[TJet233]

Ok, the long and short of my situation: In my late twenties. Have had 2 back surgeries in the last 2 yesr. A microdiscectomy and lam first and then after reherniation a fusion w/ "hardware" at the same level.

After the fist surgery, had no problem with meds. Was off Percocet 5/325's after 2 months. Did really well for a year with a standing script for a vicoden here and there as needed until reherniation. Not sure how I re-injured but that's neither here nor there. Pain was back again at full strength back to perc 5/325's 4x day for 6 mos while doing 3 mos of Pt to try and help. Obviously being that I ended up with another surgery, the PT was no help.

Was in horrible pain (and I know what sever pain is and this was the mother of all severe pain.....like a 12 or 13 on the 1-10 scale) from surgery for a month or so. I mean worse than ever. I used a walker for 1 1/2 weeks after surgery and a cane for another month. I re-injured my wrist that had been sprained w/ a small fracture from using my arms to lift myself up. In the hospital, where I spent 5 days, it took them 2 days to come up with the right cocktail of pain medication to help some. Apparently you could give me enough morphine to kill a horse and it didn't help much but Oxy and Percs did the trick.

After leaving the hospital I was on Oxy 20's 2x day and 1-2 10/325 percs every 6hrs for breakthru. They brought down the breakthru to 3-4 5/325/s a day after abouth 3 weeks.

After a month the "surgical" pain was all but gone, but still felt like I should be feeling better. Kept trying different amounts of either Oxy or Percs or both up until the present b/c I am still having moderate to sever pain. Currently on a dosage of a total of between 45-55mg of oxycodone between differing meds (Oxy and Percs). Have come across some non-recently prescribed ones as well that I have used.

It seems to me that my pain is getting worse, or my tolerance is going up. I am also not immune to I guess "binging" on the meds sometimes when the pain is really bad. Not going to get into the details of my back at this time but hoping that I will be feeling a lot better in the next 5-6 mos. I really do not want to up my daily dosage at this point. Honestly in the past I've always been honest with my Dr. and told him if I needed less medication or if the pain dictated, more. Right now, I feel like between my situation and the meds that the meds have a little bit of a hold on me and I just want to show them who's boss. LOL!

So, I'm thinking of trying a drug holiday. Read quite a bit about them. Usually they're imposed suddenly by the doc. I want to do this on my own terms not be suddenly told of it. 3-4 weeks with no opiates to try and reset my body and brain a little. Also thinking that after this that maybe I will eventually find that I may not need/want the meds anymore or at least maybe need less and take on an as needed basis for the SEVERE pain. Maybe my body needs to really know how bad my pain really is again. Not looking for Dr. assistance for fear of beeing seen as an addict and getting cut off. I am out of work because of my condition so that will not be an issue for the bad wd's that go on for several days to a week or so.

I'm not looking to jump off a cliff. Been cutting down over the last week. Looking to go CT on Friday the 27th. I know what to expect bc I have run out for a few days before. It was not as bad as I expected....don't get me wrong. It sucked balls.

Here is what I have on hand to help alleviate the bad wd's

Ambien - sleep
Valium - anxiet/sleep
Benadryl - nausea, sleep....this is really more of a wonder drug than people realize
Immodium -for the obvious runs
Multi-Vitamins...with all the good stuff...zinc...ect
Valerian- not sure about using this with the other RX meds or if I even need....not planning on using but input would be helpful
Gabapentin - Anti Convulsant - Nerve Pain - Anxiety.....found that this helps a lot with wd's....more like a mild or regular flu than super flu.
Tums....for the yucky stomach
Lots Of WATER.....LOL gonna need it and gonna get some Gatorade
Meal Replacment Shakes.......the good stuff to get some nourishment when I don't want to eat.
Family Member to be around nearly 24/7...she's a Godsend
A DVR full of TV /Movies
A Bed with Toilet nearby
Bathtub/Shower.....although I'm a really tall guy so the tub doesn't really work for me so hot showers will probably have to do LOL


I also will have the family member holding onto pain medication for me (perc 5/325's). I have a really strong will, but in case she feels that I am going to have a storke/seizure at some point, I just feel more comfortable with knowing that she has them. I know some of you will say this is a bad idea, but I just feel safet this way. I probably won't go near them because this is something that I am trying to do to help my situation.

I think that the medications above will help. I'm ready for the worst which apparently comes around day 3-4. Been to day 3 before and was able to deal but was more than happy to get my RX at that point. By then I just had a short temper and some craving.

Just looking for a little input from those out there that have been through this. Maybe a success story or two Also some input as to the most effective regimen. I know that sleep is / can be really tough for a while but the Ambien should help that. So feel free to offer your opinions, thoughts, or prayers. I know of people that have come off of some huge doses and gotten through it, and if they can then I surely can.

I'll be checking in and posting as much as I can as I am looking for this to be my little piece of therapy to help weather the storm.

Wish me well,
Tjet233

[Cats Meow]

You've got it all down pat, I can't recommend anything else, except try and get up and do some exercise as soon as you're up to it, and be sure to be well stocked up on TP. Don't be surprised if nothing helps you sleep, it's one of the worst parts and can last for weeks.

I think you'll find your pain will diminish, mine did, and it usually does, but you have an extra variable, the surgery, so good luck. You also might want to keep a log, even replying to your own post with updates will help you and others. Be tough and have a strong head, it's hell and your brain will try and trick you, it's a survival mechanism, when it's starved of opioids, you'll rationalize everything, it really is a devil on your shoulder. You will succeed, just don't give in.
Try and give yourself 2 months off the opes, before you re-assess pain levels, it takes at least that long for your pain receptors to re-boot.

Do you regret the back surgeries?

[TJet233]

Not sure yet if I regret the back surgeries. The first one went great. Othe than a couple minor complications. I was up and walking around on my own the same day and the next morning I was walking the halls without the assistance of a walker or anything drinking my morning coffee.

Like I said, after that, I was doing great for over a year until the reherniation. As for the 2nd surgery (fusion) Not sure yet if I regret it yet or not. The bone graft has not fused yet. It is fusing, but more slowly than expected. We are trying some things to help stimulate the bone growth. My only fear is that I hav a couple small and non painful bone spurs in the area and that stimulating bone growth may stimulate the spurs to grow as well.

You know, they always give you the best case to average scenario as to recovery. Had the 2nd surgery Nov 07 ad was expecting to be back to working shape by late Jan Early Feb 08. (lost my job b/c I was not there long enough for medical leave to kick in). Boy was I wrong. Here we are heading into July and 8 months since the surgery and I am still slightly worse off than I was before either surgery.

I will surely continue my stretching routine and stabalization program. Will try and keep up going for walks as well. Also forgot to mention that I will be taking Advil for muscle pain and aches.

So, in the end, the Doc is still optimistic that the fusion will solidify in the end. According to him, some people feel better in less than 2 months, most by 4, but some it can be up to a year or more. Several people I have talked to that have had similar surgeries have said that there is almost a magical breakthrough, whether it be 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, Ect. where all of a sudden, over a period of a couple-few weeks you begin to feel a lot better.
Looks like I'm just a slow healer. I'll let you know a few months down the road whether or not I regret the 2nd surgery.

As for the whole withdrawal thing - I'm going to give it a month to see how I feel. At that point, I #1 Should be able to have some grasp as to my actual pain level (hopefully I will make it that far) and #2 It will help to lower my tolerance to the medication again so that if or when I go back to it, it will have a more positive effect. I know it sounds weird. I'd love to be rid of these things. They kind of deprive you of your feelings and whatnot but at the same time, they are the only thing that truly ease my pain at all. We've tried a number of different drugs, even other narcotics with no effect. The only thing that helps is the OxyContin or Percocet. And my goal in the end being that if I end up with what is commonly called FBSS (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome) which is more likely after a 2nd surgery and have chronic pain, that I can avoid upping my dosage on the medication as much as possible because right now, I don't feel like I'm getting enough. Now, that could be mental or physical or both but I think it's worth the extra pain and wd's to find out.

Thanks again for the reply,
TJet233

[TJet233]

Just wanted to post really quick. It is probably 1 day until the WD's are going to set in. Not looking forward that feeling. I'm not going to get cold feet however. Hopefully the next time I post, I'll be feeling like ******************** and my body will be detoxing.

[mpvt]

Hey there TJET:

I have had 4 lumbar spine surgeries and I know what your going through.The only thing I can suggest to add to your recipe is cholonidine(sp).This really helps with the withdrawls and helps you to sleep.Hang in there as you have a great support system along with the meds and others.......Dave

[leowd]

Hey TJET,

Something's that helped me is just crawling all over these boards to find stories of others who've been through this and survived...and went on to thrive.

Not to mention learning sooooo much. Knowledge is power.

[TJet233]

Well, I didn't get up the courage to actually start this until yesterday. My last dose was at 9:30am EDT yesteray , so I'm a little over 25 hours into this mess.

Not feeling as bad today as I had thought. I was able to sleep last night with the aid of a couplae ambien. Been dosing regularly with benadryl and the valium when needed.

The worst feeling so far was feeling myself slipping into WD. I kept getting hot then cold ect. Did some meditation before bed last night and think that helped.

Today, I feel like I have a really bad cold, not quite flu like at this point. I know people who say that days 3-4 are usually the worst, but I've found now and in the past that the worst comes about 8-12 hours after my last dose.

Feeling a bit tired, and am gonna go and lay down for a bit.

Be back tomorrow