Hi there! I'm a 45 year old female. Four weeks ago I had L4-L5-S1 fusion to correct a bilateral pars defect, spondylolisthesis, and a discectomy with a cage implanted with a BMP bone graft to replace my ruptured L4-L5 disk. The surgeon said I had significant nerve compression and that it was pretty messy in there. After four days in the hospital I was released with a number of prescriptions. Right now I take two 20mg OxyContin daily, two 5mg Flexeril daily which is replaced with one 5mg Valium at night, and one 10mg Oxycodone Acetaminophen every 5 hours (I was on one every four hours but downgraded to every five hours yesterday). My doctor also gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone Acetaminophen to take instead of the Oxycodone for when I was ready. I tried to replace the Oxycodone with the Hydrocodone but it gave me tremendous nausea and terrible anxiety the one day I took it...I almost had a panic attack in the middle of the night and thought my husband was going to have to cal 911! Does anyone have a suggestion for the best way I can wean off the meds? I am extremely sensitive to all medications and hate to take anything, but the pain is still too severe to just stop. Would it be better to try to wean off the Oxycontin long lasting pills or the Oxycodone sort acting pills or the muscle relaxers??? Has anyone else been ok on Oxycodone but not Hydrocodone? It's surprising that am ok on the stronger one! Any suggestions for a substitute for Hydrocodone? I know everyone's healing process is biddefernt and this is a major surgery, but any idea how long do you think I will need to take something? I'm ready to feel normal again!
Thanks for your advice and opinions!