Pain management in recovery

[scotts]

So I am recovering from Hydrocodone addiction. My Dr has prescribed Oxycontin, hydro,ultram, and lidoderm patches(non narcotic). I am refusing to take any of this due to my addiction. I havent taken the Oxy for a year cuz it makes me feel sick. The hydro is my DOC, and the ultram supposivley has worse WD's and addiction than the other two drugs.

My question is for people with injuries that are not going to go away, what do you use for pain control?

Currenly I am using ibuprofen in high amounts but that cant be healthy either. Lidoderm patches work a little bit,but really are only a topical numbing agent.

Id rather have pain than addiction,but this pain is getting pretty damn bad while being off of drugs for 3 days. On a postive note, my old self is slowly returning.

[barb dwyer]

My question is for people with injuries that are not going to go away, what do you use for pain control?

i'm going to try everything -
we can hang out - and learn about it together if you want.

I am at the point that I've been questioning why I was not taking 'something stronger' for pain the other day.
I* was actually forgetting the problems I have with pill taking.
Just because it hurt so bad the other day.

That's when this alcoholic/addict knows - it's time to get off the ...
ok wait.

There's got to be a better metaphor.

SMoke or pass the ....
ok not that one.

Rock or fire.
ok that one will do.

[scotts]

think or thwim lol funny sig.

Yea, pain sucks bad right now, dont know what to do about it because nothing works like opiates. BUT Im not going back to that, so I guess pain it is....

[DesertEyes]

I'm not a doctor, so I can't give any advice as to which meds to take or not. I am a recovering alkie, with a few very painful medical conditions, so I'll share what works for me. See if any of this is useful to you.

My "drug of choice" is _more_. More of _anything_. Booze worked pretty good for awhile, but it eventually turned on me. But booze is _not_ my disease, it's only a symptom of my dizease. I've gotten addicted to sugar, to TV, to work, to money, to adrenalin, to _anything_ that can turn off my head and give me some kind of "safe place" where I can stop feeling bad about me. My problem is not in the chemical, it's in my head.

There is no medication in the world, not matter what the docs say, that I cannot turn into an addiction and use it as an escape for reality. That's just the way my head works. For awhile I was taking Aspirin to help control the earlier stages of pain. What did I do? Start taking more. and more. And next thing you know I'm getting stomach cramps.

With me it doesn't matter _what_ I take. If I let my head go, I will get addicted to it.

My ex-wife was a normie. No addiction of any kind in her family. Fought a nasty disease all her life and eventually she got addicted to pain meds. A normie. Took those meds for _decades_ and had no problem, but eventually it got out of control. I know people who are food addicts. They go to meetings of Overeaters Anonymous. They work the steps same as I do, except they partake of their "drug of choice" three times a day. It's _hard_ on them, but they manage.

What I have done is follow the advice of other people in my meets. When my docs say I have to take a certain medication I tell 'em about my history, and ask them what my options are. As it turns out, there's lots of meds with slightly different effects. We then take a few weeks to experiment with the med and find out what is the dosage that has the best effect with the minum problems.

However, I don't do it alone. I share about it at my meets. I tell people how scared I am of losing my life as a result of getting addicted to the med. I keep a little notebook where I write down every time I take the med and how much and share that book with any alkie that walks in my house. It's out on the kitchen counter where the whole world can see it. I keep _no_ secrets.

Every year my docs "rotate" my meds to something similar, but chemically a little different. We will continue to do that every year until we run out of meds, then start again with the first one. Every time I take one of those pills I _first_ say a prayer, which I learned from the OA people:

"God, come between me and this chemical before the chemical comes between me and You"

As a person who suffers from an addiction to "more" I know I have to spend more time in recovery, more time in meets, more time on the phone with people, every time I take one of those pills. However, I also have to spend more time in recovery every time I get a paycheck, cuz I have been addicted to spending money, every time I go to work, cuz I've been addicted to over-working, every time I sit in a friends house and watch TV, cuz I've been addicted to that.

It says in the big book that all my recovery really amounts to is "a daily reprieve". That's all it will ever be, meds or no meds. I will have to work this program, and work it _hard_, every single day of my life. Pills or no pills. Everything in the world is a temptation to me, because I have a "spiritual malady". So the pills are no different to me than any other source of "more".

I take my meds _exactly_ as my docs have told me. _Exactly_. Not more, not less. If it's not enough I tell my docs and we talk about it. I do other things that my docs have told me, like mild exercise and yoga. Like quiting my high-stress career and taking a simple little desk job for a whole lot less money. I do what I never wanted to do when I was drinking, gunning and running. I follow directions. I share my secrets so they no longer hound me, and I work my recovery all day long, every single day.

This is what works for me.

Mike

[ksos]

I am not gonna start another 300 response post about my way of integrating my recovery and pain management, only to say that I am currently utilizing PO narcotic medication which is very closely supervised by a pain management specialist to manage a 4 year plus chronic pain condition caused by pancreatitis which I was sadly informed, may never go away.

In a few days, I will be undergoing a minor surgical procedure, but a major psychological adjustment, which will involve a morphine pump being put into my back in order to administer regulated pain control. In my physician's view, this will put an end to my ever increasing need for PO opiate medication and eliminate the negative symptoms that my current regimen is causing, such as slurred speech, blurry vision, nightmares, and, basically, ineffective pain control at this point. I will also be taken off two very strong medications which have sincerely helped me for the majority of the time I have had pancreatitis, but are largely ineffective now.

That is the way I have elected to put an end to a quality of life which I have shared with most people here. Also, I would never suggest even considering this procedure, unless recommended by a team of medical and addiction specialists.

You asked a terrific question and look forward to reading other folk's responses to this topic!

[ksos]

Originally Posted by scotts

So I am recovering from Hydrocodone addiction. My Dr has prescribed Oxycontin, hydro,ultram, and lidoderm patches(non narcotic). I am refusing to take any of this due to my addiction. I havent taken the Oxy for a year cuz it makes me feel sick. The hydro is my DOC, and the ultram supposivley has worse WD's and addiction than the other two drugs.

I know I am the last dope addict on the planet who should be even thinking what I am thinking, but a physician's concurrent prescribing of his addict patient's drug of choice, along with another prescription for a stronger kind of opiate, topped off with a third drug which metabolizes into morphine durivatives, seems somewhat odd to me...

Have you informed your MD that you are an addict? Or are there more than one doctor involved in your "program". Just askin'

[serenityqueen]

Yea, pain sucks bad right now, dont know what to do about it because nothing works like opiates. BUT Im not going back to that, so I guess pain it is....

I have to disagree with that statement.

I'm not sure what your pain is a result of, but for me, the combination of drugs that my Dr. uses to TREAT my diseases actually do work better than the opiates I was addicted to.

I have Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and recently diagnosed degenerative disc disese. When I was using, any Rx my Dr. gave me that wasn't a narcotic went right in the trash . . . I never even had the script filled. I had myself convinced that if it wasn't gonna get my high. . . it wasn't going to do anything for my pain. And as long as I had that thought in my head, anything other than opiates else wasn't going to do anything to ease my pain.

After I got into Recovery, my Dr's began to prescribe many different meds that actually treat the diseases rather than just mask the pain. Of course every disease has a different treatment, but I take Naprosyn twice a day, everyday and after a few weeks and much to my surprise it actually had began to get the inflamation down which causes the pain. Good ol Naprosyn, which I used to call glorified Motin actually does work! I also take a med that is generally used for treatment in Cancer patients but because it slows down cell reproduction, it works in some patients with Lupus and RA. I also take one med that was originally prescribed only for Malaria patients, yeph, you read this right, Malaria. But it works well for some Lupus patients. Unfortunately I have to take steroids as well. When the Dr.'s try to wean me off of it, I have too much infammation in some of my vital organs so I'll have to stay on it until a new medicine is invented. And there are other meds that I take that all play a part in my pain being manageable.

I truly believe that some of us addicts are big babies. We don't like pain. We are used to numbing our pain and when we can't, we're not real happy. The other day, like Barb, I was in so much pain that I actually told my best friend that if I had any pain pills, I think I may have taken one. But I had to remember, I am an addict whose DOC is opiates. For this addict, taking an opiate pain pill is much like playing Russian Roulette . . . with a loaded gun. It would surely take me right back out. But I learned a very valuable lesson by this, I didn't use any opiates, I got out my friend the heating pad, nuked some rice socks (see thread on Pain Mgt. forum) turned on a really boring movie on tv and laid down on my bed. I woke up a few hours later, feeling a little bit better. . . and very, very grateful that I didn't have any pain pills here. I got through it . . . it didn't kill me. . . nor have I ever heard of someone actually dying from pain.

By no means am I saying that some addicts/alcoholics can take opiates as prescribed and not go back out. Am I envious of them? Sure I am! I wish I could be one of them, but I'm not. Acceptance once again has proven to be valuable to me.

God Bless,
Judy

[scotts]

Originally Posted by ksos

I know I am the last dope addict on the planet who should be even thinking what I am thinking, but a physician's concurrent prescribing of his addict patient's drug of choice, along with another prescription for a stronger kind of opiate, topped off with a third drug which metabolizes into morphine durivatives, seems somewhat odd to me...

Have you informed your MD that you are an addict? Or are there more than one doctor involved in your "program". Just askin'

No my Dr doesnt know of my addictive nature. He prescribed the 3 various narcotics at different periods of time.

Serinity, what I shouldve said is nothing works as well as opiates that I have tried yet. I have tried lyrica,neurontin,ibuprofen,naproxen,apap,skelaxin, and cortisone shots...none of which worked as well as opiates. I know there has to be something out there. I have degenerative disc disease and am recovering from a herniated disc that affect my sciatic nerve. I also have severe arthritis in my spine, neck, and have chronic headaches. Nothing life threatening and I will continue to have a great life despite pain. I just wish I had a solution.

Im a damn junkie and am craving hydro....Gonna go do some cardio.... Thanks for replying all!

[grateful2b]

Hi everyone..I have fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease...
I used to have a very low pain threshold..Ha!
I made the mistake a few years back of using medical weed for my pain. It was a miracle for my pain, but I became addicted to the weed because of my bp2, trashed my brain chemistry...
I now use ibuprofen, avoid chronic stress, pace myself, really hot baths, swimming in warm pools, lots, rice packs, and Tylenol ones and muscle relaxants when I am really desperate. They took naproxen off the shelves here in canada. I am never free of pain, and some days are better than others , they want me on narcotics but won't go there. my fibro is stable right now..and so life is good, now my desire is to get in some kind of shape
I am so glad to see this forum.

[MrsMagoo]

Good post. I'm listening.
Judy...you are such a good writer!

[serenityqueen]

My statement, about some addicts being able to take opiates as prescribed and not go back out doesn't sound right after I reread it. What I meant to say was that I am sure there are some addicts in Recovery who CAN take opiates as prescribed and not go back to using other drugs, their DOC or abuse the opiates.

(((Scotts))) I feel you hit the nail on the head when you said you are a junkie craving your DOC.

Thanks for your honesty. That's one of the most important parts of Recovery!

God Bless & Thank God . . . Just for Today,
Judy

[ksos]

Originally Posted by scotts

No my Dr doesnt know of my addictive nature. He prescribed the 3 various narcotics at different periods of time.

Serinity, what I shouldve said is nothing works as well as opiates that I have tried yet. I have tried lyrica,neurontin,ibuprofen,naproxen,apap,skelaxin, and cortisone shots...none of which worked as well as opiates. I know there has to be something out there. I have degenerative disc disease and am recovering from a herniated disc that affect my sciatic nerve. I also have severe arthritis in my spine, neck, and have chronic headaches. Nothing life threatening and I will continue to have a great life despite pain. I just wish I had a solution.

Im a damn junkie and am craving hydro....Gonna go do some cardio.... Thanks for replying all!

Scotts...

Thanks for the honest response to my initial question. I was confused about your MD's medication regimen, but now you've cleared that up. I do have one suggestion and that would be to inform your MD that you are an addict in recovery. I know it takes a lot to admit that to your medical provider, for it will change the manner in which you are treated. Hopefully, he might refer you to a pain management specialist who can treat your very real medical problems with appropriate medication--not to say your MD is not equipt to do this, but pain management is not only numbing, mind altering drugs and narcotic patches. I can tell you that much.

As an example, I have had epidural injections, physical therapy, massages, whirlpool or hydrowater baths. Some of these methods have helped me somewhat, but my chronic pancreatitis is seemingly getting worse. But, I do know so many people who are in agony due to the back injuries/conditions you've described and have not had the opportunity or knowledge of alternative methods to treat unremitting pain.

I know that you said that you are a "damn junkie" which, is what I used to consider myself, and still do--don't get me wrong--but you are hurting and that is real. We all carry the label of "addict" or "alcoholic" if we are here, since our lives have become unmanageable dur to chemicals. But there are manageable ways to treat medical conditions that are quite real...

I know I am a huge proponent of Pain Management and it is not what many people have assumed it is. While narcotic medication is used, it is highly regulated and anyone who is on a controlled scheduled II drug, is tested by Federal Law, at least every three months via toxicology. This is not because you are an addict, it is because these medications are very addictive and providers must also be held accountable for what they write prscriptions for.

MY 'ESH' says that one is more apt to be compliant than not, if they are involved in a pain management program and a 12 step forum. I have a team of my pain MD, my sponsor, my addictionologist who is also an MD, and my NA and AA groups.

Just my 2 cents, my friend, and thanks for sharing...

[ksos]

Hi Judy!!!!!!! Hey Barb!!!!

Sorry to have almost missed sayin' "good mornin'" to my "peeps"...

Love always in 102 degree heat (NYC)

Ksos

[stormyb]

Hi ~ I'm new and I like it here. May I say that I spent so much time and energy making sure I had a supply of opiates to keep withdrawals away and for the place they took me. I think about all the phone calls, doctor visits ( I have a helacious pain condition ) pharmacy fills and the stress! Crap! that was the worst...the anxiety bundled with the activies mentioned in being a drug addict. Then last Memorial Day 2007 I went through 1 too many withdrawals, I called my doc asked him to wean me and never looked back. I did have an episode that required a hospital stay and was given Opiates but when I was out of the hospital and refused a prescription for home, I knew I was done and it was OK I guess what I mean to share is simply that - instead of launching a search party for some relief I just think about the hell of 7 years of opiates and its all OK. And I quit smoking....now its cake I love ( and reality TV )
We all do things in our own time I just wanted to share. And the pain ahh this fierce pain, everyone is right only opiates work but for me I have ice, heat, Ipod featuring Dr. DeePak Chopra, Dean Martin and my boyfriend George Michael and Vicks Vapor rub, really try it.

[ksos]

Hi StormyB!

Welcome to this forum and it so terrific to hear that you like it here! I do, too! I think your story tells of a side of narcotic pain control which did not work, but of a will and a goal not to endure the negative aspects of chasing MDs, feeling like a "junkie" when picking a Rx up, and the like.

There are so many aspects to Recovery and Pain Management and it is very helpful to hear your success...BTW, I am also addicted to Reality TV and I think these shows should be considered a controlled substance, as well! (only kidding!)