[tunafizzle]

Ok, here's my problem. I've had chronic back problems/pain for about 6ish years with TERRIBLE sciatic nerve pain in the past year+. For years I tried everything for it ibuprofen, acetamiphen, icey-hot, bengay, heating pads, "back-aid", chinese acupressure, and the list goes on and on. Finally about 2 or so years ago I started taking hydrocodone I got off a co-worker and that finally helped with my pain. I continued buying hydrocodone/oxycodone off of co-workers/friends for months and was taking it just for pain... but after a while I started taking them not just for the pain but for the "high", this went on for a good few months to the point where to get any pain relief I would have to take at least 20mg of Hydrocodone. To get good pain relief for oxycodone I get OK relief at 7.5mg, good relief at 15mg for pain relief. Fortunatly I no longer take them recreactionally (I've taken them for fun maybe 3 times in the past 4 1/2 months) I now only take them when my sciatic nerve is really hitting me hard.


Oh and I don't want to give you the impression I wasn't bothering to see doctors at any point for my pain. I've been going to doctors every year or so for the pain for the last 6 years. Finally I got some x-rays done last october and I turned out to be moderate scolosis (which does f***ing hurt I don't give a s*** what any webmd or any orthopedic doc says, it hurts and I know dozens of people with scolosis that will agree with me on this) All this time the doc's never really did anything for the pain (not even celebrex or anything) instead saying "all we can do is physical therapy, but it won't really help for pain".


Finally I say to myself "my doctors really suck, it's time to see someone else" So i get a recommendation from a co-worker and start seeing someone new, he ends up prescribing me tramadol which really did help for the pain and which I've been taking as directed (3 a day, sometimes I'll take one extra a day when I'm really hurting but usually never more) But it feels as if I'm developing a tolerence to it after these few months that I've been taking it. If I tell this to my doctor the tramadol is working as well as it used to I'm afraid he'll switch me to hydrocodone(5mg) or oxycodone(5mg), which thanks to my tolerence won't help all that much, What should I do? What should I say to him? Should I tell him the truth about my past?


I'd give any other painkiller I haven't tried a shot (Anileridine, demerol, codeine, etc. [cept darvocet, tried that once and it sucks]), but I think he'd try giving me hydrocdone which wouldn't be all that helpful unless I had a prescription for like 360 10mgs every 30 days which would be ridiculous , I'd gladly settle for oxycodone 7.5mg or higher though.


Any comments or advice would be GREATLY appriecated.

Thanks for taking the time to read sorry for the length.

[Cats Meow]

I think divulging that kind of past info will only open a can of worms, making future converstions perhaps appear to be drug seeking behavior.
Since you've been off the hydro and oxys for some time and only on tram your tolerance should be back down, I wouldn't foresee an issue there.
I know some people really like tramadol, and it works well for them, and that's good, but they are so weak compared to everything else, (except for Darv, and T3), it surprises me. Maybe consider asking about Tramadol XR?
To get stronger meds it takes time and documentation, i.e X-rays, MRI, etc.

[3discsoutofwhack]

If the meds that you are on don't seem to work no matter what the reason, just tell the doc what's up and If he gives you hydrocodone, tell him that you were on it before at this milligram and it seemed to help. If you are doing this to get high, you might want to think it through becuase the higher the milligrams the more you will have to detox from. It's a high cost to pay just for a little high. If you are in pain then it should not be a problem to tell your DR. GOOD LUCK
3DISCS

[Noeydoves]

I am writing my first post here, but I have plenty of experience with chronic unrelenting pain. I have been on many medicines to try to make my life a little more tolerable.I am getting ready to have intra thecal pump placed or a spinal cord stimulator, so please trust me when I say, Always be Honest with your DR. It is the only way they can truly help you. I have been in pain for 10 years now,as a result of some injuries during surgery for cancer. I truly know what you go through and I hope your pain will be brought under management, because that is all they can do. You will always still feel the pain, just to a lesser degree. I wanted my pain completely gone, and have always expected that from painkillers, thats just not going to happen though. We people in chronic pain have to learn how to live our lives over again, and to learn to live within boundaries so we do not make it worse. Tell the truth about what works and what does not. I hope your pain is made more tolerable,
Noeydoves

[mpvt]

That's a great point Noeydoves.Opiate painkillers will usually never take away all a patients chronic pain.They are used to help one live as comfortable life as possible without total sedation.I had a nurse tell me this early in my chronic pain and it always stuck with me.Good luck everyone.....Dave