Pain and Vicodin

[Thoney]

Hi out there!

Just wondering if anyone else has a problem with getting pain med's when pain is so bad you can hardly stand to be in your body?

My Dr. only will prescribe pain med's after I have hyprodistention...and here lately I just can't get any relief with all my normal meds. I try to explain to him that most of the time if I just take Vicodin for a day, maybe 2 days, that just the relief in pain reduces my stress and I feel better...But still no go???

I understand the concern for drug dependancy, but jeez, it's not like I'm calling him every week or even month asking for help. Sometimes I feel like he isn't taking me very serious, even though he is the one that diagnosed me.

HELP!!! I pray for relief, when will it come? :bow: :headbang:

Traci

[Mainemom]

I too have pain so bad sometimes that it is almost too hard to get out of bed. I can't get my doctor to prescribe pain meds for me. I went to my primary care physician to get them. He doesn't have aproblem giving me vicodin, but won't give me anything stronger. He gives me 60 a month and I usually end up just making it to the endof the month
Try your pcp if they wont help then maybe you can find a pain clinic and someone to help you.
Sorry i cant be of much help
Good luck
Kirsten

[Thoney]

:loco: Thanks Kirsten, my pcp refers me back to my Urologist, but thanks anyway. I'm going to look into other doctor's that specialize in IC and possibly a pain clinic.

Thanks again and good luck to you.

Traci

[crystilclear]

I had the same problem but a little different because I have Psoriatic arthritis Spondilitis, Ulcerative Colitis, plus Ic, Fibro, CFS, Dysmophengia, Vulvadynia (unknown cause as of yet), and a couple other things. But when I was just trying to get meds for the IC the Uro gave me 2 scripts of 10 Vicodin. How ridicluous. I have a new Uro and a good rheumatologist who gives me 100 Hydrocodne a month, 100 Ultrset, and Flexeril, plus all the other meds. Anyways it took me awhile. I'd try and look for another doctor if that is an option for you. I was taking T3 for a long time too. I coulod get some stronger meds but I need to stayawake. That's why I can take the Hydrocodone and Ultraset togethr and it helps. I hope you get the relief you need soon. You are right it's not fair. I don't think that some doctors see severe IC pain as valid. Anyways take care - Chris

[Thoney]

Thanks Chris, I am checking into another doctor. I found on on this site and unfortunately I can't get in until November 15th. I have an appt. tomorrow with my current Uro and haven't taken a lot of notes from this site and written things I want to say to him so I am be prepared. It's kind of "Catch 22" when you go to the Dr. when in pain, because you're not strong enough to stick up for yourself. However, my feelings are that I shouldn't have to worry about that....he's the doc, right? Oh well, as I'm sure you know the whole IC is a mind boggling experience.

You sure have a lot on your plate...sooo sorry!!! I wonder, do you worry about being dependant on Hydrocoden? That has always been a worry for me, but then not being able to be myself and enjoy life....What to do?

Thanks again for sharing with me...it's always nice to connect with someone that understands.

Traci

[Thoney]

Jeez...did I mess that last message up....can you tell I'm having trouble concentrating? :loco: :rolleyes:

I DID take a lot of notes, so I am prepared....

:toilet: Does anyone wonder how much more they can take?? Very depressed today...

Traci

[Myli]

I feel very fortunate that my medications are working pretty well and my ability to prevent or head off flares is much better. I have many more good days than bad ones.

As to pain medications being habit forming, I believe the studies show that patients in chronic pain situations do not become addicted. Doctors who fear addiction should do their homework. Personally, were I in continuous serious pain as some of us are, I wouldn't worry about addiction. If that is what it takes to become productive again, so be it.

I hope you find a good doctor who truly understands IC and it's treatment needs. The only other option that occurs to me is to seek out a pain clinic for treatment of the pain itself.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:
Myli

[Thoney]

Thanks Myli...Many hugs to you too..

I also never hurt myself or my family....Thank God for that!! Good info. on pain med's vs addiction...I will do some research on that too. This Doctor is not going to know what hit him after I get a hold him...

Thoughts and prayers

[donutgirl]

Traci,

I'm so sorry you are in the pain you are in and getting virtually no help for it. Like Chris, I am fortunate enough to have found an IC specialist that understands completely and has no problems giving me 120 vicodin a month. I was on the pain patch for awhile, but ended up having some problems. Hang in there...eventually you will find the right dr. and the right combination of meds that will begin to help you.

On pain meds. vs. addiction...I used to worry about that because I have a brother that is a recovering addict. You will see posts in the past here on the boards about it too. The fact is, if you are taking it as needed vs. taking it to get "high", you are taking it for the right reasons.

Hugs,

DIANE

[Thoney]

Thanks Diane, for your support. I definitely need to find a new doctor...mine only gives me 20 vicodin when I have the hydrodistension...jeez. It is so helpful to talk to people like yourself, so I know I'm not being a cry baby, which is how my doctor and most especially his nurse make me feel.

Thanks again...

Traci

[Sarojini]

Hi Traci,

If you're having terrible, every-day kind of pain, you may want to ask your doctor about an extended-release, long acting pain killer. There are several out there; the most common are OxyContin (extended release oxycodone) and MS-Contin (extended-release morphine). According to my uro (and the pain management guy she works with, Dr. Daniel Brookoff), these extended release things are less addictive than the shorter acting opiates (Vicodin, Lortab, Percocet, etc) because they're controlled release and don't give you the "high" the other drugs may. You take these extended release meds as a preventative, meaning you take them on schedule whether or not you are feeling pain at that second. However, when on these, you will also need to keep one of the shorter acting painkillers around for "breakthrough" pain, which is pain that happens despite your long acting painkiller, or during the time it's wearing off.

I take 15 mg MS-Contin three times a day and this manages my pain pretty well. I also take Lortab 7.5 for moderate breakthrough pain, or for more severe breakthrough pain, Percocet 7.5.

Just a thought, anyway.... :)

good luck, and lots of :grouphug:s

[Amanda]

Studies have shown that paitents who do not have a history of dependence and have chronic pain the incidence of addiction is less than one percent.

If you do not feel your pain is being treated, you can always try another physician.

Best of luck,

Amanda


P.S. Jen--- My brother went to M.I.T. also and then taught at University of California at Berkeley, a similar road to yours. He is in biochemical engineering.

[crystilclear]

I used to be worried about being dependant on the Hydrocodone but it doesn't even take all the pain away for me. I don't get a high at all. I just feel less pain. I also take Ultraset pretty often to help manage the pain better. My concern is staying awake during the day to watch my kids. My doc has offered to perscribe me anything like the Oxycotin or percoset but I have opted for the others because for me they have been less sadating. I also take Flexeril as well. I think the combo of the three help a lot. If I had the choice right now I'd be on something stronger because even though the Hdrocodone help it is just not a very significant difference for me. If I basically do minimal to nothing then the Hydrocodone, Ultraset, and Flexeril will help me enough so I can bare the pain during the day. I can't do even the littlest chores without considerable pain and horrible inflammation everywhere. It is different with chronic pain like someone else said as well. I don't feel a high because my pain level is off the roof. I think if someone who had minimal pain took them they could feel a high from it. Then maybe it is not for them. I am actually going to talk to him about adjusting my meds though. I am basically couch bound everyday except for doing anything for my kids that needs to be done. Right now IC for me is under control except for the week before my period them the Hydrocodone and everything else is like taking Tylenol which does nothing for me. Anyways if you stay in pain you will get depressed, be even les productive, and suffer neddlessly. No one with IC or anything else with chronic pain deserves to be in pian all the time and not get the proper treatments. Since my arthritis and fibro has peaked I have completely come to terms with my pain managment as something as important as the other medicines I take. It is a big part of my therapy. How can you be expected to be able to function otherwise. Find an educated IC doc and one with the knowledge and compassion to treat you accordingly. I hope you will get some relief soon. Take care - Christina

[Julie B]

One thing that worked in my favor in keeping Vicodin available was that I kept impecible records about when and why I used it. I just used a small calendar. After 4 years of only giving me 30 pills which I had to fill each month, my physician now gives me a mail order slip so I can get three months at one time. I think it is important to show the doctors that you are honest and reliable about your medications. Not that you guys aren't, but they also have their own licenses to protect, even if the abusive patient is rare. This is always a tough area...........hoping you find a solution.

[Thoney]

:angel: Gifts from heaven....Thanks Julie and everyone that replied for your support!! I actually just got back from my Dr. appt. and went very prepared, which helped alot! He prescribed me some Vicodine (only 30, but it's a start and will hopefully be enough) and I had a DSMO, which usually doesn't work for me, but what the heck...I'll try anything and also utilize the co-pay as much as possible. I had my list of questions so I didn't have to concentrate too much and just handed it too him. He was actually impressed and wrote down the site address for this site to pass on to other patients. I am still going to keep my appt. with the new Uro on the 15th to keep my options open. He also has referred me to a Pain Clinic and we might do another hydrodistention depending on how the next few days go. They usually work for me, but the last hydro. that I had on 15th of October didn't seem to work this time...I do however have quite a few stressful situations going on in my life right now....Anyway, Thanks again for all your support, it really helps dealing with the IC and pain! Love and Hugs to everyone :grouphug: :grouphug: :love: :kissing: Just can't say enough how much this site and everyone means too me!