Need Some Advice

[axeman25]

I have posted a few times in the past month and a half or so about my issues with pain meds. Cliff note version: I have been taking Norco for about a year and a half(roughly). It drops my pain from a 7 to a 5. It basically allows me to deal with my daily activities but I still have a lot of pain. The new doctor I have been seeing since September has flat out called me an addict because I won't take anything stronger such as Oxy's or Percocet. The reason is that I've gone through the WD's from them and it was awful. I swore I would not touch them again.  I've tried to explain this to my doctor and she doesn't seem to understand my reasoning. She is foreign and I think there is a language barrier. So basically she cut me off of the Norco's. This was last Thanksgiving. I had no wd's at all, but within 5 days my pain was so bad I ended up in the ER. The ER doc ended up giving me a pain shot and a prescription for Norco. Which of course made my doctor furious. I posted this on here and people said that after a month or so my pain may not be as bad because my body is craving the meds. Well, it's been a month since I've taken any pain med and my pain is to the point that I cannot function on a daily basis. My doctor now wants to put me on Suboxome. Which I don't want to do. I've been on it before and it was not a good experience. I told her that it was way more addictive than what I was taken to which she said it wasn't and then pulled the "I'm a doctor and I know more than you" card. My crappy insurance limits the doctors I can see in my area. I feel as if I should cut my losses and move on (and even had another doctor tell me there is no way he would recommend me taking something like that). I guess I am just looking for some advice from someone who has been in a situation like this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[dominosarah]

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Pain-Management/show/53

[Inner_peace]

There is nothing worse then back pain, I can relate very well. The constant irritability and frustration of not having mobility and wanting to do things because the pain is so bad. And feeling like your not doing your part because you are simply unable to....
Pain is extremely depressing and it drains the life out if you! My advice because I know we're you are after 7 surgeries to repair my spine from an auto accident is-
"Nutrition! It will balance your body giving the body the ability to heal its self.
Water... drinking a lot of water every day, at least half your body weight in ounces...Seek Supplements that will give you the nutrition you are lacking from foods. Turmeric is a spice that is amazing on pain as well as a whole list  of others like a product called- PROCOSA  a unique formula for joint health. A combination of  1500 mg of high-quality, vegetarian glucosamine HCl—a dose shown to be effective—with a blend of important vitamins and minerals,
including meriva bioavailable curcumin complex. meriva is an innovative
phytosome that delivers water-soluble curcumin wrapped in fat-soluble soy lecithin, which more easily crosses cell membranes for dramatically improved stability and absorption. In addition, vitamin C and curcumin provide antioxidant defense against cell-damaging oxidative stress.*.          

11/2 years ago I was on 60mg Oxycotin 3X a day with 4 to 6 Roxycodone a day for break through... I took this for 12 years!! 12 years! I have a rod in my back and drop foot with my new diagnosis of MS  2 years ago....
Today I only use Nutritional Suppliments and food to heal my body no more narcotics or pain meds. I meditate and do yoga and after losing 45lb and 5 sizes I feel 15 years younger and have a new lease on life...
No more depression and I am enjoying my family again. I am so greatful for the friend who told me she could help with Suppliments and  Nutrition.
I tapered down and leveled then tapered again and leveled... Until I was clean, with the help of a liver detox and meditation life is beautiful again...
I only gave information on PROCOSA but I take Biomegas and Proflavenol C as well as a liver detox called Hepasil....
I know after my battle with pain this was my only means of life after pain meds... And today though I am not 100% pain free I am healthy and strong enough to cope with MS... I will do my best to fight it without meds...
I hope something in my message can touch you enough to get your happiness and life back.....be the husband and father again you know you are!
Good luck and blessings to you....

[Ben727]

Just FYI, hydrocodone is only slightly less potent than oxycodone at the same dose (google "opiate scale" and check out the Wikipedia link). Take either for too long and you will have a dependence that will cause withdrawals. If you only take as directed, a taper should limit the WD from either about the same.

You need a doctor who specializes in pain management. And not a pill mill pain management clinic. IMO, stay away from suboxone if you're worried about WD. Read the FAQ posted along the right.

[axeman25]

I will try that. Thank you, I was actually unaware that there was a forum for that.

[axeman25]

I have two blown disc in my upper back, plus years of damage from sports injuries and arthritis. I am a candidate for surgery, but there is only about a 60% chance that it will help and it is quite possible that I could end up worse than I am now. Again, I have very bad insurance and the doctor I have is the only one within 25 miles of where I live that would accept my insurance (and was accepting new patients). I have a feeling that I will have to travel farther to find another doctor. I just don't feel that I need to go on Suboxome to deal with this pain. I honestly would rather go back on Norco. At least I know I can stop that without the WD symptoms. The time I went into the ER, I asked the doc if I should go into the inpatient rehab. She asked if I was going through withdrawals, I said no. She then said that it sounded to her like my body had a dependency for the medication rather than having an addiction. She was the one who gave me the pain shot and the script for the Norco. She also told me that some people need pain medication. I will admit that I had to have my wife keep the pills in a lock box and she gave them to me because I will take more than I should. But that is because I can't stand the pain sometimes. It has affected every aspect of my life and I don't feel like I' the father and husband that I could be if I was out of pain.

[hayls0324]

I'm really sorry to hear you are having so much pain. I can't imagine his it must feel to need pain meds so strong but not want to take them because of how addictive they are. You are a very strong person to be able to do that. I'm not a doctor but my advice would be to find out why your having so much pain and maybe fix that (if possible). I am not sure how the healthcare works where you live but I live in Canada and it is hard to find a doctor that you can bond with but they are out there, try talking to a different doctor of you can. There's lots of support here do hopefully someone else has a better answer for you. I'll keep you in my prayers!

[dominosarah]

Have you tried posting this in the pain management forum?  They are good people over there too and may have some better ideas for you.  Just a thought