"my doctor took me through a number of different medicines prior to starting oxycontin. i have found that i sleep and eat better on oxycontin. more importantly i function better on oxycontin, including being able to care for myself. since i began taking it my insurance tried to force me to the &quot;generic&quot; oxycodone er. oxycodone made me physically ill whenever it released, it&#039;s continued use would have made me totally reliant on outside help as i live alone with closest family over 2,000 miles away. since the oxycodone affair we have tried other medicines and nothing works as well without the physical illness. i have ankylosing spondylitis and am looking at chronic pain."