pain meds

[refump]

i was injured at work in 2003. the injury was to my lower back.since then i have been on pain meds which have increased over time to allow me to work and cope. i just had surgery and they took out some discs and put in a titanium cage along with some rods and screws. they then fused it to the top and bottom. i was going in the hospital every 2-weeks where i would be put out and have nerve blocks and epiderals. i also am taking 2-40mg of slow release oxy at 7-am and then up to 12 percs during the day for breakthrough pain and then 2-40mg of the slow release again at 7-pm. i have been getting more and more depressed in the last 4-years and confusion along with memory loss has become very bad. now that i have had the surgery i need to get off the meds and see how i am as i can-not take it as i feel like i am going crazy. i find that when asked a question by friends and co-workers i can not remember things so i make it up to hide the confusion.how do i get off this circle and will  my memory return and the depression leave?  thx so much as i am at my wits end and need help.

[marcatj]

refump - please post again tomorrow if you need help, k?

sleep well...
:)
mj

[marcatj]

there are many ways you can get off the pain meds...  sounds like a good idea because the symptoms you describe are what i've heard from many people who have been using for too long.  as well, you likely don't know what your pain level really is at this point...

do you have the willpower to taper?  if not, do you think you can suffer through the withdrawals of going off?

we will help you... you are making a good choice.

-mj

[beachtowel]

you have to give it time..........
it will come back you have to give your brain time to heal........