Tapering Help from Chronic Pain Patient

[jdsun]

I hope this is the correct place to post this.

I am a chronic pain patient who has been living with nerve pain for the past 5 years. I've had 2 back surgeries and what doctors thought was permanent nerve damage that left me with horrible deep nerve pain down my leg. Well the unthinkable may have happened....the pain is starting to go away! I had an unrelated female surgery a few weeks ago, and ever since that surgery, my pain is slowly lifting! I almost cannot believe it.

I am very excited about the prospect of getting of my narcotic pain medications. I have already reduced some, but not sure what else I am in store for.

This is what I was on:
80mg of Kadian 2x day (totally 160 mg a day)
15 mg of Oxycodone (totally 90 mg a day)

I completely stopped the 90mg of oxycodone in 10 days and besides a little headache for one day, felt nothing in terms of withdrawal.

I have no idea what it is going to be like to come off of the Kadian at this point. Was the reason I didn't feel withdrawals from the oxy,was because of the Kadian? I honestly thought it was going to be much tougher to drop the oxy, but it was nothing at all. That scares me that coming off the Kadian will be horrible?

Anyone have any advice/stories to share?
Thanks!
JRABun

 

[emsmom]

Hello jRABun,

First of all, congratulations on your pain situation. That is absolutely wonderful

Yes, the reason you didn't have much withdrawal from the Oxycodone is most likely because you are still taking the morphine.

To get off the morphine, do a very slow taper. Discuss it with your doctor and tell him/her that someone recommended you take alot of time to taper down. The longer you taper, the least amount of withdrawal you'll have. If possible, taper about 10 mgs every two weeks. That will give your body lots of time to allow the meRAB to plateau.

Anticipating withdrawal is what leaRAB many people to use their drug of choice longer. "Fear of the unknown."

You are in a very good position - you don't "have" to stop taking the morphine, you just "want" to. So, you can take your time and have very little discomfort.

Keep in touch, let us know how everything goes

RegarRAB,
emsmom