HELP!!!!

[KMK523]

Hello all!! Some of you may remember me. I could use some serious advice right now. I am coming up on 8 months clean time from badly abusing Percocet. Problem is I pulled my back out a few days ago and I am like a cripple...muscle spasms, leg pain. I have been taking Advil around the clock but it's not doing any good. My doctor is telling me to take the percs to help me with the discomfort. I refuse to take them bc I can't go back to that abuse again. Any suggestions?? Thank you!!!!

[littlebit667]

Having dealt with back pain both with and without opiates...the trick is to try to get ahead of the pain.  I know you are too far into it now and hope the things you are going to try will help ease the pain for now.   Just know that at the very first twinge of pain...hit the OTC's as quickly as possible.  Try Aleve, etc.  The muscle spasms are the worst.  Part of that is inflammation build up...I have gone to the doctor when that happens and have been given what is termed a pin point shot.  I think it is a steroid/lidocaine shot that you can only take on occasion and it does help.  Also at the start of the spasm..ice is the best.  Apply ice to a back spasm for the first 48 to 72 hours. Apply ice for 20 minutes, remove for 20 minutes, then re-apply for 20 minutes. Repeat this cycle as often as possible during the first 2 to 3 days after a back spasm begins.  And then heat!  Google back spasms for more info.  

As we detox..we tend to get dehydrated too easily...which can help start the spasms.  Be sure you are hydrated.

This has some good info:  http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Back-Spasm

[notordinary]

Try what clean in ks. Said the pool and hot tub. I have over 300 visits to physical therapy and over 100 was in the pool. Laugh it you like i could only get into the kids pool a lot warmer. The big ones they keep cool for the people
Doing laps. After my exercises i would sit in the hot tub for 15 mins. A big help to relaxing you. Muscles. If you can't get into pt join the Y it is only around $50 a month
Pool, hot tub and showers cannot beat it.
Good luck.  Keep us posted.  

[KMK523]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I've decided not to take anything. I am so afraid of getting hooked again. I battled my addiction for 16 years. I'm using the heating pad, have therma care wraps for the days when I'm working. Just trying to rest. Hoping I can brave this one out without the meds. I'm too scared to take meds.

[kyle505]

I've been clean for a year. It looks like I have shoulder surgery in my future. I don't plan to try and get through the initial recovery period without pain meds. However (and this is my long-winded suggestion for you) I have a plan in place, that I borrowed from Sarah, that will allow me to use the meds per the script. First, my doc knows that I'm an addict, so he won't write a script with refills. My wife knows that I'm an addict, so she will be the person who picks up the meds and then gives them to me, per the script. She'll count the pills at the end of each day (just to be sure none of them evaporates); and she'll make sure that the pill she's giving me IS the pain med. I used to switch out a friend's Vics for over the counter pills; if you didn't check out the markings, numbers, they looked exactly like the Vics. Finally, my doc will evaluate me with two weeks of the surgery and make a decision relative to future scripts.
Sorry - too long but I hope you get the point - find someone you can trust. Just because we're addicts it doesn't mean we have to suffer legit pain.

[SunnysideUP27]

That is a great question. I dont have any sort of injuries or anything of that nature as I abused narcotics only for the euphoric pleasure. I wll be 8months clean in 2 weeks. For me personally, I know if Iwere to take any sort of pain killer I would most likely be back on them. Then again, I dont have the pain like you do so this is hard for me to answer. Eeryone is different. You should tell your doc that you are a recovring addictand see what other methods he advises. Narcotics may be the answer. I would definitely speak to yourdoc baout this . God Bless and good luck!

[clean_in_ks]

Congrats on coming up on 8 months clean!!!!!  I have very similar back, muscle issues.  If you have the means and the money, here are a few things that may work so you can still avoid taking a narcotic for this:

Aqua therapy, physical therapy, stretching after heat, a non-addictive muscle relaxer (not Soma), massage therapy, rest with heat....initially it hurts too darn bad to do a lot, but w/an anti-inflammatory (maybe Rx strength variety) you can try one of these things.  When I was at my WORST, the only thing I COULD do was AQUA therapy.....
Hang in there......so glad to see you back on the board and asking about this.  Here's to healing~

[conhall]

Have you tried Toradol? thats what my Dr put me on when I was in accident and herniated disc it helped not 100% but it did help.
Good luck to you and ask Dr about Toradol?