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karabear77 · 01-30-2009, 12:02 PM

Hi, I have been reading posts here for about a year ( and once upon a time posted with another question). I will give a short version of what is going on and then will try to quickly get to the point. I am 31 years old, when I was 24 I was diagnosed with Uteran Cancer. I did the treatment and in the end had a hysterectomy. I have been free and clear since...Thank God! I found out about the cancer because I was having severe pain in my abdomen. About 6 months after my surgery I began having the pain again. I went to the Dr scared to death that the cancer had returned. My OB decided to do and MRI and I was shocked when she called me and told me I had multiple herniated disc throughout my L and C spine. She said that this pain could be referred pain from my back. My guess is that the pain I felt before was never from the cancer, but indead my back. Well, I did the therapy, the injections, and the surgery. I was great for about 3 months after my back surgery and then low and behold, not only did the discs reherniate, but my spine began collapsing and I have brachial plexus lesions now. Fun, fun stuff. Ok well to make a long story kind of short. I am on Norco 10/325 - 4 a day (sometimes I have to take 6 for breakthrough), I am 40 mg Oxycontin - 3 a day, and 50 mcg fentanyl patch (one every other day). The reason I am on here is because I get alot of "God, you are on a lot of meds!" even this from my new doctor who even after that statement feels that I need all these meds. I have no doubt that I am physically dependent on these meds. I have tried to stop just to see what happens and become sick as a dog. I dont take them to get high..actually hate that feeling. My question is, how do you know when it is a problem? I have been on these meds for 4 years and my pain dr says I will never be off of them. I have read so many of your stories and it makes me extremely scared. I am considering the morphine pump, but dont know if this will be a bigger problem. Does anyone know the difference of dependence and addiction and also has anyone had any experiances with the pump. I pray someday that they will come up with an answer, but until then...well, I guess that is where I am right now. Questioning and scared. Thank you for your advice.

01-30-2009, 12:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
karabear77 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: colorado springs Posts: 30	How do I know? Hi, I have been reading posts here for about a year ( and once upon a time posted with another question). I will give a short version of what is going on and then will try to quickly get to the point. I am 31 years old, when I was 24 I was diagnosed with Uteran Cancer. I did the treatment and in the end had a hysterectomy. I have been free and clear since...Thank God! I found out about the cancer because I was having severe pain in my abdomen. About 6 months after my surgery I began having the pain again. I went to the Dr scared to death that the cancer had returned. My OB decided to do and MRI and I was shocked when she called me and told me I had multiple herniated disc throughout my L and C spine. She said that this pain could be referred pain from my back. My guess is that the pain I felt before was never from the cancer, but indead my back. Well, I did the therapy, the injections, and the surgery. I was great for about 3 months after my back surgery and then low and behold, not only did the discs reherniate, but my spine began collapsing and I have brachial plexus lesions now. Fun, fun stuff. Ok well to make a long story kind of short. I am on Norco 10/325 - 4 a day (sometimes I have to take 6 for breakthrough), I am 40 mg Oxycontin - 3 a day, and 50 mcg fentanyl patch (one every other day). The reason I am on here is because I get alot of "God, you are on a lot of meds!" even this from my new doctor who even after that statement feels that I need all these meds. I have no doubt that I am physically dependent on these meds. I have tried to stop just to see what happens and become sick as a dog. I dont take them to get high..actually hate that feeling. My question is, how do you know when it is a problem? I have been on these meds for 4 years and my pain dr says I will never be off of them. I have read so many of your stories and it makes me extremely scared. I am considering the morphine pump, but dont know if this will be a bigger problem. Does anyone know the difference of dependence and addiction and also has anyone had any experiances with the pump. I pray someday that they will come up with an answer, but until then...well, I guess that is where I am right now. Questioning and scared. Thank you for your advice.