Chronic Pain

[Greg D]

I have had chronic pain for over 12 years.  I am 51. My Doctor from a different State prescribed Oxycotin.  10/10/06, I had a Metal on Metal Hip replacement due to Avascular Necrosis of the Femur Head in Baltimore at the Sinai Hospital by Dr Mont. He did both Hips a week apart.  I have relocated to Little Rock, AR.  The Doctors here do not want to continue my Pain management of Oxycotin.  I just got home after seeing a Neurosurgeon who wants to do surgery to deaden the nerves in my back to control the leg pain. I hesitate to allow further surgeries but this Doctor won't prescribe me Oxycotins unless I agreed to the surgery.  My quality of life is at stake here. My dosage was 6, 20 mil a day. Is this excessive? I do not tolerate 40 mil at a time. He prescribed 4, 20 mil a day until my scheduled surgery. It seems like the Doctors in AR have a prejudice against this med.  Slowly my hip surgery is getting somewhat better but I'm afraid of withdrawal. What is your opinion?

[whitfield]

Hi Greg--
    Seems like we are in similiar situations--I am now 53 years old and am also on Social Security Disability--I am lucky to have a very supportive family and have learned quite a bit about pain management and narcotic pain relievers--Very important to never tell anyone outside immediate family that I have opiate pain killers and even tell them that they should never mention it.  I had no idea that these medicines were highly sought after by drug abusers--I have learned quite a bit from forums like this one.  It seems that many if not most of our fellow chronic pain sufferers have pain from back procedures, so our pain is somewhat different but still can be managed.  I am lucky to have a family doctor that will prescribe the patch--which by the way are expensive--If your doctor OK's the patch--get the Sandoz generic NOT the Mylan--the Sandoz is identical to the name brand Duragesic and works very well, but the Mylan brand does not--I am not the only one that feels that way--A quick search through a few Pain Management forums will validate that statement.  For me,, the patch has been a blessing--I wear on my upper arm and switch arms every 3 days--I do need some percocet on day 3, but all in all, I got a life back--even recently joined a gym.  Even if your doc will not precribe the patch, there are many alternatives to oxycontin as I mentioned earlier--Most of us in Pain Management will agree it took a couple years before we finally found something that worked well for us--everyone is different of course--Good Luck and I wwish you the best--Roger

[Greg D]

Hi Roger,
My ailment also was from prednisone injections when I was a Kid for Atopic Dermatitis. I worked on F14's employed by Grumman. My neck and back along with my Hips gave me trouble. I no longer was able to climb around the plane so they put me on Disability. I now receive Social Security Disability. I feel like the quality of life has been hampered. My good days with the Oxycotin would allow me to putter around and do my yardwork. Now that they have deemed my dosage excessive, I don't have that get up and go anymore.  I will ask my Doc about this Duragesic Patch. I do not want the reputation of being a drug addict.  My Family does not understand. I have seen numerous "Pain Management" Doctors here and they tell me they won't continue to prescribe Oxy's.
Thanks for your time and kindness,
Greg

[whitfield]

Are you in pain because of the hips?  I am curious because I also have had both hips replaced due to Avascular Necrosis--Mine was due to high doses of prednisone over a period of time.  My hips no longer hurt, although I am still a chronic pain patient die to chronic pancreatitus--I now use the Duragesic Patch for pain and it has been a lifesaver--The doctor started me on Oxycontin 20Mg twice a day then increased it to 40 Mg twice a day and that still was not enough, so we started with the Duragesic patch--again started low dose 25Mcg every 3 days and slowly increased it to the maximum size of 100Mcg--I had no trouble weaning off the oxycontin, but maybe that was because we immediately started on the patch.  I think your problem is that many doctors are afraid to prescribe oxycontin because of all the negative press--It has become a "street drug" and is highly abused--which is totally unfair to those of us that truly need a long acting pain killer.  There are many alternatives which your doc should know about (ie. Avinza, Roxicodone, Duragesic etc.)--If you want to get completely off opiates then talk to your doc, he can taper you slowly and avoid bad withdrawl symptoms.  Good Luck--Roger