What is a good resource to explore alternative pain management methods to narcotics?
I am prescribed 40mg of oxycodone (just the oxy, no tylenol component) daily, from the VA. I have taken this dose for about 10 years. I'm relatively responsible about it - I take only what I need to take the edge off pain, I never take it for pleasure, and I have built up a few months' stockpile of it by taking less than my prescribed dose. I stop taking it for at least a week or more every 4 months or less to monitor myself for signs of addiction. I don't have withdrawal or any signs of addiction when I stop taking it (just more pain).
I don't feel like I need to take pills to feel normal. I have some damaged body parts, and my pain is use dependent. Some days I take 80 or 120mg, some days I take none.
My job requires me to routinely walk construction sites, maybe two days per week. I'm missing joints in one leg (due to fusions), and some days I don't have 100 steps in me without something to dull the pain. I'll soldier through anything I can, but my foot can give out and throw me on the ground pretty quickly.
All that being said, I'd like to stop taking narcotics altogether. I take naproxen and ibuprofen - but most days these aren't enough. I'm looking for something to replace the narcotics and keep me functioning well enough to earn a living.
Thanks -