Dealing w/pain/avoiding Addiction - Pain Management Message Board

mikesgirl · 12-29-2006, 04:45 PM

I am kind of a newbie to this particular board.

I believe that I have some addictions issues starting. The problem is, I do have legitimate problems with pain as well.

I injured my SI joint about 18 months ago with moderate pain most days a week. Currently on meloxicam (an NSAID) and hydro and tramadol.

I take 10mg hydro a day OR 75-100mg tramadol ( I know, that must seem like nothing to some of you). It doesn't help my pain per se, but does help me to forget about it a bit.

The problem comes is when I take the drugs even on days I am not so painful. I take them to make my sad depressed brain feel better.

I really don't want to take any drugs at all, but I especially don't want to take them for the wrong reasons.

How do I balance this?

Thank you all, K

djemcee · 12-30-2006, 02:13 AM

I don't think I would be as worried about the fact that you may have taken a few pills on days you did not feel in as much pain as days you did, but more concerned with the fact that you said "Sad! and Depressed!".

I think that seems to be the underlying issue. If you are having depression issues you need to address them with something or someone other than pain pills. I know as almost everyone on this board knowes or used to know that some pain pills can sometimes give you a warm fuzzy feeling (not for me anymore), but it will go away in time, and then you are still left with the void of trying to make you sad brain happy. Then you will seek to either get more meds to try and chase that warm fuzzy, or turn to even illegal or other immoral avenues.

I would suggest trying to address the underlying reason you are feeling sad and depressed and tackle that ASAP. I know this may sound stupid, but you may want to talk to your Doc about your thoughts.

I hope you feel better soon.

Cheers,

California Chris

ejreiss · 12-30-2006, 10:17 PM

I definitely think that if you are sad and depressed you should address and resolve that problem with your doctor. I also feel that when someone has been taking pain medicine for a long time their body becomes use to having it on a regular basis. If you take it most of the time and then one good day out of seven you feel better it would probably be unadvisable to stop taking it on that good day. Your gonna feel like crap because your body is dependant on having that medicine. Your gonna have withdrawel symptoms, your gonna be SAD, your gonna hurt physically and emotionaly. Just my opinion, I've been their. My recomendation although I am not a doctor just someone with pain medicine experience would be to take less on that day that you feel good. If your going to stop taking it you need to be weaned off of it. You need to do some research on the differences between addiction and dependant. As long as you are in legitimate pain and not abusing your medicine then I would have to say you are more dependant than addicted.

blu_skies · 12-30-2006, 10:47 PM

My doc also prescribes to his patients , as needed, anti depressants. Being depressed and make pain worse...Not saying that youre depressed, or anything...Just offering ideas and also scroll down as there is a thread about pain and depression

germanshepherd · 12-31-2006, 05:52 AM

Welcome to the health boards and sorry you are in pain, but's it's nice to know you have friends here who can try to help you and give you advice. My hubby has fibromyalgia and he was recently put on Cymbalta as it's said to help with body pain as well as depression. I have noticed a change in mind and body, he didn't think he was depressed. you might want to talk to doc about it, hope this helps, HAPPY PAIN FREE NEW YEAR TO YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS BOARD, Hugs, Tammy