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mel486

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I know... I'm a week ahead of schedule and I should practice what I preach on tapering, but I went cold turkey from the clonazepam (Benzo) on Thursday. I was going to take a dose every other day, but Saturday I was feeling no ill effects and the same today, so I just called Thursday as my last day. No withdrawals at all and a big boost in energy (so far). Now, if I can just stay injury free and health for a while!! Thanks everyone for your support.
 
congrats to you Denon! Way to go. It feels so good to finish each day having not relied on any pills, doesn't it? I know I am enjoying my freedom.
I wish you all the best.
 
Thanks Reach and NP... I have 3 bulging discs (C5-C7) from the accident last year on top of spinal stenosis (C4-C7) that I have had for a lot longer. I'm sure this is the spinal stenosis causing the pain. I've already had 5 spinal epidurals in my neck over the years. I have been icing it and using my inversion table to help relieve the tension. I do feel better this evening, but I can't sit long or the pain increases. I resisted the temptation to pop a pill this morning and afternoon when the pain was worse. I just laid in bed with ice on my neck instead. That's where I'll be heading in a little while. Rest and Ice to allow the nerve bundle to relax and not increase the irritation.

Yes, the memories of the withdrawals prevent me from just popping pills to kill the pain. The walking miles each night in my house round and round in circles until I couldn't walk anymore keeps me from reaching for that bottle. The achy legs were the worse! It's a memory that I won't forget, nor do I ever want to repeat!!
 
Denon.
u have helped me so much in the past, i hope i can be a cheerleader for you as you go through this. you told me that sleep was the best way to heal, so i think only taking them at night so your neck can relax and heal a bit is smart. and as soon as you get up start your day so you can think about somthing other then the pain.
my good friend had the same neck issue you had and it took 4 years but she is 80% free of pain today. have a good day! derlinda
 
Wow, you go guy! That is impressive! Congratulations on your strength and determination. I hope you continue to just feel better and better.
 
Thx derlinda. Today has not started out well, even thought I got over 12 hours of sleep last night. I'm crunched over sitting at my computer trying to get some work done. I had planned a busy day today and I'm trying to stay caught up. I'm resisting taking any pain meRAB and I've tried balancing ice on my neck as I sit here. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to resort to laying in bed with my laptop propped up on my chest so that I can do my work. I was in that position for 3 months when I converted my bed into an office. It was a pretty efficient setup and I could move everything off of the bed in 30 seconRAB for sleep. I think I'll get that set up for tomorrow and stay in bed for the day. I have an appointment with the pain doc next week. I'm down to 2-1/2 Percs until then, but I have some hydros from an operation a few years ago. I've never taken them before. Everyday the pain has been getting worse. I need to re-think my current work schedule and plan to do it out of bed for a while and allow my neck the recovery time that it neeRAB. Back to one-day-at-a-time for me.
 
sorry your hurting so much. do you ever get in the hot water or get PT on your neck? i hope that even though you work from home you get to see a smiling face every few hours to take your mind off it. one day at a time is so right, if i think about how i am going to live my life like this i just about go crazy, but if i just stay in today, then it seems doable.

hope you have something fun planed for this weekend!
 
Hiya Denon

Boy, I am just thrilled for you. You have been through a great deal and still have stayed the course. Your story is a rock of strength for all of us.

I don't feel the torment of my own journey anymore (it used to make me cry for a long time even when it was over), but I sure do remeraber it. So many lessons learned about so many things. I want to always keep those lessons close to my heart and in the forefront of my mind as my life moves on. I guess we are the culmination of our experiences and man, oh, man.... it has been one heck of an experience, huh?

Take care, Denon. I am so very happy for you.
Hugs
reach
 
Well, concentrating on my health didn't last long. :-( I was sitting on the couch, minding my own business and my neck felt tight, so I stretched it to the right, then, left and back right and SNAP! yes, SNAP! I heard it and felt it. Sure enough, two hours later I was back in pain again, with a nurab, tingling arm. So, I spent my one year anniversary of my accident and the beginning of all my pain and drug dependency, almost in the same condition.

My Primary Care Physician is sending me back to the Pain Mgt doc to see what can be done. I don't think I can get another spinal epidural this soon after my last batch of them. So, I'm back on the Percocet, but right now, only before bed so I can sleep. I just put up with the pain during the day. I'm trying to keep my doses to a minimum and only once a day. A few days the pain was bearable before bed and I didn't take any. I DON'T want to go through withdrawals again!!!! So, we'll see how it goes...
 
Denon,
Way to go! I'm so proud of you, not to mention very impressed. Hope the good feelings continue and you are well on your way to a happy, healthy, drug-free life!

KEW:wave:
 
Oh nooooo.....I'm so sorry to hear that, D. What's the dx with your neck? Geez, I'm always stretching my neck back and forth like you did -- I'll have to be way more careful! Well, at least you are aware of the risks with the Perc this time. I hope you feel better soon....keep us posted please.
 
Hello Denon

Well, my friend, as you are finding, becoming drug free is not a guarantee that all will be well forever more. Geeze, I am really sorry you are back in pain again. That's the pits.

Denon, it really looks to me that your thinking about drugs has changed and changed for good. Proud of you. You are using the meRAB in a totally responsible way. It's funny how we think differently about pain now too, isn't it? I have a different scale of what is bearable now than I did when I was on oxycodone. Since I came off the narcotics, there have been 2 occassions when I ran into serious pain problems and had to use an opiate for relief. I used it at the height of the pain in the hospital and afterwarRAB I was able to make my way through the lingering after pain drug free. Oh, I was hurting at times, but truly not enough to take an opiate. My judgement had become more clear. Obviously, your judgement is more clear also. Memories of withdrawal have a heck of an impact on my judgement now. Smiles.

I hope your neck pain clears soon. Remeraber the old heat and icing techniques. Take good care of yourself and know we are all thinking about you.

Hugs
reach
 
hearty congratulations man. you did it. very impressive. i wish you all the best and a very happy life.:wave:
 
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