Aa
Gotta choose between the lesser of two evils.
I have chronic pain..that I'm now sure is due to my overwhelming stress/anxiety. I've tried the following:
1) Tricyclics
2) Prozac
3) Cymbalta
4) LYRICA
For my pain I've tried:
1) 75 mic Fentanyl patch
2) 10/500 Lortabs, 5 per day
3) Darvocte
4) Percocet
5) 5/325 Norcos, Which I'm taking now. about 3 a day
To me....the pain meds have been MUCH more successful in controlling my stress and pain. When I was on those ssri's and ssnri's life was a B I T C H! I was dizzy all day, could not focus and had blured vision. Each time I would tell my doc about this he would argure with me and tell me "Those are normal side effects of this drug." THE LYING BASTAR D!
So now I have a decision to make. Pain meds or phych drugs? Both have their side effects but it appears, for now, I'm able to control my intake of the Norcos. Wish I had an easier decision to make.
1) Tricyclics
2) Prozac
3) Cymbalta
4) LYRICA
For my pain I've tried:
1) 75 mic Fentanyl patch
2) 10/500 Lortabs, 5 per day
3) Darvocte
4) Percocet
5) 5/325 Norcos, Which I'm taking now. about 3 a day
To me....the pain meds have been MUCH more successful in controlling my stress and pain. When I was on those ssri's and ssnri's life was a B I T C H! I was dizzy all day, could not focus and had blured vision. Each time I would tell my doc about this he would argure with me and tell me "Those are normal side effects of this drug." THE LYING BASTAR D!
So now I have a decision to make. Pain meds or phych drugs? Both have their side effects but it appears, for now, I'm able to control my intake of the Norcos. Wish I had an easier decision to make.
Thanks for your reply.I'm afraid this would be my plight as well.My concern is the drugs my dr perscribed(zanax) is a whole new can of worms.I know its suppose to be short term but so were the vics.Maybe I'm fooling myself and listening to the little voices in my head trying to find a good excuse to take them(vics) again.I know I wont take the zanax again
hurtin , I am not upset, I can say without a doubt that if I thought there was a way for me to take pain meds and control my intake I would , but sooner or later I would be taking when I didn't need to just for the high .
I had a relapse back in aug and it was because my pain level was REALLY high I tried for a month to suffer thru. I did end up giving in and started taking something then about 10 days into it I woke up in the am and my face was not hurting but I still popped the pills that's when I was like ok time to stop
so I tapered back off I still have the pain almost daily .I am having to learn how to manage it . There are still days I want to throw my hands up in the air and say I give up wheres the pills,but I need to be in control of my life and if I am taking the pills I am not in control they are.
Avis
I had a relapse back in aug and it was because my pain level was REALLY high I tried for a month to suffer thru. I did end up giving in and started taking something then about 10 days into it I woke up in the am and my face was not hurting but I still popped the pills that's when I was like ok time to stop
so I tapered back off I still have the pain almost daily .I am having to learn how to manage it . There are still days I want to throw my hands up in the air and say I give up wheres the pills,but I need to be in control of my life and if I am taking the pills I am not in control they are.
Avis
you said,
"I have chronic pain..that I'm now sure is due to my overwhelming stress/anxiety."
i dont understand how stress causes pain?
"I have chronic pain..that I'm now sure is due to my overwhelming stress/anxiety."
i dont understand how stress causes pain?
I am not doubting you have both been and are in pain and my questions are not an attack on anyone.Also I am not scurtinizing your posts, just the opposite they are great and make me think of questions,not questioning you.Seems like if you get off hi how are you, be strong and don't give up people get pissed off on this forum.Vicodine help is using vics for pain and my question is (in your or anyones opinion)can this work with the history of addiction I have.
to answer your first question...no i do not think that opiates should be removed. i do think they are needed in alot of situations. i have had four c-sections...cysts removed from my ovaries on two different occasions...surgery to put my tubes back together...a hysterectomy caused by a tumor that was so large it was attached to my bladder, kidneys, intestines, and colon...and a bladder tack. i fell down a flight of steps injuring my back causing nerve damage. i could not have made it through any of this without the help of pain pills. did i like the fact that they took my pain away...allowed me to sleep...made me more able to function? hell ya...damn betcha. what i didn't like was feeling that "i" was in a fog. never have i stayed on pills over 2-3 days...choosing to rest and use otc meds to help. i have been suffering with a pinched nerve in my shoulder for going on three weeks now but am treating it with advil and rotating heat and ice. that's just me...neither better or worse than anyone else.
do i think there is such a thing as chronic pain? sure i do...what is that about? is this not an addiction forum? are most ppl here admitting they are addicted to pills and want to get off of them? my post was simple...telling of how your neurotransmitters work to trick you into wanting more...nothing else.
do i think there is such a thing as chronic pain? sure i do...what is that about? is this not an addiction forum? are most ppl here admitting they are addicted to pills and want to get off of them? my post was simple...telling of how your neurotransmitters work to trick you into wanting more...nothing else.
hurtin, I have cronic pain but i am an addict so i have alternative ways of handling the pain.
thanks for your reply.Do you think pain pills should never be prescribed?Not trying to be a smart *** but honestly,should all opiats be removed from the medical profession.2nd question- Is there such a thing as chronic pain that can be treated with opiats or is everyone thats been on them for a long time just a drug addict and avoiding other ways to control pain
something that i have learned since being here is this:
you start out going to the doctor for some kind of pain...backache...injury...toothache...whatever it was. you were given some kind of pain pill...an opiate. in the beginning, everything was wonderful...taking as prescribed. then you notice that you need more...increasing your dose...more...increasing your dose. those little transmitters are screaming...i need more...more...more...you've got to give me more...my pain is horrible...nothing will help except more...more...more. those little guys are very convincing...making your pain appear to be unbearable...so you feed them.
something that i have learned since being here is this:
after deciding to become clean...you start the withdrawal process. the fight begins. those little guys are your enemy...and they are determined to win. pain...pain...pain...your body hurts...it is worse than anyone else's pain...no one understands how bad you hurt...no one understands how you are suffering. those little guys are working hard, getting the upper hand. did you make it? who won this battle?
i have seen many, many ppl here who have made it. was the battle over? was their pain cured? not immediately...but with time...things got better...manageable. slowly...those little guys started to disappear...admitting defeat. what you are left with is either no pain...or your original pain...not the unbearable pain caused by your brain's addiction to the pills. with time...not days...not weeks...but maybe months...those transmitters start healing...but it takes time and you have to know and believe that it will get better...little by little...step by step...but they do heal.
now...what you have got to do is stop thinking like the addict...find alternatives. instead of reaching for pain pills...reach for something otc...you might have to try different ones that will give you some relief. try a chiropractor...physical therapy...exercise to build up the muscles in your back. don't immediately think that because these things didn't work in the past, that they will not work now. remember...your brain is healing...you are not the same person you were.
you CAN do this. understanding the process will help...knowing that things WILL get better. but you have to remember is that you did not become addicted to these pills overnight and you will not heal...get better...overnight either.
you start out going to the doctor for some kind of pain...backache...injury...toothache...whatever it was. you were given some kind of pain pill...an opiate. in the beginning, everything was wonderful...taking as prescribed. then you notice that you need more...increasing your dose...more...increasing your dose. those little transmitters are screaming...i need more...more...more...you've got to give me more...my pain is horrible...nothing will help except more...more...more. those little guys are very convincing...making your pain appear to be unbearable...so you feed them.
something that i have learned since being here is this:
after deciding to become clean...you start the withdrawal process. the fight begins. those little guys are your enemy...and they are determined to win. pain...pain...pain...your body hurts...it is worse than anyone else's pain...no one understands how bad you hurt...no one understands how you are suffering. those little guys are working hard, getting the upper hand. did you make it? who won this battle?
i have seen many, many ppl here who have made it. was the battle over? was their pain cured? not immediately...but with time...things got better...manageable. slowly...those little guys started to disappear...admitting defeat. what you are left with is either no pain...or your original pain...not the unbearable pain caused by your brain's addiction to the pills. with time...not days...not weeks...but maybe months...those transmitters start healing...but it takes time and you have to know and believe that it will get better...little by little...step by step...but they do heal.
now...what you have got to do is stop thinking like the addict...find alternatives. instead of reaching for pain pills...reach for something otc...you might have to try different ones that will give you some relief. try a chiropractor...physical therapy...exercise to build up the muscles in your back. don't immediately think that because these things didn't work in the past, that they will not work now. remember...your brain is healing...you are not the same person you were.
you CAN do this. understanding the process will help...knowing that things WILL get better. but you have to remember is that you did not become addicted to these pills overnight and you will not heal...get better...overnight either.
Same boat as you.Is it wise to start another drug?Went to the dr to get off vics.Trazodone was great for sleep the first week of w/d but knocks me out during the day.Saw the dr the next week and she gave me 15 xanax for stress.Took one of those and made me feel wierd,didn't like that at all and haven't taken another one.From the posts here xanax is nasty stuff,don't need a another problem.Well got 12 vics and have taken 4 in a week when my back is crankin up.Thats going from 4 a day to 4 a week with 2 weeks of c/t.I know I'm addicited to vics but think I can manage to use them as needed but afraid I'll end up back were I was
are you planning on entirely quitting opiates? Or do you need to use them for some kind of pain (sorry I havent read your entire story/situation so Im unsure). Maybe the mixture of the anti depressants with the opiates cause these bad side effects for you, but if taken alone without opiates may work out for you?
Ive been struggling with antideprssants too. I was on Prozac for.....many years, almost 20 years! But it suddenly started giving me very bad side effects that forced me to stop takign it. Its been about 3 months or more since I stopped it now, and my depression has been creeping back in. I get more weepy and cry at the drop of a hat etc. My doctor gave me a Rx for Zoloft to try. Once i got it though I read you shouldnt take it with NSAIDS due to bleeding issues it can cause! I thought oh great you gotta be kidding me, I take Motrin 800 at least 2x a day for my back pain and arthritis etc. So I havent even tried the Zoloft yet. So far Im doing OK, my depression hasnt come back 10 fold on me or anything and i feel in control still at this point. Just more weepy/moody. Im hoping I can keep it in check myself without resorting to the meds but time will tell if Im able to or not. Anyways just wanted to wish you luck. It sucks when you have a lot of physical ailments that require meds and you get such bad side effects.
Ive been struggling with antideprssants too. I was on Prozac for.....many years, almost 20 years! But it suddenly started giving me very bad side effects that forced me to stop takign it. Its been about 3 months or more since I stopped it now, and my depression has been creeping back in. I get more weepy and cry at the drop of a hat etc. My doctor gave me a Rx for Zoloft to try. Once i got it though I read you shouldnt take it with NSAIDS due to bleeding issues it can cause! I thought oh great you gotta be kidding me, I take Motrin 800 at least 2x a day for my back pain and arthritis etc. So I havent even tried the Zoloft yet. So far Im doing OK, my depression hasnt come back 10 fold on me or anything and i feel in control still at this point. Just more weepy/moody. Im hoping I can keep it in check myself without resorting to the meds but time will tell if Im able to or not. Anyways just wanted to wish you luck. It sucks when you have a lot of physical ailments that require meds and you get such bad side effects.
interesting,
Enbrel is used to treat Ankylosing Spondylitis, which my rhuemy suspects I may have, although I am atypical; i.e. I test positive for the gene but dont have calcium levels that are out of wack. I also have only one sacroiliac that has sclorosis, not both , which is typical for AS.
My rhuemy says that drugs such as Enbrel, or what he refers to a as biologics would be next step to consider if I cant control the pain for now. He suggested I remain on the 2 vic per day schedule augemented with Naprosyn 500mg 2x daily.
I dont think the Nap does anything for the pain. As for the vic - it doesnt eliminate the pain - only make it more tolerable
I just got back from the gym - jacuzzi and stretching - and feel better.
thanks for the response
Enbrel is used to treat Ankylosing Spondylitis, which my rhuemy suspects I may have, although I am atypical; i.e. I test positive for the gene but dont have calcium levels that are out of wack. I also have only one sacroiliac that has sclorosis, not both , which is typical for AS.
My rhuemy says that drugs such as Enbrel, or what he refers to a as biologics would be next step to consider if I cant control the pain for now. He suggested I remain on the 2 vic per day schedule augemented with Naprosyn 500mg 2x daily.
I dont think the Nap does anything for the pain. As for the vic - it doesnt eliminate the pain - only make it more tolerable
I just got back from the gym - jacuzzi and stretching - and feel better.
thanks for the response
HI, i have RA also, all through my body...the best thing that happened to me was Enbrel. It is a self injection and it is really expensive. I have a drug plan but i was told that sometimes they have a program to help people who can't afford it. I am in Canada so it might be different but it did change my life. By expensive i mean 5000.00 for 6 weeks...thank goodness for drug plans...
I was prescribed hydros for chronic pain : 5/500's and never took more than 3 per day and usually only took 2, and I did that for months. It wasnt until I happened upon this forum that I realized how addicting they are. I decided to quit. even though I was only taking about 2 per day (6 months) I had 4 or 5 ruff days and nights.
I stopped taking the NSAIDs as well. From time to time I would take 1/2 or two 1/2s of vic per day or a NSAID. The NSAIDs do nothing for me.
I think due to the summer months and hot weather my body was OK with it, but the rains have moved in and my arthritis and aches and pains are back with a vnegence. I'm thinking to start back up. If it weren't for the withdrawals I would not hesitate - but I HATE THE WITHDRAWALS. I hate feeling achy and stiff all the time too. I'm still achy and stiff with vic - only more tolerable so.
I stopped taking the NSAIDs as well. From time to time I would take 1/2 or two 1/2s of vic per day or a NSAID. The NSAIDs do nothing for me.
I think due to the summer months and hot weather my body was OK with it, but the rains have moved in and my arthritis and aches and pains are back with a vnegence. I'm thinking to start back up. If it weren't for the withdrawals I would not hesitate - but I HATE THE WITHDRAWALS. I hate feeling achy and stiff all the time too. I'm still achy and stiff with vic - only more tolerable so.
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