Pain Meds

[leila]

I have just been diagnosed with IC, after having suffered for years with recurrent pelvic pain. I also may have endometriosis, but will not find out for sure until next month when I have exploratory surgery. My question is about pain meds. I am in an acute stage right now and am taking lorcet which is the same as vicodin with tylenol. For the past two days, this is not cutting it and I cannot get ahead of the pain. Does anyone use something stronger that actually works when they are in acute pain? I am going to call my doctor in the morning if this pain continues at this level. Just wanted any ideas on what has worked for other people. Thanks.

[donutgirl]

Hi Leila! Welcome to the boards. I am one of the ICers that has pain 24/7 so I understand where you are right now. I had a hysterectomy at 29 for endometriosis and have had 1/2 way decent health until May this year when this started up. My IC has not responded to any of the treatments and I have recently been prescribed a pain patch. Several people here at the boards are on the pain patch, but I think it is pretty much a last resort, after you have been on the other meds for awhile. Be sure and let your dr. know you are still in pain....he/she may prescribe a higher dosage of your lorcet. At one point I was prescribed B&O suppositories...which helped my intense spasms of the bladder. If you have not already started the IC diet, you need to do so ASAP. I can only drink bottled water. Being from the south I was used to my iced tea and still miss it...I fought giving it up and tried decaf, etc., but learned those are not good for me either. This is a great place to educate yourself and learn what others are going through. Even on the days you feel too bad to post yourself, it helps to read what others have posted. I hope you feel better real soon!

Diane

[Dani72]

After using a certain pain med for a while your body builds up a tolerance, so you might need to try a stronger painkiller. I went from using Lortab 7.5/500 to Lortab 10/325. Then I had to go to using endocet(Percocet)7.5/500 to endocet 10/325. Now I am on the liquid form of Perococet (oxycodone) 2ml which equals 10mgs. My pain Dr. put me on the liquid form because it has no tyelenol in it, thus less damage to my liver. When that stops working (hopefully not) I don't know what I can try. I have tried the time released morphine, but it doesn't work for me. Talk to your doctor and tell him or her you think your body has built up a tolerance to the lorcet and can you try something else. Lorcet is hydrocodone, so maybe you might want to try oxycodone (Endocoet, Percocet etc.) Just an idea!! Good luck and big hugz,
Danielle :thumbsup:

[Sarojini]

Dani gave you some good ideas... you also may want to try some of the long-acting pain killers. Dani said time-release morphine, called MS-Contin, did not work for her, but it does work for me -- I take 15 mg 3 times a day and it does control my pain to a certain extent. I also use Lortabs for breakthrough pain. In addition, there is OxyContin, which is time-released oxycodone.

The best thing to do is ask your doctor what your options are. Tell him/her that the Lorcet just doesn't seem to work well anymore, and ask if he's got any suggestions. You may want to be a little pushy about trying something else, too -- many doctors are reluctant to make changes, but your body CAN become accustomed to a certain pain med and it can be necessary to change things up occasionally.

Good luck!! :grouphug:

[tigger_gal]

:hi: :welcome: ...... I have been taking vicodine, and never took them till the pain hit very hard. I am a pain patient.. I called my uro and told him I needed something stronger and he asked if I was taking them every 4 to 6 hours.... um well no I said..... that was my problem.... I started taking them like that and have stayed at a tolerable 5....... good luck..
hugs
Brat

[Dani72]

Hi Jen,
The time released morphine I tried was called Kadian. I took 50 mg every 12 hours and the nurse said that was a low dose. Maybe it was just the certain way the drug was made? I never tried MS-Contin or Oxycontin. I don't know. I wonder what the difference between the MS-Contin and the stuff I was taking is?
Dani :)