Concern about Daughter's use of Vicodine

[Greentree105]

My daughter has been taking Vicodine for a couple of months for back pain.  We have been to spine and pain mgt, gastro, and neurologist doctors.  All the tests the doctors have performed are showing nothing for the cause of the pain.  My daughter insists the back pain is so bad that she can't tolerate it without pain medicine.  It starts in the middle of her back (above where a girls bra strap would be) and wraps around to the front -- sometimes shoots pains down her back into buttocks.  When all this started, the pain mgt doctor gave her vicodine and that didn't stop the pain so he also gave her a fentinal patch.  The neurologist has also added a large dose of gabepatin for nerve pain.  My question is -- if you've been taking vicodine everyday 3-4 times a day and you don't take a dose or two -- do you get side effects/withdrawal type symptoms right away?

I've been reading on the internet about vicodine addiction and it seems she sometimes has all the symptoms shown -- muscle/bone pain, insomnia, nausea, pains shooting down her back --

I'm very concerned and don't really know what to do.  We're suppose to go see the pain mgt doctor next Friday and he's said he's not going to give her anymore vicodine -- but the thought of her agonizing in back pain is pretty unbearable.  

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  I may have missed this, but how old is your daughter?  Has she ever had a drug problem of any kind?  Is she waiting for the pain, or is she taking pills in "anticipation" of pain or on a schedule?  I would see if they can change her to something else and see if she has WDs.  They can give her things to help with the WDs if she has them.  Also, there is a pain mgmnt forum on here that might help!

I'm sorry you are going through this!  And also sorry for your daughter!!!

Good luck!

[Greentree105]

Thanks for the feedback

[IBKleen]

I feel so bad for both of you. I don't know what to tell you. If you truly believe she is in pain and not just "drug seeking" then keep getting her tested until they find it.

Please be very, very careful with the Fentanyl. She will have horrid withdrawal if she continues on it. Also know that during the physical withdrawal process, about a week, her pain will be heightened. She will believe that it is because of the lack of medication but more times than not, it is the withdrawal itself.

There is a Neurology forum and an Undiagnosed Symptoms forum here at MH. You may try posting there and see if someone can help you further.

Best of luck and any questions you may have, please ask away. If anyone here can help, they will.

[dominosarah]

I must of been typing when you were!!  

[Greentree105]

I believe the vicodine is 7.5 -- suppose to be 3 times a day but she says if the pain gets bad she takes more.  The fentanyl patch is 25mg.  She has not had a recent accident of any kind.  I thought her behavior before all this started was fine.  

[dominosarah]

What mg's of vicodin is she using?  She is using fentanyl now too?  Was there an accident that caused this?  What was her behavior before she started using this?

[Greentree105]

She has had MRIs (of her head/neck or middle/lower back) and all showed nothing.  She is 24 years old.  She wants to be a chef and has been working as a cook a fine dining restaurant the past few years.  We initially thought the back pain was caused from working on her feet for long hours (plus bending over all the time to chop/cook things just take a toll on her back).  Plus, I don't know if it has anything to do with it -- but she did ballet for about 18 years and that put a lot of strain on her back.  She tried to keep working (she loves her job) -- but after the pain got so bad -- the restaurant made her go on family medical leave.  She only has about a month left before that runs out.  No other changes that I've noticed regularly -- she does get depressed when the doctors keep telling her nothing is wrong.  The neurologist says it may be myfocial muscle pain???  The past two months she hasn't done much of anything and all this rest hasn't improved the pain.  

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

Has she had MRI's? They are quite conclusive and if they say nothing is wrong, I would worry. How old is she if you don't mind me asking? Have you noticed any other odd behavior , i.e. change in friends, missing school/work, mood swings...anything unusual?