Getting off my pain meds

[mj22222]

I have been on 60mg of morphine er, two weeks ago I decided I had enough of these pain meds.  It's been over 10 years that I have taken some kind of pain meds.  I have pain and go to pain management  doctor.  morphine has been giving me headaches, it only took me 3 weeks to figure this out that one of the many headaches I have is from the morphine.  I decided to wean of the morphine. First I shopped all fast acting morphine for about a month, then I when to 30ER in the AM and 60ER at night.  After 3 days of that I went to 30ER in the AM and PM.  After 5 days and living with withdrawals, Then I went to 30ER once a day for 5 more days.  After that I went to the pain doctor and they have me 5mg of oxcodone. I can take up to 4 a day.  Tried to take one every 8 hrs, too much pain and withdrawals. Now I am taking it every 6 hours, but it only helps for 3. how long is this going to take.  Both my reg doctors is saying I need to slow down it may take 3 mouths, but am I going to keep going to have withdrawels every time I lower the does?  Can anyone help me?

[mj22222]

I think I'm on the wrong forum, I never abused my medication.  I just want off of it. It took me 12 years to figure this out, but it's not doing me any good.  Doctors told me I needed it, but want they don't tell you is that sooner or later it's going to do some kind of damage to the rest of your body.  I was told that pain can kill you, but I don't believe that any more.  Going off this junk I might feel like it at times, but I know God is helping me.  God bless everyone who decides that drugs are not the answer...for what ever reason they are using them.

[mj22222]

thank you lulu747, any help you can give me will help.  After writing last night, I decided to take half doses of the oxycodone, I have permission from Pain Management to do this. I don't know if that helped or not, I didn't like going to the pill bottle that often:(  Was up at 4am again taking a hot bath for my legs and feet..  My medical history is so long, long story short my  immune system is attacking my nerves and joints with no unknown cause yet, I had cervical spine surgery over 10 years ago, made everything worse my whole spine is messed up, doctor told me he could fuse my whole spine, but of coarse can't do that.  I do have clonidine on hand...got it yesterday, I take Atenolol 50mg daily for BP and the only reason I take that is due to the fact that my BP goes up when in pain, so that is daily 24/7.  Dr. told me to take clonidine if my BP goes over 160 on the top or 90 on the bottom, which is has before yesterday.  I take Clonazepam .0.5 mg 2 X  and  muscles relaxers and I also take  Meloxicam for arthritis. If I am going to keep feeling like this for the 2 or 3 months...doctors are telling to me to slowly go off the pain meds, this is for the birds. If I go cold turkey right now, how long will it take for me be done with the withdrawals?  I can't take 2 or 3 months of this, I want my life back, I know it will be with pain, but I'm praying on that.  I know I will have to adjust living with the pain, I'm ready for that, it's the withdrawals that I can't handle right now, been over 2 weeks of them, surely don't want to continue this for 2 to 3 months and I'm beginning to feel that will happen if I do this slow.  I'm taking a daily vitamin, can't eat bananas, I drinking a lot of water and I am eating.  Today I decided that I will have to get up and move more, my feet burn all the time and that makes it hard to do. Any help  from anyone will be appreciated.  My main withdrawals are the pain in my legs and feet, constants restless and the hot and cold feeling and just not being able to to get the energy to move...zero, have none!!!      

[lulu747]

Hi And Welcome...
First of all, I commend you for wanting to reclaim your life from the pills...I know how tough it is.  We can't give taper advice as it's against Med Help policy, and your doctor is the best resource for making your taper the most comfortable.  There are many people on this forum who have tapered successfully, and many who could not handle the prolonged w/d and went cold turkey.  I did both, and for me, the taper was way worst than the detox.  Detox typically lasts 4-7 days-physically.  The mental is another game depending on each person.  Tapering is less w/d but over a longer period of time.  I suffered the awful headaches from opiates for a long time before I realized what was happening...I feel for you.  Are you on any other medications?  Clonidine is a BP medication (non-addictive) commonly used in opiate detox and it really helped me with the w/d's.  
Look up the Thomas Recipe in the health pages, it is a good comprehensive battle plan for withdrawal.
HYDRATE...Hot baths with epsom salts, bananas for RLS...Vitamin B6, B12, C, D.
For energy, the best is as much exercise as you can take.  You won't feel like moving but it helps so much.  Your natural endorphins are suppressed by the opiates and you need to restart them.  I can suggest many other natural aids to help with w/d...
I don't know your medical history, and I'm not a health care professional.  I can tell you that there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel.  YOU are in charge of your health...It's your body and your life.  You deserve to be happy and healthy.  Know that you are supported here.  Keep posting and let us know what you need.

Sending support..
Lu

[mj22222]

I have zero energy right now, it's been 2 weeks.  What can I do?  I want off the junk!!!