Question:
How do I explain to a pain management specialist about my needs?

I have pre-existing muscularskeletal pain that was not treated well prior to surgery. Post-surgery, I have learned that time released meds, like OxyContin, do not work very well since I do not have a stomach any longer. The pain specialists I have seen refuse to understand that I am not exaggerating my level of pain post-op. How do I explain to a physician that OxyContin does not sit in my pouch very long like it used to sit in a normal-sized stomach?    — Susan W. (posted on October 25, 2001)

October 25, 2001
I also am a chronic pain person. I discussed my upcoming surgery with my pain managment doc and he says after surgery he will have to really play with my meds to get the right doseage. He knows that there will be a major increase. Explain this to your doc. Maybe he dont realize the absorbation thingy. He might really be uninformed about it and not want to admit it. Take along info for him to see on paper about the absorbation ratio.
   — Melody F.

October 12, 2002
I am here to share what has happened to me since my surgery. I too take Oxycontin and since my surgery. It does not last no where near what it is suppose to.At best it lasts up to (7) hours, normally it is at (6) hours. I take 120mgs in the morning 120 in the afternoon then another 40 at bedtime. I also take 25 mgs of Oxy Ir (5mg) through out the day for break through pain. My doctor understands what is going on so the best advise for you is, Get yourself another doctor, one who understands and is willing to keep you out of pain. There are too many doctors out there who would rather let you suffer because there is too much paper work involved when prescribing narcotics. As a patient you have a right not to be in pain.
   — Jack G.

October 9, 2003
I'm with the other girls, get yourself somebody who is willing to LISTEN to your complaints. Or, give him this web site address and educate this person. Or, have your surgeon write a note to explain this particular phenomenon. Either way you go, you need someone who is willing to listen to you. There is a wonderful product to use in the control of Chronic pain that has a time-release mechanism but is not in a pill form. It's called a Duragesic patch. The transdermal patch is not for acute or 'break through' pain. It is for chronic pain only. The system must be placed on the skin (not over a bony prominence...it needs body heat and subquetaneous tissue under it to absorb the medication into your body) The patch gets changed every 72 hours. (however, since it is released by body heat, should you ever run a fever, you may notice that the patch doesn't last a full 72 hours) It is a narcotic, a schedule 2 drug that requires a written prescription from your Doctor each and every time you need it filled. Because it is a continuous release medication, there are no 'peaks and troughs' the ups and downs of pain and waiting periods for the medication to 'kick in'. Just a nice, steady release of medication. Should you experience occassional break thru pain, you can take some liquid Roxinol which is a liquid instant release morphine. If you experience Frequent break thru pain, it's time to up the doseage on your patch. I work as a nurse in the Geriatric field and did a 3 year stint in Hospice, where pain control is vital! Hope this advice helps in some way! Take care of yourself! Mary Cole
   — Mary C.