Quote:
Originally Posted by glomom
Hello Everyone!
I'm glo from Mass. , and I have chronic pain issues with my neck, right shoulder blade, right shoulder, right arm & hand, and top right half of my back. I have a congenital fusion in my neck with only a remnant of a disc. The discs above and below this level are herniated. I have DDD, and 2 herniated discs in the T-spine. I also have some arthritis and other fun stuff going on in there. I have tried the injections and rhizotomy/denervation route for the last 4 years without consistent pain relief. I am very disappointed that I am not a surgical candidate.
I was wondering how many people in here are on the Fentanyl patch, and how have your experiences been? It would be very helpful if you were willing to share your experiences. I can tell you that I just started at the Pain mgt. center about 4 months ago. I am on the Fentanyl 25 patch. This has given me the best and most consistent pain relief that I have ever had. The only issue that I had in terms of break through pain was on the 3rd day- change patch day. I am very thankful that the dr. listened to me and changed me to a 48 hour schedule. I am not increasing the strength - just getting a fresh patch sooner. For some reason, the patch was quite ineffective on day 3 and I was going from a 2 for pain to a 9-10 pain level. It took me & my family a few weeks to notice the pattern.
I also wanted to know how long you have lasted without having to increase the strength. I am very worried about that. I honestly don't want to be on any pain meds, but I also don't want to be stuck in bed crying any more. I finally gave in and accepted that I needed to move more and that it has taken pain relief to do so.
Are you able to take baths with the patch? Is there a trick to that? Are you able to go in pools or the ocean at all? Can you remove the patch for a hot bath & reapply the same one? Did you have to sign a pain mgt. contact? How are you managing without driving anymore?
Thank you for the wonderful greetings to Neuro Talk!
Thank you for reading, and any input would be greatly appreciated!
glo
 |
It sounds to me like we're in the same boat. Even the same length of time for surgery. I started the patch back in '06. I am already at the 75mcg. level. I hate it in some ways and in others it does give me pain relief round the clock. I want to tell u to relax and it is best if u have the ones that don't have the gel so u don't have to worry @ leakage. I do us a heating pad, but..but..I put a towel over mine so the heat is minimal and it raises my temp. just a little. I hurt so badly in my lower back that is the only reason that I do that. I don't advise it to u. I would just take it a day at a time. When I first got my patches I called my friend I bet 4 or 5 times and he told me to take a xanax and to just relax and it would be okay. I know it is scary. It is still scary to me. I do take hot baths, but that is when I take it off. I can immerse myself then. I don't have my patch on at all and get to enjoy the hot bath.Just make sure ur patch is off completely when u do this.
I hope I helped u in some way. I hope if we can maybe we can talk again. I think we are going thru similar things. Take care and always..GOD BLESS..Karen