Stupid question??

[ariley13]

Ok, this may be a stupid question, and I was really tempted to PM someone, but have decided to post it and be witnessed. I have a lot of serious back problems and the past 2 days have been hell. I have been having a lot of anxiety and trouble sleeping also. I keep thinking that I wish I had just one vicodin to make this horrible pain go away. Is this what it's like to have a craving? I know that sounds silly but I am over a month in with zero cravings. What to do people, what to do...

[Overwhelmed10]

I'm glad you asked this ariley, I've got pain issues with neck and back, and I recently went off the opiates myself, and I had a few AWFUL days with my lower back, couldn't sit or stand to get comfortable! I thought the same thing, but I know I'm way too early into my detox...hope you are feeling better, my heating pad was my BFF for a few days. ;)
Julie

[ariley13]

Thank you for that. I'm going to check out the online meetings. It can be a little tricky getting this 63 foot truck and trailer in most places!

[clean_in_ks]

Glad you decided to post on the open forum.  I am a "chronic pain" person and it took me a way longer than 30+ days to be able to re-evaluate my true pain level/neve damage.  We have pain receptor sites on our spines, too and our entire bodily functions/brain functions are in "shock" and trying to re-set, heal and our nervous systems are pretty wacked!
I had major anxiety issues, too...but reading the health pages on PAWS helped me understand some of that, too.  The sleep is usually the LAST thing to normalize.  I didn't have so much trouble "staying" asleep....but actually "getting to sleep".  You are healing and you are doing a great job.

As far as being on the road and unable to have a home group or find regular meetings, when I was a "roadie", I checked out meetings in each big city close to where I was staying and it blessed me a lot.

Another suggest for being on the road that wasn't available back when I was doing that is "online" meetings and chat rooms.  If you have access to the internet while trucking along....here is at least one link for you:

http://na-recovery.org/Narcotics_Anonymous_Online_Meeting_Schedule.html

They have a meeting every night of the week online.  If you google or bing online NA or AA meetings.....there is TONS of help there.....daily meditations for recovery you can read or have sent to your phone or laptop, people to talk to....on and on.  Hope some of that helps.....and then lastly...the gag word...TIME.....I PROMISE the anxiety, pain levels and sleep WILL get better!
You're doing great, girl~

[ariley13]

Thanks all. I will just hang in there and it will pass. I am currently unable to go to a meeting because we are on the road in a semi truck. I will be home next Thursday and Friday and plan on going both days.

[ricart70]

I believe that the technical (or folk term,take your pick) term for this type of craving is "flight into health". It is one of the main ones that chronic pain people have to deal with. I just wanted to say that at 30 or so days your brain is still not producing endorphin at full tilt . I am not a chronic pain sufferer but I am 42 and I work very hard and also run every day so I have aches and pains. I just wanted to say that at about where you are now I still felt some pain and felt kind of beaten up. That really improved at 60-90 days.  I would hang in there and look at some of the natural methods
You are doing a great job friend. Glad you are here !!!   ;)

[limodan73]

Not sure if this helps, cuase I don't know you're whole situation. I have L5-S1 issues along with L3-L4. I have been taught to do certain muscle stress relieving stretches and movements. If you go to the Mayo Clinic website, and search lumbar excercizes and stretching, you will find a list of 15 movements. The one that helps me the most, when the pain gets un-freakin-bearable is laying on the carpet, arching the lower back and rotate moving the pelvis forward and then backwards. PLEASE: do not take my half *** description of them. Go to the site, they show them, in depth. Hope I helped.
Dan

[Back2Me]

Yeah it's a craving. It's a craving backed by reality, I had that last weekend after being in the yard doing work. I posted about it. I needed up taking 4 advil, and a few hours later some pamprin of my wife's lol. But I read it and it had acetaminafen, aspirin and caffeine, the stuff actually worked! But I sat in pain for a while. Also try to remember that if you do this you will only want more next time. And then next time will come sooner and sooner and then it will be daily. I know t ***** but for me when I was on meds it was crazy, at work if I was on my feet for a few hours my left foot would would swell up and hurt like hell, I would be limping. I always thought I had a stress fracture or some nerve damage. By I swear, since I quit I have been on my feet a TON at work and I walk at home and I have had ZERO problems! Yeah my back still hurts and gets crazy stuff but that real bad issue in my foot is GONE. Doctor said those meds restrict blood flow and that was probably happening. So I had a chronic issue but I was CAUSING IT! As far as the back pain I feel you. I know for me strengthening my core is critical for me. Doing some weight resistant training on my midsection and nack will help this eventually. Hang on in there. Just act like those pills were never invented and you will find ways to relieve your pain.!

[gnarly_1]

hi it is time for aftercare   hit up a N/A meeting as soon as you can  just because you stoped the pills dosent meen it over  addiction has to be treated  you will need to change the very way you think with help you can do it  whatever you do DONT PICK UP!!!! you are doing great so fare lets try and keep it that way remember 1 is to many and 1000 not enough good luck and God bless..........................Gnarly.........................

[ariley13]

Yeah, I've been trying it all. Thanks though.

[toothfairie]

have you tried heating pad and/or ice?  hot baths, soak for a long time and use the epsom salts....i'm sure you already have...and also alternate tylenol and ibuprofen every 4-6 hours....thats what i was told long time ago for my back...hopefully it's just rebound pain and will go away soon girl.  they also make hot/cold pads for the back that stick on, kinda like Therma cares but it's Icy Hot

[ariley13]

It's been for most of the day. My back hurts all the time, but has been a lot worse than usual for the past 2 days. Anxiety's been bad the past 2 days too.  And as you know I've been fighting a losing battle with sleep for over a week.

[EvolverU]

I've got to leave the house. Back to you soon! Hang in there, my sister. Love you.

[EvolverU]

A, did you just start to experience it? How long ago?