pain meds one a day, for 9 years, bad?

[dhsaber]

Hi I would like your site about addiction or not.
I herniated the disc in my back about 9 years ago. I have fybromyalia, and chroni pain & hep c
My doctor in WA had me on one percocet a day and one soma occasionally 2 if necessary
Basically  30 perc every 20 days, and 45 soma every 30 days. I have since moved to Alaska and lost my doctor and insurance. I am now forced to go to community health clinic that won't give me thing.
Some people act like one a day for 9 years is absolutely terrible, while my doctor thought it was very reasonable under my condition. I have found where to buy soma off the Internet. My boyfriend was
Going to his doctor for his herniated disc in his neck ( which doesn't hurt him bad ) to get perc for me.
I just hurt, and that one pill makes a big difference. Alaska air isn't helping. I am now in the process
Of finding how to buy them from Mexico. I know that sounds terrible, but I don't know what else to do. Does this make me an addict? I do'nt take more than onea day unless in extreme pain. I noticed if I take it at the onset of the pain I can knock it out, but if I wait till it gets bad, it might not work.
I can have 120 pills and still only take 1 a day. yet I read on hear that pain med seems to be pretty common among us

[Stvski80085]

I understand what you are going through.  One thing I hate is how people say your addicted.  I have told every doctor I have seen that yes I am addicted to some degree because I have been on meds since my injury began.  If I was out of them then I would go through withdraws as anyone in that situation would.  But I don't break the law and I don't take more than perscribed per day.  They always seem amused when I say I'm addicted but I follow it up with that explination.  We are all addicted to them it's just what comes with that kind of pain management.  I would be findin another clinic or doctor and you should have gotten your medical file to bring with you or have it sent to you new doc.  If you can show them proof of what you have had done and how you were perscribed they are more likely to work with you then just on your word.  They see lots of people in for a quick med fix because they are abusers.  Thats the difference.  I would get your records and you will find a good doc that will understand the situation without starting all over and getting them from mexico whick still costs a lot compared to a copay if you have insurance.  In fact you script would most likely cast as much as it would to get insurance so that is the route I would go.  I hope it helps coming from another person dealing with pain on a daily basis.  Until someone is in yoour shoes just as with this treatment they could never understand.

Take care,

Steve

[hepcD]

Have you ever tried to just stop taking pain meds. My brother took them for years when he stopped taken them his pain tolerance went down and he didn't need them any more. He actually felt better and could function normally. I know it will be hard on you but maybe give it a chance ? I wish the best for you

[Stvski80085]

I should have checked my spelling.  Had a few mistakes in that one.  LOL

[dhsaber]

actually if it works the ones from mexico are 55.95 for 60 of them. I don't work anymore so other doctors aren't anoption, and private insurance (not that I can afford it) won't accept me because of my medicl conditions. the clinic did get my medical record.  They say they can refer me to a pain clinic but thats it's real expensive and has a waiting list

dhsaber

[Stvski80085]

I understand.  Just remember it is illegal and they may catch it and if they do you lost your money.  I would think twice about the mexico thing because authorities are aware of people doing this and anything coming into the country these days is looked at a lot more closely.  But if you have no other choice then it is really your decision.  I hope you get it worked out.

Steve

[lackalustre]

have you tried glucosomine or msn?    or start exercising very slowly at first and increase. i find strenght building exercises has kept me out of the chiropractors.  strong muscles help support your structure.   i dont know if you are overweight but losing weight helps a lot.  and eating right. basically taking good care of yourself.    there are natural things to help with sleep as well such as magnesium, valerian, etc.      i realize pain meds are absolutely needed for some but   here are just a few suggestions.   canadian pharmacies   give things without prescriptions as well.

[chi_chi_]

i think you may be more physically dependent on your drug than addicted to them. as long as your honest to your self and take them for pain rather than the fear of being in pain. an addict is compulsive they take drugs in hopes of making them feel better or not to feel anything at all, can rarley say no,and will continue usage despite the consequences. people who use drugs for chronic pain are called pain victims. although both can be physically dependent.the down side of using pain medication is that it interupts your brains ability to produce endorphins this is your brains natural pain reliever. what your percs do is block the "stems" (for lack of a better word) that produce endorphines. your brain feels that it dosent have to do this job because something else is doing it for him. the longer the use and or intensity of the usage the more the damage. this is why you may have cravings,withdrawls or feel the need to up your dosage. i think for chronic pain the quality of life outweighs the physical consequences that doctors are worried about in fact its a disability and never settle for only one medical opinion. just be careful opiates are a seductive drug. good luck & good health

[Forseegood]

I think what HCd said has validity...I read some articles, some in Newsweek I believe, where they had this extensive article on pain and pain threshholds, etc...it was really interesting - they had articles on what self-hypnosis could do for pain and it was amazing...

But it is easier to pop a pill I guess then go through a hypnosis session, and more convenient, but I would look into it for chronic pain, I use it for my insomnia, anxiety and phobias and it does wonders...sometimes I get lazy and not want to do it, and then I toss and turn for two hours or so and get so frustrated I'm forced to do it, then I  flip my ipod on and listen to it, and I am out before the tape is even over...you can use just a walkmen with cassetts too, or a boom box..whatever...A good place to get them is    selfhypnosis.com  they are only like 7 dollars a piece...

Also, they had a term for it that I can't remember, but you build up this "pain tolerance" or something like that, when you need the pills and the pills are actually making the pain *more* intense in "some" people...like was said, once these people stopped taking all these pain meds, their own pain thresholds went higher and they didn't need all the meds...and of course cutting down on these pain meds is a lot easier on the ole liver...this can happen with headaches too, after awhile, the actual pills are making the headaches more intense once you build up tolerances...

But of course I'm only speaking of certain people, with others, they just need some kind of pain meds because they have chronic pain and just living is almost intolerable without some prescription help...perhaps try to find another doctor and explain all these issues to him/her, explain that you would like to look into these other modalities to help with pain as well, once they can speak to you and know youre serious and that you'd be willing to try other things as well as medication, I bet they will take you more seriously and not as somebody who is just trying to get pills....at least I hope so, good luck...

[Kalio1]

Most chronic pain sufferers who's pain is managed by pain control methods long term have exhausted all other avenues in their attempt to control constant, intense pain and live a productive life. You have to be in treatment for quite a long period of time to even qualify for daily pain management and have a condition that is not going to heal itself. There are situations that are unresolvable despite all attempts and any/all other options. If they are lucky, they will end up with a good pain management team.  Those on pain management are on it because of a condition that can not be improved via exercise, meditation, surgery, hypnosis, prayer or any other thing you can think of. If you do suffer from chronic, daily intense pain you do not have the same effect from pain meds that someone who is not in pain does when taking the meds. You do not "get high" like someone who is not in chronic pain. The meds "go to the pain" vs going to your head so to speak. If there were other solutions the chronic pain patient would use them, and undoubtedly has tried them, but there are no other solutions for many and the ONLY way to keep the pain at a tolerable level is with maintenance pain meds.
It is not "bad" or "bad for you" to use maintenance pain meds if you are in that situation, far from it. Ideally you can get the meds to a level that works but is not harming you and you live relatively pain free. Some pain situations might warrant the slow reduction and removal of meds and if the patient can get by without them, that is great. If you haven't dealt with chronic pain then it seems to you that those that use pain meds "should" try to "get off" of them. If you are a chronic pain sufferer you are just grateful you found some relief that works and isn't harming you. People who need pain management control with meds are not addicted but rather they are using the drugs as they were intended to be used, their meds are controlled by a doctor and prescribed by a doctor.
Until you have lived with daily debilitating 24/7 pain you can't really know what it is like.

[chi_chi_]

i also agree with finding other alternatives if you are without medication right now it might be worth trying. the absence of any pain medication only jump starts your brain into rejuvenating its natural pain relievers. be patient this dosent happen over night but the end results might be worth the effort

[susan400]

Have you thought of just gradually weaning yourself off of them, slowly?  I've had a problem in the past with getting off my Ultram and THEY say that it's a non-narcotic, non-addictive drug. But, I don't think that they'd planned for the patient to still be on it 3 years later.  I've so far managed to wean down to just 1/2 a pill, once a day (that's 25mg).  I'll do this for a couple of weeks and then, I'll have to try a whole day without 1/2 and see how it goes.  It may take doing 1/2 every other day for a week before I'm able to just cut off.  I've had some wicked withdrawal problems in the past, so this is why I'm doing it this way.  Also, I know that you're not supposed to just "stop" Ultram, that's what the literature says.  I have been taking it for muscle/bone pain that goes along with Hep C and treatment.  I cannot take NSAIDS, so this was an alternative.
Also, I had back surgery last year on my herniated disk and had some lingering back soreness (though not as bad as before my surgery).

Susan

[bobbyullc]

sorry about the pain,it is a hard thing to live with daily.

i am a recovering addict and can tell you, i NEVER NEVER , was able to take only one pill. especially percodan.if i had 2 i would take 2, if i had 10 i would take 10 no matter how strong the urge not to.
even AA say if you can step up and take just one drink for a period of time you are NOT an alcoholic. i would say you do not fit the addict mold.congradulations, you passed the test.
bobby

bobby

[Forseegood]

I hope I didn't come off as indicating that I thought all people on pain management could do well to get off pills, the poster didn't indicate, that I remember, that he/she tried all the other avenues of pain relief...I hope I stressed enough that there are some people out there that can only be relieved of pain through prescription pain management (and these people should be under a close working relationship with their doctors who have an expertise in pain management.) I do know what pain is like, having been a migraine sufferer for 25 years, and I have to go to the ER because of the intensity of them many times.

[cuteus]

eliminating pain medications for chronic pain sufferers would mean that the reason for the pain has been eliminated. IF the cause is physical and can not be remedy or the remedy made it worse, no amount of natural endorphins is going to cut it. Isn't this the reason we are on tx, our bodies natural interferon was not able to get rid of HCV so we are forced to aid it by supplementing or substituting with the 'unatural interferon".  Exercise, therapy, etc work to a point and can be part of the pain management program. A recent article in webmd speaks just about this complimentary approach to pain and is worth reading. Many times, medications are still needed to alleviate the pain that breaks through and no one should feel guilty about needing them. Our QOL and ability to continue in the workplace for as long as we can, should be the focus and the reason for a good pain control.  Biofeedback was supposed to take care of many of that pain but has not lived up to its expectation. It can also be part of the pain control, but not the only item in the program. Addiction is the use of the medication for other reasons than pain control. Tolerance and dependance are  a natural development of long term medicating and should not be confused with addiction.
I will stop using pain meds when they can stop the cause of it, until then, I will do what i need to in order to function.

[Bill1954]

Succinctly worded argument you presented, Cuteus. Pending you’re okee-dokee, I’d like to save that to file for future re-post?

[Kalio1]

Very well put post, thanks.

[MissMiss]

24 years ago we watched my m-in-law die a very painful death.  As she lay on her death bed, the doctors answered our question about more pain control with

"We don't want her to become addicted."  Died a few days later.

A month ago, her daughter, my sis in law, had hip surgery.  For an entire 12 hour nursing shift she was denied any pain meds at all.  She also has a severe case of fibro and is on daily morphine, oxcycontin and others.

She ended up bleeding out, needed 6 pts of blood because they were not monitoring her cumadin (coumadin) levels.  

For 30 years I have had chronic pain but no regular doc.  I was made to feel like some kind of scab on humanity when I would ask for T3, which seemed to work for me.  50 tabs could easily last me a year or two.  When there was a flare up, the last thing I wanted to do was try to explain to another doc why I needed something.

There are those that take advantage, put on the act and talk docs into giving what they don't need.  Then, we pay the price.

miss

[Alady1620]

I have a friend that has chronic back pain.  She orders pain pills of the net and she has not gotten in trouble with the law yet.  This has been going on for a couple of years.

[cuteus]

by all means, if it helps someone, lets use anything said here for that purpose!

Pain is such an individual perception, that it amazes me when they want to group everyone into the same dosage, regardless of the individuality of pain.  
I never finished the webmd article, recent issue, because I was at the dr's and they did not make me wait long enough in the waiting room! It speaks of using a combination of items, including meds, in order to control OUR individual pain.