Has anyone on here switched from say vicoden, 2 or 3 a day that only
brings relief for a few hours and it's up and down all day, to a long
lastng patch or oxycontin? I have not wanted to do this, I think for the
fear of having to accept my condition is just not getting better. I
keep telling my PCP, "I think I'm getting better and will probably not
need these meds much longer" I'm constantly doing new things to fight
this, what I strongly believe is adhesions from transverse colon to
diaphragm on left side, maybe even spleen. Right now I'm in physical
therapy with a great therapist, (if p.t. can help, she would be able to
help me. I've seen about 5 other p.t.'s and she's the only one that
addresses the true area of pain.) She stretches what she says feels like
they could very well be adhesions. So I think if I keep getting this
done, I'll have to get better. Well, I'm sitting here typing this in
more pain than I was in before P.T. I've been going about 2 months now
and I don't want to give it up because the exercise makes me feel in
control at least and of all of my doctors, surgeons, etc., she has cared
more than any of them, along with my PCP. And giving up the p.t. means
having to say, "well, that's one more thing that did not work". Anyway,
I was wondering if the long-acting pain meds help you have a better
quality of life. Right now I mainly take my pain meds to help me
through work and avoid taking them on weekends so I do not get addicted.
But this means I do nothing on weekends but lay around with an ice pack
or tens unit or anyone of them other things that's 'supposed' to help.
It's no quality of life whatsoever, but I do realize I'm very fortunate
to still be able to work, as I really love my job.