Some Of Us Do Not Have a Choice!

You all mean well but I think you often forget, some of us have daily pain that is so great, that we cannot function with it. I am one of those people and I take 40 mgs of Oxy sadly so that I can work part time. When I try to take half the dosage, the pain I normally have is added to the pain of withdrawal. If there could be a pain medication that we could take, which is not addicting, I would take it in a heart beat.

People sometimes think that addiction is a mindful desire to take more of the drug. For me that is not the case. I desire to take less of it. I had drugs and still do. I do not look forward to the next pill. However, if I want to be able to stand and work, I have to take the darn drug. If I want to put food on the table for my family, I have to take the darn drug.

When the Doctor wanted to give me an increased dose, I was willing to absorb the remaining pain, in order not to do that. However, as I already said, many of us have so much pain that we cannot function. I am one of those and so must take this stuff. The only addiction I have is when I go for an entire day, without the meds, simply staying in bed or on the sofa all day, I feel a different sort of pain that I believe comes from the lack of the drug. My chest hurts and I have hot/cold feelings. I also become very tired.

There you go, hope this helps people understand that some of us do not have a choice.

Doug

[moonshyne777]

Yes of course ppl need pain meds. I have spinal stenosis so I know all about bad chronic pain. I also know that I started out taking oxys as prescribed and ended up abusing them. Your not abusing them so good for you. Why did you post this though? I don't get where your coming from. This is a forum for people who have developed addictions to pain meds-not a forum that is against ppl in pain taking their pain meds as prescribed. So what's your problem?  

[GA Guy]

I think there's very few people here that have ever told a chronic pain sufferer to live their life in pain. I do however think there's plenty of us that tell people to take a while off the drugs to see what your pain baseline is and then work with the doctor to manage you pain without abuse. I've never had a problem with people using medications responsibly. However, many addicts are unable to keep from abusing those meds without help. And we all know that us addicts hate to ask for help when we can take care of things all by ourselves. It's that "great" thinking that got me into the mess I got into.

[10356]

hello Doug and welcome to the forum.. I also live with chronic pain but like you I can not control my intake.. congrats for your fortitude.. always keep guard though as addiction creeps on you sometimes with myself it started very young,, we have a excellent pain management forum maybe you should check it out as we do not look down on anyone that takes meds we just look down when they control our very beings and rob us of everything we hold dear..,  this is the truth of addiction. glad you are not there.. I wish you well.. lesa

[avisg]

I am not sure what is bothering you why don't you explain a little more in depth what is on you mind .  Yes many people do need pain meds for chronic pain.There is also both dependent and addiction> They can be different things if you take your meds as prescribed and never abuse them then your body is dependant on them but that not make you and addict . I need/needed pain meds for chronic pain I however started abusing my pain meds there for it was in my best interest to get off of them I have .My chronic pain issue is FAR better off the meds then on .I have found alternative methods of dealing with my pain  as have many others because we are addicts  .I have been dealing with another pain issue for the last 4 months on a daily basis's it has been very difficult and I did have a trip to the ER. I have found way to deal with the pain I would love to be able to take pain meds responabily for this but unforutely again I am an addict so I cant .

[leeisgettingclean]

i agree with avisg on this one. I also dont remember a time when anyone on here has told a cronic (chronic) pain suffer to not take there meds...its when they can not controll it anylonger that it becomes an issue...maybe not even a "quiting" issue parhaps an issue of needing to find a differant med that will work better for your specific pain level.

[Beccabeccalynn]

Isn't this forum for all substance abuse? If not I been reading and posting and supporting like it. Am I lost? Becca

[worried878]

Guess peeps have a different defitniton of addiction...the way i describe addiction is a mental and physical dependency...with the mental part making a person an addict....I am also a chronic painer..plates in my neck//missing discs with bone on bone//but being a true addict//the pills caused me more pain than the actual pain itself..we r all different
You do not sound like u r an addict.....u have control of ur use it seems from ur post//we did not///There is a great pain forum on medhelp...most use narcotics without an issue//this is a forum for addicts...u may feel more comfortable there....good luc to u

[troubleinohio]

here is the link for the Pain Management Forum here, its a good place

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

[kickinhydro]

Hi, sorry r what u r going through.
I would say most of us on here started out
Using pain meds to treat painful conditions, I have TMJ its very painful @ times. Don't think anyone just woke up one day & decided they wanted 2 be addicted, its not fun, cool, etc...
Jessica

[cleanmom]

Who are you trying to convince?? Us or yourself?? If addiction is not a problem for you, perhaps the pain management forum would be a better fit?? Best of luck to you, i hope you can find what you are looking for, whatever that may be.........

[forgivenx7]

I guess I misunderstood the difference between addiction and dependence. I kept reading peoples posts saying, "GET OFF THE MED" and I am thinking to myself, "I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE."

What I do not understand is when a person goes from dependence to addiction. Is it a decision that is made? Why does it ever turn to a point where we would take more than what we are given, unless the pain becomes greater? The reason I wrote what I wrote, is because I am concerned for myself. I already recognize withdrawal symptoms when I try to lessen the amount prescribed and that got me to wondering if I have become addicted to the med.

So, is it a forgone conclusion that if you take OXY for a number of years that you would automatically become addicted to it? Can a person be addicted to it without abusing it? I think that is what I am trying to discover for myself.

Thanks

[10356]

a person can become dependent to it yes but not addicted.. addiction is a uncontrollable urge to take more to take it for the high. to escape emotional pain.. in addiction you will just about do anything to get more.. lie cheat and steal. when you are displaying this behavior you are in deep addiction.. One has to be careful with opiates though as our tolerance builds then we need to keep upping the dose.. many that have been prescribed have become addicted for the energy boost and buzz.. it sounds to me like you are dependent..dependence is when you take a controlled amount without upping the dose yourself..
Sometimes on does not like the dependence and goes off it and finds alternative treatments.. my husband took 1 to 2 hydro a day never more for a few years.. I could not do this as I was up to 25 30 a day and was killing myself.. I hope this clears a lil up for you.. lesa

[mental_mayhem]

What Lesa said is dead on, dependency is not addiction but addiction can creep up on anyone so be careful.