Misc The Pain Management Mega Thread v. 7

[beta3242]

Help, please!
Hi everyone. I am new to BL. I've been reading various posts and threads that I was directed thru Googl and decided to finally sign up. And boy am I lost on this site and need some help.

I am a 50 year old Gay man living with AIDS for the past 24 years and have been on a lot of various meds and have a lot of other health conditions likr my lower back and nerves are shot. Sciatica, poly neuropathy, arthritis, chronic pain syndrome to name a few and I am now waiting for confirmation of AVN (avascular necrosis of both hips due to HIV) following more MRI's. I'll stop here on listing more conditions.

Here is where I need help...for about the past two years specifically, I have been on 15mg ER morphine 2xday along with 6 20mg Oxycodone IR. The my HIV specialist and primary care doc finally said he needed to refer me to pain management as he was at a loss why my pain was not being controlled. Keep in mind, I developed a nasty habit of insufulating my Oxycodone. Anyway, I went to pain management thinking I was going to an office with one doc or maybe two and boy was I surprised. It's a huge clinic with lots of docs, staff, patients of varying ages and health challenges.

I did the intake and I was piss tested and ten days later returned for prescriptions and another fucking piss test all the while complaining of continuous pain and shocked my doc sent me to such a place. Well I tested positive for THC and was warned. I also was told my morphine level was high and my Oxycodone was low. I was given the scripts for the same drugs I had been taking and left bewildered and feeling very judged and very low emotionally and mentally drained. By the way I am also bi-polar and in Paxil 60mg per day along with 400mg of Seroquel which I stopped taking three months ago. More on this another time I hope.

The Next month, I was piss tested yet a ducking again, confused and not having a pain management experience I originally expected and told that my Oxycodone was not in my system but morphine and lorazepam were. ( I ran out of oxy five days early due to snorting and the morphine was carrying me). I was told that I needed to have a oral swab test for genetic testing to see how I metabolize and if I refused I would be discharged. I did it and this time they upped the morphine ER to 30mg 2xday and reduced my oxy to 4x20mg per day. I left only to be called in for a random pill count and piss test.

I was shocked never having been in p mgmt before but who am I kidding, I obviously have a problem as I came up short on the oxy' but had right amount of morphine. They gave me warning again and this time said I could sign an opiate agreement in order to stay on and needed to be seen in two weeks for meds and to meet with the doc who did my intake. I went and she said the oral genetic test was back and that morphine was not for me, doesn't work well for me so she put me on 2x30mg OxyContin Tamper coated or something like that per day and said never break them and to stick to the script as written and prescribed 2x20mg oxy's per day for break thru as needed, if at all. She's expecting that I should not need the short acting at all. What is happening here? I am still in pain, like about a 7 or so. Has she prescribed the right dosages?

My friend said I'll be hurting bad when I start the new regimen on Sunday and said the doc has way under prescribed the opiates for me. Is this true? I know it will reduce my harm to myself by not having the original 6 oxy's per day to use the way I want but I can't live in pain guys. I'm scared, very alone -have no friends or partner. I've been isolating myself for years. AIDS is tuff stuff. Am I being steered correctly with meds? What will OxyContin be like for me. Will I get the nice energy I get on regular oxy's. Did the doc correctly do the math in figuring out a dose of OxyContin to replace the morphine? Am I going to go into some withdrawals? What should I expect on Sunday when I take the OxyContin instead of the morphine and jumping down to 2 oxy's a day instead of 4 which originally 6? Please help. I do have Hydroxyzine, lorazepam, diphenoxylate atropine, oh and I take 4800mg of Gabapentin a day, I have Baclofen too. Again please help and sorry so long. Look forward to responses this is beta3242 saying hello as well.

 

[beta3242]

Hi guy. What is a plastic pack? How does one get one? Expensive? Any pharmacy can give one? How many can one get?? Sorry for all the ?'s. Just joined BL yesterday. Thx all.

 

[MrRoot]

Just to be sure how much was your original dose and your current dose?

Oxycodone is hard to test and before I went to rehab I had done ~100mg of oxycodone day before and it didn't show up in the normal test that was taken the day I checked but was seen in the mass spectrometry test but they couldn't do quantative analysis for it.

 

[beta3242]

I'm lost and don't understand this stuff. You guys are all so smart. I have been on 30mg ER morphine 2xday and 20mg IR Oxycodone 4xday. Now they want me to start on Sunday, 30mg ER OxyContin 2xday and only 20mg IR Oxycodone 2xday. My question is have they under dosed my total opiates. Am I going to withdraw or is it true that OxyContin is two times stronger than morphine? Again I'm afraid and stressed thinking that I will be in more pain on this new regimen. True? And I will no longer be able to snort the Oxycodone IR right? I will miss the feeling up and energetic from the IR and I think they know I've been snorting from the millennium test they performed. She said she ran a genetic test on me and that morphine is not for me. True?? Thanks a bunch guy.

 

[Runtoparadise]

Ok, I'm short of time but wanna try to help. Oxy is 1.5 times stronger than morphine.

30 morphine bd.= 20 oxycontin
plus
80 oxycodone tid, =

100 oxy total

New dose

60 ocycontin bd
40 oxycodone

100 oxy total

Hope that helps, lol, & is accurate.

Someone check my math pls, gotta run,

Rtp

 

[ShroomySatori]

Does anyone manage to have a successful career with chronic pain? I have found that since I started working again, my pain level has skyrocketed. It is what I would be doing if I never hurt my back, I prayed to God for this (actually St. Joseph) and my prayer was answered with a higher level technical position thats perfect for, at least the pre-crippled version of myself. Be careful what you wish for, now I have to deal with a lot of responsibility. I even have a great ergo-chair but it's like I have to re-learn how to be a part of society now. I feel like I need more extended release medication, I have almost none of it anymore. It's all IR and I hate having to take it in the workplace. I wake up in withdrawal, and I don't think that would have if I had a reasonable ER dose (maybe 20mg every 12 hours for fucks sake?). Usually I will just step outside with a cup of water or a carrot or something but I need oxy every 3 or 4 hours now, it sucks. I really strongly feel like I should have a couple of Oxy 40's to take each day, but I guess preventing addicts from doing drugs is more important than dealing with pain patients to society. I am going to discuss a dosage increase with my doctor because, with the type of job I have, you really have to be functional.

I'm not really abusing either (although I have, and it scarred me with a high tolerance) but I am self medicating for the other problems associated with chronic pain that I have (depression, borderline, panic attacks)... I mean can you blame me. I told myself when I started using opiates, consciously recognizing that I would become dependent, that I would never blame myself down the road because I had been in agony for so long that there was literally no other option at the time and something had to be done. Kind of wish that I was under doctor supervision when I started using opioids, but that took a long time (and I'm always the only one there without grey hair, makes me feel sad). I don't know any other disabled young adults.

It's really not fun especially, as someone mentioned, nobody can 'see' the pain, and also I look very healthy and fairly strong. You would never ever know until you ask me to help you lift something. It's a personal hell, not even the people closest to me have any idea how it feels. You are not supposed to feel pain in the spine 24/7, I didn't even know that was possible or I never would have never even gotten into any athletics. I lasted less than a week at work before it started causing disruptions and I knew exactly what to do this time. You go straight to HR if that happens (and if the HR director seems chill) and if your job does not require heavy lifting or anything like that. I guess you have to find an employer that is understanding of disabled people, or go on disability. This is the first time I was honest and explained that I am really messed up and in my opinion that is usually the best thing to do because there isn't as much stigma around illness now.

I've been discriminated in the workplace before. I had a job for many months as a manager of engineering. The pain got so bad I started taking time off to go to the doctor and the hospital but it was a small town and I didn't have time for it. I was brought a letter to sign stating that I would not seek legal action against them (I don't know how well that would hold up in court) and fired because of my back pain impacting my work. I personally feel that I should have been given at least a little time to hit up some doctors because getting spontaneously screwed over like that, especially considering my qualifications just was not fair. I did a lot for them and all they asked was if it happened in the workplace. I said no the gym. I'd recommend finding a small company as opposed to a corporation, and a non-unionized environment as opposed to unionized. One of the biggest issues is we need to get chronic pain people back in the workplace if they want to be; not only free of pain but we deserve a place in society too.

By the way my work is almost entirely just using my brain. It is the sleep schedule, having responsibilities... I have to relearn all of this after being bedridden for so long. I dislike thinking about where I'd be in life if I hadn't hurt my back. I would be a completely different person. Why did things have to happen this way.

Also, my girlfriend calls me derogatory terms like 'junkie' and 'addict' sometimes and I'd just like her to do what they do at the office - keep quiet about it unless I'm really struggling. Even if her words are true, I don't think it's appropriate to say that considering I am disabled. I don't know why I'm mentioning that but I guess it's to say that even my personal relationships are very much impacted. It seems to make everything confusing but at least I haven't lost my sex drive.

 

[MrRoot]

I have back problems due combat injury and couldn't keep up working on military anymore so I decided to start my own business as consultant for people starting their own business. Did that for some years but couldn't bear the stress and increasing back pain from desk work although I even could plan my own daily schedule.

I can't even imagine working as an engineer due the back problems and co-occurring problems with painkillers.

I currently have an oppurtunity to do nothing because veteran compensation except writing some articles to a newsletters on my native language and writing novels as well. My first novel is about to be released in the fall.

Can you retire early due your health problems and get enough compensation to be able to live decently and then work on your own terms?

 

[Runtoparadise]

Shroomy, why do you Allow your girlfriend to call you things such as junkie and addict?

That is very poor form and you should not have to put up with that really awful behaviour!!

It's awesome you're able to work, with difficulties,- but to come home to that kind of criticism is really sad, you're worth so much more than that!!

Rtp

 

[Tinker55]

Does anyone manage to have a successful career with chronic pain?

Yes, I have. For 7 years. It takes some tinkering with the meds to get the lowest possible dose and to learn what you can or cannot do while working. I can get absorbed enough in what I'm doing to forget my dosing for an hour or two past my usual time frame which helps.

You have to be upfront with your employer-be prepared to bring records, letters or whatever but assure them the meds won't impair your ability to do the work. I had surgery for my issues which did not completely cure the problem, but at least my employer could see an objective reason why I had pain. Once I had informed them that I was being managed for chronic pain, I didn't bring it up again and didn't talk about it during the day. I have dr.s appointments etc, but if you keep it quiet, schedule at the time it least disrupts work, there's less of a problem.

Seriously, leading as close as is possible to your usual life and not obsessing about pain, limitations or meds makes you feel more in control and less like you are at the mercy of a body that gave out on you.

And there's no reason you should tolerate that disrespect from your girlfriend.

 

[MrRoot]

What has happened to BigG? He has EX-Bluelighter tag on his profile.

 

[ShroomySatori]

Thanks for the replies, I haven't thought about the future much because I'm not even 30 and my back is right fucked. Honestly have no idea what the future has in store for me health-wise. I'm just focussing on killing it at my job and will see where I head from there.

I am so clueless about women it is actually funny and I laugh at myself, because I know I am figuring it out finally. I am definitely entering the peak age of my life when I am going to be more physically and mentally attractive to women, so it is very frustrating because I know the type of female I want to be with now and it's not her at all. I used to get no interest now there is almost too much that I am getting pissed off about it, and I have no idea why or what changed or what to do (well...). I don't know how to respond when someone who I'm very attracted to flirts with me since every time it seems like I am caught off guard being lost in thought. But then again I didn't really know how to hold a job not too long ago either. It is a self confidence thing I need to work on, probably with therapy. I also don't know how to go through with a breakup or what happens with that since she is my first girlfriend, I've been avoiding it because I feel like I'm going to want to be high. At least we no longer live together. I put up with it because I know it isn't true, I don't get offended and she's just being a brat which I don't even know if I mind or not.

I'm just confused about all that. It's pretty obvious though, I have to break up with her and then next time a beautiful pharmacist (or however it happens) goes out of her way to try and meet me I will return the effort. Doesn't seem too challenging in theory, but three addictions, work and school even chronic pain itself are way easier to deal with than women.

So far I am surviving my career great, I had to bring up the pain thing once then tried to shut up about it. Nobody likes hearing people bitch about back pain, but it had to be brought up that I have problems. Now I have a kind of support system it's good. Problem is if I ever get myself in a nasty withdrawal, it's going to be blatantly obvious what is up. Even from a slight taper I get dysfunctional withdrawal now. And I'm not used to having spending money like this, to the extent that I could afford to use more opioids than I would want to with my current tolerance. That's never been the case since developing a serious dependency (not just a few days of flu-like symptoms, I am definitely at the point where I need it as much or more frequently than food and water and would probably pass up food and water for the drugs, considering that they are harder to acquire.

 

[beta3242]

Help with a OxyContin switch, I'm scared and need some answers, please.

Can someone please explain what break thru pain is? At pain mgmt. After a genetic test that showed morphine was not the drug for me... I am being switched to 30mg OxyContin 2xday, along with only 2 total, 20mg IR oxy for the whole day as needed for break thru pain. ??? I still don't understand what the Dr. meant and was too nervous to ask.

I have been on 30mg ER morphine 2xday with 20mg IR oxy 4xday. But was never told these were for break thru pain. Won't I withdraw on the new regimen I will start in the morning? Will the oxy ER really last me 12 hours? What will I experience? Isn't she prescribing me less drug in all? I'm told by someone on BL that I will no longer experience the "up and energetic" feeling I get from the oxy IR while on OxyContin. True? The IR's help greatly with pain but do admit I also liked the up feelings it privokes. I have heard so many bad things about OxyContin and thought it was different from Percocet but now understand it is Percocet just slow release over 12 hours. Please help with my questions I'm scared to be in pain and scared to make the switch but I have to in the morning. Thx.

 

[Runtoparadise]

Remember it's an even rotation. You'll still get the energy from oxycontin, no need to be nervous, you'll not withdraw or feel lethargic.

Breakthrough pain is what teh IRs are for. Just as you had previously. For when the ERs not holding you.

Stop stressing dude!

Rtp

 

[Runtoparadise]

What has happened to BigG? He has EX-Bluelighter tag on his profile.

Have an idea he does his best to be banned....he'll come back under another username, it's just his thing.

Uv gotta know his trademark slang, then you'll pickup when he's back :D

Rtp

 

[ShroomySatori]

I've been on a bunch of different combos of IR and ER oxy, and in my experience having a lot of both of them is best. If I only use one, I will miss the other. If you don't have extended release, once you get a habit going (pretty much unavoidable in the long run) those can be really handy to keep you stable and out of withdrawal. Otherwise, with IR only there will be ups and downs once you get a habit. I hit interdose withdrawal all the time without extended release, taken as prescribed, if I'm only doing percs but then again my doses are normally low as fuck. Well not really... but I use 80mg of oxy in a 24 hour period after using daily for years. It's really not that much to me, but I don't want to get into the 100's of milligrams if I can avoid it. I'm going to push for different types of treatment for my spine. In the meantime I do a lot of yoga and cycling, it seems to help.

I feel like extended release insidiously upped my tolerance without giving me too much relief. IR is a lot more predictable in my experience (because of stomach contents etc). It's been a good few years and I am still figuring it out, but at the moment I'm definitely leaning towards instant release oxy without apap. percocet ruins it with the apap because I am a health nut already concerned about my liver health. The problem with it is that my tolerance is too high for percocet now, that it will mess my liver up if I dose those enough. So I really want instant release that does not contain apap. That would be great, but unfortunately those are probably too hard to get prescribed in public health care.

I am doing incredibly well, I have held my job for a long while now. Definitely really happy and proud of that. It has taken a lot. I've had to relearn how to be a part of society, and my ability to think abstractly and do mathematics has been slow. I think it's more from the depression associated with chronic pain that I went through, rather than the drugs like the benzos making me slow. I haven't been exercising those special parts of my mind that are useful to society. Chronic pain stole 5 years of my life, but I finally have myself back on course. I am doing exactly what I want to do, maybe things didn't work out ideally but that's life. Sure I gotta take that oxy every day or I could never design shit and I am definitely an addict at this point but I am not going to beat myself up over treating excruciating pain in my spine with a highly addictive painkiller.

Also, to the person who mentioned they held a job with chronic pain for 7 years, that was inspiring to me. It's hell trying to get ahead in my career when I'm being held back by this bullshit. At least I am still smart technically. I was worried I was going to have to go on disability in my 20's so this is just great, that a doctor could finally help me out even if it took a long time. I had to wait, to see if the pain would go away on its own anyway.

Peace to my fellow chronic pain homies!

 

[OldManBenzo]

Hello all! I am posting because I've got to get this off my chest and would love some of your opinions. I've been irresponsible in the past with drugs and booze. Hence my silly username. But all jokes aside I have put all that behind me now. I've really struggling with pain since I was young and now that I'm just trying to do the right thing and be responsible. I have this constant pain in my upper back I think they call it the thorasic. Right between my right shoulder. It feels like a sharp pain and a mucle in a ball. It's hard to explain. Anyways I've seen my doctor and he prescribed percocet 5mg and 10. At first he gave me 60 5mg but that doesn't relieve the pain then after I told him that he sais that he really doesn't like percocet and lectured me about narcotics. I am well aware of addiction but honestly I don't get any relief from just on 10mg perc. It takes like 50mg which I feel really bad about not filling the dose instructions. So after the lecture he said that he will only prescribe 10 10mg perc a month. I know docs have to be careful about prescribing opiates. I do have xray appointments tomorrow but I really just want to not have this constant pain anymore. Should I get the xray and see a pain management doc. Or do I just need to tell this doc that I realize that pain pills are not the end all be all answer but I really need a higher dose in order to feel comfortable. I'm not trying to become a drug addict, I've been down that road and want nothing to do with it. I know that a mri needs to be done and I'm going to do that. What is some of your experiences with just kinda sticking up for yourself with doctors who make you feel intimidated when prescribing meds. I would really like to hear some feedback. Sorry for the essay.

 

[Runtoparadise]

I'm sorry to hear of your pain, it sounds as though it's been troubling you for years!

Were you self medicating for pain or just enjoying the recreational use of drugs & alcohol? I'm sure you know if you were messing with opi's that's where your problem now lies with obtaining pain relief by prescription.

By your description it sounds as though your rhomboid area is involved. Has your dr referred you to a good physio?

Have the X-ray, but why do you think you need an MRI? Definitely go to a PM dr, if no bony pathology shows up ask your PM about trigger point injections. They (depending on how thick or thin you are), a Push a fine, long needle inches into certain muscle areas until BAM, they hit the right spot & the tight/twisted muscle & related nerves can finally unwind.

Regarding meds, you must be very careful,- if it's on record enough times that the opi's aren't wrkng/strong enough then at some point a drs going to take you off of them...saying they don't work for your pain.

Time is your only weapon here. Let them see you're pursuing allied health, getting day surgery to fry nerves in your thoracic spine, see you attending hydrotherapy for instance. Then it's time to ask for a change or an upgrade.

For instance it's not as though you can lift underwater weights during hydro if you don't have adequate analgesia on board. Same with the at home exercises the physio has given you,- that's where you have some leverage with these drs.

You're doing what they want, however pain is preventing you doing it 100%. That's the ace card in your pocket.

Another thing I've learnt along my very, very long journey, is that doctors are not above us. Yes they hold the prescription pad, but that is all.

Even with my PM,for a long time I always felt he was the judge & I was the defendant. It sure is not that way now. I don't know why some of us turn meek & powerless in front of them.

Recently,(being assessed for my hit/run injuries by a new PM), he ended our consult by saying he'd chat with my GP & discuss lowering three of my meds.

No, I said. I'm happy for you to talk to my GP, but I'm not hanging my meds. That's how I get through life with as little pain as possible, yet you want to lower them? What good will that do me, cause me more pain? No, I won't change.

That was that. Wish you well with your X-ray,

Rtp

 

[Amaraline]

Hi all. Props to everyone trying to live day to day with horrible pain, it isn't easy, I know.

I've been a heroin addict for 18 years, clean from that for 9 months now. 4 years ago, I was in a severe (near fatal) car accident that ironically had nothing to do w/ drugs. But besides extreme internal bleeding and a ruptured spleen which almost killed me, I broke/dislocated my right hip, shattered my lower right leg, and broke my right arm in several places. After many surgeries, I was sent to a rehab center to learn to walk again, which I did. After 4 months, I was discharged.

Literally 2 days later (this is true), my hip dislocated again, for the first of 30 - odd times. Eventually, I got hip replacement surgery, but believe it or not, it kept dislocating. The staff at my local emergency room got to know me on a first name basis b/c of this issue. Then this past June, I had yet another surgery (captured cup, they call it, and it's considered an extreme last resort). So now I am in physical therapy again, and feel about 80 years old, even though I'm 41.

For the past 2 years I've been seeing a pain management doc, who is also my primary care doc. I'm currently on 20 MG oxy IR, 6x/day, plus klonopin, 1 mg 4x/day, and Gabapentin, 900 mg/day for nerve pain (which, so far as I can tell, doesn't do much of anything). The pain is still there, some days ok, but other days monstrous. Has anyone else out there had an extended period where they have to keep learning how to walk again w/o crutches or a walker? Any advice/opinions would be appreciated. Thanks, guys. Peace, all.

 

[Speed King]

I'm lost and don't understand this stuff. You guys are all so smart. I have been on 30mg ER morphine 2xday and 20mg IR Oxycodone 4xday. Now they want me to start on Sunday, 30mg ER OxyContin 2xday and only 20mg IR Oxycodone 2xday. My question is have they under dosed my total opiates. Am I going to withdraw or is it true that OxyContin is two times stronger than morphine? Again I'm afraid and stressed thinking that I will be in more pain on this new regimen. True? And I will no longer be able to snort the Oxycodone IR right? I will miss the feeling up and energetic from the IR and I think they know I've been snorting from the millennium test they performed. She said she ran a genetic test on me and that morphine is not for me. True?? Thanks a bunch guy.

Hello. Welcome to Bluelight. You have deep and interesting questions, that the folks in this thread will answer. First off, the oxycodone is at a minimum, 1.5 times the strength of morphine, on paper. Theoretically speaking, your dose has gone up, by replacing the morphine with oxycodone. Next, you will simply be digging yourself a hole, if you try to defeat and sniff your tamper resistant oxycodone. It is dangerous, your tolerance goes up, while the oxycodones effectiveness actually goes down. Bioavailability is high for oxycodone when taken orally. You will feel different to begin with, due to the simple fact that oxycodone isn't morphine.

Now, if you are used to and like the effect of IR oxycodone, may I suggest you take that first during the day. The tamper resistant oxycodone will provide nice (subjective) pain relief, but will probably lack the kick of the IR. BTW, those cheek swab tests are pretty deep. I had one and my doctor was able to tell me about which benzodiazepines and amphetamines my body responded to.

I have just started using CBD products ( 50 state legal and non psychoactive ) derived from hemp. I have three bulging disks, my back gets stiff and nerve pain. I have already noticed effects from the product. I however am stopping pain medication in favor of medicinal marijuana. CBD may be something worth looking into, to supplement your pain treatment.

Now on to the fun part. It is hard to say whether or not you will have any major withdrawal effects from switching your medications and route of administration. Depending on how much oxycodone you were railing, you will probably have some, but hopefully nothing dramatic.

The other medications you are taking, should supplement your opiates just fine. The Hydroxyzine will help with the sleep, the Loeazepam will, along with the Hydroxyzine help with relaxation and sleep. Your diphenoxylate atropine, will help supplement the oxycodone and mix well with your other drugs. Your bacloclfen and Gabapentin are pretty much a one, two punch.

If I were you, I'd make sure that on top of taking your medication correctly, be careful with the baclofen and Gabapentin. Those two suck in the incorrect type of withdrawal.

Pardon, if I am rambling a bit, but I have had a nice morning.

I'm almost done. I am not sure, how long you have been taking the Gabapentin @ 4800 mg a day. I'm going to assume 800mg, 4 times a day. Now there is an interesting catch to how your body uses Gabapentin. As your dosage goes up, the drug is actually less effective. Your body can only take up so much Gabapentin into your system at a time. To keep this simple, if you split your 800 mg tablet into two doses and started stacking the dose by taking 400 mg an hour, straight up, you would more than likely reach a satisfactory level of relief, before hitting all 4800 mg. There are threads on this site covering what I told you. It works. Also, depending how you take the rest of your coctail of medication, the Gabapentin should potentiate or synergize with some of your medications, like lorazepam/Ativan for instance.

I hope I helped you a bit. Speed King

beta3242, you are not alone. There is a very diverse community on this site and we are here to help.

 

[AnnaBanana333]

Wow! So many new comers! Welcome! Please don't apologize for anything; that is what we are here for. This is the place you can be your honest self, complain, be anxious, but also celebrate the victories.

To answer a few questions; I have a successful career; I am a full time technology teacher and trainer. It helps that my hours are great (9-3) and my schedule is flexible. I'm also very fortunate that I live 5 minutes from my office (not a coincidence; planned), so I can take breaks if needed. My boss is also amazing, totally trusts us, so we don't have to show him where we are every minute of the day.

I do trade some lifestyle things by working full time. I can't usually go out with my girl friends after a long day's work. I do cook, but my house is messy. I can't do it all, but I'm happy with my choices.

To answer some other questions; Oxycodone is best taken orally; it has a 80-90% bioavailability (the most gets into your system) when taken orally (chew them for faster affect). This is not true of all meds.

I agree and second what RtP says about responding to drug amounts. I'm considered 'an easy patient', and usually get what I ask for, because I have taken myself off drugs when possible. They know me well, and know that I will try whatever they suggest and want to be on the lowest amount of meds possible.

What we chronic pain sufferers have is a hard question to ask ourselves every day: do we enjoy taking our meds? On the one hand, we need them to thrive. On the other hand, addiction is so common, can happen to anyone at anytime. But we're in pain; don't we deserve a little pleasure? I struggle with this quandary every day. I never used to enjoy my meds; I never ran out early. I switched to a stronger med, and now I see what the fuss is about. And I've run out every month for the last 3 months. This means it's time for a change for me. But it's hard to give up the little piece of joy, I know, but I need to find joy in other ways. I've started meditating again. When people suggested that for pain relief, I scoffed at them. But I don't do it solely for that purpose now. It's a great tool to focus your mind.

Anywho, enough from me. Hopefully all you new folks stuck around, and find some support here for the things we can't control in our lives. You'll find no judgement; sometimes a mirror, but no judgement, because we've all been there.

Best,
Annabanana