question about meds (not a frequent poster)

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Hi Everyone my name is Faye - I'm not a frequent poster, although I

read the post everyday and appreciate you letting me be a part of

this great group! I have a question hoping maybe someone could help

me with! I am asking several of my groups, because I don't know where

to turn!

I have RSD full left side of my body - have had it 7

years! Been treated with so many different meds over the years

I've lost count of them all and my Pain Mgmnt Dr now has me on

Methadone 10mg 4 times a day which is helping quite a bit, the

question is, is it reasonable to think that's not always enough -

sometimes it seems if I just had a breakthrough med I could survive

this unrelenting pain and actually get up and do something - not just

sit here and be happy the pain has eased - hope that made sense!

Does anyone take Methadone and also take a breakthrough med or am I

crazy lol! I have taken Vicodin, Tylox and Demerol in the past, but,

they alone would not touch the pain (this is before putting me on

Methadone)!

I have a wonderful Dr and he listens when I talk, but,

not sure how to approach him about this with our relationship being

so new and I certainly don't want him to think I'm just a drug

seeker - trust me I'm not - I'd give anything to throw them all away,

but, have tried to live without the pain meds and life was just too

unbearable - I'm adult enough to be responsible with them anyway!

He's new to me and I've only been to him about 5 times! My old DR. I

had seen 6 years and could tell him anything, but, he was just a GP

and was not comfortable prescribing stronger narcotics and he felt I

had come to the point that I needed the Methadone type drugs now!

I've suffered severe migraines all my life and strong meds are not a

problem for me as I tolerate them better than most people do! As far

as the addiction part I don't belive in a pain patient becoming

additced to their meds if their pain is real!

I just think that on days when the 4 Methadone are not touching the pain that

they should be able to do something in=between that could give me some relief

and wanted to talk with other chronic painers before I approcahed him next week!

It's not even that I need them (the break-through meds)

all the time just sometimes I need an extra something to make the

pain more tolerable so that I can get up and have some quality of

life - walking, hurts, air touching me hurts, even sound hurts - I'm

sure many of you know exactly what I'm talking about! I do make

myself keep going I'm not a quitter or a whiner I promise you I just

get so tired of hurting all the time minute after minuter day after

tday!

I'm on Topamax for the migranes and it's been a lifesaver for

me - I hardly ever have a migraine anymore and was having them 3

times a week (chronic vascular migraines)! I'm also on a few other

meds for the migraine prevention, but, other than that, that's it!

Thank anyone for any help you may be able to give me! I realize that

life for me may never be totally pain free, but, if I could just have

moments where I could walk outside or attend a family function once

in awhile in relative peace it would be nice!

I even wondered if maybe a Vicodin type pill like I use to take maybe could be

used for breakthrough pain? Or any suggestions on something you guys use that I

could bring to my Dr's attention - Just curious what you guys do or use if

anything! Help Please! Desperate with pain!

I'd never do anything without talking with my Dr just don't know what to mention

to him! Thanks again and sorry this was so long!

Faye in GA