Needing help with pain and addiction

[mamane82]

I have a couple of questions, and I am really in need of some advice. I am a 30 year old female, with severe back problems. Ive bee prescribed oxycodone for 3 years now. In the past year I have starting abusing my medication, and buying it off the streets. Recently, it has gotten so bad that I take anywhere between 15-25 oxycodone a day. I have lied, cheated and stole for this med. My family found out about my addiction, and it has made me realize I need help. I am terrified that I will not be able to walk without pain medication. I am going to see my neurologist tomorrow, and I'm just wondering if I should tell him what I have been doing, and see if he will help work out a plan. Or should I see if he could put me on something like methadone to help the addiction and pain both. I'm lost. I dont want him to punish me for not being strong enough to resist. I think telling my doctor is the best option to get clean,  but I'm seriously worried about pain management!!

[gettingoff]

Hi! I had SEVERE back pain and recently had to endure 2 spinal fusions. Was on vicodin or norco + soma (at night only for 3 yrs or so) and the past year I had to up the dose to 3-4x daily. I recently went cold turkey as I felt I was killing myself with all the medication that my pain doctor kept putting me on (long lasting oxy, morphine, patches...the works) to get me OFF the other stuff. It was all madness!!

I can say with real conviction that it IS possible to stop taking the opiads and start a holistic program to deal with pain. I am taking ibuprofen again for pain + acupuncture + gentle but daily exercises/stretching/core strengthening + meditation. I have been norco/soma/patch free for 23 days and although (won't lie) the first couple of weeks were hell, it has gotten SO much better this past week I cannot even begin to describe how great I feel!

You are so young at 30! Talk to your doctor and have him/her help you get the heck off the drugs. Your body will thank you and I bet you will bounce back much faster than I did as I am 47. I know you can do it! You deserve to have your life back.

All the best to you!

[hope4good]

Your best bet is to be honest with your dr.  He will tell you which route to go and he will appreciate your honesty.  There are many safe ways to detox and many good pain meds that are not narcotic.  I have horrible back pain too and I thought norco 10s were the only thing that would help me.  After quitting my dr put me on 800 mg Ibprofun and some patches that don't have narcotics in them.  I actually feel a lot better with this medication than I ever did with narcotic pain pills.  Good luck to you!