I've read a good thread from last year about narcotic withdrawal, coming off 5mg oxys.

I'm on 5mg Targin twice a day. Targin must not be very common, it has only ever been mentioned twice in OCF, both by Australians. Targin is oxycodone and naloxone. The naloxone is an anti-opioid agent which kills the "high" and also prevents the bowel falling asleep and constipating. I was hospitalised in April for constipation, and I've been on Targin ever since. I was on a nightly Endone as well but we stopped that a while ago.

I have the same body pain described in the narcotic thread. The throat/swallowing pain is down to 2 or 3 out of 10, but when it comes anywhere near the 12 hour mark on my Targin, I am like an old man. Body aches especially in my back, at least 5 or 6. Its real pain, real discomfort. Its not made up or in my head. I get no high or anything pleasant out of the Targin other than the absence of the pain.

I've said many times to the doctor, if these symptoms are just dependence or addiction and I just have to go through some discomfort while I come off them, just let me know and I'll do that. But she has consistently said that if the pain continues then the body is saying it needs it. The RO concurred when I saw him last month.

I am 6 months out from treatment. I'm just starting back at work, half days a couple of days a week. I could not hope to be better supported at work, but its pretty overwhelming going back after 9 months (so many well meaning well wishers asking how I'm doing, but really driving me nuts). In the last week or so I've noticed a real increase in this back pain, and the 12 hourly Targin is barely managing it. I'm worried it might be related to some underlying anxiety about work. I don't feel anxious about work, but the timing can't be a coincidence.

Of course I know I'm not an addict, that implies some manner of choice. But am I dependent? I know we say a full recovery can take a couple of years, but how long is too long for painkillers? Is this "body pain" thing part of the recovery or a symptom of dependence? I have had some similar muscular pain before, but that was caused by anemia because of the low protein diet. I had bloods done yesterday so the doctor can eliminate that when I see her next week when I'll have a long chat about everything.

At 6 months, I believe you should be off pain meds. Long term use can also damage the small intestine, not from constipation.

Pain in the back can be from sitting at a desk and gets worse with computer use. If you haven't been real active, the areas that usually flare up first are the lower back, hips, knees and upper back. Physio can help but I think they move too gradual and start to easy. There are stretched and things that help.

I was on 150 mcg/hr of fentanyl patches for about 6 months and weaned off in short time. 5 mg withdrawal shouldn't be noticeable.

If you aren't drinking enough water, that makes muscles hurt, too. We all have different hydration needs but constipation and muscle pain points to hydration issues. Dry skin is another sign. If you start with Christine's suggestion and go up gradually from there, you will find what works best for digestion, skin and mental clarity.

Any radiated tissue in the throat will hurt a lot more when dry, too. Constant sips versus guzzling water helps keep the throat moist. Too much water at once can bring on a bunch of other problems.

If you strengthen the upper and lower back, you should see some results within 2-3 weeks. There are some simple stretches like laying in your back and bringing your knees to your chest and holding for 20 seconds, with the small of the back as flat to the ground as possible. Also, sitting in your knees, bending down with the arms stretched out will help the shoulders. Find where it hurts and gentky stretch in that direction. It hurts because the muscles are bound up and sometimes nerves shifting in the bound up area. Another one is laying flat in your stomach with your arms straight out, perpendicular to the body with a clenched fist. Point the thumbs towards the ceiling and try to lift them arms up. Imagine reaching the pointed outward thumbs towards the ceiling, lifting the arms as high as possible. This stretches the rhomboids and scapular rotation muscles. They will atrophy if you don't do this regularly.

I hope this helps in some way.

Thanks Uptown. Its distressing that the doctor can't explain where the pain is coming from our when it will stop. I'm more active now and more conscious of my food and water intake than ever before. Its a shame the body doesn't come with a user manual!

Just a follow up on this one. I saw the GP and went through the pain symptoms, the patterns of when it gets worse and what activities make it better or worse. The bloods came back slightly anemic but nothing drastic. She has added Panadaol Osteo to titrate with the Targin, and sent me off for acupuncture. We'll see how that goes.