Please give me your thoughts

[snapteach]

My doctor is not happy with me taking 1 or 2 of the 5/500 hydros a day.  He wants me to get off of them completely but it is the ONLY thing that I have found that will take the edge off the pain so I can make it through my work day.  I have been taking them off and on for over 8 months and not had to up the dosage any.  I have had 2 cervical disk surgeries, thyroid problems, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tacychardia Syndrome),  lower back problems which effect my sciatic nerve, acid reflux, and fibro has been mentioned by one doctor.  I plan to discuss the fibro symptoms with my back doctor this week.  

I say this to ask if anyone has advice on what I can do to deal with this pain.  I am not addicted to the hydro because I can go without it, but it helps with the pain so much.  I have to function and this is the only way that I have found out that I can.  The thought of having to face this pain without medciation terrifies me.  I almost died last year after being in unbearable pain and having reactions to medication.  I don't know if I can mentally deal with constant, unrelenting pain with nothing but Naproxyn and ibuprfren to help.

Can anyone help me or give me any advice?  I desperately need it before I see my doctor. Thank you.

[snapteach]

No problem.  I enjoyed reading what you said and I want the truth about everything.  I did  go to my doctor today and they are going to try me on ultracet and zanaflex for a week to see if this might control my pain level to a better extent.  I am also going to have an epidural on my back in a couple of weeks.  Maybe between the 2 of these my pain can at least become tolerable.  I did discuss the fact that I am having a hard time dealing with my work because of the pain.  Children do not give breaks for you if you don't feel well or are in pain.  I do not get a break from them during the day except for a 30 minute period.  I cannot physically go all day in the kind of pain that I have been having without something to at least dull it.  He thinks that this epidural and ultracet will lessen it so that I can go all day.  If it doesn't get better, I don't know how much longer I can go.  I may have to start considering reitrement from this and find something else.  I refuse to be ill with the little ones because of my own physical pain.  They are too special for that.  

Again, it is just nice to know that forums like this exist so that those of us in pain can talk and relate to others who actually understand.  A friend of mine has a lot of the same issues that I do and we always say that noone understands this until they go through it themselves.  Pain is not something anyoune can understand until they have walked in those shoes.  Thanks for your encouragement and those of everyone else.

[snapteach]

I appreciate all of your comments as well as that of jklog.  My pain is bad but because my doctor does not like me taking the hydrocodone, I wait until I can't stand it anymore before I take any.  I realize that this is not the best way to handle the pain, but with the very small amount of medication they give, it is the only way I can do it.  I do go to a pain management center doctor for this.  They are very funny about medication and really do not want you on it but would rather my regular doctor prescribe any pain medication because they feel like he knows my whole medical history better.  I realize this is a very odd approach for a pain center (As a matter of fact, my regular doctor had never heard of such an approach until he started talking with them.) but that is their approach.  I love the way they are able to work with my neck and back pain with procedures but am very unsure about the medication approach.  As I said earlier, they really don't like me taking what I am taking so I don't think they are very open to other medication.  I plan to discuss this with them at my visit.  I feel as if I need something to control my pain more continuously.  It is hard not to be ill and depressed when I deal with the pain as long as I can before I am forced to take something.  What was said about them not thinking I need more because of the amount of take is something I had not thought of but I have asked for more and they are not happy with it.  Because of this, I try not to take more than they are allowing (1 or 2 a day).  There have been days where 4 has barely touched the pain but if I take that many then I have to do without on other days when I am not hurting as badly but still need it to be able to work.  

I hope this has clarified a few things I said and I really, really appreciate your advice and comments.

[HARRYBEADS]

To be on a slow release medication, like the Morphine the gentleman above mentioned or oxycontin, the pain needs to be extreme and you would need to be unable to function without 24 hour medication support.

The doses now of hydrocodone are 10 mg/day,I suggested  10mg/day mscontin are the same strength, except that the hydro is fast acting leading to dependancy and 8hours of uncontrolled pain building up again. But the morphine is spread out the whole day to control the pain and users do not become dependant as easily.
This is available from a family doc!!

How did it work outsnap

HARRY

Harry

[snapteach]

Yes, I am sorry, I did mean hydrocodone.  I agree that I need to be able to control the pain and not cover it up.  With the hydrocodone that I have been taking it takes the edge off so that I can work.  The pain stays but not bad enough that I can't make it through.  When I get home, it is easier because I can relax and take better care of myself.  I am with children throughout the day and have to give 100% all the time.  I cannot take time for myself and relax then.  

As I said earlier, I meet with my doctor this week.  I am going to discuss the possibilty of fibromyalgia with him and discuss controlling my pain better.  I just know that it is hard to live the way I do with all this pain and never knowing when it will become intolerable or if I can stand it for the day.  They want me to do more relaxation type things and I try, but these things just don't make they pain go away for me.  

[HARRYBEADS]

  I'm not familiar with hydro, you mean hydrocodone?This is a short acting medium strength opiate that is very addictive most short actings are used for breakthru only till the pain is controlled by a proper dose of slow release.You should be taking them 3 times a day to control the pain then he should switch you to SR's of equal strength.Twice a day allows 8 hours of med free time and the pain builds up again.        

  Most Docs don't like SR's because of the neg press, and abuse potential.
  Try suggesting slow release morphine around 5mg, twice a day ,you need to control the pain not cover it up for work.If he does'nt agree find a pain clinic quickly, there is a long wait time so get on it now, you can always cancel later if you wish.

Harry