Alcohol and Opiates

[lifegetsbetter]

My addiction with Vicodine and Soma, started at 17, with 28 pills a week of each and drinking on top of that. I had lower back pains and finally everyone thought they were in my head.  After my doctor retired, the pharmacy continued to fill these scripts for an additional two years without verifying with the doctors office.  Once that ran out, I turned 21 and became a full alcoholic going.  I ended up getting married, still a practicing alcoholic went to rehab twice and nothing seemed to happen.  Once I found that I was honest with myself of why I was drinking things changed.  I was drinking because I was depressed, because I was scared of telling someone I was gay.  I have been sober now for over seven years from alcohol and the feeling is wonderful.

In 2002 I started to have real bad headaches and then came the Hydrocodone.  We started out at 5/750 for a while, being when needed to 7.5/500 four to six times a day for three to four years.  That was one doctor, another doctor had given me a script for just 10 pills every now and then between the other refills, which he did not know I was getting. The doctors finally sent me to a numerologist and the headaches got under control, I went through the withdrawals, but it was nothing like abruptly quitting xanax without your doctor’s help, which was the worse.

Back on August 21, 2007, I just had a lumbar fusion, of my lower back (s1 and l5). Now I have four screws, two metal bars, and spacers in my disk space and they took some of my bone marrow out of my hip and placed on top of it all to fuse together. Even being three months later I am in agonizing pains at times.  After the surgery the Morphine, Lortabs and Norco 10/325 did not help.  When released from the hospital I would go through 60 pills 10/325 within five to six days, sometimes sooner.  Then the doctor gave me Valium about four weeks later, those did not work and it was like candy to me.  My recent refills were this week; he will give them as long as I call.  I went to pain management and they gave me oxycodone and those did not seem to even work.  As I sit here I haven’t had one pill within 24 hrs and it’s hard.  See I want off them, but I want something to take the pain away, which the 10/325 doesn’t even touch, the pain.  I am only 35, tomorrow is my birthday and I want to eventually get my life back, be me, and take control again.  I am blessed with a great support group with a caring boss, co-workers, family, friends and especially a great loving partner.  Now its not when I want a pill, he ask do you want it or do you need it?  That’s when I think.  So here it is 24 hrs later no pill.  We are all going to make it if we stick to our goals.  We just have to fight with faith and not weaver.  

[lookingtofuture]

Happy Birthday!!! Have a good one!! I forgot to add that I am trying anti-inflammatories, skelaxin-(non addictive muscle relaxer)-if this doesn't work, then I will go back and get something else to try-gotta be something out there!!

[lookingtofuture]

We have somewhat similar problem-I had cervical fusion in September 2007-which they took the bone from my hip and put in place of discs in my neck. Surgery went well-however the day I came home from hospital-I badly broke my hip. (Also only 41)
I tapered off oxycodone as I had been on for a while-waited almost 7 months to decide to do the surgery.
I am now 17 days clean-big help from this forum!!
I too have been trying to relieve pain without narcotics-it is tough-but I am doing it. Hip still broken and no word on how much longer it will be.
I am trying everything doctors give me that is non narcotic-not going back-haven't been as far as alot of people as far as how many pills-and I don't have to, because I know I am an addict.
Like IBKleen, I would rather have the pain-then watching a clock-or chasing pills.
Have a happy birthday-there are good people here!! Keep posting!!
I didn't drink other than here and there-so that part wasn't the same as with you.

[1234betterlife]

congragulations on your decision to eliminate the pills along with the alcohol. it is a long road but well worth it. i do not suffer pain and feel greatly for those that do but i have heard repeatedly that once off the pain medications the pain was not as great as people thought it was. i know when i stopped using i hurt everywhere, and i was painfree before. the narcotics tell our brain to deal with pain in an abnormal way, making everything seem worse for a while. hang in there, like ibkleen said it is slow today. you can always find someone with the information you need here. it is a great place. have a great day and a very happy birthday!

[IBKleen]

Hello. Glad you found your way out here. This is a great place for advise and suggestions. there are good folks here. Unfortunately, it is the weekend and it is notoriously slow here so you need to be patient. If you do not get responses, post again tomorrow. No one is ignoring you, they just aren't around much on Sunday.

Anyway, congrats on getting away from the alcohol. Liquid death!!

I am not surprised that you got addicted to the pain meds. If you tend toward addiction, then it was just a replacement.

Your situation is a difficult one for getting off, and staying off the pain meds. You were taking them for legitimate pain, yet you abused them. I suffer with chronic back due to 6 herniated disks, sciatica, DDD and arthritis. I do know the pain. There are non-narcotic meds available if you can work with your doctor. I found that aqua therapy helped a lot. I also had epidural and steroid injections, which helped. I get my best relief from my jacuzzi. I am not going to lie and tell you that I am pain free..not true. But I will live with the pain now rather than spend my life chasing a pill.

You are one step ahead of the game with a good support system.

I hope to see you post again. Some other members may be able to help you with alternative pain treatment.

Take care and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!