[Raptor]

I'm 42-years of age, and dealt with lower back pain for a very long time. For about two months, I used short term treatment with pain medications alternating between Percocet and Lortab. Finally, the pain got so bad that I started taking long term Percocet and I can't say enough about the drug or the treatment and I don't abuse the drug(s) at all. The pain is now under complete control. The problem is this: The doctor made a comment that he wanted to reduce and/or eliminate the oxycodone from the mix and I honestly objected. I mean, my pain is under better control than it's ever been. Why should it matter that after several months my dose is up to 70 mg? So my question after all of this is this. Should I have to deal with a return of the agonizing pain I was in just for the sake that Percocet/Oxyxodone is addictive, or should I advocate for myself and find a pain doctor to prescribe the combination long term? Serious responses only.

[Dc3402]

Being pain free or having reduced pain may have helped you to quit"guarding"the injury. If it did, there is a good possibility that the injury has begun to heal on it's own.I agree with your Dr in reducing the dosage for two reasons. First, it is the only way your Dr will be able to evaluate the present state of your injury, and second, to hopefully be able to wean you from a potentially addictive drug.Have faith in your Dr, and go along with this suggestion. It is the only way he/she can properly evaluate you. If it turns out that you still need drug therapy, at least your Dr will be making a more informed decision.

[donna_honeycutt47]

I just had a Total Knee Replacement in April and my Doctor put me on Percocet. I only took it at Night to help fight the Pain in my Knee and help me to sleep, but refused to take it any other time because it is"ADDICTIVE"Try taking Ultram ER during the day. it is NOT Addictive and it is slow releasing pain medicine. There are alot of People in this world who are now"Addicts"because they gave into the pain and now IT and the Drugs control them.. Your Doctor is correct.. You need to get off the Narcotics...

[Robin C]

Your doctor has more concerns than just addiction. Oxycodone can cause tooth loose, and a bunch of other health problems even while using it as instructed.Follow your doctor’s instructions, and start slowly cutting back on the pain medications to avoid withdrawal. Ask your doctor about other pain medications and alternative therapies to help control your pain. Keep a diary of your pain, when it returns at what dose, time of day, etc. Share your diary with your doctor so he can properly judge your response to the pain medication and judge how your injury has healed. Work closely with your doctor, or if your insurance will cover it find a pain management clinic in your area. The specialists at a pain clinic can help you get to the lowest dose of pain medication, while keeping you pain free.

[Fancy]

let him lower the dose and see how you do and u may have more of a problem than just pain I can tell u like the affect of the pain killers as well see how u feel and ur withdrawl from the drug before u make up ur mind!

[Aussie Nurse]

opioids don't actually have toxic effects. they imitate and activate opioid receptors in the nervous system. (there are three different receptors i think)the down side is a high doses the cause respiratory depression- you stop breathing, confusion or sedation is an earlier sign. so its bad if you take to much or mix with alcohol or valium etc. but otherwise negative effects are itching and rashes if you take as directed. - with oxy these are pretty low as well.otherwise its misuse that causes damage - off the street anything could be mixed in, contaminated water, needles etc leads to blood bourne infections and the such but his doesn't seem relevent in your case.perhaps switching to a controlled /long release prepararion would be better - oxycodone is a shorter duration pain relief maybe oxycontin or methadone or kapanol would work better - if you are on oxycodone then i would say oxycontin would be the best choice but even then tolerance will develop - it has less effect on your lifestyle as one or two lots of meds is way easier than every 4 hours or so. plus if for some reason you can't get a dose the drop off isn't as steep - neither is the withdrawal as intense. (longer half-life results in more gradual symptoms)for long term pain relief tolerance will always be an issue- your brain will reset'normal'so that it can continue to operate normally. this means it stops producing its own opiates in your body. however while coming off opiates leaves the body very sensitive to pain - chronic pain can have a similar effect - pain continuously stimulates the brain and the fibres for transmitting pain get so over excited they let every signal through instead of filtering out - this is how opiates work - they tell the the brain to ignore pain impulses. so its difficult to find a balance.constipation could be an issue- watch out for thatlisten to your doctor because he does have your medical interests at heart and he understands the negative impact an addiction can have on your quality of life - you have to advocate for the impact of chronic pain on your quality of life.maybe a chronic pain clinic doctor might have a better idea of what to do.best of luck

[jan h]

There are many doctors who are so afraid of getting in trouble for writing too many prescriptions, that they cut their patients off pain meds pretty much just to cover their a$$e$.I know a person who's been taking Lortab 10 for at least 4 or 5 years for severe carpal tunnel......it allows him to lead a normal pain-free life. You should absolutely make an appointment with a pain management specialist. Good luck!

[skylark455st2]

You need to be seeing a pain management specialist. Percoset is highly addictive. I have been suffering from migranes and knee pain for 17 years now, and have been taking pain meds for the majority of that time. My doctors have ALWAYS rotated my meds. You don't want to become an addict. There other alternatives, some may work better for you than the percoset, it is not meant to be given for long term releif. I take percoset only as a last resort, I refused it when I was having gall bladder problems before my surgery. Chronic pain needs to be treated carefully, by a qualified pain management specialist. I live in agonizing pain every day so I know how you feel, but the doctor wants you off of it for a reason. You should trust him.