Hi...I have spent quite a lot of time looking at these forums, and I've found them to be wonderful, so thank you.
My question is about dilaudid and hydromorphone. I've just about reached my threshold with percocet and oxycontin. I am getting no real pain relief, and the doctor said that the next step would be to switch to dilaudid and hydromorphone. I'm wondering if I will experience withdrawals from my current meds when I switch?
A little background to help...I suffered a great fall Dec 25, 2007 and crushed my tailbone. Over the next year, we hoped for some healing, because the last resort treatment would be a coccygectomy--where they cut my coccyx bone off, or part of it. Finally, in May of this year (about 6-7 weeks ago?) I had the surgery, because all films from the day of the accident until the day of the surgery showed significant trauma (MRI, X-rays, Bone Scans). About a week post-op, an infection became apparent (Staph...probably from the surgery/hospital) and then the infection opened my incision from the inside out--and it's literally on my bum-crack, about 5 inches long. I had to go through 2 rounds of antibiotics, the first did not work, and the second ones were really strong, wore me out, but now, no infection! Present day, we are still waiting for my incision to completely close, which may take time, and my pain from where they cut my bottom 2 vertebrae off is severe. I also have to be careful for new infections since I am open still--only about a third of the incision though!
I have been on percocet and then oxycontin for the duration (started at time of fall...increased over time), and now I am taking 2-40mg Oxycontins and have been taking like 10-12 percocets also! and no real pain relief... I do not even feel the side effects anymore, and I feel like I am taking them to avoid withdrawals. If I had no pain, I would stop these in a second, and the plan is to start to wean me when I am healed significantly (IF I heal all the way--no guarantee). I know that coming off them will be very hard, but we'll save that for later...have to heal first.
So...hopefully someone may know whether or not I will experience withdrawals from the percocet/oxycontin when I switch. I really want to switch...the tylenol level is crazy that I am taking, and I want some pain relief!!!!
Thanks for listening...