Need some advice

On June 23rd of this year I had major knee surgery done.  Because of that I was prescribed Oxycocet for the pain.  I have been on them now for 4months and 11 days and i'm almost out.  My surgeon refuses to prescribe me anymore although i'm still in constant pain.  But my problem isn't dealing with the pain, it's the fact that my body and well sadly I am addicted to them.  If I go a day without them my body shakes, I get sick to my stomach, get the chills, weak, dizzy, headachy etc....I'm really not sure what to do in this situation..i've never been addicted to any drugs and I don't know how to deal with the withdrawals. And this past week actually it's been feeling like my insides are all messed up and from time to time it hurts.  

I've heard people say that it's dangerous to stop Oxys cold turkey and because of the symptoms I had that one day i'm afraid of what's to come.  I haven't even told my family that I'm addicted because I'm scared. And I act like I don't take them everyday.  But in all reality without them I can't function.

Now my question is: if i get really sick once I stop taking them, what should I do? Should I try and wait it out or should I go to the hospital?  And does anyone know exactly what is going to happen to me once I do go into withdrawals etc?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I'm new here so I don't know what to expect but please do not judge me or leave rude comments
Thank You

[Kova]

it is NOT dangerous to stop using oxys cold turkey.  many here have done it.  i myself have cold turkeyed 40 mgs of methadone.  it really s*cks, but you will get through it.  what you are experiencing is perfectly normal.  how much were you taking?
Kova

[Kova]

well???

[Lexi_]

it started with 3 a day..and now it's between 1-2 a day
and like i know i need to stop taking them but at the same time my leg is going to be in severe pain and i don't want to stop
as much as I don't want to admit it if i stop these i may turn to something else...

and i've tried talking to my friends for help but it's like they don't really care or want to listen

[Kova]

well... you have to REALLY wan to stop in order to be able to do it.  it is not easy, but entirely possible and NOT dangerous.  to my knowledge, people don't die or have seizures or anything like that, you'll just feel like hell for about a week or so.  as for your pain, i don't know what to tell you bit i know that there are alternatives out there.  is it a chronic pain that you will have to live with or will it eventually heal?  if it will heal, i advise you to get off the meds NOW.  you know deep down that is what you really want.  go for it!  we here will all support you, even if your friends don't.


love to you,
Kova

[Lexi_]

i'm not actually entirely sure if i'll have to live with the pain or not
at this point i have 2 screws in my leg and my shin bone is pushed up
so i'm thinking that i may be stuck with the pain for at least a yr since it's a long healing time

i'm going to just go with it and see if I can deal without them once i run out
the last time i didn't have any cause i was waiting to see my dr i turned to alcohol..so i'm going to try my hardest to stay away from it all

but thanks so much for the support
i really appreciate it

[dominosarah]

You may be surprised to find out that your knee doesnt hurt as bad once you get off the pills too.  Alot of our pain got better after we stopped.  Talk with your doctor as there are other meds out there that arent addicting.  Be careful with the alcohol.  It is very easy to trade addictions.  Trust me that is not a road you want to take either.  You have to want to get off the pills and right now you say you are only taking 1-2 a day.  This would be a great time to quit before your tolerance increases.  We are here for you and will help you get thru this.  Keep posting         sara

[hooked855]

im addicted to 8 hydro 10/325 a day cant stand the detox trying to cut back half my dose for one week before going cold turkey working so far. does anyone know if energy pills help with detox or is it even safe at all

[Soprano35]

Sounds like me.  I'm forty seven, raising a great family in with a husband of twenty five years.  We love our home and eachother.  Got a lot of good things that we do together or talk to together, and when I got in my situation it was only normal that we would take care of me/it as a family.  I had a knee replacement in December, with at least six months of walking bone on bone prior to surgery.  To function I had to use Norco daily and heavily until surgery day.  I don't drink or do drugs, smoke, gamble, smoked a very little pot in school.  Mostly we live a boring happy family oriented life.

After three months of post op physical excercise (I was good and compliant) it was the appropriate time to start losing the pills.  Over time I had added a pill to a dose, taken a dose a couple hours earlier, worried I needed more, the usually things that happens when dependency creeps on a user.  I was naive about using this drug and it ended up kicking me in the but to get off it.  After a couple of attempts at tappering, I just cold turkey ended.  For me it was much better to know it would be over in the time of a bad flu.  I lined up all the supplies listed on the Thomas Receipe, got heating pads, bubble stuff with epsom salts, an understanding from kids and husband this was going to be priority one for a few days and I would be feeling really bad, cleared the deck of all obligations.  ANYONE can manage to disappear for a few days due to a flue.  Give yourself the time and education yourself what you need to do.  It's so much easier than all the worrying about what am I going to do, how bad will it be, .....just do it and you will be so much better for it.  The energy will come back, and the laundry and dust can wait, the kids can rise to the occasion, and if there is a hubby he will be able to cope.  Get yourself well.

[merrymaria]

please stop now why you are ahead of the game.  you are not taking that many.  i was taking up to 10 a day and ct/d with the normal wd/s...like the flu for about 5 days.   i was abusing for 3 years plus whereas you only have 4 months.  it shpouldn t be that bad for you..remember aftercare..so crucial to recovery

[SharonR463]

Keep reading  anything that  is posted. Make a  week for yourself to quit. i am making plans to stop taking vicodens. After a get this minulation with my shoulder done i plan only  to take the pills until PT is done. I will have to go 5-10 straight days and during this time i am going to cut down to 1 pill a day and then cold turkey. But read all of the great advise from everyone and try what will work for you. Take a  week off from the world and do things you want to do.

[Lexi_]

Thanks everyone for the advice and support

i'm going to try my best to not be dependent on them or any other pills
and will try not to turn to alcohol either

i guess it will all depend on how strong i am..and right now i'm very weak in mind..kind of depressed due to alot of personal things..but thats besides the point

anyways thanks everyone..i'm glad there's a place where i can go for support and not be judged