Doctors claim oxycodone exacerbates pain but nothing else helps

Actually, it was me who suggested it....it is so very much easier , and my primary Dr. could prescribe it. Supposedly less trouble with Tolerance, addiction, etc. and I found it to be a good fit until my pain got dramatically worse after I slipped on the ice and fell, I broke my wrist causing more trouble with my DDD to the point I could not get out of bed. Insurance may not cover it as apparently it's now considered "off lable" use but it's not that expensive and worth it if you can avoid needing the opiods that "society" doesn't want anyone to have, no matter how legitimate your pain.

If she is telling her dr. the meds are not working, this is the only conclusion they can come to. In my own experience, they are the ONLY thing that does work for the severest of pain.
She should consider a complete exam by a Gastroenterologist ASAP. It would certainly be better for her to get any problem "fixed" rather than stay on pain meds for long. The addiction part of taking them is the "double edge" of the sword with opiods....and the constipation, etc. too. Im in so much pain and I am almost 70 so I don't CARE if Im addicted anymore, I just wish I didn't have to be in the "Pain Medicine SYSTEM", it's hard.

Have you looked into stem cells injections?

Totally Agree with Tyyne! Oxy is the only thing that has worked for me for over 10 years! I have tried them all!
People who have never experienced "CONSTANT PAIN" don't understand. It's not like having a tooth extracted! And give a few Oxy to help you for a couple of days!
It can be 24/7 everyday of your life! The pain can cause severe depression!
I stand with those who go through life everyday not knowing when the pain will start after the Oxy wears off!
Sundance

Yes, it is a very known phenomenon called opioid induced hyperalgesia. What happens is that the pain medication makes that pain worse (instead of treating it). It is a complex condition but it a nutshell the opioid receptors get dysregulated and when they see pain medicine it causes them to make the pain worse than if the patient was ever on them. It happens more commonly at high dosages. If this is your condition, the only way to treat it is to go off of the pain medicine.

I am not treating this patient and don't know the full medical history but if the doctors mentioned it, this is likely what they are referring to.

One good treatment that is non opioid and minimally invasive is called scrambler therapy. It is not very well known in the medical community but it is a very potent, minimally invasive treatment for neuropathic pain.

It is true that OxyContin, and frankly all opiates exacerbate pain. I know because I used these drugs initially for my chronic pain syndrome. I would recommend you register to go through Mayo Clinic’s pain Rehabilitation program. It is well worth the time, money (insurance often covers this), and effort. Drugs are only the short term answer, but to stop taking them you need to understand what they are doing to you - how they contribute to your pain- and what can be alternatives to them. Ask your primary physician to help you explore the program in Pain Medicine that I am talking about. It is so very worth it!

I will be taking the full dose of four pills a day by the end of next week.
You should be off opioids before starting Suboxone but I’m still using 50 mcg of Fentanyl.
I have cut down the hydromorphone and will be finished with it this weekend.
Suboxone is a controlled medication so I have to sign for it.
It may not be available everywhere.
So far I’m not experiencing any pain relief, but I’m hopeful.
I will keep you posted.

Please do let me know how you transition to Suboxone from 50 mcg Fentanyl patch. I am now on same but if I can get releif from the Peripheral Nerve Stimulator and the RFAs I've been getting i would LOVE to get off this stuff! It's horrible needing it with all the rules. laws, etc. that make it so difficult. I was left for a whole week without the meds as a result of a power outage (very common now here in CA) which caused the electronic communication (it MUST be this way, the doctor cannot call it in on a phone!) to fail. Luckily I saved up
the few extras from my pharm filling my RX's (usually) on the 28th or 29th day so I got through it by the hair of my chin! When I asked what would I do if this happened again and I had't enough meds I was told I would just have to go to the ER.
Then later when I asked about what would happen if I went to the ER, I was told that anyone who is in "pain management" and taking opiods may ONLY receive opiods from the one "pain management" Dr. So...".what if I end up in ER due to a car accident or other that would require pain meds"? They said I would have to wait for my pain dr. This is terrifying to me. Being on Suboxone....I was taking it when I slipped on ice broke my wrist. In my rural ER nobody knew how to treat my pain so they didn't. They wanted to give me Norco but I knew it wuld make me violently ill but I got through it just fine....yes I had pain but I knew it would subside...unlike my severe back pain:( I still wonder what they would do if I needed to be cut open,etc.

Also wondering why your Dr. is giving you the Suboxone while you still have the Fent patch? Isn't Fentanyl an opiod? I thought mixing both end up in violent sickness?