I can't speak for every one, but I had been on oxycodone for 20 some years, then they added oxycontin to the program the last 2 years. You build up a resistance to them. It was at that point I told the doc to get me off of them. It took a couple of years to do it, with the help of my pain specialist. But I've now been off of them for about a year now. If you can live without them. It's much better. But sometimes when you're in pain, you will do anything to make it lessen.

@pfbacon Hi Peggy. Oh my! When and what did I start with? Before peripheral neuropathy hit, I only took Ibuprofen for some arthritis. After having a ladder dump me from 12', I took Percocet for a while. I had two compression fractures in my lower back, and I think I broke something in my arm. Percocet was just a short term medication, but I would take one at bedtime if my back was hurting from doing too much. I rarely take any - maybe once in a month.

Then came neuropathy. My PCP had me try the standard meds for it, but nothing helped. Some didn't do anything and the others had side effects. At some point I started taking morphine sulfate contin, and was up to 30mg 3x a day. While I was taking morphine, I tried Cymbalta, which seemed to help a little. I decided to taper off the morphine to see if it was helping. After getting off it, I realized that it really was giving me pain relief. I started taking it again, and only went up to 15mg, 3 x a day. Then I started seeing a neurologist and he had me try a bunch more, with the same result. Then, on to a pain specialist, who had a list of off label meds for me to try. I think he's the doctor who told me about the scs. I had around 75% relief. It was SO great!

I continued taking morphine because I still had pain, though not as much. The scs seems to be effective for around 3 months, and then I have to have the Abbott tech adjust it. I've gone through that three month cycle for two years, and I think that it's just not working for me.

I turned it back on yesterday after having it off for two weeks. I started taking desipramine, and it was helping, but I was going to the bathroom up to 24 times a day, so I'm now taking imipramine, which helps (I think). So, I take morphine sulfate contin and Imipram for the neuropathy pain. I take Meloxicam and Tylenol for arthritis.

I don't know what to do next. The drg stimulator is on the table, but I'm not yet comfortable with the idea, so I'm going to talk with the pain specialist about weighing the benefit of the stimulator against having a pump implant.

I have a fairly long list of medications, some for the neuropathy, for arthritis, Clonazepam for keeping my legs still at night, Prilosec, Dilantin for tachycardia, allergy meds, myrbetric to control urinary urgency, and two antidepressants, along with vitamins, etc. Sorry. Too much information!

I would love to be able to be pain free without narcotics, but for now that seems to be the only solution. I'd also like to be able to take it without the stigma. To listen to the politicians, I must be just one step out of the gutter. All of a sudden, medications that have been treating pain effectively for aeons are being denied. I'm not pleased with the change in rhetoric that I hear from my doctor. If opioids are now being demonized, how can the medical community justify having prescribed them freely and liberally, especially for people with intractable chronic pain?

Oops! Another soap box. But I think you can see the frustration.

I think I've gotten a bit sidetracked, Peggy. I'm sorry. But I think that somewhere in all of my words, hopefully I've addressed your question.

Jim

I used to believe that as well. LOL My husband is disabled and has been a very long time. Before I developed CRPS, I only took Celebrex for my knee pain (I worked as a pharmacist 10-12 hour days) and a Demerol every two or three months for my migraines. The Demerol would knock my butt out for two or three days but hey, I didn't mind. It helped me cope with migraine pain and hangover.
I couldn't believe how my hubby could take enough pain meds to floor a horse and still function in a manner that was completely alert and productive. It went against everything I was taught.
Then it was my turn. And I learned the same thing was true with me. As long as my pain is kept within a level that is halfway bearable, I do not notice the side effects. If the dose is too low or high, I will sleep (or have insomnia), drag my foot, stumble or can't sit, stand, or walk at all due to increased pain...just like my husband.
Dilaudid is too strong, for now. Percocet and OxyContin make things tolerable, for now. My DRG Spinal Cord Stimulator blocks some pain, not a lot. I wear my braces, use my walker and staff aids to help take the weight off my joints and support them. I have a service dog which is learning how to assist me to do the things I can't.

As for "building up" to the doses I'm on, no, not really. I went from Celebrex 200mg twice a day and then had my knee replacement which caused CRPS Type 2 (Causalgia.) The pain from CRPS is intense. To relieve it, I was prescribed Percocet 10 qid then OxyContin 20 and then increased to OxyContin 30 where I remain today. They attempted Dilaudid but it knocked me on my butt although it did help a little more with the pain (in other words, I'm not ready for it yet.)

I still can't drive. I also can't stand, sit upright, walk, or lie down on my back for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time. That's my life and I'm living it!