hydrocodine

[lymesurvivor]

hey guys, i am new to this, but here goes. i want to get off of my pain meds! the problem is i am in tremendous amounts of pain 24/7! i have had lyme disease for eleven years which has led to a lot of other issues( central nervous system dammage, other diseases because of bad immune system, blood clot in neck, messed up organs, massive joint, tendon, muscle, and nerve pain, low blood pressure, ect...). the list keeps going. lol. Anyway, i just finally got on pain meds last summer because i couldn't get out of the wheelchair most days, and my doctor said i had to get some help. i really didn't think it was helping all that much, untill i missed one and then i knew.  BUT, i think i would rather live with the pain, than feel the weird feelings i feel when i don't take them. i am not abusing them in any way, but peoples addiction stories scare me to death! i don't want that, and since i have to deal with the pain the rest of my life,(unless God heals me) i am not shure these pills are the answer. there has to be a better way.  my doctor doesn't see this as a problem, just a way to help me manage! What should i do! please help. thankyou and god bless.  BTW, i am on 10/320 and they want to add more.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Lymesurvivor,

Welcome to our Pain Mangement Forum. Although we all have a bit different story or condition we all suffer from the same thing, Chronic Pain (CP) and we can relate.

Sandee said it well, CP is a disease just like so many other diseases. When we are faced with life altering conditions such as a chronic disease (which CP is) we all go through the stages of grief. It sounds like you are in a bit of denial and that's ok, I was there myself for years. I kept thinking I could beat the pain. It would just take a little more time or a little more determination. I found anger to be my friend as it helped me get through difficult days but never through the evenings or nights. By than I was exhausted from the pain and couldn't put one foot ahead of the other. It took awhile but I finally accepted the cards that life has dealt me.  

Yes we are all concerned to one degree or another about dependency. And if we take the narcotics long enough we are all dependant upon them. That does not make us addicts. As Sandee explained there is a huge difference. And tolerance can be an issue for those that are not cautious about huge increases. I have been on the same dose for years and though it is not as effective as it once was I am determined not to increase until I cannot tolerate the pain on a daily basis. I don't want to speak for Sandee but I beleive she has posted that she has been on the same or close to the same dose for years also. So you just take it as slow as you can tolerate it. It sounds to me as if you are on one of the less potent narcotics. I too suggest that if it is not effective you discuss with your physician the possibility of adding a long acting or slow release medication.

I don't know of any other treatments for your severe pain. I assume you have tried the usual acupuncture, herbal remedies, trigger point injections, physical therapy or similar non-invasive treatments. If nothing has been successful I don't see any alternative for you at this time but opiate therapy. Have you spoke to a PM therapist? Sometimes they can help with other possibilities or acceptance.

We are here to support you and offer suggestions and information. None of us are experts except in living with chronic pain. I hope you will consider becoming an active member of our community. You asked how you could help? Just respond to the posts and add your support. We are like a family here and support and encourage one another. I will look forward to your updates. Best of luck to you in your decisions and as always take care.

Blessing to you also,
Tuck

[lymesurvivor]

thankyou sandee soooo much for that note of encouragement! i will ask about the extended release. i didn't know they had that for pain meds.  i am trying to come to terms with what i have to do to survive and live some kind of life. I have been struggling with the need for medication of any kind for a long time. I was a personal trainer for most of nine years reduced to having a hard time walking across the floor some days. i am so embarressed that i have tried quitting everything cold turkey(not my brightest of moments) and landing myself in the hospital. I guess i have held on to thinking there has just got to be a way to will myself out of this :) but that hasn't worked yet. lol.
      also, what about building a tollerence and then being left with no relief anytime?  How does that work?       Well, thankyou again for the support and let me know if there is something i could help someone with. My strategy in all this is to stay close to the Lord and find all that i can to be joyfull about!  blessings:)

[sandee1818]

The first thing you need to understand is you have a disease that requires medication. Just like a diabetic has to have medicine to function you too need medication to function and have a quality of life you would not otherwise have.
Addiction and dependency are two very different things. Your body is dependant on the medicines for relief and that is not addiction.
Ask any chronic pain Pt what medication has done for them and how much it has changed their life for the better. You see we have a disease that needs to be treated.
I would recommend a extended release medication though. there are many different options. Talk to your doctor about this soon.
When you fine the medication that works for you I promise you will have a whole different outlook on your life and the medications.
It is hard for people who do not suffer from chronic pain to understand that it effects every part of our life. When you find a medication that works well for you you will understand that it is for your disease and that your not addicted but simply treating your disease.
I hope you will stay and keep us updated and ask any questions you have. We are all here for you and will support you in any way we can:)