I have degenerative joint disease and near complete rotator cuff tears affecting both shoulders and am going to schedule my first of two Reverse Total Shoulder Joint Replacements soon. I have for 2 years taken one 5/325mg Percocet with acetaminophen one time daily at 6pm and maybe twice a week added one more at noon (to get through chores as arm movement is quite painful). I thought by keeping the dose so low and suffering through the pain...knowing i was coming at any time to a point where i was going to need surgery...I would be okay when it came to controlling post-op surgery pain...especially since it is done as outpatient and I live 3 hours from the doctor. The surgeon said any amount of opiate that the body has become "use" to will affect pain control after the surgery and that scared me. I am wondering what to expect as far as side effects and how best to quit the percocet? I am also wondering how long until the brain starts to forget about opiates (the physiology part). I never took it for a "feel better" feeling. It really only took the edge off the pain as I never upped the dose. My shoulder pain is very real, and I would like to get off the percocet in such a way that it doesn't cause a "flare" of the shoulder pain? I had no idea such a small dose, according to what I have read, can take the brain 2 to 3 months to not "recognise" a narcotic? Is that true? I am scared i will be home after surgery with inadequate pain control after having my joint cut out of me. Thank you