[delights]

My doctor has tried every thing from to A to Z. I started with the patch, and moved up to oxicontin 80mg X 2. Now he has me on Avenza 120 mg 1 x aday. Just how new is avenza? The doctor said that since this didn't work he felt I should go to a pain clinic. I live in St. Louis and haven't found one yet that will prescribe. The Pharmacist said you can take take up 1600mg of avenza aday. I tried 1 1/2 and that helped. I belive 2 might do the trick, but my doctor isn't comfortable that much pain medication. I've had this pain for 2 years now and it took a year of seeing 10 specialist before my doctor would give me anything stronger than Vicodan.[?] Any suggestions?????

[Graduate09]

quote:Originally posted by delights

My doctor has tried every thing from to A to Z. I started with the patch, and moved up to oxicontin 80mg X 2. Now he has me on Avenza 120 mg 1 x aday. Just how new is avenza? The doctor said that since this didn't work he felt I should go to a pain clinic. I live in St. Louis and haven't found one yet that will prescribe. The Pharmacist said you can take take up 1600mg of avenza aday. I tried 1 1/2 and that helped. I belive 2 might do the trick, but my doctor isn't comfortable that much pain medication. I've had this pain for 2 years now and it took a year of seeing 10 specialist before my doctor would give me anything stronger than Vicodan.[?] Any suggestions?????

Yes, Delights.
I may be able to help steer you in the right direction.
After your post about, seeing so many docs, I can sympathize about a few broken vertebrae with ensuing arthritis--and the wait.
First, call Psychiatrists about your situation. The sympathetic ones will tell you who to contact in Neurology where you can be evaluaed for effective pain management.
After I did this, and struck-out with one "Pain Clinic"(They were not ready for my situation), I finally found a Neurologist who happened to be from the Middle East.
After being on DARVON, (that's right), he readily began prescribing Avinza and Actiq suckers. The moment I said 'breakthrough pain', THAT is when my regimen was changed.
PLEASE note that 120mg. is as strong as Avinza is made. I question the pharmacist who told you that 1600mg. was safe. Avinza is a monster time-released narcotic, for 1x Day.
My protocol is now working. Starting in late January 2004, I was titrated up from the lowest doses of meds, to the following: I take ONE 90mg.Avinza a day, with up to TWO 600mcg. Actiq suckers, as needed for real breakthrough pain.
If you have no real or pseudo-addiction,
your body's enzymes might be responding to
the stronger narcotics differently.
Call the most respected Psychiatrist you can find. I discovered that this is the best approach in locating a sane and non-narcophobic Neurologist so I can function
at 95% capacity--before the unmeasurable pain.
Much Luck and God Bless.

FranT.