[ForeverEKG]

Hey everyone. I'll just make a long story short. I was on Percocet for 4 years for my lower back. It just helped me get through the day. Well, last Friday I said to myself enough is enough, and I stopped taking them Cold Turkey. Well, as anyone can guess, I went through three days of hell. Today is actually the first day that I feel somewhat normal again. Although I have no strength.

The problem is that the lower back pain is back again, and I can't take it anymore. So I called my Doctor and she said If I need them Take 2 10mg Percocets a day untill I see her on Monday, 6 days away, and we will talk about other Pain Management options.

Well, My question is, I just stopped feeling like complete ******************** from the withdrawal symptoms, If I take them again for another week untill I see my doctor, or even if I just take one or two more if I absolutely NEED TO, will I go through these withdrawals again? I dont see how, seeing how it is only one week, but if it is true, than no thank you.

Thanks for reading!

[kathy8167]

I am no doctor and I only respond from my own experiences. I could be wrong even from that so my best advice is to talk to a doctor or pharmacist about you question. My situation may be different from yours. I am an addict, I was abusing opiates for many years. If you were taking them for legitimate pain and taking them as prescribed, you may have different results or experiences. You may have different results just because you are a different person. Anyway, here is my answer to your question based on my own experience with withdrawal:

On day four of withdrawal, you may start to feel better, but your body is still in it's process of withdrawing from the medication. Not sure how long, but it takes a while for this process. By taking an opiate after abstinence for 3-4 days, it's like going backwards. You are prolonging the withdrawal, and you are likely to experience that "acute" stage of withdrawal again if you stop taking it even after one dose. I do not think it will be as bad as day one, however, and I don't think it will be as long. I know when I withdrawal, I either wean down or stop altogether. If I were to take something after day 4 of nothing, I would experience acute withdrwal again when that one dose started to wear off. Like I said, this may be different for somebody who was not abusing their medication. My OPINION is that after four years of use, abuse or not, you would likely experience more withdrawals.

You have a legitimate pain problem which needs some pain management. If I were you, I would either quit altogether until you see your doctor, or stay on the medication until you and your doctor discuss other options. If you really think you want to go the non-narcotic way to handle your pain, I would stay off the medication, you've come this far!!! There are other options out there. I have back problems and I have found much relief from exercise and Celebrex. I also do back strengthening techniques I learned in physical therapy. I do not know exactly what is wrong with your back, and you just may need opiate therapy. If you do, it will be life-long and tolerance is a *************************! If you need it and don't abuse it, do not feel ashamed. I hope all goes well for you and please respond with how you are doing and how your doctor appointment goes. I am praying for you! Good Luck!

Also, if anybody else differs in opinion, please respond! I do not claim to have all the answers.

[Robert_325]

I agree totally with everything Kathy said. I would not take anything narcotic before seeing the dr. It was real pain that initially caused my opiate problems and today I use Ibuprofen, exercise, different methods of dealing with the pain. I would try that route first. Then if you have to take opiate so be it. But give yourself a chance. It's surprising how well other methods will work if we truly try even following several surgeries and with ongoing problems. I still have some ongoing pain but I manage without opiates.

I think you will defintely suffer from acute w/d symptoms if you take any percs again now. I have been there in the exact same situation. Following dental surgery I relapsed with lorcets. Within two weeks I was right back where I was at years before. Don't risk it. You have come too far and this is very serious. Good luck.