I want to get off of the pills!

[heres2hope]

Hi.

I have been taking presciption pain meds now (for one thing or another) since September of 2007. First it was a strained back, then a broken toe, then for kidney stones, then the big one - I started getting pinched nerves in my legs because the bones in my back were out of line (spondylolisthesis between the L4, L5 and S1). I had the surgery in May of this year (2009) that essentially fused my vertibrae together using rods and screws between the L4, L5 and S1.

My back still hurts a bit, but could probably (maybe) be controlled without the use of narcotics. About a month prior to surgery, my Dr prescibed my OxyContin (2x20mg per day) to supplement the OxyCodone IM that I had been taking for about 6 months prior.

Even though the surgery was successful, my Dr. upped my doseage of OxyContin to 40MG 3x per day and 10mg OxyCodone, 2 every 6 hours as needed, plus Soma every 8 hours. I'm currently in physical theraphy, so I'm wondering if the pain isn't coming mostly from that these days? Anyway, I have managed to get my intake of OxyContin down to 40MG 2x per day and my OxyCodone down to six pills a day, Soma once a day.

I want to get all of this stuff out of my system because I've heard what it can do to people and how staying on it for too long can make withdrawal really, really miserable. In cutting down the doseage over the past few weeks, I have started experiencing the sweats, shakes and tiredness (and substantial crying when thinking about what this is doing to me - and for just about anything else). I think I can handle this if it doesn't get much worse than this.

I have enough medication to get me through just about as long as need since my Dr. will issue a refill if I call it in. He says that he has seen this sort of recovery last as long as a year or more, so he'll refill me for a while, then send me to pain management. The pills don't make me high or even do much for my pain anymore. I just need to take them so I carry on with day to day business.

I feel so ashamed for having these chemicals in my body for so long and afraid that when it comes down to it, I'm not going to be able to kick it for good.

I'm hoping to get some support and maybe some advice about coming off gradually and supplementing my diet with other things to take the edge off. I really want this junk out of me as quickly as possible, but I cannot stop my life to suffer heavy withdrawal from going cold turkey.

Thanks so much to anyone who can help.

[GA Guy]

There's some great info on the health pages. Read the posts that have Thomas Recipe in the title. If you have further questions...ask away.

[troubleinohio]

well the good news is,   it sounds like youre not mentally addicted, you didnt abuse/take to get high...you are just physically dependant, and you have a good attitude about it as well. You have a lot of odds stacked FOR You at least! You can definitely do this for sure. It may get rough for awhile due to the long duration you've been on them and the high dosage,  but you can prevail through this.  Others here can help you do a taper program. I am of absolutely NO HELP WHATSOEVER in the field of tapering, lol. I just ate mine at an obscene rate until they were gone and jumped off the cliff of high dosage into CT WD every time.   BUt I know others will see your post soon that can offer you some tapering schedules and advice. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your PROGRESS which I know you will make and succeed!