Chronic pain from Hydrocodone to Duragesic patch

[Hippiealways]

Due to chronic pain I was put on Hydrocodone (Loritab 750)  I  was prescribed 2 a day 500mg to start then 2 a day 750 up to 3 a day all in a 2 year period.  Just recently because of my drs concern for the tylenol affect to my liver I now use the Duragesic Patch 50 mg which has been such a relief...I am able to do almost anything without worrying about the pain I will feel tomorrow.  The dr was happy to give me the patch and I am happy to have it.  What is this doing to me physically...he even remarked that my dosage would be upped as my tolerance needed it. I expect to be on medically supervised narcotic pain relievers for the rest of my life.  Having no side affects now and  several people have commented 'if you are in chronic pain the medication goes to the pain and not to form an addiction' this doesn't sound possible to me...appreciate your opinion on this.  Thank you

[GA Guy]

Just curious...why would the DEA come into your office and question what seems to be a moderate dosage of percs for chronic pain? Were you using different doctors? Different pharmacies?

[jobaby]

I've been put on the Duragesic patch 2.5 after the DEA came into my office to question Percocets. I had been taking 6 - 8 percocets a day for back pain. I had back surgery in Feb. 2004 and had been taking them since, along with injections, etc. The patch is working, but I find I need more than one. I'm worried that I'm just an addict, but when I put the patch over the scarred spot on my back, I'm able to sleep through the night without problem. I'm 44 and have been taking opiates for many years. I'm trying to keep to one patch and take one percocet when my back starts to hurt. I'm a candidate for a back fusion, and I won't do it. The duragesic controls my pain. I'm hoping I'm not abusing, and I'm candid with my doctor.

[balmygirl]

Hello, I have had bad back pain and feet pain for over five years and have taken norco for all five.  I have finally found a good pain clinic and a dr willing to help me.  He has given me the option  of the duragisic patch, methadone, oxycontin and mscontin and kadian.  I dont know anything about any of them but i have one month to give him my answer.  Right now he has me on lortab 10mg.  Can anyone lead me in the right direction?

[crazyone]

My doctor started me out on the smallest dose of Vicoden when I injured my shoulder at work.  I ended up having two surgeries but it didn't help.  So I was put on Norco because of the amount of the Vicoden I was taking due to the amount of tylenol that is in the Vicoden.  Along the way morphine was added but that didn't work, so I was given Methadone.  That didn't work either.  My doctor also tried injections which in both instances I ended up in the emergency room because of reactions to the injections.  They caused my blood sugar and my blood pressure to get to high.  So the doctor started me on the fentanyl patches.  They worked very well.  I lost my health insurance and I can no longer afford to get them.  They are very expensive.  I have had to go back to using only the Norco and Soma for my pain and there are days that I just can't get out of bed.  The patches work!!!!!!!!!

[FLaddict]

this is the addiction forum.. since you are wanna to know info about pain meds I would ask you to go to the fibromyalgia forum.. we are not the ones to tell you what meds to go on for pain.. we have abused all of them so i doubt we would be good for this question.
Thanks and good luck

[Mommy-In-Pain]

I should also add in that I am currently seeing a chiropractor, scheduling physical therapy and exercising and working on a weight loss program with my doctor to get the symptoms under control, so I am trying therapies other than just pain medication, but I have gone without the pain medication before and I just have no kind of life at all.  The pain is almost overwhelming and I usually end up in the emergency department.  

I just wanted to add that little bit.