"after a series of operations on my lower back the nerve scarring caused chronic pain. after being prescribed one pain medication after another i was finally referred to a pain specialist. in 2000 i was put onto oxy-contin at 30mg twice a day. after less than 3 months i suffered very bad withdrawal symptoms after missing the morning dose. the pain during those hours seemed to increase tenfold. by 2003 the dose had increased to 60mg three times a day. i have now been taking oxycontin for 9 years. i still have break through pain that keeps me from most activities and my heart and lungs have been affected. i would like to stop taking the medication but have bad withdrawals."