Long Term Narcotic/Analgesic Use - and quitting

[steve]

Hello -

    I have a fracture in my Thoracic Spine area (T7) and in the process of having an MRI, T5, T8-9 were diagnosed as "degenerative". My problem is that I have pretty severe upper back and rib pain (I feel like I have 2-3 broken ribs on my left side all of the time). Anyway - I have been taking different pain medications for the past year and a half - from Vicoden, then Vicoden ES, and now I take Oxycontin (80mg every 12 hours and use Norco (10/365) for breakthrough pain(usually 2-3 per day)I do notice that when I don't use the norco over the course of the day, I feel the Flu-like symptoms.
    I started with a Pain Management group this Tuesday, and the Doctor perscribed Neurontin and since I started the Neurontin I am noticing some improvement on the pain(I actually feel OK when I get up in the morning). I really want to quit using the narcotic pain medication and my Family Doctor and Pain Management Doctor(they are working with me and working together!) both feel that I should be able to do this without a great deal of problems (save for ache, stomach, etc.).
    I want to do this without going to a center (I have been working during this period and make a point not to miss work - hurting or not). I have seen some Outpatient methods on the internet that include a Pharmaceutical Therapy (clonidine, something to assist "skin crawl"). If I were to cut back to a logical point and then just quit, would my period of withdrawal be very long?

Thanks ....

[Renata]

I would plan on going through atleast 2 weeks of withdrawl once you quit altogether. After that you should feel alot better.

[Chrissie J.]

Dear Steve:

Go for the wean!  If you keep busy on your job, the withdrawl will be easier.  I'm the person who wrote "Trials and Tribs of Morphine", so... I know how hard it is.  I dropped 90 mgs of morphine 45 mgs at a time.  I still had the crawlies and the emotions, but I made it and it was the healthy way.  As for Neurontin?  I like it and will probably stay on it for the rest of my life.  I once was maxed-out at 3600 mgs per day and the pharmacist was worried sick about it.  I'm at 2700 at present and I plan to reduce even more.  One good thing about Neurontin is that it is a work horse and can be pushed to meet your needs.  Funny thing about pain... back in 94, I started Neurontin at a mere 900 mgs and since then, well, you can see the rest of the story.  I went up... I went down, but all in all, it does work with you, for you and the best, by you depending on the need.  Hang tough, brother.  There's light at the end of the tunnel.  You just gotta go slow.

Patience is a virtue,

Chrissie J.

[Christina]

I don't know if this was addressed to me or a doctor, Steve, but I never went in to a center.  I have five children and had to go through my withdrawls WHILE taking care of my children and our big house.  I wasn't able to wean myself off because I didn't have the discipline to just take the three, then two, then one, etc.  I think that weaning off slowly is a much better way to go!  If you can do that.  I am so sorry to hear what you are going through and bless you for being such a trooper and staying at work through this.  It IS a hell of its own kind.

Sincerely