So what now ? How to control pain w/o meds ?

[percocet10mg325mg10]

After being in a pain management program for 3 + years I have discovered that I am now addicted to these pain meds. and will suffer WD symptoms if ever I run out of meds before I am able to refill my prescription.  Thanks to the good folks hereon this forum, I have been informed that the meds. I am taking will be less and less able to control the pain.  I have also learned that the WD symptoms will likewise increase at the same time because of this.  I do not want to continue in this vicious cycle of increased dosages, increased tolerance to pain meds., increased WD symptoms and all the ill effects of being caught up in these awful circumstances.  My question is what is the alternative ?  What have others that suffered from chronic pain done to maintain a livable existance without the pain meds. ?  Thanks in advance for your response.  

[Resilient_Mimi]

I guess it really depends on where your pain is coming from.  My mother is also a chronic pain patient and she has had a device implanted in her side that has electrodes that go into her spinal area that sends electrical currrents that scramble the pain receptors that go to the brain.  This has helped her tremendously.  No medicine is given thru this device.  Now she still takes some pain meds for the pain that is not covered by this machine but it has helped her alot, the company that makes this unit is "Meditronic".

[IBKleen]

There is a few things that I did, and still do to help with the pain. I did acupuncture several times a week for just about a year. That did help, not at first but after some time. I also received the nerve block injections and they typically last about six months. It is a series of 3 shots given one a week. Mine were done in an OR and administered by an Anesthesiologist. I got the series 3 times so it was a total of 9 injections. Like I said, it worked quite well for 6 months and then it began to wear off. Other people have had continued success with them. I did physical therapy which I feel did not help at all but I also did Aqua Therapy which helped and I am scheduled to begin it again next week. It is a non-resistant form of therapy done in a heated pool. It is very soothing and it is followed by specific exercises to be done at home. I also have a hot tub and during the warmer months I use it daily. I have a hydrocolator which is a moist heat pad the length of my body. I wrap that in a blanket and sit with it in a lounge chair. I used it much of today because it is raining and the damp weather tends to cripple me. A lot of people say Aleve or Motrin help with their pain. I have found Excedrin Migraine helps me the best. It is a combination of 3 ingredients and for whatever reason, it works for my back pain.

You may also want to ask in the pain mngt community, ask your doctor and hang here as other members give you suggestions.

One thing I will suggest is to wait some time after you stop taking the pain meds to get an accurate assessment of your pain and make sure that it is real pain and not pain associated with withdrawal. And just one more suggestion---while creating two screen names is a violation of MH's Terms Of Use, you can ask to have your name changed. You don't always want to be known as the pill you took, right? Just a thought...

I wish you the best and hope you stick.