Opioids Severs chronic pain....need dosing advice

[HunterSS]

Hi, I am fairly new here but have read countless pages of previous threads trying to educate myself more on my medications as such. One of the problems is it is such a massive amount of information to sort through. So.....thought I'd reach out to you guys and hope for some advice etc.
First off, I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and facet disease. I have had MRIs, CT scans and have progressed from 5mg of hydro condone .750 apap to 20 mg. of OxyContin twice a day with 5 mg oxycodone 325. Mg APAP four times daily, over a four year period. The new combination was change last week. Still hurt so bad I am missing work and sitting on the sidelines missing out on life. I am in my early 50s.
I still have some of the 7.5 hydro condone 325 APAP left. Can I use or supplement my current dosage with these or will they decrease the effects of the OxyContin and oxycodone.
Before they changed me over to the new stuff I was sometimes having to do a CWE with the hydro..
I remember back inna day when my back would hurt and at least. I knew I would have a little buzz as a consolation prize till the back got better. Now all I want is to stop the pain.
Since my GP just changed me from hydro to oxy......should I risk asking him to adjust the dosage right off the bat. I can't take the risk of being labeled as a drug seeker. Without the meds I could not even get out of bed to pee.
I have another appointment with a neurosurgeon today.....a new one.....old one left the practice. I have had 5 of the spinal shots with novicaine and steroids. Sometimes they help for a month or so, sometimes a week or so.
Any comments, advice, criticism ......any opinions would be welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks

 

[HunterSS]

Should have read SEVERE......not severs.....lol. Small keypad

 

[OtterNonsense]

You can take them together, the hydrocodoe and oxycodone/cotton pretty safely at those doses. I think with your little knowledge of this world that if you did talk to your doctor about all your pain management options you wont be labeled as drug seeking. Just don't come right at him immediately demanding more. Ask him how long it should take for it to become effective. Ect....

Depending on where you are maybe medical cannabis is an option for you. I find that in tandem with opiates it really great for managing chronic pain.

Good luck.

 

[alt 14]

I don't know what it's like to be in that kind if chronic pain, I don't. But if i was unfortunate enough to have a condition like that, I would be 100% honest with your doctor about the pain. If you can't stand it, then that's just what it is. I mean you know a little discomfort vs severe pain, everyday.. Also I wouldn't abuse the meds. Or expect any kind of a buzz. But you know that and it's good.

So take a personal inventory and really evaluate if the dose is working. Before you do anything. It's your life not ours.

 

[Tnich55]

As a simple response, taking the hydrocodone will be fine as a supplement to the oxycodone. It will not cause any reduced effects; if anything it will be an increased effect. One important point is not to go over the recommended maximum of 4000mg of APAP, which you seem to know as you mentioned doing a CWE sometimes.

In my opinion I would agree with the others, ask questions and be honest about your pain, without jumping right to asking directly for more or higher doses, if that makes sense.

I wish you the best of luck, I have multiple folks around me in similar situations with chronic pain, and just seeing them in the pain they are in I feel for you and can only imagine what the average day must feel like for you.

 

[Corazon]

There is no risk involved.

Take ONLY as prescribed. And ONLY adjust your dose AFTER your doctor adjusts it.
You have legitimate pain, he gets paid to treat you. You be honest with him.

If you stick to the code, you have nothing to risk. Worse that happens is he says "hey... your mild-severe pain should be covered with the current dose, and I don't want to increase it". End of story.

Never rationalize yourself to adjust the dose, always work with your doctor and keep your legitimacy.

 

[Tnich55]

There is no risk involved.

Take ONLY as prescribed. And ONLY adjust your dose AFTER your doctor adjusts it.
You have legitimate pain, he gets paid to treat you. You be honest with him.

If you stick to the code, you have nothing to risk. Worse that happens is he says "hey... your mild-severe pain should be covered with the current dose, and I don't want to increase it". End of story.

Never rationalize yourself to adjust the dose, always work with your doctor and keep your legitimacy.

This really does say it. It doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong / breaking your agreement (using other drugs, failing urinalysis, etc). Like Corazon said the worst that can happen is he says you need to stick with this dose now, most likely if that is the case there will be an opportunity further down the road. I really doubt you would get a firm NO with no adjustment in the future.

 

[HunterSS]

Can't believe I could have found any better advice anywhere else. Felt strange to be putting my life and drug addiction out there in the open for the first time in public. The reward in replies makes the risk well justified. I did see the new neurosurgeon today and received the strongest, albeit most painful, shot with the 12 hour Novocain straight into the nerve down to the bone. Right leg was useless for 3 hours.....but the steroids should kick in within 24 hrs. And reduce some of the inflammation which should hopefully also reduce down the pain level.
I have always had the APAP counter clock running in my head. Only hit over 3900 mg. a few times in all these years. That should come down by half now because of the medication changes. Have taken all my daily prescribed meds already today so I am going to take just 1 or 2 of the 7.5 hydros I have left to end the day and hopefully get some sleep.
Again, you all have made me feel welcome and at home and it is deeply appreciated. I will definitely be around and hopefully can contribute if the opportunity presents itself and I have something worthy enough to add. Without being specific I know a good deal about respiratory medications if anyone has a question or needs info on the subject.
Thanks.........Hunter........

 

[Morphling]

Be really careful about adjusting your own doses. If you raise your tolerance above the doses being prescribed you, you'll suffer. Tolerance is a bitch, try to keep it as low as possible.

Sorry to hear you're in pain! I know how that goes. Seriously, just be honest with your doctor. People that specialize in treating pain actually do have some expertise in the matter, and they are there to help you.

 

[HunterSS]

Took the advice to heart and had a candid conversation with the GP. After another spinal injection , this time with the heavy dosage of Novocain and steroids.....I went back to work. After 7 and half hours into a 12 hr shift, I was in agony. Needless to say they sent me home. I went to the GP and he doubled the OxyContin to 40 mg twice daily as well as keeping the oxy 5s for a quick hit. I have the pain under some manageable control....but my God....how long will it take to get used to the 40 mg adjustment. At first you feel pretty good but then your head feels like it has a motor running inside it. I am praying my body will adjust like it finally did for the hydro codons. It's like I went from a bicycle straight to a motorbike.....lol.

 

[Morphling]

Ahh yeah, the analgesia from the anesthetics wears off really fast, and it takes a long time for the steroids to do anything. Have to contend with the pain from the manual insertion of the needles too. I hate injections.

It sounds like your doctor is being both responsible and compassionate, good for you! You'll adjust to the oxy increase pretty fast.

Good luck man!