oxycodone question...
 

My headaches have been much worse lately... I went to the walk in a week ago, utterly desperate because of the pain... In a strange twist of fate, I landed up seeing a specialist who runs a pain clinic for back and neck pain... He did some type of accupuncture on me right away, and miraculously I could move my neck for the first time in almost 2 years!

I'm waiting on a referral to go through to see him on a regular basis, but while waiting, he gave me a script for flexoril, to help with the extreme muscle tightness in my neck (I've been diagnosed with whiplash), as well as oxycodone... I only take the flexoril at night, and usually the oxy too (1 of each)... today though my headache was very bad, and since my script says it's ok to take two tablets up to four times a day, I took a single pill...

I am worried though. I know these are addictive medicines, and I don't wish to add addiction to everything I am struggling with... Likely I will not take my night time dose today, so I'll still only have one today...

I am very aware of the possibilities with these meds, and wish to be careful... do you think 1 oxycodone a day, for a short period of time, is ok? I have no idea how badly addictive they are, or how long or how much it would take to form addictive habits.. Just looking for either reassurances or warnings...

Don't worry about Flexeril. It's a NON NARCOTIC muscle relaxer and has little to no potential for addiction.

Oxycodone is a highly addictive narcotic pain reliever. However, if you're only taking 2-3 a day for a short period of time (a week or less) then you shouldn't become addicted. I'm prescribed Norco (Hydrocodone) which is a little less potent as Oxycodone, and I found if I take it for more than a week my brain/body becomes dependent on it.

So in short, you should be fine with taking 2-3 per day for a week.

Thanks... I'm not even taking that many... usually one a day, at bed, today was a strange day where I needed it in the afternoon... I don't even think I've taken one every day... I'll be careful though... thanks.

When I was in hospital I took one oxycodone a night to relieve pain and help me sleep. I didn't develop any craving or other symptoms of potential addiction from this short term dosage of one pill a day over 4 weeks or so. This from someone who is a well-qualified member of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and thereby almost by definition is pre-disposed to addiction.

Not to say that you shouldn’t be careful with them, but if you use them as prescribed for legitimate short term pain management I would suggest that the risk of addition is relatively low.

canyam73,

I have experience with friends and family getting addicted to oxy. The most important thing is to never double up. When you do, you can create a situation where your body needs the double dose to relieve the pain. Also, never break the pills. This destroys the extended release feature and causes you body to get hit with a lot of oxy at once. This is another way to get addicted or dependent.

Set up a system for keeping track of when you take an oxy. Getting stressed by pain and forgetting when you took one last is not uncommon.

Are you icing your neck ? You should be.

My best to you.

Icing tends to make my pain worse MArk... I find heat much better. Icing tends to make the muscles tighter, and they are already like rocks. Heat makes things less tense, and doesn't increase the pain...

I am not breaking them... and now that I know, I will make sure never to.

I take one at night, and will be sure never to increase the dosage!

Thank you everyone for the info, I really appreciate it.

I have been addicted and through cold-turkey withdrawal twice in my life. The first time on morphine, the second time on Oxycodone. The morphine was much, much worse, though that doesn't say much; the oxy wasn't exactly fun.

For what you're saying I doubt if you'll have a problem with tolerance/addiction/withdrawal. In both cases for me it did take a while. About a year for morphine, and on a heavy schedule. Also about a year for the oxycodone, and only when I veered off into a very heavy dosage.

I currently continue to take Oxycodone as my principal pain medification, 6-7 a day.

The icing should be for joint injuries like neck and back. Inflammation can cause the muscle spasms. Reducing the inflammation may eventually help with the muscle spasms. Heat for muscles. Cold for joints.

You will likely benefit from finding a Physical Therapist with good skills with myofacial release. This can cause the spasming muscles to release. Some massage therapists have this training but personally, I would be hesitant with a massage therapist.

Thanks MArk... but icing the joint means icing the muscles too... But I'll have a talk with my physio therapist this week... I'm also being referred to another physiotherapist for aquatherapy. VERY happy about that. I now have an RMT (who I really like), a physio therapist (who's ok, not as good as my last one), a psychologist starting next week, and OT, and now aquatherapy... Oh, and a referral into the pain doctor I saw at the walk in, who is setting me up with a new RMT and physiotherapist who both specialize in neck/back/concussion issues!

Thanks for the advice MArk... I hope you know how valued you are here in the forum...