Help Please! Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia?

[SuzzQ]

I am off of Norco 10 for 21 days now. The pain is very bad. I have to lie down for pain to be tolerable. Taking aspirins, sometimes tylenol. I only went to one sale and the pain was unbearable and had to leave. I am very much wondering if this is the norm for me, or if it is still opioid induced Hyperalgesia? I took the pills for about 13 years. I am so hoping this is not the norm and eventually, the pain will get better. Anyone, who has any information would be greatly appreciated. I have searched the net and seems they don't seem to know how long it last or if the pain will ever subside. They only say to take other medications. I can't find an answer... I don't know what to do..

[Sonrissa]

How about speaking to a doctor at this point. They would be best qualified to answer these sort of questions. You must be completely honest with them about your situation. Call them today.

[kyle505]

Sonrissa is correct...We can only offer very general, experience-based suggestions. We can't diagnose.
So, call your doc. Tell him/her that you've been fighting addiction (or at least abuse of meds), have made great strides at getting clean, but now the pain is bad.
So, call your doc now.
K

[wendall2840]

I'm so sorry to here you're so painful.  I don't have any answers for you but I can give you some moral support.  You've come so far.  It's easy to work yourself into a tizzy, not that I don't believe your pain is real.  Have you tried meditation or Massage therapy?  What kind of sale did you go to?  is that part of your work?  Sorry I haven't been on the site that long and don't know your whole story.

[SuzzQ]

My doctor is retarded. I don't know how he even got a license to practice to be honest with you. I already told him. He wants me to take more pills.. Gabapentin. I was born with back and bone deformities. Been in several accidents. One especially bad. Been on Norco for at least 13 years now. I have seen specialists. MRI's.. The surgeon says he would not do a surgery on my back as everything is in the wrong places, bones, nerves, etc.. So, now what? My doctor is very ignorant. I don't want to take gabapentin as it has a lot of side effects. And, I am too scared to take it. I have arthritis along with the nerve and tissue damage and all the bone deformities and extreme scoliosis along with other back problems... I'm scared to start taking norco again. I don't know what to do..

[ariley13]

Hey SuzyQ. Everyone is different, so I can only share my personal experience. I am at 6 months clean today, and I still have pain. That is to be expected though because I have a pretty serious back injury with nerve damage. I can tell you the pain is a lot better than it was on the pills. It did take me awhile to get to this point, and I still have the occasional bad day or 2. I had to give it a month, month and a half to see real improvement. Then it seemed to get a little better every week or two. I still have some pretty rough days, but it has improved. I had to really push myself through the pain to be active. The less active you are, the more pain you are going to have in the long run. I know, I know, it hurts too bad to be active. I promise that if you push yourself, even for a short 30 minute (or two 15 min.) walk a day, you will feel better a whole lot quicker. Hang in there and try to remember that we didn't get to this point overnight. 13 years is a long time to be on opiates. It's going to take your body and mind time to heal. Try to be patient and have faith that things will get better. Keep up all of your hard work, you are doing great!

[SuzzQ]

The doctor already knows.. Isn't too bright either, very sorry to say, but just the facts.. He only sends me to pain therapy, which was no help. To a back surgeon who offered no solutions. So, I am on my own.. I don't know what to do. I don't intend on staying in bed the rest of my life.  

[SuzzQ]

Thank YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so what I wanted to hear. I've been searching everywhere on the internet all day.. Thank you.. so very much!! So, just patience to get out of this nightmare... I know it will end someday.. My doctor didn't even know that! But, you did... So, possibly months and the pain will get better!!! Yes, that is exactly what I needed to hear.. Thank you so very much ariley!

[wendall2840]

Sorry addressed my comment to Sonrissa.  It was meant for you.  I know how you feel about having a bad doctor. That's part of the reason I'm in this situation myself.  I tried for a long time to use other pain therapies. I finally gave up and started using. But don't give up on the doctor thing. Everyone is right.......Seek a different doctor. There are some good ones out there.  

[wendall2840]

Oh could you explain exactly what you mean when you say Narcos. Is that a general term for narcodics or a specific med.

[ariley13]

You're welcome! I know it's hard to be patient when you're in pain. We all want to feel better right now! As addicts we really have to learn patience. We have been so used to instant gratification. You'll get there. Just whatever you do, don't give up!

[3Xs_U_R_Out]

@Wendall...norco is a type of prescription narcotic pain medicine. Most people in this substance abuse forum have issues with prescription narcotics. So you will often here terms such as norco, percs for Percocet, etc here.

[BarbRTR]

Hey there. I haven't read all the comments, so I might be repeating what was said. But it's possible you're still having high levels of pain from opiate use/detox. And it will probably get better. After as long as you used, it will take awhile for sensors to reset.

But, you do have real pain issues as well. Seems as if you might want to think on getting a new Dr, as you don't like yours. And then start thinking of alternative treatments and non addicting meds.

I'm not pain free, but I'm better than on the meds, and better than I was first couple months off of them too.

Good luck!

[vicki595]

Norco is Hydrocodone 10mg...

[OxyTired]

I can only comment on my personal experience. With my bad back (serious lumbar issues) with pain pills, when they wore off I had terrible pain spikes.
At around two months pill free tge pain levels really reduced. I almost cound not believe it.
I felt betrayed by pain management. What were they thinking? Didn't they know their opiates were increasing my pain levels by increasing the number of pain receptors in the brain.
At three months I gi some days without even nsaids. I have a chronic low level pain throughout the lumbar area most noticeable in the morning.
Sometime during the day not at all.
It gets much better with time!

[Wildewoman]

It does take time for the pain to reduce. I have some bad days too - where the pain is just screaming. I then go back to the basics - hot bathes, OTC pain meds, stretches, chiropractor, etc. ANYTHING to alleviate the pain.

I have an inversion table too - upside down for 5-7 minutes helps.

I guess what I'm saying is - do whatever you need to do to help with the pain - EXCEPT take a Norco.

I have found that if I spend a few minutes each day - devoted to my back - i.e.) floor work - stretches, sit ups, etc. It helps.

Keep up the good work!

[SuzzQ]

Thank you ..  : O )  I feel happy just reading you guys posts.. Now, I can have hope! And, I know this will not be forever. I will read the link you sent. I just wanted to say thank you so very much!! I don't ever want to take Norco. That day when the pain was beyond belief, I was tempted to find some, even if I had to buy them or call back the doctor.. The doctor is always willing to write out a prescription.. I am so glad you guys wrote... I was at an end... I was thinking, this is ridiculous, I can't even go to one estate sale without being disabled completely from pain.. having to leave.. : O )

[SuzzQ]

Thank You! : O )   just time..

[ImDONENoMore]

The Dr. should not be always willing to write out a prescription.  You need to resolve that situation quickly or it will be way too easy to fall back into your old ways.  You have to do this and tell him/her the truth.  No way around that.

[SuzzQ]

And , really , Congratulations on 6 mos!!!! : O )

[SuzzQ]

I was ignorant about the pain pills for so long... The longer on the pain pills, the more pain I was in. About 13 years for the pain to become unbearable. I will never touch one of those pills again... I only need learn my lesson one time. One thing I do not need is more pain than what I have. I can't wait until I have 6 months behind me!!! But, the time will go by ... one week at a time is how I am doing it.. Anybody who has pain and goes back on those pills is crazy.. That's my honest opinion... Who wants to live in unbearable pain all the time.. I'm just waiting... waiting.. Soon it will be a month.. It's 23 days now.. another week will make a month.. things will only get better and better I am assured.. : O )

[SuzzQ]

Its so good to hear from people who are in pain, and acquired worse pain from the pills. You have been through it and you know the pain subsides quite a bit. If I don't do much, the pain usually isn't too bad. Soon as I do anything , ie, stand too long, repetitive things.. the pain is unbearable. I am giving up estate sailing for a while. It is simply embarrassing. Anyone in that much pain should be in bed, or doing something different. I used to not like the doctors who would not give out pills... Now, I'm so for them!! What a switch... : O )   Thank you so much for that information.. Give me such hope.. bless your heart and Airely too... : O)

[SuzzQ]

2 months.. Well, I've almost gone 1 month.. so, one more month... 4 weeks.. I am counting the weeks... though each day is a challenge and I find myself praying a lot. 2 months.. 60 days... thats a lot of days, but the days will eventually pass by anyway.. : O )  Thank You

[IBKleen]

Because it was two months for one person does not at all mean it will be two months for you. Why suffer? Find alternative pain treatments. Many of us chronic pain sufferers have.