What May Work Better Than Oxycodone 15mg For Severe Neck Pain? (Top voted first)

I have had two cervical fusions, five levels of herniated lumbar disk, stenosis, bone spurs and arthritis. I have been taking Oxycodone 15mg 3 X daily for one year. I have noticed less pain relief for shorter periods lately. I see a pan management MD once a month. I don't want to come across as asking for stronger drugs. I would like to know what the next step is when Oxycodone is not effective any longer? Also, how is the best way to talk to my doctor about this? I have had steroid shots and neurotomies performed with little success. I am still keeping up my Grandchildren every day and have no problems with addiction. I have noticed my pain has slowed me down though and I'm just tired of hurting all the time. Any info will be very appreciated. Thank you!

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I am in the same club! Same situation. However, my pain md has me up to only norco7.5mg tid and tramadol 50 mg bid. Most days its not enough to cover the pain. I also take Horizant 300mg qd. I feel like I suffer a level of pain 18/7 that most people would run to the emergency room with ! The legitimate chronic pain sufferers are living in a bad time now..... With all of the attention on opioid addiction and the drug abusers and seekers have made it extremely difficult for those of us who suffer We are judged now because of that behavior! Maybe we all should start calling our representatives and senators and give them OUR story.

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Its is tolerance and normal, just tell your doctor whats going on or better yet make a pain chart and describe what your feeling. Its likely time to go up in your dose.

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I'm on 10 mg oxycodone every 4 hours and find that that the best relief of the very sharp nerve pain by adding Lyrica. I take the 50 at night or with breakout pain and 25 during the day if I can get by.

Gabapentin might work as well but I would recommend avoiding it if the cost differential isn't a problem.

I think the Oxy might be more effective for you if you go to the 10 every 4 hrs vs the 15 every 6. You avoid the high and it's much less stress on the body because it keeps the level in your blood more constant during the day.

Dr's are under a lot of pressure to cut people off medication so it's impossible to predict how he will react but maybe asking about an adjustment in the Oxy schedule that maintains the same daily amount and the addition of Lyrica which is of less concern for addiction will help allay concerns of drug seeking.

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Re: Cactus Arizona (# 5)

Norco and percocet both have Acetaminophen BTW - Which you probably know and are rightfully upset about. Acetaminophen is a poison that is actually used to kill animals in some cases. I'm convinced they prescribe those combo pills to force people off medication before they destroy their livers.

The oxycodone is something I was put on because I can't take Acetaminophen. You might try asking your doctor for the same dosage you are getting but in the form of oxycodone so that you can avoid the Acetaminophen or at least take it separately so that you can more easily limit your consumption.

Not to nag but I really encourage you not to push for the extended release. Oxycodone is the exact same medication but the lack of buffering agent allows you to keep your blood level much more constant and the fluctuation in blood level is what causes almost all of the negative effects.

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Re: Angry 65 year old (# 26)

It's not only pain medications that cause your teeth to root. I have been put on many different meds over the last twenty years that caused dry mouth. I now need dentures. I was on methodone for pain and it was great for pain relief, but my vitamin d level has been very low ever since. I am now on 60 mg er of ms contin every 8 hours, and that works well for me.

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Re: Verwon (# 2)

Well.... in my opinion as a retired Anesthesiologist, one must NOT conclude that one's doctor is behaving within the guidelines of professional pain specialists! In my opinion (as a doc and as a 'certified' chronic pain patient, my experiences are such as to cancel any concept that one's MD is deciding appropriate pain relief protocols. You describe a totally legitimate case where increasing the does is WARRANTED... even required.. for you're not apparently suffering any intolerable side effects of narcotics (e.g. constipation, urinary retention - BOTH of which can warrant a visit to the ER!!). Talk to your doc! If he/she persists in the 'government endorsed torture of elderly patients' approach to pain patients' needs, then get another physician... IF you can find one!

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Re: Verwon (# 2)

Well I was taking Opana and that drug was truly a life saver. I recently had to switch because of the abusers out there. I have chronic pain. I am not going to get into all of that. I can say truthfully that I'm legit. Anyway no the oxycodone I'm on for long term only provides limited relief. I went to Percocet and got off of Norco because I was thinking I may have developed some tolerance since I was on the drug for years and years. Any rate. No I honestly feel they work the same. The 10 mg Norco Vs the 7.5 Percocet is nearly the same for me in potency. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to not be covered from the long acting one and being told I have to be cut down to 2 break thrus a day. What in Gods name are they doing to us? We all need to speak out. This is our lives. We're not abusing it. We're needing it to be functional. I feel like moving to Germany so I can get the pain relief I had when Opana was around.

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Re: Eric (# 4)

It sounds like you take ONLY break thru meds. That's probably why your taking them every 4 hours. Not good, the acetaminophen is bad for your liver. Ever try to go to Pain management and get on a round the clock long term pain med??? Or are you already going to a PM Doc? At any rate. I take long term med it's every 12 hours and break thru meds three times a day. There cutting that down to so I just hope you find a long term one cuz there cutting out short acting ones. For real.

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Re: Cactus Arizona (# 6)

He's taking oxy 15's no APAP. Tylenol. Agreed maybe a couple of higher dose extended release pills & lower the break through meds. What he's gotten & rightly so is a tolerance. 2 schools of thought here, be honest & tell the M.D. exactly what's going on & risk losing or be put on a decrease. Or inquire as to ways to augment the 15's casually, hoping your M.D. will understand & offer the XR's & Ir's for breakthrough himself. If you ask, it can be very easy for an m.d. thinking of here's another 1 wanting more. I've had 7 failed fusions, severe scoliosis, & I have M.S. I've learned over 30+ of my 48 years that it's a very slippery slope. Good luck. You seem genuine & I hope you can find a solution.

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Oh I'm sorry, my comment was regarding another post. After I went back to read your post I noticed. Well I was taking oxymorphone AKA Opana. They cut that medicine out now because of abuse. I know you're in legit pain because from what you say. I also am going through similar things. I just had a nerve block done for my spinal stenosis. Anyway here's my suggestion. You have to be honest with your doctor. Tell him/her that the oxy isn't cutting it for your pain. I would hope you established a good relationship with your doctor and passed all the evaluations that you need to do. I'm sure your doctor knows your in Legit pain because you're on Oxy. Now I was on opanas like I stated and then I tried Morphine / MS CONTIN and that helped the pain somewhat but I felt so so sick. Now everyone is different so maybe Morphine will not make you sick. So I have tried about three different drugs since I had to get off the Opana and it was Zyohydro which did not work AT ALL for me. Morphine and now OxyContin. I agree with you. I don't get adequate pain relief on this either. I take Percocet for break thru but the long term one doesn't hold me for 12 hours. No not at all maybe 6 hours but thats it. If I can't get out of this pain I will go to fentanyl. I don't want to. I was on it before and I did not like it. I just want to be on something and still be able to function and be a mom as well as be able to do normal things. Like I said the Opana did that for me but now I'm in the same boat. Good luck. I hope you find some relief.

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Hi, I have chronic pain, and see a pain management doctor. I take oxycontin and, then oxycodone for the break through pain. With all the stuff you have wrong and the chronic pain you have, you should try to find a pain management doctor and get him to prescribe you some oxycontin. It comes in 20, 30, 40. 60, 80 mg. Also, I have RA and I take 5 mg of Prednisone that works really good. I hope you get some relief because I know what it is like to be in pain all the time. I'm a grandmother also and I know how important it is to be able to spend time with your grandkids.

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Doctor Sharon Scot in Kansas City is Best you all need to make a apt with her nib judgemental loving listens. U are un charge if ur healthxare and u she will tell u only kniw which pain med work for u. We are all different so it varues abd a tolerence gets built uo abd we have ti increase or switch all the time she understands caresvand wants u pain free. No pain contract just honesty any love u will get

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Naltrexone 2mcgs to clean the nerve synapses will work

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Ask to up the milligrams or to add a long pain medication. Morphine is my long term and oxy short. It's a law in Florida I think. The morphine you usually take every 12 hours.

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Re: Cactus Arizona (# 6)

When you use the term breakthrough are you just referring to how long it lasts? Why would adding something to a medication to slow down its absorption be good for anything except reducing the number of times you take a pill? I don't see much value in taking pills less often but I find a huge value in not going through the euphoria and withdrawal you get with the same amount of medication on an extended release. The increase in energy, improvement in mood and reduction in digestive issues are huge plusses that make the extra trouble of taking pills more often insignificant. Not having the euphoria and withdrawals every 12 hours also eliminates a lot of the forces that encourage addiction. Being addicted to a lack of pain isn't an issue. Seeking a high or increasing the dosage to avoid withdrawal is.

I don't know if you have tried both without the other in your system but the exact same dose of the extended release made me uncomfortably high in hour 2 and included 2-3 hours of a significant reduction in effectiveness and withdrawal. I get none of that with the Oxycodone and therefore don't spend hours every day thinking about feeling euphoric and going through withdrawal. I'm convinced that this cycle of feeling euphoric and undergoing withdrawal is what causes people to become addicted and to always feel like they don't have enough.

Oxycodone doesn't have acetaminophen which I agree should be avoided. I haven't needed an adjustment in my medication for years. It works just as well today as the first day I took it.

I went to the Stanford pain management clinic. I went from spending 10 years unable to walk over 300 feet, talk with my eyes open or even email family members to working multiple jobs, being able to walk for miles every day and to be viewed as an impressive person in great shape instead of someone people would either avoid or offer help. I prayed for it to end every day for those 10 years and I haven't had a single day where I'd rather not be here in the 5 years since.

Proper medication is the most wonderful miracle in the world and it doesn't have to make you high and cause the cycle of addiction it does in this country. The extended release is what causes that addiction in people who aren't drug seekers in the first place. If someone can't take a pill every 4 hours they probably don't need them.

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Re: Blacksaddle (# 15)

Hello, I live in Michigan and have had chronic pain for over 20 years. I would like more information on the bill you said if passes in Michigan, no doctor would be able to prescribe any medications for chronic pain. Thank you

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Try marijuana. It's the only untreated and untouched plant-based medicine out there. AND it's NOT addictive.

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Be careful of the manufacturer you are getting your Percocet from. I have had two neck surgeries, two lower back and for the past six months or more started noticing some rather bothersome bad side effects. First off I felt no relief what so ever from my Percocet, another thing I noticed was I felt a constant nervousness in my body to the point that I thought I was losing my mind! I've also lost my appetite resulting in a loss of 50 pounds within 4 months or less. Constant runny nose, stomach problems. But worst of all my Percocet did not show in my system at all! I thought I was losing it, I thought hey I'm taking my medication just as prescribed and it's not showing up how the hell could that possibly be? I began to do some research on this medication because I noticed it was a different pill than I had had prior to this all happening. I looked up the pill on the internet and there were no results for it anywhere! I then looked up the manufacturer Aurobindo, that led me to this sight. The complaints were endless, just the same as mine! Might I add they also found THC and something called MDM in my system. And no, I do not smoke marijuana and don't have no idea what MDM even is! I'm on heavier meds than Percocet, it's just my breakthrough pain med and have been on meds for over 27 years and have never failed for anything or not having my meds in my system! This company by the way is buying up so many other manufacturers and keeping their names such as Mylan which is one of the largest in the world! After showing my pharmacy technician and my doctor these documents on this manufacturer they both agreed I was not to have anyway from this manufacturer anymore.

Since changing all of my symptoms have disappeared, I've stopped losing weight, and my meds are actually working again! Best of all it's showing up in my urine again and no THC or MDM? So you may be getting a product from them or someone they've bought out and it's been said their barely putting any of the compound for pain in their pills and God knows what else! Or with the bone spurs I do know when I had my first neck surgery I kept telling them It felt as if I was being stabbed with a knife in my neck yet two surgeons missed it! The third seen it right away and the bone spur had actually wrapped around me spinal cord like a rope and the end of it was sticking in my cord like a spear and stabbing me! So all the time it was choking off my cord and stabbing me like a knife. You must find a doctor that does not ever go off of what a radiologist says and knows how to read reports like the back of his hand. Those reports are read by nobody's who are sent hundreds of reports of all types all day long! When dealing with your neck, back, you need a doctor who has an eye for MRIs, and CTs, and if nothing is found maybe you need a CT Mylogram only as a last resort and by someone who knows their s***, because it's a very dangerous procedure. I myself even had a pain pump put in, but after my doctor who put it in kept me on oral meds with it and screwed it up after my first back surgery I opted to have it removed. But it did help alot and I am getting another one and have been promised this time I will be solely on the pain pump after a short amount of time which is much better on your organs and health overall. Something to think about and you only have to have it filled every 3-4 months if your a candidate for one. Good luck!

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Re: Blacksaddle (# 15)

I feel your pain (no pun intended). We're all be thrown under the bus eventually. It's a sad state of affairs. Doctors really don't really think about what they are doing to their patients and then when you try to talk to them about issues they get angry. I have a friend who swears by Methadone. That's why I thought about trying it. Taking MS Contin 200 mg. 2 x day plus the oxycodone is incredibly expensive and we are on a lot of meds to start with. The first car accident I ended up with a triple cervical fusion, back surgery, 2 broken ankles (1 had surgery) and also had 3 shoulder surgeries. Then a lady ran a red light about 11 months ago and we collided...totaled our car, and it has set us back light years. I have a broken back, a torn rotator cuff and that's just the beginning. We are getting nerve ablations to try to avoid surgery. My neurosurgeon is hesitant to do what he wants to do (fuse 3 more disks in the lumbar area and put in stabilizing rods, but he is afraid the screws would migrate out because my bones are so brittle from years on steroids (my endocrine system is a mess..adrenal glands don't work, pituitary is barely functioning, low thyroid and also the hypothalamus.And lets not leave out the fibromyalgia. Sometimes I think that's the worse part because the pain is so widespread and it keeps me from doing sooooo many things. Everything I have tried for fibro (Cymbalta, Lyrica, Gabapentin, Tegretol, etc.) none have worked or the side effects were too horrible to stay on it. I'm an RN but it seems that most of my adult life has been spent as a patient! NOT the plan....Good luck to you with all of your issues. Blessings...

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You should be honest with your Dr about what your experiencing. It's not uncommon for you to build a tolerance. Bring your meds with to your appointments so they can see that you are not abusing them. It's always scary because of how afraid Drs are these days to write scripts, but as long as you are transparent you should be okay. I would ask what your Dr feels is the best option. My guess is that they may need to add a pill or add a long acting med to stretch out your relief. Don't be afraid to ask about these options either. Best wishes!

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