DrugBuyers.Com: Pills vs Duragesic patches

I used the Duragesic patch for 2-1/2 years a while ago & had good pain control. In fact it was so good that I did not notice my pain getting worse until a piece of my disk, L3-L4 started pushing on my nerves and was told that if I didn't have surgery soon, I could become paralyzed. That was back in 2001 when I had my 2cd Spinal fusion. Just recently my pain has gotten worse and I am now starting back on the Duragesic patch again. The thing I like about it the best is when I wake up in the morning, I feel good. Not having to take a pill and then wait for it to work. I also do not like the roller coaster ride you get with pain pills. I do not notice much euphoric feeling with the patch, like you do with most pain pills. It just seems to make the pain bearable. Janssens will send you free bioclusive patches that you put over the Duragesic patch that makes it stay in place for 48 - 72 hours.
The patch did not seem to last for 72 hours so my doctor changed the duration to every 48 hours. It does take a day or so to get the full effect, but once you are there the pain is controlled better than pills. Of course everyone is different. I tried MS Contin and it didn't seem to work at all.