Oxycodone Addict

[lis3d]

Hi All!! It's good to read what other people are going through on here as I am going through the same thing. This is HELL! I have a bad back, have had two surgeries and Dr. wants to now put a steel rod in my back and fix 5 discs. I've been on oxys on and off for 12 years. The past 4 yrs I got addicted. Have to have them every 3-4 hours or I start going crazy. If I go 1 day without taking them I start getting diarrhea, cold chills, fever, shakes, my legs jerk, I feel so ill!!! I tend to want to go over my prescribed amount then have withdrawl symptoms until I get my next refill. This game is getting so OLD!!!! These damn pills have taken over my life! I want to get off or at least have some control where I have the will power to take my prescribed amount or less so that I don't have to worry my self sick each month about withdrawls. Any suggestions?

[lis3d]

Thank You Vicki. Since I don't want surgery my surgeon sent me to a pain management doctor who is in the same office. My pain management doctor has tried several different technics with the shots such as an epideral and pain medicine shots etc... since I've had quit a few now my insurance is fighting us. Each shot is 1,000.00. I just feel like I'm stuck and don't know what else to try. I have asked for an extra pill each month so that I can take it during the night because if I lay too long my back begins to hurt so bad I can't sleep. His nurse wouldn't even asked the doctor to up my dose. She just told me 4 is enough. I do hate running out a few days early though. I just wish so bad I didn't have to take them at all. I hate being dependant on them.

[vicki595]

Hi there-  You really don't have to live like this. It's no way to be. Talk with your doctor about these issues. Often times, you'd get referred to Pain Management OR the doctor can change your meds around. He may add another, more long acting med to take throughout the day with the Oxy for break through pain.
There are several ways to handle this if you just talk with the doctor about everything. That's what he's there for...

[lis3d]

When I went on the meds the first time 10 or 12 yrs ago,  I certainly did need the pain medication. I would go through every day thinking to myself, I know I'm aging every day and I'm 45 now but does everyone that's aging have this severe pain everyday.. How much can one person take. My 1st operation was about 11 yrs ago or so I had a large rupture in my spine pushing against my spinal cord. I laid in bed in the most tremendous pain for two weeks waiting to get in to a surgeon to look at my x rays. When I finally got in to him he was angry because my Family Doctor didn't get me in right away because I needed surgery right away. By the next day I was in surgery, as soon as I woke up I had immediate relief and felt lucky the surgery was successful. But because that was pushing against my spine for such a long period of time I now have siatic nerve damage down my left leg and into my toes. My leg jerks involuntarily and I have pain as well. All went well with my back after I rehabilitated and started walking foot in front of foot again. 7 yrs went by then it happened again except this time down my right leg. I got in to the surgeon sooner and had the operation right away so I don't have as much damage down the right leg. A couple years passed with no problems then I started having a lot of pain in my mid back. I went to get another MRI and it showed I had 3 bulging disks in the middle this is when I went on the oxycodone that I take now which is 40mg a day.  I've tried shots, Epiderals and other things with no luck. My Surgeon now wants to put a steal rod down my back to keep my back straight and he wants to fix the bulges. He told me this would be a very serious surgery and recovery. I'm not ready for another surgery. I don't know what else to do so I just stay on the medication which helps me a lot. My problem is I may have pain during the night and take an extra pill. If I do this several times throughout the month I then run out early. I usally have to wait 4 to 5 days without anything resulting in withdrawl symptoms before I get my new refill from the Dr. I hate this so much, I hate worrying myself to death each month. I get so sick with a fever, diahreah, can't eat etc.. I'm really terrified if I do stop taking my medication that I will have to live every day in pain and I certainly don't want to do that either

[candy_17]

Question....when you run out of pills what do you do about your pain? You mentioned the withdrawls you feel but you didn't say if you really needed the pills for pain or if you're just addicted to them now. Many people with an injury uses that as their excuse to continue to use, you don't have to. My nephew is currently on day 5 detox from opiates since 2007, he was taking all of his rocs script of 150 within days and then buying them off the street. He was prescribed them due to a car accident where he had several major injuries and he also has metal rods. What I'm saying is when we medicate ourselves that much we no longer even know when our body is really in pain or not because a person that doesn't have any pain can become addicted to opiates and if they quit taking them they too will hurt and feel like crap until the withdrawls stop. When I stopped taking pills everything hurt on me even my gums! Taking pills numbs us. Only you know if you really have pain that requires the opiates or if you could honesty get by with otc pain relief. Good luck to you.

[lis3d]

Thank you for the reply I appreciate any help I can get. I hope you are doing well with your spinal injury.

[lis3d]

Thank You for your reply it really does help to know I'm not alone. I sure hope to be one of these success stories of quitting. I have never experienced such a challenge in my entire life. I want off so badly.

[quitinoxys]

Hi and welcome to the forum, I was were you are at about two years ago. I sustained a severe spinal injury and had several surgeries to no avail. I was on massive amounts of oxycontin and I just wanted off!!!

Are you seeing a pain management doctor or a spinal surgeon? As sometimes surgeons are to fast to cut. Does you doc want to do a fusion? As I can tell you (and so should your doc) that there is only a 50% chance that it may work. But that is between you and your surgeon and I am not giving you medical advice. The problem with taking oxys over a long period is that you will build a tolerence and will need more & more.

As Sara pointed out you should let your doctor know that you don't want to keep taking these meds for the rest of your life and ask what he can do to help you. If he gets negative about then find another doctor. I wish you luck and I will pray for you.

[Bad Co]

Hey Lis3d, you are among friends that all "hate the feeling of wanting more pain medicine". We're all tired of it just like you. Some people here have been very successful at getting off them, but most of us are exactly where you are, in the middle of the biggest fight of our life. Keep listening to people here and you will pick up a ton of valuable information.

Best of luck!

[lis3d]

I recently gave a family member my pills so she can give me my prescribed amount. If I need extra for the pain I take ibuprophin and it seems to help until my next dose. I just hate this feeling of wanting more pain medicine. I am scared to talk to the Dr. thinking he may take me off.

[lis3d]

no

[Sonrissa]

Hi and welcome! It sounds like you have some serious pain issues! Are you able to talk to your doctor and explain to him/her that you have become dependent on your pain medication and are taking more than prescribed? Your doctor should be able to offer some advice and alternatives for you! Also, if possible, you may want to give someone in your family or household, control of your meds and give them to you only as directed by your doctor! I would start by talking to your doctor about this situation!

Good luck and take care! Keep posting with questions and for support! There are lots of wonderful folks here who can offer advice and support!

[dominosarah]

Does your doctor know you are taking too many of these?