lilotto

Help I need some advice on being prescribed Vicodin for sever back pain. I have a ruptured disk between L4 & L5 and my neurosurgeon doesn't want to do surgery because I smoke and he says it interferes with the healing process. I have confirmed his concerns with my primary doctor, and pain specialist. My concern is about the possibility of addiction to the med being prescribed Vicodin. I've read a lot of the post's pertaining to oxy's and for the most part the make it sound like they are worst than heroin. I don't want to end up with a serious addiction but I have to something about this pain. We have tried a variety of med's with no luck. Anyway I appreciate any input.

likehappiness

Lilotto. Honestly I would get a second opinion. If you truly needed the surgery then delaying it could cause you worse problems. And yes, anyone can get addicted to pain medication, however, using it as needed and only when needed probably won't go into full blown addiction. People get addicted by taking them excessively--even when they don't need them.

I just think that if you really do need the surgery then the smoking issue is second hand. The bigger problem is do you have a respiratory disorder? because of your smoking? If you aren't breathing...you aren't living and that's why some doctors worry about putting someone under for surgery. So...if you have COPD, asthma, sleep apnea or lower lung capacity then your doctor may be trying save you in a different way.

Nightsd

Well, you have stated that you have tried other things and nothing worked. You also stated that you cannot deal with the pain you're experiencing. My only conclusion is that you will use the pain medication. It's not necessarily a bad thing. If you haven't had a drug or alcohol problem in the past, then you should be fine.

tbeit

Sounds like time to quit smoking.I had the same surgery and my dr told me the same thing.I used the medication that is all over the tv and it actually worked I smoked for 30 yrs.Good luck

IvanKatz

Perhaps we should put things in perspective... Quitting smoking isn't that bad. With patches it's not that bad at all... I know! I did it years ago. Now lets look at narc W/D.... WHOLE other story buddy!!!!!! MISERY!!!!!! WEEKS of physical W/D and possible MONTHS of psychological W/D.
Smoking on the other hand - a couple of days of some agitation and a few restless nights.
multiply that by 100 and you've got opiode W/D!!!! everyone on this board will agree with me that nicotine W/D is kindergarden compared to long term vic usage.
Besides, you quit smoking and you'll actually be able to REALLY taste food and smell nice things. Another benefit, you won't have the cig monkey on your back everywhere you go *AND* you and everything you own won't smell like an ash tray. *Just something to consider here*

lilotto

Thanks for your advice and yes I do have some of those other symptoms

FT

Hi guys,

I would like to respond to something likehappiness said, which I have put in bold above.

While that statement is true, it doesn't take into account the people who get addicted by taking them as prescribed, when they DO need them. I would never have believed that, until I became addicted to oxycodone after orthopedic surgery. I was only prescribed 5 mg tablets to take every 3-4 hours, but I needed them longer than the 3 weeks the typical orthopedic surgery patient for my type of surgery needed to take, because I had complications postoperatively with delayed healing and concurrent severe osteoarthritis.

The trouble is, I grew to LIKE the feeling they gave me, in addition to killing the pain. I was sent to a pain management center, and the rest is history.

Eventually, I WAS taking more than prescribed, and that spiraled into an active addiction with the usual "aberrant" drug seeking behaviors.

I blame myself. Having said that, however, I really think that if I had been "called out" on my continued requests for pain meds in the beginning, I would have cut my use short. But NOBODY called me out on it, and even when I asked if I were addicted I was told I was not -- "Oh, no, you're just DEPENDENT!"

I guess my point is this -- beware of opiates if you have a propensity to get addicted. If you've had alcohol "problems" in the past, beware of opiates now. It's a HUGE red flag, and people become cross addicted all the time before they know what hit them.

Having an awareness of the dangers of addiction can help some of us not to do it again. Anyone who thinks, "Oh no, not me, that could never happen to me" may be the most susceptible ones. I posted an article from the LA Times recently that cited fatalities from prescription drug abuse (opiates) have outpaced the numbers of traffic fatalities in our country. It's pretty scary.

Just be careful, and don't use opiates if you don't have to.

FT

Kahlia

I became dependant on opiates from back pain....I would strongly suggest qutting smoking-go with the patch if you cannot just quit......I took my meds as prescribed and was still psychologically dependant. I would even write down when I took them so I knew when four hours were up??? Anyway, I never abused them but the potential is always there as after about 6 months, the tolerance builds, and they do not work as well. I would hope that you seriously read and think about what everyone has written. Are you a recovering addict? I know that it is hard to be in pain but believe me it is much harder to get off drugs, prescribed or otherwise. I tried to taper down and still had all the symptoms of using........much luck with whatever you decide to do.

Blessings,
Kahlia

ba1614

I tried everything to quit smoking, and what finally helped me was a book by Allen Carr called "The easy way to stop smoking". I admit I'm shocked a book did it for me, but I was desperate because I'd tried every quit smoking gimmick out there, and failed 'em all.
I've employed the same strategies for helping with the oxy cravings, and it's helped there too.

My addiction to the oxy's was also started with a legal prescription, as a result of a back injury. Oddly enough, at a little over 5wks clean of oxy's, my back feels better than it has in a long time while just taking a couple Aleve in the morning.

IvanKatz

FT is right on! Many people including medical professionals will state that people in real pain don't get addicted... WOOOOOO WRONG!!!!!!!!! Big lie!
I was taking them for serious back issues. THe kind where I could not physically walk without crippling pain. Yeah guess what... First I developed a "physical dependancy" - next thing you know I was mentally addicted.

Fortunately for me I do not know anyone who deals or else I would have been seriously tempted to buy my DOC from the street. That is one of many reasons I DO NOT and never have associated with anyone who does stuff like that. I SERIOUSLY FEAR the law and the possibility of losing my wife, my furry kids, and my home. I'll suffer in hell before I lose them.

BIG IF THOUGH -While I've never done anything illegal during my pain management. I can absolutely see how easy it is to do so when you are deep enough in the hole.

djensen

Well I agree with everyone, and I AM A VICODIN ADDICT, I am on 21 days clean from 10mg/325 Norco(Vicodin) and let me tell you, its ROUGH! You will start taking them as the doctor tells you to, just like we all do, and then you will take just one extra, then just one and a half extra, then 2, etc etc etc....
It CAN spiral into a nasty problem if you dont keep it in check. If you DO need them, then I would suggest giving them to someone else and have them "dose" you so you cant get your hands on the rest of them. This sounds crazy to you right now Im sure, but its a real situation and most of us here started by using them as the doctor told us to......