Mythbusting,anyone?

I'm sitting here reading all your stories and so many of us started out due to an injury or chronic pain and it's got me wondering,"Is there any such thing as being treated for the pain(with opiates) and not being addicted? I've heard that if u have legit pain then the drugs go to the pain and not to your head-Is that just a myth or what? I'd like to hear some thoughts on this if possible.Thanx.

[jenny8575309]

I think so.  I have heard of people that take this drug as prescribed, and it works for them for pain.  I think anyone will go through some sort of w/d's depending on their dosage.  To me addiction is a compulsion to use.  The inability to control your drug use.  Not being able to stop once you start.  Placing drugs ahead of family, jobs, responsibilities, etc.  An addict is someone whose life is controlled by drugs.  

[keywhite]

You are absolutely right jen, addiction is a drug seeking behavior.  Dependence and tolerance are physiological actions.  When you take a drug for a certain length of time your body becomes physiologically dependent and tolerant(needing more for the same results).  When you quit your body goes through withdrawal whether you are psychologically addicted or not.  Addiction is a drug seeking behavior that cannot reason with right or wrong.

[Savas]

Ugh...I had a doctor tell me that once (pain-non addiction). It was possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard a doctor say.

These drugs are physically addictive no matter what physio-babble they try to tell you. Why do you think they invented LDM therapy for recovering cancer patients coming off heavy pain med usage?

You can be addicted to drugs and not be an addict. (although they usually go hand in hand). I suppose to be technically correct you'd call it a chemical dependency if you had no addictive drug seeking behavior. But these terms get tossed around so casually they all tend to be used the same.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Absolutely...it's called dependence. :-) Seriously, some can take for years and not abuse them. That doesn't mean they won't have w/ds, but they don't require the drugs as a crutch. We however....

     I have often wondered if there is a certain gene that makes our personality the addictive type. The is truth to this in alcoholism. i.e. some nationalities have a far greater risk in becoming alcoholics.

[natalile]

Yes you can become addicted & for your doc to say other wise is really stupid of them. Have he/she laye'd out a plan on how long you are going to be on the opiates for?. If not you will need a plan. You don't want to be useing them enyl onger than you really really need to be.
Or is there eny other pain med's non  - addictive for your pain?.
You haven't said if you are on the med's?.
But as other's have said they will do what the doc say's aas in take away the pain. But you can become dependent on them without even realising so.
I hear so many people in here that got addicted due to there doc.
You start to have a tendancy to use more than you really need to as they mack you feekl better. But there doe's come a time to stop. & sooner rather than later is the best opition everytime in my opinion
Peace & all the best Nat xx
Keep us posted :)

[LukeL]

With certian meds there is a very high rate of addiction. With Oxycotin you can become an addict even by following doctors orders 100%.

But if you only take the meds when you need them and never double up, you probably won't become hooked.

On the flip side you need to ask your self, is it better to be dependent on a pill to feel better, or be in constant pain.