Hey Sweetie,

This is always a tough one...if you have an addictive personality then I would try and stay away from the big pain meds.

My experience is I have been on just about everything..Fentanyl Patches (1 patch every 72 hours) is one of your biggest but I will tell you it is nasty stuff. They make you feel horrible as far as Im concerned and I was once at 75mgs and that is pretty big. My Dr. kept wanting to up me on those and I have known cancer patients to be on 50's and up. If you are truly in mind bending cant function kind of pain then they are good to have.

Oxycontin is what I use now. I have 20mg ER (extended relief) and I take as needed. I have taken 2 at a time 40mgs so far that has always at least made it bearable, I have never gone for TOTAL pain relief THAT has only come for me with morphine in the hospital. Oxycontin makes you kind of jumpy (it does me) and I can't ever take it at night or I can't sleep.

Tramadols/Ultracets 37.5, 50mgs, 100mgs, these have been wonderful you might ask about these. I am currently on 50mgs at a time and at times take 2 at a time. They come alone or with acetamenphen (sp?) I personally like WITHOUT because I take several of these a day and I don't feel like I need to be downing 2000mgs of Tylenol on top of it. If you are in moderate pain these would be good. You might ask your Dr. for 37.5. I get 100 at a time but most Drs. aren't willing to just dole out pain meds.

Hydrocodone..these are good as a pain starter. I was on these for several years until they did not work anymore. Drs. are much more willing to prescribe these or Tylenol 3's, you can also get a script for 800mg Motrins or Ibuprofin and those work at times, it just depends on how bad you pain is.

My motto is ALWAYS start out at the lowest you can and hold out the longest. Most pain meds are addictive and if your Drs. even think for a moment that your getting that way they will snatch them away.

I have been lucky that I have a Dr. that trusts me BUT I also always take my meds with me, keep a log of when the pain was at its worst and how many of this and that I took and show him that see I haven't seen you in 6 weeks so using 100 tramadols and 60 Oxy's isnt that much on the broad scope.

There are alos things like lidocane patches (I have never used) and steroid injections which have ALWAYS seemd to help me.

I hope you get some relief soon, let me know if you have any other questions.

Hugs,

Lisa

Speak kindly, Live simply, Care deeply, Love generously, and BLAH, HA, HA, LOUDLY! every chance you get.