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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Need some advice on the right painkiller

H

Hate to Feel

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 10, 2011
Messages
53
Got a question that I'd like to get some feedback on from someone who shares a similar disability.

I have degenerative disc disease and because of this I have a protruding disc that presses against my spine. I go to see my PM doctor monthly and she is really understanding and listens to what I have to say. Initially, I started with vicodin and flexeril, then to percocet and zanaflex, and now I'm prescribed oxycodone 15mgs and somas. I like the oxys in the sense that they work well, but like with the others I have been prescribed before, I feel as though I only get about 3-3.5 hrs of relief and then I need more to alleviate the pain in my lower back.

I have a follow-up appointment this week and I am going to discuss this with my PM Doc. I'm about to go back to work (been out on short term) and I suspect that my pain may intensify with the travel, sitting, etc.

Does anyone here have a similar ailment? If so, what has been your course of meds and what has worked best for you? I'm either going to ask my doc to up my mgs or the frequency per day in which I take the oxys (Btw, what is the next higher dose after oxycodone 15mg?) The other alternative I considered was asking about an extended release painkiller that way I'm not taking 5+ pills per day.

Just to re-confirm, I'm not asking what to say to my doc to get a particular med. I feel as though I have a pretty good relationship with her and I've always been honest and in return she has always listened. I'm just curious whether upping the mgs or frequency of the same med (oxycodone) would be better than trying an ER med (maybe Opana).

Any recommendations from someone who has had similar back problems? I do not intend to take this as medical advice. I'm just asking for some advice that may have worked for others.
 
You could try an extended release med then have the oxycodone IR for breakthrough pain i think that is pretty standard for most pain patients.
 
crimsonjunk said:
You could try an extended release med then have the oxycodone IR for breakthrough pain i think that is pretty standard for most pain patients.
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That's not a bad idea. Thanks. Do you have any personal recommendations on what might be the right ER med?
 
my dad has very similar back problems and i have neck and back problems and we both use/used oxycontin and if you take it like you are supposed to then it lasts for about 8 hours
 
Hate to Feel said:
That's not a bad idea. Thanks. Do you have any personal recommendations on what might be the right ER med?
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I hear good things about Opana ER but im just a junky man. Most doctors seem to have go too medications that they know about and feel comfortable prescribing so I would just float the idea and see what happens. best of luck
 
Opana is very strong (oxymorphone) - and it doesn't have THAT long of a half-life. Honestly, something like methadone (low doses, it has a long half-life: 15-60hrs - perfect for long term pain management if it works for you) may be ideal. Maybe 10mg in the AM and 5mg in the PM to carry you through the night, w/ 15mg oxycodone for BT pain.

However, this is definitely something to discuss with your doctor as methadone is a relatively new one to be Rx'd for CP.
 
Stick with oxycodone... You can't miss with it.

A mixture of both IR and ER are very common...

Stick with your zanaflex for getting over little hiccups you may encounter. You are human, and may have fun sometimes...

Soma might be too much fun... There is nothing worse than using it all up before you even get to refill...
 
Psychedelic Jay said:
Stick with oxycodone... You can't miss with it.

A mixture of both IR and ER are very common...
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Does oxycodone come in ER? Isn't the ER oxycodone what they call oxycontin or is it something different?

The oxycodone does help with the pain. It's just that I have to take a 15mg pill (or a pill and a half) every 3.5 hrs. If I stick with the oxycodone IR, what is the next mg available?
 
Psychedelic Jay said:
Yes Oxycontin is ER oxycodone.

15 mg oxycodone irs are available...
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Yeah, I'm currently prescribed oxycodone 15mgs. I'm not sure what she'd say about the oxycontin. Like I said, she's been fair and worked with me on everything else. She knows I have a legitimate back issue and am not just pill seeking. I'm curious as to what she'd say if I were to ask for oxycodone ER (oxycontin) being as though it seems to be taboo with lots of people. What is the next highest dosage of oxycodone IR after 15s? Is it 20s or straight to 30s?
 
This is something to discuss with your pain management doctor, but I agree that an ER preparation for background relief, with extra IR pills for breakthrough pain is your best bet - it's pretty standard for chronic pain.

Have you tried gabapentin or pregabalin? Sometimes neurpathic pain (like the pain you get from disc probems) respons much better to medications like those than it does to opioids..

There is a pain management megathread in the OD directory which you might find helpful :)
 
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