How do you control pain w/out medication now?

[Kate228]

Hi everyone,

   Being newer on here, this may have been asked before.  If so, I hope some of you don't mind sharing your stories anyway!   Since most of us probably began using pain medication for legitimate pain in the first place, how do all of you control your pain now that you are off your medication?  I am slowly winning my battle against codeine (8 days without, but still finding it hard mentally, although much better physically).  However, I am worried how I will deal with the physical pain.  That was the reason I got the prescriptions in the first place, and now I feel right back where I started.  Any advice or suggestions would be great!  Thanks so much,
Kate

[addictedme]

Dealing with chronic pain has alot to do with acceptance. You will never be completely pain free so you get relief any way you can and appreciate those mins/hours.Exercise may cause a little pain but your head tells you its positive pain from exercising and not just cause its there.Naughtys right about pain management in alot of cases. A rule of thumb that I use is if the dr doesnt have physical therapy equip. then its just a pill factory and thats all your gonna get. Little story..I had a pain dr when I was using and it was  one and a half hours in the waiting room,,half hour in the examining room then maybe 1 min. with the dr talking about the weather or whatever,,we never discussed my health and he"d give me anything.One appt I went in and when he entered the room we shook hands and I told him I had a little cold,,,,he freaked,,ran to the bathroom and washed his hands and told me to just pick up my scrip at the desk. Odd reaction from your DR !!!! Biggest thing,,,talk to your dr and find out as much about him/her and there attitude toward your health not just your immediate pain and if there answer is pills and only pills then shop around,,gl

[SammyLyn]

I had an opiet problem because of chronic pain.  And let me just say that with neck and back problems chiropractic care is the way to go.  Unless you have screws or something in your back.  Then most chiropractors wont touch you.  But i suffer with migranes and a completely shattered ankle and had the hardest time getting off them.  Now i work for the chiropractor that was helping me.  I love helping people and really making a difference in their pain and way of life.  Thanks for reading i hope you get something out of this.....
~Sam~

[NautyOne]

Pain Management in my opinion is just a bunch of pill pushing Dr.'s.  they send you there because regular doc's don't want continually prescribe narcotics, so  Be careful.

Nauty...........

[Need2beClean]

Congrats on your 8 days!  I'm on my 7th day free from meds and I know exactly what you mean.  I have chronic pain as well and its so funny that you should be asking this question.  I was just in the kitchen thinking that the pain level that I am having (and have been for the last 3 days or so) is exactly at the same level as the pain was AFTER I took my Vicodin or Oxycontin!  I would say that my pain was at a 7-8 out of 10, then about 30 minutes after I chewed up my pills it would be about a 3-4 out of 10.  Now, after a week, it is a 3-4 and I have no pain meds in me except a bit of XS Tylenol.  Of course, my mind is telling me - "Ya know, if you took some (thank God I have none in the house) your pain would be GONE completely!!" but I know that's not the case.  It's so bass-ack-wards that without the pain meds my pain is actually less than it was when I was on them.  I get the physiology of it all, it is still messed up!  LOL!

I have been told by several doctors that I will likely need pain meds - at least occasionally - for the rest of my life.  I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, arthritis in my neck and lower back, have SEVERE menstrual cramps, migraines, bad knees - basically I've got the body of an 80-year-old and I'm only 39.  However, I am being followed by a psychiatrist and an excellent physician (who sadly is leaving in about a month) and if it weren't for these two factors I would tell them absolutely that I wanted NONE.  I do not want to go down this road again, however I also do not want to be in pain.  When I have bad days, I literally can hardly get out of bed.

This is only my "road".  At this point, only being a week out, I don't feel like I could have them in the house right now.  I see my doc again next week and I'll determine (with his guidance) how we are to proceed at that point.  I have dealt with other addictions in the past (food, shoplifting, shopping, promiscuity, alcohol abuse) and have overcome them.  This is just the latest one.  I'm hoping there will not be another one.

Jeezy-Peets!  I didn't plan on rambling so...hope you have a super day!

N2BC

[Kate228]

Thanks sethsmom and worried for sharing your experiences.  I have not tried pain management, but am considering it.  I have heard good things about cortisone shots.  I am trying to take things one step at a time, which I guess is all any of us can do!

[worried878]

i have chronic pain and trying to deal with it thru chiropractic, masssage (tomorrow (:...yoga,  ice, heat and still have to do steroid injections in my neck...gets old but my brain feels younger sice i quit the narcs..pain not really any worse than when i was on them...good luck and keep posting

[sethsmom23]

I am 2 and a half weeks sober off pain meds and I feel like I am where I started. It is hard to deal with the pain now that I am over the withdrawals I just take Advil. I am in physical therapy and will soon begin pain management. If you have medical coverage talk to your doctors about your pain. Have you ever thought or tried cortisone shots. I know a lot of people who swear by them. I have been thinking about trying them. I have found that heating pads and massages work wonders also. Stay strong you will be able to get through this!!!  

[mistys25]

Hi, I am wanting to taper from today, well it is 2am here in South Africa so, I am, I suppose already on day one.
I know what you mean about feeling a certain way on the meds, I also hardly know what it felt like before them and something that scares me is how am I going to BE with out them. I suppose one becomes so used that way of being one has to to rediscover who one really is.
How long were you on those pills for?
Misty

[Kate228]

It is a horrible situation to be in, isn't it?  I mean, it would be tough enough to quit using if a person had started for recreational use.  But for someone in pain, and with continued pain, it's that much harder.  The whole reason for the use is still there, and then there is the addiction issue on top of it!  

Kate

[Kate228]

Thanks so much, but believe me, it is taking every ounce of strength I have to keep going on this path.  It's weird, you get so used to that false self confidence from those pills, that you don't even remember what your "normal" days were like before.  Do you feel that way on the codeine?
  I will not lie to you, it was tough.  I had a lot of trouble sleeping, and I don't have any valium or anything else to use as some people have (I think that would have helped, but at this point I was probably better off without anything else in my body).  I made a LOT of trips to the bathroom, more than I care to count.  I got hot and cold, and my legs just ached.  However, it passed, and faster than I thought it would.   People up here are so supportive, and while it can be brutal at first, you will get through it. And, what made me even more determined, was the fact that I was going through this in the first place.   To think those rotten pills can make you feel that way going off them, just gives one more determination to never take another!
   Are you in the process of trying to quit right now, or trying to taper?   Feel free to message me any time!

[tinarose]

I struggle with the same concern. I have been taking ultram for about two years. I have only taken as prescribed and never abused it but found if I had a good day without pain I was sick if I didn't take it.I have completely stopped taking them about 5 days ago. OMG the withdrawls. I am having serious pain still and motrin and tylenol just don't cut it. I have 5 herniated discs and chronic pain. So, I ask myself now what???

[mistys25]

Hi
I wanted to say WELL DONE, I also stuggle with codeine about 18 to 20 a day and I admire you. Do mind me asking how you felt the first few days??? In terms of pain control something that is non addictive might work like coxflam.
Keep it up
Mistys25