was on 30mg with 10mg breakthrough, then 20mg with 10mg. being a recovering alcoholic it is a concern. never abusing my meds, if anything, i could be my worst enemy. i am on so many medications i took it upon myself and stopped at 20 and 10, i needed to know what kind of pain i was going to be left with. i remain on the 10mg oxycodone HCL 5 doses in a day. i start with 20mg in the morning to get my body out of bed, it's never ending. thank you for your reply. i believe you are both right. i cannot return to work at the end of this month, something i was praying for. i feel as if life has stopped for me. again many thanks. keep the suggestions coming

Hi again -- I'm a recovering alcoholic too, but that doesn't mean I'm destined to a life of agony. I take pain medications because I HAVE to in order to walk! But I take them ONLY as prescribed, and never more. In fact, if we DON'T take meds to ease the pain, we could very well start thinking of "other" ways to ease the pain -- if you get my drift. LOL

As long as we realize that these drugs have the potential to ruin our lives, we'll be okay. Personally, I HATE taking them. If at ANY time I feel a "buzz" or a "high" from any of them, that's the day I'll stop taking them.

Make sure you're not undermedicated -- living in severe pain is not the way to live. God bless & please take care. Hugs, Lee

thanks Lee,
my pain is constant, and being very aware of what could happen, is just another reason not to p/u. i do believe in my physical being that mentally we are blessed to use the tools we need to apply. having a nuclear stress test i sadly learned i had a silent heart attack. if anything i am aware of my body. to learn of the attack just confirms how a person should always ALWAYS have an advocate. IT MOST CERTAINLY IS NOT IN MY HEAD.

thank you, eva

Hi Eva -- I had a silent heart attack too !!! Thankfully it didn't do any permanent damage to the heart. But they've put me thru a battery of tests, and later this month I'll wear a Holter Monitor for 24 hours.

The added stress of chronic pain certainly doesn't help. If our doc's can at least keep us "relatively" comfortable (not pain-free) it would help matters immensely! But so often they're reluctant to prescribe the adequate meds needed.

NO it is NOT in your head, for heavens sakes. You have plenty of proof of that.

I wish you the very best. You're in my prayers. Hugs, Lee

hi lee;
hope all is well. thanks for keeping up. no call yet. spoke to one of the 10 or more women he has working for him, but the one that answers calls couldn't be any kinder. i last spoke with her this past friday, she let me go on. she assured me that she will once again attach yet another message with x-ray and report that i called awaiting fusion results, yes once again. she was sweet.

i have since the x-ray on 9-7-11 have very important decisions that must be made. last year on 9-20-10 a visit visit for myself at the er my sister had taken me into a nyc hospital, i was unable to return back at work the next few days, having time factoring everything that has been happening i on 9-22-10 took a 6 month leave from my job (municipal for 7 years full time with my insurance and work at stake). anyhow not fusing 1st time around i took a second consecutive 6 month leave for surgery#2 don't know how the fusing is coming along, FOR I STILL WAITING. he knows i had hoped to return working. 9-22-11 will be 1 year in total, and about to loose my job (with my insurance). my ssd covers all responsibilities as far as bills are concerned, but now i'll be forced to take roads i've never been on, getting insurance for myself my, 13 year old shouldn't have a problem getting medicaid but for myself, this should be interesting.

take good care! again thanks

eva