Well, I dont really know where to start. Here goes. I was 20 days clean from pain pills and pot, and the whole time, actually for the past few months I had been having terrible pain in my teeth. Very terrible. It felt like they had their own heartbeat. I could not eat hardly anything...yogurt and soup was even becoming diffucult. I could not sleep. I could barely talk. But I just kept ignoring it because I did not want to take pain med. plus I have no dental insurance. Yesterday, after crying all day with the pain, I could no longer stand it and went to the dentist. I have an abcess in two teeth, 4 cavities, and one tooth has completely shattered and requires a root canal and crown. They gave me an antibiotic and lortabs. I was just taking the antibiotics, but I am sad to say I have also started taking the lortabs. I dont really know what to think about it or how I feel about it. I do have real pain and everyone keeps telling me that this is a legitamate reason to take them, but I feel horribly guilty. I feel like a complete failure. I dont know what to do. I dont want to have to go thru w/d again, but I dont plan on taking them any longer, so now Im scared. The funny thing is, I didnt even want them for the high this time, I completely hate the way they make me feel now. I just want to be out of pain. But I know I have a problem with these, and I am now terrified and dont know where to go from here. HELP

Don't ever be afraid to tell your doctor or dentist that you can not take pain meds. they will appreciate that!! So, take your anibiotics, within days you feel so much better. wash your mouth out with salt water, that will also help with the infection. you can use over the counter tooth gel for pain..like they use on babies who are teething.....it does work..........so there are other methods of pain relief..........just find them!!!! you can not take pain meds.......and don't ever feel ashamed to tell your docs........they can give you something else!!!!!!

Harmony, I have a different take on the matter. I no longer have any teeth other than my dentures. I experienced much pain along with the shame of losing teeth. When i was down to 9 I just told them to take them all out and fit me for dentures. The pain I went through was excruciating. Along the way I refused pain medication until my sponsor told me that just because i was an addict did not mean i had to suffer. His suggestion to me was to take the meds, but have someone hold them for me and only to give to me as prescribed. My wife would hide them and only give me one when i absolutely needed them. Sometimes, even addicts need pain medication, that is what ther intended purpose is. My sponsor told me that I would cross the line of relapse only if I knew in my heart of hearts that I did not need them but continued their use, constituting abuse. In other words, "To thine own self be true". I have had the need to take pain medication on several occassions in sobriety, but like I said, I do not self medicate and give that responsibility to my wife. While there may be other alternatives for some, i have found that there have been times where only narcotics have eased my suffering, and no one deserves to suffer. So stay true to your desire to stay clean, dn't self medicate and stay responsible for your recovery.
I hope this helps.

cleanandserene

hi harmony

wow, well... 2 abscesses, caivities, and a broken tooth needing a root canal. I agree with both flintrock and clean and serene

Is there anyone other than your son who is not in active addiction that can help you.. Would you be able to trust yourself enough not to self medicate, did you tell your dentist you have an aversion to narcotics and can they give you something non-narcotic medication instead please.

During this pre-treatment time,... on flintrockès suggestions... to keep the area clean - the cleaner it is the lesser the pain - gargle with salt water, mouthwash, or mix 1 tablespoon of hydron peroxide with a cup of warm water and garlgle and brush your teeth 3 to 6 times a day along with floss, orajell can be apled, Im sure you have tried that over the past months,...or place oil of clove on the direct source of pain... or something you might not have heard of yet... you can try some jaw streches, slide your right jaw to left and left jaw to right, then open your mouth as wide as you can, say ahh and lift up your bottom jaw until you can feel the squeeze in your cheeks,these jaw exercises disperse the weight of the pain.

I agree with clean and serene, you are in legitamite pain you do not have to suffer.. You are stronger than what you think..Faith is helping you. Your higher power is with you, Do not fear...Your strength of your conviction is your reality to remain in recovery,and distanced from your using friends.

Is there anyone out there who can help you as c&s suggests in having someone hold onto the pills for you, Do you think you are strong enough to it yourself..or is that just too scarey...talk to your sponsor...

Keep doing what you are doing, make a few changes along the way to protect your well-being, to protect your son, by showing him a good example, if you take pain meds, know the line is thin, tried tested and true, to cross over. I know you dont want to cross the line, have to go through withdrawl again, be careful, be watchful, be mindfull before you turn into dr jeckel and mr hyde

I understand you are want to set an example for your son by being strong, you have ....finally found something that you are good at that matters..., and that is recovery, you dont have to blow it, you want to show him your strength, i dont think it is necessary to show him that you are suffering from your decision....you can be responsible for your actions by taking meds appropriatley...keep a pain med journal to chart yourself...

And then I completely understand from where you are coming from as an addict with a prescription for pain meds, the line is very thin, you could easily cross over in all danger as it entails to repeat what you fighting not to endure ever again.. You have come a long way, you have left your using friends and your family uses. So you have to be very diligent, I know you read NA literature, keep reading it, the books saved me in more ways than one. Talk to your sponsor, I hope you have one....do you...

Everytime you want to take a pill, look at your son.,,,think about the other things you can do for pain... I hope you get yourself some money to take care of this dental pain. I will pray for lotto winner, so go out and buy yourself a ticket.

take care
kadee

I went through an ever more severe dental operation and took Advil only. To be honest, I think Advil works better for pain than opiates. Opiates distance you from the pain - ibuprofen actually eliminates the pain at the source.

I would suggest switching to something non-narcotic and non-addictive before it is too late.

Also, are you clean and sober otherwise?

Yes, advil is a great, the extra strength liquid gels work very fast, I like them better than the caplets. They work really good, but I would guess that you have already tried them since you have been in this pain for so long..What did you decide to do with your prescription?
kadee

Thank you to everyone that posted to me. I have been taking all of the advice and have decided not to take the lortabs. I have been taking my antibiotics, constantly brushing and flossing, rinsing with salt water and taking excedrin for pain. Im not sure what the oil of clove is, but would like to try it. I am still in extreme pain and dont know when I will actually be able to do anything about it. I am thinking of calling the local dental college to see if they can do something for a reduced price. I had been scared to do even do this, as I am almost sure I will need narcotic pain med. after the dental work. After reading these posts, I think Ive decided that it will be ok. As it was said, I dont think I need to suffer just beccause Im an addict. I had to think long and hard about this and decided that I would rather have them after the actual work then now. I still am very scared about this. I dont know if taking them then will cause me to go thru w/d but I really hope not. I plan on having someone give them out to me so I wont be tempted to take them all or too many. I havent really made up my mind if I will take them or not, I am really scared and confused about all of this. I just know I am in extreme pain and have to do something. I have not ate anything in atleast 2 days. Im still not sleeping.
Anyhow, I have been going to my NA meetings and reading the literature, which does help. But I dont have a sponsor yet. I know I need one, but Im still pretty scared to even speak in meetings. So for the most part, this place is my support. So thanks for all the support and everything you guys have done! Oh yeah, Thanks for the prayers for the lotto ticket. I dont usually buy them, but I will buy one tommorrow and hope for the winner!
Thanks so much to everyone!
Harmony

seriously..its your call. IF i had someone tell me to take ADVIL right now when Im going thru the same thing..AND IM a CP patient...id say,,,"good for you" but butt out. Everyone has a different agenda and different times to heal. Have someone help you with your meds, and youll be fine. DO WHAT YOU NEED...some ppl feel they can preach cause theyve made it clean? but some ppl may need a lil help. yall can be mad at me for posting this, but im getting a root canal tomorrow...and i suffered thru the weekend not wanting to take any meds from the dentist cause my friggin pm doc is out of town...and even tho im not under contract, i took 12 meds from the dentist. there are ways around getting some relief, and if some ppl need to go balls to the wall, and some ppl cant. everyone has a different situation....i know there are some hard core ones here that will bust you for taking anything, but like i said...everyone is different....i believe there was a thread about all of this and how ppl do things differently not too long ago. Do what you need to do..HAVE someome HELP you monitor your meds..AND you will BE FINE!!! i see why ppl are wanting you to try without anything....but if all else fails..what are you supposed to do? feel lilke a failure, IF you need some help?
xoxoxoxox,
IZZY'SMOM

hi harmony
Oil of clove is a natural analagesic used primarily in dentistry, it's active ingredient is eugenol which is a member of the allylbenzene chemical family. You can purchase this in most over the counter pharmacies, as a home remedy for dental pain releif. Clove oil is often used to releive pain caused by dry socket, a possible complication of wisdom tooth extraction.You apply with a cotton q-tip, to the area when pain occurs, it has an unpleasant taste.

You don't have to worry about withdrawl if you keep yourself safe.

take care
kadee

I abused narcotics for a few years about 10 years ago (morphine, oxys, duragesic patches, methadone) and when I had back surgery I was concerned as you are. doc put me on 90 mg oxy/day. I sure didnt want that demon again, it had almost cost me everything back in the day.. but I found that taking narcs for pain under a docs care is different than abusing them for a buzz. I am sure I could easily of abused them and I was tempted to use them far after the major pain was gone but I bit the bullet and went off them.

I cant really give you advice as only you can judge whether youre able to take them but I cant see being in that much pain for fear of getting addicted again. I was on the oxys for about 4 months after the surgery and then the doc tapered me down. I was very surprised how easy it was. I know Im still an addict and that fear of abusing them (and memories of what it almost cost me back in the day) kept me in check. as long as you know your potential for abuse and let your fear and willpower be your guide to stop them as soon as you can you will probably be alright.

Harmony.....you doing ok?

I just caught up on some reading this morning and don't have a lot of time as I am going to a doctor appointment in a couple of hours but I wanted to take the time to check on you. Hope to see a positive post from you soon.
Hang in there and remember
Never lose hope and stay strong.
Snoop

Hi harmony, I have also been thinking about you and hoping that all is well for you... If all is well, FANTASTIC! if not... that's ok too, we've all been there. Just wanted to let you know that I'm here if you want to talk...Take care and hope to hear from you soon.