Pain Management!! - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

notsosmall619 · 08-05-2006, 02:28 PM

I have been referred to a pain specialist for my herniated disc I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad one, what I do know is that I am in pain.. They did give me vicodin but the tylenol content is to high for what I need to take I have to take 3 5/500 every 4-6 hours for my pain, I think that its alot of tylenol for my liver. When I first got hurt I use to take Norco but I do not know if that is still on the market. In 1999 I was envolved in a scaffolding accident. I was on a section of 10' high scaffold and it colapsed from under us and I landed right on my tail bone. I had to air lifted to the Hospital because I could not feel my legs and I lost control of my bowels, it was ugly but know I am having reaccuring pain which happens but not as bad as now. I think the surgery or my wieght loss has made it worst. At least thats what my PT Dr. said. It is so hard to try to get pain meds because I guess that people who really dont need them abuse them and it makes it hard for those of us who really need them!!! I dont know but I do know that My PCP is @%*#ing pissing me off she took over for my original PCP since she went to practice in Hawaii I dont know what to do?????????

HELP

SweetSouthern · 08-05-2006, 03:06 PM

It's a good thing you are going to a specialist. I assume it is an orthpedic surgeon who specializes in back care. I am also going to an orthpedic surgeon for the broken pars intraarticular in my back. I have a very unstable spine and will eventually have to have a fusion. He has put me on chronic pain medicine and I have to see him every two months to get my meds. He said I need to get through my GBS and lose alot of this weight to see how well it helps me before I have surgery, not to mention the risks it will improve with having such a major surgery. He did mention that he may eventually send me to a pain management clinic for my pain meds, but for now he is doing them. I have tried using a TENS unit and it does not help much, so basically I'm left at the mercy of the pain meds to take the pain away until I do have it fixed because anti-inflammatories are out of the question since GBS. I take Lortab 5/500 one every four to six hours as needed. Just take as directed and you should be fine. If you have a question about the dosage, please talk to the dr. that prescribed it. They are only human and have been known to make mistakes also. I usually only have to take mine after I have sat here and worked a while or after I do something physical, but do not take round the clock. I try to use as little as possible because it is addictive and I do not want that problem on top of others that I have, so take care and be safe with the med. You'll feel better when you are getting help and the pain is better. I hope you feel better soon.

Dyann · 08-05-2006, 03:14 PM

Pain specialists are usually anesthesia trained and they can do a whole bunch of things in addition to prescribing meds. There are blocks and injections used with steroids, and narcotics to avoid systemic side effects. I wish you the best of luck as chronic pain is no fun.

Blueyz · 08-05-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsosmall619

I have been referred to a pain specialist for my herniated disc I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad one, what I do know is that I am in pain.. They did give me vicodin but the tylenol content is to high for what I need to take I have to take 3 5/500 every 4-6 hours for my pain, I think that its alot of tylenol for my liver. When I first got hurt I use to take Norco but I do not know if that is still on the market. In 1999 I was envolved in a scaffolding accident. I was on a section of 10' high scaffold and it colapsed from under us and I landed right on my tail bone. I had to air lifted to the Hospital because I could not feel my legs and I lost control of my bowels, it was ugly but know I am having reaccuring pain which happens but not as bad as now. I think the surgery or my wieght loss has made it worst. At least thats what my PT Dr. said. It is so hard to try to get pain meds because I guess that people who really dont need them abuse them and it makes it hard for those of us who really need them!!! I dont know but I do know that My PCP is @%*#ing pissing me off she took over for my original PCP since she went to practice in Hawaii I dont know what to do?????????

HELP

Norco is still out there and is widely used...it has less Tylenol and more Narcotic than say Lortab or Vicodin. It is just another form of hydrocone...and it works well for pain. It doesn't make you loopy if you are used to taking Narcotics...it just controls the pain. i have been going to Pain Management and it is so much better than dealing with my pcp. He was just letting me have pain and then giving me whatever he thought good for me. Pain managment has a lot to offer. They can even do surgical procedures where they insert pain pump things for bad backs, injection, and all sorts of treatment. I say you are doing the right thing. They will make sure to give you the correct med. and dose. I was worried about my liver and insisted that my doc follow through on the referral to the pain med. specialists. You will feel much better.

notsosmall619 · 08-05-2006, 04:27 PM

Yep I need them when I wake up or when I have been driving for a while and get out of the car. Is lortab the same as vicodin?

notsosmall619 · 08-05-2006, 04:32 PM

Good cuz my PCP makes me fell like im just trying to get high!! If it was that I was after they could not give me enough!!! But monday I plan to go sit in her office until she see's me and give me a referrel to a pain specialist.. I will update thanks guys for the help I feel better already.. I wont need pain meds forever just for know I use to take Motrin for along time for pain because of the addiction risk..but at this point I need it!!!

MiladyB · 08-05-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsosmall619

Yep I need them when I wake up or when I have been driving for a while and get out of the car. Is lortab the same as vicodin?

Hi, Lortab is the same as vicodan except in liquid form.

I work on a Burn Unit and give ALOT of pain meds. We limit our patients to 4,000mg of tylenol per 24 hrs. That is pretty much the excepted limit. Anything more than that you run a chance of damaging your liver. We usually use Vicodan HP with our patients which has less Tylenol per dose. Here is how it breaks down.

Vicodin: 500mg acetaminophen / 5mg hydrocodone
Vicodin ES: 750mg acetaminophen / 7.5mg hydrocodone
Vicodin HP: 10mg hydrocodone / 660mg acetaminophen

Instead of taking 2 of the regular Vicodan we give them 1 of the Vicodan HP. You get the same amount of hydrocodone in 1 HP that you get in 2 Vicodan but less Tylenol. Basicly you can take 6 Vicodan HP (which is like taking 12 Vicodan) in a 24 hour period vs. taking 8 regular Vicodan in a 24 hr period.

*l* I hope that makes sense.

Blueyz · 08-05-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsosmall619

Good cuz my PCP makes me fell like im just trying to get high!! If it was that I was after they could not give me enough!!! But monday I plan to go sit in her office until she see's me and give me a referrel to a pain specialist.. I will update thanks guys for the help I feel better already.. I wont need pain meds forever just for know I use to take Motrin for along time for pain because of the addiction risk..but at this point I need it!!!

You don't take Motrin anymore, do you? I was told not to take Motrin or Ibuprofen because it will harm the pouch.

Blueyz · 08-05-2006, 05:48 PM

I forgot to tell you that my back pain became worse as I lost weight and continues to nag me. Could be because of all of the hernia stuff that I have gone through, but the back pain is a lot worse....and I barely have any weight left on me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsosmall619

I have been referred to a pain specialist for my herniated disc I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad one, what I do know is that I am in pain.. They did give me vicodin but the tylenol content is to high for what I need to take I have to take 3 5/500 every 4-6 hours for my pain, I think that its alot of tylenol for my liver. When I first got hurt I use to take Norco but I do not know if that is still on the market. In 1999 I was envolved in a scaffolding accident. I was on a section of 10' high scaffold and it colapsed from under us and I landed right on my tail bone. I had to air lifted to the Hospital because I could not feel my legs and I lost control of my bowels, it was ugly but know I am having reaccuring pain which happens but not as bad as now. I think the surgery or my wieght loss has made it worst. At least thats what my PT Dr. said. It is so hard to try to get pain meds because I guess that people who really dont need them abuse them and it makes it hard for those of us who really need them!!! I dont know but I do know that My PCP is @%*#ing pissing me off she took over for my original PCP since she went to practice in Hawaii I dont know what to do?????????

HELP