"my primary care physician put me on oxycontin for about a year and a half prior to having shoulder surgery. i had recently started a new job and did not have enough leave time to have the surgery. the only reason i survived and was able to work and have a half way normal life with less pain was through the use of oxycontin. when i was finally able to have the rotator cuff surgery, my surgeon said i would have to be off of oxycontin for at least a month prior to the surgery because he could not give me anything stronger for pain after surgery and feared i would have a tolerance and that oxy that would lessen the effect. no problem, i just stopped taking it. that was when the honeymoon was over."