1. < Chronic Pain

Doctors claim oxycodone exacerbates pain but nothing else helps

Posted by Jenny @fairymystry, Jun 12 12:12am

Hello. I have reached out to the forum before on behalf of my best friend with chronic pain and I am back again with another query....
My best friend had yet another upper endoscopy today to attempt to find a cause for the constant and intense abdominal pain that she suffers. She has a long history of food allergies, gastroparesis & other gastro issues spanning most of her 49 years but, several years ago she began a cycle of getting pancreatitis repeatedly with 6-12 months in between. The abdominal pain has never gone away & is so intense that she can no longer work, especially since she had a nerve block a couple of years ago that she claims actually made it worse. She now relies heavily on the oxycodone & it doesn't take her pain completely away but she is able to function at least. It is the ONLY thing that seems to work for her and she hates it because of the side effects.
Today after the latest endoscopy, this doctor joined a series of docs that have suggested that the oxycodone she takes to relieve the pain is actually exacerbating the pain and that she should consider getting off of it. The doctor that renews her prescription for it monthly doesn't seem to see that as an issue & my best friend doesn't know what to do because of course she'd love to get away from the oxy but the pain is too intense without it and no one seems to have an alternative for her.
I guess I came here to ask if anyone else has heard that the opioid they take for pain may be making it worse & if there are non-opioid alternative that actually work for this type of pain.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

tonydven | @tonydven | 2 days ago
In reply to @wisco50 "I use a fair amount of diclofenac in rub on forms!" + (show)
@wisco50

I use a fair amount of diclofenac in rub on forms!

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I do a lot of that also. Did you know you can get extra strength Voltaren Gel from Canada as well as the suppositories. This stuff penetrates deeper and lasts a lot longer than the normal gel. And it costs the same to get the Extra strength from Canada as buying the normal gel at your drugstore. i highly recommend the suppositories if you can manage with them. You have to be comfortable doing it to yourself.

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leigh17 | @leigh17 | 1 day ago
In reply to @pamglutemedius "i have chronic pain and was in a pain management program in pennsylania and took tramadol..." + (show)
@pamglutemedius

i have chronic pain and was in a pain management program in pennsylania and took tramadol and oxy which worked great. Nothing else did. The drs had no problem. I saw them like clock work and they refilled my rx's with reg apts and blood work. Iv'e been Dx'd with CRPS & 100% disability due to pain & ptsd. Since moving to Ohio, no Dr will rx either drug and my pain is un-managed. Ohio has written into state law that these drugs cannot be rx'ed outside a hospital or nursing home within X # of days from a surgery. Drs are terrified of losing their licenses. I think this dr. has rocks in their head. I honestly feel that Drs do who do not know or understand pain (even if they are "pain mgt" drs) just blow off patients pain & concerns. They do NOT understand how pain sucks the soul out of us and denies us the ability to get through a day or night or the ability to work gainfully or around the house or sometimes even have meaningful thought or conversation. Sorry. Find a different Dr that really understands pain and your friend. This doc doesn't get it.

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I cannot believe that they cannot fill your medication. Seems exceedingly cruel. I wish I had some advice. Can’t imagine not being able to have my pain medication filled. I remember there were a lot of drug issues in that state, it doesn’t mean other people should have to suffer because of it.. It’s just wrong on every level. So sorry.

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jthomas458 | @jthomas458 | 1 day ago
In reply to @becbec66 "What are your pain management drs prescribing for you? I am on buprenorphine 10 mcg patches...." + (show)
@becbec66

What are your pain management drs prescribing for you? I am on buprenorphine 10 mcg patches. This is one of the things I am trying at the moment . I think I will have to go to a higher dose but it has calmed the pain.

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Other countries offer higher dose patches. I would like to see the United States do the same. Buprenorphine is an extremely safe pain medicine.

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suecutuli | @suecutuli | 1 day ago

I have had a PC Pa tell me that.
And of course it sticks in your head- but then when the pain hurts so much and the medicine helps you don’t care. You are just trying to live.

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shellyv | @shellyv | 1 day ago

I also take oxy on a daily basis or I wouldn’t be able to function. I have severe abdominal pain from having Cdiff 8 years ago. It’s like it ate my insides out, I am in pain 24/7 from it. I have gone to so many doctors and had numerous tests done and they cannot find the cause. It gets very depressing.

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coco46 | @coco46 | 1 day ago
In reply to @dbrdiana "I have neuropathy in my feet and legs, have had both hips replaced and suffer with..." + (show)
@dbrdiana

I have neuropathy in my feet and legs, have had both hips replaced and suffer with degenerative arthritis in my back for years. I've been controlling the pain with Oxycodin in small doses for years and trying to avoid surgery to fuse my spine. Now the pain is so bad the medication isn't helping and my pain specialist wants to burn the nerves in my spine to stop the pain for a year. There's got to be a better way.

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I had ablation/kyphoplasty after having a crushed vertebrae in L5, it has helped a lot. I can definitely recommend it. I still take pain meds because I have a lot of other pain from many bone mets but I am very thankful the spinal surgery worked as well as it did to give me relief from some of the worse pain areas I had.

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dbrdiana | @dbrdiana | 1 day ago
In reply to @coco46 "I had ablation/kyphoplasty after having a crushed vertebrae in L5, it has helped a lot. I..." + (show)
@coco46

I had ablation/kyphoplasty after having a crushed vertebrae in L5, it has helped a lot. I can definitely recommend it. I still take pain meds because I have a lot of other pain from many bone mets but I am very thankful the spinal surgery worked as well as it did to give me relief from some of the worse pain areas I had.

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Thanks for your comment. If they don't offer anything else, I will have to try it! I hate needles!!!!

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dbrdiana | @dbrdiana | 1 day ago
In reply to @mtnmarge "I have also had ablation in my back due to back pain (too many accidents). Once..." + (show)
@mtnmarge

I have also had ablation in my back due to back pain (too many accidents). Once done it was wonderful to be able to take my favorite past-times (kayaking, biking, hiking) and getting to enjoy the days without the pain. My ablations were done under light sedation but the other choice was 'local' anesthesia. My ablations don't last as long as I'd like - I get them every six months. But that's OK - I'm up and around pain free.

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It sounds like you are very very active and able to continue on with life fully! Good for you!!!!! I want to get to that point. I had to cancel a trip because of this pain.

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adlttl123 | @adlttl123 | 15 minutes ago

My suggestion is to ask her this…is she better off with the oxy than without it only she knows. She has to be her own best advocate!! It does not help her for these doctors to hound her to get off of it. Right now it’s about quality of life! When you have a chronic condition it’s do what you can to achieve that goal goal yourself. I have several conversations to deal with so this is what conclusion that I have come to and it gives me the most peace. Prayers to her. God bless to you for supporting her. You are her angel!!

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