Short term fentanyl patch use

[Aj1641]

I have been on mainly hydrocodone ( pretty high doses for quite some time typically 100-120 day) my pm dr put me on fentanyl patch for awhile and I asked go back on hydrocodone patch scared me. I have RSD alot pain swelling right shoulder and arm for almost three years now. I turned down morphine pump and nerve blocks got down to 50mg hydrocodone on my own, although lately pain swelling so much worse I have started taking higher doses of hydrocodone again to get grip on pain and function thru the day. I am seeing chiropractor just as of last week says he can help I am hopeful! Want off daily meds! Here is my question, I am just about out of hydrocodone and cant fill for another 8 days because I have needed more because of increased pain( my dr will not change dose till see pm again in Sept) I know pain and withdrawl be terrible when run out that early! Do I dare put on fentanyl 50 i have from old script till I can fill regular pain meds? Or will fentanyl be bad come off after ten days use? Any help on this be very appreciated! My Dr isnt any help havent been treating me real great since I refused go back on fentanyl or doing a procedure!

[trixy71]

Honestly though, refusing to try a procedure will send up a red flag. The doctor may think that you're just interested in getting pills, which is why he offered the patch instead. I'm not saying this is true, but this is what he is thinking. If you really are in that much pain, most people would try anything to get relief, so you may want to re-think getting a procedure. You never know, it might just help more than you think. Good luck to you.

[Aj1641]

Thanks for the info I do appreciate it!

[Aj1641]

To tell you the truth I have asked my Dr for a long acting med to take with hydrocodone to be comfortable with less of that med, I have asked about an antidepressant that helps nerve pain and something other than antiinflammatories help with swelling ( because I have had ulcers since my early twenties) and the options to  this point have been stick with hydrocodone alone, procedure or patch I know there are other meds to work with going to a patch or pump straight from hydrocodone seems bit excessive without trying other options first. That was my complaint.

[BetterGetBetter]

Aj1641, I feel for you. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. People gotta learn that you must NEVER take more than prescribed.

Your doc's given you a crapload of narcs, like a pharmacy cabinet worth, as well as offering a procedure, but you disdainfully say he "isn't any help?" And then you say you "want off of your daily meds" and now you want to slap a fentanyl patch on?

I think you gotta read what you wrote yourself, and make a decision what you want. If you want off of meds, tell your doc you want off of all your narcs and to please advise you of the safest way (like maybe a taper or whatever). If you want to continue your opiate therapy, you can't be all willy-nilly and do whatever you please mixing and matching like you're in a cafeteria.

After reading so many posts on this forum, it looks like most people have really good doctors, but y'all are quick to put down and dispise your docs when you screw up with following directions.

[philnoir]

I think you're undermedicated.

Hydrocodone is a limited medication. It has a maximum efficacy.

Morphine like drugs do not.

Elecktrksparky is right about the pump, since the medication is dumped directly into the spinal cord, you only require 1/1000th of the medication dose for effective pain relief.

[Electrksparky]

Me personally I like the morphine pump better than the fentanyl patch, I was on the patch for over 7 years and went to the pump. You don't need as much medication with the pump and your body feels much better. I had a pump for 13 years, the last one I had malfunctioned after 4 years and I had to have it replaced. I got an infection after the new pump was put in and they had to remove it, it's been out for almost a year now and I hate taking the oral morphine and diladid 24/7. I can't wait for them to put in a new pump so I can have my life back.