It has been over 9 months off of prescribed OxyContin, and my legs/feet are cramping, stinging, crawly and very painful!! Anyone with nerve pain, please please give me some advice. I tried Lyrica, too many side effects. Thanks to all of you wonderful people! sweetlemon
I am in agony with nerve pain, could this be a withdrawal symptom from OxyContin?
- Asked
- 22 Jun 2010 by Anonymous
- Updated
- 5 July 2010
- Topics
- oxycontin, pain, neuralgia, withdrawal
Responses (6)
Im pretty sure what you are describing is seriously nerve pain from your lower back. It travels down your hip, legs and into the toes. Thats where most people stray from the correct diagnosis because they dont usually have pain in the lower back like you would think. Depends on how severe the nerve compression to what extent you feel things. After being off that stuff this long, its long out of your system. Sharp pain, dull pain, tingling, weakness, feeling cold sensations, and the worst is numbness. Nerve damage takes many different forms of pain and odd sensations. These occur far from the point of a ruptured/herniated disc. Some people do have pain in the lower back, some dont. I have had 3 lower back surgeries involving 5 different discs, L5 in each surgery came back out. L5 is the most common rupture point. I also had an ACDF in my neck.
Hi again sweetlemon. Not sure if you read my profile but I shattered my (low) mid spine (L-1 L-2) and suffered permanent nerve damage. Need more surgery in a few months. My main problem is severe pain and spasms. You would think if you damage nerve roots, you wouldn't have nerve pain anymore. NOT so. But the surface of my skin is totally numb. You could hold a flame thrower there and I wouldn't feel a thing. It's hard to explain... it's just under the surface where I have the pain and it radiates outwards to my sides, down my left arm, ending at my left hand which the one side is totally numb. Half of a hand with no feeling at all is the oddest feeling, and I'm left handed! What has helped me the most with nerve pain and spasms is valium. Other pains meds too but they hardly control the "regular" pain at all. You've probably already heard some of the home remedies, hot baths, maybe some mild exercising, stretching, heating pads, etc.
Thank you both! You two have been through the wringer, to say the least.
I do have a messed up disc in my neck, but don't want surgery... don't want opiates either. I shall find a Neurosurgeon... if I have the ovaries!
best fishes xoxo sweetlemon
Talk about having crap in common! My hubby is 6 weeks post op from his 3rd cervical surgery. Once he got hurt breaking up a fight, totally blew out 2 discs, then a year later,a guy blew a stop sign and broke my hubby's neck where the first fusion was, then 3 years later got rear ended and re-broke his neck where the 2nd fusion was! We're quite the team, to say the least!!
sweetlemon, two months ago (on my regular visit) to my pain doctor, I told him my legs were bothering me down to the calf and even to the toes! He told me to wear socks to bed,but it helps! I think that was pretty much the same time we talked about the Lyrica and its side effect s (weight gain) being the worst. When I complained about the Lyrica, he prescribed me gaberpentin. I still had samples of the Lyrica but I wasn't taking it on a regular basis,so I have two scripts (unfilled) for the Gaba (Neurontin?), since I lost my insurance I have to kind of pick and choose what scripts to fill, I agree that the OxyContin is long out of your system and you may have to choose between the Lyrica's benifits to the side effects.
Weird yea, definitely! I can only use two fingers on my left hand to type. The ring and pinky finger are totally numb and useless. I do EVERYTHING left-handed. One exception, scissors. I guess back in kindy garten the nuns didn't believe in lefty scissors! Damn, hope I'm not making you paranoid about all the coincidences?? Let me guess... you love chirizo and eggs wrapped in a flour tortilla?? How about toast with peanut butter and dill pickles? yummmmy!
I never spent that much time on the pc before my accident. Then it was a good 3 months before I could even sit in any kind of comfort. The weird thing about my hand and spasms (I have spasms in my back too which are the worse, I literally jump) doc says the hand isn't related to the area of the spinal fractures. He said when the car landed, I must have hit my elbow with enough force to damage the nerves. I even noticed when I fall asleep with my elbow bent, I wake up looking to see if it's on fire! And it takes a good 5 minutes for it to "wake up."
I am sooo sorry you are going through so much pain. I wish I had some advice for you, but I am clueless. And don't apologize for talking about you withdrawal from the oxy, you should be proud. Say all you want about it, you deserve to brag your a** off. Thumbs up to you ! I am going to write back to you privately, I just have been putting it off so I don't get interupted so I can keep my train of thought. Sorry, I also have another lovely problem that is really painfull at the moment. I'll explain when I write you. I will try to start, probably not finish, right now. Oh, I just wish I could make you feel better. Can you take like a tylenol pm or a benedryl to relax you or help you sleep maybe? I will be thinking of you.
christine, fall queen, yayablondie, I must say that I adore ye all! You have given excellent advice, and I am ever so appreciative! yaya, I am sleeping, I can take a Xanax at night, and soma - but soma is kind of scary.
xoxo to you all, off to bed. sweetlemon
Oxycontin withdrawal
The symptoms of oxycontin withdrawal are the same as those for other opiates including morphine, heroin, and vicodin and include nausea, cold sweats, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, goose bumps, dilated pupils, a runny nose, and depression. The severity of these symptoms depends upon how much oxycodone the individual has been taking.
Good luck hon
Bucky1
Dear Bucky, Don't I know it!!! I went through all of those WD symptoms and more, but that was 9 months ago, so I don't know why I have all this nerve pain and cramping in legs and feet now? Any ideas Bucky?
thank you, sweetlemon
Try Salonpas Pain Patch with Capsaicin. I read it good for pain
Capsaicin topical is used for temporary relief of muscle or joint pain caused by strains, sprains, arthritis, bruising, or backaches. Capsaicin topical is also used to treat nerve pain (neuralgia) in people who have had herpes zoster, or "shingles."
Also do you have Diabetes??
Read more: https://www.drugs.com/mtm/salonpas-pain-patch-with-capsaicin.html#ixzz0rfjxTdBb
Bucky1
Wow,Iam always super pumped to here someone is kickin oxys... Iam 11.5 months clean and barin down on her ... You gotta get off all the bull _ _ _ _. In my mind to stay off oxys you gotta go all the way man spillem all in the toilet, and I mean now this is your life its the most precious thing goin. I have seen way to many people stiff and I mean dead because they fell. You sound like you wanna Im sayin YOU GOTTA ... Please take this to heart from a hard core winner. My Dr. in my subs clinic said he- ME will never make it and im the one laughin at his dumb-ass. God made me so full off power and its positive good... Clean is so sexy after youve been doomed... You need support you can call ME ... KOOL BREEZ
Totally agree with you on that! It's not the users it's the abusers who got it all messed up for us who need these meds. By the way, what's your plan for getting off the subs?
I was in grade school when the nuns were allowed to shorten the robes! They didn't mind me being left handed, it was my dad whose hand would get smacked with the ruler for using his left hand. Is it hereditary? My dad, me, and my 2 daughters are all leftys...

Further Information
- OxyContin Information for Consumers
- OxyContin Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of OxyContin (detailed)
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Oh yea, Almost forgot about meds. The only thing they will give you is opiates, unless you request otherwise. They will offer some stuff like Steroids, anti-inflammatory, Neurontin and many others for variable pain relief. Nothing really helps. My doctor loves giving Neurotin, I tried it years ago and did nothing for pain, made me feel weird. Valium and Soma are great for spasms. I prefer Soma myself. I have been taking it a for a while. I'm supposed to take 3 a day, did that for the 1st 2 days, wow really strong! I use it if I have some crazy spasms during the day at times, mainly at night I take it before bed. I'm skeptical about some of these meds like Lyrica, its been an ongoing effort watching them get pulled with all sorts of warnings. It would take some serious research for me to try one of them, Im more of a tried and true patient. I was open for all that the first two surgerys. Im not saying dont take it, but make sure to read up on all that stuff really well.
beachychicky, thank you very much for your med suggestions. I have Xanax that I can take, but your suggestion of Valium is most interesting. I researched it and it sounds like a much better option for me. Valium would negate the need for the scary Soma, as well. Ye are a wise one beachy!
thanks xo sweetlemon
I totally agree on the valium! Excellent suggestion. It keeps my spasms somewhat in check and does help with some of the pain.
ok my friends, here is another stupid question (my hubby says there are NO stupid questions, just STUPID people that ask them HA) I have a Xanax script, can I switch to valium instead? Me brother takes valium and swears by it. (my Irish twin brothers both have GAD, as do I)
Sweetlemon, you can not switch it. You have to get a new script from your doc.
christine, I know I can't just show up at the pharmacy and tell them I want valium instead of xanax! I'm not as dumb as I look, girl!!! ha
What I meant is, can I have doc write a script for valium, instead of xanax and there won't be any problems, since they are both in the same "family" of drugs?? your friend, sweetlemon
As your hubby says, "No such thing as a dumb question." Well there IS such a thing as a dumb comment. Guess I had a steffy moment! Apparently I took your question too literally.
christine, i just love your sense of humor!
sweetlemon