Need some tapering advice

[onyR]

Hello everyone.

I just need some advice.

I am a young man, working at home with two small children. I have a herniated disk at the L4S1 and take Vioxx 50mg and Hydrocodone 7.5/500 daily.

Right now, I'm taking around six per day of the Vicodin and know my body has become dependant on it. If I don't take it, not only does my back throb, but I get the WDs.

I am having surgery this month to fix the back problem, because it's not getting better.

After that, I'm sure I will have to take meds for the pain for a little while, but what is the recommended tapering program most people use? It is one less per week? Two less?

I'm sure many here have tried this method and just need some ideas.

THANKS!

------------------
L5-S1 herniated 2003
ESI round one May 2003
ESI round two June 2003

[Philster2003]

Arrow, if you search on Taper or my name you can find a few schedules I did for some folks here, it should give you an idea if how it works. It's basically by adding time in-between doses. That will effectively put you on a 5 or 10% reduction schedule which should keep you out of serious W/D distress.

Let me know if you need more or can't find the info

phil

[cousincatfish]

Arrow I would send the pill to work with the wife or out of reach, all those exept what you are using for your taper. This will mark a commitment. If not when those kids get to being kids we both know what COULD happen.(run to the bottle) Good luck and Philster is one you can trust.

CF

[rlcowboy]

Hey, since you are being prescribed these meds from your doctor and you are about to have surgery I wouldnt worry just yet about getting off them because after your surgery you will probably come home with much stronger meds for a while and over all you will probably be on some kind of pain meds for a few more months. But after your surgery your doctor will start taking you down to weaker meds and then he will tapper you off. I speak from experience because I just had a spinal fusion 5 months ago (L5 TO S1). Most likley your doctor should help you with this but if not I would check out some of the Philster's tapper plans. Its just too hard to say how much longer you will actually need to be on narcotic pain meds, but its gonna be a while for sure if you are going to have back surgery http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif

[rlcowboy]

Also, I wanted to say, if you are not abusing your pain med. and are taking them for your pain then more times than none you will not have a problem comming off them after your surgery, I know when I came home from the hospital they sent me home with oxycontin and percocet, so you can expect some stronger pain meds for a while, just dont take more than prescribed and you will be just fine http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif Rlcowboy http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif