Chronic Pain

Hi everyone!!! I just signed up today!!! 4-5-08

I'll give you a brief description of some of the painful things that lead me to be on medication and would love any remarks or tips. On January 23rd 1997 I had open heart surgery for a (Sub Aortic Stenosis, extra muscle tissue in my a vlave) That which started my chronic back pain because my i was still growing and my back did not heal correctly. I was diagnoses with Shermans (where your vertebrays are shape different from heathly one and my disc's don't line up with them exactly. I also hyperextended my back twice. A few years ago i was also odiagnosed with osteoarthritis to add to my chronich neck and back pain. I have benn involved in three accients and the worst was March of 2008, a friend and I were rearrended at a dead stop from a guy going 40-45 MPH which also adds to my already very painfull back. I just a strangulated Hernia on Dec 23 of 2007 and the surgeon left some gause in me so I had to find a different Surgeon to take it out and that surgery was two days ago April 3rd. i have taken Vicodin, soma and Norco for years and they give me no relieve what so ever. My back as gotten worse from the surgery so i have been on 40mg Oxycotin and that only gives me a small releif of pain. After my corrective surgery my Dr. gave me a long lasting and an immiediatly release pill of Morphine Sulfate 60MG. I am barely getting more relieve from the fast acting morphine. I think i have a truley igh tolerance to the meds and know i have a small tolerance to pain. What some meds i should ask my doctor to try so I can live a normal life and not be restricted to my house because i'm in to much pain. I don't want to take something that will just put me to sleep though either

WOW! WOW! WOW!

and I thought things were down for me...

Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Harley! I'm 27yrs old and under the "control" of something like Lupus (they haven't nailed down what's wrong with me.. for 5yrs!!), so I know pain, too! I see you've taken all the usual suspects as far as painkillers go (funny how they call them "painkillers" when all's they do is make you dizzy, sleepy, and sick, huh? lol). I'm just comming off the Norco and Vicodin. I'm wondering if you've had Percocet. There are several different doses of Percocet that range from "mild" to "strong" and all are stronger and longer lasting than Vicodin/Norco. What about asking your doctor about combos? I used to be on 600mg of Advil with a Percocet, and that used to help a bit better than just one or the other alone. What about "herbals"?? lol. We do live in Cali...

Much luv,
Harley

**BIG HUGS AND WELCOME!**

I am truly sorry for your suffering; there are few who can empathize other than those in pain of their own. In terms of your meds, I am not a doc, but can only tell you my own experience. I too took norco/vicodin and it barely touched the pain. I would stare at the clock in tears waiting for my next dose, because I was afraid to dose too soon or take too much for fear of liver damage from the acedomediphin in those products. From those, I moved to darvecet, and oxy's but I found those similar in terms of low pain control. The first time I had meaningful relief was when I was put on a long-acting. Avinza changed my life for a while (about a year of 6, when previously I was a 9-10 couldn't even do my laundry or go to the grocery). Avinza is supposed to last 24 hours, and there is a sister drug that is dosed twice and lasts for 12. You might want to ask your pain docs about these as they eliminate the "ups and downs" of relief of the ones you are taking. Now, I am on duragesic, and my dose has risen over time to 175. Duragesic is a patch you wear on your skin that gives medication for 72 hours. I however, replace my patch ever 48 hours, as I find the last 24 can be dicey. I find the side effects much lower on the long-actings, but one you need to watch out for is constipation, which I have to deal with and take meds for all the time. I hope you are under care of a pain center or specialist. Often doses that helped us before need to be increased over time, as our bodies become tolerant. You need to work with a doctor that understands this. I hope you can find the info you need and advocate for your-self to get the care you need to have a better life! If I can help in any other way, please let me know! Best of luck!