Help Major Advice Needed ASAP

[LostSouL]

So I am sitting here in the hospital and I have a consult with a pain management doc in the morning on an emergency basis. I need to figure out what kind of meds I need. Here is the deal. I have developed some serious back issues. The MRI's sucked and I am going to have to have them re done in addition they want to do a CT miliogram. They have mentioned doing some steriod injections and even an epideral. Which I am fine with. But right now I am basically crippled and they have to come up with some kind of PM plan to get me out of the hospital.

Right now they have me on 2 mg of IV Dilaudid every 2 hours and it is helping quite nicely (just got my fix and feel wonderful right now). Now prior to coming in, I was on up to 10 Norco(10/325 hydro) a day plus 3 (40mg) OxyContin per day. It was doing nothing for the pain. I have also taken Opana ER (total crap) and various other forms of Oxycodone etc. Nothing seems to help except the Dilaudid.

My question is would it seem to be over the top if I discussed with the PM doc about switching to oral Dilaudid and Roxi's? Of course I would probably bang the Dillies. to get the most effect. The 2 mg Dilaudid every 2 hours seems to hit me nice. Nice little buzz and nice PM for 2-3 hours.

I dont want to over step my bounds but I also dont want to be crippled and have my wife assist me with showering and going to the bathroom.

Thanks in advance for any help guiadance, suggestions, or thoughts on this!

[jonny-5]

since you have well documented pain, and they gave you dilaudid in the hospital, then prolly tell the doc that that stuff was working good. but take whatever he gives you. if its not what you want or its not working, call him back and tell him its not working.

basically what im saying is you dont really need to make up stories here. i know its in our blood to feel the need to manipulate the doctor into getting what we want, but in your case i think your best course of action would be to play it straight...

[Opiyum]

Just remember...don't get to greedy but don't back down all together out of fear. Work with your doc and hopefully he will work with you. If not, then find a new one.

[mrnatural]

If you are being scripted those norcos and oxys they are already open to giving you potent pain relief. If those aren't doing shit like you say, maybe they could give you something that blocks the paths for pain,like gabapentin (neurontin) or Lyrica. Won't give you euphoria, but might actually help for your pain. Have you tried morphine (IR or a contin formula)? I've heard two acquaintances tell me that a morphine pump surgically implanted helped them a lot, but I'm not familiar with what might indicate to a doc that you should try one. Once every six months or so my doc burns the nerves in my back (radiofrequency ablation). It helps a lot for 2-3 months, but they won't do it but every six months or so. Good luck.

[rolln7s]

i dont really have any advice but just wanted to say im sorry for what u have to go through right now and i hope everything works out for you.......:) stay strong!

[LostSouL]

Sorry, I also meant to say that I was being scripted Lyrica as well and it doesnt seem to do much.

Thanks for the advice to everyone. I dont want to screw myself, but I definitely need relief.

I honestly feel that the Dilauldid is helping. And I honestly dont think the Norco (hydrocodone) is doing shit for me anymore.

I guess I should also mention that I am 452 pounds which I know adds some to my tolerance. Some docs seems to agree some don't. I know my tolerance is through the roof and I know I have no one to blame but myself. I did some experimenting with H last year (mainly skin po not really IV, tar). but I havent touched H since December.

I have quite liberally mixed the other narcotics mentioned but I just want to do get some relief and try and get back to normal. HONESTLY.

Thanks again. I will check back in the morning for more responses.

[jonny-5]

i really dont think theres a need to do anything but tell them whats really going on, like anybody else would do...or i mean people who have no addiction and just looking for pain relief. this is pretty much an open and shut thing in my opinion.

[irish]

I wouldn't think that your tolerance is too high if 2mg of dilaudid is doing you nicely. I take dilaudid for chronic testicular pain and it does the job for me, just be careful if you shoot it because your tolerance could go through the roof. Tell the doc that the stuff they have you on is really working, say that you don't feel too drowsy and you're getting good relief. Good luck.

[Larry]

Opana ER... JUNK??? Did you break the time release?

[pharmboy]

I just gotta say Opana XX is some ass kikin stuff for most of us.

I think it's the oral ROA that is screwing with ya.

Dilaudid by mouth has very poor bioavailability.

Chances are slim and nun but if you could get your Dilli in amps.

if you are going to be shooting 2mg pills chronically this could do

your heart and veins some major damage pretty quick.

Good Luck

[LostSouL]

I give up. I dont know what to do. So I have the meeting with the new PM doc. So he puts me on 80 mg of OC twice a day. Keep in mind I was taking 40 mg of OC 3 times daily (so a net increase of 40 MG of OC per day). However he changes my Noroco 10/325 to Norco 5/325. Less pills as well. He did however keep my Dilaudid for breakthrough while I am in the hospital but I can't go home with it. So basically I will have LESS meds when I get out. The whole point was to stabilize me so that I could then begin to get treatment (CT miligram, MRI, etc.) I am confused. The reason I came to the hospital and spent a week here was to get better and now I feel back to square 1...actually before square 1. So now what?

I am not trying to be a pain in the ass, I just really dont know what to do. Should I just give up? what do the rest of you guys do?

They cant get a proper MRI due to my size and they are not even sure exactly what is wrong with me. They have a baseline idea but there may be things they are not aware of.

What would you guys do? I am definitely open to suggestions at this point.

[pharmboy]

I hear ya man, thats what makes me think the D.E.A. is pressuring Dr.s

lately, my Dr. seems to do the old one step forward TWO steps BACK

shit also. I don't get it. I think they are being pressured to reduce CPP's

dosages. Hang in there.

[upstate_007]

First of all.......sorry to hear about this whole mess for you. It really sucks and I wish none of us had to go through it.

Second...... I would say do their regimen for a few days to at least show you are trying and then call them to say that your pain is not controlled adequately. I would mention that you are on less pain meds than before and consequently, the pain is worse than before. Nothing wrong with trying.

[LostSouL]

First of all.......sorry to hear about this whole mess for you. It really sucks and I wish none of us had to go through it.

Second...... I would say do their regimen for a few days to at least show you are trying and then call them to say that your pain is not controlled adequately. I would mention that you are on less pain meds than before and consequently, the pain is worse than before. Nothing wrong with trying.

I agree, not much I can do. It is just frustrating. I cant work, feed my family, etc. So what am I supposed to do? The reason I came to the hospital a week ago was because of the pain being so bad. Not to metntion, that they really dont have a clue as to what is wrong with me.


I just want someone to listen, come up with a plan and then lets work on that. I dont know what it takes to get some doctors to listen.

Thanks for everyone listening to me whine.

[reddragon3668]

Don't worry about whining, man, it usually takes a while to get there, ya know. And, in your case, without a solid DX, your kind of in a catch 22. The PM facility that I go too won't even treat anyone without a concrete DX with accompanying proof, like MRI's, Scans, etc.. so, try and hang in there and hopefully they will be able to find out what is really wrong with you. Have they tried an open MRI? You may have to travel to find one... not every hospital has them, but they are designed from larger frames. I would also think that a CT would show any ruptured disc problems.

I hope it works out for ya, and soon. I know that helpless, can't take care of my family, wait game until a doc finds whatever he's looking for feeling all too well. It sucks. It happened to me 9 years ago, I had 5 kids, and was screaming every frickin' day at the insurance company...(Worker's Comp in my case). They were content to pay me weekly check and just let me sit there, in pain, gaining weight, and just dying. So, I know a little of how you feel. Advocate for yourself, do what they ask you to do to the best of your ability, and don't hesitate to call your doctor if the med regimen isn't working. Right now, more importantly than a certain type or quanity of meds, is the need for them to figure out what the hell is wrong.

I wish you the best! Do let us know how your doing.

[irish]

I know what it's like to have chronic pain that the docs can't really figure out. I have chronic testicular pain that doesn't show anything on ultra-sound or any of the tests they have given me.(still feels like I got kicked in the balls by a mule though) Luckily I have a history of injury(torsion) and surgery in that area as well as multiple cases of epididimitis, so they at least have a theory about what's going on. It can be a bitch trying to get proper treatment. All I can say is stick with it and don't take no for an answer. At least you are getting some pain meds so they aren't afraid of medicating you. It may just be a matter of trying different combinations until you find the one that works for you. Best of luck, don't let it get you down too much.

[halfalien_s4]

well....ill tell u that even tho dilaudid works terriffically via IV or shot for, it has a poor bioavalibility, from what i heard from a friend of mine tho, the liquid form of dilaudid works pretty well. so ya might wanna keep that in mind!

[Consumed.]

Lowering your dose of PMs when you get out of the hospital is the new trend. I had adequate treatment while in the hospital, then when i got out got the morphine taken away and by the time I had been told to go to a pain clinic i was given no PMs at all anymore. Its just fuckin crazy whatever the hell these doctors are thinking, seriously i cant figure it out. I have a documented fully figured out diagnosis and they think that neurontins going to be the cure. Im so fed up and disgusted by the corruption in some parts of pain management care and the patient abuse on the other end of the scale. There's only a happy medium for few and far between when it comes to proper care

[jonny-5]

Lowering your dose of PMs when you get out of the hospital is the new trend. I had adequate treatment while in the hospital, then when i got out got the morphine taken away and by the time I had been told to go to a pain clinic i was given no PMs at all anymore. Its just fuckin crazy whatever the hell these doctors are thinking, seriously i cant figure it out. I have a documented fully figured out diagnosis and they think that neurontins going to be the cure. Im so fed up and disgusted by the corruption in some parts of pain management care and the patient abuse on the other end of the scale. There's only a happy medium for few and far between when it comes to proper care


yea this is why i never go to the ER or random doctors claiming false pain to get meds, ever. people like that are the main reason why its so hard for people with legitimate problems to get the proper relief, and i dont wanna be any part of that. besides, diacetylmorphine works great for multiple types of physical and emotional pain, and its way cheaper than going to doctors and filling scripts, although eventually it can cost the same or more, but at least i dont run out two weeks later and have to wait two more to get a refill. self medicating is my thing, because i feel i know what i need/want more than some idiot doctor.