vicodin

[SOCALFIRE13]

I am a 31 y/o Firerfighter paramedic. I had a couple of accidents in the span of  about 8 months. I first got burned and then fell through a floor. Both injuries resulted in time off work. When I fell through a floor, I broke 4 ribs and slipped 3 disks in my back. When I was burned , I was given alot of IV MS in the way to the hosipital, and I believe I was hooked instantly. I had a skin graph and spent 4 days in the hosipital. I went back to work 3 days after the surgry and didn't have any problems with it. My back on the other hand was and still continues to be a problem. I found out that I had spinal stenosis and a 6mm hernation at l5 S1 . This causes me pain in my left leg that is hard to work with. I only missed 3 weeks of work. While I was off work I developed  a dependence on vicodin. I was taking about 10 to 15 10/350mg vicodins a day. When I went back to work I stopped taking the pills while on duty, but when I was off i would bindge and take the same amount or more. I am married and my wife and I are trying to have a baby. I have have no excuse for abusing the pills. I know the results of abusing these pills and have had to tell people that their love one is dead because of an overdose. I love my wife and have told her of my addiction.  I am sorry for ranting on. I am also sorry for my lack of ability to spell correctly. I have been reading this form for some time now and decided to write for some advice. I am still in alot of pain, probably due to the fact that I never took enough time off work. I have a very physical job. I am not writing this to put my self on pedistal, but rather to paint a picture of contributing factors to my addiction. I believe I can take the pain ,being an abbused child and all. I need to stop taking vicodin and don't realy know where to start. I have tappered down to less then 1/2 what I was taking before. I don't feel that bad, but have had troubles sleeping. I 've picked up many overtime shifts and figured if I am not sleeping , then I minght as well get paid for it. Every day i go to work i have access to 60 mg of MS. I never touched it, probably because of the fact I worked my ass off to get my job and do not want to lose it. I am sorry for ranting on, but I never realy talked to anyone about this. I have seen countless people lose thier lives because of one form of addiction or another, I want to be there for my wife and family. My wife is the first person I ever trusted and am afraid if losing her if my dependence continues. I would appreciate and advise on how to deal with this. Please do not think that I am feeling sory for my self, I am just not good at writing of talking feelings down. thank you for your time,  

[RCSLADY]

I too have chronic pain and I am in day 6 of detoxing off opiates cold turkey.  Once you get on this opiate roller coaster it is really hard to get off.  I think all of us started with legitimate pain but soon became addicted.  It's been a never ending cycle for me...doctors, refills, withdrawals, etc.  After awhile your body needs the opiate just to feel normal. (Whatever that is!)  

Once I became addicted to opiates again my tolerance went sky high and believe me I have paid the price.  Today I am feeling alot better with all of the major withdrawals being gone.

If you are serious about getting off pills this forum can be a lifesaver.  It has been for me.  

Good Luck

[Soonerdean]

All I can say is hang in there bro.  I too have chronic pain in both feet and legs...took 2-4 hydros a day for over 2 years.  Today will be day 7 without any hydros and the pain is still there.  

I have wrestled with the fact that I may be on these things for the rest of my life.  My condition is bad enough that the pain interferes with my job and concentration..when I take a Lortab the pain goes away and I am able to do my job....and I carry a CDL...I drive for a living.  My pain is due to a pinched nerve in my back that is worse when I am sitting....down of all things.

I can tell you it wont be easy.  In our condition this may be as good as it gets.  Yes I am addicted to the Lortabs..but I am also addicted to the pain free way of life they provide me through out each day.  Yes I like the high...who wouldn't...but I also know that if I dont take them I wont sleep, wont eat and wont be the husband I'm supposed to be.

There is a difference between taking Vicodins and Lortabs for pain relief or if you are taking them strictly for the high.  You have to decide which you would rather live with....the pain or the addiction.

I also think if we are strong enough we can handle this.

STAY TUFF!

[DeezNuts]

So where are you from in so cal? I was born in Redondo Beach, lived there 3 years...moved to northern cali and grew up here. Spent last summer getting back to where my parents grew up and really loved it.

Anyway...as for your condition. Mine was similar. Snowboarding last year I blew out one knee, dislocated my shoulder and tore ligamints in my ankle. I was prescribed the same vicodin you have been taking. The best ones out there, most hydro, least apap. good at first, then once we're hooked. real bad.

I first started at 20mg and worked my way up to about 70mg. I got sick of it after I OD'd on apap and had to stay awake medicating my liver with vitamins. I haven't taken a norco for about a week thanks to some methadone. Most people don't recommend it but, I take anywhere from 5-10mg of methadone every 36 hours ($3) compared to 60-80mg hydrocodone ($30)

tapering works for some people but i could never do it. I never had the discipline. I always would just take em all. Mainly so I could get my pain down as low it will go. Docs recommend taking vicodin to take pain from a 9 to a 5. I go from a 9 to like a 2 from taking so many.

Good luck, as always and never feel ashamed here. I'm new to all of this and have found ALL people more than understanding, knowledgeable and truthful

[SamSmashing]

I see this is from a 2007; its now 2017! How have the past ten years treated you?