This is really hard and I feel for you. First, FIND a pain management clinic. EVEN if they don't agree to your oxycodone script continuing. Because what you don't want is to just be out and have to go through painful withdrawal. You need a doctor overseeing how to help you. Unfortunately, doctors do this thing now of abandoning patients when they decide maybe there is a dependence issue. Don't feel insulted that I say dependence issue related to oxycodone because that is so common. It's harder and harder to find anyone to prescribe that long term. It really irks me that after they get it going that way, they want to pull the plug so dramatically. You'll need some strategy to go to what can be next for you. Are there any other pain therapies that could work for you? That's really the question to explore but right now, you need to sort out how you will deal with no oxycodone. Again, this is so tremendously hard. I'm sorry
180 mg of oxycodone is a rather high amount of opiates for arthritis - how long have you been at that dosage?
Long term chronic pain management usually involves using a long acting opiate as a baseline medication- typically dosed twice a day and possibly a smaller amount of a similar med in immediate release version as a rescue or breakthrough med for severe episodes of increased pain. The breakthrough med is typically not meant to be used every day or regalarly as a supplement to the long acting but reserved for days when pain levels spike occasionally..
Extended release or long acting versions of opiates provide consistent levels if medication typically over an 8 or 12 hr period - depending on the particular medication and are only taken 2-3 times per 24/hr period- rather than immediate release versions which only provide short term relief for 4-6 hrs. and often create an up and down level of relief az the med wears off.
Arthritis treatment also typically involves some anti inflammatory type of med since flare ups are often related to activity levels and weather as well.
It sounds like you might be better off seeing a pain management Dr who can tweak your medications and find a better , effective medication plan that would allow you to do what you need to do but at lower, more effective doses.
Long term management of chronic pain should be managed by a pain management or physical medicine and rehab physician. The goal of a PMR physician is to manage both your pain AND have you able to function to the best. Level you can given your conditions.
Many PM offices provide both procedures AND medications - although they usually require a consult first and evaluation before they will prescribe medications.
You must keep in mind though - no doctor is obligated to continue medications that you were prescribed by another Dr. They may want to try you on different medications to see if they ease the pain levels more effectively.
Try other pain management facilities.