I would really like to hear some input on this subject.
Over the course of the last few months, my pain level has really increased. I have been taking Tylenol as needed, about 8-10 a day. Over the past few week the pain is worst and last longer, some times I can barely move and when I do the pain is a 10. I have a script for Oxycodone and since February up to last week, I have taken 3 pills. Last weekend the pain was so bad I took one on Saturday morning and I felt great, pain not gone but manageable and it seem to last most of the day. Yesterday was the worst "Pain Day" yet, I could not sleep, every time I moved it felt like someone was putting an Ice Pick in my lower back. This morning I took a Oxycodone at about 3am had a cup of coffee and just waisted some time on social media. At about 4:15am my eyes started to get heavy and I went and laid down slept for a hour and a half, I woke up back pain about a 2-3 and I feel like I can function like a Normal Person. I guess my struggle, how do I manage the pain with out becoming dependent on pain killers.
I can relate to your situation - not comparing because our situations are completely different - but can relate to the being in pain constantly and trying to find a balance between taking something to help with pain but looking to avoid dependence.
The truth is that on this subject, our mind can play tricks on us because of the amount of misinformation that we are told by the media. For example, at one point we were told we can take things like this with minimal worries of addiction and withdrawals. But then, now days they make it out like if people even use their prescriptions correctly, then they're going to get addicted.
So, that goes to the key question - how much can one use and for how long before addiction develops?
Most places that you read have an over-sensationalized answer to that question - because the truth is that it depends on a variety of factors - the individual, the dosage, etc.
The first thing that stood out to me in your post is the number of Tylenol that you take per day - which can be harmful for both your kidneys and your liver. If had known you were on that much Tylenol, that would have been one of the first things I would have said probably needed to change anyway.
I think that you're much safer to take the minimal amount of stronger pain medication to help you be comfortable and have a better quality of life.
There are two types of addiction when it comes to pain pills - physical and mental.
The mental addiction of them is liking the way that one feels on them - addiction can happen to anyone, but you aren't using them to get high. You're using them to stay out of pain. Are you supposed to like being out of pain? Absolutely. Will it suck to stop taking them at some point if the pain is still there? Of course. That doesn't mean you're addicted; it means you're human and you don't like being in pain.
The physical addiction to pain pills is when coming off of them, the physical discomfort and withdrawals that people go through once they stop taking them if they have been on them long enough to have developed a dependence on them.
Now, how does this pertain to you?
With everything you're going through, the withdrawal symptoms of coming off pain medication isn't as bad in your case as a lot of the things that you've unfortunately been having to feel and live with on a regular basis.
If you become dependent upon them and stop, will it suck for a week or two? Yes. But I think it would be much better for you to be pain free and do less damage on your kidneys and liver in the meantime and to have it suck for a couple weeks later on; and that part is an 'if' anyway.
The reason that I say that is an 'if' is because you have a good medical team that would likely ween you off of the pain medication. Most of the people that experience really bad withdrawal symptoms are people that their doctors just stopped prescribing them. That's not the case with you anyway.
Plus, let's say worst case - when you are in the hospital for 30 days after your transplant, they could ween you down then in a controlled environment.
I hope all of that makes sense.
There are natural options that will help you - like Joint Support XT and CurcuPrime Gel. You should use Joint Support XT daily and I would use CurcuPrime Gel on any joint, tendon, ligament pain areas - and do it daily, don't wait until you feel like you need them.
Pain pill wise - there are different strategies to avoid dependence - but I think that most important thing is you being out of pain. You could do a 2 on, 2 off; 4 on, 3 off; 5 on, 2 off - any of those types of structures to see how much better you feel and function on them. Doing the cycling type like that, you can also see if you feel any 'withdrawal' symptoms on the off days. But be careful not to overthink it because a lot of people freak themselves out so bad over it that they think they feel them even when they aren't really there if that makes sense.
I hope that helps.
in my triceps ? Since that didn't take long I thought I would dive over to Hershey's Chocolate World and pick my wife up a Reese's Snack Cake She really likes (This is the only place I have ever seen them) Traffic to get into Hershey Park was pretty backed up, but hey I got all day !! The only thing I did not consider in my plan was how far away I would have to park. It took me about 90 minutes to get in and out, I moved very slow and took it easy (again I was in no hurry) so I figured about 3 mile. So two birds one stone, I got my walk in and the wife will be happy. and I'm sure she will tell me I am crazy !! The rest of the day I relaxed and ran a few errands.
