Next......oxycodone

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Jitterlegs
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:45 pm

Next......oxycodone

Post by Jitterlegs »

Okay, now I am on to oxycodone. I was on codeine, and it did nothing. And, by nothing, I also mean nothing BAD. It was the first drug that I have taken that I didn't have bad side effects from. Too bad it didn't help the RLS.

I had posted about the strange leg pain I have been having. I am not convinced it is part of my RLS and it has gotten worse. I have been to my PCP and she is consulting with neuro. (I also go back to my RLS dr. who is a neuro in May) Last night I took the first oxycodone, 5mg. Today my leg is hurting more than it ever has during the day. Usually it goes away with movement, but not today. It is more constant. I really don't think that the oxycodone could cause my leg pain to get worse, but could it??? It would be a strange coincidence that today it is worse than ever after months of it on and off, don't you think? I will continue taking the oxy and see what happens.

Anyone have any thoughts on the leg pain and/or oxycodone? What dose has anyone found to help? Does anyone use it during the day?

Neco
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Post by Neco »

Oxycodone is short acting, and thus can be used over the course of a 24 hour dosing cycle.. Most people usually get a good 4 - 6 hours of pain/RLS relief, which is about what its designed to give.

I wonder if your body just has some weird reaction to opiates... Although, discounting that, have you ever tried Gabapentin (Neurontin) or Lyrica? If not, they might help, and if they do it is likely the source of the pain might be neuropathy

mackjergens
Posts: 406
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:10 am

Post by mackjergens »

I have terrible leg pain in left leg at times, and it has nothing to do with my rls, its caused by the sciatia nerve(sp?) that runs from the hip down into the bottom of foot. I was up all night last night dealing with my painful leg, took hydrocodone and finally this morning I remembered that just plain old asprin will help that type of pain and so after taking 1 1/2 hydro and still suffering I down an asprin and within 20 mins the pain was not gone but was sooo much better.

The only thing I take for my creepy crawlies of rls is pain meds. such as Ultram and hydrocodone. After dealing wih rls for 30 yrs nightly, I can now control it with pain meds.

your leg pain sounds very much like mine. Constant and never ending for hours sometimes days!! most times I end up sleeping in recliner, because for some strange reason, that tends to help enough to let me sleep. I suppose it has to do with pressure points on that hip, that is more constant in a flat bed than in a recliner. who knows, I just know for me it helps to get up and get in recliner when its leg pain, if its creepy crawlies, then I have to keep moving and walking to stop it IF my med does not contol it. which is rare but does happen at times.

Jitterlegs
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:45 pm

Post by Jitterlegs »

Zach, yes I have tried both neurontin and Lyrica. Actually it was when I was on a drug to treat RLS, and I can't remember which one, my leg pain actually started. Thinking back, I used to get it occasionally, but nothing like what it has been lately. I wish I would have kept a journal of all the medications and how I reacted. I had a bad reaction to Mirapex, Requip, neurontin and Lyrica. I assume my dr. would have kept notes. I believe I stopped Mirapex due to twitching, Requip because of dizziness and pain in not only my leg but arms as well as RLS in arms, neruontin because of the severe dizziness on only 100 mg and Lyrica because of dizziness and twitching and pins and needles in hands.

When I origianally went in for the leg pain, I saw a different dr. than I usually see, and he had no idea what it was and ran blood tests, they were all fine, so I just waited. He brought up neurontin for the pain, but given my past experience, I knew it wouldn't help or would I be able to tolerate it. Then I decided to go back to my regular dr. because it had gotten worse and that is where I am at now.

Mack, I think they ruled out sciatica because it doesn't run down my leg, it is only the lower portion of my leg, like in the shin area and now I have been having pins and needles on and off in my hands and feet. Part of me worries that the DA's and neurontin and Lyrica messed up my brain. Like I needed any help in that area!

Aiken
Posts: 880
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:53 am

Post by Aiken »

Pins and needles in the hands and feet could be peripheral neuropathies if you're diabetic.

Or, they can be stress-related like mine were, since the physiology of stress apparently wreaks havoc on nerves, and fade away after a while.
Disclaimer: I often talk about what I do and what works for me, but these are specific to me and you should always consult a healthcare professional before trying these things yourself, lest you endanger your health or life.

mackjergens
Posts: 406
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:10 am

Post by mackjergens »

Why not google leg pain and see what you come up with. Also pins/needles in hands. you may find something that is very helpful to your conditions.

FidgetBoy
Posts: 317
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:07 pm
Location: Minnesota

Post by FidgetBoy »

Jitter- I think you need to go back to your neuro in May and get more testing-- you may need an EMG on your legs to rule out neuropathy-- as sometimes neuropathy shows up really weird. You may also need an MRI to rule out demyelinating diseases.

My other thought is-- you should see a pain specialist. Since the narcotics aren't super helpful and you can't tolerate the seizure meds (lyrica and nerontin), you may need to think outside the box and try some of the more unusual treatments like lidocaine patches, topical neurontin or maybe a tens unit? A pain specialist will know how to prescribe and utilize these.
Josh

Neco
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Post by Neco »

Josh is also a pharmacist so you should consider his recommendations with a little more weight than the rest of us 8)

Jitterlegs
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Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:45 pm

Post by Jitterlegs »

Thanks for the suggestions Josh. I just had some bloodwork done today, so I will talk to my dr. after the results are back from that and go from there.

I had another strange thing happen the other night. I was just lying in bed about to fall asleep when I had this strange sensation--not sure if it was an electrical shock or nerve-like twinge feeling or kind of like a hot shooting feeling, but it was on the top of my foot. It kind of startled me and then scared me---I was like, what the heck? It did it only a few times and hasn't happened since. I wasn't lying weird or anything, just on my back, legs not crossed.

I recently remembered that a couple years ago I ran into an acquaintance and she told me that she had been diagnosed with MS. Her first symptoms were tingling in her hands and feet. I don't feel that what is happening now is terrible, I just worry that there may be something going on and that it could become permanent or more severe if not treated right away. OR is it just part of RLS?? Whatever it is, I don't like it! :evil:

mackjergens
Posts: 406
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:10 am

Peripheral neuropathy/ jitterlegs

Post by mackjergens »

jitterlegs,
That sounds an awful lot likePeripheral Neuropathy . Will be just a sudden stinging painful hit sometimes it hangs around for a little while or it will go as suddenly as it came.

Here is some info i copied and pasted for you to read.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/peri ... opathy.htm
________________________________________________________-
NINDS Peripheral Neuropathy Information Page

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body.

More than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified, each with its own characteristic set of symptoms, pattern of development, and prognosis. Impaired function and symptoms depend on the type of nerves -- motor, sensory, or autonomic -- that are damaged. Some people may experience temporary numbness, tingling, and pricking sensations, sensitivity to touch, or muscle weakness. Others may suffer more extreme symptoms, including burning pain (especially at night), muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ or gland dysfunction. Peripheral neuropathy may be either inherited or acquired. Causes of acquired peripheral neuropathy include physical injury (trauma) to a nerve, tumors, toxins, autoimmune responses, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism, and vascular and metabolic disorders. Acquired peripheral neuropathies are caused by systemic disease, trauma from external agents, or infections or autoimmune disorders affecting nerve tissue. Inherited forms of peripheral neuropathy are caused by inborn mistakes in the genetic code or by new genetic mutations.


Is there any treatment?

No medical treatments exist that can cure inherited peripheral neuropathy. However, there are therapies for many other forms. In general, adopting healthy habits -- such as maintaining optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins, following a physician-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet, correcting vitamin deficiencies, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption -- can reduce the physical and emotional effects of peripheral neuropathy. Systemic diseases frequently require more complex treatments.


What is the prognosis?

In acute neuropathies, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, symptoms appear suddenly, progress rapidly, and resolve slowly as damaged nerves heal. In chronic forms, symptoms begin subtly and progress slowly. Some people may have periods of relief followed by relapse. Others may reach a plateau stage where symptoms stay the same for many months or years. Some chronic neuropathies worsen over time, but very few forms prove fatal unless complicated by other diseases. Occasionally the neuropathy is a symptom of another disorder.


What research is being done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct research related to peripheral neuropathies in laboratories at the NIH and also support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current research projects funded by the NINDS involve investigations of genetic factors associated with hereditary neuropathies, studies of biological mechanisms involved in diabetes-associated neuropathies, and investigations exploring how the immune system contributes to peripheral nerve damage. Neuropathic pain is a primary target of NINDS-sponsored studies aimed at developing more effective therapies for symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Some scientists hope to identify substances that will block the brain chemicals that generate pain signals, while others are investigating the pathways by which pain signals reach the brain.


NIH Patient Recruitment for Peripheral Neuropathy Clinical Trials
At NIH Clinical Center
Throughout the U.S. and Worldwide

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