October 19, 2009 - 2:06pm
Hi. I have been a member for about a month. I would like to take this opportunity to give a description of my CP, diagnosis and my current treatment. I have 2 fractures at my L5 S1 with Spondylolisthesis with Spondylolysis. Which causes lots of pain in my lower back with pain and numbness down my right leg. I have had MRIs, x-rays and cat-scans over a year to find this out. My current treatment is Percocet 10/325 5 times a day as needed and gabapentin 300mg 3 times a day. I have also had pt 3 times a week. I find that my current medications do work. But I could use more pain refief. I have an appt this Thurs with pm and am hoping my doc will increase the percocet. My spine doctor has reccomended a Translumbar interbody fusion at the L5S1 but I am not ready to try surgery yet. Well thanks for reading my post. I look foward to hearing from all you wonderful people here on this site. Diana
October 19, 2009 - 2:28pm
#2
sure
I am 35. My current dose has been 2 months
October 19, 2009 - 2:42pm
#3
thanks
and how long have you been in pain? i see you posted at least a year.
October 19, 2009 - 2:51pm
#4
i have had pain in my lower back
For about 3 years. I year ago I fell and it was excruciating. The pain got so much worse. That is when I sought out medical help. Started out with vicoden 5 went up 2 months ago when I was on the back of a harley and the numbness and pain started down my leg. Since then I have been on the percocet abd garb.
October 19, 2009 - 3:00pm
#5
I
would ask for a increase in the gabapentin first..i think its pretty good stuff.
October 19, 2009 - 3:05pm
#6
yeah
Sometimes I wonder which med is more effective. That is a good idea to increase the gabapentin first. Thanks for your advice and for responding so quickly!
October 19, 2009 - 3:17pm
#7
I feel
that narcotic pain meds do nothing for my leg pain...it takes a bit to get used to the gabapentin ...oh yah i am here at odd times to take a read
no problem..lets see what the others think.
October 19, 2009 - 3:59pm
#8
Goat you are right about the
Goat you are right about the gabapentin! I can take 40mg OxyContin, Roxicodone 15mg, 350mg Soma, and a Motrin; it dulls all my other pain but I can feel the pins & needles / sharp electrical shocks / acid burning sensations of nerve pain. Once my dose of gabapentin starts kicking in, it soothes it, and after prolonged gabapentin treatment I can say that it helps with my overall numbness/sciatica. I also notice that the effects are quick to wear off when stopping gabapentin, and then it takes a few days of taking it regularly for it to start working on my leg again. I too am on GP 300mg 3xs a day.
Moonbeam, what was your average pain on the 1-10 pain scale ( you know 1 being no pain
, around 5 is moderate to severe pain 
, around 8 is severe pain 
, and 10 is the worst pain you've ever felt 
) before you started medication, after you started Vicodin, when Vicodin stopped working as well, when you started Percocet, and what is it now? This will give us an idea of how much you are able to tolerate before titrating up. Im sure you've been told, most of us are in it for the long run and once you move up there is no going back. You can reduce your dose by small amounts to help slow tolerance, but not much if you want adequate pain relief. It may be time for you to consider a long acting med, or it may not, either way Goats suggestion is still a good starting point. Also, if you suffer from any depression from dealing with CP, or are clinically depressed it can affect your perception of pain.
October 19, 2009 - 4:26pm
#9
hello Mr. Brandman
My pain has changed over the coarse of the last year. For the first 2 years it was bearable with taking advil. I minored in dance back in college and I think that is when I did most of the damage to my back. Then about a year ago last December I fell on wood steps. It was like someone stabbed me in my very low back pain about a 7. Went to pc went on vicodin 5/500. Then my pain was on a good day 3 bad day 6. After about 3 months was increased to 7.5 then 10. It helped then good day 1-2 pain bad day 2-4. Then in June I was riding on the back of my boyfriends Harley. All of a sudden I started to feel numbness in my right leg then pain in my low back and pain down my right leg. Pain that I have never felt before. Definately a 10. So I started with all the tests went to a spine specialist. He works along side a pain management doc. We tried lyrica and the percs. I hated how the lyrica made me feel and didn't seem to work. So I am now on the Gaba. And percs. They do help a lot but I still have 5 pain days. And I am also worried about the tylenol I the percs. Thanks for your help. I am so happy I finally posted my info!
October 19, 2009 - 4:43pm
#10
Hello!! It seems you can tolerate a
It seems you can tolerate a great deal of pain, but you are there already. My advice would be to try to get on a long acting drug. If you were to take OxyContin 10mg 3xs a day, and use OxyIR 5mg for break thru 1-2 TID PRN, your total possible daily dose is 60mg which is only 10 more than you are on now with no tylenol and less ups and downs. If you add a little Motrin it will kick up the effectiveness, and if you can get rx'ed Soma 350mg TID or even BID, you will notice a significant increase in your medications effectiveness!! Soma is a life saver. It relaxes your muscles, stops spasms and potentiates opioids.
October 19, 2009 - 4:44pm
#11
i know
With the pain I have been trying to stay at a low dose with the opioids. But enough is enough. I need more pain relief. What you said sounds like I good idea. Now the question is how to I pose this idea to my doc. I'm sure u know what a touchy subject it can be. Thanks again!
October 19, 2009 - 4:46pm
#12
Don't have the
...surgery if you can afford (pardon the pun,) not to. Medication wise, most M.D.'s will ony go to 6 10/325 Oxy/ APAP per day...I know some go higher, but I suppose that all depends on your doctor/ patient relationship, and the most recent celebrity who overdosed on painkillers was.
According to all of the medical reasearch I've read, and based on numerous conversations I've had with my significant other, who happens to be an R.Ph. , opiods are effective at treating neuropathy, but no as effective as the anti-depressants, and other medications (Neurontin, Lyrica, etc.) Even topical lidocane can help tremendously with nerve pain, assuming it is localized.
Good luck.
October 19, 2009 - 5:07pm
#13
Moonbeam, I know how touchy
Moonbeam, I know how touchy it can be to address new pain management options. The trick is to get what you want and have him think it was his idea. Simply tell him the Percocet is not working anymore. You can say that it gives you a small amount of relief followed by a spike in pain and that your pain is up and down all day. Ask him what other options might be available for you, possibly ask if there is something that provides more steady pain relief. Im sure you know how to judge reactions and know how much you can push, & when to back off. Tell him you are concerned about the tylenol. Thats all I can think of to lead him into suggesting long acting meds & BTP meds, without asking straight out for it. Tell him how the pain affects your daily life, and what you want to get back with your pain management. Keep a pain log so he can see in detail when & how much you are in pain.
October 19, 2009 - 5:07pm
#14
Try being honest
Just be honest. A long acting narcotic might be appropriate for you. Don't try to "outwit" any doctor, they will label you a drug seeker by default. They attend week long seminars on how to recognize a drug seeking patient. They'll watch your body language, etc.
Honesty is the best policy. Hopefully if you got a long acting med at a sufficent dose, with adjuvant medicines for nerve pain, you might not need a BT med.
Best wishes.
October 19, 2009 - 6:01pm
#15
Its not about trying to
Its not about trying to "outwit" any doctor, its about knowing what you can and cant say with certain doctors. If my wording gave you that impression please forgive me as that is not what I meant at all. Not all doctors respond to laying it out there flat out. With some doctors you have to tell them whats going on with your pain and let them tell you what they want to do. My doctor is receptive to me telling him straight out, other doctors dont want you to name out specific drugs. In no way did I say to be dishonest either. Doctors can see right through most liars.
Telling your doctor what the pain has taken away from you reminds him you are not just a chart, and a pain log will let him see trends in your pain that can help him better address your regimen.
October 19, 2009 - 7:15pm
#16
DR . S ARE FUNNY CREATURE S
I was on 4 hydro 10/650s an wanted to change to oxycodone, I asked him for Tylox he said absolutely not, I LL WRITE YOU PEROCET, I said sure , oxycodone is oxycodone, but Tylox had a street name stigma to Him.
Woodstock
October 19, 2009 - 8:25pm
#17
thanks
For all the wonderful information. I just want to have the parts of my life back that have been taken away by the pain. I know it will never be completely gone and I really want to avoid surgery for now. I want to wait and see if the right meds can help. I know there is the right combination out there and the everyone is different. I feel so much better just being able to discuss this with people who are in the same or similar boat as me. And to answer the question about depression. Yes this pain has made me sad some days but I do know that there are people out there who have worse pain than I do and I pray for them everynight. Thanks again!
October 27, 2009 - 7:43pm
#18
Similar Diagnosis here
Finally someone with a similar diagnosis. I feel the same way you do. Except I can't get a doc to help me. I tried a perc 10/325 mg a few times. Not prescribed as I can't seem to find a caring doc. A friend let me try a few to see if it would help. It worked like a charm for me. I too have been dealing with this for years and Motrin worked fine for years. Then my stomach protested and now I can't take it. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and over the past 6+ months or so my pain has gotten worse. I am not ready for surgery either. Scared to death of it. I have done the research and I am not happy with the statistics. Also can't take the Neurotin and Lyrica due to the side effects. It made me a zombie, couldn't move, or think clearly. Glad to hear that you are getting help. I am still trying to find a doc to help me. Keep me posted on your condition.....
October 27, 2009 - 8:37pm
#19
hi h2os
I am so sorry you are gaving a difficult time finding a doctor to help you. I have been lucky to find someone who is willing to help and not judge me. I found the percs weren't cutting it and a recently had a med change. I was also taking neurotin 300mg 3 times a day abd 10/325 percocet 5 times a day. Last thurs I had an appointment and was changed to 600mg Neurontin 3 times a day. And Opana 10ir 4 times a day. I have noticed a change in my pain for the better. My body is still getting used to the new med (Opana) but I definately have noticed less pain in my back and down my right leg. I am also glad to be off the tylenol that was in the percs. I hope you soon find a dr that can help you. Good luck! Also, I understand the hesitation about surgery. I scares me too!!
October 28, 2009 - 9:12pm
#20
Thanks moonbeam
I hate it too. I am really getting depressed about it. Just keep praying one day..... someone will take me in and help. Just want my life back.
since you posted your info...may i ask your age and how many years have you been on your current doses?