Morphine sulfate not even working

[skippy13]

I take 2 tabs of Morphine sulfate time release a day. It is not working completely either, but at least it doesn't mess with my head and make me all goofy.

I take three caps of neurontin per day, and that usually handles the daily pain, but have a new radiculopathy that needs surgery so I agreed to the morphine and nixed the idea of methadone. Is morphine worse than methadone to take long term, or is it about the same?

I'm going to have trigger point injections later in March first, but dont hold much faith in them. Surgery is the only answer I'm afraid. Is there anything else I can do to relieve this pain until I have surgery? Is the morphine a mistake? I have extreme reservations about taking narcotics that dont provide much in the way of relief anyway but I have to try something.

[arndog]

Can you move the surgery up as soon as possible? If you know that is what is going to relieve this, I vote for getting it done ASAP.
Sounds like where I was one year ago. Hey, Skippy13 - make sure the surgeons know that you are coming into surgery on narcs because that will mean they have to give you more than the 'usual' amount for pain management.
Good luck.....
jon

[fishin'guy]

stick with the morp sulf, methadone is the craps to lose.

[skippy13]

I would love to be able to move the surgery up, but I'm going through the VA and they seem to take a little longer to get through the hoops. I get my medicare in June, and if it isnt done by then I will seek out someone locally. Thanks for the advice about the surgery and the methadone. I appreciate it. I got scared off of taking methadone when I read about the difficulties people have had with it on CC. See? Care Cure is very valuable. Probably saved me a lot of trouble. Does anyone have any advice about trigger point injections?

[alan]

Methadone requires a longer tapering-off than other opiates, because it has a much longer half life than the others. When I was tried on it, I thought I had tapered off slowly enough, but I had to continue the taper for a couple more weeks after having some withdrawal symptoms.

[quadvet]

+4 on the methadone. I was on it for years - no small dose either - and stopped cold turkey, damn near killed me...for 3+ weeks. I hear ya about the VA, takes forever sometimes. Don't know how many times I've been told "pain won't kill you, wait your turn". Good luck Skippy, sorry you are hurting so bad.

[huskerboy]

My doc's are more persistant about MS. I am truely afraid of th need for increase over time. I am more afraid of the MS holiday. I am interested in your docs reasons for the non efficacy with you.

[doha]

I talk to Doc in new delhi India he said he will use external stimulator for a week and then he will decide on surgery so I'm going in 2 weeks time nice hospital hotel room room service 24 hours

[Danimal]

Hi Skippy:

I'm sorry the morphine sulfate isn't helping you that much. Has your doc. suggested a longer acting pain med to take in addition to the MSIR? I have a newly implanted neurostimulator and take methadone and MSIR (been on this med combo. since 2003). Before that, I was on MS Contin and MSIR for break-thru pain. It seems to me, you might need a continuous release med and the MSIR for break-thru. If you're afraid of methadone, then maybe the MS Contin or a fentenyl patch might work well for you. A lot of people hate to take narcotics and the truth is..life would be better for us if we didn't have to. But..isn't living with the pain worse? You deserve to have your pain managed effectively..if that means taking a narcotic pain medication..then that is OK.

What kind of surgery are you scheduled for??

Danimal