long term opoid treatment

[Andrew]

Hi

I have severe corneal damage which has caused the whole surface of the cornea to become exposed, and is very opaque. It causes me constent pain which is only made bareble by using narcotics. I have to make a decision on wether or not to have the eye taken out but I still have sight in it. The other Eye has a simmiler condition and has almost no sight in.

I know I'm already physically dependent on these drugs since I have been taken stronger drugs since the beggining of the year. The doctors seem to be more worried about addiction than controlling the pain although they have reluctantly mentioned MST (Morphine). Would it be wise to have it taken out just to stop me becomming addicted to these drugs, or is it possible to controll the pain successfully for a long period of time even if this means using long term Morphine?
Because at the moment it is ruining my life.

[Andrew - followup]

We have already talked about the pain management clinic but it's a joke in this part of England, There's an eighteen month waiting list, and, clearly if you learn to live with pain for eighteen months you don't need much help.

I have though arranged to see the pain controll nurse.
I've had three retinal detachments in that eye anyway which could occur again but still the sight is almost as good as it was before this year and better than my other eye.

I've done research on these drugs and I beleive that I haven't really got much to loose now because i've been using steadilly increasing doses of Dihydrocodeine since June, I started of on 30 mg 3 times a day and now I'm on 30 mg 3 hourly and still it's isn't controlling the pain enough.
I never give up easilly and am willing to fight this condition, although I know that most people in this situation have the eye enucleated.

[BOB1969]

TUFF SITUATION I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT IN 86 REALLY BAD ALMOST TORE MY LEG OFF SINCE IVE HAD 8 HIP REPLACE MENTS AND TEN FEMAROL BYPASSES TWENTY TWO YEARS OF SURGERIES TWENTY TWO YEARS OF UNBELIEVABLE PAIN TWENTY TWO YEARS TO WORKING ON A MAJOR ADDICTION THINGS SEEMED TO GET WORSE AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF OXYCONTIN STARTED WITH 20 MG 3 TIMES A DAY  TILL LATE 06 WHEN I WAS EATING 30 80 MG TABLETS A DAY(CHEWING)THEN THE STATE REFUSED TO PAY FOR MY MEDS (4000$A WEEK) FENTANAL PATCHES AND BREAK THRU PAIN PILLS SO WITH THAT I BECAME MY OWN DOCTOR AND PRESCRIBED HERION.
LASY YEAR (07) DECIDED THIS WAS OUT OF CONTROL TOLERANCE  WILL **** YOUR WORLD MY ONLY OUT IS TO HAVE MY LEG AMPUTATED ABOVE THE HIP(WONT EVER LET THEM DO THAT) SO I FEEL YOUR PAIN  IT IS A MONSTER THAT I LIVE WITH AND ITS TRYING TO KILL ME JUST A WARNING  BOB