percocet

[chanch]

I had major back surgery, a four level fusion, in october 2006. I was given percocet after the surgery, and was told to go to a special pain management place, where i went for over 7 months. because I was active 4 weeks after the surgery, and started to run around and take care of my kids and get back to my very busy life style, I never had real time to relax, and just "chill out". I stopped going to therapy in july, last year, put I continued to need the pain meds. I did, however, slowly lower the dosage, from 10mg every 4 hrs, to every 12 hrs, over a 3 or 4 month period, with the help of a drug called Clonodine, which helps with the withdrawal. I work hard during the day, when the weather is really bad and I'm in pain, NOT to take a dose in the middle of the day. I wait until night time to take it, and then the pain goes away. I recently told my doctor that I want to get off of it, because I'm afraid that i am becoming an addict. Addicted, I know I am, after the first month, but when I started to look forward to the dose at night, to make me feel good and to relax, that when I thought that there is something wrong. I really still need it for the pain, but maybe there is another alternative. Now that the weather is better, I don't need it so much, but the longer I wait to take it the worse I feel. My mom said not to rush getting off of it, and wait until the pain gets better, but I don't want to become dependent on these pills anymore. What should I do?

[chanch]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I really hope getting off won't be as hard as they say. I will have to think of another way to deal with the tremendous pain I deal with at the end and the begining of the day. Only because i am afraid that I will, or have already, become a real addict. I watched me nieghbor, who suffered fromplain back pain, become addicted for over 3 years, and he went to Canada every month to feed his addiction. I don't want that. When the medication started to feel good that's when i felt I was becoming an addict!

[dovt]

You sound a lot like me.  Doing it for the pain and able to cut the dosage down w/o too much problem.  For me, I still need it for the pain and RLS.  I'm currently taking 1 pill per day in 1/2 dosages.  To answer your question about keeping it around the house.  I think if you seriously are using it for pain management and none of the over the counter stuff seems to work for you then keeping some around the house is ok.  I don't even think about the fact that I have the pills around until I hurt so bad that I need to take a bite.  I think the key is to go w/o as long as you can and deal with the pain in other ways like the yoga, massage, baths etc.   I am taking mine first thing in the morning after I have gotten up and done everything I can to aleviate the pain but it's still there.  Then it just 1/2 a pill.  The other half gets taken at night and only if the pain and RLS is acting up and I can't sleep.  I do still hope to get off this dosage some day.  Hope this helps.  Good luck.

[chanch]

I truly appreciate the replies, and I will definetely be trying other non-narcotic meds, when I have completely gotten off percocet. I am just wondering if there is a problem with keeping some in the house for emergency purposes only,

[worried878]

I have a 3 level fusion in my neck and i know they dont always solve all of the pain issues...as stated above...it is something u will have to decide and stick to it...i am now on nuerontin and use non-narcotic pain relief like ice, heat, yoga, chiropractic, massage...the first several days you may feel flu-like after you quit...the thomas recipe and amino protocol in the health pages helps..keep posting as there is lots of support here...some can stay on low doses and manage their pain...i was always wanting more so i did not feel comfortable on narcotics anymore as i always was battling keeping my usage down

[Jacqui805]

Well, I can certainly relate to your story.  Bottom line here of course, is if you want off, than you can be, and it's worth it.  There are lots of alternative meds. to narcotics, and other alternative therapies as well.  Knowing what is causing the pain is half the battle when it comes to finding what works best for you, or at least in trying to find it.  I cannot honestly say I have found anything to work for me in the past, when I started taking 200 mcg of fentanyl every 72 hours, but, I am off, and glad to be.  I do have pain, and it is of particular concern to me right now, but it wouldn't be fair to say that nothing will work on it, because this is new pain and I have not tried all of those things I originally tried, again, for this pain.  I commend you on weaning yourself so successfully as far as you have and then asking for help getting further with the Clonidine.  You did not mention what your doctor's response was when you recently told him/her you wanted to be completely off.....Of course, they should help with this, and it sounds like they would be receptive to the idea given the fact that you've been assisted with Clonidine.  In any event, talk to your doctor further about all of your options, keeping in mind what you can expect as time goes by as a result of having had your surgery, and the condition that caused it.  I wish you the best with this, and welcome to the forum.