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MedHelp Member's Question

Take pain meds despite addiction???

by Racheal, Nov 04, 2000 12:00AM
I've been addicted to alcohol and prescription pain med.s since I was 14, at 17 I got into recovery and received treatment. I've relapsed twice in the past year both on pain meds. I've got a kidney blockage due to a kidney stone, I've had this for about a month and a half. It is VERY painful. In the begginning I used pain meds to deal with the pain. It became a huge problem as I began taking more than I was supposed to, taking them when I wasn't in pain. So I sopped nearly a month ago and am just doing without. The pain is wearing me down and seems to be getting worse. So my question is should I just start taking it again despite the problems I've had or should I continue to do without? I mean would it be too risky to start up again? My doctor doesn't seem too concerned but he also doesn't seem to knowledgable about recovery either. Can you help me with this, anyone?
Member Comments (31)

by To sick and scared from Neena, Nov 04, 2000 12:00AM
My opinion, if you read other posts, is quite clear.  I have been clean of Vicoden ES for 6 days.  I was addicted consistantly for approx. 8 mos. or so, maybe longer.  Sometimes I would get the pills from a doctor, other times a friend had tons of them in trade for canned goods, old baby clothes, etc...Nevertheless, I never was without the goods.  I was hopelessly going downhill, drinking booze all the while too!  One day I realized that I was taking them when I did not even have the pain.  And, I was taking more and more to get the same effect.  Two weeks ago, I bottomed out.  This was MY secret.  I hid it from everyone, even my hubby.  Please try not to take the pills unless you are dying of pain.  Cut them in half and each day step down till there are none.  You DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WANT TO GO THROUGH WITHDRAWALS AT HOME ALONE.  I became horribly sick.  I was almost rushed to the hospital, but chose on my own to suffer the consequences, the shakes, vomiting, etc...I wanted to die.  You are risking alot if you already know that you are addicted to this stuff.  Please ask your doctors to prescribe another medicine...not opiates.  I had to be very honest with everyone.  It was embarrassing and humiliating, but my life was at risk and I decided that I wanted to live.  Good Luck, Neena

by Deja to Vicodin Girl, Nov 06, 2000 12:00AM
Hi Neena,

I am new here and posted above under "Off Topic but need feedback".  I can really understand your dilemna.  We *need* relief from the horrid pain we suffer from!  I believe that being undermedicated causes us more problems in the way of drug seeking behaviors (just to get some relief) and having easy access to what we crave tempts us to indulge in destructive over-medicating.  It's a freaking double edged sword.  I ended up putting my trust in the hands of the doctor that is treating me.  If you really need serious pain relief than you should be afforded that (in my humble and maybe useless opinion).  Do you have someone that can control your daily doses?  My husband fills my bottle for the day with what I was prescribed.  I am down to not taking it all on my own.  It's just a comfort having it there.  



I don't understand why those of us in chronic debilitating pain are forced to live not only with the pain but with the guilt and stigma that goes along with being "dependant".  What a crappy position to be in.  



Let me know if you want to chat sometime.  I have ICQ or can give you my email address.



Feel better and stay strong :)

deja

by for Sick and scared/beware of Vicky!!, Nov 06, 2000 12:00AM
There is a major difference between being an addict and being a chronic pain sufferer that "depends" on narcotics for pain.

I am just like the rest of you on here. There are some that take narcotics for "fun" while others truly depend on it to maintain a decent quailty of life while we are destined to live with pain due to physical problems that cannot be corrected.

I felt like a drug seeker looking for a caring doctor ( LOL YEAH RIGHT!!) and they are scared to treat me long term for pain. So I am clean.......have not had narcotics on a regular basis in three years with the exception of having a root canal or dental abcess once or twice in the past two years which in turn I was given narcotics for pain. That was the only time I was out of pain due to severe back problems. So, I am here, taking advil by the handfuls.....3 tablets every 4 hours. How safe can that possibly be? This is a choice I do not have right now.

I was given a great website to help people like us learn the difference between being an addict or being dependent on narcotics to ease our suffering. I learned from this site that there is truly a difference.

Anyone wishing more information please email me at

***@****

Thanks

by HedHurtz, Nov 13, 2000 12:00AM
I was reading all the posts here and I am so relieved to hear that I am not the only one suffering. I suffer from Chronic Headache Syndrome and Attention Deficit Disorder (adult onset). I too have been to countless doctors and psychiatrists ( who thought I was just imaginging this pain)only to find a Neuro that put me on a regimen of meds that acutally allevtiated the pain. This was 4 years ago! I am prescribed Fioricet every 4 hours, every day for pain, and 40 mg Adderall (amphetamine) for ADD. Now, think about it every day for four years, how could I not become addicted? How could my body not become immuned to the meds where I have to take more to alleviate the pain? Could I have avoided this. I tried to go back to my prescribed dose,  but that's like taking nothing at all. Does this mean I have to start all over with another medication? I have tried them all! I finally have a great job, I couldn't hold a job because of pain before. THIS IS A VICIOUS CYCLE. Does anyone know of a website for people like us? Can I talk to someone? Please help!!!!!

by To Brighty and everyone, Nov 13, 2000 12:00AM
First off I'd like to thank everyone who replied, I really appreciate you taking the time to give advie. Brighty, I wish I could help you there (about non-addictive pain meds) I've got 2 surgery dates coming up. One in early december the other sometime in January and was told that the only non-addictive pain medications I could take wouldn't hold a candle to the narcotics. It's frustrated as everything isn't it? Well thanks all,

Racheal

by Brighty to All---my 2 cents and a big qu, Nov 13, 2000 12:00AM
From all the reading I've done right here in the past 7 months it is evident to me that there is a difference between chronic pain and the need to get high. I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams that anyone would consider the true sufferer of chronic pain to be a true addict. It also appears that many true addicts are created by the use of narcotics for short term pain problems... then the desire to use escalates long after the pain is gone. I am also horrified at what uninformed and careless doctors are doing to human beings who really should not not be given narcotics in many cases because the risk of addiction is so high. These same doctors seem to be the ones who then send the same patient to an addiction doctor. LOL !!! The vicious cycle just continues. Notice that these services are not free either... someone is profiting from this.. big time.  My observation is that someone with chronic pain should just forget this whole business of getting clean.... but then again, once the beast is born it seems to be a fine line as to who is really dependent and who is addicted. Once tasted, opiates enslave physically and the psychological factor is just as easily created. Seemingly problem free folks seem to self justify the reasons for continuing use long after pain is gone and the RX has run out. I can't get it into my head why, with all the hi-tech and multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical know how in this world, that there is not yet an effective and totally non addictive pain medication available. Am I jaded to think that there is so much money made in the addiction industry that the drug I am referring to is purposely being suppressed ?? Does opium still have the monopoly on pain relief ?? It doesn't seem to be such a big thing to develop. And yet every time I inquire about a "safe non-addictive" pain reliever there is not much stronger than anti-inflammatory analgesics. Even the non-opiate stuff like Ultram behaves like an opiate in that it attaches to an opiate receptor... alot of good that is... still addictive. Something is wrong here.... all this $$$$ spent on research and addiction still not overcome for pain relief. I am mad and just needed to vent. Can any one here help me with information on those types of drugs that a recovering addict can use safely for things like oral surgery, minor surgery and short term pain situations. Thanks to all for all the support you offer. Love, Brighty

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Nov 14, 2000 12:00AM
It certainly has been a long time since you posted.  I am glad to hear that your daughter is doing so well!  You have been fighting long and hard to save her life and I can relate to that sooo well.  We all need a Mom like you in our lives!  I know that you are busy but drop us a line once in a while and let us know how things are going.  Your ideas speak volumes of hope for the afflicted here.