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

Narcotic pain medications are a tough call to make. Opiates (the class of drugs that all narcotic pain medications fall into) are highly addictive, and honestly in my opinion are the real "gateway drug." That said, addiction and response to addictive substances varies from one person to the next. For example, any time my brother has been prescribed Hydrocodone for a short course acute issue, he has to stop himself from requesting a refill because he sees it as very easily becoming a problem. I on the other hand have never had a problem discontinuing use of the medication. My cousin has a very serious drug problem and progressed from prescription opiates to treat his many causes of pain to heroine (a much stronger and cheaper opiate). I do not tell you these things to frighten you or make myself seem better than others, I am simply saying there is not a black and white issue. Some people become addicted after a single dose, some have many courses of treatment with opiates and never get addicted.

That said, your mentality is the absolute best thing in your corner. You do not want to become dependent, and you are very cautious and conscious of your use of the medication, and that makes you less likely to become addicted. Also, using it only when experiencing pain beyond toleration also helps (If the medication is working to ease your pain, it's less likely to give you a high - in this way, dose is key. The medication should make you comfortable, not eliminate all possibility of experiencing pain.). Now, on the other side of that, pain is a treatable medical issue. Some pain is a good thing - sometimes it means your body is getting stronger, sometimes it's healing, and sometimes pain protects you from further harm or injury. But consistent high levels of pain are bad for you. Elevated blood pressure caused by pain puts you at high risk for cardiac issues. Lack of sleep can cause a number of problems as well including psychosis, so by all means please treat your pain, but work with your doctors to create a regimen that all of you are comfortable with and that works well with any other conditions or medical treatment you're receiving. Express your concerns of dependence, abuse, and addiction. A good dialogue between you and your doctors will go a long way in making you feel comfortable. 

Hey - i know ALL about this **** I was on MORPHINE for the bettter part of a year, and transitioned down to percocet 10s and then 5s....

One issues is dependency - your body will become dependent on them to control the pain. This isnt something you should worry too much about, because if your doctor follows standard pain management procedures, he should be able to wean you off appropriately and without too many side effects. All of my doctors have had a plan to get me off the pain pills by reducing frequency/dosages slowly over time and eventually transitioning to non narco pain killers if you need them. 

Addiction has a psychologial componenet - if youre not enjoying the high and looking forward to it,  you probably arent getting addicted to it. 

Take the pills. You can cause unwanted side effects and more harm to yourself. When you have such an injury (and ive ben though surgery for the compressed nerves) you need to take them. That kind of pain is unbearable., 

Im so sorry you are going through this pain. I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy. Let me know if you want to talk more about it. Im totally off drugs and never had any withdrawal symptoms or issues with addiction (and I have a long list of other addictions so it would have been very easy for me to become addicted - but i wanted a better life more than i wanted a pain pill). 

Absolutely I do not enjoy the feeling associated with taking the meds- I can't stand it actually.  I also can't stand being on them around my children- they are old enough to get it, but being imparied either through meds or alcohol is something I find embarrassing.  (No, I don't really drink- half glass of wine every so often is all.) 

Do you happen to know if there is something out there for nerve pain (non-addictive)??  I feel like the oxycodone works better from the surgical pain, but not so great for the nerve pain.  It does work better than the extra stength tylenol.  Here is the other weird thing- If I take 2 it seems to not work as well as just taking one.  WTF? 

Oh, and I found it incredibly reassuring that you mentioned you had a long list of other addictions, but managed the pain treatment without issues.  Thank you so much for that- I didn't realized how much I needed to hear that it can be done with out long-term problems. 

My only experience is that I've been on pain killers a lot because of kidney stones and back pain.  I think that if you're in pain, especially pain that keeps you from sleeping, you should be taking it.  Be aware of addiction, of course, but that awareness should help to prevent it.  

You could also ask your doctor for something that poses a smaller risk of addiction if you're concerned.  I'm a fan of tramadol, for example.  But you should not be suffering with pain, it keeps you from healing.  

I have been on a couple of different pain meds at the same time for several years and yes I am physically addicted but not mentally addicted. I will no doubt be on them for the rest of my life, thankfully I'm in my 60's, so it won't be 50 yrs on them. However I have had a spinal fracture that didn't heal right and severe arthritis thru out my body, even my poor little toes! My primary told me years ago " Life is to be lived not endured." when I was so afraid of getting addicted. He told me there is a big difference between controling pain and using them to hide from emotional issues. I've never abused them and always used them exactly as the doc prescribed, plus my current doc had me sign a pain contract. Recently I've had problems keeping my pain patches on and she is sending me to a pain clinic for reassesment and maybe different or stronger drugs than she can prescribe. I guess there is a limit how much a regular doc can dispense here. So as long as you can honestly say you are using them only for pain then you are probably ok, I would imagine you are on a very low dose anyway but for reconstruction the stretchers can be extremely painful from what I've been told. So don't worry too much about it, sorry you even have to deal with all of this!

I really feel for you.  I am terrified of being physically addicted.  My father had a fairly long period where he was able to kick the valium habit, but when my mother became very ill and eventually passed away from cancer he hit it pretty hard by then.  My older sister and I decided that due to his age, if that is what he wanted we would not intervene.  I on the other hand am way to flipping young for that approach. 

I think you've had lots of good advice and lots to think about and talk to your doctor about.  I have nothing to add but my prayers that you receive healing from your current pain, health that eliminates cancer from ever coming back in to your life and health practitioners that meet your every need in a manner that betters you and your life to such a degree that these worries no longer are warrented. God bless you!

do the tissue expanders stay forever Nd cause pain forever or will they eventually stop causing pain . 

If they will eventually stop causing pain,I would take the med until the pain stopped. Taking extra pills here and there,above and beyond what your surgeon has prescribed is what cuses addiction. Most ppl who take them as prescribed don't have hey problem with addiction. GL

No, they are temperoary.  I was initially told the process would take between 3 and 4 months until I could go back in for the silicone implants.  I am on a breast cancer board, and the women there are all saying that once you get the "squishies" (implants) all of this pain is done.  It is just a tissue expander problem that some women experience... there is something about my surgery that is causing some issues on my left side.  I needed the drain on that side several weeks longer than normal, which in turn pushed out how long the reconstruction process would take.  

Originally it was going to be very close to having the implants in at the beginning of my school year- in which case if I had to choose between starting the year on medical versus waiting until Xmas, I was going to wait.  But this is bothering me too much so I am going to have them removed as soon as I possibly can.