Real Pain v Rec User

[MikeInFrance]

I feel like more of a drug addict because I used recreationally rather than for any type of pain management. I think had I actually been prescribed this for a legit reason and fallen into this trap ...it would have been so easy for me to blame doctors and pharmacies for getting me into this without adequately explaining and warning me about addiction. In fact, u cannot just warn someone ...because absolutely anyone who takes these drugs for any prolonged period of time (without abusing) is addicted and will experience wd and have to go through this detox process. How do u justify that to patients? "I have something that can help u with your pain for the next few months or longer but one day when you stop taking it you are going to be in severe wd and officially become an addict either in recovery or using."  I doubt anyone has had that conversation with their doc as he willingly wrote the script. But for someone like me that just took took it to take it .... The blame lies with me alone....so really the blame doesn't lie at all!

[texaslady68]

I agree...I started out taking them for my Degenerative Disc Disease and curve of my spine.  I then started abusing them and about that time here in Houston, a pain management place popped on every corner, as well as pharmacies.  I started going to 1.  4 months later i was going to 2 clinics, then 3, then 4, then FIVE.  I was going to 1 per week.  These places do not even have doctors, the are Physicans Assistants and I have noticed most of them are from Jamaica or Nigeria.  You have to have medical records by your 2nd visit (which I have plenty of).  Anyway, they herd people in and out of there like cattle charging them all $100 on the way in.

At any given time there would be 50 to 60 patients in the clinic.  Most of them looked like drug dealers who were getting the pills to sell on the street.

I am so thankful not to be going down that road any longer and when I read what I wrote about going to so many, it makes me sick!

[MikeInFrance]

I faked it for a year to get scripts! But I really find it hard to believe that the majority of doctors are knowingly and willingly producing addicts just for money. sure there maybe some who do it but only a few. These are just plain ignorant docs when it comes to these meds: same here in france ...some didn't even know what it was they were prescribing  me but since I knew then that was enough. System really needs a change!

[bama88]

Hi mike...
I started taking hydrocodone recreationally until i fell.off a ladder. 10-12 feet. Ouch is an understatement..ive been thru 7 surg.because of.that fall. Six on rt knee and one on both wrists at one time. At first i took as prescribed but along rhe way i loved the way the pills.made me.feel. Because of my age. Nobody would give me.a total knee until i met my new ortho. And all the other doctors told.me.yes i needed a knee but was too young..so i.got sent off.to pain management to buy some time.

By the time i went to pain mamagement my addiction was full.fledged so to.speak.. I jad mris surg notes scope.pictures. We tried everything before going to pain clinic..

When i met my pain.clinic.doc.i was hooked yet he was worried about all the tylonol i was ingesting with the hydros and the length of.time..five years straight...he actually gave me four choices on meds.. Methadone nope. Fentalayl patch nope.. Morphine nope.oxycontin yep.. I wanted oxycontin..i knew how strong they were. I knew how addicting they were. He never ever once explained the addiction that was sure to.come. Never. And i jever asked for fear.of not.getting them.

What im.trying.to.say is by the time you get to that level and emd up in pain managment your already hooked. In my opinion doctors are fully aware of this. But because theu make so much money on visits kick backs etc. They prescribe the heavy duty narcotics...for one reason only....money money money..

Its a rackett. The doctors want you to keep coming back..addicts keep them in business.

In my personal experience thats what i see...ive seen people faking whatever and get a script and bounce out of the office like nothing is wrong with them. I bet over half the patients dont really need them.. Jist a thought...what do you think?

[MikeInFrance]

Yeah that's exactly what I mean...some just don't know!! It's borderline criminal....

[Sarah11212]

I will add also that after 4 months with this Dr (and already hooked), he was let go from the clinic so I was then assigned to the Dr who took his place. Upon first seeing him, I explained that I felt I was addicted and was told, "I'm sure you may be heading toward addiction taking up to 6 750mg Vic's a day so let's switch you to something easier on your body and by far less addicting".   What was the switch?  OxyContin.  

[MikeInFrance]

Great Response!!    but is it docs need to be more honest or more informed themselves? I'd bet the latter. Perfect example...I can't tell u how many different docs I went to get a new script for oxynorm and the doc had to take out his Books to know what it was. And pharmacies always always always had to have me come back a few hours later or the next day cuz they can't keep it in stock. Someone like me, someone who used daily as a Rec User ...I never once was refused and never once examined. Crazy!

[Sarah11212]

Funny you should bring this up!
I DID have this conversation with my Dr and was assured that even at the dose I was first prescribed (750mg@6 a day),  he was not at all concerned with me becoming addicted even if it was something I had to be on for months.

I will never blame Dr's for me becoming an addict but you know, now that I have been through what I have for the past year, I really feel that Dr's need to be more honest with their patients about the risks of becoming addicted.