back in the downward spiral, why's it so hard

[LaynesAddiction1]

I agree with willow, if you can control the usage you have the right to control the pain. That is what the pain meds are for right? Yes being on narcotics for the rest of your life will have long term effects, that's a fact and the FDA and any doctor will tell you that. But if you are in that much pain do you want to live 100 miserable years? I wouldn't...

kennyseven, there are a lot of methadone (MMT) debates. I've always felt it was just trading one drug for another and well, it is. A lot of people abuse MMT programs beause their methadone is at a higher dose and cheaper than their heroin habit. That's what makes it bad for the ones really need it. There is cocaine maintenance too ya know but they dont have that discriminating name like "methadone" It's good you are doing well, I was on methadone for 4 years and now on suboxone. I'd rather not be on these drugs but they are buying me a LOT of time.

Best of luck and congrats on your 32 years.

[jmchauby]

Hello everyone, my name is jr. I am new at these boards and I switch between this one and pain management. I have had multiple shoulder surgeries and a very bad head on car accident that hurt my back bad. I was on so many pain meds I could not function without them. I was taking 4 80mgs Oxy's a day and 15-20 norcos but I told myself I can't live like this. I entered a rehab in CA and believe me, it was hard. I was in the hospital for 7 days to bring me down then I went to the rehab. I didn't sleep for 15 days because I was used to just passing out from the meds. It is no way to live. I was clean for a year then relapsed but i caught myself before it got bad again. I am not here to pass judgement but I feel the pain is better than being doped up all the time and being tired. I have strecth every morning for my back and i work out. That seems to help. But pain meds are addiciting. I don't consider myself an addict but the meds make your body dependent on them. I hope ane pray that you can get through this.
Sincerely JR.

[verylucky]

Kenny,
Whatever works, works. It's your life and you should live it how you see fit. I'm on suboxone and really am amazed because, for the first time in my life, I feel what I perceive to be normal. I don't crave, I don't do a lot of things I did when I was using the oxys. This is after so many relapses I can't keep track of the number.

I really thinks it's judgmental and simplistic for someone to say it's trading one drug for another when an addict is on a methadone or suboxone maintenance program. That would be like me trading my Mazda SUV in for a Porsche and someone saying, "hey, it's just trading one car for another"... I mean there's a qualitative difference there that can't be understated.

Pez,
People who have genuine pain problems shouldn't suffer simply for fear of addiction or dependency issues. However, the question you have to answer is whether the pain is genuine or is it simply a symptom of the withdrawals. That is a very difficult question to answer for a lot of addicts, including myself.

Take care,
verylucky

[Philster2003]

Pez, do not be down about this. Folks with chronic pain, and you may be in this category, need pain medication to function half way normally. Unfortunately even people with chronic pain can become mentally addicted to pain medication and abuse the meds. I was one and a very close friend fell into the same trap. The good news is with discipline and self control you can manage the intake of pain medication without ending up abusing them again. My friend realized that he would be cut off the pain meds if he didn't get it under control. The doctors basically told him if he can't manage his intake of the pain meds they would stop prescribing. He could not live without them and the fear of losing relief helped him get his med intake under control. He now uses his pain meds as prescribed and has had no relapse to abuse in the last 2 yrs.

Like myself, you will have to determine if you really need pain meds to live and manage the pain you experience. The pain you experienced may be a combination of withdrawal and the body’s heightened sensitivity to pain as a result of the overuse of pain meds. I found that when I got through the withdrawal and gave myself 6-8 weeks that my pain level was able to be managed with over the counter pain meds (Aleve), stretching, Yoga and walking. Also use of Vioxx or can't remember the name of its counterpart, can help also as they are non opiate based.

So somehow or someway you need to access your pain level and determine if you need pain meds to live or you can live with an alternate opiate free pain management strategy. I would work closely with a Dr to drive to this ending strategy. And its OK to use pain medication, it really is, as long as you don’t abuse the intake.

Hope this helps, VL hit it before me so I'm just regurgitating.

phil