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new pain patient
Hi, I'm new to this forum and to pain management. I actually have two questions. Hopefully you can help! My doctor put me on Norco 10-325. I've never been on this and I don't know much about pain meds. After a few weeks of taking it, it really started bothering my stomach. Not nausea, but a burning like sensation. I looked it up and realized it had Tylenol in it. Well, I have Hep C and asked my doc to put me on something else. He said there wasn't enough Tylenol in it to do damage. Is this right?? I feel like its not. Also, I got my first steroid epidural shot yesterday and now I've been reading profusely! Is this normal?? Sorry so long... Thanks for any advice.
Well, it sounds like you are covering all the bases, and have a good pain management team. Chronic pain responds best to a multi-modal treatment plan.
Patience is a huge part of living with chronic pain, and so is gratitude.
Sometimes an ESI just doesn't reach the right area of pain, so a second try can yield positive results. But beware of the doctor who offers injection after injection, without any improvement.
Let's hope for the best. Keep us informed.
Best wishes.
Patience is a huge part of living with chronic pain, and so is gratitude.
Sometimes an ESI just doesn't reach the right area of pain, so a second try can yield positive results. But beware of the doctor who offers injection after injection, without any improvement.
Let's hope for the best. Keep us informed.
Best wishes.
I do see a pain psychologist already. Actually did that before starting the whole pain management with the narcotics. Yes, I was talking about ESI. My doctor wants to do another one before he just rules them out. I also do physical therapy. I guess patience is key to ask this too. I can't expect instant satisfaction. I need to keep tweeting myself it's a process. Thanks
If we're talking ESI (epidural steroid injection), they may not work. In fact, many medical societies have come out against ESI -- too much risk for to little benefit.
Many people here in pain.
I suggest that you develop a relationship with a pain psychologist, who will help you navigate the pain management system, and with luck, find you a set of treatments/providers that will help your pain.
Best wishes.
Many people here in pain.
I suggest that you develop a relationship with a pain psychologist, who will help you navigate the pain management system, and with luck, find you a set of treatments/providers that will help your pain.
Best wishes.
Thank you philnoir for being kind enough to reply to my questions. I appreciate all the info you gave me. My doctor did finally take me off the hydro. And put me on oxy. Is it normal for the injections not to work at all? Or is that just the first one? I've noticed no change at all in my pain level. I have severe nerve damage from a plueral effusion/ thorecomoty surgery 9 months ago. My ribs feel as if they are cracked all the time. I also have arthritis in my collar bone from a childhood injury. Of course all on the same side. Uggh. I have taken neurotin in the past, but didn't seem to work at all either. At a loss, always in pain.
Sorry, I missed your question about the ESI.
Sweating the night after an ESI is one of the side effects but in most, wears off after 24-48 hours.
Do you have a fever? If so, call your doctor.
If you are still experiencing these side effects, please report them to your doctor, ASAP.
Sweating the night after an ESI is one of the side effects but in most, wears off after 24-48 hours.
Do you have a fever? If so, call your doctor.
If you are still experiencing these side effects, please report them to your doctor, ASAP.
Have your doctor draw a liver panel blood test to ascertain your baseline levels of specific liver enzymes -- SGOT, SGPT, and billirubin. As a long time liver patient, I'm sure you're familiar with these results.
Liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity) will elevate these levels.
If I were your doc, I'd get you off these meds ASAP and on to a tylenol-free pain pill.
I'm sure you know this, but also, stay way from OTC cold, sleep, flu medication -- almost everything contains acetaminophen. Read the labels.
Liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity) will elevate these levels.
If I were your doc, I'd get you off these meds ASAP and on to a tylenol-free pain pill.
I'm sure you know this, but also, stay way from OTC cold, sleep, flu medication -- almost everything contains acetaminophen. Read the labels.
Are you always this rude or is it just today?? Don't talk to me like a two year old. And I'd you would I'd read my post after I said "read" was a typo so back off. Thank you very much.
People are quick to join the "tylenol mania" movement. And then when one's doc doesn't switch them away from their tylenol-containing norco, it becomes a "war": patient vs tylenol-pushing doctor.
Please, just trust your doctor. If doctor says there's not enough tylenol to hurt you, well, then there is not enough tylenol to hurt you.
If taking pills bothers your stomach, simply take them during a meal, and you won't even notice.
Regarding your steroid epidural causing you to "read profusely," you may wish to bring that to your doctor's attention immediately. Everyone knows steroids cause one to *write* profusely; your profuse "reading" is definitely an abberration.
Please, just trust your doctor. If doctor says there's not enough tylenol to hurt you, well, then there is not enough tylenol to hurt you.
If taking pills bothers your stomach, simply take them during a meal, and you won't even notice.
Regarding your steroid epidural causing you to "read profusely," you may wish to bring that to your doctor's attention immediately. Everyone knows steroids cause one to *write* profusely; your profuse "reading" is definitely an abberration.
Bring along any biopsy results orFibroScan data, if you have it. One of the things your doctor will be interested in is your fibrosis/inflammation stage/grade. This will provide an estimate of the pprtal hypertension that can develope with chronic liver diseases. As the portal hypertension increases, the blood flow through the liver is disturbed and this results in longer halflife of your pain meds - your liver will not be excreting it as fast as a healthy liver does.
Yes I told my doctor yesterday which only my second visit with him. I've had help c for years and even brought in tests that showed him my enzyme count which are very high. That's why I was surprised he even prescribed it to me. I go again on Monday, and I will ask him again to change my meds. Thanks for the advice.
As the others have siggested, work with your doctor on different preperations. I use straight oxycodone myself and I have decompensated, ESLD. So you can get good effective PM even with liver issues.
Tylenol begins to poison the liver at 3g / day in an adult with a normal liver. So, even if you're taking 8 of those Norco 10/325 a day, and you have a normal liver, you're safe.
However, with liver impairment (from hepatitis), you'd do better to avoid acetaminophen altogether.
There are a few new long-acting hydrocodone preparations, and oxycodone -- a similar synthetic opioid -- comes in acetaminophen-free formulations.
However, with liver impairment (from hepatitis), you'd do better to avoid acetaminophen altogether.
There are a few new long-acting hydrocodone preparations, and oxycodone -- a similar synthetic opioid -- comes in acetaminophen-free formulations.
I'm sorry you went through that. We're all so different and respond to medications differently.
Did you let your Dr know right away that you were having these side effects? It's very important that we do this so our Drs can get us off of that medication and then try us on another one when we're ready.
Did you let your Dr know right away that you were having these side effects? It's very important that we do this so our Drs can get us off of that medication and then try us on another one when we're ready.
I personally had terrible side effects while taking Norco (5/325) prescribed by my incompetent GP. Manic episodes, terrible digestive problems, serious mood swings. They almost cost me my job. Be firm with your doctor if you feel they are not right for you. Good luck!
Norco can cause stomach upset in some people. There are other pain medications you can try that do not contain acetaminophen.Tell your Dr that your stomach issues are real and bothering you and that you would like to try a different medication. Some people will take a med like Prilosec when they're on pain meds. That's a choice for you but it means adding another medication.
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