Oxycodone

[Dunstablian]

I left hospital after an operation for Diverticulitis with complications on 40mg of Oxycodone for post op pain, after a resection of my colon, but was forced by my GP to taper the dose down to 25mg a day over the following months. Now i am having terrible problems with my lower back, scans confirm degeneration of both lower disc's and hips. Have been prescribed 300mg Gabapentin daily and 25mg Amitriptyline daily, neither of which touch the level of pain i am living with. GP extremely reluctant to increase Oxycodone dose to combat the additional pain, despite a recent op for an incision of the bladder neck having created even more acute pain due to strictures in my Urethra caused by a camera being inserted into it. I now have to insert catheter myself to drain my urine and keep urethra open. I understand why my GP is reluctant as Oxycodone is also a recreational drug which can be abused, however, i have been with my surgery since 1949 and have no record of ever abusing any prescribed or illegal drug. At my wits end now with lower abnormal and lower back pain, have requested a referral back to a pain clinic. in the hope that they will understand the level of pain i am enduring and agree a pain medication which will address it. Still awaiting appointment. Has anyone tried Extoricoxib i am told it works well by a friend who was on it after breaking her back skating?

[Alloagirl]

Hi, have Spondylolisthesis and also have pinched nerves. I have had terrible pain in my legs, at the moment in my left leg and pins and needles down to my foot, causing a mild numbness in my foot. I was just wondering are you on just one 300mg Gabapentin daily. I am on them three times daily and can take 600mg in the morning if needed. I haven’t yet. They really work for me, after not being able to walk with the pain in my leg. I also take cocodamol twice a day. The pins and needles gone and numbness almost. I know Gabapentin doesn’t work for everyone but just thought one a day perhaps not strong enough.

[Dunstablian in reply to Alloagirl]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I am on 300mg a day taken as 100mg three times daily. It has had no discernible effect on my pain. I may ask my GP to increase the dose to see if it will indeed help in controlling my pain. Thanks again for your help.

John

[Fizix12]

I don’t know what it’s like in the UK, but in the US a GP will be just as reluctant to prescribe opioids. You have to ask for a referral to a Pain Management doctor for evaluation. They know what works and what doesn’t, and have more tools in their toolbox to deal with pain.

[Dunstablian in reply to Fizix12]

Hello,

Pretty much the same here. I was prescribed it following an op for 14 days after which my GP was asked by the hospital to review its use. Unbelievably, my GP did not review and continued to issues repeat prescriptions for the next year, until i asked what i was taking this for. I was then referred to the hospitals pain clinic, who said i would now be addicted and should see a drug withdrawal clinic. This took months but when i eventually saw a Pain Clinic i began to taper and have reduced from 40mg daily to 25mg. During the interim period, i was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and having reduced to 25mg without too many problems, i hit a wall at 25mg which i am still taking. I read that the long term use of Oxycodone can cause chronic pancreatitis, my GP of course, was quick to deny this! However, having recently also been diagnosed with a painful bladder/prostate condition, i could not be without Oxycodone today, although my digestive system is about shot. I would never advise anyone to touch this drug unless they are in very dire straits.

John