introduction

I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is melissa,I am 30 and I have been suffering from severe pain caused by Lyme disease for 2 years now. I have gotten a lot worse pain wise in the last few months. I finally got accepted to a  pain clinic that is taking me seriously. I am currently disabled on SSDI. I take about 18 rx drugs but for pain I am on cymablta 120 mg and percoset 15 mg and diclofenac. The pain clinic will likely change my meds they said next week, when i have a real appointment. I just had 2 epidural injections in my neck and that seems to be helping, but I think I need a whole body injection!

Hello Melissa,

And welcome back  to the chronic pain forum of Healingwell.com. I'm very pleased you joined us once again, though I am very sorry about the amount of pain and suffering you describe.

I take percocet as well and have done so for years. It doesn't make me itch, but other meds do. It may be an allergy you have or are developing. At any rate, increase your amount of daily water intake and see if that helps, if it is not an allergy. Keep a close eye to see if other symptoms develop like itching or swelling or trouble breathing. Do mention it to your doctor as well.

You will find this forum full of caring and intelligent people from all walks of life and all reasons for their pain. On a personal note, my daily pain comes from fibromylagia and back problems as well.

I hope you will continue to post.  Let us give you any support you might need while you go through your pain as well. This group is good for support. I know from experience. Recently, I went through a personal medical scare and everyone helped me tremendously. I can't say how much I appreciate everybody in this group.

God's blessings and have a low pain day.

Lindaloo

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Co-Moderator Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia Forums

Melissa,
I also want to welcome you to the group - or welcome you back. I also take percocet and it doesn't make me itch, but as Lindaloo indicated it might be a sign of an allergic reaction, especially if you get any other symptoms. Doesn't hurt to talk to your doctor. Another good resource is often your pharmacist; they may be able to see if any combo of meds is doing it.

Again, welcome!

PaLady

Thanks for the warm welcome!

The itching almost seems like a nerve problem, but I will ask at my next appointment which is next week. I also have fibromyalgia (or what they think is fibro) induced from the Lyme along with CFS. Right now I only take the percoset at around 6pm because I care for my small kids and need to be able to drive. I suffer all day and its too much pain to deal with in the day.
The pain clinic doctor said that she was going to try an extended release medication, any thoughts to what that might be?

The pain clinic I went to is very strict and basically do a back ground check on you before you get accepted into the med management program. I finally made it through their 6 doctors, a therapist and neck injections. I finally have my 2nd med management appt where they rx meds. I am a little nervousebecause I need to be able to function in the daytime but I also need to have less pain.

thanks for listening.
melissa

Melissa,
It's possible the pm doc may want to try oxycontin. That's the same medication in percocet (oxycodone) minus the tylenol. And it's in extended release form. You may find that a low dose that is steadily released throughout the day doesn't make you unable to function, especially because it may help your pain. It's worth a try.

We're here to listen anytime!

PaLady

Melissa, I want to welcome you back to this forum. I think you will find that everyone here is very copassionate,caring,concerned,helpful,encouraging and the list could litterally go on and on. To make it simple-Everyone here is incredible. I know being a CP patient is overwhelming to say the least. I am sorry for your pain. But you have come to the right place for support and encouragement. Please feel free to post as much and as often as you need to. I look forward to getting to know more about you and for you to get to know us better too. I wish you the best and I do hope you will come back.

My name is Anice( pronounced like "a niece". I am 39, married and have 2 children: boy age 11 and girl age 4. I am a nurse in a pediatric clinic. I am here on this forum due to back pain: herniated disc L5S1. I had back surgery on April 22nd-an laminectomy. I am trying to recover and get back to work. My pain is lower back, hips and buttocks. I am taking Lortab and Flexiril along with my regular meds. I will be going back to a PM (pain management) doctor next week.

You mentioned itching taking the Percocet. I have itched with it before. It did get better and didn't notice it for long. I also itched with the Lortab when I first started taking it. You may mention it to your doctor. He may want you to take a Benadryl with it to help the itching. I am not meaning to give medical advice. I am not qualified to give medical advise. That is up to your doctor,certainly not me.Take that with a grain of salt. And contact your doctor before hand and ask if that is something he wants you to do even though it is OTC. It is just a thought. But you may be allergic to it. Follow the advice that Lindaloo gave-contact your doctor immediately if you have any of those symptoms mentioned.
Anice

Hi Melissa,

Welcome to our Family!  I'm so sorry you have to join us but you will find lots of genuine friendships, advice and lots and lots of hugs here on HW.

I am also on Percocet and have never had itching, everyone has given you great advice especially to contact your Dr. ASAP to make sure its not an allergic reaction.

Nice to meet you!

XXOO
Patti

Hi Melissa,

Welcome to the CP board! We're happy to have you here! I'm sorry to hear that your Lyme disease is causing you such pain! Hopefully the pain management specialist you are going to see will be able to help find you some combination of meds or therapies that reduce some of your pain!

As for coping -- it's not easy. You have to learn to accept your pain & the changes that it causes in your life. I'm not at that level yet (I've been dealing with severe pain in my right eye following a traumatic injury for 2 and a half years now), and am not sure when I will be, or if I ever will be. I've learned to deal with a great many things, but completely accepting them is another matter. It takes a very strong person to be able to come to terms with such drastic life changes, and PAIN itself. Depression, as well, often develops in CP patients (it certainly effects me, and many others here). It can help to be on an antidepressant, and to talk with a therapist (sometimes even a special pain psychologist) regularly. Sleep issues are also common problems for CP patients, and the stress & sleep deprivation can make coping harder as well (for example, on average, I sleep 3 -5 hrs a night, because of pain & sometimes, not at all).

Now for your question of itching. It very well could be an allergic reaction, but my guess is that is actually just a side effect of the percoset. One of the side-effects of opioid pain relievers is itching. That is because opioids cause a release of histamines in the body, and histamines are what make you itch. You might try taking an antihistamine, such as benadryl & see if that helps improve the itching. I had this problem when I was on vicoden, however I have not had it with any other pain med that I have been on (oxycodone, oxycontin, dilaudid, fentanyl). Maybe changing your medication will alleviate the problem as well.

Best of luck with the PM (pain management doc)! Let us know how it goes.

Skeye

Itching??? Hmmmm I only itch when I was prescribed Morphine.

Laurie

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39 yr young female with,