Re: I have a question about breakthrough pain

November 29, 2006

... Breakthru pain. I take percocet for my breakthru pain. Does that

mean that I don't allow myself to feel any pain at all? No. LOL I'm in

constant pain. But when that pain interferes with living, and with functioning

at all, and my morphine (MS contin) is not handling it enough... I take percocet

for breakthru pain. You have to be careful, of course.. that you know the

medication, you know how much pain you are in, and you don't expect to feel

absolutely no pain at all. (that leads to a lot of problems...) If I need to

go somewhere, or I have piles of laundry, and I can't move enough to do it

because of the pain, I take my breakthru meds. If I'm laying around, with not

much to do.. I'm not as quick to take them. I'll push it a bit.

Sandie

November 29, 2006

Hi ,

I'm sure you have gotten 101 replies to this, but I'm gonna put my 2 cents in

anyway. Breakthrough pain is when pain manages to breakthrough the strong long

acting pain meds you are on, you then take a short, fast acting med to help that

pain go away. You had mentioned this in your post, you are right

~Tommie

I have a question about " breakthrough pain "

My wife looks over my shoulder sometimes when I'm on here, and she

was asking me what " breakthrough pain " meant. I see and read about

folks being prescribed this and that for breakthrough pain. I

thought it meant when I'm sitting and start to jerk a little or

twitch involuntarily when the pain in one joint or another goes over

my pain threshold. You know, when you get one of those shooting

deals that makes your eyes roll back. Am I right? And if so, then

what? Take something stronger on top of what you are already

taking? I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the inevitable

medication game again. I'm going to see a new doctor next week, and

I'm dreading it. It's a woman this time(thank God,)maybe this time

it will be different. Usually when I've seen a doctor they will ask

me " on a scale of 1 to 10, how do you feel? " I feel like a moron

telling them " depends on the day " , like I can't make up my mind or

something. I really am tired of fighting this, the way I have been I

mean. I'm afraid to get my hopes up too much though. It's been my

experience as a male that if I tell a doctor how I REALLY feel, they

either think I'm a wuss, or they think I'm scamming them for pain

pills. Either way I blow a half of a day and a co-pay for a doctor

to tell me what I already know. I have osteo-arthritis, rumatiod

arthritis, and it will never get better.

I'd like to thank you all for allowing me to " blow a gasket " about

a week or so ago. Sometimes I get so frustrated, it just makes me

nuts. Like most of you, I have kids and a family. Ya know, you work

hard all your life to have something, a home, family, maybe a hobbie

or two, and then to be told NO you can't do all that even though

you've EARNED it. Well, some days I do better at accepting that than

others.

November 29, 2006

,

When your doc ask you your pain level on a scale of 1-10, they are asking what

your pain level is on average. So if most days you feel about a 8 and other days

you feel about a 4. Tell them this. Tell her that the high pain level is an 8

and that is ?? often and then the lowest time is a 4 or what ever and that is ??

often. And also let her know that it hurts worse when you do activities, just

lay it on the line. She needs to know all about your pain levels so she knows

how to treat you. Everyone has pain at different levels and hurt at different

times. You might also be open with her about your experience being a guy and

that neither of the assumed scenarios are correct. You REALLY have this much

pain and that you try at all cost to avoid the medical community with it, but

it's gotten to the point that you just can't bare to avoid it anymore, you NEED

help!

We all know exactly how you feel about having a reason to need to vent as much

as we understand the venting. You come here and vent to us anytime , we

are all for one and one for all

I've not been feeling too great. I've swelling in feet, ankles and legs, that

just won't go down. So, I've been in bed all day with my legs above my heart.

They have gone down just a bit, but they feel as they will bust! So, sorry I

haven't been around today. lol I'm waaaaaaaay behind in posts.

Take care!