Day 12 - Less Pain than Before

I am working through Day 12 and discovered that while I still have pain (post polio syndrome) it is far less acute than when I was taking opiates.

This may all be in my head...but, I can't help wondering if drugs alter my perception of pain...making it worse than it might be without drugs.

Has anyone else had this experience?

BTW: Post polio syndrome causes the nerves in the spine to lose their protective covering resulting in raw nerves rubbing against the spine.  

[Mangee]

I found out when I suddenly took myself off of Oxy that my pain had lessened by at least 75 Percent. The drug was masking the fact that it had lessened and had I not quit suddenly,I would not have known. My problem is similar to yours although the results of my Ct are unknown at this time. Everything points to a herniated disc pressing on a nerve. Im my case my problem was the result of lifting and carrying a five gallon bottle of water. At this moment, sitting here, I feel only a very dull ache in my legs and back. All injuries, if given time and looking after, have a great chance of contnually improving providing you don't do anything that can cause a relapse. Don't let your head fool you. It will try because of the addiction. It doesn't want to lose you as a victim and will send false messages. As we know,the pain is real at first. The drug blurs the pain which is still there and the brai and body says."Oh boy" Give me some more of that stuff." This is what you have to fight. You have to say"I am in control here and I will decide what is best for me."

[humpback]

I'm a newbie here. I suffer acutely with post-polio effects, esp the last 5 years. I drink red wine every night to help me sleep (for the past 15 years), and I have steadfastly refused to take Rx pain meds and muscle relaxers because my mother killed herself at age 48 as a result of spiraling drug addiction and depression. Won't go into that now.

Anyway, I have been able to use sheer mental determination, self-will, stubbornness, and some sort of "prove I can do it" attitude, to overcome excruiating pain and carry out and complete all sorts of tasks/goals (like building a garage, a horse barn -- oh yeah, forgot to say, I am a small framed female).

I'm 59 yrs old now, and about 5 yrs ago I started experiencing a type of disabling pain that I could not overcome. It wasn't about how bad the pain was (because I have trained myself since childhood to disassociate myself from any part of my body causing pain, and just go on with even more determination) -- it somehow sneaked into a manifestation of DISABLING pain -- like not being able to walk or even stand.

Okay, so now I sound like such a trooper, huh?  Well, I decided not to give up smoking cigarettes because they help keep me from feeling tired and depressed. I started taking an antidepressant 4 years ago, and . . . for the past 2 or 3 years, I have been using an "upper" (expensive) drug to help me keep going and not collapse into fatigue. NOT GOOD because . . . very expensive, not legal, addictive, etc. Yet it enables me to keep working hard on my job (not physical work, so much) without the 12-14 hours sleep my body seems to need.

Sorry, people. I think I made this too long. Don't want to burden any of you.

HumpBack