Assessing Oxycodone Use

[Guest guest]

Laurie,

You wrote, " Is it worth periodically going off them to assess the true

nature of the pain? That is, to see if pain that is being treated by the oxy

may

actually be caused by the oxy? There are many times that I take the pills

when I wonder if I am just reacting to withdrawal pain and the sick feeling

instead of the " true " pancreas pain. "

That is an excellent question. I understand that opiod tolerance is

understood and accepted in situations of chronic pain, therefore the higher dose

pills, such as Oxycontin 80 & 160 mg. However, I do not want to become so opiod

tolerant that I am needing more and more and more medication. I am not

talking about becoming addicted, since I know the difference between addiction

and

dependence. Anyone in chronic pain is dependent on something to ease the

pain. What is just so unfortunate is that the having chronic pain results in

our

pain nerves becoming over sensitized by being exposed so long.

One good thing about opiod tolerance is that it quickly resolves when the

opiods are discontinued. So in reference to your questions about doing a

periodic detox, I believe that is very beneficial. I think I do this for two

reasons. One is that it is difficult to get the doctor to up the opiods as

recommended enough to get adequate coverage. Two I want to evaluate my pain.

After a

while it is true for me to distinguish between withdrawal and neuropathic

pain can become blurred. After a week away from the opiods I am able to return

at a much lower dose. I do this two or three times a year. It feels cool to be

'off narcotics' for a while. But I certainly do not feel like a failure when

I need to return to regular use. Pain and the response to pain is such an

extremely individual situation. There are so many factors that go into it, that

it is very often impossible to find any rhyme or reason to it.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

Indianapolis, Indiana

[Guest guest]

,

You make a very good point. There are times when we need to evaluate our

pain level without the meds. I know that my pain level can change drastically

from day to day. So I think that taking a holiday from any drug for a while can

help you know if you really need it. I did that when I was on " the pill " also.

I would start to get headaches and my doc would recommend a holiday from them

for a while to give my body a chance to start over and see how it would react

and then go back to it and the headaches would stop. I had to do that several

times when I was on them. There are some meds though that you can't take a

holiday from however, such as meds for bi-polar disorder and the like. But I do

like your suggestion. One of my fears is becoming opiod resistant, I would hate

to get to the point that I cannot have my pain relieved.

The doc did start me on oxycontin today. It seems to be helping some. He

started me on 10 mg. and said to follow up with my new pain man. doc who I see

tomorrow and let her follow my progress and see if we need to tweak it to fit my

needs. My pain has been much better today after getting back on my oxycodone.

I ran out and was out for several days and I was so afraid to eat that I lost

5 pounds!

Thanks for always giving great advice!

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "