Addiction to pain killers (Oxycodone)- how much is too much?

I know this has nothing to do with WLS.  I had a TT last December and am currently recovering from a double mastectomy.  The pain killer prescribed has been Oxycodone, and it is addictive, and I have using it off and on for almost 6 months now.  I am a bit of a freak about worrying that I will inadvertanly become hooked, and consequently avoid taking it.

 Thing is, the damn tissue expanders that I am currently dealing with keeps compressing a nerve, and by the time my work day is done I am sore as all get out.  Last week I worked 4 consecutive days and barely friggin' made it through.  I only have 2 weeks until summer, so I am focused on trying to figure out a way to manage the pain to keep me in the classroom.  With all that said- does anyone know how long it takes to habitualize to the drug?  I can't sleep very well at night (at all) because of the pain, and taking a dose makes a huge difference.  Right now I only allow myself to take a dose every third night- but I am exhausted from the lack of sleep on the nights that I don't take it.  If I take it on work nights for 2 weeks (assuming the pain level continues as is) am I dancing with the devils so to speak?

If you do some in depth research you will find that people who use narcotics to deal with actual pain and use the narcotic as prescribed are far less likely to get hooked. There was a study about 40 years ago that looked at the use of morphine in soldiers recovering from battle injuries. Those soldiers who used morphine only for pain did not get hooked. It was the soldiers who began to use the morphine to cope with lingering pain and emotional situations that got hooked.

My sister in law has been hooked on Oxy twice now. She suffers from debilitating migraines (believe me she's seen every specialist from here to the Mississippi!) and there is very little that works for her. Both times she started abusing the Oxy to deal with emotional issues, not the real pain of the migraine. Got rebound headaches, etc....

You need to sleep. I'd speak to your oncologist and surgeon about your concerns and in concert with them develop a pain management program with which you can live. Suffering pain because you're afraid that you MIGHT become addicted is sort of like what my pop calls "Borrowing Trouble from the Future".

Just my two cents.

I am a big believer in if you need the medication for pain to live your daily life- take it.  I would also check with your doctor.  At times, besides pain medication, my husband's pain specialist will boost it with Motrin and also Tylenol.  He is on a certain schedule so the pain does not get ahead of him.   There are also different medications that you may be able to take to sleep.  Do NOT suffer. This is just a short time.  Your medical team can help you figure this out.  My husband sees a pain specialist from Sloan Kettering and he has helped him quite a bit.  He also asks the am I addicted question.  The doctor says no for the same reasons given by Devon.

Good luck in your journey.

Nancy

I don't know very much about oxycodone but I do take Tylenol 3 for back pain and a healing broken foot. I only take the med when needed. I agree with the others that suffering pain is very unnecessary whereas your need for sleep is necessary. You have been through a lot recently. Perhaps you could call your pharmacist about the possibility of addiction.

I would only venture that two weeks would not a habit make. Good luck finishing to year.

MANY HOSPITALS HAvE PAIN MANAGEMENT centers  that can help you control the pain and prevent you from becoming addicted

there are many different drugs they can use, pills, patches, there is electo therapy , see if your hospital has one

I agree with everyone else so far, and say if you need it take it.  Once you're out for summer vacation, you shouldn't need it anymore, right?

That being said, if there is a history of addiction to any substances in your immediate family you may want to discuss that with your doctor, so he can be more scrutinizing of any requests for refills that you make in the future.  Not saying that you would become addicted, but the doctor should dig a little deeper to make sure that you really need it and aren't starting to rely on it too much.

Yes... there is a history of family members having addiction issues on my fathers side.  My father dealt with a life long addiction to valium, my uncle overdosed on prescription meds after battling it for years, etc.  I absolutely do not want to follow that path. 

Thank you everyone for your input- especially the part about the previous research.  I worked in a VA hospital for a decade, and used to have patients with addictions to various pain killers.  The one reoccuring theme from them is that they started with an injury (especially a back injury), were prescribed the drug, and became addicted.  My experience dealing with cancer over the last few years is that the docs are very, very quick to prescribe narcotics.  In the early years, my husband would fill every single prescription and they would just pile up here at the house.  If I was one to not be so paranoid about becoming addicted, I could totally see how one could easily do so given how incredibly easy it is for a cancer patient to be over- prescribed pain meds.  Consequently, I have always been a little hesitant about the pain meds. I have an appointment coming up shortly and will talk with the doc about it, and in the mean time just take the crap.  Ugh. 

I am an Alcohol & Drug Detox nurse.  If it was me I would talk to my doctor about fixing the area with possible surgery or prescribe another medication alternative that is non-narcotic to relieve your pain. Keep in mind anything we put in our bodies that altars the brain easily becomes an addiction out of habbit.  Many of us are addicted to food, not by intention but out of habbit in which its the same for "workaholics".  Becareful, its a thin line. Some Dr.s' will prescribe narcotics because they know thats what youve been taking & it works so they give it to you again to keep you happy, which is wrong.  I hope this helps. :) 

I am going to ask about this.  On my last (and only) fill it caused the tissue expanders to shift off of whatever nerves they were messing with.  Because the pain was immediately relieved there in the doctor's office, when he said to take some motrin for occasional pain it made sense.  Once the expanders shifted on me though, aleve nor extra strength tylenol works even minimally.  I will ask if there is something stronger and non-addictive at the next appointment.