Go time

[londean]

I am a 46 year old very active handyman with a thriving business. I have been on 50 mg Hydrocodone SR capsules(compound) for almost 2 years. I have been taking  200 mg total per day since the begining for lower back problems, and a questionable left knee. I just want to quit this drug, and pursue an alternative method to my pain management. My doctors has prescribed a tapering method that includes 10 mg methadone and a 25mg version of the hydrocodone. He feels I should have it licked in 6 weeks. Given the length of time in which I have been on this medication, do you think I have a realistic chance to be successful? Is Buprenex is better option? Would some type of patch help?

[londean]

You are the MAN!! Whoa what a response.I just got back to this site today and read yours and one other. I took the Methadone, but you were spot on about how much willpower has to do with it.I feel very confident that everything should be smoothed out by the end of the week, and my life will have taken a positive turn. I just cant convey to you how good it felt to have read your post, and know that i was not alone, and that there are competent knowledgeable people out there that are willing to to share their experiences and support others. Keep doing what your doing, and God bless you man!

[londean]

Thanks for the input. You know its funny how I started this whole pill intake thing to rid myself of  back pains. During the process, my back never bothered me like my knees and ankles started to during the duration,and I NEVER abused any of my scripts, but found I was taking them for an entirely different ailment. Ya know I never really expected to receive a response to my post. I was just feeling a bit venerable, uncertain and quite frankly it was rather therapeutic to just put something in writing. Ive been on the internet for 14 years, and that was my 1st post to anything! Thanks again for your input. If you note the dates you will notice that some time has transpired from then to now. I just got back to this site today since that date. Unfortunately I never read your advice until today. I started my "program" on Tuesday Oct 5th. I started with a combo of Reduced Hydrocodone (25mg) and Methadone(10mg).Two of ea. for 10 days, them I dropped down to an average of 1.5 Methadone pills a day up until Saturday night(the day before Halloween).I took absolutely nothing on Sunday, and I experienced my first sleepless night! I'm out of Methadone, its going on 2pm Monday November 1st, and I'm not feeling.....myself. Definitely experiencing some sort of "withdrawal" symptom. I guess its the Methadone?? Whatever it is, I'm gonna stick it out and deal with it. Im hopeful it will pass, and I will be good a gold by Friday. Essentially I took what was supposed to be a 6 week "plan" and stopped taking Hydrocodone in 10 days. I was under the impression that the Methadone did not have the addictiveness that the Hydrocodone had. My Bad! Bottom line is that I'm on the home stretch, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just gotta find an OTC med, say goodbye to THAT Dr., and get on with the rest of my life.  YES WE CAN!

[bmdad]

I agree with livngr8ful about the methadone. Methadone is much stronger than hydrocodone so I can't really see where adding that to a taper would benefit you. A few years ago I was prescribed hydocodone for back pain. I tapered with just hydrocodone and got through with little to no withdrawals. Tapering can be difficult as it takes quite a bit of willpower. If you take them as prescribed and never took them for reasons other than pain you may not have a difficult time tapering. Do you think you are addicted to them? I'm sure you are physically hooked on them but once that dependency becomes mental the battle gets much more of a challenge. I also started taking pain meds due to back issues. I went from being dependent on them to full blown addicted. Over time almost anyone will end up with an addiction if taken long enough. Not all, but most in my opinion and many others will agree.
You're smart for wanting to get off of them and manage your pain by other means. I too have a successful life. I have a great paying job, great parents, a wonderful wife and kids. Addiction doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care who we are or where we come from. It will grab a hold of us when least expected. I never had any sort of addictions or a problem with anything until I injured my back. It all took off from there.
I've made some lifestyle changes to help manage my pain. I now eat healthier, keep in touch with my physical therapist, do cardio, stretching exercises, core strengthening exercises, I keep my weight in check, (that helps more than almost anything for back problems), I just live a much healthier lifestyle. I do have to take motrin on occasion for my back pain and although it may not take all the pain away, it does take the edge off. Narcotics weren't meant to treat chronic pain. As our tolerance to the meds grow, we have to keep taking more and more. After time we reach a point to where they no longer work. Now that I am off of the meds I really don't experience as much pain as when I was on them. Our minds create phantom pain to make us think it needs the opiate. Many here suffer from chronic pain and many will say that their pain also became more manageable once they stopped taking the narcotic pain meds. I'm sure your pain will be better managed also.
Stick around here for support. Even if you aren't an addict the moral support during withdrawals makes a huge difference.
Best of luck to you and if you need anything don't hesitate to ask!

Brian

[livngr8ful]

Cheers for the decision.  I understand where you are at.  Do you still have substantial pain?  Are you abusing your meds?  Ive been on the methadone for my back, I wouldnt touch the stuff. If I had to taper I'd just taper with the meds that I was taking.  No need to add a new one.  Plus That stuff is a bit++ to stop.  I found it made the wd;s worse.  Keep with your docs plans.  You can always go back if it isnt working for you.  You will be successful only if ya want to be.  Thats a question only you can answer at a later time.  Focus on the now.