Pain meds after serious accident.

[Brokenchick]

Hello. Wondering if you would be willing to give me some advise about pain meds. Maybe not your typical advise for this forum, but I figured that you guys and gals would know more than most people.

I had a serious accident recently and broke a frw ribs in a multiple places and my pelvis in 3 places. The ribs aren't especially a factor compared to my pelvis, that pain is unreal.

I'm not very med educated, and wanted your advise as I don't actually want to get high, I'd like something that takes my pain away.

Oxy is awful I hate the feeling. It's not an enjoyable high at all. It does help the pain but how I feel on it, isn't worth it.
Tramadol is awesome. Makes me floaty and so I'm nervous to take that too often as I could see that I could get really into that.
Tylenol 3 does nothing.
I have another pill but I don't recall how that made me feel. Hydrocodon Ace 5-325.

Any advise on what I should ask my Dr to give me? Seems that there has to be a med that is inbetween the spectrum of doing nothing and totally messing me up.

Im trying to take less tramadol as I'm finding myself getting nervous about it and how many/few are left. Is there anything that works like that and isn't addictive or is that a stupid question?

 

[Keif' Richards]

You're a lucky girl, because before your virtual eyes, you have access to a dude who has a complex history with Opioids ranging from pain-care to recreational use. I can at least give you an opinion of sorts from both sides. Pelvic injuries are supposed to be among the most painful, up there with back injuries. For this reason, it just doesn't seem right that you'd be given Codeine (Tylenol w/ Codeine #_). I know everybody is different, some are more sensitive than others, but essentially Codeine is better suited for controlling severe menstrual cramps, migraines and painful coughs, not for relieving pain from a broken pelvis.

What I'm getting at, is that you should not feel strange or different that Codeine isn't controlling your pain. Tramadol is more of a horizontal movement than a vertical one from Codeine. They're both essentially of the same potency. The most likely option for you to pursue would probably be Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab). It's the next step up in a lot of ways and it shouldn't be so powerful as to leave you floored.

You're supposed to have the right to have your pain treated adequately. This isn't actually true in practice, but sometimes mentioning it to Doctors will either guilt them or scare them into helping you.

 

[Brokenchick]

Thank you so much Kief.
Maybe that explains why I was given Tylenol 3 then as I said I couldn't take the oxy and function. It seems that I can so easily get scripts for oxy but it's a challenge to get something else that still is effective.
So from what you are saying the Tramadol shouldn't really be helping my pain either. That makes me nervous as I came here to learn more about it as I'm worried that I enjoy the floating feeling with that.

Yes to the pelvis being unreal pain. I can't imagine much being worse as it had me losing control of my bodily functions and passing out from the pain. Not fun. Try to keep yours intact. Lol.

Thanks very mich for your advise. I will take a vicoden today and see how I feel and report back.

 

[Keif' Richards]

So they will presribe Oxycodone, but they don't want to prescribe Hydrococone? Also, is the Tramdol helping you or not? I was a little confused by what you said. Although as Opioids, Tramadol and Codeine are of a pretty similar potency, Tramdol is also an SNRI which causes it to have a slightly different effect profile.

 

[BeachBum4u]

Man, I understand caution with narcotics and all but a pelvis injury from a serious accident and the best pain relief the doc can prescribe is Oxycodone (didn't catch your dosage)? Geez, maybe I'm a little jaded from decades upon decades in pain management but that just sounds kind of, I don't know, inadequate IMHO. I'm not too sure what the "correct" answer is or even if there is one but until the severe pain goes down (and hopefully some healing has taken place), I just think something a bit stronger may be order. If BL member/moderator "Kittycat5" is around, she may have some more specific suggestions for the OP. She does this sort of thing for a living, so I tend to trust her opinion on matters like this. The only problem I see is that most "heavy-duty" meds tend to be for long-term usage. Like Oxymorphone (Opana ER) or OxyContin (Oxycodone ER) for instance. If you don't know, the ER stands for extended release, which is exactly why they are used for long-term pain management patients. I'm not too sure they'd use those in your situation or not?? The Opana does come in an IR (Instant Release) version and maybe that's an option. Hopefully you've gotten some good ideas here to mull over and you may still very well get some additional posters chiming in with their thoughts as well. I wish you the Best and welcome to BL!!

 

[Brokenchick]

Keif, I'm not med educated at all. I've been handed scripts for oxy and handed them back and asked for something else. First time was literally two-three days after my injury. I was given the vicoden then.
I really couldn't tell you much about the first week and what I took. I honestly just took whatever was given to me. I was in intensive care for 24 hours and in a regular hospital bed for 3 days. After that it hurt as much to be home and getting to the bathroom etc. Family gave me my meds, according to what was prescribed.

I seem to be very able to get oxy, I'm offered and asked if I want it. I've declined 3 times now and explained it fucks me up. Then I get something that does nothing like Tylenol 3.

Magbe thats my fault. I'm living with my inlaws as they have a ranch all on one level. My mother in law had a clicking shoulder, she described that pain as an 8-9. Hey what?
If 10 is the worst pain ever that's when I passed out. 8-9 would be when my body lost its functions.
So I guess my 4-6 isn't everyone's.

I'm a little salty that I sat in an ER for 4.5 hours and it was 5 hours total before I got some meds. That was an IV, and glorious. No clue what. I felt nothing and smiled and joked.

It was 11 weeks since my first injury but a little over a week ago I was readmitted again as I'd reinjured myself. I'd done 'too much' and x-rays showed one break was bigger and the other two in my pelvis were back to my original break. So I'm starting over, without the fantastic IV med. Side note, 'too much' are just words with no meaning til you have passed them.

Im living on a friggin camping cot in my inlaws dining room. So grateful to them for all they are doing for me. So didn't take the vicoden today as I had commitments with them.
Am feeling sorry for my fucking self.

 

[Brokenchick]

Going back and answering your questions.

Not sure if Tramadol helps or just makes me feel good. Which is kind of the same really. I drink too, quite a bit. If that makes a difference. Not pass out drunk or mainly a problem as I drink all day, every day. After lunch as I'm civilized. Lol. I'm a functioning drunk, you wouldn't know til 3am.


BB4U. That's my feeling. Am at my house for the night so hubby can take me to physical therapy at 8. Will get dosage when I get back to my inlaws as pills are there. None of my meds are extended release, or noted as such.

I realize that I'm broken. I get that pain goes with that but there should be something in between getting messed up and doing nothing. Why doesn't that seem to exist?

 

[Keif' Richards]

In the hospital setting, in terms of IV medication, you almost certainly received either Morphine or Hydromorphone (Dilaudid). All Opioids share some basic characteristics, but for most, including myself, the -morphones have a much different effects profile than the -codones aside from potency.

If you're like me, Morphine and Hydromorphone will have a better effect on your pain even at equipotent dosages. I have had several surgeries throughout my life, so my surgeon and I have a great understanding. I always receive Hydromorphone, even if its just 1mg. This is for oral surgery too, which is why, like beachbum, I think it's a little crazy that you can't get the same.

You could ask to speak with a pain specialist. Tell them your pain was well controlled in the hospital but immediately fell apart upon leaving. This could encourage your physician to start a trial of a different Opioid. Ask what drugs you were given IV. You have a right to know.

 

[MissBoo]

Tramadol became my first love. Be very careful they cause seizures. Just figure out which one works and had the most pleasant feeling