[bustedleg]

I am new to these forums and this is my first post. I am 20 years old and a college student. Two years ago I was involved in an accident at work and came very close to losing my left leg and/or foot. I have had 5 surgeries since and have regained almost all motor functions in my lower leg and foot. My foot and lower shin are still extremely sensitive due to severe nerve damage.

I have been on mainly different strengths of hydrocodone and a small stint of oxycodone for two years now. This is where I start having my problems. I can't seem to get the relief that I need, or maybe just want. I can't help but feel that I should never be in any pain - it wasn't my fault I got hurt, so why should I ever be inconvenienced beyond what I already have been? Perhaps I should not feel this way, but as a once active young man it's hard. Anyway, I was only on the percocets for 3 months after my 5th surgery, but they quickly took me off of them and back on the lortabs. Right now I am prescribed 4 a day.

Because I am not getting all the relief I am needing, I tend to take more than 4 a day, and last month I ran out too soon. I am not allowed to get them refilled early, so I just had to do nothing for 3 days...this was the first time in over 2 years that I had not taken something on a daily basis. I had no idea that I had become slightly dependant on these things for other than pain. I really don't take them for recreation at all. I know how valuable they are. After about 12 hours I thought I just had a cold, but by the 2nd day I was in full blown withdrawal - I even threw up. I wasn't really shaking like I've read about other people doing, but I was sneezing twice a minute, my nose was running constantly, I would be freezing one minute then burning hot the next, and I even had a friend tell me after the fact what a royal ***hole I was for those days.

I don't know what to do...I go to school full time, work, and would like to maintain some sort of social college life. I am torn between asking my doctor for something stronger and just staying what I'm on and keep running out early. I have been referred to a pain clinic so I actually think that if I ask for stronger meds they will give them to me...but is that what I want? How long until they wont be working either? I'm hoping maybe someone could shed some light on the difference in lortab and percocets. After being on the percocets for no time at all will I become "immune" to them too? Or will they last longer? I hope all this makes sense, and I appreciate any input.

[LovlyM]

You can become used to your specific dose. I cant think of the exact word for it. What that means is that you have been taking a certain dose for so long and your body gets used to it making you need a higher dose for the same effect. Speak to you MD about geting you on another pain med for "break through pain"..what that does is lets you take you regular meds as prescribed and take other meds when pain breaks through..allowing you to handle the pain with the second med vs. taking all of the first med and running out. Good luck!

Micky

[cheetahfreak]

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[cheetahfreak]

yes, you're body builds a certain amount of tolerance to the pain meds
my sister went from Lortabs, to morphin to oxycontin and now fentanyl and lortabs.
she even tried "pain management" which involved patches and NO narcotics.
she still complains of pain.
don't give up! talk talk talk to your doctor and get other opinions.
every doctor is different!

[bustedleg]

Thank you both for your replies...I think I will mention some extra meds for the "break through" pain. After this past surgery that's what they did. I was given I think it was lortab 7.5 6x a day then percocet 5s 3x daily. That really did seem to work well but my doctor was worried that the stuff was too strong. Not too long after that I was still in a lot of pain, so they just said they couldn't do anything else for me, and sent me to the pain clinic. To be honest, I wouldn't think anything of asking for more medicine because I actually am in more pain than I can manage right now, but I have a family history of addiction...be it alcohol or pain meds. I guess I'm just scared of putting myself in a position to become physically addicted beyond return.

One last question...they also perscribe me Lunesta 2mg to help me sleep at night. Sleeping was a huge problem with me because I either had to be up early for school or work every morning and I couldn't seem to sleep well. I would either not be able to fall asleep or have these crazy dreams about trucks running over my leg, or tigers chewing on it. I was told by people who have had this type of pain that it was kinda my brains way of explaining the pain I was feeling while I was sleeping. Anyway, the Lunesta is working miracles - could I become dependant on this also? It's not supposed to be narcotic, but I would like to possibly hear someone else's experience on sleep aids. Thank you all again.

[zippysgoddess]

You can build up a dependence on anything you are on regularly, the narcotics, or Lunesta. Heck, your body will do that even with Coca Cola, or coffee. But there is a difference between addiction, and dependence.

Addicts take drugs mainly for the thrill of taking them, the high they get, and because they can't cope with life without them.

People who are dependent on drugs, have a real medical reason for why they need them, and can't do without them.

It is also a proven fact that over 90% of people who take meds for only legitimate reasons, do not develop addictions, they don't get the mental dependence that abusers do. Most people with chronic pain, if their medical problems are solved, can walk away from the meds they take, and gladly do so, because they hate having to be reliant on them to begin with. While they might still suffer some bodily withdrawals, it is often easier on them, and lasts for a shorter time, than it does for real addicts.

So, I am sure if you are taking the meds as prescribed, that you have nothing to worry about, you have a good head on your shoulders, and you are already thinking of the realties of taking them, you know the dangers, so I think you will be fine.

I have a chronic pain condition as well, and I take Oxycontin, and have an immediate release Oxycodone for breakthrough pain. I only take the Oxycodone when I really need it, and I have already noticed that if I miss one of my Oxycontin, because I am not home, or maybe sleep through the time to take it, I feel severe pain again, but no major withdrawals like other people go through. I just feel minorly out of sorts.

I used to take Darvocet, and was on it for several years. I had to give it up abruptly, with no tapering, and other than some minor feelings of being out of sorts, I was fine, and didn't miss it.

verwon@gmail.com

My information is not guaranteed correct. I do not get them right all the time, but I do enjoy the hunt~

[LovlyM]

Yes, TOLERANCE was the word I was looking for...Thank you. And yes, you can become dependant on the sleeping pills. My friend was taking 10mg oxycontin and was also prescribed percocet 5mg for the breakthrough pain. Make sure that is the word you use because medically that is the term for it. Good luck

[wolftrades]

If you go to Pain Management, you should be given 2 prescriptions. One will be for a long term narcotic. The long term narcotic, like OxyContin, MS Contin (Morphine), etc. is your base dose. Because these are time-released meds, you do not get the peaks and valleys of short acting pills. Your serum level is supposed to stay fairly constant.

Most, but not all Pain Management Docs will also give you a short acting med for breakthroug pain. The short acting meds include lortabs, MSIR (instant release morphine), Vicoden, hydrocodone, Oxycodone.

Personally, I have 4 levels of disc herniation with multi-level impingement of the thecal sac, spinal stenosis and scleoris. I take 100 mg MS CONTIN twice a day and 30mg Oxycodone up to 3 times a day.

Both lortab and percocet are short acting meds so that will NOT be a combination that you will receive.

Good Luck.

Alan