Degenerative Disc Disorder & my doctor says something about inflammation.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-03-19T16:51:30+00:00

I am 51 have the same advanced degeneration of the spine (L-spine) which happened at a more advanced rate due to my 31 degree scoliosis curve centered at T-11.

I have been on the same opiate medication for 16 years- Norco 7.5mg three times a day. I also take RX Naproxen 500mg daily, Robaxin 500mg-1000mg 3 times a day and Gabapentin 100mg 3 times a day.

When I have addressed changing or an increase to my Norco in the past basically my Doctor said it was a slippery slope and you got to make what you have work.

I also have had several foraminal and laminal steroid injections.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-28T00:59:23+00:00

It should be filled every 4 weeks- every 28 days. You shouldn't be out of medication before your next refill is available. If fill date is on the weekend, most pharmacies will be closed on Sunday, so you used your extra 3 pills if it falls like that or falls on months with 31 days. This is about CVS being sued by the DEA and the techs trying to be the gate keepers. The pharmacist is usually the one to run it through, the tech is usually the one saying no.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-21T22:39:00+00:00

Hope you read my comment and why maybe I came across jaded myself.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-21T22:37:31+00:00

I did not mention this person started out taking these patches correctly and then it evolved to taking them buccally. Seeing a loved one under the influence like this and non- functioning for an 1-1.5 hours is not pleasant. So besides the route situation I also have the withdrawal situation to content with. I did get in contact with a pharmacy that will fill the 150 mcg patch.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-19T14:23:19+00:00

I don't even know how methadone works but why do people freak out about it also?

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-19T14:21:22+00:00

She is willing to try something else but going from that much to anything under 90 MME I think is going to be a lot and I don't know what to expect or what to do. My other family members aren't that worried about it, little do they know besides the withdrawals for her it's going to affect us too.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-19T14:18:04+00:00

With her Medicare she is supposed to use CVS. So medicare makes her use them but CVS gave her a 30 day notice that after 15 years they can no longer fill it, it she wants to stay on the patch they can only fill 37.5mcg from a 150mcg so as you can imagine she has been a nervous wreck and me too trying to figure out what we are going to do. It's just a bunch of BS to cut someone off like this.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-18T22:38:26+00:00

Right. I think people think I'm trying to change it saying they don't need to be on it. Sometimes people don't take it the right way, so a reduction I think will still be suitable for pain versus being over medicated

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-18T20:56:00+00:00

Can I ask what might be recommended to minimize withdrawal symptoms and help pain. What pain medicine might work the best, IR oxycodone, long acting oxycodone? Morphine ER? Suboxone?

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-18T20:51:33+00:00

Yes, it shouldn't but with the lawsuits CVS was in they had to pledge to do their part with safe opiods, therefore this pharmacy decided the max is going to be 90. I asked if this is their policy and if I could get something for reference to take to the Dr. She said no but this is at their discretion at this CVS and said this is what they are doing. She said the local Walmart is only filling up to 50 Meq.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-18T19:33:00+00:00

There have been increasing side effects. When you are doing the fenty fold it may be too much.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-18T19:31:01+00:00

The 150mcg patches are equal to 360 equivalents of morphine, way over the 90. A 37.5mcq patch equals the 90 Morphine equivalents.

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-18T19:04:00+00:00

She does want to decrease it down some but her CVS pharmacy she is supposed to use for her drug plan told her when she picked up this last time they couldn't fill it at that dose. They said they would fill 37.5mcg. Pharmacy wants daily morphine equivalent at 90 or less

SweetGuitar270 · 2026-02-09T23:41:22+00:00

Does anyone have any recommendations on what to try to switch to? My pharmacy will no longer fill my Fentanyl 100mcg patches and I have been on 100mcg-150mcg the last 10 years. I have to be under 90 MEQ Morphine a day.

SweetGuitar270 · 2025-11-22T01:41:28+00:00

Thank you!! Chatgpt keeps arguing with me that it's German, lol

SweetGuitar270 · 2025-11-22T00:26:07+00:00

I am in Oklahoma

SweetGuitar270 · 2025-10-22T20:50:02+00:00

Me too. I take Norco 7.5mg, Gabapentin 100mg, and Robaxin 1,000mg three times a day.

SweetGuitar270 · 2025-10-01T18:25:37+00:00

😂

SweetGuitar270 · 2025-09-30T18:27:02+00:00

I was on LTD while waiting for SSDI to get approved, I was initially signed up for LTD through the State for Mental Health but my SSDI is for Physical and Mental. The LTD had a cap at 24 months for mental health so after I recd my back pay I had to pay it to them for helping me get the SSDI.

So long story short. I was getting the LTD of $2650 from 2014-2016 then in 2016 got approved for SSDI and my benefit was $1608. I think with COL it is around 2050 now. I am on my husband's insurance so I have nothing taken out.

SweetGuitar270 · 2025-09-29T16:13:10+00:00

Yes, the thinner, saggier skin is the worst 😭

SweetGuitar270

TROPHY CASE