3 years on Hydro - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

Remow · 12-12-2003, 09:57 AM

Hi Everyone,

I was in an auto accident 3 years ago this month resulting in L4 - L5 injuries and have been on Hydro since. I have been thru many injections and alot of therapy but have always had to take the Hydro and occasionally a Soma
at bedtime to help with the pain. Most of the time they are 10/325 but sometimes 7.5/500 or 750, but i have always taken them as prescribed. So my daily dose has always been 20 - 30mg of Hydro and 650 - 2250 of apap depending on which pill i have, the past year it has been the 10/325. Again i have never taken more than 3 of these in a day. My question is should i be concerned about the length of time that i have been on them. Should i be concerned about organ damage even tho i don't take large doses? I have to admit that if i don't take them i do feel w/d so i'm sure my body is addicted to them but i stick with my normal dose and schedule. My DR. tells me that we are looking at surgery in the future to fix the damage but until then i must do the rehab, injections and pain medicine as needed. Is it safe to stay on meds for a long time if you stick to the precribed amounts? The doctors that i see don't seem concerned about how long i have been taking them, they haven't even ordered any type of bloodwork to check for liver or kidney function, which is why i am concerned since i started hearing that pain meds cause organ damage.
I know there are folks that take much larger doses than i do but for how long. I guess i am more concerned about the length of time i have been taking them and i'm sure to be taking them for awhile longer. Any feedback would be appreciated, opinions or experience.
Thx
Remow

Happy Father · 12-12-2003, 02:19 PM

Sorry for your pain Friend, you are taking the best drug if your worried about your orgens 10/325 thats the lowest Tylenol you can get without going to pure Hydrocodone. 3 per day right? bout 90 per month? like 1100 per year. Yes I'd check your enzymes next time you go in. Its simple, they take blood and give you an answer in a couple weeks or less. You seem to handle the Meds well after so long congrats, does the 3 per day take the pain away still?. Not a Doc and everyone's organs react differently but I wish ya luck and would say I'm pretty sure your Test will come out in your favor...............Good luck.

Franko

I was in an auto accident 3 years ago this month resulting in L4 - L5 injuries and have been on Hydro since. I have been thru many injections and alot of therapy but have always had to take the Hydro and occasionally a Soma
at bedtime to help with the pain. Most of the time they are 10/325 but sometimes 7.5/500 or 750, but i have always taken them as prescribed. So my daily dose has always been 20 - 30mg of Hydro and 650 - 2250 of apap depending on which pill i have, the past year it has been the 10/325. Again i have never taken more than 3 of these in a day. My question is should i be concerned about the length of time that i have been on them. Should i be concerned about organ damage even tho i don't take large doses? I have to admit that if i don't take them i do feel w/d so i'm sure my body is addicted to them but i stick with my normal dose and schedule. My DR. tells me that we are looking at surgery in the future to fix the damage but until then i must do the rehab, injections and pain medicine as needed. Is it safe to stay on meds for a long time if you stick to the precribed amounts? The doctors that i see don't seem concerned about how long i have been taking them, they haven't even ordered any type of bloodwork to check for liver or kidney function, which is why i am concerned since i started hearing that pain meds cause organ damage.
I know there are folks that take much larger doses than i do but for how long. I guess i am more concerned about the length of time i have been taking them and i'm sure to be taking them for awhile longer. Any feedback would be appreciated, opinions or experience.
Thx
Remow[/QUOTE]

rudder · 12-12-2003, 02:40 PM

Hi Remow-

I think that this is really a question that may be best for the pain-management board.

In my personal opinion you are dependent, & not addicted. The reason I say this is because that you are not taking more than doc's orders,(2 or 3 a day) it does not sound like you crave/desire to take more than this, & you are in REAL need of them to function as a result of your condition.

Yes you will have W/D's if you stop,because you are dependent on this med, but it does not sound to me like you abuse it. (And that's great news for you).Addiction is much different. You get your script for 60 a month(or whatever) & you take them as directed & they last you a month. An addict like me would get the same script & they would be gone in 3 days & I would be looking for more before I even had the 1st script. BIG difference.

Your doc knows that you are dependent on this med(if he has a clue) and will wean you off over a period of time if you want to get off. Please talk to him about your concerns, & if you are not satisfied, get a new doc. People w/ legit needs & pain, need good doc's for their care, so if you're not happy with him/her boot their *ss. You need to stand up for yourself if you want good care.

Again, the nice people on the pain-management board will have much better info for you, but in my opinion, you are not an addict, but you are dependent.

Good luck, & I hope you get well soon.

Best Wishes,
Rudder

Remow · 12-12-2003, 09:41 PM

Thank you for your responses. I will take your advice and have some bloodwork done. The 3 a day don't take the pain away but they make it tolerable. Sometimes i take an aleve or a couple advil with them and that seems to help.
I was offered oxycontin once from my DR. but i told him i was ok with the hydro for now.....i'm a little afraid of that medicine so i think i'll just stick with the 10/325 until i quit hurting......thx alot folks.....Remow