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Originally Posted by SwedeGlocker
Why did you want to remove acetaminophen? Elevated liver ensymes?
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To avoid liver and kidney problems. I spent 5 years as a professional brewer, I am sure my kidney was not in the best shape to begin with. I am also going to be on pain meds for the rest of my life unless they develop a method to deal with the arachnoiditis. If I can avoid the extended use of acetaminophen then I am happier as I was on it for almost 2 years. Prior to the arachnoiditis I had spondylolisthesis and did 6 months pain management before having surgery and then another several months of pain management following. There was a few months break in there where I had some pain but tylenol was enough to cut through it, then the arachnoiditis developed.
Right now the oxy is working like a charm and I have done more in the last 2 days then I probably did in the last 2 weeks. I feel almost like the old me sans a few activities like driving a car. I spent most of the last 2 months in a recliner with a bottle of lortab and skelaxin popping pills every 4 hours or so. Now I am up and about and even re-arranged my office today and then did all the laundry.
I did have a bout of breakthrough pain last night so I spoke to the nurse practitioner today and she wants me to keep track until I see her again on the 15th. If it is something that is frequent and predictable then she will prescribe something for that as well (probably a low dose of oxycodone) but I am guessing if we time the meds right I should be asleep when it happens and to tired to care. The pain was not as severe as it was without the meds, about a 4 (I was a good 8 without the meds) and was towards the end of the dose.
If I understand what I have read about the oxycontin is that the time release comes about twice in the 12 hours. Right away and then again at about 6-7 hours. Maybe one of you docs can shed some light on this for me.