Managing pain with patches - Pain Management Message Board

linda71 · 10-07-2007, 09:50 AM

I abused pain meds for a lot of years and stopped using them 3 years ago due to the addiction I had. No one has ever tried to sit down with me and just lay out a plan that would help with my pain. Therefore I started taking pain pills

I would have to take two instead of one, and after a while 3 instead of two and so forth. I became a doctor shopper and my family was ready to disown me if I didn't stop. I finally stopped after many tries and my husband took me back after leaving me because of this and many other things. I have almost ruined my relationship with my son and daughter over it.

Now I am in an awful lot of pain. I have arthritis up and down my spine, in my neck, shoulders and hands ache constantly. Since I stopped taking them I had cancer surgery on my mouth. I only took tylenol or aleve and I got through it. Only because my family was there telling me I could not take anything stronger. Then I had to have a lobectomy: VATS and they had me on a morphine drip that made me deathly ill. They sent me home with percocets and said 1-2 pills every four hours. I only took one once in a while when I really needed it. My husband has locked the pills up. I understand that my family is very concerned that I will start taking them on a regular basis. I had a bone scan and I have arthritis all over my body and days where I just don't want to get up. I was told by my GP that I needed something because my quality of life was poor. She wanted me to go to a pain clinic. This doctor was one of the doctors that helped me through my withdrawal from pain meds. Of course my family told me not to go.

I got my first little ray of hope when I was reading this forum and there was a patch that would help with the pain. I'm thinking that would be a way to control the pain without abusing them again. My husband could give me one a day and lock up the rest. Has anyone ever done this before? I really don't have a lot of years to live as I have numerous illnesses and I don't want to spend the remaining time I have in pain. I know I did this to myself and have no one else to blame.

I would appreciate any help I can get. If anyone has started on the patch that has had an addiction to pain meds I would like to know how they did it.

Thanks,
Linda

whitfield · 10-07-2007, 10:04 AM

Hi Linda--Are you talking about the Duragesic Patches? I think you may be--They last for 3 days (72 hours)--or are supposed to--Some get them prescribed for change every 2 days, but I do not--I also get percocet for breakthrough pain. I have never had an addiction problem so can't really relate--But, I have heard that some doc's prefer the patch because it is difficult to abuse--I would not know how to anyway except use too many maybe? If husband kept all the rest that would not be an issue--Good Luck--Roger

linda71 · 10-07-2007, 10:19 AM

Thank you very much for getting back to me so soon. I appreciate your advice! Maybe there is hope out there for a pain free life! Thanks,

acaptainn · 10-07-2007, 11:25 AM

Linda my story is very much like yours.The patches do work BUT there is also the potential for ABUSE.

I know this 1st hand because i did ABUSE them and as you can guess NOTHING good came from that.

Just be carefull and honest w/evryone, also if u do use them have some one
hold them an dispense to you as per the DOCS orders.

GOOD LUCK ! Acaptainn

linda71 · 10-07-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acaptainn

Linda my story is very much like yours.The patches do work BUT there is also the potential for ABUSE.

I know this 1st hand because i did ABUSE them and as you can guess NOTHING good came from that.

Just be carefull and honest w/evryone, also if u do use them have some one
hold them an dispense to you as per the DOCS orders.

GOOD LUCK ! Acaptainn

My husband has a lock box. I don't think he will let me anyways. Sometimes it makes me so mad to think they would rather see me in pain than get some help somewheres. I do believe it will all work out in the end. Thanks for the heads up with the abuse issue.

Linda