You can quit cold turkey

[strongerthandope]

I had a bad motorcycle wreck 8 years ago. After 9 surgeries and 10 lbs of titanium put in my body I was able to walk again after a year. The downside is I have been taking 120 10mg hydros per month. After a few years they did not work anymore so I took more and more. I hated being addicted to anything and tried to quit a thousand times with no success. I was so terrified of withdrawals not to mention the physical pain. My doctor passed away and it was such an ordeal to find another doctor that did not see me as a junkie. That was the last straw. I learned to live with constant pain but the silver lining is I am 9 months drug free. I had minor withdrawals but for me it was 99% mental. Every time I felt myself needing a pain pill, I just took an advil and it would pacify my habit of taking a tab. I really have no sympathy for people that get addicted to pain pills from recreational use. Those are the ones that make it tough on the people who really need them. To the people that are sick of having pills run your life, take charge and know you can kick them without substituting with another addictive drug. Remember it IS in your mind and you must develop a hate of addiction. For the first time in almost a decade, I feel like I have control of my life again.

[Sonrissa]

Thank you for sharing your story. It's so inspirational and full of hope. Congrats on the 9 months clean!

[Whollymolythathurt]

Congrats on 9mos.  I agree with you on the mental aspect of this...its the worst.  Like you i've had 18+ surgeries since 20 yrs old (im 45) but it was the last back surgery 3 yrs ago that was the "proverbial" straw.  

The last surgery started this roller coaster ride but have to admit i was sick of dealing with the pain for 20 years on back & knees i made a conscious decision to keep taking them...dumb.  I guess you could say it was "recreational" use at that point...which angers me.

but day 4 here & i'll keep on keeping on.

[CRSeaside]

Congratulations. Thank you for blowing your own horn. Pamela