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Hi friends, Pain meds had become the main focus in my life to treat chronic pain.. I welcome all who have injuries and suffer from addiction/dependence, having misused/abused their pain medication or simply have gone too far in addiction with them. Lets keep a dialogue going with discussions about whatever struggles are going on in your life with pain and addiction/dependence and lets discuss new methods of pain management sans opiates.
Last edited by Living Free; 03-25-2012 at 11:57 AM.
In a world of LEFT and RIGHT viewpoints, I try to stay as close to the MIDDLE, if I can...
Its where I find I can experience the most and be open to the best of what life has to teach me
You're such a sweetheart, Lisa, and you're doing really well. I think OP is great for you for right now, and I'm glad you are maintaining an open mind and taking from it what you can.
Don't know much about backs or discs or chronic pain but I admire you for realizing pain medication isn't the right solution. Keep us posted when you go to the doctor in a few weeks.
Congratulations on everything you've accomplished in the past two months!
ahh...your story is very familiar. I never had an alcohol or drug issue that I know of. The pain meds hit me in my early 40s. I too like probably the majority of the population have back pain, L5-S1.
I started going to a pain management clinic and they loved me. Good insurance, didn't smoke pot, etc. and clean criminal record and legitimate back pain. I was a model patient. wink
Anyway I didn't even have to ask, they just gave me more than I could ever ask for...really. They gave me oxys and I didn't even like them. ha!! Oh but the norcos..well that was a different story. I never got to the 20+ a day but 8-10 but I was hooked. Innocent...well maybe but not really. I thought I was smart. I was stupid, very.
I did get my wits about me and got away from that clinic and made the journey back. A bunch of addicts would have loved my situation. Hydros, oxys, soma, xanax, whatever I wanted and how ever many I needed they were more than happy to satisfy. After all, I was the perfect model patient. In reality I was an addict but didn't realize because after all, I was a pain clinic patient.<grin>
I suggest a taper and prepare yourself for the ride but it get's better. You'll find with time your back doesn't hurt as badly as you thought. You will need to retrain yourself in what your threshold of pain is. We've medicated ourselves at the least bit of pain that we've forgotten what true pain is. Make sense?
You'll be surprised what Excederine will do..even the generics. It's a good combination of pain relief. With time you will understand what I'm getting at.
You are and I was medicating more than just our back pain.
Take Care,
nomadic
"an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind" John Mellencamp Minutes to Memories
Hy Lisa....we are so mirrored with pain management and disc hernias only mine is at the top of my neck....after 9 years on Tramadol 400 mgs...Lyrica and a whole lot of others...after also having 3 epidurals...i bent 2 needles....a month ago...I told the pain hospital that..i would not go into zombie mode ever again....not caring...not fealing...not me...who is that guy who just sits still all day....only thing moving was my hair growing....so having decided not to increase meds...just like Nomadic...I could and can get anything from medical cannabis to well morfine....but then you have to dig deep to find me...my soul and mind is then buried very deep...I have decided to except the pain...even though its is hard....it can be done but life isnt a bowl of cherries...people say how sharp and how good I look lately...I am seeing my neurologists next Monday and he will do a M.R.I. scan also want to know why I have stopped or stopping all medication...im down to 50 mgs Tramadol from 400 mgs...and 1 x 10 mg valium...I wish you well as I do beleive I am regaining my life back...back on track...back to the batcave....All the Best Jim
Hy Liny....my pain at the moment is like 12 small toothaches....6 on each hands....I know weird they open my neck and my hands ache....maybe they should of opperated on my feet....back surgery has gone so much beter of late...here they have little discs they insert...and fill them with air...to keep the distance between the vertabrae...so hopefully this will be your godsend...my first op was great...I was normal (whatever that is) only my spinnal chord bounced out the back...it was this that caused the "phantom pain"...I too had no trouble on Tramadol but found it didnt matter with or without it...I still had pain....it was when my mad scientists started his pick and mix that nudged me into the ghobi dessert...I will be seeing him next Monday...so watch this space.....also dont be afraid of back surgery...also well done on the sitting it out thing...stay there pearched on the fence....I was given the most crazy cocktails....thanks for watching my back too....All the Best JIm
quote:Originally posted by Nomadic
ahh...your story is very familiar. I never had an alcohol or drug issue that I know of. The pain meds hit me in my early 40s. I too like probably the majority of the population have back pain, L5-S1.
You are and I was medicating more than just our back pain.
My story too. The only difference for me is that the pain meds hit when I was 34. Bamm! Late bloomers.
I self-medicated my internal angst for the next 22 years.
Arlene
Exodus From MMT;12-25-02
<center>THIS TOO SHALL PASS</center>
Glad you are here, and still posting. I too came to my Norcos because of a back Injury Herniated discs L4-L5...They said it is digenerative disc disease and I have sciatica...Yeah me... lol
I do realize now off the pills that it does not hurt the way I remember...I mean it is no walk in the park and some days really suck but it is not what I thought it would be... I am a little over 30 days clean and doing good. I have a appointment with a pain managment doc on the 9th...SHE KNOWS I AM A ADDICT...my primary care knows and he made a point to call and speak directly to her while I was with him to tell her about my addiction and back issue...so no pills for me..=) I am not sure what alternatives she will offer as I really only paid attention to the " Treatments" which included mass amounts of pills...but we will see. I just know that pain or no pain clean is better any day and I am so grateful for it...
Let me add for those on Tramadol. It has an antidepressant effect other than the opiate type. It's best to not CT it but to slowly taper. Just like with any other antidepressant CT is not recommended.
Good Luck,
nomadic
"an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind" John Mellencamp Minutes to Memories
Hi my Back pain friends! :-)
Brothers and Sisters, actually, Yes? Pain makes us rather Kindered IMO!
But, I have finally ACCEPTED that we do HAVE to make some real lifestyle changes too. It is VERY hard at 35, 39, 47, 55, whatever, to accept that you can do only a tenth of what you used to be ABLE to do, without a HEAVY price. It is VERY hard to accept that for us, life IS a spectator sport, by and large, Yes? If we have herniations, or DDD and numerous bad bulges, our lives will need to change, or else. The "or else", is either living in unacceptable levels of pain, (little or no quality to one's life), or medication, for us addicts, that's NEVER safe, Yes? I have finally accepted the third choice. Accepting disability. This acceptance has taken me YEARS--but I have arrived.
Learing how to still feel vital and vibrant, while being nearly crippled-is a hard lesson.
I pray that we truly lead our broken bodies in a caring and gentle way.
Hy Lisa....this maybe my hole in the ground too...as I am having it far too easy getting out of this 9 year 400 mgs of Tramadol a day....that maybe the pain may bite me....down the line...as for now its just nibbling me and I can take it....May I just add to Jilly I was on so many things...Tramadol, lyrica, liquid canabis and valium (all at the same time) that after sticking to what my doctors said to take..i wasn't living....I had no pain but no quality of life either....could watch grass grow for hours...phone calls....there was no one in...but the lights where on...so my struggle to come off them medications one at a time...to accept pain but become more alert...more aware...also to use the word handicapped...took me 2 years for me to say it, I am a big guy...6 foot and broad...long hair and beard...so when I asked in a Belgium Tourists Center where is the antique market ?..he said sure just walk about 15 mins....I then had to say "sorry, I am handicapped and couldnt make that distance on foot"...i think I had tears in my eyes....as I got a free tram ticket...i too am 55....my neck hernias are C-4, C-5,C-6 and C-7...bolted up in blue..next week back to hospital so I will keep you posted.. all the best Jim
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