Okay team, how am I gonna do this??

[72hoursin]

Okay I am on day 5 after quitting hydrocodine pure compounded that I have been on for the last 2 months give or take.  My back is wrecked, but I hate the feeling of being physically dependent on hydrocodine.  It isn't a mental thing with me, I have no problem leaving them behind, but I just got out of the ER as my staph infection is back.  They did a 2x8 incision, drained and packed it.  So I told the doctor what my pain mgmt dr. has been doing and told him I stopped taking my pills.  So, it turns out they are friends ( ER dr. and pain mgmt dr.) I am in way too much pain, bottom line.  So here is my predicament, I keep breaking my doctors wishes and stopping the pills which pisses him off something serious as we had a 6 month plan and a exit strategy on the pills, but my tolerance is so high from all of the surgeries over the years.  Literally had surgery upon surgery week after week, 46 in total.  So, what do I do long term for pain?  My fustration is that both the Dr. and I have discussed the physical dependence of these pills, I am just sick of planning everything around refills so I don't go into withdrawal on vacation or something.  It is one train wreck after another.  What options are out there?  Are there any non-addictive or won't cause withdrawals when you stop them?  He had me on Diluidad (sp) and it was too strong so I had him change me to the compounded hydro.  Thoughts or guesses?

Thanks

[Jaybay]

I'm usually on the Pain Management forum, which is probably a better place for your question.  You are not pissing anyone off - it's just most members here probably can't help you much.  :-)

I've been in pain management for a lot of years and understand your reluctance to continue with opiate therapy.  I'm tapering off my meds for the same reasons and then some.  

There really aren't a whole lot of options other than opiates.  Give the lidoderm patches a try, but they're only good for temporary relief.  As severe as your back issues appear to be, I doubt they'll do much for you.  Other than that, you've probably already tried about everything else - the usual anti-inflammatory meds, physical therapy, heat therapy, spinal injections, nerve ablation, blah blah blah.  

Those few pills given to you for the I&D will not put you back into withdrawal.  Enjoy the relief while you have it.  

Successful pain management is all about "management" rather than "cure."  If you can achieve enough of a pain reduction to halfway deal with life, that's a success.  In my personal opinion, narcotics aren't a good thing for long-term pain.  Eventually you're going to hit a ceiling where they become ineffective and you'll be in the same boat that you're in right now.  

If you haven't done so already, ask your PM doc for a referral to a pain psychologist.  A good one can teach you some different ways of mentally coping with your pain so you don't feel like you have to reach for a pain pill.  My shrink has been a huge help for me in that respect.  Since chronic pain not only screws up your life but those who live with and love you (and probably can't understand the "new you") therapy can help you deal with those things too.  

Honestly, I was very surprised at how helpful the mind tricks were when I first started.  All these years later, distraction and meditation are my first lines of defense.  Without meditation, I wouldn't even make it through the two or three bowel obstructions I deal with every month.  I'd be in the hospital with an NG tube hanging out of my nose.  This way, I can at least manage it at home unless and until I start vomting feces and know I have to go into the OR.

Chronic pain sux, and most of the time there isn't a whole lot anyone can do about it.  If you treat the whole patient - physical and mental - a good outcome is far more likely.  :-)

[72hoursin]

Okay, since I am not abusing them I guess this thread is in the wrong place.  Where do I need to go to get answers for the following, bear in mind I quit the pills because I always felt crappy, so threw the towel in.

1) Since all of my WD's are gone, the doctor had me take 30 mg's at the office after the surgery.  My plan is to move to Lidoderm patches tomorrow for the local pain, but will these few pills throw me back into withdrawls?
2) Any non-addictive pain mgmt drugs out there, would like to know so I talk to my doctor about it.
3) Sorry if I am pissing anyone off, but these are legit questions I was hoping to get answered.

Thanks,