Back pain - use or abuse norco

[Enthalpy1]

I have suffered back pain for 20 years. My profession is commercial hvac work. Several years ago, I was having big time issues. I had an MRI showing damaged discs, stenosis and arthritis in my back and arthritis in both knees. I started with meloxicam for the arthritis which is a godsend. I also started norco 7.5 as needed 30 a month. I have had several spinal injections which worked but my job would undo the repair. Surgery is not an option right now because it would put me out of work and all 3 doctors said that my work would undo theirs. I'm in pain management which I go every month for review. I was on butrans 20 and norco 7.5 twice a day. The pain was somewhat manageable but I was riding the depression train. I had a RFA done which seemed to help a lot. I asked to get off the butrans and they said ok and upped the norco to 4x a day as needed. The pain has been manageable but the depression varies day to day. I decided to take a break from the norco to see if the depression would change. I should mention that I have been on Wellbutrin for a year after I suffered major depression last year before I got into pain management. I have been off the norco for 4 days and dealing with the withdraw ok. Runs, poor sleeping, stomac pains and major back pain. The depression is getting better. Here is my problem. On norco minimal back pain. Off norco, depression seems to be getting better. I know I'm not the only one with this problem and I would love some help from anyone. Sorry for the long post but my background is important. Thank you and this forum has been a great support system since I am doing this alone. P.s. day one really sucked.

[bama88]

Good night. I'll check with you tomorrow

[Enthalpy1]

My 4 hours of sleep is calling. I will be back tomorrow with an update. Thanks everyone for your support and good night.

[Enthalpy1]

Thanks, it mostly did. The difference is the depression seems to be getting better since I've been clean. Hence my original problem. Norco= limited pain and depression. No norco = pain and minimal depression. I think. 4 days seems hardly fair to come to a conclusion.

[bama88]

If your on day four you've got this thing licked. At your level easy. So if you think this is hard. It gets worst. Like drinking......try mine on for size. I was at two sixty megs of oxycontin. 60mgs// twice a day. With two 15. So that's like 14 or more norcos a day. A day. Or more. And I am 81 days free. It was h e l l......ibdont want a repeat. I basically beat heroin. It was that bad. And I took way more than prescribed. How I even drove my car baffles me. And knock on wood....I never ever crashed. Some days I'd pop four or five of those. And whew. I'm lucky to be talking to you.

[bama88]

Also I'm older than my twenty year old and have problems writing it all out...if you were sitting in the room with me. Is expain it so much easier. But I'm trying.

[bama88]

And none are helping?? Wow that's too bad. My inversion table saves me. I have bad bad knees. And get backaches. I try to swim every other day. Strech those muscles. And I would have stayed in the Jacuzzi til I was kicked out or passed out durring my detox. I was a wreck. But if you knew my story you'd understand. But this is your story not mine. So I will help you the best I can. If all I can do is cheer you on or give as much info as I can.... So let's start with how these opiates work and why depression is to blame when quitting. And no Im not a head shrinker. I didn't stay in school for eight years....I'm as messed up as you. I'm just pro active. Or if I'm not I fall down.....just so you know. But I know all about these pills. Ask me anything. And sorry if I'm teasing a lot tonight. I finally feel human again. But that's for another time.

Opiates.....readers digest version. Reading will pur you to sleep. Beware.
Opiates work on the central nervous system. In our brains. Our brains turn the opiates into two chemicals. Mostly dopimiine. Dopimine is key in feeling good. Key. That's why when we first take a pain pill we feel warm and fuzzy inside. Our brains love dopimine. Also we produce dopimine when we fall in love...get excited...about anything we love to do. Shopping for some hunting rollercoasters etc. Get the jest??

When we take pain pills. Or opiates. Our brains change. The brain looks for the pill to feel good. To feel normal. Because were altering our receptors.....well after awhile we forget how to make or reconginze dopimiine. We rely on the pill. No pill no dopimine.....fast toward.....say you are used to two norcos a day.......for six months...now tolerance grows. So you go to doctor and say these arnt working......he adjusts you to more. Or you've taken more on your own. Doesn't matter......your introducing more dopimine.

Meanwhile your brain is changing. A lot. Nerve endings. Receptors. The list goes on. Your brain will create more pain pathways. We cover them up with more and more opiates......tolerance is growing all the time. Depression can set in too...

Well one day you get tired of taking the pill. Your brain says where's my chemicals?? I want them right now......this is withdralwls...not fun. Right?? That's what your experincing. Withdrawals.....your brain has to regroup reset and learn to make more dopimine. Also saratonin.....but that's different.seratonin keeps you calm. Sleep. And such.

We have depleted our body of these chemicals. Only time will heal. Hence depression. I ask you to ask your doctor on all of it. Or read books. I have lots ans lots of books. But did that help??