I am 28 years old and my heart is broken into a million pieces. My mom is 55 years old and in rehab for OXYCONTIN. She has lived with chronic back pain for many years due to a slip and fall accident which caused the disc in her lower back to cause her severe pain. I remeber chiropractors would come to our house and have to help her get out of bed practically !! I need help as I am not sure what I can do to support her besides love her more than anything. She is my best friend!! My dad has been wonderful visiting her often and going to the group sessions that the facitlity offers. My mothers side of the family her brothers and sisters have all abused alcohol and drugs. My mom however never smoked, drank or did anything to intentionally hurt her body as she knew the genes that were in her family and always cautioned me as well. I can't believe this happened :confused: I want to call the Dr. so bad and scream at him for the insane amounts that he was prescribing to her. Any advice would be great as it pains my heart to see her go through this agony as she is having a hard time getting past the detox phase. She has made comments about other people feeling ok after a week or so off of the painkillers but they are alot younger and I'm not sure if it has to do with her age? All I know is she is a strong women who has her faith in God as does our family. I think about her 24-7 and would never wish this on anyone. :( thank you for listening..

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Thank you so much Phil for your kind words as it brought tears to my eyes. She started taken pills actively when she was 45 as well and over the last 2-3 years is when she got into OXY, we noticed a drastic change in personality. She said that she was too scared to up the dosage and that is why she started having severe symtoms and thinking to herself is this how it it going to be for the rest of my life? My main concern is that she is coming out of the program too early due to insurance purposes she is coming home this Thursday which will be 16 days total. I know that she is going to keep up with the intensive out patient program at the hospital along with NA meetings in the city she and my dad live in. i though this was all behind in our family as my brother who is now 34 struggled with addiction to crank in his 20's. I just don't know why this had to happen again and to my mom who is the most caring, giving and loving women in the world who has done nothing but supported me and guided me my entire life. But as you say and as I know there is no discrimination. Thank you for your words Phil! :)

Thank God your mom has you and the rehab. She will be just fine! Most of us here are trying to fight this addiction without rehab and alot are successful! So with help and support your mother has she will be free of it all in no time!

I am 42 with two wonderful children and wonderful husband. Of course my children have no idea that I have this problem with Oxy but my husband does and as of today I am not going to touch another pill! :bouncing: Of course like your mother, back problems started this hell.

You are a wonderful daughter! Let us know how your mother and you are doing.

Thinking of you and praying for you and your family! :angel:

~Gina~

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Philster!
You are not an old geezer....they're are quite a bit of us that are older too- at least in their 40s. You are the best ! Your words of wisdom are so valuable to all. You are just so kind! Really.

Helpingdaughter-

I'm 40 and a single mom with a beautful daughter. I'm also a chronic pain sufferer. When you are a chronic pain patient- trust me- you will do WHATEVER it takes to feel better- even taking pain pills. It sucks to be in pain 24/7 but sometimes doctors just want the patient to feel pain free without realizing that they can sprial down to long term addiction. Although some doctors are in it just for the money as well. I don't know your mother's condition but it definitely sounds that her pain pills warrant her diagnosis! Don't worry- your mom is almost there. She is in the best care right now. Just be there for her as best as you can.

However, there are alternatives to her back relief- look them up on the net- there is accupuncture, epidural thingy, etc. You mom needs you!

Take care. :cool:

Good Evening,

thank you for your responses!! I am happy that she is able to be in a facility as she says she doesn't remember the first few days of rehab. She said she was crying in the hallway wrapped up in a blanket and had fallen into her room mates suitcase. :( My mom was always in pain 24/7 I think she explained it as no cushion in her lower back where basically the discs are just rubbing bone to bone with shooting pain going up the back of her leg.. if that makes sense? The Dr. who prescribed the Oxy was referred to her by another one of her Drs. . He himself is on Oxy's for 2 knee replacements and told my mom that he believes the actual pain would kill her more than the pills!!!! She said that the second he said what about Oxycontin? that it scared her but thought that because he's a Dr. and prescribibg it it must be ok.. SHe told me that she had gone to his office once and waited an hour and started coming down and the first thing the Dr. said to her was " looks like you are coming down" and hands her a friggin Oxy!!!! he disgusts me.

So anyway, she gets out Thursday and I am hoping if she is up to it to spend the night at their house on Fri. and go to a family group session with she and my dad on Sat morning. The sad part is she says she doesn't remember alot that it is all a big blur and that she was in her own little world, popping a pill instead of talking to my dad about something that may have been bothering her etc... Thank you so much for all your prayers!!! :angel:

Helping Daughter,
I Know The Pain Your Mother Is Has Been Going Through With Her Back.my Husband Fell Off A Roof Landed On His Head On Cement. Since Then He Has Had Numerous Procedures And 2 Bac Surgeries.yes It Does Feel Like Bone Rubbing Bone.there Legs Can Become Numb And Life Is Very Hard.my Husband Is Looking At Another Back Surgery This Time A Fusion.his Doctor Has Offered Him Oxys Which I Think Alot Of Them Do But He Has Refused.he Takes Percocets But If They Took All That They Gave Him He Wouldnt Be Able To Function.he Takes One In The Morning Before He Goes To Work And Oen About Lunch Time And Unfortunately He Suffers The Rest Of The Day.i Have Been Lucky In That Aspect That He Is Very Afraid Fo Becoming Addicted To Them.my Daughter Is An Addict Of Oxys Percocets And Vicodin Anything She Could Get Her Hands On And Believe Me I Know How Hard It Is To Watch Someone You Love Go Through The Hell Of Addiction.
When She Has Detoxed The Pain Will Still Be There I Agree With Another Poster That You Need To Look Into Alternative Relief For Her Pain Such As Acupuncture, Water Therapy She Will Need To Have Soemthing Other Than Pills To Be Able To Look Forward To To Relieve Some Of Her Pain.it Is Very Depressing For Them To Live With.i Am Researching Now For Other Therapies For My Husband To Try To Avoid The Next Surgery If We Can Because Each Surgery Seems To Bring More Pain In The Long Run Because Of Scar Tissue.
I Know You Are Scared For When She Comes Home Thursday, My Daughter Went To Rehab 3 Days Several Years Ago. It Was Not Enough Time I Thought But They Have Been Through Alot In Rehab And May Feel A Little Overwhelmed Take It At Her Pace And Give Support When She Needs It.na Is Great I Think I Went To Many Meetings With My Daughter.also Does Your Mom Have Anything She Is Interested In That She Is Able To Do Because Mentally The Pills Will Enter There Mind And The Pain Can Become Alot If She Has Something That She Can Distract Herself From That It Will Also Help Her.
Good Luck When She Comes Home And My Prayers Are With Your Family.
Tami
Support

Hi All,

Well I talked to my mom last night and she sounded really good!! She went on a walk with her group over 2 miles!!!!! She said she thought that they were just going down the street to Walgreens and ended up being a lot longer. She said she was determined because she was the only women and praying that she would make it. She said she was so sore but that it felt good to get out and get some fresh air as it had been about 2 weeks...I haven't talked to her this evening not sure if I will cause she said they don't really want them sitting on the phone as she is always so busy from the moment they wake up at 6:30 in the morning till about 8:30 at night. She also said that the night before last was the first time she has really gotten some good sleep . She told me her room mate who is a recovering alcoholic had a seizure in one of their group meetings :( I can't even imagine. Anyway I'm glad she felt better and was able to get out..She sounded like my old mommy!!!!

Now I talked to my dad and he is of course a little worried or maybe more than a little when she comes home Thursday.. He thinks he is going to have to watch her 24-7 and stay up late to make sure she doesn't do anything to jeopordize her sobriety. I told him that he can't worry about that anymore. He said he had been through it for the past nine years and not sure what he will do if she starts taken OXY's again as he told her she was killing herself and going to leave if she didn't come around. I told him to stay strong as they have been married for 38 years!!!! The interesting thing is I read that some of you guys are running around and being super mom. My mom however was the exact opposite.. Taking pills and sleeping most of the day and night waking up around dinner time and maybe eating a few bites my dad said. This is when it got really bad I think in the last year or so. My dad was so alone and I can't believe I didn't see it. I would call when I got home from work a few times a week and chat with her for a bit but that was because it was around the time she would wake up. I do remember specific episodes though where she would FLIP OUT over nothing. Anyway, that is all in the past and I know she knows the hurt she did to herself, her body and us. All we can do is pray for her to be back to her old self...I miss the days that she and I would be on the phone laughing in unison about something until our belly's hurt soooo bad or the days we would go shopping and eat lunch together talking about celebrity gossip... I can't wait for those days to come again!!!

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you and I appreciate you listening as I know it must be so tough for the people who are in my mom's position.... All will be well!!

Gina :angel:

My Sissy Girls:

I will keep your daughter in my prayers as she has to come around on her own as it took my mom 9 years to see what she was doing! As for your husband, I'm so sorry that he has to live with such pain. I really can not even begin to imagine what it is like to live with chronic pain :( My thoughts are with you and I will pray for brighter days ahead for you and your family!

hi gina,
i am glad that your mom is doing well. It can't be easy for her, especially if she still has that back pain issue.
i finally went and had a fusion on my lower back, as i had bone on bone smashing the nerve.
I will tell you that its the most horrid pain i have ever had the pleasure to experience.
I hope you mom will find relief soon. Maybe, if she is really hurting bad still, she could go on something like the pain patch. i think those are not abused as much.

anyway, hope she feels lots better soon
hugs,
sims

Thank you Simby!!!

I will for sure look into the pain patch it sounds like she and you have the EXACT same problem.. Gosh just reading that hurts my back... :( yeah it all started way back when my mom and dad were first married!!! She was roller skating and went down their drivewa, really fast, fell broke both her elbows her back was ruined and well the rest is history...

hi gina,
i feel for your mom. I tried maximun doses of advil every day for 11 months. What i did was flame my ibs to the max, and develop such severe heartburn and stomach pain the i began vomiting on a regular basis. Thus the change to vicodin.

i have been taking advil for a couple days at least once a week, and sometimes i have been subbing advil for the vics during the day.

but, its still getting out of control and i know this. It not worth losing my marriage over. I just pray i can deal with whats left of the pain and neruopathy without those darn things.

Hello!!!

My mom is coming home tomorrow, I'm nervous... this has consumed my thought process for the last week since I found out can't sleep barely can eat and have not talked to my boyfriend too much who I live with. I can't help it my mom getting better and supporting her is my number 1 priority right now and will be for a while. They were originally trying to keep it from me. My mom told me she was going on a "retreat" with girlfriends. Anyway, I'm not that naive lol! My dad is going up tp the hospital at 8:oo am tomorrow morning to gather her things. She is going to do the out patient program for another week after that. God I pray that she is done with those damn pills!!! I know she is going to the chiropractor and getting a massage in the next few days. Please keep her in your thoughts... Our family thanks you...

Gina :angel:

hi gina,
i am glad that your mom is doing well. It can't be easy for her, especially if she still has that back pain issue.
i finally went and had a fusion on my lower back, as i had bone on bone smashing the nerve.
I will tell you that its the most horrid pain i have ever had the pleasure to experience.
I hope you mom will find relief soon. Maybe, if she is really hurting bad still, she could go on something like the pain patch. i think those are not abused as much.

anyway, hope she feels lots better soon
hugs,
sims


hi sims,

i was wondering if you could tell me how your fusion has helped you if it has.my husband is getting ready to have one it will be 3rd back surgery.he is in so much pain right now with the same bone rubbing bone.i have heard that sometimes the fusion can cause people to be disabled.im really worried about this surgery.
tami

Hello,

So my mom came home today and feeling very emotional and down. She said that her body is still detoxing and that she would not wish this hell on anyone. God why Can't I take this pain form her. Her body is aching so bad from the long walk she went on which I knew was going to be too much too soon. She is going to the chiropractor tomorrow morning. My dad is being a little grumpy too she said which is not the time for him to be a poo poo head :nono: I know though that she is just overly sensitive right now too. The docs said it will probably be about 3-6 mo until she is REALLy feelin good. She is on her way to an NA meeting now. I am going to stay there tomorrow night, she said that she wants mexican food that she has been craving a bean burrito from our favorite family style mexican retaurant :) I just pray that my dad can stay patient with her. She said that she is NEVER going back to those pills again and that she will do whatever it takes even if it means going to 2 na/aa meetings a day.. She also talked about some type of opiate blocker in case she was ever tempted but that they told her to not overwhelm herself with too much right now. God I love her with all my heart and pray for brighter days. I hope all of you are doing ok?

Gina :angel:

Hello,

Just an update for those who are curious and have been reading my posts.This is what my mom is going through below... very anxious and feeling like she has the flu. THose fuc*&ng pills are the devil... These symtoms are worse the longer you take them and then there is the post acute withdrawal syndrome that can last 2 years. I stayed at my parents friday night and my mom was ok exactly that OK. She gets anxious out of nowhere and feeling very weak. My dad and I went with her to a class on sat at the hospital on co-dependency very informative and very sad to hear your mom say her name and that she is an addict of opiates. I think I am going to go to al-anon or nar anon as it is taking over all my thoughts.. :(

B. Sub Acute withdrawal – This second stage is a withdrawal period that varies enormously from patient to patient. It lasts anywhere from one to eight weeks. It is the process of the brain healing and restoring its normal endorphins and neurochemicals. It is characterized essentially by fatigue during the day and insomnia at night. Initially these symptoms can be quite severe so that patients may not sleep for the first week or two, but gradually they resolve completely. There may be some mild agitation and anxiety. There may be depression, mood swings, and increased aches and pains.

Hope you are all doing well and pray for you to have the strength to beat this horrible addiction.

Gina :angel: