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Alternative for addicts

I was addicted to Vicodin for years and since have been  through rehab and doing well. I am supposed to have a surgery to fix my knee replacement and my Dr. wants to prescribe me Vicodin again only having a family member monitor the dosage. I am so scared about taking it again after my long battle. Is there and alternative non narcotic I can take that will help instead of this? Please help!
14 Responses
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199177 tn?1490498534
There are going to be times you have to take pain meds ,it happened to me in march .I had my very infected gallbladder removed.I had hubby give me my doses after three days I could switch over to the heating pad and Motrin. If you need it use it just be very careful.
Helpful - 0
534633 tn?1214564081
I'm new to the forum but not to addiction.  Recently having survived a car accident, I have found that Aleve works wonders!!!  They had me on many different opiods and still have to take demerol, last prescription, but when I now am trying the taper, I use Aleve and it does the trick.  
Try it!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree u will need something....i think soprano had knee replacement , maybe u can ask them about the pain...I am not positive, maybe someone will know....
I know this will happen to all of us one day, scares the **** out of me....wishing you well
r2r
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I doubt anything else will work after a surgery like that.  As you said.....having someone hold the meds and use them only as needed along with Motrin 800.....and get off them as quickly as you can.......

Luv,
Nauty.............
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hahahah what you want her to ask for methadone or something? what else had a long half life and is not short acting?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's up to you. I am a recovering alcoholic drug addict with a pain problem. I have to take opiates sometimes. Stay away from short acting opiates they trigger the addiction more. But if you can tough it out, that's always the better answer. You know it's going to go away eventually. Not like you will be in pain for weeks.
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
I would take the meds...have ur spouse hold them...and not take them unless u just can not bear it..tolerence realy never completely leaves us tho and it will probably be hard for u to get any relief at the prescribed dose..be safe
Helpful - 0
454371 tn?1221297385
Ask about Toradol. It is used after operations so they say. I have had it for migrains worked great. It is some kind of high power motrin.. It's a antinflamotory. They say it works on pain. You do not get high. It is not a Narc..

Best of luck to you..

   Lady
Helpful - 0
372416 tn?1242665752
I just remembered something.  I had a hysterectomy in 05.  I was using heavily at that time.  My doctor told me that I'd get put on the machine that dispenses morphine whenever I pressed the button.  Yey!  Good.  No bad pain for me, so I thought.

Back to the morphine machine.  It was broken.  I didn't know it!  The hospital didn't know it.  I kept pressing the button over and over and felt no relief.  After about 6 hours of crying and feeling the actual pain that a surgery has with no medication at all, I just wanted a gun put to my head.

I kinda thought that with all the pills I took, that maybe the amount or morphine given me wasn't nearly enough for my tolerance.

Finally, late that night an anesthesiologist (sp?) came in, found fault w/machine and gave me something for relief.

So yes, everyone...........surgery is painful.  I hope none of us have to go through I went through.  It was horrible.  At the same time, I hope none of us look forward to getting pain medication again for the excuse of a surgery.

Regards,
Pamela
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i think this is all of our worst fear...I know it is for me too...I would think that knee replacement will be quite painfull...I am not sure if OTC things can work, but u can defintly try first....If you have someone to give them to you, then that would be great...you may not have to take them longer then a few days...
Maybe somone here has had that surgery and can let you know about the pain....
I think we will all have to come to terms with the idea that this will happen to all of us one day...Very scary thought...But much more scary to be in terrible pain with nothing...Very hard call..talk to your doctor and hopefully you will not have too much pain.
when are you having it?  I will pray for you
r2r
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I worry about the same thing.  I'm 47 years old - I doubt I will not be faced with some surgery or medical situation that may require pain management.  I don't think it's realistic to take the position that post-op surgical pain must be managed with only OTC meds and no opiates.  I would suggest lots of monitoring by your doctor and having a family member be in charge of your meds.  Using as directed for a short period after surgery shouldn't mean the horrible withdraw from long term abuse.  Still, I know the fear is waking up the addiction - but being an addict doesn't make us super humans that can withstand surgical post op pain without needing appropriate medication.  
Helpful - 0
372416 tn?1242665752
I have the same fear.  I hope to never have a toothache, need a surgery, etc.

Maybe you can give pain pills to someone to dispense to you, and alternate with OTC?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would just take motrin!! Or Tylenol. Anything but Vicodin. Or anything addicing!! You don't want to go through all of that again!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
dont do it.......take anything but these narcotic opoids.....do you honestly wanna go thru this all over again?    i just hit 72 hours (how sad to count each hour)  an i wanna pull my hair out
Helpful - 0
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