Possible to start taking again as directed?

[tatodamy]

I'm on day 32 of being clean off percocet. I was being prescribed 120 10 mg every two weeks and was going through them in less than a week. My husband gets 120 10 mg hydrocodone per month and when I would run out he would share his with me because he hated seeing me in pain and going through withdrawals. Well, I would end up taking a lot of his leaving both of us with nothing. He would then go find whatever he could for 'us' to get through until a refill. About a month ago he sat me down and basically said he was going to leave me if I didn't stop abusing my meds. It scared me so badly that I quit that night. I am still having back pain, and am wondering if I am strong enough to begin taking something less strong as long as I am being monitored. My husband has agreed to dose them out to me if I were to get another script. Thoughts?

[tatodamy]

Thank you, yes there are a few topical things I have been told of. One is pennsaid but I had that for my knee and didn't seem to help. Bio freeze is another one, and then one that is by prescription only that has a bunch of different ingredients in it. Just toughing it out for now :-)

[Elmijack15]

Check your messages thought I was posting. Ttyl

[Elmijack15]

Understand, some chiropractors will work with you, doesn't hurt to ask. Hopefully your PM will have other options for you and can get you in sooner. Ask about the Toradol or naproxyn if ibuprofen isn't cutting it. We're all different. And yes when I was on narcotics, nothing else helped but that's more due to wanting the narcotics. Keep us posted.

[tatodamy]

My husband has been slathering Ben gay on me, I've tried ice, heat. I've been on a muscle relaxer before but didn't feel it worked, of course that was when I was taking the percs so my mind was telling me nothing helped other than those. Not to have it be a cop out but my husband is unemployed right now and I can't pay the co pay to see a chiropractor or a physical therapist. Unfortunately I work an hour and a half from my home and sit all day at work so that just aggravates the problem. I will try getting in to my PM sooner, as he knows about my issues with percs and may have some different options for me.

[Elmijack15]

Hey there glad you're still counting those clean days. And please try to stop thinking your husband has some, don't think about that. Try to get into your PM sooner or like the post above said, try a chiropractor. You're taking ibuprofen and that may not be the right med for you, there are many out there to try before going to natcotics. I have suffered with bad hip pain and the chiropractor helped as well as a stronger anti inflammatory and a muscle relaxer. Ice always worked well for me. The one anti inflamatory that worked for me was Toradol, not narcotic, not addictive,  but you can't take that everyday, flexeril also helped. There's also a cream called Voltaren that you rub on the area that helps some. You do need a script for it. Please try all before even thinking of the narcotics. You're lucky the shot gave you relief, I had 3 and nothing, so hang in there and stay strong and clean :)

[killmypain]

You know that his hydrocodone isn't going to do anything for your pain. Have you tried using those creams? Icy Hot, Ben Gay? How about those thermacare heating pads or even try a professional massage..... Have you seen a chiropractor? I would absolutely exhaust EVERYTHING before you turn to pills and even then, call your PM Dr and see what he says.... Pain will come and go.... sometimes you just have to take a day to lay on (the floor works best for me when my back hurts) something and watch TV and rest. If you start taking those pills again, your addiction will take over again..... It sneaks up on you....

[tatodamy]

So, day 38. Feeling really good mentally and trying to ignore the back pain but its getting difficult. The 800 mg ibuprofen doesn't really help at all. I don't go back to my PM Dr. for another month so I'm not sure what to do. In addition to my disc pain the SI joint shots I received a month ago seem to have already worn off. I know different people metabolize things differently and I have always felt I have a high tolerance for everything from tylenol to percs. Not gonna lie, I've been battling myself about asking my husband to give me one of his hydrocodone, which I know he would, but I haven't. Just keep trying to tell myself I can get thru it and why ruin all that I've worked so hard for.

[hampstead]

When i moved or go for a walk the withdralls are a little less if i just watch T V they seem to get worse so i keep moving the best i can hope every one is hanging there

[twiceisacharm2]

No. I thought the same. 1 at a time as needed. Bill----. Over a period of 4 months I was up at 10. Now 1 yr later at 15 during day time. So u will get addicted again. Believe me!

[Tom86]

once an addict always an addict

[pleasehelppregnant]

Its really all a mind thing. Energy takes time to come back but I found that if I got up and made myself move than id be ok.but if I didn't than I would have worse withdraws but everyone is different. Hang in there have faith put some head phones on and listen to some good music and it will make you want to get going instead of feeling all the pain and symptons the first two weeks were though on he but I was taking them for over 8 years and alot but have faith in the good man above have your family have your back that's what has helped me having them to talk to and moan n grown to and say i'm gonna make it. And I did and so thankful for it.

[Stacy_Lynn]

my pain level dropped after being off for 2 weeks as well. Congrats to u on not caving! I understand, last week the pharmacy called to tell me my husbands pills were ready ( aka my script) & it was all i thought about for a few days. I ended up calling them & canceling the auto refills & i felt like i had the power again. Best of luck. Stacy

[tatodamy]

My pain levels dropped significantly after about two weeks. But depending on the day and what I have physically done they can get bad again. PM said give it 3 months off the opiates before I make any decisions on surgery.

[dominosarah]

Many of us found out our pain levels lessened the longer we were off the pain meds.  Hopefully that will be the same for you.  As for the control thing, once we cross that line there is no turning back.

[Elmijack15]

There you go, keep thinking about that and stay on course. So glad you're still counting your clean time :)  Hang on tight and keep trying things until you find something that works for you. Congrats for being strong!!

[tatodamy]

Oh, and also, I just keep reminding myself about the WDS, how I never want to go through that again and how it would always affect my daughter the weekends I had her because all I could bring myself to do was lay on the couch and be miserable. The guilt of that will never go away.

[tatodamy]

Day 34 today. Thank you all so much for your thoughts, input and opinions. After much thought I definitely can't say I'm okay to start taking any prescription opiates. My husband had his filled two days ago and the thought has definitely been there that I wanted one. I have over done it with some housework and other things the last couple of days which aggravated my disc issues. I have been open and honest with my husband that although I would never again just go to his bottle and take one or two as I would in the past, I probably wouldn't have declined one if he offered it to me. Which he, being the most caring man, not wanting to see the woman he loves being in pain, said he did think about doing. But he is so proud of how well I have been doing he has been torn. So he's been doing all the rest of the housework and getting me ice and rubbing icy hot on me any chance he can get. :) I have been seeing a new PM and he is amazing. How I came upon him is a whole nother story but we started with one of the only shots I hadn't had yet which is the SI joint shots. I've had two and can say that part of my pain is 60-70% better. Were trying 800 mg ibuprofen with something in it that doesn't tear up your stomach as much. I go back in a month for a follow up so we shall see how I am feeling then.

[kme17]

The simple fact that you are asking this question says your not confident in yourself to take them as directed. And your looking for a success story so you have an excuse to do it wo feeling guitly.. cause if one addict can do it then so can i right? If your nervous about it then your not able or ready to try it. There are tons of ways to help back pain. I use a flector patch.. its awesome. I got it from a PM doc and decided it didnt work and i needed the opana for it. But in reality the opana did make my pain worse esp when i took more then i should have

[gnarly_1]

HI ......for ,most of us we have no control and regular dosing wont work......I dont think you really want to open this can of worms up
now for some it works but there few and far in between but having your hubby hold them and dose you can work .....personally I think you should try and work past the rebound pain and then go on ibuprofen the 800mg work great for me you just have to give your body a chance to rebuild it own endorphin system you do this by getting all the narcotics out of your system this will be so so worth doing so give it a go......I would.... I was in pain managment for 16 1/2yrs and addicted most of that time to one form of pain med or another its know way to live I am greatful for every day clean today it takes work but if your willing to go to things like N/A you can get threw this good luck and God bless......Gnarly

[4adifferentlife]

I'll repeat don't do it!! Those things take us places and make us stay longer than we want to, our intentions are good, again one is too much a thousand isn't enough, great advice given to me.

[selfinduced]

Read lost 710 post. This kinda says it all. I know I have tricked myself more than once into thinking I could take just one,never worked.

[Elmijack15]

I speak from experience, I was clean for 5 years had foot surgery and got percocets, at first I took as directed but 6 months later I was taking 8 to 10 a day and my foot was healed. We can't do it, doesn't work for us, so really think about this before you get a new script!

[Elmijack15]

As long as it's not narcotic, there are other options out there, you proved to him you can stop and even if he gives you a certain amount at some point you'll need more and you'll be back to square one. Go to the doctor and get anti inflammatories and muscle relaxers for when you hurt, there are other options, you just need to find what works for you. Don't go back it's not worth it! Good luck!

[dede2121]

being an addict i (IMO) i dont think you could ever take narcotics as prescribed. i have tried that route also. i have given them to my daughter only to get very mad at her when she didnt give me all i wanted. it just doesnt work.