1. < Chronic Pain

can hydrocodone become toxic?

Posted by maryflorida @maryflorida, Sep 24, 2020

Hi, I have neuropathy and have been taking hydrocodone 5-325 for 10 years. I have been on three pills a day, and I cannot seem to tolerate a full pill.
I get swirly, headachy, nauseous. I know I am sensitive to most drugs but wonder if the drug is now toxic for me. I can't tolerate Lyrica and get sick on Gabapentin., Also on blood thinners so my choices are limited. What do you think?

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lioness | @lioness | Sep 28, 2020
In reply to @maryflorida "@lioness.. thank you. Some days that are not as bad make me wonder if I am..." + (show)
@maryflorida

@lioness.. thank you. Some days that are not as bad make me wonder if I am imagining this fibro thing. And wondering if it is peripheral neuropathy or fibromyalgia. Different doctors diagnose differently. Whichever, your comment helps!

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@maryflorida I had 11of 18 points when pressed in certain body areas have you had your point test done by a rheumatologist?If you did then sounds like you had a fibro flare others can tell you you want to crawl in bed and not see anyone

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maryflorida | @maryflorida | Sep 28, 2020

@summertime4... That sounds so awful! I guess I was wondering if you all have some days where the pain is less severe and intermittent and then other days when it hurts so much you can scarcely walk to the bathroom. Very sorry that you have the lymphedema. I keep wondering what the heck we all have... It seems like so much guessing, doesn't it? No cures, only pain medicines...

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lioness | @lioness | Sep 29, 2020
In reply to @maryflorida "@lioness.. thank you. Some days that are not as bad make me wonder if I am..." + (show)
@maryflorida

@lioness.. thank you. Some days that are not as bad make me wonder if I am imagining this fibro thing. And wondering if it is peripheral neuropathy or fibromyalgia. Different doctors diagnose differently. Whichever, your comment helps!

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@maryflorida It is a guessing game this pain thing . I have both and don't know which one hurts at the time altho you know a fibro flare when it hits .

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ZeeGee | @fourof5zs | Sep 30, 2020
In reply to @summertime4 "@maryflorida I also wonder sometimes what is causing my pain. I was diagnosed with neuropathy by..." + (show)
@summertime4

@maryflorida I also wonder sometimes what is causing my pain. I was diagnosed with neuropathy by testing and also fibromyalgia by ruling everything else out. I sometimes have serious pain throughout my body. Even my fingers hurt. This I take to be fibromyalgia. Then I have SEVERE pain in my left foot. So bad you cannot touch my foot. Podiatrist first diagnosed Mortons neuroma and gave me a shot of steroids. This seemed to helpm but now the extreme pain is back and he says it is from the swelling and I have to wear compression stockings. I cannot wear them I think due to the neuropathy. Could it be some kind of arthritis in my feet? Is all this pain neuropathy and now lymphedema or something else. They said i shouldn't have this pain due to lymphedema. I take percocet 10/325 3 times a day. That's alot and I still have breakthrough pain. The pain is making me crazy. I mean mood swings, crying, wanting to give up and take nothing. I was advised that I should see a rheumatoid doctor. Any suggestions.

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@maryflorida
In 2011 I could barely walk. I had an MRI of my foot and I had two Morton neuromas. Injections did not help. I finally had surgery in 2012. It took several months after surgery to walk much. Then by time I was walking better at the end of the year something else hit my body, but my foot did fine until late 2016 when I was out for a walk and that darn I STEPPED ON A SHARP STONE feeling came back. I went back to my podiatrist.. injections no help and promises of we will do an MRI after next injection.. three times and I gave up on him. I then saw an orthopedist that specialized in the problem.. he was no help.. another injection (worst injection I ever have had done) and nothing else offered.

I finally asked a nurse friend in a neighboring town.. an hour's drive away if she could recommend a podiatrist in her town. She told me of one.. she had only been to him once, but some of her friends had seen him and some had surgery from him and he got good reviews from them. I went to him. He ordered an MRI and gave me an injection that day. The injection did not help. It took me from late fall of 2016 to early spring 2018 to get that far. It is another small neuroma. The podiatrist wanted me to try physical therapy. Which I did in my hometown. First therapist really did not know much about foot therapy, but she said she knew someone that did. He was wonderful!! he used what is called dry needling. Basically places pins in the skin like acupuncture and attached a tens machine to it. This was done twice a week for three weeks and I was back to walking pretty well. I am still limited to about twenty minutes of standing or walking. I can go longer, but it starts to get painful. I am walking though. Sometimes it burns, usually arthritic cream helps with that. The podiatrist and physical therapist both said I may occasionally need a repeat of PT.

ZeeGee

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1 reply
Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Sep 30, 2020
In reply to @maryflorida "@rwinney another thought. I just talked to my pharmacist and she said that you can get..." + (show)
@maryflorida

@rwinney another thought. I just talked to my pharmacist and she said that you can get extended release morphine 15 mg, which can be cut in half. I will ask my doctor tomorrow, but I am wondering if I need anything. I have days when I only need one pain pill and then the following day I am in pain all day. I think you all may be in worse condition than I am. Do any of you have "less pain days"?

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@maryflorida I'd say different pain days, not necessarily less pain days. Outside of my neuropathy, I believe I may suffer from opiod induced hyperalgesia and central pain sensitization, as I have a wide and random array of pains and oddities. Please keep us posted on your medication outcome and whether or not you try the extended release morphine. Best wishes for a comfortable day.
Rachel

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maryflorida | @maryflorida | Sep 30, 2020
In reply to @fourof5zs "@maryflorida In 2011 I could barely walk. I had an MRI of my foot and I..." + (show)
@fourof5zs

@maryflorida
In 2011 I could barely walk. I had an MRI of my foot and I had two Morton neuromas. Injections did not help. I finally had surgery in 2012. It took several months after surgery to walk much. Then by time I was walking better at the end of the year something else hit my body, but my foot did fine until late 2016 when I was out for a walk and that darn I STEPPED ON A SHARP STONE feeling came back. I went back to my podiatrist.. injections no help and promises of we will do an MRI after next injection.. three times and I gave up on him. I then saw an orthopedist that specialized in the problem.. he was no help.. another injection (worst injection I ever have had done) and nothing else offered.

I finally asked a nurse friend in a neighboring town.. an hour's drive away if she could recommend a podiatrist in her town. She told me of one.. she had only been to him once, but some of her friends had seen him and some had surgery from him and he got good reviews from them. I went to him. He ordered an MRI and gave me an injection that day. The injection did not help. It took me from late fall of 2016 to early spring 2018 to get that far. It is another small neuroma. The podiatrist wanted me to try physical therapy. Which I did in my hometown. First therapist really did not know much about foot therapy, but she said she knew someone that did. He was wonderful!! he used what is called dry needling. Basically places pins in the skin like acupuncture and attached a tens machine to it. This was done twice a week for three weeks and I was back to walking pretty well. I am still limited to about twenty minutes of standing or walking. I can go longer, but it starts to get painful. I am walking though. Sometimes it burns, usually arthritic cream helps with that. The podiatrist and physical therapist both said I may occasionally need a repeat of PT.

ZeeGee

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@zeezee. that is very encourging. I have neglected to do research, just doing whatever the doc said. It is time for me to try these suggestions. "dry needling".. never heard of that before!

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ZeeGee | @fourof5zs | Sep 30, 2020

@maryflorida I should have said it Electrical Dry Needling. This is for plantar's fasciitis, but the principle is the same. It shows a photo of how it is hooked up. It did not hurt me. http://healingplantarfasciitis.com/dry-needling-for-plantar-fasciitis-electro-stimulation-explained/ . The therapist did use a tortuous ancient looking tool sometimes.. about the size of a shoe horn.. and rubbed it across the area. It made me a bit sore and even a little bruised sometimes. The needling helped the most. I think the idea is to loosen everything and break up fibrous areas. You may have to call around at your local physical therapy places to find a person that knows how to do it and works with feet. You may have to ask for a referral for physical therapy. I would insist on a MRI to make sure diagnosis is correct. Insurance has been a pain for me to work with... It seems to take forever to jump through all the hoops sometimes.
ZeeGee

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