Prescribed Vicodin for pain.............

[Recoverist]

I was in an accident two years ago, and still experiencing pain, my doctor has me on Vicodin. Recently I asked her to consider removing me off these pain relievers, because it was messing with my almost ten years, of recovery. I need to tell on myself, if I want to remain active in my program.

[padawan]

I experienced somewhat of the same thing a few months ago, due to a long overdue surgery and discovered a painful thing about myself- If I have it, I'll abuse it. One morning I found myself counting out what was left in the bottle and figuring out how many days left I had before a refill. I dumped the bottle in the toilet and took a few advil later that day, then called my doc and had him cancel the prescript. He asked if I was sure, and I told him my fear, and that if it was the pain was THAT bad, I'd be willing to drive all the way down to his office and pick up another prescription for limited amounts. Haven't called him once.

hope it helps, and best of luck. Search yourself and see if you abused em, then be honest with your HP and yourself on where to go next.

pad

[fuster]

I found out I have a complete or near complete tear of my supraspinatus in my left shoulder, which will have to be repaired surgically. I want to delay the repair until September or October for mental health reasons (as in the weather is getting warm and I would be unable to do lots of things I love to do).

However, if that will require being on narcotic pain medication until then, I will schedule the surgery or look for other alternatives for pain relief. I can take opiates for a defined period such as following surgery, but not over several months, I think that is nothing but thinly veiled addiction, at least for me it would be. I just don't want to go there. I know some folks won't take pain meds at all, but I can do them if there is a reason and it is not for a prolonged period or indefinitely.

What do you feel you need now to manage your pain and be in recovery? Do you have a plan to stay sober when you stop the Vicodin?

[TheSandBoxHero]

Question to anyone knowledgeable on the subject: aren't there alternative pain medications that don't have the same "druggy" side effects as Vikadin and Loritab and what not?

[mackat]

yeh- the pain script thing can be slippery ground for us- i have a sponsee out on pills, and my old sponsor went out on [first] migraine meds. I do advil when i need it and have a script for naproxen for chronic cyatic condition. [might be one answer Sand Box] what i have realized over the last few years is that my cyatic condition is BEST treated by daily stretches and working on the ab strength. currently my rotator cuff has responded to extended time off [not easy for a builder] and now some site specific stretches. Work? Patience? whodathunkit!
i have close friends who have found p99 Basic Text indispensible in getting them thru surgeries. My litmus test? if i am unwilling to hand my meds to my sponsor and let him dispense 'em, then those meds best not be in my life.
mackat