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what are the best non opiate pain medacations to take for addicts.

i am an addict and have been clean for 13 months , with
help from the folks here at this fourm, and my involvement
with N.A. meetings.
i have  painfull arthritis in both knees, and have rotator
cuff operation on both shoulders, these problems flare up with pain now and then.
right now i am suffering from severe pain in my elbow ,
do to possible tennis elbow, this started last augest.
At that time i got a steroid injection which seemed to deal with the problem, except all the pain came back about 2 months
ago i have had to take off from my union construction painting
job for the last 3 weeks . Hopeing that rest would help, it has not. I have been prescribed celebrex, it has done nothing for the paini have tried motrin , it has been no help.
i go to see the ortho doctor friday morning. i was wondering
if there is any pain medacation i should ask for .
My sister inlaw is a doctor and has told me i should have it put in a cast, , because the doctor is probly going to just give me another injection.
at age 43  it seem i do not heal as well as i used to,
i was thinking of asking for some kind of therapy program to
streng then the arm.
The pain has been very bad in the morning, i cannot even hold a cup of coffee, or the phone.
any suggestions, about a good medacation would be helpfull,
along with any other helpfull ideas.

peace!!!!!!!!hippy
59 Responses
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10810994 tn?1412976690
I am currently trying to figure out what is causing the severe pain/tingling/numbness/burning in my upper legs.  I went to an orthopedic surgeon yesterday and he referred me to a neurologist.  He gave me more hydrocodone which is ok but I'm wary because my Grandmother and Mom are allergic to it.  I recently had open heart surgery at 36 and that's what I took but after they took out the neck catheter.  I have noticed a bump on my inner bottom lip and a bunch of small blister-like things which makes me think I may be a bit sensitive to it as well.  I am also looking for a non opioid pain med just in case.  Btw I am a 2nd generation hippy...Mom was the real thing.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
DO NOT TAKE TRAMADOL which is generic for ULTRAM they say it not a narcotic or a opined BUT it is extremely addictive no matter what your doctor may tell you. I started taking Tramadol for minor pain here and there the results were wonderful it took away my pain and along with that gave me energy and that feel good feeling which I loved I began taking it for whatever pain I was having ( cramps leg surgery , back pain ect and before I knew it I was addicted I loved how it made me feel it seemed liked the perfect pill! And plus I was told not to worry about it because it wasn't addictive or dangerous so it was great well needless to say it was the beginning of a very long nightmare for me . I tried to stop them and in the beginning I was able to without withdrawal systems but I missed the feeling they gave me so it became a vicious circle a long story short I began increasing my dose and was up to taking over 20 50 mg pills a day for a few years because I needed to keep increasing in order to get the same effect I ended up in a rehab for 9 days was weaned off and because of insurance reasons was released it only took 2 weeks to be back where I started the craving for them was so overpowering I was unable to think of anything else I felt like a real junkie needing my fix I was ashamed of myself I couldn't believe I had gotten myself into a situation like this I'm a 52 yr old mother of 2 adult sons happily married had everything I could want how did this happen to me it only happens to real drug addicts but I had to face up and admit to everyone and myself that I to am an addict. I couldn't stand this live I was living keeping it all a secret every time I would relasp ao I decided to stop again and this time hopefully this is it I found a physitactrist who sepeialises in Suboxone treatment for opined addicts and I've been off of them for three months now I feel absolutely wonderful I've gotten my life back I have no cravings at all or thoughts of them this treatment has been a miracle for me it's the only thing that has ever worked to keep me drug free . Please don't ever take the tramadol especially if you have a tendency for abusing drugs it's not worth it in anyway I mean it and it doesn't take long to get ahold of you and before you realize it your addicted to it and your nightmare will begin find something else for your pain Goodluck
Helpful - 0
2083769 tn?1332327580
I shy away from drugs like toradol and tramadol too..ibu works ..a word of caution...NSAIDS if taken too frequently can cause internal bleeding.

My daughter has two bad wisdom teeth and is having trouble getting them out..she's been living on NSAIDS for the pain..

I've tried to warn her to ease up but her pain won out..and she texted me yesterday morning in terrible lower abdominal pain and bleeding clots rectally..

SO..please be careful. We all think " it wont happen to me cause I got this " ...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I have chronic pain & have been addicted 2 norco & vicoden. My Dr. (who is a substance abuse Dr.) said that he recommends neurontin. I have found it to work 4 me. I have also found elavil 2 work, but it is also an anti-depressant (meaning a pain reliever & anti-depressant). Idk how much of an anti-depressant it is tho. I would talk 2 ur Dr about that. I have tried ultram, celebrex & naproxen and none of those have worked 4 me. Hope this works 4 u!
Helpful - 0
1714046 tn?1308750057
  I went thru withdrawal from about 83 MG a day of OXY to include oxyfast concentrated solution, and then my doc put me on 20 MG kadian 2x a day with all the other stuff. Because of the Kadian, I would forget I took my meds and consequently took them again, then again. After a fire at my house almost dying but dog waking me up, stress and HI-POWER morphin just hit me hard. After about 4-5 days of this, I realized what I was doing and went off all of it. I decided no more narcotics, EVER again!!!!  It was 4 days of hell followed by about 4-6 days of feeling blah. I was over the W/D's.  Everybody, friends and family tell me I am the "old" me, happy, talkative and a social butterfly making people laugh.  I have to say tho, it was SO worth it becuase it reenforces my decision to not ever go "back" there!
I am now seeing a Physcotherapy/pain center,  trying thier approach for pain relief. So far, it is starting to work and I decided to give it a year. I am in constant pain but I can tuff that out. Cosidering the past, it's going to be a pleasant future. I've quit smoking, don't drink hardly at all and, just happy with who I am now. Still grieving the loss of my wife at the ripe old age of 44 and dealing with insurance for losses but, that's another 2 stories I won't bore you with.  I WILL however say, support cancer research.
As for the other posts, I believe everyone has thier own opinions and are entitled to them. Long live our right to believe in anything we want.

    Sincedrely, Timhav
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have you ever considered Massage Therapy? I am a student practitioner, and have several clients who I treat for pain management. I treat someone with serious arthritis who has relied on the steroid shots in the past, and another who has had recent damage to the nerves at her elbow, compounded by a sprained wrist, who is allergic to steroids. Both showed marked improvement after the first session, and continue to improve. Seeing how you'd like to steer away from medications, this might be the route for you. There are several kinds to choose from. If you're uncomfortable taking your clothes off, a good therapist will work with you however you need. At least check it out on the Net, O.K?
Helpful - 0
182493 tn?1348052915
You posted on a really old thread from 2003 This post will get lost in the mix of new posts from today. I highly recommend starting a new post. Scroll down to "back to forum" click there then click "post a question" on the main page. that way current members can give you advice.

I would stay away from the valium if you have abused them in the past. Can you take a few days off to just go cold turkey??  Since you were only back on for a month you are more than likely prolonging the withdrawals by tapering now. I am a advocate of tapering but i think in your case you should just get it over with.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tomorrow I will be on day 4 of a tapering method I'm using based on my supply. I have some 10mg oxycodon and some hydrocodone...each day I cut back by 10-20mg - I know its a fast taper but its the right time of the year for me to do this. I was clear of addiction to pain medications but then had a minor surgery and doc put me back on meds and I slowly started to take more and more each day to relieve the pain. I realized that I was 'abusing' and now I remember what withdrawal was like before and I want to ask what is your opinion of tapering? Am I pronlonging the withdrawal symptoms? It sucks to be at work all day feeling like I have the flu but I am managing. I think I don't use as much as most people here seem to so I hope my time in this hell will pass quickly. Before tapering, I was doing about 80mg - 100mg a day for approx a month. Today I took 30mg, tomorrow I will take my last 20mg then cross my fingers. By the way should I try some valium to deal with the anxiety? I am afraid of getting addicted to them as I have been using them in the past in large recreational doses (40mg at a time).

silver y
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am very cautious when it comes to the use of nsaids.  I have had my stomach ripped up from them.  Believe me, during my time with my back problems, I have ingested plenty.  This is a good article on the issue of nsaids:  http://www.healthsentinel.com/NSAIDs/

As you can see, nsaids can actually be detrimental to your health with chronic use.  And, that is quite an understatement.  I usually don't write about them because they usually aren't discussed here.  I have seen countless people complain of stomach problems from using the nsaid of their choice.  One thing, vioxx and celebrex are supposed to be better on the stomach.
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Avatar universal
thank you , to everyone for you caring input,
i will see the doc tommorow.
i'll probly just settle for the steroid injection and hope for the best.

peace!!!!!!!!!hippy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is a board about substance abuse.. to help / support/ answer questions, etc in those regards.  I am trying my best to work on tolerance and acceptance of myself and others.  This is part of my recovery program.  No matter wut religion or lack of religion, can we try to keep it off this board and get back to our purpose here plz?  I try to remember, there may be one here for the very first time seeking info on addiction as i came last September.  I was in such distress and all this extraneous stuff may have put me off and i may be dead now instead of in recovery!  I am not being melodrammatic...truley.
I apologise for my non relevant/ non purposeful posts in the past as well.
Peace and love to all of you who seek to come here to help or be helped.
Suzie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
All right. . .I had hoped to avoid this subject as long as possible, but here goes.  The following statements reflect only MY personal beliefs, experiences, and feelings -- they are not presented as "right" or "the Only Way" or anything else intended to "pump me up" and put down the feelings/beliefs of others.

1.  I believe in God.  Too many things have happened to me that have been entirely inexplicable via "rational" or "natural" means for me to believe otherwise.  If not the "God" who is a White Male who looks surprisingly like Charlton Heston, then *some* Force that is interested in the well-being of us inferior beings -- and is Him/Her/Itself (because I don't see how a Being or Force as vast as this can "be" male or female) *bound by certain laws that cannot be broken -- even by God*.  One of the most primary of these is our right to FREE WILL.  Obviously, this is REGARDLESS what we choose to do with it -- whether it is worship "God", go to "a church", help our "neighbor", or "beat the **** out of old ladies and take all their money".  The God/Force that I believe in certainly does not LIKE us to do these things and would STOP us if He/She/They were able to do so. . .but I think that the Universe was set up this way specifically for minimum "outside influence" on the outcome of our actions. . .whatever path they may take.

2.  I believe in God's Opposite.  AKA Satan, Lucifer, the Devil, the Very Bad Man, or any other analog in any other culture's teachings.  Again, there is too much evidence to the contrary for me to disbelieve.  Actually, I think that, these days, Satan/Baddie or whomever as well as their Legions must be really, amazingly ******* BORED since we humans seem to be doing most of their job ON EACH OTHER with AMAZINGLY little need for any "influence from the Dark Side."  I imagine sweeping cutbacks, demons cleaning out their desks, bitching about being "downsized" and making veiled threats about going to work for the Competition down the line.  But seriously. . .we humans do tool up on each other with such clocklike regularity that the Powers of Darkness must have to do very little to set the whole thing in motion. . .and, for the record, I think that drugs are one of their absolute favorite things.  At best, they help to inspire evil things, like theft, deception, lies, and the breaking of bonds between people who love one another.  At the very least, they render the user ineffectual, unable and unwilling to do anything good for anyone else.  It takes them out of the game, so to speak.

As far as the rest of it goes. . .yes, I am oriented towards Christianity.  And, yes, "fundamentalist Christians" who profess that theirs is "the only way" and you are "going to Hell" if you don't believe exactly as they do **** ME THE **** OFF.  Excuse the outburst, but honestly. . .I don't think there's been ANY OTHER SINGLE GROUP of people, including, but not limited to: Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Satan Worshippers, even Jehovah's Witnesses -- who have turned as MANY people as BITTERLY AWAY from Christianity as have rabid, foam-at-the-mouth, bullying "Christian" fundamentalists.  Without exception, everyone I have ever met who has been what I would call "anti-Christian" has, at one time (or several) in their lives been set upon by one or more of these. . ."soldiers for God."  Satan must be LAUGHING HIS FIERY ASS OFF at the irony.

Well, that said, let me just help out those of you who may feel inclined to tell me about myself.  As a time-saver, I will list some of the more popular responses I expect to get from this tirade:

1.  You're goin' to Hell, boy.
2.  You can't be a "real" Christian.
3.  You obviously don't know The Bible.
4.  You're just stupid.
5.  Um. . .you're goin' to HELL, boy, you know that, don't you?

To all of which I will reply. . .whatever, dude.  Unlike many of those I meet, I will at least RESPECT you AND your opinions and beliefs enough to let you have them without trying to make you feel bad.  The God I believe in is big enough not to be damaged by something like the Church of the Cosmic Star Goat, or anything else that may come down the pike. . .in fact (and as final proof that yes, I will Burn Eternally in the Fires of Perdition), I think God actually finds **** like that amazingly funny.  Honestly. . .how could you run a Universe like THIS one without having a sense of humor?

Okay, I'm done. . .as usual, sorry for having offended anyone. . .but NOT for what I believe.  And no, I will NOT engage in pointless debate or defense of the things said here.  As they are MY OWN beliefs, I don't need to "prove" them to myself. . .and I respect all of you too much to try to force them upon you like an attorney arguing a case.

Peace,

Kurt
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I apologize again for taking up space, but here goes. I have perused the entire message base for messages entered on 6-5, these are current messages.

Ever since our "truce" one member has entered at least 10 messages trying to stir up the pot again.  This forum "pit bull" apparently has no intentions of honoring the "truce".  To my knowledge, there is only one other individual with only one message entered.  

As the ad hominems continue, I sit tight to observe what position the other participants will take.  If there is a level playing field, I will simply ignore and there will be no problem here.  If there is a multiple-tiered standared for posters based on religious views, success in detox, physical dependence vs. addiction, etc., I will adjust my posture accordingly.

regards,
Expillman
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Avatar universal
Hey sweet man!  ASk your Doc about one of the antiseizure drugs like mentioned above.  They are preventative of pain.  They work on pain relief in 2 ways.  Decrease the actual pain message from going from the origination site and decrease the brains perception of the pain.  That is wut i have been told.  
Love,
Suzie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
good morning, ask your doc if you can try vioxx instead of the celebrex, celebrex didnt do **** for me either but i had excellent results with the vioxx. good luck love nancy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is the mother lode of controversy and emotion.  I will just say this about fundamentalists of any flavor, and especially christians.  They are so, so sure that their way is the only way, the true way, the chosen way that they plunge headlong in their ferver and will try to run over everything in their path.

Please consider that not everyone shares your views.  There are atheists, there are Jews, there are Muslims and there are people of OTHER religious persuasions that just do not share, subscribe to or embrace your views.

Ask yourself, "Am I tolerant of the religious or non religious views of others"?  -or- Is it MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY?

I am quite a student of religion, especially christianity.  I am also an atheist.  Please respect my views.
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Avatar universal
To Jerri-You call me Satanic.  This is incorrect.  Satan is a christian god, a hsllucination invented in the minds of primitive men to try to explain evil in the world.   FYI, Atheists do not believe in ANY supernatural beings.  Satan is your god, not mine.  Please deal with it.

To Bill-  You say that you are not trying to start anything.  Then you proceed to try to start something.   You repeatedly call me ugly names.  Why is this?   Have you not stated several times that we are now "buds"?  Remember, according to the myth, your god created an "imperfect" Lucifer, KNOWING full well that he would rebel, then tossed him out of heaven, created a HELL for him to live in and then let him out to TORTURE and TAUNT HUMANS?

And you call ME sick?   Interesting........
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey don't wory about it. Getting kicked off a public forum for talking about God isn't new. But I don't think you will have another problem now. If some people can talk about their higher power so can I. I have a right to voice my opinion anywhere I like as long as I am not breaking any laws(give the libs alittle more time and we will lose this right too). Jerri, He does have the power and He gave it to us too. But you already knew that!
Peace to you friend! May '***' be with us!  Bmac
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Amen Brother!!!I was just saying he feeds off of all the bickering!But I also know that we are stronger than it!!I got kicked off for talking about the Lord here once so enough said!!satan be gone!!! Love and Hugs to you bmac!  Jerri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey don't be scared of a little ole satan dude! My God is so much more powerful than that little piece of **** we call 'the devil'. Yes the website is ridiculas, but hey fits, right?
People like that are just screaming for help anyway.
One thing to remember Jerri, if someone believes in satan it means they really believe in God. You would have too.
You are right about it sucking you up into that ****. That's what it is all about, lies and deceipt. But never fear, just tell those stupid idiots to go back where they came and in HIS name and you will see them running as fast as they can. KENITES!!!! whew...........
I am shakin'!!!!!!!!!! Remember we have already won that victory!         Peace to ya Jerri2, Bmac

BTW about Goatbro! I am not trying to get him started. This is to all aethist/satanist(samething)and Im 6'2" and about 250 so I wasn't shaken by the description. But nice try brother!
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Avatar universal
This goat guy is satanic and that is all I have to say!That website is sick.Do not let yourself get wrapped up in argueing with the master of deceit cause hes on the goats side and it will not help on your road to recovery!!He is not going to help you cause he wants you to stay addicted to whatever you are addicted to!!!   Jerri
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Avatar universal
WOW MrM. I never knew people did that. I would pass out, even touching a needle. I almost pass out everytime I give blood, I can't even look or I will!
I guess people will always find a way for something new.
Thanks for the info, I usually learn something new from you or here everyday!

Chezz

Like Peaz said before (I think it was her). Some people get addicted to just using the needle. I remember someone saying that.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Is methadone completely cross addictive to oxy ?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
James,

I posted to you about the pillman thing below. Thanks for the reminder. We have had enough. My bad...

As to the cross addictive thing, Michael will know. I don't think it is.

I have no idea how you take oxycontin IV. But I would assume that a little methadone like you stated 10mg, for a few days would be "just what the Dr. ordered", like Mike said.

It would be just like a little taper before the big bang. I think it would work great and save you a little pain.
The best thing that has ever worked for me was valium. I have always gotten meds for my back from my doc, but have never asked for help when I stopped when the pain went away. After I found this site, I asked my doc for some valium to help detox because I just wanted a week free of the pain meds. He gave me some and I quit the percs CT (12aday what he Rxed) and I had NO PROBLEMS at all stopping. I thought it was a miracle. I had no problems with it. It was unreal. When I stop again when my back gets better, or after surgery, I will not do it without Valium, it made it sooooooooo easy and comfortable, it was unbelievable. I never thought there was anything that you were supposed to take when you stopped, I was naive, I just stopped and dealt with the withdrawal pains and was happy my back didn't hurt anymore.
Enough with my book. I suggest the Methadone for a couple days and Valium if you can get it. If you need help ordering some email me. (***@****)

I hope for an easy detox for you buddy, sorry to hear you have to go through it again,

Chezz
Helpful - 0
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