Middle ground for taking pain meds?

I am a newby reader/lurker here. I have mild/med arthritis, am a Veteran, older, and have valid scrip for Vics from my VA clinic for last 4 years, then was switched to Oxycodon 5mg 4x day for pain 2 months ago.   I wanted to give my liver a rest from the  acetominophen in the Vics so they switched me. I think I am addicted and not 'drug tolerant' because I do take them for the euphoria and feeling of well being. I count the  pills, use more than alloted and run out early, get obsessive about it, had only 2 separate times  with NONE for a day-and felt the W/D symtoms (symptoms) described in this forum.  Since I live alone, ( with a bunch of animals who love me no matter what) and work from home I dont have anyone to watch me or control my pill taking. [No friends locally I can trust either, unfortunately]  I want to do this on my own..just take what is prescribed. I am very active remodeling my home, so do hurt and need them. I fear serious W/D if I go 5-10 more years this way...any advice?
I did try hot showers- OJ-hot cocoa, I take melatonn & Valerian herb for sleep (works) , but still got shakey (shaky)/anxious when I ran out. I consider tapering..but keep wanting to do it" in 3 years" when I am done with the house repairs..so I see a problem.

[uncle_vice]

First off your not alone in your problem, we all took them to get that feeling. One of my fears was not being able to be as motivated without being high on pills, guess what I still do all the things I need to get done except now I dont do them at 1:30am high as a kite. I really believed for years the pills made me superman but if anything they were my kriptonite. The days were I didnt have any I got nothing done and also I found I needed more and more to be superman. Eventually I could not even get out of bed unless I popped a pill. Life is much more sweet without the pills and my aches and pains I found out werent all that bad at all. How many do you usually take a day?

[orangefyre]

Everybody thinks they are Superhuman on pills. One day you realize they are sucking life instead of giving life.
I don't know how long you have been lurking, but I'm 22 days clean from Methadone. The first 12 days was the roughest for me. Meth is a b**ch to beat!! I am 36 yo mom, I became addicted in a bad relationship, but ultimately it was my fault...I took them.
I did a taper (of sorts) I got down to 40mg a day, then stopped c/t. That wasn't low enough!! But no way was I gonna turn back.

If you are still making excuses for a way to continue the use of the pills, then maybe you aren't mentally ready yet? You have to HATE them to beat them.

I know you have alot of things to tackle in your home, but won't there always be something else that's comes up. I know I may seem a lil harsh, but I'm reality. I'm also here for you should you decide to take the ride.
Lisa

[Starbuck49]

Yes, I dont hate them yet..maybe that is why I am on the fence.   thanks to  the folks who answered..I understand not making excuses.. maybe I am bargaining?   I have a goal to finish the house in 3 years.. I can't hire all the work out, cant afford it, dont want to, and can't find good help anyway ( $45. an hor for a gambler addict or fistfighter plumber who shows up 2 days late with black eyes..ugghh no more of those men in my house!!  So I do it mysef.  IS there a medium way to do this?  

I used to get 6 Vic a day scrip-180  mo- which sounds like a lot to me, and took 8 on many days, then down to 4  the last week until refill arrived. I have asked them over and over- Can I get addicted ? and the answer is not if you need them, one speciatly Doc told me the small amount of Vic I take is not the problem, abusing Aceotmoniphen IS!!.. Over 4,000 mg a day is toxic to the liver ( that is 8 Vic 500s), can't be used more than a few days without damage.  that is why they switched me to Oxycodone 5mg.  I am OK with them 1 every 6 hours--but I want a higher dose...isn't 5MG a tiny amoount- the lowest? I cant find info online.  I honestly think I would not be worried if pain were managed better with a higher dose-- is that hedging too?
I appreciate ALL of you and all your words..I will keep readig htis forum.

[Starbuck49]

Yes, I dont hate them yet..maybe that is why I am on the fence.   thanks to  the folks who answered..I understand not making excuses.. maybe I am bargaining?   I have a goal to finish the house in 3 years.. I can't hire all the work out, cant afford it, dont want to, and can't find good help anyway ( $45. an hor for a gambler addict or fistfighter plumber who shows up 2 days late with black eyes..ugghh no more of those men in my house!!  So I do it mysef.  IS there a medium way to do this?  

I used to get 6 Vic a day scrip-180  mo- which sounds like a lot to me, and took 8 on many days, then down to 4  the last week until refill arrived. I have asked them over and over- Can I get addicted ? and the answer is not if you need them, one speciatly Doc told me the small amount of Vic I take is not the problem, abusing Aceotmoniphen IS!!.. Over 4,000 mg a day is toxic to the liver ( that is 8 Vic 500s), can't be used more than a few days without damage.  that is why they switched me to Oxycodone 5mg.  I am OK with them 1 every 6 hours--but I want a higher dose...isn't 5MG a tiny amoount- the lowest? I cant find info online.  I honestly think I would not be worried if pain were managed better with a higher dose-- is that hedging too?
I appreciate ALL of you and all your words..I will keep readig htis forum.

[orangefyre]

Maybe you should taper yourself down then. I am inexperienced with the oxy's that contain no acet. Sorry.
Maybe you should talk to your doctor about what you wish to accomplish here.
I do know this, it seems from on the forum, no matter what you do, you will feel some sort of degree of w/d. And, w/d is very UNCOMFOTABLE. But, it's not permanent, Just keep that in mind, ok?
It WILL GET BETTER...
Lisa

[Starbuck49]

Yes with the Vicodin I was chasing the high, and realized it.

Now with the Oxy plain it is much better...since there are far fewer pills to take, and the dose lasts a lot longer.

I will see my doc in Feb. and will ask about dosage.   I knew the answer- you can get addicted but you can alse be dependent due to time & tolerance too...I guess I was hoping they would pay attention more to my question.

As my original Q asks-- middleground...I want a balance..and since I cant take aspirin, Naproxen, and a few others I will stick with the Oxy plain for now.

Maybe I am in the wrong forum?-- I should look for a pain management group since I am not looking to quit flat out.  But the storie here have opened my eyes to the dangers of abuse, and that is a good education and warning.

[coldplace]

my rx was 240 5mg percs no tylenol and 140 tabs ms cotin and it will all catch up with you  2 and a half day and i'm on my way     they just get you at least me
                                       jim

[coldplace]

my rx was 240 5mg percs no tylenol and 140 tabs ms cotin and it will all catch up with you  2 and a half day and i'm on my way     they just get you at least me
                                       jim

[uncle_vice]

Coldplace is absolutely right your tolerance will continue to increase as you chase that feeling. You already admitted you are taking them to get high. Now I am no rookie when it comes to pain and the pain led me to my addiction. I have had plenty of injuries, surgeries and even battled cancer which allowed myself to justify my addiction, in my mind, for years. I cut all the tendons in my right hand and it can be painful to use the computer mouse sometimes but in the end I was not taking pills for the pain, I was chasing a high. Day 16 is almost complete for me with no oxycotin and the pain, although still present, is not as bad as I led myself to believe. Advil actually works better then the oxys did for me! As far as this statement " Can I get addicted ? and the answer is not if you need them" This is terrible advice and a complete lie and the drug facts that come with the medication will tell you they are addictive. If you absolutely need the meds for pain follow the dosage to the letter. We will be here for you whatever you decide.

[creek]

Your story is a lot like mine in regards to being on the fence.  The truth is we are already addicted as the others said.  I chase the high and I take too many too.  

I was not aware of the tylenol I am putting in my liver, and organs, without your information.  

This is a educational forum.  There are people here with so much advice that is concrete, "exactly what we need to hear" advice.

Stay with us.  I failed at my attempt to quit miserably today.  Reading your information was helpful.  Thank you and keep listening to these friends.  They are honest. I hope your future is bright.  Isn't it interesting when people say the pain is not as bad as they tought and Advil etc. will do the trick???

This is not the first time I have read a post like that.  Again, these friends know what they are talking about and boy when I get to the place where I take only non-narcotic pills for pain I would be so happy.

[pikeartist]

and sometimes withdrawal is nothing.  i had very little discomfort.  just felt tired.  but its different for each i guess.

[uncle_vice]

Well if the oxycodone 5mg is working for your pain stick with it but just watch your dosage because they are a bit stronger then the vics. After my first surgery on my hand I was taking percocet 5mg and I took them for 3 months as perscribed and had no problem putting them down when I no longer needed them. I have arthritis and muscle spaziums in my right wrist where they sewed my tendons back together and some how after 5 years and 3 more operations I was taking 80-100 mg of oxycotin every day(which is a very powerful pain killer). Also I was perscribed  antinflamatories but you know what I stopped filling the antinflamatories because I ate so many pills I didnt feel anything. So to answer your question the middle ground is located on a very slippery slope so keep your guard up. For now I would rather use heating pads and advil to fight the pain. My arthritis hurts some days more then others but for right now it is not all that bad and I am surviving without the pain pills. If I could stick to taking 5mg of percocet every 4 to 6 hours and get rid of the pain I would still be taking them, but I abused them and they controled me for years.