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MedHelp Member's Question

JUST USING FOR PAIN

by Shea, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
PLEASE HELP!!!  I NEED ADVISE, OPINIONS and SHARED EXPERIENCES from my fellow addicts...



I have had a multitude of major reconstructive surgeries. And have chronic pain. I have been clean for 8 weeks now off of Vicodens. Had been addicted to some extent for 23 years. When I stopped using I was taking between 15-20 Vicoden ES a day.

he mental cravings are always strong but I have fought them off. Anyhow yesterday due to extreme pain  (seriously) I took one Vic Es. I was scared to death but I took it. Actually just one help relieve it some. after I took it I wasn't jonesing or anything (not anything more than the usual crave). And even though 1 helped it didn't jack me up a lot. I did notice a slight elevation in my mood and disposition. But nothing like taken 3 of them every 2-4 hours.

ANYHOW, I don't mean to drag this in forever. Today I go to see my doctor for my check up. I am very confused because I know I need something that I can take in times of serious pain. But I am afraid of becoming that hooked again. My question is: Is there a safe place as far as amounts and frequency. For instance if I took a pill maybe 3times a week is that asking for trouble. I have used so many other things that don't help, motrin, aleve, suldac etc.



I GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY INSIGHT.  Not only to I find the people on this forum to be warm and caring but I respect their opinions immensely.



PS If my doctor say no I will just say "well Thomas and Frank Lee said it was okay so you have to give them to me. ha ha "



thank you

shea
Member Comments (31)

by Shea, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
SORRY I POSTED THIS UNDER A NEW THREAD AND AN OLD ONE.



SHEA

by katie r, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
To: shea
Hey shea! You've helped me so much I wish I could help you now. I'm still at the point that I would never have the strength to NOT take the vic's.

My only thought ( and I may get blasted for this) is if your pain is that bad....maybe you need the pain med.

I'm sure that someone in the forum will have the right answer...maybe they will know about if taking in moderation will be ok.....I've yet to learn the meaning of moderation!

Is this the same dr. that didn't know his butt from a hole in the ground? If so.....Good luck! Post later and keep us updated.

We're here for you, friend.

by Shea, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
Hi,



katie, yes this is the same doctor. ha ha and he is still trying to figure it out.

So i go to see him and I try to be very honest about things. And i told him I have been clean now for 8 week and took the Vicoden yesterday. And he replied in extreme cases that might be okay. Then I ask him about a pain management doctor and he told me "they can teach me how to relax and that will help the pain" WHAT THE **** IS THAT? all my vertabras are fused together with my hip bones except the bottom four. They do nothing but rub togther. That is the only mobilty and it takes a beating. A lot of arthiritis in the entire spine. i have tried everything under the sun. Physical Theraphy, Tens unit, injections, blocks, steriods, anti-imflamitory, yada fuc*en yada. So he thinks relaxation might help. Anyhow, I stayed cool because I don't want it to seem like i am seeking the dugs. That is not it. I just need more than relaxation techniques. They have been in my back so many times I look like I was attacked by "jack the ripper on speed". ..So..is this my penance for abusing the pills, that now i have to suffer no matter how intense the pain is. ANY ADVISE on how to handle this. Also could someone tell me about "pain management doctors and addiction specialists. Should I be finding another doctor.  Desperate for some views.



Shea

by SHOTSY, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
To: Shea
My opinion is the quaity of your life. Are you a better for suffering? Does taking the med diminish your life or enhance it? That's why I first start coming here because I thought I had a problem. I realize from others that I don't. Yes I do like taking the med. but I'm not abusing it either. I was unaware at how many pain pills could be taken and not kill you. Anything over 4 a day I thought would cause harm. If you can take it to manage the pain instead of it managing you I believe it is approiate.  Of course I don't know if you have that ability. But I do think quality of life has to be considered and you have so much pain I don't see how that can be good for you. Let me know what you think. Sincerely, Shotsy

by cindi, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
Many Many times on this forum this has been the topic of discussion and it is a very good topic...I don't even recall if you were active on the board at the time but this seems to be a very big issued for many many people and understandably so...I am ad addict,  this I admit,,howver:  I am also a chronci pain person as well as a multitude of people on this earth...when I went into treatment 12 years ago I left the center 1 day early for some surgery that needed done asap and and was told that I was not able to take anything for pain,,,as a matter of fact i was told never again would i be able to take anything for pain   like I fool i believed them  so i took torodol and motrin...then I grew up  LOl  I like i think it was shotsy believe in the quality of life and if pain medication is needed to imrove upon one's quality of life, allow them to live pain free or as close to pain free as possible then what is the problem..?  Yes, we can and do build up a tolerance to our medication then it is up to the doc's to titrate the doeage accordingly and or change the medication all together if need be,,,,that is if you can find a doc that has not only the knowledge to do so but the willingness as well....good luck,,my hubby was one of the lucky one's  my threw me out....I have documented proof of the injuries to my back but no luck with docs..some fanatics in 12 step programs really frown against all medication,   I was lucky to have been told by an old time Na person that we don't have to play the martyr,,if we hurt  do something about it  along as it is legal and prescribed and we take the right doseage at the right time..when I gave birth the first time I was told i could take tylenol   yeah ok  I just pushed a watermelon out of my nostril and was not to feel any pain afterward?  LOl  the 2nd time I had a section that went terribly wrong and my belly split open..for a month...motrin was going to the job?  that doc was not right at all LOL...I keep insisting that pain medication was invented for a reason...to take care of pain..when a person is in pain post op or whatever  studies have proven (including studies that I conducted when i worked as a nurse) that patients do recover more rapidly while taking the proper medication than they would if they were receiving the wrong med or the wrong doseage..just because we are addicts does not mean we have to live in pain   PERIOD.....good luck   I hope I have helped,,,,,love to all   cin

by Shea, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
To: shotsy cindi and katie
thank you for your reply. I agree about the quality of life. It has been 8 weeks since i detoxed, and yes maybe i needed to do that to get control of my addiction but it has been 8 weeks of terrible pain. As far as moderation i can't say for certain. I would like to think i can put to say yes would be assuming I can do something I just got done proving i can't. But i sure don't want to ever get out of control again so i would certainly try my hardest and hope if I did i would put a stop to it. I know my husband would keep tabs also and in this case that is good.



the problem is when i went to the Dr. today i really thought he would suggest I take it as prescribed. Instead he just said "I am out of ideas and a pain management is just going to teach ya to relax." And when he suggested in extreme cases i could take something I knew where I stood. Do you think there is another way to approach him? should I find another doctor? I am so frustrated. thank you kind ones for you advice...



shea

by kstuebin, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
To: shea
I don't know, being a benzo freak, although I've done my share of opiates, but I was once told that if you take opiates for pain, you can't become addicted.  Guess that's not true. If you are in pain and drugs work, take the damn drugs. So you're a drug addict. You can be a miserable person suffering all the time and hey, that's a great life right? or you can be a drug addict and be relatively comfortable. Isn't this really about some kind of value judgement. It's not like you're out there robbing banks to support your habit or hurting anyone.  As far as that goes, why can't we all just medicate ourselves so we feel like human beings?  When I'm not on my benzos I'm a real pyscho b*tch. I'm the woman who gave you the finger on the freeway yesterday.  I really wanted to use a grenade launcher. That's a real improvement on being an addict isn't it.  Just cut my dose again so I need to rant. Sorry. But Shea, how in the world can someone manage your kind of pain with relaxation therapy.  I believe in mind over matter to a certain extent but this sounds really bizarre.

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
To: Shea
I have to agree with the person that spoke about quality of life. About every four months, I write a detailed letter to my doctor describing the quality of my life.  My medical records speak for themselves as far as to why I could be in pain.  I'm sure your's do,too.  



Little things that most healthy people take for granted are a challenge for chronic painers.  Like getting on and off the toilet for instance.  How about being able to dress yourself without falling over?  Things like stairs,etc.



I get to feeling guilty and scared about the amount of narcotics I use to be able to function, myself.  I'll detox for a couple of weeks and lay low.  In short, I really know how you feel.  I wish I had some profound answers, but I don't. I always end up back on pain meds before long.  Relaxation?  What's that?  J.B.

by Francoise, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
To: Shea
Hey Shea:



Here's where you want to go. It's a big site with lots of issues and stuff, but you'll find what you need here:



http://www.widomaker.com/~skipb/panic.html



This organization is doing the Lord's work as far as I'm concerned. We've lost the war on drugs. Did so decades ago. But you know governmental inertia. Now there's all sorts of people making all sorts of money off the war on drugs, so now it's likely to be permanent. In the meantime, people who are in pain are told to just suffer. It's far worse than just a plain old garden variety lack of ethics; it's actual evil in my opinion.



Anyway, peruse the site. I think you'll find what you need.



Note when you can.



Francois

by cindi, Oct 03, 2001 12:00AM
To: Shea and francoise
Francoise,,,excellent Idea and skip can help  my husband found help in that group...my sisiter also did find help there..I never tried it since i thought my dod was great....FOOLED ME HUH?  a pain