pain

[wadster]

i wear the 100mcg fentynel patche-change next one 48 hrs later, and take 4 30mg roxicodone pills daily. Is this a large amount of narcotic medication to take, cosidering had lower back surgery 2 yrs ago-l5-s1 microlaminectamy and have to have another surgery at exact same location?

[flower12345]

Tuck, You give great advice.

Mummy,
I wish that they could get your pain under control!

Wadster,

Tuck expressed everything very well. I agree. It depends on so much, including your condition, age, etc.  I have heard of people being on higher doses. Everyone's pain is different. The goal is to control it with as little medication as possible. I don't look at your dose and gasp or anything like that. I think that if you moved to Oxycontin, you'd be taking a very high dose of it, but it's really between you and your doctor. Do you feel like the meds. are effective for your pain? Is your pain expected to go down after surgery?

Flower

[Tuckamore]

Hi Wadster,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you found us and took the time to post. However I am very sorry that you have chronic pain.

In your other post you asked if OxyContin would be a better choice of medications to control your pain. OxyContin (a long acting oxycodone) would be a step down from your current regime. If it would work better is something only a trial would tell but remember it is a less potent opiate than Fentanyl. That does not mean that it would not be more effective as well all respond differently to medications.

In my opinion you are on a large amount of opiates. I have heard of others that are even on higher dosages but you are nearing to top, again in my opinion. Everyone's pain is different or perceived differently. Two ppl can have the exact diagnosis yet each one may report different pain levels and varying symptoms. There is no right or wrong.

I don't know your age but I do beleive it plays a factor in what is prescribed for us in most non-terminal situations. If you are thirty years old and on these doses of opiates where do you go at forty or fifty or older?  If you are say fifty five than a higher dosing is usually prescribed.

Another factor is expected length of your pain. If your physician anticipates that surgery will reduce your pain levels than the current dosage is probably considered short term pain management. Following surgery your medications may very well be reduced as your pain levels decline.  

I hope you will be an active member of our community. Please feel free to participate in responses to posts and by all means let us know how you are doing. I wish you the very best.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[mummy3too]

I would tell you it is a large amount...because....

I had the same surgery at L5/S1 9 years ago - had a second surgery on the same disc (yes, re-herniated) 3 years ago - Now doctors are telling me fusion (L5/S1 herniated 3rd time and is unstable!) and they told me I also need a multi-level cervical fusion (2 large herniations)

I also now have Adhesive Arachnoditis, my S1 nerve is encased in scar tissue, and a slew of other problems in my lumbar spine.

I take 7.5 Hydrocodone daily. Would love to up my pain meds - but doctor says my pain is for life and I have to pace it. I just don't get it, I would love to try a different med like you currently have....

With that being said, every doctor and patient is different.

Good luck. It sounds like you are travelling a road similar to mine.

Mum