As I've read about this medication I've found that it's *not* a good idea to quit "cold turkey" as that could cause tachycardia, (fast heartbeat) diaphoresis, ( profuse sweating) headache, and gastrointestinal cramps. Neurontin can also cause anorgasmia (absence of an orgasm in sexual relations, as if that's possible anyway when you cannot feel a damn thing below your chest. Trust me, I've checked) so who knows what *may* happen when I'm finally off the damn stuff. Apparently a dead stop of neurontin causes symptoms similar to benzodiazepine or alcohol withdrawal.

After finding out all this wonderfull stuff about one of my meds it's no wonder I don't want to be on it any longer huh. So in order to avoid all the neat stuff that can happen when going off the stuff I've been ramping down slowly over the last 2 months. I'd been on 9 to 1500 milligrams a day back then and I'm down to 300 now. Problem is I've noticed (almost continously) greatly increased pain levels in the areas where I should feel nothing. My right side right at belt level. Both halvs of my ass. The backs of my thighs, kneecaps, and big toes. All have that 'electrical' feeling I mentioned a few days ago (go to the lightplug, insert finger) with the added bonus of the afore mentioned parts feeling like they're being boiled as well. Plus my "jewels" have that "ben-gay in the jockstrap go take a shower before you notice" feeling. It's lots of fun, lemme tellya. The one particular spot on my ass that's under the care of the Enloe Wound-Care folks *really* hurts... So much that I'd like to spend all my time awake laying on my belly if I can. Buuuuuut I can't, so I deal with it. All with trying not to eat too much percocet as that stuff *does* kill the pain eventualy, but I need to take so much of it to get that to happen that it makes me *really* stupid. Percocet contains Oxycodone, which is derived from the opium alkaloid thebaine, a minor constituent of opium. So in a nutshell I'm trying not to take an opium derivitive to help me deal with the pain caused by reducing the intake of a different drug that makes me stupid. Nice huh? boutalk at a viscious circle. Hurt, or be Dumb.
One thing that's happening is that my pain threashold is getting *quite* a bit higher. 3+ years ago if I found myself in the same amount of pain I'm in right now I'd prolly be in the ER missing a limb or something. Now tho it's just the norm. Sometimes it goes up, sometimes down, but it never ever goes away. My absolute favorite (so far) is the muscle spasms in my back which cause the Costotransverse joint to dislocate causing the feeling of being shot with a nailgun right there in my back. I have to stop whatever I'm doing instantly and wait for the spasm to pass or it gets a great deal worse. Like someone taking one of those spiral nails and twirling it there in the joint. It's great.

So I dunno if all this pain I've been feeling in the past few days / weeks is due to the burns on my feet and the dime sized pressure sore on my ass, or the reduction in neurontin, or both. I do know that my spasms have greatly increased to the point that I try to throw myself out of the chair at least 10 times a day. I've learned to predict the spasms and (at least in the last week) have gotten lucky and managed to stay in the damned thing during the rodeo. I hate to think I may have to ramp the neurontin does back up, but I think that decision may have to wait untill I've healed. Who knows how long that'll take tho as pressure sores don't heal when there's pressure on them, and with one on my ass I don't know how I can avoid sitting on it for a few hours a day.

The hidden advantage to my current decrepid condition is that I *may* be able to convince OWCP in general and my 'ol Buddy Mike Hooker in particular to sign off on getting me a little help around the house once or twice a week. An aid might cost them $50 to $75 a week depending on hours and rate. That's (If my math's right) FIFTEEN YEARS of someone coming by once a week to help me out. I'm not askin' for much, I don't think. Apparently tho Hooker seems to think I'm trying to rape and pillage the good will of Workman's Comp or something.

The one thing that pisses me off the most about this whole broken back bullshit is the giving never ends. I'm in a chair. I have no tactile feeling below my chest. I can't tell when I have to go to the bathroom, I have to guess. (getting god at it, haven't pissed my pants lately) I get to drive a big 'ol gas hoovering snipervan that's hilariously expensive to get any maintence (brakes) done. I can't reach shit on the top shelf nor can I pick up anything heavy. When I finally do get something on my lap be it a pencil or a cinderblock I'll be damned if it doesn't try to fall off 3 pushes ("steps" to a cripple) later. With all the shit I have to deal with every day, is it absolutely necessary for me to have the choice between mind-numbing pain and mind-numbing pills? Cripes I must really have been an ass in a previous life to deserve this shit. .

On a completely different thought line- Here's a little somethin' that's been bothering me:
Every time I see the Cialis commercial it states "Although a rare occurrence, men who experience an erection for more than 4 hours (priapism) should seek immediate medical attention."
Now I'm far from a doctor, but I've been an EMT for quite a while... And I cannot imagine what the ER Docs woulld do if someone came in with this sort of a "problem". I would hand the guy an icepack and tell him to "think churchy thoughts" or something. Seriously. What the hell's hte treatment for that?

Oh yeah, school starts on the 23rd of this month so anything I've wanted to do this summer has to be done by then as I'm too old to waste another semester dickin' around getting my life straight. So don't expect much outta me after that as I'd like to get passing grades in everything this semester. Hopefully I'll be able to if I can get all the way off the dumbass pills.