I am new to this forum. I joined, because my mom and fiance are in severe pain. This post will be about my mom. She has been in SEVERE pain for 8 months. She had a stint put into her artery, because it was 80% blocked. They said she now has RSD. They said it was part of the risk of surgery.

They put her on OxyContin at first. I believe she started at 20 mg a day. Then went to thirty and ended up taking 40mg three times a day. It worked great, but she went into a severe depression. So she stiopped taking it, without contacting her doctor. She went through severe withdraws, but is very strong and stubborn.:)

Right now she takes 4 mg of Dilaudid every 4 hours. If she misses even one dose. The pain comes back so bad. She has to take 6 to 8 mg to stop it. I am really worried about her. That is why I am here.

She has some 40 mg oxycontin left. The pain got so bad one day. She wanted to take one. I called the pharmacist and he said he wouldn't recommend it. That 40 mg was a big dose and her tolerance for it is down. He also said that Dilaudid is usally used for breakthrough pain,  not as a painkiller itself. Can the Oxycontin be cut in half? I know that you are not suppossed to crush or chew OxyContin, but I believe that the Oxycontin works mainly with the binders in it. So I would think that cutting it in half would not cause it to be released all at once. Even if it were to be released. Her body is used to opiods by now, because she is taking Dilaudid. Would it be ok to take a 40 mg OxYContin for severe pain. I know she should ask her doctor. I would just like to see what everyone sle thinks.

I told my mom to ask for time released Dilaudid. She did and the doctor said he didn't believe they made time released Dilaudid. I know for a fact they do. They are sold under the name Palladone. Has anyone used this drug and does it really last 12 hours.

My mom is having trouble with Constipation due to all the Dilaudid. She has been eating Prunes, drinking prune juice, eating ativia and Fiber one yogurt. Can anyone recommend anything else to help her with that? That seems to be something that has been worrying her. She avoids eating some days, because of this. She has also been craving chocolate alot. Has anyone else had craving for chocolate while on pain meds?

Can anyone reccommend a good pain management doctior in the Philadelphia area. She stopped seeing her one pain management doctor, becasuse he really didn't listen to everything she had to say.

Any help would be appreciated with any of these questions.  Sorry this turned out to be so long.

Bill

PS She is on many other medications for other conditions. Klonopin is the only one I think I should mention. Since it can slow down breathing with Dilaudid. If you have any question I will be more then willing to answer them.