Suggestions for getting off drugs when you are in pain

[fb7777]

Hello,
I have been on norco for about 3 years now (regrettably.) It's been bad for about 1.5 years.  The longest amount of time I've been off of it is 2-3 weeks and it was dreadful. The first 3 days I can do... Yeah it *****, but I can do it and have several times... with the help of hot baths, sleep, and xanax.  Staying off of it is another story. I'm not good at tapering, I've tried it - Maybe I need to be monitored closer..  When I get off of it, I'm nervous, depressed, sluggish, awful - even after the bad 3 days.  Is a pain management clinic the way to go?  do i need time off work? Other than my addiction, I am a mother, a wife, I work and do a good job, and my life is pretty normal and good... until I run out of my pills. Then I get nervous, then sick, and it's all I think about.  I'm ready to stop worrying about my next refill. I'm done worrying about the dr. and my family looking down on me. I am done with this addiction...I have two bulged discs, one pretty bad degenerating disc and one that is degenerating, and arthritis (I'm 32 years old) - all in L3 and L4. when I try Physical Therapy it hurts even more.  At my worst (like I am now) I'm up to about 12 norcos per day, at my best 6... I go on and off (10/325) and I really hate myself.  I'm ready to get off of this stuff. I really am.  But I don't know what to do about the pain. I want to be active, and I've tried every non-narcotic medication under the sun... NOTHING takes the edge off. Norco doesn't even take the pain away, it just takes the edge off.  
Any advice is greatly appreciated and thank you for taking the time.  

[fb7777]

That is what I was thinking... do they diagnose?

[meemums]

A pain management specialist would be my suggestion.  They are specialists in various ways to deal with pain, not just with meds.

[fb7777]

I appreciate all your replies so much.  I know what I need to do... Lose about 10 pounds, get off the meds, and do PT.  I also got an ESI about six months ago which helped tremendously for about 3 months, I should get another one of those.
Now, to get off the meds.. I have done it before and always relapse within 1-3 weeks. I’m so stupid... The furthest I’ve gone was 3 weeks and I was almost normal again…. But the pain got to me, I thought I could control it, but I fell back into taking more and more.  Another hard part is I can't miss much work, so going to work those 3 weeks after getting off the meds is pure torture for me. I have the hardest time working – no motivation, high level of anxiety, very fatigued, depressed, in pain, and one 8 hour day feels like a 16 hour day.  

Another issue is I haven't found a good Dr. The first I went to never dealt with anyone with my issue before and now I'm seeing a new Dr., but she also doesn't seem to be knowledgeable about what exact steps I should take.

I've considered going to a Pain Management clinic, but I've heard bad things.  Anyone have suggestions on that?  Can they diagnose as well?  I have issues with pain in my legs and no Dr. has been able to diagnose me. I’ve had blood tests done and everything comes out fine.. I was basically told by a receptionist “your blood work is all normal.”  Gee THANKS! I’ve had it since I was a child when I walked a lot, my mom called them growing pains… but now I get them BAD when I’m off the meds even when I don’t walk much at all. Nothing I take helps and I can't even sleep because of it.

Avisg – Haven’t thought much about surgery yet.. I think I need to focus more on PT before going that route.  I at least need to give that a better shot than I have.  

Addict63 – It sounds like you were/are in pretty severe pain. For being in that much pain and getting off the meds, AND being as active as you are, you are a very inspiring person and you’ve given me hope for myself.  Thank you so much.      

I have more will power now to stop than I ever have, so perhaps tapering is something I should try again.  I don’t know, I need professional help, but again.. having a hard time finding the RIGHT professional help while still being able to go to work and live my life.

Thanks again to everyone! I may re-post my pain management clinic question, as it’s own question.  

[scoenen]

I went CT off the Fentanyl a few weeks ago and today I went CT of percs.  I was taking 4-5 5mg oxycodones but its been hard.  My body and mind are tired.  It sometimes seems like this will never end but its because I did it in two stages and Fentanyl is a beast.  If I can do this anyone can.  Let us know how you are doing

[susansuno]

The pain actually does decrease after you stop taking pain meds,I stopped a little over a month ago.I would have never thought that plain tylenol would actually work,but it does.it never did while I was taking all the Lortabs with tylenol in them!!! it's amazing how the body repairs itself!
Yes,it's hard but it's doable.

[avisg]

exercise has made a major difference for me as well start off slow to start.

[Addict63]

I know how tough it can get with the pain vs the opiates decision. I injured my back 2 years ago while working & I started up on vicodinES. I had a 9CM herniated L5 disc sticking into my main sciatic nerve causing horrendous pain I couldn't possibly sleep for more than 2 hours at a time. Thankfully a well placed ESI at the pain clinic took care of it within a month. I'm a recovering Alcoholic with almost 28 years of sobriety and starting up the Vicodin was a tough call for me. But I still took the Vicodin off and on for an 18 month period for other back pain that still remained from the injury. At the end I was using it constantly, addicted, and taking it more for my brain than the pain. I also got hooked on Ambien. I was totally miserable and I also felt out of place at my AA meetings. So, I decided to quit everything while I was ahead.  

I went through giving up the pain meds about 155 days ago, and in turn living and dealing with pain. I find I'm able to do it. Right now I still have 2 bulging discs L4 and L5, and my S1 is dislocated. It slips down my L pelvis. But I move all the time. I walk and walk, every day. Around 3-4 miles a day, split up in two sessions. I've lost 20 lbs which helps get the load off my back. I do my PT exercises. I take Skellaxin, a mild muscle relaxer, if needed, and Advil every day.

I can't feel your particular pain of course. No two of us back patients are the same. All I can say is a pain center helped me with ESIs and PT, and I've learned to live with the pain I have left.  I also go to NA. We have a lady on a walker with two very bad knees at my home group. She's been on Narco for years. She takes it as prescribed and she doesn't feel buzzed, nor has the urge to take a ton of it. Lucky her! Once I start opiates I want more for sure. That kind of pain is MUCH worse. I'm an addict. So I had to change my entire lifestyle, completely.

I wish you the best on making your decision.

[avisg]

Many of us suffer from chronic pain .It does get better with time off  the opiates .Have you considered surgery to fix the back instead of just continuing to mask the pain with pills that are addictive .
  If you do go off the meds the first few weeks will be the worst because your body will want its fix.I used aleve and zanaflex to deal with the pain it did take between two to three months before i figured out that they pain was not as bad off the pills then on ..
You can do it but its going to be rough many of us with families have done it so i promise you can ... I would set a quit day and give it a try.

[GoingToMakeIt]

   It is very common that after you are off the pills, your pain level actually decreases. I have found more relief from Zanaflex, a muscle relaxer, and 600 IBUprofen, than I did from Vicodin. This doesn't happen as soon as you quit, but not too long afterwards.

fb7777 at 12/day you are way too close to hurting your liver. Some Drs are now saying 3000 s/b the limit. Your at 3900 if you take 12 in a day! 4000 is the maximum most say you can take.

[fb7777]

How many perc's do you take?  how are you feeling now?

Did you go CT off the fentanyl?

Are you doing anything to help you recover?

Thanks for your reply.  It's nice to know I'm not alone in this situation.

Another thing is I would love is to go on leave, but I don't want my work to find out my problems.  If I could take a month off, I could do this, but I have so many responsibilities – work in my daughter.  

[scoenen]

Its tough when your an addict and have legit pain.  I am also trying to figure it out.  I recently came off Fentanyl and tomorrow I am going CT off my percs.  I am hoping that after i am off meds for a while I will learn to deal with the pain better.  I have read on the site that a few people noticed a dramatic lowerly of their pain level after coming off pain killers.  Just know that we are here and willing to listen and help whenever we can.