On Day 7 of Freedom. Cut myself off at Drs. Today.

[OpenMind24hours]

What do you do with your pain after quitting pain meds because the inevitable addiction took place?  

I'm on my 7th day completely free from Hydrocodone. I'm dealing with my pain somewhat by staying physically active. That and Tylenol at night helps. To be honest,  three 7.5 Hydros a day didn't really do too much after awhile.  

Today I went to a scheduled doctors visit and we discussed Hydro more than we ever did before. I told him, "Unless it's something drastic involving horrendous pain that effects my quality of life, I don't want the stuff anymore."   I mentioned I took more than prescribed on vacation 2 weeks ago and ran out way early. He said " I don't want you addicted." I said I'm AM addicted to it, mentally and physically, and to anything else that tickles my pleasure center. He wrote that on my chart. Then he asked "what about your pain?" (exactly what Vicki asked when I logged in here a week ago). I said I'll learn to deal with it the best I can. And then we went through my symptoms and added the new fun thing going on with my back and leg tendon system lately. Then he wrote out a referral to a team of Physiatrists (whom I went to once - not much they could do). I'll probably be set up with a new set of PT stretches to do every day I guess. But today, most importantly, I've finally and officially cut myself off from opiates. I'm done waltzing around with what is, to an addict like me, a very dangerous addiction with a bad ending.

As for my progress in getting off Hydros, yet again, I've been here before and knew somewhat what to expect. Each WD gets worse than the last one, I'm here to say. I'm doing okay, although I keep getting hammered with the leg and arm restlessness every night about an hour after going to bed. I get back up and take a hot Epsom bath which REALLY helps at this stage of the process and then nets me a bit of real sleep. I actually had a dream last night!! I appreciate any sleep I can get right now. I know sleep will return. It did the last time.

Speaking of the last time: I don't want a next time! I need aftercare more than ever. Just as there are liquor stores or bars on every city corner, there are pain clinics and new doctors everywhere. I have the MRIs of my back and some diagnosis reports to go shopping with.  Those items, to me, can easily become a key to the legal dope house scene. A very scary scenario. There's no barbed wire strung around my butt. It's always out there to be had and I'm addicted to it. I need all the support I can get. I haven't been to a meeting in many months. I'm hitting a meeting tonight and have mapped out meetings for every day of the week in the latest book I have. The number one thing in my life is to keep staying clean through the support of ppl like you on this wonderful site and the ppl at the meetings - and the good things in life will come naturally. Thanks for your love and your willingness to help and support!
  

[Nursey7]

So proud of you at the doc today-great job. It's awesome you are going to a meeting; I will keep up with the Tigers for you!! I will root for anyone playing the Yankees :-). I, too have pain issues with fibromyalgia and  a past spinal surgery but I realize that crap wasn't really even helping. I was eating it like candy and always felt horrible. But run out one day and I thought I was dying-sick!  My doc put me on the antidepressant Cymbalta and referred me to a rheumatologist. It hasn't really kicked in yet as it takes a few weeks. If you find you really are in pain don't wait too long for that alternative cuz it's a great excuse to use. Be proactive and with your mindset you got this. :-)

[mary577]

That was a wonderful post and I congratulate you!  Hey...with age...comes wisdom.  ;)  (I can say that 'cause I'm 66....old age has got to be good for something!)   I'm very proud of you...keep fighting the good fight!

[OpenMind24hours]

Thank you for all your comments every one of you. This site is a wonderful gift to us addicts.  My Detroit Tigers play at 8PM but the Tigers won't keep me clean. I'm heading out right now to my 1st meeting in a long time.

[clean_in_ks]

Thanks for sharing w/us!  You are doing sooo good!

I, too, have real pain issues.......I am finding alternative ways to deal w/pain.  Others on this site help me as well.
At 116 days clean, I still have very real pain from surgery and still do not have the physical stamina to exercise more......I am doing more.....want to do even more.....have soreness and pain when I DO do more.....but that is a consequence of atrophied muscles.
My pain varies from day to day......and at first I was "angry" at the pain and mourning my hyrdro......but I had to get a handle on that stinkin thinkin!

Stretches really dooo help......2x/day morning and night and you can do them lying down!!  What a deal!  The more faithful I am about devoting time to natural solutions to my pain/health the better it gets.
And I REFUSE to go back to narcotics!!  
You are really making great strides.......and doing it!  Thanks again!

[Sonrissa]

This is a really good post! Congrats on your clean time and your decision with your doctor! I have found that after I stopped taking the pain meds, and after going through the withdrawal process, my shoulder and knee pain actually decreased! I think alot of my pain after I got through my surgeries, was my mind wanting me to take a pill! Now, I deal with pain by taking my anti-inflammatory meds, ice packs, heating pads, and exercise! Sometimes, when I have a particularly bad day, I just wait it out and it does get better!

Stay strong, you are doing great! You have a wonderful attitude! Keep moving forward every day!

[cleanguy]

A huge shout out to you... i did the same, and he was very understanding. I go to an acupuncturist now, and though at first i thought it was hooey, it worked. And they can treat some withdrawal symptoms too. Great work!

[OpenMind24hours]

Thanks Jimmy!

[OpenMind24hours]

Thanks akitagurl!

[akitagurl12]

i am so proud of you, that was awesome:)

[Norco1947]

Hi Open , Yes getting old S***S , But not getting any older is worse . Ron

[Jimmy1975]

Congratulations to you on a very wise decision ! Very good post . Thank you ! Jimmy

[OpenMind24hours]

Hi Ron,
Thanks! 27 days is great!!! Life is getting better here also, a little more each day. I agree, pain pills just cover up the problem, and the more time that passes the shorter the relief duration. Then I want more. I wish I could take nsaids, but I had a stroke (TIA) two years ago and they put me on Plavix blood thinner. I had to stop all nsaids and asprin products because of the possibility of stomach ulcers that could bleed. So I'm stuck with ES Tylenol and moving about to keep things loose.  Isn't getting old fun?    

[Norco1947]

Hi, You make this old guy proud . I am much younger then you at 65 but shared your norco addiction Now on Day#27  pill free . Life is better .
Heres what i found about my pain (yes real pain) so far 3 times during my detox i have had an 8 on the 1-10 pain chart . Who would have believed it but Advil helps and the pain eased in hours . Or take i pain pill get 2 hours relief and stuck again for months & with 30 days w/d detox . No thanks Dumb not stupid ... Ron