withdrawal from 30mg morphine and percocette for back surgery

[salem55]

I have decided that I would rather have pain than to be leashed to pills the rest of my life. I have been on these meds for 4 yrs. I have had to have 2 back surgeries, (one failed) and now have a bone graft with 6 screws for a L4-5 rupture of the disks. I took a 30mg morphine timed release every am and sometimes again at night, hate the way they make me feel. Perc for break thru pain, up to 8 some days. dosage was 2 every 4hrs. Day before yesterday I took the morphine and no perc, went to work and just dealt with the pain, I thought the runs were something I ate duh... the next day I took nothing and began to have chills with continured diarrhea. I talked to a friend and she told me to wean off. I haven't taken any morphine I don't want to. So my plan was to take 1/2 less of perc for one wk so 1 1/2  every 4 hrs, then 1 the next wk every 4 then 1/2 the next wk and so on. I can def feel the effect of no morphine but I'd rather have a headache and feel out of sorts than take it. I work p/t eve. My question is how long can I expect it to take to get the morphine out of my body? How long will this take? Thank you for your forum, it gives me hope. I want off the medicine leash!!! Mary  

[salem55]

Thank you so much for your post. I don't think people can relate to how painful back surgery is. My question to you is how long did it take for you to get better after surgery? How long did it take for your bone graft to quit hurting? Had I known that it would have been so painful I would have insisted on cadaver bone. My Dr. suggested I increase the morphine and it would decrease the perc. I didn't want to, he said just try it and see if your pain is better controlled. It is greatly. I'm scared. I'm not addicted but it scares me to think what if this quits working and I need more to controll the pain? Also I am tiny I'm 5 ft 3 and 114 pounds. He has me taking 60mg timed release morphine in the am and the night. I have barely needed any perc at all. I don't like the morphine for personal reasons, I feel like it depresses me. I feel stuck and scared. My heart is doing some weird stuff coincidentally I am wearing a event monitor for a month cuz it did this a couple of months ago. Just wondering if this could be exacerbating palps? I also used to work out alot. Loved going to the gym, and I did free weight training for about 18yrs. I was in great shape. I still look good but inwardly my body is a mess. I need hope to get through this healing time. My Dr. said that the morphine was less hard on my body than the perc. Is that true? It does controll the pain much better its just such an awful drug mentally. I feel like it changes me and I don't like that. I am praying and asking for God's help. This is very hard, I can't wait to be on the other side of this. Also sadly found out that my husband has been lying to me about important things, we are separated and have been working on our marriage. It just has me spun out. I'm the opposite of an addict, it makes me NOT want to take anything so I'm not sad. Thx for your support, hoping to join all of you soon. Let me know what you think of the morphine amount. All my respect Mary

[abritt121222]

I feel your pain I have had two back surgeries and one of both of them I have had bone grafts and screws and rods and a cage and removed disc and well u get it haha but don't feel bad cause u have to take pain meds as long as u take them right and keep it under control u will taper off when u can deal with the pain and I promise it gets better I kept taking them for way to long and was addicted before my second surgery because I had pretty much given up and told myself its pointless I'm always gonna have to take pain meds cause my back always hurt but I eventually got sick of it and just tired of hurting the people I loved and making them worry about me taking to much cause I was taking huge amounts of opana and oxy and the end of my active addiction when I finally told myself this is crazy so I finally found a good pain management doctor and it was no easy task but after steroid and cortisone shots and a few other small procedures like that I got into physical therapy and I won't lie it hurt like hell but it was so worth it. I am now completely clean and have been for a while and now that I'm not fighting not only my back hurting but being I was addicted my mind was also making me hurt alot worse because it wanted the meds so after all that my back feels better now completely clean than it ever did while taking meds. I do things now my surgeons told me I would never do again andi do it with no back pain whatso ever I am even back lifting weights again and that's something they still say I can't do but I figured out they are not always right and I can do whatever I want when I set my mind to it and not only do what I want but do what I want clean and sober

Good Luck and Godspeed
ABritt

[salem55]

I just wanted to thank everybody on this site who supported me. I unfortunatley am not ready to stop the pain meds. My back started hurting so badly, especially the bone graft site, I thought I would end up in the ER. My doctor told me that I am not healed as of yet. I have read about the bone graft healing and appartently most people get relief in about 2yrs. I am one yr post surgery. I felt so darned depressed but have a good support system that reminded me that I need to be patient with my body to heal. I could totally deal with the wd symptoms and was expecting lower back pain but this level was a 10 and surgical. At one point I even felt envious of people with drug problems because I thought if I didn't have this awful pain I could stop taking these meds!! I didn't realize that the extended medication in the begining was still carrying me through. I needed to change my attitude and be grateful that I am still healing and there will be a day when I can come back and try again, when my body is stronger and have sweet success. God bless you all, Love Mary

[VICourageous]

Hi I just wanted to give you some Support too..I am glad you have a understanding hub..I found that the meetings and the support from my hub and family is so helpful..I am glad you are doing a Taper..I had to go c/t from the methadone and 2 other meds.(benzo too)..It is a bit more intense and longer..It is hard to say how long it will take for the Meds to leave the body..It all depends on your Health and How you replenish the body back up from the deficiencies that we loose in substance use..Lots of good vit/min and good nourishing food..We push the electrolyte drinks and the protein drinks..I do get the Amino-acids all in one pill..They are all the L-s (a-v)..The bottle says "Protein" ...There is alot we use and still do to built the body and brain back up..Exercising as much as you can in the beginning too is a plus..And do not worry about PAWS right now..It can be different in people..I am riding in 7 months and had just a mood swing issue the other day..It was no biggy..Just have to keep the mind as happy as you can..Hang tight you can do it...
vickie

[mike195400]

You are going to feel bad as long as your are weaning off the drugs. Every time you cut your dosage it will start again. That's why I think it's best to stop cold turkey but everybody's different. I think everybody experiences PAWS to one degree or another. Just remember that all this physical stuff will go away and you have to be patient and don't panic, like I said the w/d's come in waves. All this stuff like hot baths, deep breathing, and taking it one day at a time really does help. It's like having the flu, the firsr couple of days it's coming the next two you have it and the last two or three it's going away. You'll be fine. There are people on these sites all hours of the nite and day who want to talk. Check out that "In the Rooms" website it's been a big help to me.

[salem55]

Thank you for your support. I can't believe I'm even in this position yet it gives me so much empathy for others. I read about people just going cold turkey off everything and that really scared me so this seems like a better way for the body and mind to adjust. My husband and I are separated and in the process of reconcillisation. He is very involved in AA and any drug use. So I told him of my decision to muscle through this.  He was very supportive tho worried about the pain issues. Probably good that we live apart right now just in case I'm emotional or irrational as I do this. I've read about PAWS do I need to worry about that? I am taking an antideppresant and increased as I began to offset mood swing. So far that hasn't happened just don't feel 100%. Stomach cramping with the usual and slight headach. Wow this is nasty stuff. I never realized...

[EvolverU]

Hi Mary & Welcome, Congrats on your decision to come off.
I think the advice mike195400 gave above is spot on. I'd hazard a guess that the Morphine should be out of your blood anywhere between 5 - 9 days (based on your history of use and dosage. It would be much shorter for casual use.Your metabolic rate would also be a factor.)
Make sure to drink plenty of water (2 to 3 litres per day.) Exercise (even walking at a good clip) can help speed the detox process and helps w/ mood and endorphin production (though this will be quite limited at first.) That said, it's not just about getting the Morphine out of your system. The body/mind needs time to readjust the neural pathways and neurotransmitter levels. This takes time. It will not really be back to normal until  you stop both opiates but dropping the Morphine first was a good idea.
You sound like you want this and have a good attitude. Please, keep posting and let us know how it's going. You're doing great! We're here.

[salem55]

Thank you!!! No one ever tells you that these pills can be so destructive. They help at first, what a horrible cycle. I haven't abused, never wanted to get high just want off. They change ME and I like ME without meds. I will check out the other site. I want this to be over physically and mentally. haven't spoken to my Dr. I guess I think I can do this without him, he wanted to increase morphine I told him NO!!! gheese!!

[salem55]

Thank you for your advicd Mike, I have the immodium its helping a little bit. I was prescribed valium for spasms cuz nothing else worked now I basically take it for sleep, they were giving me clonazipan. Do you have any idea how long it will take to get this morphine out of my system? The morphine was added by my dr just this last 8 mos or so cuz he was trying to reduce how much perc I had to take for pain. I actually am feeling fine pain wise right now at least in my back just feel lethargic with a headache. I get  migraines so I took a fioricet  for body aches which helped. I know I could wean the morphine like every other day I just hate it so much. I would rather bite the bullet with it. Someone told me amino acids and vitamins. I do take vitamins, used to work out all the time. Started isometric and sm exercise with walking. I haven't experienced the anxiety just feel kinda crappy no pun intended :)  Any idea how long it takes for the withdrawal to take? This wk I will take 1 1/2 perc every 4hr then drop to 1 next wk then 1/2. arrrgggggg. I am relying on God for strength, I know I can do all things thru Christ. He is my higher power but I know I need support of friends...

[mike195400]

Hi, I've weened off pain pills several times. There are a couple of things you can do. OTC Immodium will help with the diarrhea, theres a drug called clonidine that's normally prescribed for high blood pressure that will help with chills and sweats, it will also take the edge off the anxiety, but your doc has to Rx it for you, Motrin or Tylenol will help with the body pains.  You've been on a pretty high dose and for 4 years, if it gets more than you can handle ask your Dr. for help.  Good Luck