oxycontin for pain, and not working

[anichol2]

A year ago I started having really bad problems in my back, I woke up one morning in September and couldn't move my left leg, from there, my dr had me do he reg procedures so my insurance would cover an MRI, the MRI showed 4 herniated discs and arthritis in my spine, and one of my herniations at L5-S1 is 11mmx11mmx17mm, needless to say, this one causes me the most problems.  I have constant pain down my legs, and my activity usually depends on my pain for the day, which means I can't barely do anything.  Cleaning the house, just walking kills me most days.  I have had 9 injections,- 4 blocks, 3 facet, and 2 in the sacro iliac.  I have done decompression, lieterally EVERYTHING except surgery (which looks like the direction i'm headed,... at 23 yrs old).  my question is, I have been on percocets for a while 10/325, and now my dr has just switched me to oxycontinER 20mg, because i have grown such a tolerance to the pecocets.  As of now, it is my 2nd day of taking the oxys and they don't seem do be doing much, but I am terrified to switch to  higher dose....I have read so much on the withdraws of the oxycontins that I can't even imagine going through that!  Does anyone have any suggestions to what I should do for the pain?  I'm sick of being on these pills!

[rafe44]

Im a recovering pain med. addict. And you are right to be concerned. But as long as you take your meds as prescribed, then you should not have any problems. And when it comes time to get off you can taper down. Where i got in trouble was when i starterd abusing the meds. And it really doesnt matter what your taking, just like the other person told you ,the WD's from the oxy's will be about the same as the percocets. Just make sure you use as prescribe. Good luck.

[opus88]

I too sympathize with your pain...I have the same disk and arthritis conditions as you do.
I was also put on oxycontin 20mg in March and 5/325mg percocet for breakthrough pain.
As well as other meds for neuropathic pain.
The oxy controlled some of the pain for a few months but has slowly become less effective, and I too am leary of a continual need to increase this med..so I will put up with this level of control for as long as possible.
With any opiate you WILL build up a tolerance to it (just not sure how quickly)..I guess thats the price of pain control..........a tolerance is not necessarily the same as an addiction(no highs)
Also with all the reading and advice I've gotten from this forum I've learned as long as you do a doctor supervised controlled withdrawal (very slowly)...than there isn't the withdrawal symptoms you are so worried abt..
You decide ani.....living in pain is no life either. good luck

[anichol2]

Thanks Molly,
I'm still hurting pretty bad after taking my Oxycontin this morning, so I'm getting ready to call him!
I took my self off the percocets for about a week a couple months back, just to see what the withdraws were like....not fun, but not so bad either.  everything hurts for a couple days, and there was a lot of night sweats, but that was about it.  Do you know if the withdraws from Oxycontin are about the same?  I was reading about the withdraws online, and one article said the withdraws were as bad as heroin, I was starting to get freaked out, but I'm sure it's a possibility that there was a little bit of an over exaggration...  =)  Thanks again Molly

[Mollyrae]

OH yes, see if the breakthrough is a possibility......

[Mollyrae]

Hi:
Given that you have been on the Percocet for a while, you have no doubt already become dependant on the medication. Oxycontin is no different. It just last longer. With breakthrough pain medication, it often relieves the symptoms between doses. It really does help. Like I said, there are other medications out there but first you should discuss the possibility of an increase first. See what the Doctor suggests. It is better to talk with the Doctor right away and tell him that it isn't working so well. Don't wait. Discuss other possibilities. In many cases, medications need to be adjusted in the first couple of weeks after a change.

Please take care,
Molly

[anichol2]

I was wondering if I shoud ask for a breakthrough pan med, I just feel like the oxycontin should be doing it!...I keep reading about how addictive it is, and especially the IR...and I really don't want want to be all drugged up like this!  terrified of te withdraws!
thanks for your help Mollyrae!

[Mollyrae]

Hello anichol and welcome to the Pain Forum.

There are many other options but first I think you should discuss the poor pain control with your Doctor. He may want to increase the Oxy just a bit before considering taking you to the next level.

I'm wondering if the Doctor has given you a "breakthrough" pain medication? That is another option for you. Sometimes a person needs that little extra in between doses and that is what the breakthrough is for.

So to sum this up, my advise to you is to call your Doctor and discuss the minimal pain relief and see if he has any other options for you.

Please take care and good luck. Again, sorry that you have to face this daily pain.
Mollyrae