Do I need to be straight before participating? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Marvoldboy · 03-10-2009, 11:38 PM

Since I don't seem to know where to start I guess I need to know the rules.
I am currently on methadone for pain but quite sure it's not for the pain anymore. I have been reading some of these stories but none of the ones I've read seem to quite fit my situation. I know that one must first want to be sober before attempting to get sober. I know I would love to be back to where I was before the doctor put me on methadone.
My introduction to methadone started with a painful lower back problem and my doctor prescribed Vicodin. I've been around awhile and I admit I liked the way Vicodin made me feel but it did not help this pain. The doctor I went to was employed by Mayo Clinic so he sent me to the local clinic to get an MRI of my back. My pain was so bad it was unbelievable and within a week I had a serious limp and was unable to walk on my left heel. I got the results of my MRI back and after talking to the head surgeon it was explained that I had a chipped vertebrae in my lower back and was told that surgery was an option
but it should be the last option. I agreed with that assesment but the pain was next to unbearable. When I returned to my personal physician at Mayo he suggested we go outside the system, meaining we go outside of Mayo Clinic. He said his father and he himself had gone to this doctor for their back problems and they were pretty well cured. It was to be an epidural injection and according to what I heard they were quite effective.
I'm going to stop here for now and go ahead and post what I've done here so far. I want to be sure what I'm doing is kosher and proper before I continue on. Tags and threads and tradkbacks etc are new to me. So, until tomorrow or I hear that I'm on the right track. Later, Marv

TTOSBT · 03-10-2009, 11:40 PM

Marv,
You are very welcome here to post!
Welcome!!

aasharon90 · 03-11-2009, 07:12 AM

Hello there and welcome.

I too am having problems
with pain in my left leg.
It is causing me to limp
as well....i just went to
the doctor to find out
what is causing the pain.

At my age anything could
be the problem.....

I guess i have to take baby
steps with the doctor before
he can diagnois me.

I had blood work done and
a ultrasound and test for
blood pressure.

Right now im waiting for
te results of those test.

In the meantime my doctor
gave me something to try
for RLS...restless leg syndrome.

When he presented me with
this sample pack I emmediately
told him i was in recovery with
AA and that I didnt want any-
thing that was narcotic or habit
forming. And he assured me they
werent.

It is that important to me to make
sure my doctor knows where I
stand in my recovery.

I am here in SR for a purpose.

My purpose is to help others
in recovery my sharing my own
experiences, strenghts and hopes
with them about what it was like
drinking, what happened to me
because of it and where I am
now.

You came here and shared what
you are going thru, ur experience
and see I related to it where I
have brought this up before with
my leg and now because of what
u wrote I have other things to
look at that might be causeing
pain in my leg and limp.

The limp i think is due to one
leg being long than the other.

The medicine u r on reminds
me to make sure to let my
doctor know i am in recovery
and dont place me on medicine
that is habit forming or narcotic.

So u r in the right place.....

I use tho think i didnt belong
in AA because my story wasnt
like many here. However it is
very similar and my story is
own,,,,,no 2 people have the
exact story...just similar.

Keep posting to this wonderful
helpful community of people
in recovery.

Marvoldboy · 03-11-2009, 09:32 AM

I see down below that I may edit my posts. I was hoping to delete the last line or two of my original post and continue on from that spot. How do I do that?

aasharon90 · 03-11-2009, 12:17 PM

Hi....sorry i was away from computer....

U can copy and past just what u want....

Right click over the portion u want...it
will highlight it in blue.....

Go up top where it says file, edit, view....

Hit edit then the word copy.

Come back to reply and go back up
to edit and click on paste and paste it
back here.....

Im not perfect on the computer but
i hope this helps u.

People will read ur first post and
continue on to ur next one.......

**DesertEyes** · 03-11-2009, 09:43 PM

Hello there Marv, and welcome to SoberRecovery

This forum is for folks who are dealing with both pain management as well as addiction.

If you are taking medications that are _not_ prescribed to you by your doctor, then please talk to your doctor about it so you don't accidentally do yourself more harm than good.

If you are not sure if you have a problem with addiction, check out our Newcomers forum over here

Newcomers to Recovery - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

otherwise, any medical issues that cause pain are welcome in this forum.

Mike

Marvoldboy · 03-13-2009, 11:51 PM

I am taking prescription medication prescribed by my pain management doc. He gives me the epidural injections and prescribes the methadone for pain and tells me that we are trying to get to the proper dosage. At this time it is 40 mg a day. 10 mg 4 times a day. I've been taking it for a couple of years now and it makes me comfortable to where I can handle the pain. Like I said I'm not so sure the pain is there like it was but when I try to wean myself on my own I have problems. Not so much with the pain as much as the withdrawal. He says I can stay on this the rest of my life if I want and it would be ok with me but if this stuff is harming me in any way or is detrimental to my health, (physical or mental) then I would like to know. I am reasonably healthy physically and mentally but if this stuff shortens my life in any way I want to know. My doctor says people stay on it for the rest of their lives and have been on it for years and years so he makes it sound fine. According to the warnings and indicators on the packet I am allowed to drive on it and I can do all kinds of things just as normal people can. No one I know knows I am taking this med except my wife and she would like for me to get off of it and I would be willing to do it for her but am afraid of the withdrawal symptoms and if the pain should return I would be right back at square one. I imagine most of you would say I don't have much of a problem but I really don't trust doctors that much but just don't know what to do.
To be truthful there is a little more to the story and I have been around the block a few times but this is the worst dilema I have ever been in.

Marvoldboy

**shockozulu** · 03-14-2009, 01:41 PM

Feel free to share more of your story. I find that sharing helps me because others might find something they relate to and are able to then share their experiences, strength and hope (ESH).

You say your wife is uncomfortable with you taking this medication. What are her complaints? Is she concerned with your health or with your behaviors? This might help me share my ESH with you.

Marvoldboy · 03-14-2009, 11:19 PM

She says that I'm not me at least as she has known me for all these long years. She says I am as nice as can be and I help out a lot around the house. She says she is afraid I am hurting myself and feels I don't really need the methadone. My doctor said "the meds are for you, not for her" and that pretty well pissed her off. I guess you would have to understand my wife to know what I'm talking about. She is the mother of 7 kids and grand mother of 9 and more on the way. We've been married for 48 years so she knows me quite well. We are retired on my blue collar pension and live a comfortable life. My current problem started after my retirement and it was a back problem that could require surgery but I don't like the sound of that as back surgery can be a bummer and sometimes end up worse than before.
I say my "current problem" because I had a career ending on the job injury and that being a torn rotator cuff. I spent 37 years on that job and worked lots of overtime and lots of time away from home. It was in the transportation industry. So, at that time I had a bout with pain killers but it only lasted for a few months or so until after the surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff. After that healed up I had no problem getting off the pain med.
I think it was percocet or vicodan but no problem getting off of that. But this stuff is different and unless I have the surgery for my back I guess I'll stay with the methadone until I'm convinced that it is harming me in any way. It is inexpensive, lasts a long time and is quite effective. I'm sure I'm addicted to it as if I'm off it for very long I get antsy. I try to wean myself to the point to where I feel normal and don't get that euphoria feeling I had when I first started. It does give you a sense of well being which is nice but I can't see where that is hurting me either. Just a silly correlation would be my breathe right nose patches. I had my nose broken when I was a young man and as I got older I got to where I had trouble sleeping and had to breathe through my mouth. I would wake up with a dry and cracked feeling mouth so decided to try the Breathe Right Nose patches. I have been on those for over 10 years so I guess I'm addicted to them but I see no harm in that either.
Anyway, I don't want to be fooling myself about the methadone and really do want to get to the bottom of what is best for me. My wife attends a Narconon class twice a week account of me and I really want to do whats right for both of us. My doctor asked me to bring her in with me on my next appointment but not sure if that will happen.
Would appreciate any answers or suggestions that any of you may have. I have good insurance (mostly medicare) but also VA and a supplemental. Still, there are certain things they won't cover. Such as rehab in the Bahamas riding horses and sailing etc. duh. I am really working on this full time and going to see different kinds of docs and getting their input but I know how it goes with each one of them wanting your business so they will tell you how they see it according to how they have been trained etc.
Good luck to all and thanks for any input you may have.
God bless
Marvoldboy

***Morning Glory*** · 03-16-2009, 02:57 AM

Here is information I found from the FDA. It may help with your concerns about safety.

http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/20...134s028lbl.pdf

MROBI · 03-19-2009, 09:26 AM

hi marv and welcome to sr. u know its possible to be an addict and be treated for pain. and methadone is a good choice of meds in my opinion and experience for someone sufferin in pain who is also an addict.... im in da same boat as u and look foward to coorasponding with u.

MROBI · 03-19-2009, 09:39 AM

hi morning glory i was interested in that link, but no worky eh.

**DesertEyes** · 03-19-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MROBI

hi morning glory i was interested in that link, but no worky eh.

Keep trying, it works fine for me and everybody else.

Mike

ItsMe1965 · 12-31-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MROBI

hi marv and welcome to sr. u know its possible to be an addict and be treated for pain. and methadone is a good choice of meds in my opinion and experience for someone sufferin in pain who is also an addict.... im in da same boat as u and look foward to coorasponding with u.

I too am an addict who suffers from severe chronic pain. It all started with taking Synalgos DC for dysmenorrea in 1972. At that time doctors gave out opiates like candy and when I was cut off in 1982 I had no idea I was addicted until I started going through withdrawls..Instead of using doctors I went straight to heroin when it was still powder, snorting it for awhile then shooting it. I tried to get clean in a rehab and go to NA but I soon found out that I have many more medical problems than I thought I did. I have fibro, severe TMJ carpol tunnel psorisic arthritis, sciatica, my back is shot scoliosis, chronic migraines (Narcotics make migraines worse for me) arthritis in both knees elbows and hands, and brusitis.. Add Hep C to the equastion and I am a mess. I really tried to not use opiates. I was given soma, flexerial trycilic antidepressents, and everything in between...Never abused any of these medications. Well I started going to Kaiser and was given vicodin. Mind u I had never taken vicodin and I had no idea what Hell my life was going to be. I started with a prescription of 10 5/500..Within a month I was buying them on the internet and taking 40+ 10/350 a day....IMHO vicodin is one of the most euphoric opiates there is and the painkilling properties are nil to none..I knew this couldn't last 4 ever so back to heroin I went. I would wake up take 15 vicodins, go to sleep for 30 minutes then get up I told myself "no fixing b4 noon..Ihad never seen this black tar heroin b4 and in amatter of months my veins were gone and I was just puting the dope in my muscles of my arms and my butt. I mutalated my body. I lost all muscle mass in both arms, I have abcess scars and black tattoos everywhere the needle went. My butt has lumps all over and evertime I fixed the dope burned so much I would scream..I did the only thing I could, I went and got on methadone...I went back to my meetings thinking my friends would be happy for me WRONG I was told to shut up or leave..I left..I haven't used any opiate in years, the methadone helps my pain with split dosing, and for breakthrough pain I take aspirin.. I feel normal, methadone gives me no euphoria and for the first time in years I had no intolerable pain...Do I still hurt heck yes, but I am no longer tormented by horrible pain. I don't get tired on it. and yes I drive, in fact I got pulled over by a policeman for going too fast and I showed him my methadone card by mistake..He just laughed and said "wrong card miss" The reason I go to a clinic is for several reasons. First being the clinic will always be there, doctors come and go and we are at their mercy..I get to talk to a counselor about my pain and how I handle it as an addict, and for some reason I don't tolerate methadone pills at all.. I have people that help me help myself, and I am not scared that my doctor will one day decide he doesn't want to write prescriptions for opiates anymore. I go to the clinic once a week. and have never had a problem with traveling..Whe I need extras I ask a few days ahead of time and there has never been a problem. For the poster wondering if methadone is hurting his body..Narcotics are alone very safe medications, the fillers like tylenol is what will kill you..Methadone doesn't get in your bones, it doesn't rot your teeth, of course you can get gum diease becaise of dry mouth, but I never go anywhere w/o my bottled water.Methadone doesn't constapat me, in fact I maybe take a laxitive once a month. I drink a lot of water and eat a lot of fruit. Methadone doesn't make you fat. I put on 40 pounds soon after getting on methadone and everyone said its the done..I went for my annual check up and what made me gain weight was my thyroid gland, as soon as I was on my medication for awhile the pounds came off..My sex drive is no different than b4..I had many more adverse affects on vicodin than I ever have had on methadone.. I am not sure if I am welcome here because of my story, and if I am not, please let me know. I just wanted to come here and let addicts know that yes we are addicts, but we are people too, and there is no reason we should live in pain just because we have a diease..I refuse to be locked up in my house in bed becasuse of pain today I have my life back...My pain threshold is very low and I don't intend to have my life suffer because I don't want to take nothing no matter what..Just to let you know, I am not here as a methadone maintenance patient ,I am here as an addict who takes narcotics so I can live a normal life free from intolerable pain.....Happy New Year to everyone......

ItsMe

ItsMe1965 · 12-31-2009, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvoldboy

She says that I'm not me at least as she has known me for all these long years. She says I am as nice as can be and I help out a lot around the house. She says she is afraid I am hurting myself and feels I don't really need the methadone. My doctor said "the meds are for you, not for her" and that pretty well pissed her off. I guess you would have to understand my wife to know what I'm talking about. She is the mother of 7 kids and grand mother of 9 and more on the way. We've been married for 48 years so she knows me quite well. We are retired on my blue collar pension and live a comfortable life. My current problem started after my retirement and it was a back problem that could require surgery but I don't like the sound of that as back surgery can be a bummer and sometimes end up worse than before.
I say my "current problem" because I had a career ending on the job injury and that being a torn rotator cuff. I spent 37 years on that job and worked lots of overtime and lots of time away from home. It was in the transportation industry. So, at that time I had a bout with pain killers but it only lasted for a few months or so until after the surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff. After that healed up I had no problem getting off the pain med.
I think it was percocet or vicodan but no problem getting off of that. But this stuff is different and unless I have the surgery for my back I guess I'll stay with the methadone until I'm convinced that it is harming me in any way. It is inexpensive, lasts a long time and is quite effective. I'm sure I'm addicted to it as if I'm off it for very long I get antsy. I try to wean myself to the point to where I feel normal and don't get that euphoria feeling I had when I first started. It does give you a sense of well being which is nice but I can't see where that is hurting me either. Just a silly correlation would be my breathe right nose patches. I had my nose broken when I was a young man and as I got older I got to where I had trouble sleeping and had to breathe through my mouth. I would wake up with a dry and cracked feeling mouth so decided to try the Breathe Right Nose patches. I have been on those for over 10 years so I guess I'm addicted to them but I see no harm in that either.
Anyway, I don't want to be fooling myself about the methadone and really do want to get to the bottom of what is best for me. My wife attends a Narconon class twice a week account of me and I really want to do whats right for both of us. My doctor asked me to bring her in with me on my next appointment but not sure if that will happen.
Would appreciate any answers or suggestions that any of you may have. I have good insurance (mostly medicare) but also VA and a supplemental. Still, there are certain things they won't cover. Such as rehab in the Bahamas riding horses and sailing etc. duh. I am really working on this full time and going to see different kinds of docs and getting their input but I know how it goes with each one of them wanting your business so they will tell you how they see it according to how they have been trained etc.
Good luck to all and thanks for any input you may have.
God bless
Marvoldboy

Marv, the doctor is right only you know how bad your pain is, your wife loves you, but she can't possibly feel your pysical pain, I just don't know why she got upset when the doctor said the meds are for you..I am certainly not a doctor but from your posts it seems to me you are dependent on your pain medication, not addicted HUGE DIFFERENCE..One thing don't even think of weining yourself off of your medication unless it is with your doctors help..If you are telling the whole story I would agree with your doctor. Why fix something that isn't broken. If the methadone gives you a much better quality of life that should answer your question..Methadone is really a wonderful medication for someone who needs pain medication for years, because there are no fillers like tylenol it is not harming your body at all. Tylenol is deadly, and I think it is useless, but that is just me..Only you can decide with your doctors help if and when you ever wish to taper off of this medication..If you ever want to talk, let me know, I am happy to help

ItsMe

Weeza · 01-01-2010, 04:06 AM

well... as soon as I read epidural injection, I got shuddery...

because of a bad epidural block when an anesthesiologist made
FIVE attempts to insert epidural into my spine, the thick needle
might as well acted as a saw cutting through my spinal cord...
ever since, I've got a tender sore spot in that area plus weak back,
shooting pain down legs, and sometimes it makes my hips buckle
from pain... need to sleep with heating pad under back...

so from my experience, I don't recommend epidurals or anything
that needs to mess with the spinal cord...

Weeza · 01-01-2010, 04:12 AM

SHARON B: Long Leg Discrepancy

this is something I have... Right leg and foot are longer
than the left leg and foot by 3/4 an inch... this causes
ankylosing spondylitis / sciatica -- remedy is to wear
Scholl shoe insert, doubling up both pads into one shoe
for the leg that's shorter... or, using cane on right side...
you can also get a shoe cobbler to ad height to a shoe heal
by a half inch on the short leg side

ffrnemtp · 01-09-2010, 04:10 PM

I'm trying to always start these responses with "in my humble opinion," because I'm very new here.

I don't have any personal experience with methadone in my body. But, like you, I am in pain, and extremely addicted to narcotics. My favorite is oxycodone, but we are talking about schedule II narcotics, so I'm not sure it matters much which one.

I've been a paramedic and a RN for approaching 30 years. Since I started working as an ER tech in 1981, I have witnessed miraculous advances in medicine. So much technology, invasiive monitoring that is now non-invasive, pulse oximetry, and so many new medications. What I HAVE NOT seen is advances in pharmacuetical pain management. For severe pain, narcotics are still all that is truley effective. And all the schedule II narcotics are extremely addictive. Our bodies have built-in receptor sites just waiting for them. It's not like the physicians are choosing narcotics when they have other equally effective options.

There are people like you, me, and many others who must make a choice between narcotics and intractable, debilitating pain. We want to be functional to the best of our ability, so we use narcotics.

Don't be quite so hard on yourself. I wish I could practice what I preach--I think of myself as a junkie. I hope I've helped more than hurt. Also remember, if you decide to come off opiates, you didn't get this way overnight, don't try to correct it that way either. Taper--cold turkey is painful, and I believe it probably taxes our bodies to the point of taking time off of our lives.

Take care and god bless.

Weeza · 01-10-2010, 01:31 AM

I identify with a lot you've shared because I too have damaged vertebrae on top of fibromyalgia (it's two-fold because I can't sleep due to back pain, and back pain increases because fibromyalgia flares up)... My rheumatologist says I need to get my sleep under control and then all the pain problems should lessen, become manageable.

While I have 18 years sobriety, I've had to suffer through pain, surgery, do the MRI thing a bunch, and have doctors tell me I need injections in my spine but it was one of these epidural blocks that damaged my spine, too, so to manage pain, my general physician but me on Tylenol 3, then that had to be switched to Tylenol 4, then switched to Vicodin until it became Methadone and by the time I got to the latter, I feared for my sobriety, came down with edema side effect, so questioned pain management doctor on his ethics to which he quit treating me while I had been tapered up to max dose...

Suffice to say, I had to go through a painful cold turkey but it turned out to be a blessing because the experience rejuvenated my trust in Higher Power. I got more involved with meetings, step work, writing, reading NA literature, being of service. There's nothing more scarier than having lots of sobriety and clean time and being told otherwise by sponsor so you start over as a newcomer... which was what i had to go through for a month, and per sponsor direction, I got a new doctor and doctor confirmed my pain needs pain relief medication and that I didn't abuse it so I didn't lose my time after all. When I shared this with my sponsor of 18 years, she told me she couldn't work with me anymore because to her opinion I was out and going to die soon from a drug overdose. It was hard to hear that but I had to turn to my inner understanding of my Higher Power and listen for direction, and that direction was-- reclaim my sobriety and take the medication as prescribed by my doctor... Why?

We're not to suffer....

If it is the case that you have actual pain, have not healed yet, have a prescribed medication and are taking it as prescribed, while you may feel an addiction, it's a pseudo-addiction because your body is dependent on the medication for pain relief and what you likely experience more is a craving to not feel bad. That's a big difference than craving a euphoric or down experience for treating boredom, loneliness or some other mood that you could achieve in a natural way. Only you know to what extent you've crossed the line to catch a buzz for some other purpose than pain relief. If you feel you've done that, then check out Narcotics Anonymous. Get some literature, try to get to an NA meeting, and share...

Keep in touch.
Weeza

Found · 01-11-2010, 02:46 PM

My pain is in a different category from any of yours.

But I think very strongly that people in recovery ought to differentiate between prescribed medicines and illicit ones. (For over the counter I think common sense decisions ought to be taken).

Marv I read in your posts no reason why you should want to taper off let alone stop your methadone.

You are advancing in years and evolving, why should your wife demand you stand still?

Healthy recovery groups I know of have no opinion on prescription drugs.

03-10-2009, 11:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Marvoldboy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 4	Do I need to be straight before participating? Since I don't seem to know where to start I guess I need to know the rules. I am currently on methadone for pain but quite sure it's not for the pain anymore. I have been reading some of these stories but none of the ones I've read seem to quite fit my situation. I know that one must first want to be sober before attempting to get sober. I know I would love to be back to where I was before the doctor put me on methadone. My introduction to methadone started with a painful lower back problem and my doctor prescribed Vicodin. I've been around awhile and I admit I liked the way Vicodin made me feel but it did not help this pain. The doctor I went to was employed by Mayo Clinic so he sent me to the local clinic to get an MRI of my back. My pain was so bad it was unbelievable and within a week I had a serious limp and was unable to walk on my left heel. I got the results of my MRI back and after talking to the head surgeon it was explained that I had a chipped vertebrae in my lower back and was told that surgery was an option but it should be the last option. I agreed with that assesment but the pain was next to unbearable. When I returned to my personal physician at Mayo he suggested we go outside the system, meaining we go outside of Mayo Clinic. He said his father and he himself had gone to this doctor for their back problems and they were pretty well cured. It was to be an epidural injection and according to what I heard they were quite effective. I'm going to stop here for now and go ahead and post what I've done here so far. I want to be sure what I'm doing is kosher and proper before I continue on. Tags and threads and tradkbacks etc are new to me. So, until tomorrow or I hear that I'm on the right track. Later, Marv

03-11-2009, 07:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
aasharon90 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Baton Rouge, La. Posts: 4,857	Hello there and welcome. I too am having problems with pain in my left leg. It is causing me to limp as well....i just went to the doctor to find out what is causing the pain. At my age anything could be the problem..... I guess i have to take baby steps with the doctor before he can diagnois me. I had blood work done and a ultrasound and test for blood pressure. Right now im waiting for te results of those test. In the meantime my doctor gave me something to try for RLS...restless leg syndrome. When he presented me with this sample pack I emmediately told him i was in recovery with AA and that I didnt want any- thing that was narcotic or habit forming. And he assured me they werent. It is that important to me to make sure my doctor knows where I stand in my recovery. I am here in SR for a purpose. My purpose is to help others in recovery my sharing my own experiences, strenghts and hopes with them about what it was like drinking, what happened to me because of it and where I am now. You came here and shared what you are going thru, ur experience and see I related to it where I have brought this up before with my leg and now because of what u wrote I have other things to look at that might be causeing pain in my leg and limp. The limp i think is due to one leg being long than the other. The medicine u r on reminds me to make sure to let my doctor know i am in recovery and dont place me on medicine that is habit forming or narcotic. So u r in the right place..... I use tho think i didnt belong in AA because my story wasnt like many here. However it is very similar and my story is own,,,,,no 2 people have the exact story...just similar. Keep posting to this wonderful helpful community of people in recovery. __________________ "A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED" SHARON B. Baton Rouge, La. 8-11-90 I turn my will and life over to the care of a Power greater than I on a daily bases for guidance, care and protection.

03-11-2009, 09:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
Marvoldboy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 4	re I see down below that I may edit my posts. I was hoping to delete the last line or two of my original post and continue on from that spot. How do I do that?

03-11-2009, 12:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
aasharon90 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Baton Rouge, La. Posts: 4,857	Hi....sorry i was away from computer.... U can copy and past just what u want.... Right click over the portion u want...it will highlight it in blue..... Go up top where it says file, edit, view.... Hit edit then the word copy. Come back to reply and go back up to edit and click on paste and paste it back here..... Im not perfect on the computer but i hope this helps u. People will read ur first post and continue on to ur next one....... __________________ "A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED" SHARON B. Baton Rouge, La. 8-11-90 I turn my will and life over to the care of a Power greater than I on a daily bases for guidance, care and protection.

03-11-2009, 09:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
DesertEyes Starting over Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Starting over all over again Posts: 3,111	Hello there Marv, and welcome to SoberRecovery This forum is for folks who are dealing with both pain management as well as addiction. If you are taking medications that are _not_ prescribed to you by your doctor, then please talk to your doctor about it so you don't accidentally do yourself more harm than good. If you are not sure if you have a problem with addiction, check out our Newcomers forum over here Newcomers to Recovery - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information otherwise, any medical issues that cause pain are welcome in this forum. Mike __________________ Sunsets are not endings. If I have enough faith, they are beginnings.

03-10-2009, 11:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
TTOSBT To Thine Own Self Be True Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 1,948	Marv, You are very welcome here to post! Welcome!!

03-13-2009, 11:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Marvoldboy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 4	I am taking prescription medication prescribed by my pain management doc. He gives me the epidural injections and prescribes the methadone for pain and tells me that we are trying to get to the proper dosage. At this time it is 40 mg a day. 10 mg 4 times a day. I've been taking it for a couple of years now and it makes me comfortable to where I can handle the pain. Like I said I'm not so sure the pain is there like it was but when I try to wean myself on my own I have problems. Not so much with the pain as much as the withdrawal. He says I can stay on this the rest of my life if I want and it would be ok with me but if this stuff is harming me in any way or is detrimental to my health, (physical or mental) then I would like to know. I am reasonably healthy physically and mentally but if this stuff shortens my life in any way I want to know. My doctor says people stay on it for the rest of their lives and have been on it for years and years so he makes it sound fine. According to the warnings and indicators on the packet I am allowed to drive on it and I can do all kinds of things just as normal people can. No one I know knows I am taking this med except my wife and she would like for me to get off of it and I would be willing to do it for her but am afraid of the withdrawal symptoms and if the pain should return I would be right back at square one. I imagine most of you would say I don't have much of a problem but I really don't trust doctors that much but just don't know what to do. To be truthful there is a little more to the story and I have been around the block a few times but this is the worst dilema I have ever been in. Marvoldboy

03-14-2009, 01:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
shockozulu Huntington's Disease Awareness Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cook County, Ill Posts: 2,594	Feel free to share more of your story. I find that sharing helps me because others might find something they relate to and are able to then share their experiences, strength and hope (ESH). You say your wife is uncomfortable with you taking this medication. What are her complaints? Is she concerned with your health or with your behaviors? This might help me share my ESH with you. __________________ Copyright © 2005 - 2012 Shockozulu

03-14-2009, 11:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
Marvoldboy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 4	She says that I'm not me at least as she has known me for all these long years. She says I am as nice as can be and I help out a lot around the house. She says she is afraid I am hurting myself and feels I don't really need the methadone. My doctor said "the meds are for you, not for her" and that pretty well pissed her off. I guess you would have to understand my wife to know what I'm talking about. She is the mother of 7 kids and grand mother of 9 and more on the way. We've been married for 48 years so she knows me quite well. We are retired on my blue collar pension and live a comfortable life. My current problem started after my retirement and it was a back problem that could require surgery but I don't like the sound of that as back surgery can be a bummer and sometimes end up worse than before. I say my "current problem" because I had a career ending on the job injury and that being a torn rotator cuff. I spent 37 years on that job and worked lots of overtime and lots of time away from home. It was in the transportation industry. So, at that time I had a bout with pain killers but it only lasted for a few months or so until after the surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff. After that healed up I had no problem getting off the pain med. I think it was percocet or vicodan but no problem getting off of that. But this stuff is different and unless I have the surgery for my back I guess I'll stay with the methadone until I'm convinced that it is harming me in any way. It is inexpensive, lasts a long time and is quite effective. I'm sure I'm addicted to it as if I'm off it for very long I get antsy. I try to wean myself to the point to where I feel normal and don't get that euphoria feeling I had when I first started. It does give you a sense of well being which is nice but I can't see where that is hurting me either. Just a silly correlation would be my breathe right nose patches. I had my nose broken when I was a young man and as I got older I got to where I had trouble sleeping and had to breathe through my mouth. I would wake up with a dry and cracked feeling mouth so decided to try the Breathe Right Nose patches. I have been on those for over 10 years so I guess I'm addicted to them but I see no harm in that either. Anyway, I don't want to be fooling myself about the methadone and really do want to get to the bottom of what is best for me. My wife attends a Narconon class twice a week account of me and I really want to do whats right for both of us. My doctor asked me to bring her in with me on my next appointment but not sure if that will happen. Would appreciate any answers or suggestions that any of you may have. I have good insurance (mostly medicare) but also VA and a supplemental. Still, there are certain things they won't cover. Such as rehab in the Bahamas riding horses and sailing etc. duh. I am really working on this full time and going to see different kinds of docs and getting their input but I know how it goes with each one of them wanting your business so they will tell you how they see it according to how they have been trained etc. Good luck to all and thanks for any input you may have. God bless Marvoldboy

03-16-2009, 02:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
*Morning Glory* Administrator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: CA Posts: 9,968 Blog Entries: 2	Here is information I found from the FDA. It may help with your concerns about safety. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/20...134s028lbl.pdf __________________ “Come to the edge.” “We can't. We're afraid.” “Come to the edge.” “We can't. We will fall!” “Come to the edge.” And they came. And he pushed them. And they flew. Guillaume Apollinaire, 1880-1918

03-19-2009, 09:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
MROBI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: HIGHLANDS Posts: 121	hi marv and welcome to sr. u know its possible to be an addict and be treated for pain. and methadone is a good choice of meds in my opinion and experience for someone sufferin in pain who is also an addict.... im in da same boat as u and look foward to coorasponding with u.

03-19-2009, 09:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
MROBI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: HIGHLANDS Posts: 121	hi morning glory i was interested in that link, but no worky eh.

01-01-2010, 04:06 AM	#16 (permalink)
Weeza Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 117	well... as soon as I read epidural injection, I got shuddery... because of a bad epidural block when an anesthesiologist made FIVE attempts to insert epidural into my spine, the thick needle might as well acted as a saw cutting through my spinal cord... ever since, I've got a tender sore spot in that area plus weak back, shooting pain down legs, and sometimes it makes my hips buckle from pain... need to sleep with heating pad under back... so from my experience, I don't recommend epidurals or anything that needs to mess with the spinal cord...

01-01-2010, 04:12 AM	#17 (permalink)
Weeza Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 117	SHARON B: Long Leg Discrepancy this is something I have... Right leg and foot are longer than the left leg and foot by 3/4 an inch... this causes ankylosing spondylitis / sciatica -- remedy is to wear Scholl shoe insert, doubling up both pads into one shoe for the leg that's shorter... or, using cane on right side... you can also get a shoe cobbler to ad height to a shoe heal by a half inch on the short leg side

01-09-2010, 04:10 PM	#18 (permalink)
ffrnemtp Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: West Blocton, Alabama Posts: 15	A brief thought I'm trying to always start these responses with "in my humble opinion," because I'm very new here. I don't have any personal experience with methadone in my body. But, like you, I am in pain, and extremely addicted to narcotics. My favorite is oxycodone, but we are talking about schedule II narcotics, so I'm not sure it matters much which one. I've been a paramedic and a RN for approaching 30 years. Since I started working as an ER tech in 1981, I have witnessed miraculous advances in medicine. So much technology, invasiive monitoring that is now non-invasive, pulse oximetry, and so many new medications. What I HAVE NOT seen is advances in pharmacuetical pain management. For severe pain, narcotics are still all that is truley effective. And all the schedule II narcotics are extremely addictive. Our bodies have built-in receptor sites just waiting for them. It's not like the physicians are choosing narcotics when they have other equally effective options. There are people like you, me, and many others who must make a choice between narcotics and intractable, debilitating pain. We want to be functional to the best of our ability, so we use narcotics. Don't be quite so hard on yourself. I wish I could practice what I preach--I think of myself as a junkie. I hope I've helped more than hurt. Also remember, if you decide to come off opiates, you didn't get this way overnight, don't try to correct it that way either. Taper--cold turkey is painful, and I believe it probably taxes our bodies to the point of taking time off of our lives. Take care and god bless.

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01-10-2010, 01:31 AM	#19 (permalink)
Weeza Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 117	I identify with a lot you've shared because I too have damaged vertebrae on top of fibromyalgia (it's two-fold because I can't sleep due to back pain, and back pain increases because fibromyalgia flares up)... My rheumatologist says I need to get my sleep under control and then all the pain problems should lessen, become manageable. While I have 18 years sobriety, I've had to suffer through pain, surgery, do the MRI thing a bunch, and have doctors tell me I need injections in my spine but it was one of these epidural blocks that damaged my spine, too, so to manage pain, my general physician but me on Tylenol 3, then that had to be switched to Tylenol 4, then switched to Vicodin until it became Methadone and by the time I got to the latter, I feared for my sobriety, came down with edema side effect, so questioned pain management doctor on his ethics to which he quit treating me while I had been tapered up to max dose... Suffice to say, I had to go through a painful cold turkey but it turned out to be a blessing because the experience rejuvenated my trust in Higher Power. I got more involved with meetings, step work, writing, reading NA literature, being of service. There's nothing more scarier than having lots of sobriety and clean time and being told otherwise by sponsor so you start over as a newcomer... which was what i had to go through for a month, and per sponsor direction, I got a new doctor and doctor confirmed my pain needs pain relief medication and that I didn't abuse it so I didn't lose my time after all. When I shared this with my sponsor of 18 years, she told me she couldn't work with me anymore because to her opinion I was out and going to die soon from a drug overdose. It was hard to hear that but I had to turn to my inner understanding of my Higher Power and listen for direction, and that direction was-- reclaim my sobriety and take the medication as prescribed by my doctor... Why? We're not to suffer.... If it is the case that you have actual pain, have not healed yet, have a prescribed medication and are taking it as prescribed, while you may feel an addiction, it's a pseudo-addiction because your body is dependent on the medication for pain relief and what you likely experience more is a craving to not feel bad. That's a big difference than craving a euphoric or down experience for treating boredom, loneliness or some other mood that you could achieve in a natural way. Only you know to what extent you've crossed the line to catch a buzz for some other purpose than pain relief. If you feel you've done that, then check out Narcotics Anonymous. Get some literature, try to get to an NA meeting, and share... Keep in touch. Weeza

01-11-2010, 02:46 PM	#20 (permalink)
Found Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK Posts: 196	My pain is in a different category from any of yours. But I think very strongly that people in recovery ought to differentiate between prescribed medicines and illicit ones. (For over the counter I think common sense decisions ought to be taken). Marv I read in your posts no reason why you should want to taper off let alone stop your methadone. You are advancing in years and evolving, why should your wife demand you stand still? Healthy recovery groups I know of have no opinion on prescription drugs.

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