Just got back from pain management appt!

[Jessica12974]

I just got back from my pain management appt and it did not go quite as I would have liked but I did get my Norco upped to 6X a day instead of 4. And she gave me another script for Klonopin .5mg and gave me Ultram 2x as needed just to have. Even though I told her that the Ultram causes migraines! Oh and also she added Lyrica 50 mg and she said that it causes weight gain! Great just what I need to get even more fatter than I already am! I put on 35+ pounds from lack of movement from this awful pain! I was kind of hoping for a total change in narcotic to maybe something like ms contin or oxycontin! I want a life again and I want to work again! I told her this! Maybe I should give this a chance. Maybe by some miracle the pain will let up and I will be more active and not get even fatter? I feel so hopeless!!!! Those of you taking long lasting narcotics like oxycontin or ms contin how did you do it? How did you get your Dr to give it to you? Was it given after trying several meds? If 1 Norco does not work and 1 1/2 hours later I am still in pain I do not see how adding 2 more for the day will help? Maybe the Lyrica will make the difference? I am exhausted and fed up with all of this!!!!

[jen74]

I am sorry your appointment did not go as well as you expected. I know alot of doctors will not prescribe the strong pain meds due to the fact they worry about all the side effects that come with them and think we will become addicted. It is sad, but now a days you have to be diagnosed with cancer to be able to get any type of good pain relief. I think they should have some compassion when it comes to debilitating diseases like this and that we should be able to get pain relief. It is just inhumane to have a person suffer when they dont have to or when there is help out there. Bet if it was the doctors spouse,or child who was the one in pain, they would not hesitate for a split second to get their loved ones some pain relief.
Jen

[Sarojini]

I actually never asked for long-acting narcotics. I started out with some Lortab, then Percocet -- but my doc and I both decided at one point that a long acting narcotic with Percocet for breakthrough pain when needed would be the best. They really are, since they keep the level of medication in your system more constant.

I used MS-Contin for a while and it worked well for the first bit, but then it seemed my body got accustomed to it. I tried OxyContin, and that did not work at all for me... so then we settled on methadone. Wow. That makes a huge difference for me! I still use Percocet for breakthrough pain, but nowhere near as often as before methadone!

I think if I were you, I might go to your next visit with info about long acting narcotics in hand. Just say you read about them and wondered what they were like, and if your doctor thinks that might be a good option. If she says no, you can always ask why she thinks that. I do warn against asking for a specific medication though -- just say you'd like to discuss long acting pain medications in general.

[ICLori]

I have heard lots of good things about methadone with IC pain. If someone were to ask me, I might even say I heard it was the most effective long-acting narcotic to help IC. But I'm not a doctor, I'm just remembering what I think I have read, so don't pay much attention to my opinion, please, LOL. I don't even take methadone myself, so I don't know personally at all either.

I'm sorry, too, that things didn't go as well as you'd hoped. Brava to you for still looking at the positive things, though, and for being brave enough to give this new regimen a try.

I agree it can be such a frustrating thing, working with doctors sometimes, with this frustrating disease. Grrrrr!

You know, I could be totally wrong, my memory isn't the greatest, but I thought Kara29 had used Lyrica and got good results with it for urethral-type pain? Don't know. Also, I think (could be wrong) that I read, Neurontin causes weight gain in many patients but Lyrica does the opposite in many patients (best is to ask your doctor or pharmacist, but if you can't reach them, an internet site from a reputable site, like the NIH or Mayo Clinic, might be helpful in answering questions.)

Blessings, and I hope this regimen works for you and leaves you totally pain-free,
Lori

[jen74]

My doctor wants me to start lyrica also. I have not yet taken it, I was a little worried about the possible side effects. It is known to cause constipation,and I tend to lean that way as it is at times, especially now since my diet is so limited.
My pharmacist did say that it can cause weight gain. She said she knew a women who her arms swelled up three times their size. Also it can cause vision issues. But not everyone gets these side effects though. I guess everyone reacts differently to meds. I will likely take it soon, just was holding off because I am pretty sick right now with a flu like virus and also may be getting another UTI( second one this month).
Jen

[TerriT]

I guess I was lucky. My primary had been giving me Vicoden. but once I got a good uro my primary asked me to ask my uro to take care of the pain since he was treating the IC. My uro referred me out to a Pain Clinic. My first appointment I saw the doctor and he asked me what I was taking. I told him Vicoden, and he told me he wanted to put me on a fentanyl patch since my pain is 24/7. He said it is better to be on a constant pain relief level instead of going up and down taking pills. He also wanted to get me off of pain meds with tylenol since too much tylenol is hard on your liver. I have been on the patch for 2 years with no problems.