Help, Once Again With Pain Management!!!!

[Suda]

To: Pain Management Group
Dear PMG,

Here I come again!!!!  It's been about 7-8 months or more now that I have been on 30 mg. MS-Contin three (3) times a day, with up to four (4) Percocet 10/325 mg. for breakthough pain.

Well, as I've said earlier, now we come to the part where my body just doesn't really care what I've taken, nor that it could fell a horse.

I don't want to change medicines as I have such severe reactions to so many, many, medicines.  Like I've explained before anaphylactic shock reactions, so I really want to stay with what I'm on, but since it's not working anymore I'm at my wits end.

I have lupus (SLE), fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease (which I have a feeling HA!!! HA!!! that this is getting much worse.  I also have severe osteoporosis which I take Boniva for, but haven't had a bone scan it quite some time now.

Next Tuesday I go to my doctor's office to get my meds refilled.  It used to be that I'd only go once every three (3) months, but thanks to the government, (DEA, FDA, take your pick) I now have to go into the office once every month.

Has anyone else out there ever taken what I'm taking and then it simply quits working?  If so, did you ask for an increase in either mg.s or amount of the pills taken.

I dread doing this, yet I have no quality of life anymore, i.e. washing myself, and as for cleaning up, well that's a big joke, just like trying to wash my bedding, and clothing.

If aksing to increase either mg.s or amount of pills with same amount of mgs. isn't reasonable, would someone out there please tell me.  I've obviously built up a tolerance, as is always the case, yet I still need some suggestions as to what to discuss trying with my doctor.

You guy/gals have always, always helped me with this predicament before and you were always correct, as I've always gone with your suggestions.

So, I'll shut up now, but please, please, help me once again as you've always helped me before.  I have absolutely no one else to discuss this with.

Thank you in advance!!!

Big Hug,

Suda

[Suda]

Dear Ashelen,

I always heed Tuckamore's advise!!  It always makes total sense, and always serves me well.

As stated previously, in April I will discuss this with my doctor at my regular appt.

It's just that, well, is it just me or do some of you out there just feel totally discouraged and like your just some type of pill seeker?  There's a feeling of guilt that I was raised with all having to do with being sick at all.

I was raised in a situation that when I'd say I was sick I was always told that I was certainly not sick, that there was absolutely nothing at all wrong with me except that I was simply being lazy, and to get over it!

Thank you for responding.

Sincerely,

Suda

[Suda]

Dearest Tuckamore,

I do believe that you are quite correct in that it's not a tolerance so much as it is that my body is getting worse with all of the myriad of medical problems I'm so lucky to have.

In answer to your comments re: the following:
"Have you tried osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT)...or physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, biofeedback, heat wraps or Lidoderm (Lidocaine Patch) or other similar approaches. You might want to ask your PMP is he/she has suggestions."

I am not totally addicted to those Thermacare patches for my back and for my neck as well.  As far as the rest of these good ideas go, I am on medicare and medicare would not for one second condone anything that wasn't a medicine.  

I'm lucky that I did try the Thermacare heat wraps because they are truly wonderful.  Now, if only I could wrap my entire body in them I would be perfectly fine!!  HA!!!

Thank you so much for responding, once again, and as always coming through for me.

I will discuss this "pain is just getting worse" situation with my doctor when my next actual appt. with her comes in April because I'm positive you are correct in that it's the pain/and diseases that are getting worse, and not just a tolerance to these meds.

Big Hug,

Suda

P. S.  I shall do my best to keep you informed after my April, actual doctor's appt.

[Suda]

Dear Namnam46,

Thank you so much for responding to my diatribe!!  It's just so very, very disheartening because as I've said I have very bad reactions to meds that one wouldn't think would do such a thing to a person, but to me they do!

I'll discuss this with my doctor.  I go in to get one of my opiates refilled this coming Tuesday, but it's not with my regular doctor.  This is something new where, I think, thanks to either the DEA or the FDA, that now if a patient in Houston is taking opiates, instead of seeing the physician once very three (3) months, now one must go in once a month.

Yeah, like I needed that extra exhaustion of getting clean, dressed and up and out once a month now.

Of course I shall leave it up to my physician, but her I won't seen until April!!!!  It just all seems so insane to me.  Besides most days It's so difficult to just get out of bed and it makes me want to cry.  But I do my best.

Again,  thank you for responding.  As I've said before I have absolutely nobody but you good people to discuss this with, at all!!

Big Hug,

Suda

[Ashelen]

Tuck you've hit on a really good point. I've been able to take 5 to 10mg lortab for nearly 5 years now and if I take it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, the 5mg can still give me a hell of a kick (which is why I don't ever take it on an empty stomach lol) and 10mg can make me loopy as heck...and this is after taking it almost every single day for the last 5 years with only a few breaks and switches to other meds....

so my point is...as much as it might not work on pain some days, I know it's not because I'm too tolerant to it...it's simply because sometimes the pain is just too strong. And I have noticed myself going through phases...I had a phase in time where 15mg MSContin 3x a day and 4 x 7.5mg lortabs a day were barely enough to keep me from being in agony...and then there are times, like now, when I can manage fairly well taking only 3 x 5mg lortabs a day and still function......but clearly if the 5mg is helping me I'm not too tolerant to it even after 5 years.

I think doctors truly over-use the concept of "tolerance" and don't realize that sometimes we just might be going through a period in time when the pain itself is worse and the meds are irrelevant.....but try explaining this to a doctor who doesn't already think that way. pfsh!

best of luck to you finding a solution, I really hope that they're willing to work with you. when pain spikes it can really put a stop to your entire life, and having the meds and not having them work is even more frustrating because you feel like you SHOULD be getting relief but aren't. just remember to trust yourself...you AREN'T getting relief, and whatever the reason...that's the important thing that your doctor needs to focus on.

good luck

[Tuckamore]

Hi Suda,

So sorry to hear that your pain has increased. My heart goes out to you.

I know the general consensus is we become tolerant to the medications that we are being prescribed. I don't necessarily buy it. I think you hit the mail right on the head when you said, " I have a feeling HA!!! HA!!! that this is getting much worse."

My Physician and I agree that more then becoming tolerant our condition worsens. I think that may be a bigger factor in your situation then becoming tolerant. The fact is your pain has worsened, regardless of the reason, which is the bigger problem.

I understand your reluctance to try different medications. I too have had some severe reaction to medications that have landed me in the hospital. So that leaves alternative treatments, therapies or approaches.

Have you tried osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT)...or physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, biofeedback, heat wraps or Lidoderm (Lidocaine Patch) or other similar approaches. You might want to ask your PMP is he/she has suggestions.

I have been prescribed Diazepam for muscle spasms. I use it as my very last resort. I probably take it twice or three times a month. You might want to discuss something similar to see if this would be a possibility for you.

Please let us know how this turns out for you. I am so very sorry that your pain has increased. I'm wishing you the best and will look forward to hearing from you again.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[namnam46]

Hi Suda,

No need to apologize for posting on the other Thread.  :)  This way you WILL get MORE help. :)

I'm SO SORRY that once again your meds have failed you.  It happens to ALL of us at sometime or another.  Unfortunately, as our bodies get older and our pain gets worse, it seems that's ALWAYS when our bodies become immune to the meds that we are taking. :{

Whenever that happens, it's BEST to talk HONESTLY with your PM Doctor and come to a decision with him about the best way to go forward.  Since you have so many problems with different meds causing you to have adverse reactions to them, it MIGHT be wise to ask about an increase in the meds that you are currently on.  HOWEVER, that is STILL going to be up to your PM Doctor AND you to come to that decision.  :)

As I said before,  I'm TERRIBLY sorry that you are even having to go through this again. It mus be so FRUSTRATING for you to have to confront this SAME problem over and over again. :{

PLEASE, let us know what the outcome is AND how the new increase OR new meds are doing in helping to relieve your excruciating pain that you are having to endure.  

I wish you the VERY BEST and look forward to your update..........Sherry  :)