meds problem

[metabolic]

Ive been on pain meds 4    15 yrs. last doctor (other state) put me on 100mg er morphine 2x a day  & 30mg oxy 5x a day (IT WORKED). Moved  new dctr has me on 32 &16 mg  exalgo(hydromor) plus 10mg oxy 4 x a day. Pain still bad some what better. when I go back he wants to change because this doesn't do it. He stated he wont go up on oxy(10 mg x 4) or up the exalgo he wants to find something else on the time release side. I am scared to be in so much pain. disabled & cant stand more than 4 min. with medication. Whats left in time release? why so against oxy? have I built up tolerance to oxy.? PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU

[trixy71]

Its not a new rule, per-se, but a lot of doctors are being scared off certain pain meds that tend to have higher street values. At least in my area there has been so much media frenzy saying they need to control narcotics and scaring some doctors AND pharmacies. the only problem with the junkies is, it makes it harder for us chronic pain patients to get the medications we need to function. Drives me bonkers.

Thats why its better not to ask for an increase in a fast acting medication, its better to ask for an increase in the long acting meds. Because honestly, breakthrough meds aren't supposed to be used daily on a set schedule, doing that is just increasing your baseline and then there's nothing for the real bad pain spikes, which helps create the tolerance issues.

[LV2BAKECHOCCHIP]

When did the new rule with the DEA happen? I see a pain clinic every 3 months and my nextI'vesit is in March. I currently take the ER morphine sulfate tablets 60mg the times a day for chronic back pain; sciatica, DDD, ruptured disk L4S1,failed disk correction surgery, And arthritis.  

[trixy71]

Hi There,

Have you considered asking our doctor to switch everything around? Like maybe give you the Oxy in extended release and the morphine in the fast acting? That might get you better results rather than asking for more oxy. Dr's are pretty leery increasing the amount of instant release oxy to prescribe because of the DEA and all of the media hype going on. Also, switching them around might also help reset you pain receptors a bit. Might be worth talking to your doctor about. Anyway, I just wanted to throw that idea out there for you in case you didn't consider it. Good luck to you/.

[1treasurehunterdale]

I am in pretty much same situation as you. Right now I am taking 60mg of MS Contin ER  every 12 hours and Oxycodone 15mg x3 a day.  I was taking 45mg of the ms contin and 4 of the 15mg oxys per day but due to new rules from FDA Dr had to change my morphine dose.
I am starting to feel really doped up and groggy from the morphine and since it's extended release you know when  you take it the side effects could last awhile. I don't feel the side effects nearly as bad or long from the oxy so I am wondering why can't I cut back on the extended release morphine and take more instant release oxy or something similar.
I know this isn't much help, I'm looking for the same thing you are. I would like to hear how things turn out for you though and I will post results of my next Dr visit also.

[HarryWmG]

Yes everyone has a cross to bear.  I'm lucky I have absolutely no pains except when I sit down in my cars which are sedans with low seats for the women in my life (70 and 81). I have my own health issues, mainly sleep disorders.  I'm sorry if I'm gallivant about pain I accidently signed up to give help to pain sufferers and every now and then I just try my darn'dest to help.

[trixy71]

I'm not trying to argue with you, but there are a lot of things that cause gall stones. Alcohol is one of the most common, coffee, carbonated beverages, NSAIDS, etc. I ended up having my gall bladder removed because I had gall stones that were huge, these were cause by taking a lot of ibuprofen for many, many years. That pain, however, is not chronic, that is acute pain that will go away. Try living with tumors growing in your spine, your spinal nerves being choked off, bone rubbing against bone, etc. It really isn't all that easy to do without some sort of pain medication, especially for someone who still works full time. So please don't lump everyone together, there are people out there that really do need pain meds to be able to function. Don't get me wrong, that's wonderful that it worked for you, but not everyone is the same, pain is subjective, what might be minor pain to me might be something excruciating to someone else. Good luck and god bless.

[HarryWmG]

As I mentioned earlier about deleterious effects of pain meds, a little story. I had a ruptured heart chamber in car accident when 22.  I was on full dose morphine for duration of ICU care. One year later I had gall stones surgically removed. The MDs shook their heads why such a young (23 yr old) should have gall stones. I researched it out and found that morphine can cause gall stones. So beware pain meds I caution again.  My best male friend (71) I just finished talking him out of open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement.  He's doing fine and in best spirit in years. No pain nearly of any sort.  So all try to avoid pain meds except for unset of acute pain (break a leg, etc.) and live to 100.

[trixy71]

First, don't let anyone make you feel bad for needing medication. For some people getting off meds completely just isn't an option, its easy to say it but pain is so subjective that its impossible to say that just because it helped one person, it will help another.

Second, yes I do think you have built u a tolerance, oxy tends to do that faster than any other med out there for some reason. Many people I know, will actually just switch meds around every year or two instead of going up in dosage because it helps keep tolerance balanced. It might help you, it also might not, just something to mention to your doctor. But if you have been on these dosages for 15 years, its definitely time to switch it up. And honestly, you might get even better relief.

There are still many long acting medications that you can still try, there is the Fentynl (spelling) patches, the Butrans patches, there is Opana ER, I know I'm forgetting some but you get the idea.

May I ask what is your pain issues? I might have some more idea's for you if I knew because there are other things like a pain pump or a stimulator that can be implanted as well. If you don't want to share, i understand, or if you want to do it privately, feel free to message me and we can go from there.

[JAM661]

Of course everyone is different on how they respond to medication. Today doctors are being very careful in what they prescribe and to who. Certain drugs such as Oxy, Ms Contin have been so abused that many drug store in FL will no longer carry the meds. When on opiates your body adjust to the medication and side effects become less of a issue. When a addict uses opiates what they enjoy is the "high" that the side effects. However that does not always mean that it will no longer work in treating your pain. Even though my back has gotten worse I have been taking MS Contin 100mg 3 time a day for the past 12 years. The other issue is that some states and or insurance companys have limited how much they will pay for or allow you how much you can get. For example my insurance will only allow someone to get 2 Oxy a day (no matter what the strength is).

[BokehGirl]

Hi Metabilic,
Unfortunately - yes; our bodies become 'tolerant' to narcotics :(  (Am on Methadone for Chronic Pain and had MD Visit yesterday) Learned a lot: When we are receiving narcotics for months/years, our bodies eventually begin to interpret pain differently so eventually lesser degrees of pain registers in our bodies as moderate/severe pain and hurts a lot.

Completely relate to your pain and concern about what your Doc is considering. Commenter HarryWmG (above) reflects my MD's suggestion. She referred me to a Pain Center with a good reputation. I hope you have a provider you trust and feel you can be completely up front with. Including sharing your fears and hope for your future.

Thinking of you ~ BokehGirl

[HarryWmG]

pain meds particularly morphine and oxy are highly addictive and cause chronic pain to persist as side effect of them "working" in the beginning. Find reputable DC, MD or APN to get off pain meds altogether and have no more pain. At our age this takes time but the results are worth it.