Addiction VS physical dependence of narcotics

[NurseTracy]

I have been reading a lot of posts by people claiming to be addicted to their pain meds because they have withdrawl symptoms if they don't take them. PEOPLE, addiction is a psychological behavior where people consume the narcotic after the illness/injury has healed and pain has subsided. Addicts take these meds for the euphoria they produce and not for the control of acute or chronic pain. NOW, narcotic dependence, meaning someone takes the narcotic for pain in order to live some semblance of a normal life with limited pain, will cause withdrawl symptoms if the narcotic is either drastically reduced at one time or stopped all together. Dependence does not usually require any form of treatment or withdrawl program, in a hospital or at home, unless that dependence is bordering addiction.

Please, people, understand your medical conditions and your use of medications. There is no need to suffer because you depend on a medication to live.......after all, if you had to depend on insulin shots ( for diabetes) to live you would take those shots, right?

I'm not trying to sound condescending or like ya'all are idiots, etc.......you are very smart people but many times people, doctors included, don't explain the difference between dependence and addiction and will even use these words interchangeably. Learn the difference.......you don't need to suffer needlessly!

From one chronic pain patient to another.

[NurseTracy]

Are you talking to me? I don't want to live my life on narcotics. I was off of them for some time and had to go back on for medical (pending surgical) reasons. Since I don't want the surgery, read what I wrote to ROS, I don't want to stay on the meds. I am going CT because I just don't want to go back in for another Rx. My doctors know everything and know what I am doing as I just talked to him about it 3 days ago. I was on a low enough dose then that he is ok with this hence the reason he gave me clonidine.

It doesn't matter if a person is dependent or addicted, the withdrawals are the same. For me it is a personal decision. It's too easy to take a pill when you are hurting so badly and that is why I don't want them. That does not make an addict.....it merely makes one who doesn't want to be putting poison in their body. I have absolutely no idea, with the pain I have, if I will never be on narcs again, but I have to try......for myself.

[NurseTracy]

Absolutely I will! Tell me how to get there.....I am quite new. In all honesty, ROS, since being back on narcs for severe pain, today is my number one day of being off again. I was put on them last may for SI joint dysfunction and told I need another fusion.....my other SI joint has been fused already. With the pain I am having with that one, I am not so eager to have it done again & am looking for other options.its a long story but all in all, I do not want the surgery again! And I do not want the narcs anymore.

[msdelight]

I am utterly confused by all of this. If you are a chronic pain patient who is not addicted but ONLY dependent, then why are you going cold turkey? What is it that you know that the doctors don't? How is it that on day one you are not humbled by these demon drugs, but instead in denial. Just wondering.

[ROSYouralright]

Today is day 1 huh?? Will you come to the SA forum and post about it? You will get TONS of support...

[NurseTracy]

I totally understand the effects of addiction. I thought I was there myself and took major steps to get off the narcotics myself as I believed they were going to kill me. I went through the Rapid Detox program in michigan and it was the best money I ever spent. I don't overuse my medication now but I still want off. See, before I was taking more meds (hydro) to get the pain under control as it quit working and where I am from, doctors don't readily change your rx. It's crazy as with being on a med for chronic pain many build a tolerance to that med. that, in and of itself, is a vicious cycle!

I apologize to you all for starting this post in the addiction forum.....I was unaware as I am new. I also found a lot of confusion in this forum between addiction and dependence. In any case, I would like to stay here as I am starting a CT withdrawl and need the support. Today is day number one of NO narcotics although I do have some meds like clonidine to help some. My doc gave them to me. I fear the severe RLS as I don't only get it in my legs but my arms as well.....to me, that is like the worst part of this! Ok folks.......here we go!

[dominosarah]

When we have a new member come to the addiction forum such as yourself we ask a ton of questions.  We feel each one out to see where they are at in terms of being dependant or addicted.  We arent afraid to give them the link to the Pain Management forum.  We are all very aware that some people will need pain meds but for most of us we have to have total abstinence, along with a recovery program, a plan in place if we ever have a medical condition that will require pain meds etc.  Our lives depend on all of this as death is a guarantee if we dont follow our plan.  We also know what a sly cunning and baffling thing addiction can be and it can grab you before you know what hit you~