I had my apt today with my pain doc. When I showed up I had my info on the psychiatrist, physical therapist, biofeedback therapist, orthopedist and GI doctors. I must be a rare patient where I try many approaches to my situation other than pain meds. And I am truly blessed I have insurance. But he switched my Mscontin to fentanyl and I was just curious if it works well for anybody. I refuse anything that starts with oxy. I refuse psych meds of any kind from my psychiatrist. I am just concerned about being on opiates period, but it's my life and if they help they help. I just know morphine didnt do a thing. I don't know what else is out there but the fact I can take less pills is fine with me.
I just want to know what I'm getting my self into with this new medication. Any comments or advise would be great.


Thank you and best wishes.

it did not help my daughter. low dose naltrexone seems to be helping a lot of people including my daughter. docs are happy to prescribe it as it is not an opiate.

I understand your reluctance to take pills. However Fentanal is addictive, or you can become accustomed to it just like morphine. Have you considered a lotion for RSD? There is a new one out there that is made by a compound pharmacy. i can post the ingredients if you are interested. This works better than opiates for me. I have either PN or RSD in my foot ankle and calf. My neighbor is on the patch for pain, and it doesn't work that great for her. I do wish you all the best. I am just now almost finished with morhphine, after years on it. I won't go down that path again, as getting off the medication is rough. I do hope what ever you do, that you research it. my best to you. ginnie

Thanks you for the words and I understand what you are saying. I have done a butt load of research and I'm looking into the creams. But unfortunately other than rsd in my right hand/arm, I have osteoporosis in my r hand and a fake hamate hook that is constantly sore. I'm ok with being on opiates. Im just new to them. It's actually taking 3 days to clear this stuff through my insurance so this stuff must be no joke. But if it doesnt work I will just have to suck it up and go opiate free. I won't take short acting meds long term.

Thank you all and best wishes.

After just about 30 years of this, RSD. TOS, discs. etc. and a TBI, I'm OK with pills.
So, I take
Methadone! 60MG/Day
Cymbalta / 60mg day
diazepam up to 20 mg / day/
Aricept 20mg / day (for thinking more clearly)/

I can take up to 20 mg of xanaflex (generic) / day.

I especially like the "LIdocaine' patches for my disc pain, (Neck and Lumbar)"......

Since I've turned Diabetic within the past year (or more), Novalog, 70/30 20 units twice per day.

Aleve maybe 20 mg / day,
and the older I get, it just keeps going.

I've done nothing but sleep for the last few months. I feel as though I have 'Mono' again.
Well, gonna hafto have that checked out....


Good wishes to ALL!!!!!

Lotsa Love,

Pete

xo

I cut my lido patches in 4s and wear 2 squares a day. My doc is trying to get me to take les to no NSAIDs as I have GERD/haital hernia/gastritis. So if I'm going to be on anything LA it's going to be this or methadone. I am literally watching my rsd spread over time. The spot my surgeon used to give my cortisone shots has lumped and hardened with crazy nerve endings. So things just get harder. I know the hype about chronic non-malignant pain and narcotics and this may be controversial to say but if I was terminal, I'd be happy the end was near so the pain can go away. We have no signs of the end (most of us) and we have to put up with (pain) for as long as god has us on this earth. So me being the pro choice person I am, if I can be comfortable, why not?

After 5yrs of TOS, butcherd up from TOS with taking my ribs out and RSD, im ok with taking meds. I went a very long time without meds and then just light meds trying to get threw the day but as everyhing progessvly has gotten worse i just had to do what was best for me, and thats what it comes down to. Im on a fent patch, oxy, and 2 muscle relaxants and it has helped tremdonsely since being on this regiman. I had to be ok with taking meds, because if not then i wasnt going to have a productive life at all. My drs fully understand that and im thankful for that!

I was just switched to the fentanyl patch. It helps with my rsd pain far better than morphine did. But just making them stay attached for 3days is a chore. But I've officially been in pain management for 4 months now and I'm comfortable with what I'm on medication wise. It's just tricky having what we have because there seems to be so many different types of pains at different times. The patch seems to do an awesome job treating most of them. Plus I get to worry about taking less pills. Which is great.
But I wish everybody a good night, and best wishes.

Glad the patch worked for you. I just finished I hope, weaning off morphine. Have RSD or PN in left foot ankle and calf. I am trying a topical which seems to help a great deal. I got sick of taking pills after so many years. Has Ketamine in it, and 5 other medications. Seems to take the burn out. ginnie