United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi Andrew,
My story is very similar to yours, only for me it is only 2yrs. and 2 months.I was originally on 6000 gab per day, plus bac, amitrip,duragesic patch and paxil. I to am trying to reduce pills. It might be hard because I get around 50 brutal hits a day. Most of the time it sizzles.How did you make out with your surgery? Mine failed.
Good luck Andrew.
Robert

Hi Robert,
The results of my surgery were okay. I can now bend my elbow and my shoulder isent as subluxed as it used to be. This is a huge improvement because post accident i had a completely flaccid arm. The promise i made to myself when i started coming of the medication was that i was not going to go back on myself. It seems to be working well because the pain usually gets better within a few months after i drop my dose. Anyways i shouldn't ramble.
Good luck!
Andrew

Hello all,

I have a question. I need some advice as to when I should attempt to stop the oxy and if I should detox for it. I am currently under medical care for chronic pain in my shoulder. They are now not sure if it is bone CA or arthritis. I want off of the meds so bad, and I have attempted to go without. The withdrawals are bad for about 4 days, but nothing that I can't handle. I am wondering if I am trying to fight a losing battle with the pain still there. After the withdrawal days I feel as if I can go without, but then the pain is so severe. I am currently on 20mg 2x a day with 10mg for breakthrough, but rarely take that. My father was a severe addict and I am affraid that if I stay on this drug any longer I will have the same problems. So I guess my question is, Should I stay on the medication until they find out what the problem is, or should I get off, go through the withdrawals and deal with the pain.
Hurting in Michigan
Amy

Hello all,

I have a question. I need some advice as to when I should attempt to stop the oxy and if I should detox for it. I am currently under medical care for chronic pain in my shoulder. They are now not sure if it is bone CA or arthritis. I want off of the meds so bad, and I have attempted to go without. The withdrawals are bad for about 4 days, but nothing that I can't handle. I am wondering if I am trying to fight a losing battle with the pain still there. After the withdrawal days I feel as if I can go without, but then the pain is so severe. I am currently on 20mg 2x a day with 10mg for breakthrough, but rarely take that. My father was a severe addict and I am affraid that if I stay on this drug any longer I will have the same problems. So I guess my question is, Should I stay on the medication until they find out what the problem is, or should I get off, go through the withdrawals and deal with the pain.
Hurting in Michigan
Amy

First of all Amy where in MI are you? I Am in the Detroit Metro area. Let me know.....

Now for the meds.......HONESTLY SPEAKING HERE... I took oxy for about 3 moths right after my crash. I wantededt o startt driving again so my doc said I had to get off of it to drive! It was HELL and I mean it! It was about a week or so for me! I was miserable and cried a ton!! My arm was killing me..... I did not do physio that week at all and rarely got out of bed even..... after that week I started physio again and once I Started driving I kind of forgot about the pain... yes it was still there but i was pre occupied by other Things. My parents would only let me drive a few minutes at at ime, I could drive to the store like 8 blocks away, withthem in the car! haha I felt 15 again! With in the next month or two things seemed to calm down for me.

Everytnhing takes time.... and you have to have patience. Email me or post here if you ave any more quesitons.......

COurt xx

Hi Court,
I was just wondering how bad the pain is now compared to when you were taking the oxycontin? What was your pain on a 1-10 scale while taking the oxy and what is it like after?

Thanks,
Andrew

Andrew.. on a scale of 1-10 before oxy it was 100 during oxy it ranged from 2-4 maybe.... after withdrawls and what have you and it calmed dow a bit bit was a constant 2. Now 4 year later... it ranges between 3 and 10! I take Vicodine now when I need it or even a muscle relaxer sometimes at night to help me sleep. I hope this helps!

COurt xx

I try to get off meds from time to time--never have much in the way of physical w-drawals--just the pain comes back--and I never, ever readjust. That's why I started meds to begin with. I could not live or function, period, with that amount of pain. So what the H*ll--better living thru chemicals is my motto. If they find a "cure" or treatment that will allow me to have a drug-free life, I'm all for it. 'Till then, I'd rather be able to have a functional life with drugs than lay in bed 24-7 and be "straight"--good luck going straight--but to me--there's a difference between just "surviving" and actually "living". The drugs allow me to LIVE.-Ronin

Ronin...(just read your post about seeing Dr Belzburg...and have added a note to it..good luck mate..!) The thing about the drugs for me was/is the opposite to how they work with you. I STOPPED taking the so called painkillers to get my life back. While I was on them, believe me I had NO real life to speak of..I was almost a complete zombie.

They never could get the dosage right, and I felt like death warmed up.

Giving up the drugs was the second best thing I ever did since banging the arm up...

Liz B

Liz

What was the first best thing?

LOVE SUSAN