Chronic pain and medication addiction?

[lori]

I was wondering where I could find information on the incidence of chronic pain and addiction to pain medication.  I am doing a case study on a patient who has had chronic low back pain for many years.  She is on Darvocet N-100.  She is a recovering alcoholic, clean for 5 years.  Most literature has advised against using this med for patients with history of abusive behaviors. I was just wondering on where I might find some statistics on chronic pain and addiction to medication?

[Bishop]

I have been taking a high dose of Norco for over a year due to neuropathy.  I may be addicited I really don't really know.  I do know that I only ever take the prescribed amount.  I also know that without the medication the pain (my life) is unbearable.  I believe there are trade offs in treatment.  But I will take a life that is not paralyzed with pain everytime.  I would love to not have to take any medication ever.  But I must use insulin or I will die and I must take hi Blood pressure medication.  So to those of you who MUST use medication to relieve pain don't feel guilty.  I think it is totally normal to be "addicited" to not being in life stopping pain.  I know where I would be without the relief that these medications provide me in my daily life.  I am very thankful that they exist.

[Lady Jay]

I have a rare case of Neurofibromatosis (NF-2).  I have networks of schwannoma (benign tumors) all located on the 5th and 7th cranial nerves plus one in the deep cavernous sinus.  The 5th CN (trigeminal nerve) is the pain nerve to your face.  The 7th CN makes it move.  I had a network of schwannoma overrun the orbital floor of my left eye that ran down my optic nerve.  All this disaster warranted a massive craniotomy that intailed removing the entire left side of my forehead.  Hence began an all day surgery to remove everything they could get.  Six months later, stereotactic radiosurgery removed the tumor in the deep cavernous sinus.  Prior to the craniotomy... I had more pain than room here to describe it.  I took it all to a certain point, then called for the cranie.  Afterward, my pain was lifted like a veil, so I had to get off all the stuff as best I could.  So, half the pain was gone, so half the meds had to go.  I still suffer from chronic pain and will until the day I die because NF-2 cannot be cured and the tumors will eventually return.  It's all damned heredity.  Not enough space here to even give an accurate description about genetic deficiancy here, but trust me... the ritalin was vitally needed at the time.  I was put on the meds by a fantastic doc at one of the nations leading Neuroscience Institutions.  It's all good.  I made it, but still have loads of pain, trigeminal neuralgia is but just one "chronic" that'll never go away.  I imagine if I would have been seeing docs in private practice outside the institute, I'd have been thrown out of the office like you said, but that is certainly not the case here.  I am being "studied" because of the NF-2.  I'm pretty much alone in my dilemna.  Like 1 in 100,000.  I hate it, but then... if I didn't give assistance, future generations would still suffer from this "rare" illness known as "elephantman's disease."  Sorry for being so long-winded but, I'm an addict and will always be one.  I only wish there was some way out for me, but there isn't.  It took me a while to accept and digest the fact.  Going up and down and on and off meds is and will always be, whether I like it or not, me.  If I didn't have to do this, I wouldn't.  Same as you and all who suffer from chronic pain... some addiction means quality of life.  Our hands are tied.  But those who become addicted via recreational abuse- tie their own hands.  I have to close now.  Otherwise, this diatribe will have to be considered a lecture and I've done many of those.  Thanks and take care. - Chrissie

[Joan C]

Chrissie, how in the heck did you get the Ritalin plus your pain meds.  Did you get them through a doctor?  I don't weigh very much and I realy doubt that a doctor would give them to me.  Staying awake when your on pain meds is a problem, but what can I do? I think if I brought up the idea of diet pills to my doctor he would not only take away my pain pills, but kick me out of his office.  Chrissie and anyone else want to reply?

[Chrissie to Joan]

Yes.  Ritalin is speed.  Its generic name is Methylphenidate.  Unfortunately, morphine carries along with it insidious spells of trying to remain focused compounded by "nodding out" in all the wrong places.  To counteract the dilemna, ritalin is the answer.  Ironically, the morphine was easier to kick than the 60 mgs of ritalin!  It was pure hell.  I didn't puke from lack of morphine.  I puked from lack of ritalin.  Morphine still resides in my daily medication and probably will until the end, but ritalin can stay the hell out.  I've learned to control the "morpheus nod" because the dose is so much lower.  I also find that taking my meds early contributes to the tolerancy.  It's better to take them before the pain gets too bad.  There have been numerous times when I dropped all my pain meds 2 or 3 hours early solely to control break-through pain.  My tolerancy level never changes.  Dosage remains the same.  So, it is true.  (and it's also true that I love "speed"... and trying to stay off the damned stuff is just plain difficult at times) - Chrissie

[Joan C]

I thought Ritalin was the same as speed.  I too would rather become addicted then go without my pain medication.  I find that because I use my pain medication before I should there are weeks when I have nothing.  The pain is bad, but I think it helps my tolerance to the drugs stay low.  Could this be true?

[Chrissie]

Chronic pain... chronic attention.  I managed to taper 180 mgs of morphine sulfate to 90, then to 75 mgs after my craniotomy.  In addition to that... 60 mgs of ritalin tapered clean off my charts.  I still need what I take and will continue to do so in my quest for what is considered by many as "quality of life".  Much as I detest filling my pill container, it still boils down to chronic pain requires chronic attention.