Pain med dependence/addiction

Mhuire · October 20, 2007

I've looked around and found no references to what must surely be an issue with addictive personalities....there must be at least a few of us in here.

I've gotten used to crushing a couple pain pills, mixing it with fruit juice, and following it up with a stiff drink in the evenings.

I feel stuck in my tracks. I'll be calling my shrink on Monday and making an appointment. I know what's happening but I feel like I'm watching it from a distance and can't interfere.

I tried the indulge in the old "bingeing" routine last night and I ended up a pound heavier. That pound attached itself to my heart.

The steps to crawling out are imprinted on my brain. I need to activate them. This surgery will be the death of me if I don't quickly replace the old painkillers with the new ones.

Help.

beachgirl · October 20, 2007

Well, I'm sure there is a fine line between addiction and pain so severe you can't function without them. I have had 3rd degree burns over 40 percent of my body, neck surgery, removal of discs and brackets and rods and screws put in and foot surgery with a cast for 3 months and back surgery all in the past 5 years. I started on Loritab 5's 4 x per day and now have 2 more ruptured discs, lumbar spine and am now on loritab 10's 4 x per day up to 6 some days. I was very worried about these hurting my band but my surgeon says I'll be fine there are worse things to worry about and does testing every 6 months and it's been over a year now so, so far so good. I don't know if this is the same thing your talking about or not but I've tried to quit taking mine and after a week or so I'll be so bad I can't even walk so now just take them when I absolutely have to but I do have to take them. I wouldn't say I'm addicted as I can go without them when I try for days or weeks but then the pay is so unbearable. I'm thinking about having the implant put in for pain to see if this does a better job.

Do you have back injuries? I don't know if I have answered your question but my needs for them hasn't increased with the band only when my pain increases after Ive lifted or something that I shouldn't.

If you ever need to talk just give me a yell. I hope your doing well.

kacee · October 20, 2007

Beachgirl, I have what may be a dumb question. Have you tried going to a pain management group? My Mom has been on Vicodin for years with horrible arthritis in her back, knees and feet...barely mobile. She has lived on muscle relaxers and the vicodin and it has given a little quality of life. She was recommended by her allergist, of all people, to seek help through a pain management group, and it has been a GODSEND. I don't know why we didn't do this years ago. I don't know why we didn't consider this avenue. There are so many advancements in the treatment of chronic pain now it is amazing.