Very Confused over Doctors Decisions about Pain Medication

[jnmini]

I have a very severe form of osteoporosis which is getting worse with age, which is just 44, despite prescriptions and supplements.  That being said, here is my problem.  In the past 3 years I have broke both ankles (at the same time, tripped on the steamer while steaming the kitchen floors), one ankle required surgery as it was a tri-mallior  fracture which required hardware and a nursing home stay.  Another was a hip fracture which happened just from a fall, which resulted in another nursing home stay. Then there was the wrist fracture, the 2 back surgeries due to fractured discs, and on and on...  One would think that this would be my problem or question and while it has to do with it, it is not.  My question is I am wondering if I am becoming addicted to all of the pain meds?  I should also tell you that pre bone breaking I had a tumor inside of my neck which was cancerous and had to go through 1 round of radiation and 2 rounds of chemo (which my oncologist explained that weakened bones are sometimes a post effect of chemo).  I am going through PT for the broken hip right now and am taking approx 4-6 tablets of 7.5-325 Norco tablets each day.  I should explain that the hip incident happened about 5 weeks after the last back surgery which a cage was placed a a lot of scar tissue was cleaned out.  My right leg from the hip down is now completely numb after the surgery.  It was my left hip that was broken.  The nurse from the hip Dr. Told me that at this point after the surgery I should only be needing 4 tablets a day.  This has me very concerned, hence the reason for the question.  What am I going to do if when I d cut the usage down to that amount?  If it still hurt will that mean I am addicted?  Will I need to go to a treatment center?  I thank you ahead for your attention to this question.
Jeanie Minier

[nursegirl6572]

Geez, I'm so sorry for all you've had to endure!  Wow!

If you've been taking opiates regularly for any significant period of time, then you're almost definitely "dependent" on them, meaning you would suffer withdrawals if you stopped taking the medication.  

Addiction is something a good bit different...it involves a mental aspect, cravings, drug seeking, abusing the script, supplementing the script with street drugs, doing things very out of character for that person to obtain their drugs, or to continue using (ie theft, lying, manipulation, etc).  

So, you're basically dealing with dependency and tolerance IMO.  Tolerance is when you need more and more of a drug to reach the same desired effect.  Opiates absolutely come with the tolerance issues, which is probably why the NURSE tells you what you "should" need, even though you're finding that the be a little different.

Worrying about the issues that come with opiate pain management is smart.  I think maybe your best option at this point is to discuss your concerns with your doctor.  It SOUNDS like most of your pain needs involve acute situations after injuries.  If that's the case, and in between the injuries you don't need pain control, then really, you should do okay with the opiates during those situations.  You would just need to be tapered off the pain medication when you no longer needed it...gradually replacing the narcotic medications with non-narcotic medications.  The fact that you're being proactive is a wonderful thing...that way you won't find yourself in a situation you weren't expecting.

Take care and good luck!

[jnmini]

I have been on pain meds (very strong ones with the chemo and radiation), and not so strong ones with the broken bones.  Through all of that I have never taken more medication than what was prescribed, never had to refill early, if anything it was past the refill time.  I am just worried about having pain in all of the places (especially the back and the hip since they are so new) that have been broken and now have arthritis.  I have started to cut the pain medication to one 7.5-325 Norco every 8 hours since that is what the nurse said I should only need.  I hope it works.  I started at 7am this morning and have PT at 3:30 pm.  That will be the real test,

[gnarly_1]

Hi  and welcome to the forum  first off your going to feel the withdrawal no getting around that  second you have to decide if your just ''dependent'' on the drugs or a addict  a addict will take more then perscribed run out early on refills turn to friends and family for pills or by from the street only you know if your a addict keep posting we all want to see you get clean............Gnarly.............................