Oxycontin Withdrawal

[Bear0280]

I have been on oxycontin for 7 years for chronic pain and incresaced regularly as effectiveness wore off.  I have been on the same dose for about 7 months and finally it has been helping me to a certain extent.  About a month ago my doctor went to a seminar on oxycontin.  He was told that certain people have more pain the more medication they take and the best thing these people can do is get down to a dose as low as 20 mg twice a day.  He has been cutting my dose very quickly and I truly feel he is wrong.  I was taking 600 mg 3 times per day and he said to cut down by 120 mg every 3 days.  I have been doing this for almost 2 weeks.  I immediately started with some pain and mild withdrawal and it keeps getting worse to the point I haven't slept in 3 days and can barely move now. My doctor insists this is the way to go but I am getting scared. Not only am I dealing with the withdrawal but I am in severe pain now also.  My pain is from advanced osteoporosis, 16 compression fractures in my back and neck, both hips have been replaced from a vascular necrosis, My ankle has advanced a vascular necrosis and need to have a fusion done within the next year, and both my knees also have the necrosis. I don't know what to do. My doctor insists this is the way to go but I cannot imagine suffering like this much longer.  Please give me some advice on how to relieve the withdrawal symptoms or let me know if you think I should keep on the doctors schedule or get another opinion.

[texasrebecca]

If you are concerned, GET A SECOND OPINION!  It is your right to do so!  Ask him for meds to help the symptoms too!  Great luck to you, I'll be praying for you!

[beetlybug]

That Dr. is an idiot, GET A SECOND OPINION!  Or even a 3rd!  You are obviously a mess of pain & were doing fine, you weren't doing it for the high and he goes and screws it up.  
Taking drugs is not healthy, but when there is not much of an alternative, you need to do what YOU think is best, if you're in your right mind, which it sounds like you are, (if you don't go nutty from the pain!), always remember YOU are the boss, not the dr, they seem to think they are gods and forget we're paying they're salary, good luck and keep us posted!
PS> Of course there are excellent dr.s out there as well, we can't forget that!