getting off meds

[Patsy Poe]

I need come help getting of oxycodone.
I had TKP in 9/16/08
My dr put me on the rx and now having major promble , can't sleep still in pain, myROM is 120 -03 , but i really need to know how long this side affect are going to go on.
Patsy

 

[ship4]

Re: Double Knee Replacement

Patsy,
I stayed on my pills up until about 4 months........ You are not even three months out. What specifically is the issue?
I did not take it as I am allergic to it. However, to get off the pills I was taking I started to cut them in half with a pill splitter. Is this possible with this drug? Just a thought.
Also to take half in the AM and half in the PM and eventually eliminate the day time one and continue with the night one for a while.
Best,
Crystal

 

[Josephine]

Patsy - I moved you post into a thread of its own as it was derailing another member's thread.

 

[Jamie]

A lot of us went throught a "sleepless" phase at about the time where you are. It does get better and while you're going through it, you just sleep when you can. I agree that you might try a gradual reduction in the meds. Or ask your doctor to switch you to a different one. You may still need the pain relief....you're still pretty new into the recovery process.

 

[gayle]

patsy I was on this drug in the UK when I broke 3 vertebrae in an accident 4 years ago and probably took 2 years slowly weaning down and now using a short release oromorph and the NSAID, tricyclic as well and haven't needed to switch to oxycodone post PKR
You have to take your own time so you still have pain relief otherwise its a vicious circle... In the UK I see a chronic pain nurse for advice, some research argues acute pain hovers for about 6 months or so, don't put yourself under too much pressure

 

[Patsy Poe]

Re: Double Knee Replacement

I need to kmow how long it will take to get off the oxycondone i heard if iwas a really strong pain meds
Im still taking it has been about 3 month i think, i take 20mg in the morning and 20mg at nite , sure take care of all my pain
Thanks in advance
Patsy

 

[Rowdy66]

Patsy, I have been taking oxycodone 160mg three times a day for back and neck pain since 1998. Of course I didn't start off at that high a dose, the pain clinic doubled my dosage about five or six years ago to this level. I have heard it is a very difficult pain med to get off of but the pain I have is so severe without it I have no choice, it, literally, gave me back my life. The dosage you are taking should not be that difficult to get off of once you are painfree, but as others have told you it is a bit early for that and believe it or not having pain will slow down your progress. While you cannot split the pain med you are currently on when it comes time to stop taking the pain med they can change you over to the 5mg immediate relief tablet that you can split and you can use it to gradually stop the pain meds. As for the trouble sleeping that is something we all had a problem with and no one seems to know why but the good news is it does pass and soon you will be back to sleeping like normal. The surgery you have had is much more difficult that people seem to realize prior to surgery, I know it was a shock to me, but well worth the end result. I am almost 8 months out from having had both knees done at the same time and I could not be more pleased with the result. I wish you the best of luck and just want to reassure you that you are so close to being where you dreamed of being all you have to do is hold on just a bit longer. Good luck. Rowdy

 

[Pa guy]

Patsy i had undergone multiple knee surgeries including a TKR in Feb, facing a revision in Jan........ was on oxy as well as muscle relaxers for close to 3 years.
had difficulty sleeping due to spasms and pain.
My OS took me off oxy and put me on lower dose Vicodin 5-500 with little or no problem at all, about 4 months after my TKR.
I was concerned about addiction and dependency, but as the pain decreased the need for the pain meds did as well.
Keep your head up and will strong, TKR is a painful struggle but once all is said and done you will be thankful for doing so.

 

[Josephine]

Great post, Pa. Thank you!