United Brachial Plexus Network

Well since my good news post (that I hoped to have given inspiration to anyone) didn't get any replies, maybe my bad news for today thread may get some replies??? *scratches chin*

A copy/paste of what I typed in my livejournal post. http://wazza.livejournal.com for reference if people want to add me etc

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Well I've just had a total of 80mg Oxycontin in 4-5 hours. Even rode my motorbike for 20-30 minutes on 40mg cause I was feeling no effects. So far I'm 'just' starting to feel ok, pain is evident in my upper arm/shoulder area but I'm definitely not feeling stuff that could be considered as recreational fun. I did feel a tiny bit floaty for like 10-20 minutes an hour or so ago but I came back to baseline mind feeling with a bit of the oxycontin pain relief. Not exactly sure how much relief I'm getting as I was just starting to feel sore when I took it as opposed to being in (strong) pain then taking it. Hoping it's providing pain relief as I can just feel some pain still but it isn't 'hurting' me so to speak but it is still slightly annoying.

I'd like to be in a state of (semi) bliss again at least feeling pain free and if I had to 'take one for the team', I'd not mind feeling an opiate HIGH from it But alas, it's almost all systems are running as normal with a bit of pain happening. I told Ben I honestly felt I could ride my bike in traffic, wouldn't lane split but I'm not going to ride any more today unless I am totally baseline feeling FOR SURE later this evening or tonight.

*Thumbs down for my natural high tolerance* (and for people not in the know, I have never recreationly taken opiates (Heroin, oxycontin etc) in my life which a couple doctors did ask last year when my naturally high tolerance to it was evident after my initial surgery. Taking a 'bucketload' daily and I was feeling an opiate high + pain relief but I definitely was not fucked from it so to speak and one doctor said I was taking enough to knock a horse down. heh. The good news is there is no ceiling dose of oxycontin http://www.painlab.com/focus_oxycontin.htm for reading info, I just have to convince/get my G.P to believe that and see if we can get more for me. Most doctors who don't specialise in pain relief think this THE DEVILS DRUG (bad withdrawls, addiction blah blah) but from my 12 months of on and off research, it shows people with the genuine need for this, more so people with the same/similar injury I have, anecdotal reports show that they were taking LOADS AND LOADS of oxycontin, it provided good pain relief where most/all other pain relief failed and I distinctly recall reading cases of people being on daily high use for 2+ years came off using it "fairly easy" of only 1-6 weeks of weening down the dose until it was stopped. As these people had the same injury type I have.

I have an appointment with my local GP at noon tomorrow so wish me luck people for getting the GP to recognise the genuine need I have for a higher dose (I was only initially prescribed 30-40mg of instant relief oxycontin a day, 4 days later I talked to the GP and got 40mg of time release (12 hours) of 20mg X 2 daily which provided fantastic relief (without a high) for 2-3 days and then tolerance started to get kick in and now I'm up to having 100mg+ daily (2 days in a row) with stuff all opiate high effects but I was getting pain relief as I'm not in agony now whereas I was last week + before. I can't see the pain relief specialist until April as he is one booked out guy and 3-6 weeks is always needed before I can get in to see him.

Signed

One hopeful Wazza (I wanna either have no pain and/or get high from this for once in my current situation )12 months of 24/7 strong pain basically is starting to peeve me off from time to time.... For once I publicly say, people put yourself in my position, how would YOU FEEL?? I don't ask for pity often but I am at present!!! I really want to be feeling (relatively) pain free for my birthday on the 29th. I was feeling great a week or so ago for a few days and wham, bam, thank you maam, I'm in agony again. grrr I'm at the stage again where I mentally feel not many people give a flying fuck even through some friends actions counteract those thoughts but others reinforce it. Life, gotta put up with this at moment.

To all I have dragged down emotionally with this post, I'm kinda sorry but I'm kinda not as I NEED a 'public' release of my current feelings at times, this is one of them.

Wazza, I read your other post. It was like one of those desk calendars with an inspirational caption, a new one every day. I read it, smiled in agreement, and moved on - though I didn't post. Like I mentioned in another thread, someone's always listening

I'm sorry to hear you are in so much pain. It's hard when you're struggling to find relief. I hope you do find it.

I am a bit jealous you got to go ride your bike. Our riding season just opened but we won't be able to take a ride until the upcoming weekend, since my husband has gone to 12 and 12 shift. Anyway, I am really glad that you went for a ride. I hope that it makes you feel better. I know getting your mind off the hurt and onto an activity is very helpful, if not immediately, it does start the long term process on the right path.

Can I ask hjow you have your controls setup? I received your message posted on youtube. Thanks

Take care.

Hi there

My controls are stock standard. When I walk/stand, my subluxed shoulder causes me grief from gravity so I need to wear an AC sling that I've posted pics of (will give a link at end of this post anyway ). Anyway whilst I am on the bike, I am "almost 100%" as my forearm/wrist/hand has not been affected, only my upper arm/shoulder. So hand on handlebars = you would not know I have an injury except I can't bend my throttle "outwards" on the bike and it's just vertically straight down so to speak.

All in all, I say I am 80-90% able to do what I could do pre accident on the bike but I have found steep incline hairpin bend corners gets me on such an angle I lose power to my arm so I need to take those very slow and no lean at all. Normal riding (say in city) is 100% the same, it's just FAST corners where I need to lean lots, I am not confident with so I don't go anywhere near the lean angle/speed I used to do but hey, I'm not in this to push my luck again. I'm "riding to surbive and ride another day" instead of riding hard as I can and possibly losing control due to the stupidity of doing such a thing!

On a good note, here is todays GOOD NEWS from todays doctor visit and I will put the link of the brace I need to walk at end Thanks for all the kind words etc, much appreciated..

Well I went to the GP armed with pages of (positive) real doco printed out to help back up how I seem to be needing way more than the usual dose of oxycontin to normal people. I start to spill the stuff I've been thinking of saying past day over and over in my head. He basically said with 'that assured look', "Yes, I understand. You seem to be needing a good size bump of dose every 3-5 days it seems. Here is 40mg oxycontin, take twice daily (I was initially prescribed 10mg daily 2 weeks ago?). It seems like he did some background research on oxycontin for me since I saw him last (week). As I was leaving he said, if you need to up the dose in a few days, come back (for more). WOW!!!

This is fantastic as initially he was very sceptical of me getting oxycontin because LOTS of people abuse it for the recreational properties. God knows I would now if I didn't need it and had access to it. When I did feel the recreational (bliss feeling) use of it last year, it was YUM. Simply put, BLISS is the best word I can think of. But at present, it literally is 'only' pain relieving for me... Also found out why I MAY not be sleeping much. The 9ish PM dose of tramal may be keeping me awake so I'm stopping that and replacing with more 12 hr time release oxycontin @ night.

Today has been VERY POSITIVE FOR ME

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY DANCE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Shoulder brace http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j250/ ... C00275.jpg

More pics of injury etc at http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j250/undii/injury/

Hey wazza,
Maybe you can help me. I'm taking MS-Contin, which is morphine sulphate slow release. I can't seem to get pain relief unless I take at least 75 mg per day, but then I get all dopey and sleepy, which I hate. Do you know if OxyContin is better, has less side effects, etc?

Hi there,
basically with (all) drugs/pain relievers/killers etc, every type can have different effects on people. Basically we still are 'guinea pigs' when it comes to having pain relief etc and just trying to mix/match things to see what works for us. There are the general rule of thumbs when it comes to some drugs but even then, it doesn't apply to everyone. You really have to work with a (pain management) specialist/doctor if you can and just try different things and see what happens.

Sorry I couldn't be more of a help, it's my birthday now, I stayed up just to 'celebrate the start' of it and about to go to sleep now! My girlfriend is making me breakfast in bed etc to be nice to me. I guess I better get sleep, she's off to work in less than 6 hours!

Take care and wishing you the best