Is it consider relapse?

[Reign30]

I read yesterday that someone posting about what to do once the addiction is gone but the pain still remains.  I won't readily admit that my addiction problem is completely gone, but I'm getting there.  I ask because, the back pain is back.  I've popped naproxen (Advil), Motrin, anti-inflammatory and Skelaxin.  I go to physical therapy and have done the lumbar steroids epidurals.  I’ve tried everything except surgery to get rid of this pain.  I'll fight through it now, because if I get back on it...Even for a day, I would have wasted all the hard work and suffering I've put in...Not to mention all the support that this site has provided.
Say down the road, if I took one pill for the pain I’m feeling...would that be consider a relapse?  I don't want to get back on that boat...I'm happy it sank, but I really am having a hard time with the pain.    Could an addict just take one pill?  Would I always be an addict?

[SFgirll853]

That is a very good question!  I have been asking myself the same thing.  I have done the PT, done the injections, everything short of surgery for my back.  I have gotten to a "pain tolerable" place but feel like I am getting even better.  What IF My back goes out and it is REALLY BAD?  I think I would ride it out as looooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggg as I possibly could and get in to see the doctor.  Do you have nerve pain too?  Lyrica really helps with my nerve pain in my arm and hand as well as sciatica.  Wishing you the best.  I understand your dilemma.  I think probably only you can answer the question.  Sucks eh?  ;-)

[theeagle]

Relapse is just a label that too many people get hung up on. If, further down the road, you have pain that justifies a narcotic you won't become re-habituated with a therapeutic dose. Just remember that you will always be an addict - you just don't have to be addicted! And make sure that it is further down the road. You may well find that the pain that you have will respond to other pain control methods and medications by then......

[Reign30]

It's nerve pain that use to go shooting down to my knee..to make it understandable..i have a bulge disk at L4 and L5.  I've toughen it out when I was younger..only because I didn't know any better and my pain doc stated that i shouldn't have to be going through life with chronic pain.  That it was okay to do something about it and not just ride it out.  

I know how much easier it is to function when I take a pill.  My pain does actually go away and I've felt that relief..and I know that relief will be 15-20 minutes away...i keep asking myself..why should i suffer through it..why bother with the pain?
I wish I could be stronger and just take it as needed right now..but I can't..so I have to just keep on doing what I'm doing.  I will ask my doc later this week about Lyrica and Sciatica...

I have a refill for 180 I'm suppose to pick up today...at this moment..i don't know if i want to deal with the wd's or the pain...knowing that it's there is making me really anxious and maybe it's all in my head..but the pain hasn't been this bad in a long time.

[kim715]

This type of question pops up alot here and different people have different opinions.My opinion is that there will be times in our life that we will have legitimate pain that a doctor will need to treat with pain meds.My opinion is that I was an addict,I am now an addict in recovery,but for the remainder of my time here on earth,my addictive personality is part of who I am and I need to always be honest to myself and to others about that.If I am in bad enough pain to require pain meds then I need to see a doctor and not self medicate.I need to follow the dosing schedule of the medication and not abuse it.I need to only take it until the pain is under control enough that  it can be controlled with non narcotic medication.As soon as I am done with the pain meds dispose of any left over,no sense leaving temptation in your medicine cabinet.If for any reason I am worried or fear that I am not in control enough to handle being responsible about how I take the pills then I need to depend on someone else to hold them for me and control the dosing.I have had to deal with this question on a personal level recently.I only have a little over 2 months clean my son is my "designated doser",the vicodin is locked in his lockbox,and I actually have not taken one yet eventhough i've been in some intense pain my desire to stay free from the pills sometimes is even more intense.Don't get me wrong if it would get to bad I would take the pill but i feel comfortable knowing I have a plan in place.Peace.

[GoingToMakeIt]

     Only you can answer this question. It is so true that once you cross the line into addiction. You never really come back to normal. that being said, If I require surgery, I will probably use again, but with restrictions and for as short of time as I can. your body's chemistry has been altered, and you need to be very careful. Another good point was made that needs to be reiterated. The farther along in recovery, the less the body screams out for the pills. Just knowing that you have a Rx there, could be causing extra pain. Our bodiy does produce pain to make us get pills.

[Vicotram]

Hey man I have the same pain, mine is L5 S1 the sciatic pain goes all the way down to my foot I had the surgery that helped alot. Before the surgery the pain was so bad, I could not even press the gas pedal on my car and could not even walk more than a couple hundred feet. If I had that same pain now I would have to take somthing just to do things every day. Only you know if you really need it but I believe there are times if the physical pain is to much you may have to take somthing and I do not think it would be a relapse I know some will disagree. I hope you feel better back pain sucks and be careful with a chiro one made mine way worse. Peace Steve

[worried878]

I dont think it would be called a relapse...i used for 4 days after a neck procedure...i flushed when i felt i no longer needed them...i was getting carried away...i could feel it...the addictive part of my brain taking over again...i did not call it a relapse as i was in pain and got back on track....this is all very technical and labels dont mean that much to me....i would not worry about the future right now...concentrate on the day

[Dylan465]

In my opinion. If you are taking any medication for pain, you are not an addict. You are an addict, if you were taking it for the buzz.

I think many of us hate taking pills, except the addicts.To throw guilt on top of your pain is worse. I wish someone could make a pill that kills the pain and isn't addictive--but they haven't.

Most pills don't do much for me but many do well on them. They would rather take a pill and feel better. If there was a pill that really worked for me and didn't make me sick, I'd try it. I really think our choices are so limited. I wish our gov't spent more money on us. Chronic pain is a serious problem.

I was a semi body builder and work out nut and it kills me that what I enjoyed I can't do.

I wasn't taking bunches of pills that some people take. I keep praying for a miracle. But I don't think you should beat yourself up for taking pilld that are taking some pain away. You are not an addict. Whoever had that one epidural and it worked, hurray for you! I've heard that before. Unfortunately for me it never did.

I guess all I am saying is, and it's only my opinion--not to get hung up on being an addict, if you are taking them as prescribed and not taking extra and chasing a buzz. If you just are trying to deal with the pain and a certain pill helps, be grateful. Many of us, struggle with pills that don't work. And I have seen what I consider extreme--people taking so many pills and still it's not enough--sometimes, my eyes bulge out, I can't believe how much stuff they are taking.

Chronic Pain is terrible and I wish you all well. I say prayers for people on these boards in general that suffer, because I know what it feels like and limits your life.

Taking a pill once in awhile or even on a doctor's advice doesn't make you an addict. I would always tell my husband how much I hate taking pills and he said, consider yourself a patient.That helped.

Blessings to all!

[imanaddict]

I too have a bad back and have many times asked myself this same question! It hurts the worst in the morning when I wake up..ughhh...

Anyway, there are other medications you can take for pain that aren't narcotic. There's even the pain patch, but I do NOT recommend it. I was on the pain patch (50mg fentanyl) and I would have WD's with ONE patch. Be upfront and honest with your Dr. and let him/her know your concerns. There is a way around it, we just have to search for it just as we did to get our "fix".

AND...LOL! If you absolutely have to get back on the pills, have someone hold them for you and dispense them ONLY as prescribed. You may not have had a choice in the past about your addiction, but you CAN control your future! I wish you nothing but the best!

[Ella789]

NO WAY !!!!!!   One pill does not make an addict,  you're in pain, you need relief, you go take one,  have someone hold the bottle for you.   You need not suffer and worry if you are labled an addict!  


Hugs to you!!

Ella

[ProdigalGirl]

If used for a short period of time with the help of a loved one holdind them, dloing them to you.. you should be ok. My brain played a game with me and told me that I could do it this time around b/c the fear of pain would outweigh the fear of abusing! WRONG!!! I am an addict. If I have to take meds for more than 4 to 5 days I am a gonner, back to square 1. It took me 6 months to realize this as I was back on them for that long. If you really NEED THEM.. be smart and note that u cannot take control of ur pills as an addict.


Advice of a 3 times person who was  fooled by  their addict  brain.... We cannot use on our "own" terms anymore!


ProdigalGirl