The only pain med I have found that works for me is the fentynal duragesic patches. They are put on every 72 hours giving off the medication throughout the time. I have never had any breakthrough pain & even though I am on a huge amount (200ug/hr) I am capable of riding my horses, driving a car without being all over the road. My previous pain specialist refused to prescribe the amount that worked but the pain specialist I have now says that with my record of no pain & being able to have my "quality of life back", he has proof enough for the DEA to not go after him for perscribing this amount for me.

I have been of every pain med that exists & none have worked except for a 200mg shot of demoral that only laster for about 8 hours of relief. Being that my problem is migraines (or just one huge migraine). They started with the normal migraine meds (the imetrex family) which only messed with my heart to the point that was really scarry. Then came ultram, vicodine, vicodine ES, morphine (which I am allergic to), a nasal spray pain med (can't remember the name right now....really strange halucinations...little people flying around the room, methadone, demoral pills, darvocet, percoset, & all the other pain meds, & narcotics that are possible.

I swear by the fentynal patches.....I don't have to take any pills & it is a constant pain relief without any feelings of pain coming & going. I am sure it depends on what type of pain you have.....I know that the Dr finally perscribed the patches for my Mother when she was dying of cancer (it was kinda scarry that her dose was less than mine).

It took years of trial & failure to finally find what works. I never want to loose this pain specialist even if they say that they would forward my records to a new Dr when I move....but that still doesn't guarentee that a new Dr would be brave enough to think my information would be strong enough against a DEA questioning like this one does. Pain is a really tough issue & it is different for each person. I usually had a very high pain tollerance level, but when the migraines hit.....I had no tollerance at all.

I hope you can find a med & dose that works for you....it is important to not loose your quality of life because of pain...& an outstanding Dr will be willing to work with you until it is found.
I can really feel for you having gone through similar frustrations,
Debbie