How to deal with constant pain for years

Does anyone have a medication schedule? I have hydrocodone prescribed as needed three times a day. I took it upon myself to just go ahead and take it at 10am, 3pm, 8pm. Not entirely enough relief but helps. I would like to schedule gabapentin, Robaxin and Naprosyn I have to help also. Problem is how to control pain and not be a zombie or couch potato. ANY one have this down to an art?

@asilyag I have never been in touch with anyone else on hydrocodone. There's a huge stigma about addiction. I go to a pain management clinic and it's been a huge relief. This is the only provider I have who understands that 4 autoimmune illnesses and fibromyalgia would cause chronic pain.
I learned that good pain control is at least 60% of your pain relieved by pain meds. It is not about 100% pain control. (If it was, then you WOULD be a zombie)

Two things have helped me; I always have the 3 tabs in a pill minder , so I never take more than 3. It's easy to forget in a busy day.
The way that I take pain medication, as needed; I often take one when I wake up, so I won't be a couch potato. And I usually take one before I go to bed so I'm not in pain and can get good sleep.

So, as long as you take them as many hours apart as ordered, you might get more help taking them as needed. Not at certain scheduled times.

That said, everyone is different. I'm sharing what works for me! I also practice chair yoga or gentle yoga, use topical creams like lidocaine and voltaren. I've been helped by psychotherapy. I became a poet when I was first disabled. Any creativity is healing, anything like music or art that takes me out of my self. Finding a way to enjoy life even while living with chronic pain. I would not be able to enjoy all this without good pain management.

I hope this helps! Take care.

I’ve had pain in my left leg for over twenty five years, I had two back surgeries and it only made the pain worse and my physician at the time recommended oxycodone and I had pain relief but he retired and the doctor that took over for him took me off it and sent me to pain management where she gave me a speech like I was a drug addict, she put me on a patch which doesn’t help at all, I’m so disgusted I don’t know what do anymore, I see her next week for a follow up, hopefully she will help me

Everyone needs a break from pain. I am fortunate to have a marvelous pain management doctor. If Workers Comp was more cooperative, my pain would be less! There are many procedures that have helped my pain and given me relief for long periods of time. I find radio frequency ablations most helpful. My low back and cervical area are messed up with degenerative disc disease and stenosis. I also have CRPS and SFN in both feet and up left leg. May you find a pain management doctor as great as mine is.

@asilyag I have never been in touch with anyone else on hydrocodone. There's a huge stigma about addiction. I go to a pain management clinic and it's been a huge relief. This is the only provider I have who understands that 4 autoimmune illnesses and fibromyalgia would cause chronic pain.
I learned that good pain control is at least 60% of your pain relieved by pain meds. It is not about 100% pain control. (If it was, then you WOULD be a zombie)

Two things have helped me; I always have the 3 tabs in a pill minder , so I never take more than 3. It's easy to forget in a busy day.
The way that I take pain medication, as needed; I often take one when I wake up, so I won't be a couch potato. And I usually take one before I go to bed so I'm not in pain and can get good sleep.

So, as long as you take them as many hours apart as ordered, you might get more help taking them as needed. Not at certain scheduled times.

That said, everyone is different. I'm sharing what works for me! I also practice chair yoga or gentle yoga, use topical creams like lidocaine and voltaren. I've been helped by psychotherapy. I became a poet when I was first disabled. Any creativity is healing, anything like music or art that takes me out of my self. Finding a way to enjoy life even while living with chronic pain. I would not be able to enjoy all this without good pain management.

I hope this helps! Take care.

Is there a special name for a "pain management doctor?"

Is there a special name for a "pain management doctor?"

I’ve had pain in my left leg for over twenty five years, I had two back surgeries and it only made the pain worse and my physician at the time recommended oxycodone and I had pain relief but he retired and the doctor that took over for him took me off it and sent me to pain management where she gave me a speech like I was a drug addict, she put me on a patch which doesn’t help at all, I’m so disgusted I don’t know what do anymore, I see her next week for a follow up, hopefully she will help me

I'd find another pain management doctor. Get your primary care physician to refer you. I have been under care of pain management for over 20 years. I was on hydrocodone 10/325. When I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in February he changed me to oxycodone which did NOTHING for the pain. Last visit I asked to go back to the hydrocodone and he was going to increase the number of pills from 120 to 180 but the pharmacist wasn't comfortable dispensing that many pills. She recommended he prescribe extended release morphine instead and he did. My pills still work after taking them for this long. In fact, I have 10-15 or more sometimes left at end of month. Go online or call and research the pain management doctors in network with your insurance and read reviews then ask your primary to refer you to that doctor. It's awful when pain keeps you from doing things. I had to go out on disability at 63 from a hairstylist business I owned for over 20 years. I was approved in 4 months and on the first try. I wish you luck.