A request for some advice.

[Shingen]

I am a 37 year old disabled veteran that had reconstructive ankle surgery back in May. This is the second time that ankle has been reconstructed.  I was prescribed Oxycodone (total of 190 pills), and moved on to Vicodin, and then Tramadol.  Because the Department of Veterans Affairs can't seem to figure out how to properly prescribe the right amount of pain medication, for some reason, I ended up going through withdrawal around 6 times, and I am currently on my 6th withdrawal of the Summer/Fall seasons, this time withdrawing from Roxicet after receiving a surgical procedure to drain an abscess on my *** (from sitting so much thanks to my ankle condition).  I was on Tramadol the day before my abscess procedure, then switched to Vicodin (after Morphine shots), and then was prescribed 120 Roxicet pills of the 5/325 variety.  I just ran out, and I haven't had those pills in about 24 hours.  I can feel the withdrawal symptoms, and I feel that this is the worst one yet.  I know it is relative, but I wanted to know if 120 5/325 pills is a lot to take over a period of 4 weeks.  Also, is there some sort of thing I can do to force this withdrawal phase to go faster without getting more drugs or some weird treatment at a facility?  Is working out a bad thing to do, and will working out speed this up?  I also wanted to know if there were any foods or supplements I can take to help alleviate the writhing, shaking, and restless issues I am having.  I still have Tramadol.  Will Tramadol assist in reducing the withdrawal symptoms of Roxicet (Percocet)?  Any information you can give me on this topic is appreciated and I thank you in advance.

[tramaddi]

I am tapering off tramadol and started using it when I ran out of percecet and lortab.  I thought it was a miracle drug because it wasn't a narcotic, fairly ez to get and lasted longer thsn perc or lortab.  It would probably help w the WD but I would set up and follow some sort of tapering schedule.  I am doing ok today I had 6 and I feel fine but I still crave more and part of me is still trying to justify it.  Take good care of yourself, pray and try to stay positive and keep your mind occupied.  I think I am going to start working out I hear it does help alot.  I look at  this like a diet or exercise program, it requires commitment and dedication and when u reach your goal u will feel and look great.  If it were ez everyone would do it:)  

[retiredrn]

You said,   "the Department of Veterans Affairs can't seem to figure out how to properly prescribe the right amount of pain medication"--please expand on this---have you told the dr or nurse practitioner that your pain isn't being controlled? Are your meds being fed ex'd to you and they're late or do they just not give you enough ?  Are you abusing, like I did. and want to get off for good or are you in chronic pain, being a disabled vet(combat related?), and want to continue in the future getting pain meds thru the va? As far as the tramadol, people on this forum have been addicted to that, also.

[lurker]

Welcome - 120 pills over 4 weeks is not a lot in an acute postoperative phase - that's aout 4 per day.  It certainly is enough to cause withdrawals.  Go to the search feature here at medhelp (upper right hand corner) and type in Thomas Recipe.  That will bring up some posts with a really great strategy for w/d, meds, supplements, etc.  Sadly there''s not much that can be done to speed up the process but it will help make it not so excruciating.
Keep posting and reading.  You'll get a lot of support here