Pain killers - your preference?

[Cooley Hurd]

Hi Gang... I was in a car wreck a week ago and mangled my leg pretty bad. My tibia and fibula were both shattered and were put together after a 3 hr operation. Anyhow, I'm on 1000mg of Vicadin every 4 hrs, but I find the pain returns after only 2 1/2 to 3 hrs. Is there something more effective? I'm trying to stick to the prescription, but when the pain comes back, it's pretty excruciating. Any suggestions on alternatives or pain management tips?

[Booberdawg]

1. Maybe the Dr would give you something more effective

if they are not lasting long enough?

[Cooley Hurd]

3. He made it sound like Vicadin was the big guns...

I'm going to call him tomorrow but wanted tips on other drugs...

[Booberdawg]

5. I don't know what class Vicadin is in

Oxycontin is definately a strong one. :D

[Myra]

7. I seriously doubt the Dr will prescribe Oxy, but...

I think Vicodin can come in ES (extra strength), and that
there are potentiating drugs that can be taken with it
that make a huge difference. Wish I could recall the names...

You poor baby.
Call your Dr; don't sit around in pain.

[ZenLefty]

8. Vicadin is a narcotic (hydrocodone)

I'm told you can't take that stuff long term without developing an addiction. Which is fine by me, since it doesn't do crap for me.

Honestly, out of all the stuff I've been prescribed for various pains and sufferings, Advil (ibuprofen) works best for me.

[ProfessorGAC]

30. Sort of Like Me

The pain in MS is associated with a inadvertant firing of CNS neurons in the pain centers of the brain. The pain isn't actually in my legs, so almost all pain medications are useless, since it's not a matter of blocking the synaptic interfaces between the source of damage and the brain.

Since Tylenol is a CNS analgesic, it's really the only thing that helps, and that's practically negligible too.

Whacha gonna do? Just grin and bear it, i guess.
The Professor

[scarlet_owl]

2. Endocet is good, but it doesn't last very long either.

How long the effectivness of the pain relief is is dependent on the amount of pain you are in and the amount you are taking. I had minor surgery last month and was okay with one Endocet every six hours, but for something like what you went through, pain relievers may not last as long. I don't really know what to tell you. I'm surprised they didn't give you anything stronger than Vicodin. One thing I will tell you is to remember to get lots of fiber, because you will be constipated with those medications. Feel better soon!

[Cooley Hurd]

4. Thanks, S_C!

...and I know what you mean about needing fiber. Ugh...

[bratcatinok]

6. I take pain meds

on a regular basis for chronic pain. You might talk to your doctor about lowering the dose but taking it every 2 hours or in otherwords instead of 1000 every 4 ask about 500 every 2. It might not be feasible though if 500 isn't enough to dull the pain to a point where it's bearable.

[girl gone mad]

9. Vicodin..

doesn't last long for me, either. I used to break mine in half and take them every 4 hours instead of 1 every 8 hours. That seemed to work better for me for some reason. I think Oxycontin is a time release version of vicodin, which may be better for you.

Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you find a way to get some relief. Doctors can be tough to work with on that issue, thanks to abusers like Rush.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. I am SO sorry to hear that

Charlie is my painkiller!

Talk to your doc about the dosage of vicodin. If it is 1000 mg's you should be able to take one and one half every four hours for a limited time without getting dependent or overdosing. When I had my back surgery, they dischared me on 2 750 mg pills every four hours but I didn't need them.

I think one and one half 1000's is equivalent to 2 750's.

There is also this machine (can't remember the name) that is really an ice shest with a pump and a foam pad with velcro...the pump sends cold through it and you wrap it around you after surgery to help with the swelling, inflammation and pain. It is very helpful for pain since ice actually can numb pain (but you DO need extra blankets ...my teeth chattered but it made a huge difference)

If that still doesn't work, talk to your doc about duragesic patches...less addictive than other meds and you can put the patch locally on the area where the pain is.

Get well. Wishing you a speedy and soon to be painfree recovery.

[Cooley Hurd]

11. Chuckiemutt's staying w/ a friend for the time being...

You can imagine how much I miss him, but one leap on my leg and it's back in the hospital for me (was in for a week - got out Thanksgiving).

I've never heard of localized duragesic patches. I'd almost prefer that because the Vicadin, in addition to making me constipated, also makes me queasy. I'll ask my Dr tomorrow about the patches. Thank you, NSMA and everyone else for your suggestions and well-wishes! It's been a sucky week...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. I am REALLY SO SORRY

Also get some Colace...it is mild but makes a huge difference with the constipation..one almost HAS to take it after trauma or surgery. The benefit of the vicodin however is it KEEPS YOU DOWN which you should be for the most part until they tell you it is OK to bear weight.

Really I am bummed to hear this. I'll bet ole Chuckie misses you bad.

Get well friend. YOu have been such a support to me in the past.

[Fridays Child]

12. Request Oxycontin. It's time-released and acetominophen-free.

Good luck in your recovery! :hug:

[Cooley Hurd]

13. The thing I fear the most about Oxycotin is...

having ANYTHING in common w/ Rush Limbaugh. Right now we're polar opposites in every way and I like it that way... :D

[OneBlueSky]

19. then you might try percocet . . .

which is the same stuff as oxycontin (oxycodone), though mixed with acetametaphine and not time released . . . good for about 4 hours of relief at a time . . .

[Myra]

21. Percocet is the second strongest to Oxy

And it's easier to get a prescription for,
given that you clearly need it. That's probably
your best bet. Do ask your doc if there's a time
release version of a good pain med. 'Cause once
severe pain returns it harder to get rid of than
it is to just prevent it in the first place.

[Garage Queen]

29. Yep, Percoset rules

I had all 4 wisdom teeth pulled at once (two were impacted) and the doctor prescribed both Percoset and ultra-mega-doses of Ibuprofen. Per his instructions I would take the "alternate" medication every two hours (as in: Percoset at noon, ibuprophen at 2, Perc at 4, etc) and never experienced any discomfort. I was back at work in two days, and only took the Percoset for 3 more (mostly right before bed to make sure I wasn't awakened by a pain reoccurrence).

Now, I know that a banged up leg is FAR more serious than pulled wisdom teeth, but perhaps your doctor can get you on a regimen like mine. The stronger medication intertwined with a "lesser" medication to keep a constant flow of pain relief in your blood stream. The "morphine pump" also sounds like a good option for you.

Take care and good luck!

[LynneSin]

31. I was like that when I got a prescription to Xanax

All I could visualize was me with a bad Noelle Bush hairdo jonesing for more Xanax (I was stressing out at work and getting nasty panic attacks). The doctor only gave me the lowest dosage and I've yet to take one (I figured I know they are there, but will only take them in case of severe panic attacks)

[thatgemguy]

15. Morphine

I suffer chronic low back pain. I recently started to see a new pain specialist and he told me how much he believes in narcotics. Much to my surprise he prescribed Morphine (MS Contin)for me.

It is a time release compound like Oxycontin and very effective, although I am dozin' and droolin' often.

Don't be afraid to tell your doctor about your pain issues, and if he's worth anything he will get you what you need to get relief.

Good luck, and take care...:-)

[mitchum]

16. Dilaudid

[Meshuga]

17. Laughing gas!

[Cooley Hurd]

18. That's a hard one to fill at the CVS...

Will "whippits" do? :silly:

[trackfan]

20. Morphine is the best

Dilaudid is also very good - but makes me a bit dizzy. On the plus side for Dilaudid, it doesn't seem to cause constipation as much as Morphine does.

[Padraig18]

22. I had a similar problem, and may I suggest...

I also had orthopaedic surgery, and had post-surgical pain-control problems exactly like your own; what my doctor did was have me take an initial 'loading dose' of 1000 mg. of Vicodin, and then take a 500 mg. dose every 2 hours, rather than the whole 1000 mg. every four hours. The result was a more constant blood-serum level of hydrocodone and better pain-control without increasing the amount of Vicodin overall. He also gave me permission to take HALF of another Vicodin (250 mg.) as *needed* for 'break-through' pain control (never needed to do that, though).

Just a suggestion, but ask your doc what he/she thinks.

:hi:

On edit: The psychology of pain is such that the anticipation of pain can often increase the perception of the pain itself, hence the importance of maintaining good analgesia. :)

[Spider Jerusalem]

23. Suggestion:

Take the Vicodin with 2 Benadryl and a glass of grapefruit juice. Antihistamines and grapefruit are opiate potentiators; it will be somewhat more effective and perhaps longer-lasting.

[argyl]

24. Orthopedic surgeons are often very conservative with painkillers.

They're closely monitored and if an orthopedic surgeon should lose or have his narcotics license suspended,they are,in effect,out of business.
I suffered a tib\fib break a number of years ago and Vicodin was insufficient for me also.I finally got my doctor to prescribe Talacene,which was a little better,but not much.I was basically in agony for several months.
For more powerful medication such as morphine or dilaudid you may have to see a doctor who specializes in pain management.These are doctors who basically have the guts to prescribe sufficient pain medication.They're not easy to find.
If you can't get stronger pain medication then maybe your doctor will prescribe an anti anxiety medication such as Xanax or Ativan.You'll still hurt but it won't drive you up the wall and you'll be able to eat and sleep better also.
I can sympathize.I didn't take a step without a cast on my leg for seven months.Best of luck.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. While Vicodin ES is great for managing pain, when I was very

sick and in a lot of pain...I was on 2 700 mg every 4 to 6 hours...I do suggest you contact your doctor. There are other types of medicines, including a morphine patch which might help in your case. Deep breathing and meditation also works well for me, as I don't like to be drugged up. Good luck, hope you feel better soon.

[Beaker]

26. Vicoprofen- ask for it by name.

It's just like Vicodin, except that it combines the hydrocodone with ibuprofen(advil) rather than acetominophen(tylenol).

[Corgigal]

27. What about an pain pump?

My husband has one implanted but they have other that you can actually carry on the outside. The tubing goes right into the spinal cord sac and the narcotics are always going throught the body but you don't use as much as you would if you took a pill.

Depends on how long you expect to recover from your trauma and not every patient can get a pain pump but for my family, his life changed. Not to mention if medication is put directly into a pain pump and not filled at the drugstore then RX is covered 100 percent. With my husband on medicare that made a huge difference for us.

[corarose]

28. I have RSD and I take Darvocets

Go for the pain pump.

I have been on disability for a while and believe it or not I was approved for SSD by their Doctors for a botched surgery that I had.

[mdmc]

32. herb

yup... not to shabby... Please think of pain as a gift; without it, you would not realize that something is wrong.

[SoCalDem]

33. Nothing beats a couple of vicodin when it REALLY hurts

:)