22 year old on oxycontin for 2 years 120-160 mg perday

I don't know what to do.. I am a College student and when my chronic pain started was when I played football and broke my foot and the team doctors kept me on meds for like 6 games and then I said nope and called it quits and got a different opinion and they said I broke my foot was in a boot for almost a year... Needless to say I have a neuroma taken from my foot but that didn't solve the problem. Within the past two years I have been to approximately 35 doctors and I have read a lot about getting introuble for using more than one doctor, so I made sure to not do that or duplicate scripts...My family is very supportive and luckily can afford to have me see these doctors... The College I went to covered approximately two years of doctors bills.... which was about 40k a year....

So now getting to the point I have been bounced around from doctor to doctor by the doctors..... It honestly feels like I am a prostitute.... Whenever a doctors solution doesn't work they throw me to another... Needless to say I want to come down in dosages and/or get off oxy completely.... but the problem is oxy has been the only thing that actually works for me....

Obviously as a college student .. no I do not drink alcohol with them.... nor have I ever given someone one of my pills.... I have seen the best of the best doctors... actually at clinics where the doctor has the plaque on the wall that says best doctor in pain management..... they cannot solve me problem...

My current doctor says that his problem is my age and the amount of oxy I take per day... so he is sending me to another doctor on monday so maybe they will solve my problems.....

Does anyone have any advice on what I should do...? I am at a lose I feel lost.... believe it or not I actually got turned away by a psychologist who specialized in pain management..,,, I just dont know what to do... I know I am putting my family through a lot but.... we did try weaning off oxy by a 5 mg pill a day and they said that should work and it didnt....... I Don't what to do..... to really honest I am scared......

[allaboutmary]

5mg per day is probably way too fast a taper. I personally haven't had any luck with tapering. I'm an addict and always want more. One important thing you should know is .....pain pills actually increase your pain.  So many times I tried to quit but the pain was horrible. It takes 2 weeks to a month completely off the pills to know your true pain level. So many people have found that their pain was handled with Ibuprofen after getting clean. Your pain will increase greatly during detox. It's your body's way of getting you to take a pain pill.Your body thinks it can't survive without them, like air or water.
I'm in no way saying that you don't have true pain that needs attention, but you really won't know how bad it is until you get off the pills. Keep reading and posting. You will get a great understanding of addiction and meet some great people here.

[worried878]

what is ur daily dose?  and what do u mean it didnt work?  do u mean the taper didnt work and u went back to the original dose?  narcotics are meant for acute pain and not long term pain mget..this is because of the tolerence and in 10 years there will not be a high enuf dose of anything to cover ur pain...also the body will become angry when u take them away and almost invent pain to induce u to feed the brain the drug again..so u cant really guage ur true pain level until u have been off of them for a while..like 6 months..i am also a chronic pain patient and my pain is no worse..if not better..without narcotics....i have found alternate methods of pain relief and they work better as narctoics dont really take the pain away..they only change ur perception of the pain..anti-inflamatories, ice, heat etc actually do directly work on the source of the pain....what other methods have u tried for pain relief?  cos narcotic use forever is not really a solution to the problem and can cause emotional pain that far outweighs the physical pain relief they provide

[rbaz5732]

Hey guys thanks for replying to my messages..... I have tried the tappering down.... and that didn't work I had major withdrawals.... so I started back up taking 120mgs of oxycontin per day.... I actually cut my 60 pills up and tried to taper down without my doctors help and I have been having some major withdrawals... I pretty much sleep all the time and have the chills... actually I am about  I am three to four days of being totally off the meds.... I still have 10mgs of valium and every time I take those they pretty much make me go to sleep... I have zero energy.... The worst part about all of this is that my best friends.... who had a pain problem also... he was 54 actually ended up dying of a major heart attack... So I lost my best friend and I don't know what to do... we talked weekly... and he has inspired me to write a book in memory of him.... I honestly don't see changes anytime soon.... I reallly want to quit and try different methods...

I have seen a chiropractor that specialized in pain management which was a bunch of bs.... she said if I had 30 treatments of electric acupuncture, then I would be fine and I tried and it didnt work... but the doctors keep bouncing me around.... monday I see another doctor.... this one is a pain specialist... he will probably put me back on 60mgs X2 a day... = 120mgs per day.... no one seems to know what to do with me...

I also tried going the way of getting massages and stuff like that... and nothing helped.... Not going to lie I feel terrible... I have zero energy and I have finals next week... I don't feel like eating at all... so I am trying to decide what to do... I had breakthrough pain and so my meds were suppose to last till monday..... but I had breakthrough pain and I took the meds and now I am short since the day I started to come off my pills... 3 or 4 days.... but I know my doctor will put me right on the same amount of meds... I wish I could just figure this out... I have had procedures done at Texas Tech International pain institute....

Their final suggestion was to get a SCS spinal cord stimulator.... but I will not do this due to my fears about it... at the age of 22 I cannot do it... so I need to find another way to get rid of my pain...

But I am trying to feel better and take my days day by day and somehow I need to get some energy because I need to study for my finals next week...... Any ideas on how to get more energy????  

[BaronMunchausen]

I don't know if this will work for you, but I had a similar problem after my leg surgery. After years of pain med's I finally started doing intense physical therapy. (If you aren't getting any real exercise, that will definitely affect your energy level as well).

My goal was mostly to strengthen the muscles in the area to take the stress off the problem area... and it did help. It also hurt like hell doing it, but it helped.

I was in a similar situation, btw, where the doctors were being of no help.

You also do have to work at getting off the oxy's. They do kill your energy level and I found I became more susceptible to pain while on them.

You may want to try an addiction specialist. Many of your problems could be stemming from the oxy's at this point, and finding a manageable way to stop could do the trick.

[Ella789]

  Have you ever tried neueotin/Lyrica for nerve pain??  Just wondering if perhaps it may help with the pain levels.

Ellla

[rbaz5732]

thanks for the reply's.... To answer your question I have tried almost every nerve medication... both of which you said.... I also believe I have tried others.... none have worked... as I said only oxys have helped with my pain level which isn't a good thing at all....

as far as seeing an addiction specialist that is actually the psychologist that didn't want to take my case because she said it seemed like it would be a long case,,,, she was an addiction specialist also.... thats why I looked her up....

As far as being active.... I actually played division 1 football when the injury occured.... actually.... for  a few moments the doctors told me to quit working out... I was lifting weights and running pretty much everyday of the week... also I cut back and worked out less.... and less... and finally the doctors  told me that they said they think my level of activity was the problem so I should stop it and see if anything gets better.... I haven't worked out for like 4 months or so...

it has literally been a up and down roller coaster... the doctors at texas tech international pain institute actually.... told me my last option was the SCS which I will not do at my age... I know I need to talk to someone like a addiction specialist or a psychologist .... I realized this after I lost my good friend a little over a month ago... unfortunately I have tried sooo many different things and nothing has worked... thats why I have seen over 35 doctors.... its a complete mess....

[rbaz5732]

by the way I also wanted to say thanks for all your posts... they are helping me through this... I am feeling a bit better after I got some water and orange juice as well as some fruit and a sandwich.... so I am getting a bit more energy but my appetite is coming back which is good...it has been helping a lot on these forums... I am hoping I am out of the worst part of the actual withdrawals.... any advice for these next few days...... any advice for the future...should I just get off my meds all together and just completely detox....  I just don't know what to do besides continuing on this track that I have been on...

I am going to get in to see a psychologist or an addiction specialist and hopefully I can get things figured out in my head.....

[nick30]

Hi there,

I'm a little confused as to what your goals are. Do you definatley want to get off opiates?
Or are they just not providing the level of pain relief you need. either way the dose you are on is high for your age. your dr's shouldn't have put you on doses that high.
There are other drugs(narcotics)that will help with the pain. oxy tends to be the one that many people become addicted to, but there are others which are less addiction prone.
It's probably best that you find a way to live with the pain considering your age and because you're at college, and need your brain functioning well.
However if that's not possible there are still options. If you are honest with your pain management guy about being addicted, he may suggest trying to wean off oxy by using another drug that may not be as addictive.
As I said, I am a little confused as to what exactly you are after, but if there's anything that you would like to discuss further, then by all means send me a message. Good luck mate,

Nick

[rbaz5732]

right now i dont know what my goals should be... because oxys have been the only thing that helped me ever with my pain problems..... and I guess what I want to do is move down the scale on how many mgs of opiates I am taking.... maybe in half to start and see if that would be good for me...

Ya i need my brains... I have noticed since I have been on oxy my brain is foggy... I graduated from a four year institution in 3 years with a degree in physics before my pain took over my life... now I am getting another degree in mechanical engineering.... So yes I need all the brain power....

Honestly I am a bit confused on my goals... I need some advice from you guys/girls because I have no one to ask here... considering my best friend died not long ago.... I need advice I guess....

As you can read I have done everything I mean nerve meds other types of treatments and other things... bounced between honestly 35 doctors in many states... I need to know what i should do..... I just dont know.... I am scared because I am so young with that dosage... I need help and advice... I just dont know what to do.... Thanks for any suggestions... I am welcome to any and everyone....

Thanks for posting again... I cant believe I finally found some people to help me....Thanks......

[nick30]

Hi,

Is your pain only limited to your foot/ankle?
If this is the case there are patches called Lidoderm patches. I only heard of them recently, but i know someone who takes them and they work very well apparently.
They are not narcotic and i don't think they are addictive.
you apply them to the area affected. they numb the area like novacaine(the stuff dentists use).
If you wish to continue using pain medication but are not sure if you can take oxy without abusing it(or w/o taking high doses) then there are other options(including another kind of patch called Duragesic). This drug is 80 times stronger than morphine. I take it(i was on oxy before). you take one patch every 3 days. it doesn't have the side effects that oxy does(it doesn't make you feel high, nor drowsy one minute and full of energy the next). however it's an extremely powerful drug and is usually only considered as a choice when all else fails.
However, this is something that can't be taken lightly.given that you need your brain at the moment, the best solution would be to get off all opiates(so perhaps the Lidoderm patch might be worth thinking about).
I'm very sorry you lost your best friend. I've lost 2 in the last year and one of them was my best friend. It *****. always will. I still get the feeling he's sitting next to me all the time.
It is perhaps a good idea to start looking for a dr that you can see long term. It isn't a good idea to goto so many doc's. of course if you are referred to another that's fine, but you really need to try to find one that you like and that seems to care about you. don't stop until you find the right one. A great dr can be of huge benefit.
I hope i've given you something to think about. i'm quite tired at the moment but i'll chk back later and add anything that i can think of.

Nick.

[rbaz5732]

believe it or not... I have tried those lidoderm pathes... That was one pain specialist cure... he gave me a topical gel medication to put on my foot for many hours then they said put this path on your foot and you should be fine... Unfortunately it did not work at all.... Once again another failure

I have not abused my privileges of seeing doctors.... Believe it or not I was transferred from doctor to doctor... sometimes doctors thought I was full of it... Believe it or not... one doctor came in... asked if the lidoderm pathes and topical meds worked and I said no.... and he said there is nothing else I can do for you... walked out in less than 3 minutes....

So I was then forced to try other doctors because I couldn't afford to go with out a doctors help.... for a short time I was only on hydrocodone.... 10/325 and even though this is still a narcotic it helped out a lot.... then slowly my pain got worse and worse and worse......

The pain is centralized in my foot ankle area... sometimes on very bad days I have pain shooting up my leg.... my pain level everyday is a 7-8 on 10 scale... sometimes I get breakthrough pain which brings me to a 9 or 10... I have had to go to the emergency room before... I also passed out one night just because I was in so much pain so that is why I am so scared at the moment.... My good friend that died is helping me through this... even though he isn't here physically...

I am writing a book about my case... and this summer I should be finished and looking for a publisher... or I would even like one of your opinions.... it is only about 80 pages now but it should reach 150-200..... This has been a good way of dealing with my pain when I have really bad pain.......

[broknbck]

i understand your delimma. you are concerned about your health and brain taking all these pain killers. and you are looking for an alternative for pain management.

i was there too. mine is the back.

the only thing i could come up with was changing the weather. humidity always caused more pain as well as real cold temperatures and rainy damp weather. so living in michigan was not so good. i went for the desert. phoenix,az.  it was a long shot, but....
it worked! not much pain at all now. and i have been off pain killers for 17 months. and my back is still screwed up. it will never be like new.
but i am!!

[rbaz5732]

Believe it or not I live in Nebraska that heart of cold and hot and..... over the past two summers I went to LA to do an internship and that was when I was doing really well and not having many problems but I was still on meds....hydrocodone....

I know I am looking for the Miracle cure... and That probably wont ever happen but at least I can keep trying.....

To be very honest I think that it is very true that I wont ever be fixed... but I guess I can hope... tomorrow is the day I see another new pain doctor... so hopefully I can get it figured it out...  I don't know what to do.......

[rbaz5732]

To clear the assumptions... that you All have been assuming.... No I do not "doctor shop" I have been referred or transferred to other doctors due second third opinions as well as I lived out in LA for two summer doing internships where I had to have a doctor out there to prescribe for me.

The reason my profile is not filled out is because I just joined the group and I have finals all this week so I am trying to focus on my finals... I am a mechanical engineering major... When I get time I will fill it all out...

I apologize I should have provided dates for the two different scenarios ... As far as tapering off and also cold turkey.... When I tapered off the medication it was in January of February of this year... This was requested by my pain specialists at texas tech to see if their procedure gave me any relief... which it did not....

I was on 160 mgs.... asked doctor to cut me down to 120 mgs in March after no success with tappering....

Also I did go cold turkey from 120 mgs.... but this was aided somewhat because I had a few leftovers (oxy's) of lower mgs so I took those and I know it wasn't the smartest idea but I needed to prove that I could get off of them...

At the doctor today... he basically took every diagnosis that I got over the past 2-3 years about my problem and said they were wrong but he doesn't know what is wrong... but I need to be off that level of meds...

The doctor today suggested... That I go through a 4 week detox program with him and his staff ... nurses, doctors, psychologists and everything else to help me wean off and try to learn how to be totally off the meds and or be on a lot lower dosage... he said if I could be on between 15-30 mgs a day.... that would be way better than before... but he also said that the idea is that I can be totally off and learn to deal with the pain without meds.... But he agreed because my case is so different.... he said what we maybe doing is tapering you off to nothing then see what you can take to solve the pain if I cannot handle no meds....

As of now I am on board for the 4 week Detox program... it should be happening around July sometime... which will be the best time for me to do it...

He also mentioned me getting a test called QSART done.... and this will determine if I sympathetic pain disorder or not...luckily at UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center) Is where my appointment was can do this test....

Also I made the decision to cancel any plans of taking classes so for this summer I can take care of myself and hopefully get myself problem under control... and take some time off so I can recover and hopefully breath easily for awhile....

And to all of just because I am a 22 year does not mean I abuse the system.... I do not abuse my medications... I take them as prescribed... YES I did cut the pills up before because I thought it was an okay thing to do but now that I know it isn't that will never happen again... I do not and have not went doctor shopping or  gotten doctors to fill multiple prescriptions for me.... I am very honest and strong willed young man... I realized that when that stuff begins to happen then you have serious problems....

I know I either need to be off them or be on a fraction of the amount I am on currently so I am doing what is necessary this summer to make it happen....

Also I know you people have no reason to believe a word I say but I am speaking the truth and the sometimes why my posts my seem confusing is because it has been three years of basically me getting thrown from doctor to doctor and it is hard to keep track of exactly what happens each time....

Please give me the benefit of the doubt... I am not an emotional person and I cried for about a hour and half on the way home just because it was one of the hardest doctors appointments I have ever been to... I realize I need to try and save my life and so I am going to this summer with this detox program...

thanks for your replies and godbless... all of you for helping me.... honestly without hearing from all of you I would not have agreed to this detox program.... I am scared sad and probably had one of the worst days of my life but I think it is a step in the right direction...

[broknbck]

well hopefully the detox program gets you through the drug part. you really want it and so it is probably gonna work. but of course you still have the problem of managing the pain. you may find like many, that after you are off the drugs that the pain is not quite as bad as it was on meds. that is pill induced pain and just your brain playing tricks on you to get more of the drug it is craving.
it is very true.
if the pain is still unbearable daily, you are going to have to come up with something.
try california off the meds for awhile.
i am the one that went to phoenix. so my back hardly hurts and today and yesterday it has been bothering me. of course the humidity is up now too. that is like 25-40 % humidity which is not much but enough to make a difference. it is usually like 15%.
it is a big fix for pain with no meds at all. and living in a nice weather state ain't too bad either. hah

[rbaz5732]

Ya I figure something like that will have to happen.... but I am just going to take each day a day at a time so i can succeed in detox and make sure everything goes well....

I know the detox will suck but I bet I will feel a hell of a lot better after that is done with.....

Thanks for your comments broknbck

[rbaz5732]

Wow I have reposted this so many times I have never abused seeing doctors and or taking the medications.... I take them as prescribed... I am sorry my case seemed suspicious but I truly am a person who wants to get off oxycontin and be able to handle my pain differently.... that is what this program will do....... Sooon I will find out about the program and hopefully begin within a month or two....
Thanks for your posts.... I filled my profile out more so you will quit thinking I am a person who is lying to you.........

[snowflake620]

we are not accusing you of lying we are trying to help and understand,ther is never any judgement here we are only concerned it is good that you are trying to get help and like it was stated above maybe your pain will lesssen after the detox the drugs hav ea way of making the smallest thing seem life threatening not that I am tryin  to minimize your pain but drugs can do crazy thing to our bodies and brains I hope you will continue to post and keep us informed as to how you are doing  best of luck to you
snowflake

[liscamdave]

I sent you a message and a friend request. You sound like you truly want off the oxy's. Which is a good thing,. don't let anyone tell you different. You need help and what is happening is these drs don't know what to do so they are keeping you mediacated. Its a shame. Because now you want off and you cant do that because you are so addicted. I am here to help if you need anything at all. Just message me.

[rbaz5732]

Everyone.... I am having a absolutely terrible day.... yesterday was tough realizing that I needed to do this detox program.... but now I know thats what will help.... but this morning I woke up to phone call from my best friend since 6th grade telling me I was the worst person in the world.... and he could care less if I was dead or alive.... I just cannot believe all this stuff is hitting me at once.... its soo hard to deal with... I dont cry and I have been all morning...

[broknbck]

well crying is good, cause alot of us lost that while we were using. anyway..............
seems that it is your friend with the problem. he is the one that is not happy with things between you two.
when i realized i was addicted and what a problem i was facing with the pain issue and all, i told everyone. and you find out who really cares about you and not. the nots do not want to be bothered with listening to you try to come up with answers. they just want everything to go as usual.

i know this can be a real slam. when i came back home for christmas for a visit, my oldest brother got all over me about moving away. accusing me of bailing on my sick dad, leaving my kids, and moving closer to mexico where you can buy drugs at the store with no perscription. he was my idol and best friend while i was growing up and i had come to the realization that he is not who i thought he was and he really doesn't know me at all. it was pretty bad feeling to say the least.

so guess it is a learning about better communication with people you know and reading them better.
keep your head up about the detox place. you are bettering yourself and teaching those around you. that is no where near the worst person in the world.
one day he will feel like he is.

[rbaz5732]

thanks broknbck..... you have been helping me greatly... while in the other forum they are attacking me like crazy for no reason........

I said if they want me to leave I will but I sure hope they dont say that because I need all the help especially when my detox program begins...

[purgatory]

Hey I am 22 and 5 days off of a heavy oxycontin,codone, ritual got as far as injecting 90-100+ mg 2-3 times a day. I feel for you I really do. I have and still am going threw WD but each day is a little better.

If you really want to get off them you have to just that.

STOP TAKING THEM.

it is going to be the hardest thing you have ever gone threw in your life but you will have no other choice unless you want to be on them for the rest of your life.

I find myself feeling better each and everyday physically and mentally.

I am eating again, going to the gym and feel better then I have on my own in a very long time.

in short you need to really be commited. it sounds like you are and you arnt. i am in the same boat. today as I read some of these post my WD are not as a bad physically so my mind is starting to say hey you did it, now you can start taking them again.

this **** is a total mind faqer. trust me the only way to get better is to stop.

the whole tapering thing is good but even that just delays the inevetable.

tell your parents to lock you into a house and dont let you in or out and take your meds away.

watch movies night and day. it worked for me. in the past 5 days i have watched atleast 100 movies, i am going to work again but just killing time I still dont have my drive to work fully yet but I am getting better.

best of luck drop me a message if you need some pep talks

[rbaz5732]

wow that is very scary man..... as far as to quit cold turkey.... its not a good idea... oxy can cause many you to have seizures.... my doctors suggest the detox program... so I am going to do it even though it totally messes my summer up... I am going to do it... because I am going to do this... I am not going to give up now.... I cant believe you quit cold turkey with that amount of meds as well as you injecting them.... I could only imagine how bad the wd were.... but I need to talk with some psychologists to get myself fully functioning again.... so.... Detox for me....

[purgatory]

I tapered from oxy's tried CT got as far as 3 days then started taking 20mg contin had 6 of them, took half in the am half in the pm, hated life.

new it wasnt gettin easier but continued ran, went  1 day WD, got a script for 10mg perk 120 of those, didnt fully intend on quiting after getting my hands on them, but soon started to ween my way down. I would litterly start freaking the heck out and had to stop what i was doing and take a half and i would chew them as bad as they taste just to get that WD feeling to subside ever so slightly.

After I got down to about 4 a day, I did 2 a day of perk 10's, then had 4 left, ate them one drunk night, went out got hammered almost got a dui, got lucky beyond belief with that one. thanks god* ,

and that was 6 days ago that I took my last 4 . it was a process to drop from oxy's 30's to perk 10's and then to nothing

It will not be given to you. YOU HAVE TO WANT, AND FIGHT EVERY MINUTE AND SECOND FOR SOBERITY.

this **** is no joke. spend a couple hours reading everyones post on this forum and you eyes and mind will see that this is not good stuff to be on.

we both are far to young to be screw are lifes up this early. I have company of my own I make over 80k a year and almost lost it all. My goal is 14 days and re-evaluate myself.

I am almost completely dont with physcial WD, the hardest days are 1-5 I feel.

Sounds like you got some family with money and willing to help. you really got to do it man dont give in to your mind.

right now it is not you thinking it is the drugs.

I look at myself in the mirror and do not recognize myself because I was so used to looking at my otherself the dope head.

my pupils are large still but everything is getting better each and everday.

I am on Wellbutrin for anti-depression now. I think it might be really helping.

message me and we can exchange AIM info or email and you can hit me up when you hit a wall.

I did and found some friends to talk to and it reeaaallly helps to get this stuff of your chest.

best of luck and DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING I AM TELLING YOU , COLD TURKEY. DO NOT SUBOXONE.

if you cant cold turkey you do not want to be sober I do not care what anyone else thinks.

trading one drug for another will do nothing for you.

you have to go threw hell to get to heaven.

-nick d

[dontknowwhattodo212]

I am on day 4 of coming off of oxycontin. We started the taper and I got down to 10mg. Then they wrote the script wrong for the 5mgs. So now it is 4 days later. I called my doctor to see what he could do to help me with the WD's and he told me to tough it out. Im dying. Im only sleeping an hour a night.... I feel like I have the flu... Is it going to get any better? Or should I admit myself into the hospital? (This is by myown doing, I have an injury and the doctor cant control the pain)

[nick30]

Hang in there, you are on day 4 which is usually one of the worst days. in 1 or 2 more days you will start to feel better. just hang in there. you'll be okay.

[dontknowwhattodo212]

Thanks Nick... Ive turned to my parents today. I am going to stay with them for the next few days for their support. Have you gone through this??

[nick30]

I have tapered from time to time, but for different reasons. I'm a chronic pain patient and we have some issues in common. I have tapered on oxy before i switched to another med. I don't know If taper is the right word, it was closer to cold turkey(quick). and i have also gone cold turkey from tramadol 400mg a day. I had seizures from it so i had to quit. I didn't know that withdrawals even existed back then so i just went c/t.
great that you are able to have your parents help you with this. many ppl try to hide it from thier olds, but most parents would probably help thier kids under most circumstances.
I'm sure in a few days you will be feeling much better, I wish you all the best.
to be honest there are tonnes of people on this forum with more knowledge and experience than me.

Nick.

[Adrian_D]

I really feel for people who have pain issues and don't have much choice but to take an addictive drug to help ease it. Good luck and stay strong!

Adrian

[nick30]

thanks dude. good luck to you too.

Nick.

[dontknowwhattodo212]

Day # 5 for me.Last Night ( Night Number 4- I went for a walk with my mom) I  Actually last night I had 5 hours of sleep. Broken sleep but I slept. I dont look like a zombie today at least. I still have the creepy crawly feeling but not as nearly as bad as I did yesterday. I am starting to eat (Saltine Crackers) and drink more water. I lost 8 pounds in the 4 days. I can only hope that it is only going to keep getting easier one day at a time??

[rbaz5732]

that is tough to do... you energy will feel zapped... when I have done this before... take hot baths with epsom salts and that takes care of hot and cold sweats... get as much food and water in your system... it all helps more and more.... good luck... it ***** but if your parents are helping you that is your best bet with getting through this....

[nick30]

How is your detox/taper going?

[ChronicPain1]

Not sure why this is here, just because you're taking them for a time doesn't make you an addict.

[rbaz5732]

Well things have been going relatively well... besides the fact that I am having the worst pain I have ever had... I went and met with people at the multidisciplinary pain management program and I was accepted...  Thanks God for insurance the program is going to cost $20k and they are covering all of it.... it is a four week program and they completely detox me... while teaching other techniques to solving my pain problem... So the next best news is that I decided to do the program... Beginning June 22, 2009 I will start the program...

I also spoke with my doctor and luckily I now have a backup program as well... If the pain program does not work... I have a doctor who said he is willing to work with me on opiate therapy if my pain cannot be mediated through other ways... but my main goal is to totally get off the meds and try the new techniques from this program.... but in my experience it is always good to have a backup plan

Starting June 22, 2009
I will begin posting things that I have learned at the program.. possibly a blog... so I can show all of you what I have been learning while at this program.... im hoping that some of you may find this information helpful with your own pain problems... you all have helped me... so it is my chance to try and lend help from what I learn...

Also this summer I will be completing a book that I have been writing that is concerning my pain problem and all that I have went through... it also takes about how to help talk to your family or friends.... and this book has been written in memory of my good friend who passed away a few months ago... he actually inspired me to write it... so I hope that once I am finished I can pass it on to all of you... and that it will help hit home for you... and then you can pass it on to friends and family so they can learn where your feelings come from and how they can deal with you pain problems...........

I hope you all are doing well.... keep your heads up... thanks again for all your help

[rbaz5732]

The good news is I am one week clean from taking any pain medications.... not even Tylenol... The multi-disciplinary Chronic Pain Program I attended was at UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center) If you or a loved one has a problem with chronic pain I would highly suggest this... The class size is a max of 6 at a time for a four week period....where you can go home at night or to the place they have you living.... also you are free on the weekends....The program has been going for approximately 38 years.... and is a very good program.... coming off oxy ***** ... there is no way around it.... but they do a 3-4 week taper with methadone...
I found the program to be very interesting and helpful.... you will receive daily one on ones with PT , Psychology, as well as nursing....
Tapering yourself off Oxy is not easy but it can be done....  but yes it is dangerous... for all of you who have done this I commend you but also think you should be consulting with a doctor throughout the entire period almost daily... the body definitely revolts...
I graduated and am one week clean and I feel better than ever and still have the same pain that I always have had....I experienced a slight reduction but they teach you to control those pain behaviors better and better..... if you have any questions about this program please message me personally and I will send you in the correct direction to get off the narcotics... we also had a lady come off fentyl pathes..... If you have any questions please ask....I would rate the program 9/10 but probably 10/10 as time goes on....
Once again one week CLEAN!!! I feel great and finally have some energy back.....
-Rick

[rbaz5732]

They have had numerous people come into the program on crutches in wheel chairs....braces that have their leg fixed .... and these people have finished the program >> walking out on their own power.... the program is very intensive... last for approx one month... but the typical day is .... Stretching Exercise @ 8 am then ICE.... Then a group session.... then a one on one Psychology experience 3 times a week... lunch is provided then you go back for a group session.... then do some form of PT in the afternoon.... then Relaxation 2-3 times a week... withdrawls suck but I feel so much better now even with the pain still.... and I know that sounds crazy but they teach you to deal with the pain....... feel free to ask any questions.... I would love to help someone make the transformation that I did.... It is such a hard first step... but when you are Graduated... you are not just letting life live you... or having your pain manage you.... you actually are living life and controlling the pain.....
Sorry for no posts during the program.... I figured I should worry about ME and get myself through it then share the amazing news with you all....

-Rick

[rbaz5732]

Well.... after the program I relapsed because I was having such severe pain... I believe It was due to my work load... or at least that contributed greatly to the problem....

Now I understand that the atmosphere and daily can truly affect you more than you can believe... I went from the pain program where they stressed pacing yourself to working full-time and overtime.... I am somewhat of a workaholic and the job I was suppose to ended up being a lot more than what I thought I was going to be doing....

I ended up having troubles with the pain progressing soo bad that I talked to another surgeon and he thought I had a compartment issue after he took the pressures of my muscles in my foot..... He did surgery to release the pressure and the muscles around my 5th metatarsal actually projected out of my foot when he cut the fascia surrounding that muscle.... I was in terrible pain and was referred to another local doctor to take care of my pain meds....

I was switched short acting Oxycontin and dilaudid for breakthrough pain to Opana..... I had much success with that re leaving the pain but I was on that long acting opioid or several months at a high dose... I didn't realize how bad it effected me cognitively and functionally...

approximately a month ago I got sick of dealing with seeing doctors for the pain meds and psychiatric drugs so I just decided to take myself off all of them.... without a step down process approved by my doctors....

although that may sound stupid it was better for me than getting off using methadone as I did during the program... It was basically one really tough week of having my body revolt against me.... from the muscle relaxers, pain killers, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds.....

I have actually been able to progress in my life WITHOUT any drugs for over a month... while working 2 jobs.... so I have kept in mind the pacing process......

I will admit that pacing is the key to success.... withdrawals suck and there is no doubt about that.... but I made a conscious decision to live my life without any drugs.... so I have been able to collect myself and emotions.... and progress my life to more of a normal life......

I do still have pain... but the fact that I can go and hangout with friends and family and not have to rely on pills is amazing... Pain problems take you from a paralyzed state where you need the pills.... and you think that is the only way out..... but for me personally I saw the effect it had on my personal life as well as my family life.... the score ended up in favor of me just quitting everything....

Life is full of decision and at the tender age of 23 I decided to live a better life without the meds... I hope and pray that this can be continued for the extent of my existence...

but to contradict that statement I do have friends that tried to go without meds and found out they had a quality of life problem without the medications.. I do not judge those who still need meds I just hope someday they can go without.....

Any questions about withdrawals or how I made the decisions I did please contact me...... I lost a friend who took the same meds I did and he passed away at the age of 54 and he started meds at 20 so I learned from him... he is a angel on shoulder saying to stop taking them to fulfill my life....thanks Jeff...;

If you are on meds write a list of pros and cons and that is how I decided to relive my life without the meds..... It was super tough but probably the best decision ever.....

Thanks,
Rick

[peter9]

I have learned in helping a friend that cold turkey on certain medications is mortally dangerous for many people. Cutting some pills makes them absorb immediately, which is dangerous or unpleasant, as you may have discovered.
  Detox with an expert in opiate withdrawal. They may be hard to find. Both psychiatrists and physicians may qualify. Some drugs used in detoxing require special licensing of the doctor to prescribe. Be sure you find someone with no only the knowledge, but who has a heart and uses intuition in his medical practice. Look into their eyes when they talk to you, and notice if they remain always in their head. There are other cues to tell you if they use intuition. Have someone go with you to the doctor who will ask questions, take notes, and notice what is going on.

[mellie4]

Not sure if you realize this original post is over a year old.  You might do better starting a new one.

[UOphoenix27]

do you mind me asking your age? By your posts you seem young, but you have graduated and are already working on another degree. I know this is personal, but, you have layed it all out there already- not to b a butthead :). - Anyways, I think that you need to find a counseling center. They can help you to find an addiction specialist that is right for you. As for your comment about a mental health doc turning u away because the case would take too long, sorry but I do not buy that. People do not go to school to turn others away that need help. I know bc I am in school for Psychology and will graduate in 2013.  I think that your problems( based on reading what you r writing) are deeper than a pain problem. I truly believe that you need to call another counselor to help you, again I am not trying to b mean in any way, just trying to tell you what I think.