newcomer question/pain meds

[Guest guest]

I've lurked on this list before, unjoined and rejoined. My son has

pancreatitis and has been in and out of the hospital for the past six

weeks. This last time they sent him home with a nighttime IV, and, as

usual, vicodan for pain. That doesn't work, so last night he went

back into the hospital where they give him demerol for the pain. That

seems to work. DIL told me they're now talking about a pump for pain

med. Seems to me there should be a better way to handle the pain than

vicodan. Does anybody have anything better? Also, he's at Long Beach

Memorial Hospital, Long Beach CA. I don't know anything about

gastroenterologists - he's seen at least two so far, but they don't

have anything to say except that they can do pain control and that's

all. Anybody know who THE ONE is in this area?

Thanks for any help, advice, etc.

Carol