Question about Vicodin.. and safer pain relief alternatives.

[noel]

I had back surgery about 10 months ago. Before the surgery I was taking Vicodin on and off. Then after back surgery I was on Tylenol #3 with Codine. Now the last few months been on narcotics.

I have back pain and started seeing a pain management doctor. He put me on all different types of drugs and I have had three steriod injections. I still take the Vicodin for pain and was up to six a day. (ON a really bad day).

Is it addicting to take it for medical use? I am feeling quilty when I take it now because of its addictive possiblity.

I stopped taking it and I am suffering the back pain. I use heating pads which help.

Guess my question is, is Vicodin ok for long term use or even medical use??

I dont like using it when I am not in pain.. Actually I dont like feeling so spacy.

[whitedove]

Hi there:

I haven't talked with you before but, was very intrigued with what you said.  Like you, I went to rehab in Jan. 98 and I am an addict.  Eight months ago, I had oral surgery, got a script again and well, you know, the rest is history.  I'm actively addicted again.  I am under a psychiatrist's care that is tapering me down every 3 days by .5 mg., which should be very gentle, but it's not (physically or mentally).  I had a very strong AA/NA program going, got cocky and stopped going to meetings.

You indicated that you were taking more of the vicodin than I am, but I was up to 14 (10mg hydrocodone/500 tylenol) tablets each day, mixed with Darvocett, when I was desperate.  In any case, I went into the hospital again for a medical detox and they discharged me after 48 hrs., saying that they were not able to help me.  The psychiatrist there said that I should continue the tapering regimen because it was the safest. He called this drug, the "hollywood drug" and as you may know, you can get a "rapid detox" from this drug, if you can afford it.  Well, I'm not in Hollywood and I can't afford $10,000.  That's how much it costs.  But, it takes 6 hrs. and you're body is clean of the opiates and then of course, you have to work your program.

Bottomline- my question to you is:  How did you finally come down from all of the medication again?  Did you do another medical detox and if so, how did your Drs. handle it?  I'm so sick of this.  I want the drugs out of my system, once and for all.  At this rate, it will be another 2 months, before I'm completely clean.

I have chronic pain (fibromyalgia, migraines and TMJ), but I will not pick up another one of these pills again.  I pray for the strength I need to use other non-narcotic pain relievers and I don't have a problem with muscle relaxers so I look forward to just being on that and that alone.

Thank you in advance.  I look forward to you insight and response.

whitedove
Pam
***@**** - please feel free to send direct to me; I really want your response.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

Good posting. My own doctor told me once that he only recieved ten hours of training about addiction in Med School. The rest he learned on the job.  

I went through almost a year of testing and visits to specialists before I was prescribed any narcotics. I know that if I screw up, I'm done! Under these circumstances, narcotics are not much "fun" anymore...just necessary. When I was self prescribing, it was a whole different ball game. You know what I mean? It was a bullshit life indeed.  J.B.

[GypsyStevi]

I am an addict. I went through a rehab that has a medical detox program and an addiction specialist doctor. I went in on Feb. 7,2001. I learned a lot through my program. The month before I went in I was taking 30 to 40 Norco or Vicodin a day. My tolerance was so high, and nothing worked. I do not have chronic pain issues, I was VERY persuading to all of the doctors I went to. I had about 8 different doctors and one of them refereed me to a pain management doctor. He gave me my scripts every month without even looking into why I needed pain medicine. I became so desperate I started to write my own prescriptions. I didn't even care if I went to jail. That is a very desperate addict for sure. Fortunately I didn't get caught, but the frame of mind I was in I wanted to die. I hated myself and everything in life. All I thought about was my pills, what a sad way of life! I knew the withdrawals were going to be bad, it was HELL! But I did it. My opinion is all narcotics are additive and if you use them for any use you are in danger of becoming addicted. I know it doesn't happen over night, in my case it took about 3 years to become the addict I am now today. I don't think doctors realize the danger when they write out scripts. I don't think they are educated about addiction. I am not saying all doctors either. I know people with chronic pain don't know where else to turn especially when their doctor hands them their monthly script and says, you are not addicted, you are just dependent, that is a bunch of BULL ****!
Just know if you are suffering from this horrible disease you are NOT alone! And there is help out there! Life is good and has so much to offer you.
Hang in there,
I know I am!
Jackie

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I've been through drug and alcohol rehab three times and found that most of the counsellors were recovering addicts themselves.  I say...go for it! J.B.

[CHAD FROM PHILLY!!!]

I plan to be around for awhile! Thanks for the kind words my friend. If I can only figure out what to do with my life I'll be set. The funny thing is that I think I would like to one day be a drug counsler. I would like to think that maybe all the **** I have gone through in life could one day help someone. I guess I should first work on myself huh!?! Oh well, we shall see.........the story continues...


GO SIXERS!!!

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I happy to find your head out of that pill bottle maze/treadmill!

I hope to hear from you for a long, long time my friend, J.B.