About to go Cold Turkey but have a question

[Ballgame]

Ive been tapering and curious how close I am to being clean.  I know I will have WD but want to know how bad and how long.
 
Back story.
Im tapering down from 50mg x3 Oxy and at 30mg x3 (30 days).  But Ive cut way back myself.  Main reason for it, I had a really bad injury and 30 mg didn’t bring relief so I had to take extra.  Since I would be short the last 2 weeks Ive been cutting down.
Past 5 days Ive only been taking a half (guessing that’s 15mg) with 5mg perks in between (6-8).  The perks really helped with managing WD. 
5 days before that taking 30mg x1.  But I cut them into quarters.  Assuming that’s bad to do but its what I did.  Had to take a quarter before bed to sleep and then a quarter to help with WD to get out of bed in morning.  That left me half for rest of day
5 days before that was at 1 30mg and a half. 
 
I have about 10 5mg perks left and only 1 30mg Oxy and a half.  Im going to run out.
Since Ive cut way down and last 5 days only had 15mg Oxy per day should the WD be bad? 
I understand my method isn’t sound but knowing Im going to be short Im doing best to reduce the WD Im going to have.
 
Im hoping the WD wont be bad since Im basically off the Oxy.  Also have the Clondine patch.  Will put that on when I get home.  I did this to myself by taking too many when I was in severe pain. 
Im hoping I can manage and function without having to miss work.  Worried about pain once Im off but I cant keep up this routine with the pills.  Always low by month end and then start cycle all over.  Ill be out of pill by tomorrow (Tuesday).  Hoping I've wound down enough to manage this.  Any chance that by weekend Ill be on the upward swing with minimal WDs?
 
Oh yeah, could Ultram help me continue to wean down?  I have about 20 of those from before.  Or is that only adding to it? 

[Jesusluvme]

Hi how are you? I havent been on the computer in a while, and decided to check  the sight out. I just wanted to apoligize to you if anythin gI had wrote earlier effected your desicion to take vicodin while pregnant or not. I read what you wrote and I am so sorry you had such a hard time. My doctor homestly told me it was okay to take vicodin during pregnancy, and I did, and my baby was fine, but I should of thought twice before giving that information out. I just trusted my doctor, and I should of relized everyone would nt have the same experiences. Really sorry,
Learning Alot, Jesusluvme

[pattifan]

I wondered about the merit of Neurontin (gabapentin) too.

It does tend to cause poor concentration and short-term memory loss, plus, if you stop, it needs to be tapered down slowly and carefully, but some people do find it gives them relief.

Some thing do discuss with your doctor re the pro's and con's.

Keep on hanging in there.

[outcold]

I've got the same back issues and can relate to your pain. It really is horrible, but the pain meds seem to be a vicious cycle...always needing more and more. I had some success with  Neurontin. You may want to ask your Dr. about that. My pain is nerve pain following a discectomy and foramenotomy and it did help, but not take it away. You are doing so well off the narcs, I hope you can continue. That's my fear, that I won't be able to function off the pain meds! I just flushed all my Norcos, so I'm hunkering down for the WD's! I'm hoping I will be as strong as you have been! Good luck and God Bless!

[pattifan]

You're absolutely right, it was true awful pain, but it was probably made much worse by rebound pain following withdrawal.

Unfortunately it's likely to happen again before it starts getting easier.

I think you need to make a plan now for how you deal with it next time (ie tough it out, or see doctor again).

Amitryptilene has side effects, but it's not addictive, so it might be worth a shot, just to tide you over.

Hang in there and take care

[Ballgame]

Thanks Patti
I've been dealing with this back issue for 12 years. I go to PT x2 week to build my core.  I've been blocked twice too.  There is no cure for a bad disc so I try to maintain.  PT does the tens unit as well.
I'm got an apt to see a back guy but that's not till next week.  Want to try acupuncture but they don't take INS so it's hard to come up with $85.

I'm just giving excuses.  I need to decide how to deal with pain.  Ice been honest with my dr and she has been great.  At the end if day I have two options. Meds or non meds.  Non meds are all the things you described and since I already do some if those I'm going to stick with it.  
But this was not my body saying it needs meds. It was true awful pain.  It had me crying and Im a grow man!!  :)

[pattifan]

Hi Ballgame,

I'm really sorry to hear about your problems over the weekend.

It counts as a relapse, but don't beat yourself up about it. You just need to pick your self up and carry on.

Some people do have rebound pain on stopping opiates. Its your body's way of saying 'FEED ME OXYS!  Like other symptoms it doesn't last for long.

I do understand your problem. When I came off migraine meds I had severe migraine attacks every day for a while. That was miserable!  However now I only get two or three attacks a year, and they're not too bad.  I think they're not too bad because I've learned how to handle pain better.

Does the pain from your back go down your leg and into your foot?

If the pain becomes an ongoing issue, there are three things you might want to consider. You can see your family doctor about trying amitrytiline or gabapentin, both of which can be very effective for nerve pain.

A pain clinic can also offer you cognitive behavioural therapy to help you learn to deal with the pain.

You could also try either an osteopath (I believe that for lower back injuries, chiropractors can be a little bit too savage) or an acupuncturist. I find that if people go in for alternative therapies believing that they are a waste of time, then they almost certainly don't help. However if you go in with an open mind you can be surprised by the results.

Finally, another option (option four of three.. oops!) is to buy yourself a TENS machine. You can get them cheaply from your pharmacy, and they often produce good results.

For the moment though, I think you need to tough it out, to find out whether this is rebound pain.

I really hope you feel a lot better soon.

Thinking of you

[Ballgame]

Sorry for lack of updates.  Was in the ER Saturday evening.  I was on oxy because I have 3 bulging discs in my low back.  I did something that seemed simple but must have pitched a nerve.  Instant pain. 9 out if 10.  Tried to deal with it but couldn't.  Went to ER and was honest with dr but didn't have many options. Get some perks to help pain short term or take anti imfammitory meds.   Well I already take those daily for pain.  I was in so much pain I was crying just wanted it to stop.  I'm ashamed to say I took the perks.  I'm out if them
now and can feel the pain but now I have to address this pain.  
Anyway I feel like I let myself down because I made it 5 days.  I was really hoping it was true that once off meds the pain isn't as bad as I would have thought.  
I was in bed all weekend and wife is mad cause I couldn't help out around the house

[going2bemommy]

day 3 and feeling good. I did sleep last night finally kinda restless but I will take that. btw if anyone else has prob with restless legs I ate 2 bannanas and drank a glass of milk and it helped a lot. Thanks for the support on here never again am I doing this with these pain pills.

[going2bemommy]

Ballgame- sorry u feel so bad this is what day 4 for u? It will be better very soon for u. It is an inspiration to us though if that helps to know that u keep going. Hope u feel better soon.

I have a question. Does anyone know if there is ANYTHING u can do for restless legs. Night is approaching and it is starting already. I have taken lots of warm baths already. I have had this before even when I was not w/d but it wasn't that bad. Please keep in mind I am pregnant so some things i may not be able to try. Any advise would be great this is the main symptom I am having although my stomach is very upset. I only slept 2 hours the whole night last nioght and I have got to sleep tonight. Thanks

[pattifan]

Hang in there Ballgame.

We need you as a success story for all the new arrivals on the site :)

Hope tomorrow's better for you

Take care

[Ballgame]

Feeling brutal right now. Can't eat.  Hate the up and down I'm going through.  One minute I'm fine I feel awful.  Guess that's part of it

[pattifan]

Glad you went anyway, and sorry they weren't much help, but at least you tried and hopefully they will have set your mind at rest a bit.

Yes lots of doctors opinions do differ from each other and not always for the best reasons, but that's way beyond our control!

Glad you're not feeling too bad. You were on a very low dose so perhaps you'll be lucky.

If it does get rough, we'll all be here to offer support.

Thinking of you.

[going2bemommy]

OK so I talked to the nurse this AM and she said that I was not taking much of the pills. They did give me something for nausia but for the rest they said there is nothing I can take. I find it hard to believe that not sleeping at all is better than taking something to help me sleep. I can not believe all the discrepencies I have heard about what is safe and what isn't how can doctors have so many different opinion on the same subject? I am feeling a lot better except that I am extrememly tired. Pretty much all the bad symptoms are not there (I think it is because I was not taking some of the high doses and for as long as I seen other people) anyway the dr was not much help they say for me just to not take it(which is what I would rather do anyway, it has been a day and a half so I don't want to put it back into my body.) I do know this is not fun and my thoughts and prayers are with all that r struggling. Thanks for any input.

[Ballgame]

Going1bmommy going to dr is the right move.  They will help you

[pattifan]

Try not to worry, easy for me to say I know.

Your doing exactly the right thing by seeing your doctor. Soon your mind will be out at rest and you can relax.

Good luck at the doctors.

[Ballgame]

Put in my last Clonidine patch and already feel better.  This patch is the best kept secret.  Almost feel like I should a thread about to let people know about it

[going2bemommy]

I could just cry. What a horriable night I had last night. I am so angry that they even give this medicine to people now I am here feeling like death and pregnant and both me and my baby have to go through this.. I slept from 5:30 AM- 7:15. Yep that is it. puking @ 2:30. Crazy restless legs all night and a stomach ache that was beyond horriable. I am waiting for the dr to open @ 8:30 and I am calling my OB. Really scared to do it but I can't just do this in quiet because on top of everything else I am worried that the baby is in danger. grrrr... please pray for me.

[Ballgame]

Day 4 and not feeling so good. Would consider it mild WD but didn't sleep much.  My patch feel off so wondering if that's part of it.  
Just feel tired and a little out of it.  Gonna be hard to work today.  

Side note. I went to a back dr last night and we talked about the meds I WAS on. He told me he gets his patients off norcotics in a couple hours.  The procedure is done right in the office.  How does that work?!?!?!?

[dominosarah]

Your doing great Ballgame!!!  Keep it going.  Let us know how you are feeling         sara

[gnarly_1]

Hey dude sounds like things are going really well for you ...you may be one of the lucky one
that gets little or no symptoms...its a freak of nature but it does happen keep posting with your progress good luck and God bless.....Gnarly

[pattifan]

The concern is not that the baby can feel withdrawal in the womb, it is that withdrawal in the mother can cause miscarriage.

As I said, in your case it is probably unlikely, since your dose is so low.

But I would urge you not to do it before you speak to your OB. It simply isn't worth the risk.

Take care

[going2bemommy]

Thanks for all the opinions crazy that they r so different. I have actually felt pretty good today just a little stomach upset. I am going to call my ob to talk about it htough. All different dr's have different opinions. Half will say yes u can take vicodin and half will say you can't. I definatly can stop taking them and I am just don't want the baby to feel any withdrawals I have googles this but not finding any answers if the baby can feel w/d in the womb??? That is my main concern not so much that I took the pills. I would do nothing to harm my baby I had a terrable painful infected cyst on the inside of my leg and they had to keep cutting into it. The only reason I took them in the first place. I will keep everyone updated. Thanks again

[LMB01]

Sorry, Ballgame; I missed your post!
I'm feeling great at 14 days!
How are you doing?! Still no WD's?! I wouldn't complain about that too much!
Hope all is well on your end! ;)

[pattifan]

Please do not stop taking your meds at any time during your pregnancy unless you have seen and been advised by your OB first!  Continuing to take them won't harm your baby, but going cold turkey from a high dose certainly can.

Now I know you're on a very low dose, so it would probably be OK, but it isn't worth the risk.

Check with your doctor first.

Take care