Chris Schafale on sat 15 jan 05
I'd be grateful for help from anyone with experience with stopping the use
of narcotic pain drugs like Percocet. Although I'm still having
significant pain from my ankle, I've been told by my new orthopedist that
it's time to stop the meds. However, he's giving me no help in just how to
go about that without risking withdrawal symptoms or other side effects,
and he's given me no alternative for pain relief other than OTC
stuff. Anyone??
Chris
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA (near Raleigh)
www.lightonecandle.com
Galleries of Pottery Forms by Clayart Potters: www.potteryforms.org
Email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
John Rodgers on sat 15 jan 05
Chris, sorry to hear of this ankle business, and I understand about the
pain killers.
I have back trouble and joint problems. I have three things working for
me. Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, and my MD/DC. Thats a Medical Doctor with
a Doctor of Chiropractics. The latter is a miracle worker.
The ibuprofen is for pain. 600 mg up to 4 times daily. This is a
prescription dose.
The acetiminiphen is for inflamation - 650 mg up to 4 times daily. Also
a prescription dose.
I also take a daily coated aspirin of 325 mg. This was prescribed by my
doctor as well, but it was for something else, not the lints and pain
thaings. never the less, Aspirin being what it is, probably helps also
as an anti-inflammatory agent.
The ibuprofen and the acetominaphen can be taken together as they do not
interfere with each other.
My MD/DC works miracles on my back. I get to where I can't go sometimes
and he works me over with adjustments that make it possible for me to
function. He also works on my other joints as well, and finishes up each
session with a deep massage administered by a trained masseuse. The
massage after the chiropractic session is to die for.
If it weren't for these things, daily life would be a struggle.
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Chris Schafale wrote:
> I'd be grateful for help from anyone with experience with stopping the
> use
> of narcotic pain drugs like Percocet. Although I'm still having
> significant pain from my ankle, I've been told by my new orthopedist that
> it's time to stop the meds. However, he's giving me no help in just
> how to
> go about that without risking withdrawal symptoms or other side effects,
> and he's given me no alternative for pain relief other than OTC
> stuff. Anyone??
>
> Chris
>
> Light One Candle Pottery
> Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA (near Raleigh)
> www.lightonecandle.com
> Galleries of Pottery Forms by Clayart Potters: www.potteryforms.org
> Email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
>
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
Earl Brunner on sat 15 jan 05
I don't know how you are going to get off without some withdrawl problems. I do know that when on prednizone, I have to taper off over several days otherwise i can cause some serious problems, even life threatening. My rhuematologist just put me on a pain killer called tramadol, it's supposed to be non-narcotic and "reasonably" safe.
Chris Schafale wrote:I'd be grateful for help from anyone with experience with stopping the use
of narcotic pain drugs like Percocet. Although I'm still having
significant pain from my ankle, I've been told by my new orthopedist that
it's time to stop the meds. However, he's giving me no help in just how to
go about that without risking withdrawal symptoms or other side effects,
and he's given me no alternative for pain relief other than OTC
stuff. Anyone??
Chris
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA (near Raleigh)
www.lightonecandle.com
Galleries of Pottery Forms by Clayart Potters: www.potteryforms.org
Email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Earl Brunner
e-mail: brunv53@yahoo.com
Dennis Davis on sat 15 jan 05
Chris,
I am happy to see that you are receiving some suggestions from other
Clayart members. There always is help there. I am on a pain medication
for an upper arm problem and someday may be in your situation. At the
moment I still have some pain even with the meds and ever again making
pots is in question. One handed typing is still possible but slow.
My first thought on reading your message was that if my orthopedist were
to tell me to stop the medication and gave me no information on
withdrawal and future pain management, I would find myself a new
orthopedist and be willing to drive some distance to do so.
Dennis
Whidbey Island, WA
Chris Schafale wrote:
> I'd be grateful for help from anyone with experience with stopping the
> use
> of narcotic pain drugs like Percocet. Although I'm still having
> significant pain from my ankle, I've been told by my new orthopedist that
> it's time to stop the meds. However, he's giving me no help in just
> how to
> go about that without risking withdrawal symptoms or other side effects,
> and he's given me no alternative for pain relief other than OTC
> stuff. Anyone??
Earl Brunner on sat 15 jan 05
Sure, ANY painkiller that needs a prescription is suspect on my part.
Fortunately the stuff doesn't even work very well. I get about as much
relief from extra strength Tylenol. I try not to use anything more than I
need to.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Ivor and Olive
Lewis
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2005 4:43 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: OT: discontinuing pain relievers
Dear Earl Brunner,
I think it is a wise precaution to ask a physician about the negative
or side effects of any pharmaceutical products they prescribe. The
information is there in the system and you are not threatening their
professional judgement by asking.
Hope you have the "screws" well under control
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
melpots@pclink.com.
Earl Brunner on sat 15 jan 05
I'm with Dennis on this, that was something that troubled me about your original post.
Dennis Davis wrote:Chris,
I am happy to see that you are receiving some suggestions from other
Clayart members. There always is help there. I am on a pain medication
for an upper arm problem and someday may be in your situation. At the
moment I still have some pain even with the meds and ever again making
pots is in question. One handed typing is still possible but slow.
My first thought on reading your message was that if my orthopedist were
to tell me to stop the medication and gave me no information on
withdrawal and future pain management, I would find myself a new
orthopedist and be willing to drive some distance to do so.
Dennis
Whidbey Island, WA
Chris Schafale wrote:
Earl Brunner
e-mail: brunv53@yahoo.com
Elizabeth Priddy on sat 15 jan 05
Part of it is to get your mind right. After I broke my back doing yard work and had a discectomy, I had to learn that the feeling no pain feeling of opiates will not occur with OTC drugs.
Feeling normal again after feeling high or stoned for a long time is a mental adjustment moreso than a physical one. if you can accept that it is going to hurt for about a week and that the edge will be taken off by the mega doses of Tylenol or better, 800 mg of otc ibuprofin, you can get through that week.
After that, you might have to adjust your expectations regarding pain.
After my back surgery I had an epiphany of sorts: when you have damaged your back or whatever enough to have it operated on, odds are it will NEVER again feel like it did before. whirlpool jets work wonders. As do massage. And light bracing, like an ace bandage or a joggers foot sleeve that is made just for light ankle support.
Since it is your ankle, an evening soak in a foot massage bath and a gentle rub with lotion and a heavy dose of ibuprofin will make it feel ok, not high ok, but ok.
I would buy an electric whirlppol foot bath and epsom salts as an investment and use it twice daily, once while you have your coffee in the morning to get the stiffness out and again in the evening to relieve the stress of standing all day. It would be money well spent.
Good luck and much sympathy.
Chris Schafale wrote:
I'd be grateful for help from anyone with experience with stopping the use
of narcotic pain drugs like Percocet. Although I'm still having
significant pain from my ankle, I've been told by my new orthopedist that
it's time to stop the meds. However, he's giving me no help in just how to
go about that without risking withdrawal symptoms or other side effects,
and he's given me no alternative for pain relief other than OTC
stuff. Anyone??
Chris
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA (near Raleigh)
www.lightonecandle.com
Galleries of Pottery Forms by Clayart Potters: www.potteryforms.org
Email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Elizabeth Priddy
252-504-2622
1273 Hwy 101
Beaufort, NC 28516
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone.
Kathi LeSueur on sat 15 jan 05
Chris Schafale wrote:
> I'd be grateful for help from anyone with experience with stopping the use
> of narcotic pain drugs like Percocet. Although I'm still having
> significant pain from my ankle, I've been told by my new orthopedist that
> it's time to stop the meds. However, he's giving me no help in just
> how to
> go about that without risking withdrawal symptoms or other side effects,
> and he's given me no alternative for pain relief other than OTC
> stuff. Anyone??
>
> Chris
>
My mother took percocet for osteoperosis (along with oxycontin--lots of
pain in her body). She was self medicating and would forget how much she
had taken. But it was far too frequent because the bottle was getting
empty really fast. She could barely see (could hardly hear either) but
insisted on living alone. So, we took control of the medication.
I don't know how much you are taking, but I would turn over control of
it to someone you trust. Reduce by one pill every three days until you
are taking nothing. That's how we weened my mother. Though we were
weening her down to two a day.
She actually did not suffer a withdrawal like I would have expected.
But then, everyone said she was a "tough old bird". So, if a 70 pound,78
year old woman with just one vertebrae NOT fractured could do it, I'm
sure you can too.
Good luck,
Kathi
Susan Fox-Hirschmann on sat 15 jan 05
I fractured my fibula on the way home from Ann Arbor art fair and they gave
me percocet and I found that it made me feel like I was passing out. Instead,
my orthopedist told me to take 2-3 motrin at the same time, and then about
every 3 1/2-4 hours....that cut some of the pain...but ice on the area helped it
as well as well as elevating. I know it is not fun....
but the motrin worked better for me than the drugs.
Hope you can find some relief in that.
Best of luck
Susan
Annandale, VA
Ivor and Olive Lewis on sun 16 jan 05
Dear Earl Brunner,
I think it is a wise precaution to ask a physician about the negative
or side effects of any pharmaceutical products they prescribe. The
information is there in the system and you are not threatening their
professional judgement by asking.
Hope you have the "screws" well under control
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
Susan Fox-Hirschmann on sun 16 jan 05
In a message dated 1/16/2005 2:15:30 AM Eastern Standard Time,
brunv53@yahoo.com writes:
My first thought on reading your message was that if my orthopedist were
to tell me to stop the medication and gave me no information on
withdrawal and future pain management, I would find myself a new
orthopedist and be willing to drive some distance to do so.
I was fortunate to have an orthopedist that used to be an olympic athlete and
is anti-hard pain killers....even with my broken fibula and incredible pain,
he told me that I would do fine with getting off the percoset that sickened
me, and taking Motrin, but not to wait 4 hours between doses....so that it was
always working. He told me I could take as many as 4 at a time, tho I kept it
to 2 or 3.
Yes, it was worth the drive for me (or my husband I should say) to take me to
an orthopedist that thought like me....the less drugs the better.
best of luck
Susan
Annandale, VA
Kate Johnson on sun 16 jan 05
>
> Chris Schafale wrote:
>
>> I'd be grateful for help from anyone with experience with stopping the
>> use
>> of narcotic pain drugs like Percocet. Although I'm still having
>> significant pain from my ankle, I've been told by my new orthopedist that
>> it's time to stop the meds. However, he's giving me no help in just
>> how to
>> go about that without risking withdrawal symptoms or other side effects,
Hi Chris...
I'd be concerned about that, too...I can't believe your doctor didn't give
you instructions as to HOW to get off the Percocet, even if only to put your
mind at ease when you experience symptoms of withdrawal--which as someone
noted, you probably will, for a bit. I've never taken Percocet so don't
know what those might be--some are simply discomfort and some are serious,
so if your doctor hasn't told you what to do, contact your pharmacist. They
generally know as much (or more) about prescriptions and their side effects,
and might be willing to offer you some good information about what to expect
and how to go about tapering off...
Also, your community might have an "Ask a Nurse" service--mine does. You
simply call information for the number, and ask a nurse about whatever
problem you're having. It's been invaluable to me on a couple of
occasions--if they don't know the answer they find out and get back to you.
Sorry you're still having such problems!
Best--
Kate
| |
|
