Still waiting for rheumy to call. It occured to me last night that maybe my change in pain meds is the cause? I went to the pain clinic for the first time this week. I was really nervous because I have heard horror stories about them. Anyway, my doctor was really nice and said he already knew me from when I was in the hospital last year. I was in so much pain, I barely remember my stay. Anyway, he didnt think doing spinal injections would benefit me. He looked at all my x-rays and mri report and said my spine and neck are completely, and perfectly straight, no curve at all which, he said can be excruciatingly painful. It is caused by pain/spasms and recommended I go for massages and acupunture to get things to relax some. My insurance won't cover either and we cannot afford them. He said I was already on most of the meds he would prescribe, but wanted to switch my vicoden 10/325mg to oxycodone. Does anyone know if that change could be enough to cause this horrific pain I am in? I am curious to know which one is stronger, or what the difference is between the two?
Pain, pain, go away....pleeeease.
Which strength of oxy? I went from vicodins to oxy, at first it was 20 mg every 12 hours and currently I am on 40mg every 12 hours. The oxy is supposed to be stronger but of course it may not react the same on everyone. Are you taking it on a regular schedule?((((hugs)))) Basically what he is doing is switching you from vicodin to percocet. Oxycodone is percocet. 10/325 means 10mg of the narcotic with 325mg of tylenol. Tylenol is used with the narcotic as a delivery system of the narcotic so to speak. It helps it to work better. Basically your pain has increased to the point where the vicodin has failed to control it and you need something stronger. You should get more relief from the percs than from the vics. Start with 1 percocet and if you are not getting enough relief within an hour or so then take another one. You can take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours. Be forewarned tho...you might get some constipation. If that happens try adding fiber supplement first...if that doesn;t work pick up some Miralax at the drugstore.
I loves yas chickie!!!!
I just checked the bottle and it is oxycodone 5mg. Should I contact the pain doc instead of rheumy???If you live in a urban area you might have a college or university where youYou have got to be kidding me. In-freaking-sane.
This is what you do and do not argue with me (well us because I know others will most likely agree with me and tell you the same thing) you go to the ER. Your pain is out of control. Their JOB is to get your pain under control and then they will script you out enough meds of the right stuff to get thru the weekend. They may even give you the option of a nice rest in the hospital hooked up to the pump. And give you nice IV steroids. So you are high AND crazy at the same time lol.
Now I am not telling you what to do. I am hmmm...how do I say this nicely to someone I care about...hmmm...ok...I am strongly urging and suggesting you get this pain under control. You dont need to be this miserable.
I second what Gramma said! If the pain specialist's office cannot get in touch with anyone who can approve something to help you or increase your dosage, then you really should go to the ER. There is no reason on earth why you should have to suffer through the entire weekend. And, as I'm sure you know, the longer you wait to do something about the pain, the harder it is to control.
Let us know how you are doing.
Hope you feel better very soon!
Hugs,
Nini
Thanks Guys, you are a wonderful bunch! My rheumy called me back. He said my fevers are most likely caused by trying to taper pred too fast. He wants me back up to 5mg of pred a day and said if my fevers get above 100 degrees to go to the hosp. (my normal body temp is 97.2-97.5 degrees). He did not want me to take the vicoden that he prescribed (which works) but to follow the pain doctor's perscription of oxycodone. Whereas the pain doc wanted me to take it sporadically, my rheumy said to take it every 4 hours until pain doc calls me on mon. I'm feeling a bit better I guess. At least I stopped crying... waaaa!I third Gramma, Deb.Owie,
Sorry to hear you aren't any better. Is the ER an option for you to at least get something for now? I am having (phantom) pains just thinking about your pain.
I hope relief finds you soon.
Poor you Deb
I am so fortunate and especially greatful for my Dr. He closely moniters my meds but gives me what I need. Some dr.s just don't take pain issues seriously enough
Good luck to you dear and I hope you find relief soon.
I am so sorry this is happening to you. See if you can get your GP into the loop of your treatment so you will have a 3rd doc to fall back on.
No Doctor who knows his patient should be afraid to prescribe a weekends worth of pain relef. If they are, they should not be docs.
Tell your pain doc he needs to designate a back up Dr who will care for you in an emergency. This isn't right.
I am so sorry, this is just wrong. Oxy 5mg is NOT very strong. But, taking any pain medication on a regular schedule works much better at controlling pain than the just take it as you need it approach. You obviously need something stronger and it is just wrong for them to make you wait so long. If the pain gets worse, I agree, go to the er, at least then your doc will know ho serious it is! I am sorry, hang in there.What's so darn frustrating is I am trying to follow my pain doc's orders. I have on hand vicoden 5/500mg, 7.5/750mg, and 10/325mg prescribed by my rheumy. I saw the pain doc for the first time last week and he said only take the pain meds he prescribes, and that he was gonna start slow (5mg oxy.) I don't think he realized just how much pain I really am in on a daily basis and I didn't realize he wouldn't be available during normal business hours. He said to call if I had any problems and I did. His assistant said to go to the ER if I am in that much pain, but I dont want to be stuck there for hours just to get pain meds I already have.
I called his assistant back (after vomiting AGAIN from pain) She said she would see what she could do.
She called back and said my doc ok'd me to take 10mg of oxycodone every 4 hrs and to see him on the 21st. I will give this 24hrs, and if I am still in pain I will go back on the vicoden from rheumy which i know works. I havent had a chance to talk to pain doc directly, what I want to know is why he switched meds from what worked to such a low dose of something else....
I'm sorry to be such a whiner and not much help to anyone here the last few days.
You should not have to wait until the 21st!!!!! Deb,