Hey Bish -

Wow - you're in the same boat I'm in then. What do you do for chronic pain that you know you're gonna be in until you die. Good question, and honestly, I'm seeking an answer too. I just asked the same question in another thread.

Fact is Bish, I just don't have an answer for you. I based my first answer to you on the fact that you said you DON'T abuse your meds. If that's the case, and you need lifelong management, then you need some sort of time released med, whether it be narcotic or non-narcotic. We have already covered the narcotics. Here's the non narcs - have you tried Celebrex or Vioxx? Granted, these are usually used for osteo arthritus, but hey - samples are free at your doc's office. Ask for some and see if they work. They're basically a time released aspirin or Tylenol, but at a much higher milligram than you would get over the counter. Try it for sh*ts and giggles - nothing to lose!

If anyone else has some input - by all means, please do. I could use an answer to this question too!

Good luck Bish - Dawn

Hi again Dawn,
I really appreciate you keeping your input coming, not to mention you have a cute personality, by the way I use to live right next to NH! As for the Vioxx the docs before the one I have now gave me that as one of the first meds tried, along with ultram and a whole bunch of other sh*t that didn't work! :-(
At this point I would consider Oxycontin, basically because of the extended release aspect, less pills to take, might work better, and I hear it has less body side-effects than percs (body wise, not talking about withdrawls)!
My question is: How do I approach my doctor with that question, especially since he was very skeptical at first about narcotic pain killers in general, due to my speed addiction in the past! How would I even go about that if I was going to decide to go that path! Thanx again everyone, and especially you Dawn ;-)!
Bish

I have been on percocet for the better part of 2 years for a chronic TMJ condition but not untill after spending 10 years experimenting with all the NSAIDS my doc could give me. There was Naproxen, Celebrex, Vioxx, Arthrotec, Advil you name it. Only after they did damage to my stomach did my Doctor put me on narcotics first stop was tylenol 3's they didnt work too well and when I had to start taking 2 my Doc put me on Percocet 5/325. After about a year and a half of this he suggested Oxycontin. I take 20mg twice a day and I have the percocet for breakthrough pain. Bishop I know you were asking how to approach your Doc about these? Well you could use the Tylenol factor this is what made my Doc suggest them to me I was taking too much tylenol. I have not had a problem with the Oxys at all. They dont kill all the pain but then again what painkiller does? As long as I have quality of life I am more than happy. There is a surgery that " might" help my jaw condition with long physical therapy after but after reading what my friends on the TMJ board I dont know if its the best idea. I have read Stacys post as well and he had to be abusing them very badly for this to happen because taking them as directed doesnt kill you. She also said he had been clean for 3 months therefore his body wasnt even used to the dose he took before quitting and he was ok...he was like a narcotic virgin again for lack of a better word and that dose killed him because his body was no longer tolerant. I hope the ones that abuse the oxy or think about it will read her post before they do because thats why she posted it to help someone else not suffer the fate of her husband. God bless you all, may he give everyone the strength to fight thier demons.
Luv
Autumn.