conclude chronic pain patients addiction rate is extremely small, 1-4% depending on which study you read.
There are several chains of thought, one is that your body becomes tolerant of the opiate and you require higher doses...the second is that as tine passes your condition deteriorates and therefore you require higher doses. My physician and I believe the latter.
Every one's system is different and reacts differently to medications. I don't think the Fentanyl and other Big Dog Meds messed up your tolerance. What I do believe is your pain is significant and requires more then just short acting oxycodone to control it.
A good PMP knows these facts and should not view you as a "pill junkie". Just talk to your PMP and describe your pain level, how if effects your functioning and sleep (if so). Ask for help and allow your PMP to make suggestions for better pain control.
It's true some pharmacists, staff and even physicians are uneducated in chronic pain or just plain ignorant. If they are ignorant you certainly can't blame the public for displaying the same uneducated thoughts about chronic pain management. The media does not help our plight for proper pain control. Everyday you read how someone OD or obtained opiates illegally.....we are all held responsible and judged by the actions of a few. Sad but true!!
If I read your post correctly you are far from an "addict" or a "pill junkie." Just have an honest and open discussion with your physician. If he/she does not get it...move on...others do!
Best of luck to you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Take Care,
~Tuck
Welcome to our Pain Management Community. I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing with your pain medications and pain control.
I'm having computer problems and this is the fourth time I have written this and lost it....so will make it shorter then planned. Sorry.
You use the word addiction often in your post. Please don't confuse addiction with dependance. There are several reputable studies that conclude chronic pain patients addiction rate is extremely small, 1-4% depending on which study you read.
There are several chains of thought, one is that your body becomes tolerant of the opiate and you require higher doses...the second is that as tine passes your condition deteriorates and therefore you require higher doses. My physician and I believe the latter.
Every one's system is different and reacts differently to medications. I don't think the Fentanyl and other Big Dog Meds messed up your tolerance. What I do believe is your pain is significant and requires more then just short acting oxycodone to control it.
A good PMP knows these facts and should not view you as a "pill junkie". Just talk to your PMP and describe your pain level, how if effects your functioning and sleep (if so). Ask for help and allow your PMP to make suggestions for better pain control.
It's true some pharmacists, staff and even physicians are uneducated in chronic pain or just plain ignorant. If they are ignorant you certainly can't blame the public for displaying the same uneducated thoughts about chronic pain management. The media does not help our plight for proper pain control. Everyday you read how someone OD or obtained opiates illegally.....we are all held responsible and judged by the actions of a few. Sad but true!!
If I read your post correctly you are far from an "addict" or a "pill junkie." Just have an honest and open discussion with your physician. If he/she does not get it...move on...others do!
Best of luck to you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Take Care,
~Tuck
Other than the different medical problem I feel like I am reading what I just wrote, I too am in Chronic Pain and have been taking Vicodin 750 for five years and told my PMP that they no longer are working so I have been taking Percocet 512 for eight days and unless I take 4-5 a day they don't help and of course I will be out way before the end of the month and I too don't know what to do...I called my PMP yesterday and told them and I was told they couldn't help me right now (couldn't prescribe anything else) and told to take Alleve/Advil in between?
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