Light at the end of the tunnel?

[Kristin11]

Thanks to everyone for all of your stories.  They are all so very helpful.
Mine is so much like yours.  I have very bad tailbone pain (after childbirth).  I started with Vicodin, then Percocet (my favorite), then after MUCH pushing from my doctor - he put me on Oxy (first 10mg and then 20mg).  Both my husband and I didn't want to do the Oxy b/c we heard so many bad stories.
What my husband didn't know at the time was that I was getting a great high (making me super mom - or at least I thought) from the Percocet.  The Oxy never really gave me a buzz even with having to chew some to get them in my system faster.  I started taking more and more and more.  I was moving my dr appts up to get more scripts.  I ended up taking 5 to 6 20mg Oxy and up to 16 Percocet per day.
I knew this had to end and I couldn't lie to everyone anymore.  I went to a GREAT detox place and stayed their for 4 days.  They gave me shots of Buprenex every six hours and I felt really SO much better than I thought I'd feel.  
NOW I'm home and there is no more Buprenex.  The detox hospital said I would be "lethargic" for about a week.  That's an understatement!!  They gave me some stuff for anxiety which isn't my BIG problem - my BIG problem is my leg pain (aches).  And I'm soooooo tired.  I've tried some suplements, but those are upsetting my stomach.  I have NO appetite, no taste, bowl issues, and I've been home 7 days tomorrow.
Any ideas??  Any light at the end of the tunnel here???  I'm getting sick and tired of being tired and not moving around!!!!
Thanks all.

[susieq87]

It is a quite a decision to be able to walk away but it is doable.  Your thinking will come back, you will be fee again, not in chains of pain pills.  It willhappen if you stick with it for 30 days, may I suggest a support program also.  The reason the pills are so bad for you is it changes your thinking, also hard on the body, I have pancreas problems, ulcer from my past usage and the beauty is I don't have t use to deal with it.  Good luck

[Zurich42]

Hi there - I too have felt the great high - making me super woman - but from Vicodin.  Although I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (severe) which is very painful, MOST of the time it can be managed with Celebrex and/or Advil (which I'm not supposed to take - but have found it 'helpful').  I started taking Vicodin last April - when the weather changed and the grounds became 'wet' (humidity is a nightmare for anyone with RA).  I've been on the Vicodin since - and noticed that I was able to walk fast 2 miles a day over the summer with 'no pain'.  The thing is - although I didn't have any pain - the Vicodin spurred me to 'walk' which is the best thing for my joints.  The bad thing is that I've now got a dependency issue.  I started out taking 4 tablets a day - and last week noticed that I was exceeding the 8 tablet a day maximum.  It's been a horrible 2 months - mostly because I got laid off from my job (could be EEOC related - not sure - we're looking into it) - and since I didn't 'plan' on being off work during the 4th Quarter of the year - it's been challenging finding work.  I did, however, find an opportunity whereupon I start work on 12/03/07 (this was confirmed Wednesday before T-Day).  
I've read so much about withdrawal from Vicodin - all the symptoms are true - especially the headache.  My RA pain hasn't come yet - but I 'assume' it's just around the corner.  I gave up my pills to my boyfriend tonight -  but have been tapering down since Wednesday.  
I hope the best for you - I'm sorry we're going through this.  Who knew something that is suppose to 'help' could wind up being so hurtful?  Reminds me of that old saying, 'What nourishes me also destorys me'.