Is Oxycontin an Effective Pain Reliever?
Question by Brian Afrisio: Is oxycontin an effective pain reliever?
I am currently taking 50mg of Tramadol 3X a day, 500 mg Naproxen twice a day, and 10/325 Norco 3X a day for arthritis of the knees. The Tramadol has never been of much help. I just take it in between my Norco. Lately the Norco hasn’t been working as good. I don’t get as much relief and it doesn’t last as long. I get about an hour or two of good relief and they start hurting again. I have even been doubling up on them and still not much relief. I hate taking all these pills and my doctor was suggesting Oxycontin SR, I think. It’s supposed to last all day. Is it really helpful. I’m not looking to get high. I just hate being in pain all the time. I’m skeptical about surgery. I have seen 3 different orthos and they all recommended three different surgeries. One said a high tibial osteotomy, the other said arthroscopic surgery, and the other said my knees are trashed and I need knee replacements. I have also been told by other people that surgery hasn’t helped them much. I am overweight, but I have lost a lot of weight to. I blew up to near 400 pounds about 5 years ago. I gained the weight from being so exhausted from work. And I was tired all the time. I switched jobs and I am down to around 280-290 now. I’m hoping if I get down to my ideal weight that the pain will lessen to where I don’t have to take pills or surgery, but right now I think the pills is my best option. I was a little concerned about switching to Oxycontin because of how addictive it can be and I now the copay is kinda high. For the other 3 I am only paying about $ 15 a month. I think the Oxycontin might be $ 50, but it could be as little as $ 20. I need to check with my insurance company on that one. Would it be worth paying more to get the relief I need or am I better off just sticking with what I am currently taking? I’m just worried since I have been doubling up on them that it might eventually get worse and I don’t want that to happen. I hate pills. I hated seeing my Mom on all her meds before she died. She was on at least 25 different meds at once for depression, high blood pressure, arthritis, and asthma.
Yes he is suggesting taking me off the 3 meds I am on and just putting me on the Oxycontin SR. There is no way that I would want to add it to the others I am on. I don’t want to be all doped up especially when I’m working.
Best answer:
Answer by Nancy
Is your doctor suggesting you throw out all the garbage you are taking and take solely Oxycontin SR? Or does he want to add it to the soup you are already taking?
If you can tell me that, I can answer more fully – promise.
******************
I’m so sorry about your mother – I lost mine too. But congratulations for losing such a huge amount of weight! Weight definitely plays a large part in how your knees can become injured. But you don’t want a lecture – I am in agreement with you about knee surgery. Don’t unless you have to. I had hip surgery and was in a specialized hospital for hips and knees and I saw people with knee replacements – let’s just say you don’t want one.
Now to answer your urgent question – you will probably get addicted to Oxycontin SR (the SR stands for sustained release because you take a pill and it slowly releases over 12 hours). Most people with chronic pain get addicted to their narcotic pain medication, but if you have a good doctor, he/she will help you when it is time, to slowly withdraw from the medication. And it works, especially if you do it slowly, and are not interested in getting high.
The Norco you are presently taking is a narcotic – hydrocodone – and acetaminophen (which damages your liver over time). If your doctor switches you over to Oxycontin, then you won’t feel withdrawal. I agree with your doctor – get rid of all the garbage that you are taking and take one pill. You have become used to the Norco, so it doesn’t work for you as well as it did in the beginning. (You should never double up on your pills, but I understand – it’s the pain).
Now one problem you are going to find that you have if you take the Oxy SR is that your pain won’t go away instantly. As it is a 12 hour release pill, it will not start working for a few hours. And it may not last 12 hours, so your doctor may suggest a pill for “breakthrough pain”. Now you are back on 2 different pills again. (I found that Tramadol did absolutely nothing for me either! nor did Naproxen)
Why don’t you discuss it further with him. Ask him why he feels a 12 hour release pill would be good for you. Ask him why it wouldn’t be better to take Oxycontin 3 times a day if he promises to help you withdraw. These are just two questions I think are important to find out the answers to. How long does he see you taking medication?
I am a patient at a Chronic Pain centre as I had spinal fusion on my back (L5 to S1) which didn’t work and while I am waiting for a second surgery, my surgeon sent me to this Chronic Pain centre. I take Arthrotec (I have osteoarthritis) twice a day, and I take methadone tablets for pain 3 times a day. I made the doctor promise to help me withdraw when it is time and I had him put it in writing.
Now what’s good for me may not be good for you. I am just telling you I understand pain. I have been on just about every pain killer known to man! I am quite pleased with methadone – it totally kills the pain. I also like morphine, but I find it makes my head foggy.
Speak to your doctor and ask him why he chose the Oxy SR. Have an open discussion. I understand you don’t want it to get high, but to get rid of the awful pain!
I’m Canadian and our health care is free so I cannot advise you on the cost. Sorry.
I know you have a horrible picture of your mother with all her pill bottle surrounding her – that is NOT going to be you. If you have to take 2 different types of pills, that won’t be so bad, will it? It’s not 25!
If you want to talk more, please email me and we can talk. Let me know what your doctor says, please. You have people out here who care about you, okay!
Good luck!
Crimea side-effect: Addicts deprived of methadone
While methadone doesn't have the same euphoric effect as heroin, it weans addicts off the drug by blocking the pain, aches and chills of withdrawal. In preparation, Kislov has already started reducing his daily intake of methadone by about 10 …
Read more on kwwl.com
Stupid People Quotes
April 6, 2014 at 9:48 pm · Reply. Are we talking about the same Rob Lowe who was diddling a 16 year old and can't remember getting his tattoo because he was too stoned from overusing pain killers? Sounds like a real moral fellow. Thumb up 2 Thumb down …
Read more on Drug WarRant