Hi
I suffered a lower back injury in January 07. I was on oxycontin, oxynorm, with terrable side effects, spced out of my head all day long dry mouth dizzy and severly constipated. I attended a pain management doc and he sugested these patches. I was on 25 for six days and as a resuly had to stay in bed with the pain, I uped to 50 ie tow patches and after a few days noticed I was begining to feel a little better. I am now on 75 patches with no real bad side effects a little dry mouth I get mild hot flushes and have no problem passing urine and No 2`s. I do cry allot not good for a 43 male but that is probably down to my depression that the patches. I am now much more awake than I have been in six months I also take 30mg of amytriptaline each day not for depression but for nerve pain, so to sum up try these patches and give them a time to work, I`d say atleast a week to 10days. Hope this is of some help. Thank you
By any chance do you know a way of getting the patch on to your upper back without help. My partner broke her back and needs patches on but i leave for work very early and cant help her put them on. So she has just been doing without and ends up in serious pain. Any suggestions?
Hello,
I have been using the Fentanyl patches for 3 yrs, I did use my lower back at first but when this became difficult I started putting them on my upper arms - changing from right to left arm with each change of patch so as not to use the same area of skin each time. Is there a particular reason for the patch having to be placed on the back?
One other suggestion, when I apply the patches, I peel off half of the clear backing and stick the patch on my arm and then peel off the other half, this means I do not have to touch the sticky side of the patch at all, makes application so much easier. I have also applied the patches on my breast under my bra at times, especially in summer when wearing sleeveless tops - this helps protect them from the sun as well as hiding them from view.
Hope this is of help, hope your partner gets as good pain relief from them as I do.
Warm regards
Jessie
Hi Duncan, I am new to this website. I joined because I am living in France with a recently diagnosed slipped disc and degenerative arthritis of most of my spine.
Since January I have been admitted twice into hospital. The last time for a series of injections into the epidural. I was also on Tramadol, OxyContin LP 20 and 10 with Oxynorm Orro. Like you I had the same awful side effects. Given that the injections were not successful and that I have been flat on my back since 9th February my doctor has just prescribed me Fentanyl 50 ug/h patches
I was concerned about the side effects of these patches and also how effective they could be against intense pain. Your informative note was the first relevant contribution I read. I just wanted to thank you as I found it very helpful and reassuring
I would hope that by now you have recovered or at least in better health.
I used to be on the Fentanyl patches until I had a problem due to insurance issues. I have permanent cord and nerve damage @ L4-L5 due to a ruptured disc and surgical complications. After being on Lortab for over 6 months with no real relief I was finally referred to a pain management dr. At the time I was 38 yrs old with a 2 yrs old son who needed a daddy that wasn't able to participate in life, and the oral meds were a 'rollercoaster'. After having adhesion problems (after I'd been able to join the living again) I'd remembered a friend that had a stoma and mentioned these strange wipes he used between his appliance and skin. It was some type of polymer that allowed the adhesive to hold better. I was able to get them from the pharmacy where I got my patches. Also, I found that applying the patch on alternating sides of my chest worked best for me. I live in the Southeast part of the USA and temps and humidity can add a whole new level of complications. I'd shave the area and use a std alcohol wipe to prep the area 1st and then use the 'skin prep' wipe after the alcohol dried. At the time I was very active and that allowed me to get out and do things again. Hope this helps! Blessings to all!
I am so glad you mention the hot flashes. So glad you are feeling better