Managing Your Pain: How to Use Prescription Drugs Without Becoming Addicted

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Sophia of AZ 5:48AM April 24, 2012

If you would read my comment correctly, you would see that there are many who can be helped surgically; however, many cannot. My comment was for those who HAVE an option. In your case, you have no option. Is there any other alternative for you? My comment was directed to those who do have an option. I take pain medications, just not high dosages of heavy narcotics. I don't think any chronic pain sufferer can go without something.
The thing that frightens me the most is hearing about the amount and type of drugs that are being taken and people think they are fine to get behind the wheel. Many are; however, consider this...what is the difference between consuming alcohol and driving or getting behind the wheel after taking high quantities of pain medications?
Instead of getting insulted over someone's comment. Read more into it and and take it as the opinion that it is. Everyone has one...

November Rain of OH 10:48AM July 02, 2010

In repsonse to November rain of OH. How dare you preach about medication addiction. I have been a chronic pain sufferer for 15 yrs now with a pain level of 10 without meds and a 3-4 with them. Before i started pain management i would sit in my driveway daily crying and begging to die if i had to live in that much pain. I could not walk, i had to crawl to the bathroom. I have sever fybromyalgia, it hurts to touch me, it hurts to sit on the muscles in my legs, everything just hurts all the time and i dont mean just a little ache i mean severe pain. I also have #2 bulging discs in my back #1 herniated disc in my back, #1 herniated disc in my neckand curvature of the spine. The surgeons say that the damage was done such a long time ago (when i had no insurance) that the success rate is about 20%. If it wasnt for pain meds i would still be lying in the bed not being able to function and filing for disability. Instead i take me meds as prescribed i try to stretch daily and i own #2 businessess that i am completely involved in on a daily basis. I have my life back and it is because of pain meds. I guess for you it would be better if i lived in severe pain, laid in bed all day and collected disability at least i wouldnt be taking meds to control my pain. What an idiot!!!

Hard worker of FL 4:04PM June 30, 2010

I have lived in constant paoi that was a 10 out of 10 for years. Nothing worked to relieve it. I couldn't sit, walk, carry a paper plate, and lying down was intilerable do the pressure of my body against the bed, Finally a Doc provided low dose methadone and Cymbalta, which for me was a god send. I never went beyond 5mg in the AM and 5 mg PM, for 5 years. I used Hydro. for breakthrough pain, which slowly became less and less. I never, never experienced any 'high' at any point. But, I got my life back. Later, after the 5 years I started developing weird symptoms, I believe related to the methadone. I withdrew. Not an easy or simple project, despite only doing 10 mg a day. The unendurable pain returned as the methadone decreased. I was back to Hydronecodone every 4 hrs, which provided only some relief. I moved to a state where medical-marijana is legal. After a few day days of dosing 2x's per day, the pain began to reside-especially the neuropathic pain. 6 months later, I do one dose daily or every other day, and the change in my condition is nothing les than miraculous. I now use the Hydro maybe once or twice a month.
My point is, dam what anyone says and dam any parental bull---- that dictates how to deal with pain. It is a priviate, personal, individual issue. Any substance, including food can be abused. If you abuse deal with it, if you are dependent on meds work with it to decrease tolerance. If they work for you, expect complications-medication is part of the disease, and the isuues can change frequently. Pain patients need to be educated and respected. The side effects of chronic sever pain are more disabling and costly to society than dependence or addition-both conditions that can be treated. Anyone that has pain that is strong enough to require daily medication needs compassion, not bull---- legislation. You can not legislate mental health. Addiction needs to be classified and understood in a completely unrelated seperate manner as a mental health issue, and completely dissociated from pain patients. The 'high' from weed I dislike, and I have to plan my life around it interferring in my functioning as little as possible- but this is the best remedy (still on Cymbalta) I have ever found. I'm not advocating anything except dealing with life long pain is a horrendous difficult journey---and pain patients should join organizations and support actively information that is accurate and truthful, not this confusing garbage sudo-information that says nothing and mixing very seperate issues, and that scares the public, Doc's, and patients. In response to the guy above, if one dosen't need pain meds great, but how dare anyone assume that for someone eles. Forget your pharmacutical conspiracies.

Racheal of CO 4:10PM June 26, 2010

I agree with many here; those who abuse drugs are ultimately hurting those of us who have legitimate medical conditions, and who DON'T abuse drugs. I suffer from severe rheumatoid arthritis. This is not a curable condition. It is degenerative. Even with other disease-modifying drugs, I still must take painkillers in order to keep up with my 2 year-old baby, whom I take care of all day at home. Without painkillers, I could not lift her in my arms.
But because doctors are so paranoid about prescribing narcotics, I am constantly being subjected to over-the-top limitations and 'safety measures' designed for drug addicts. I have to fight the insurance drug program, the pharmacist and even the doctors themselves who say 'just take a couple of advil instead.' Obviously, some medical conditions do not respond well to advil. The simple point is this : I take my medicine as prescribed, not to get high, and do not work the system in any way. Why am I, and others like me, constantly being penalized when we do not fit any of the profiles of a drug-addicted youth or teenager ?
No doubt, I am sure some people do become dependent on painkillers in order to function.....to which I reply, so what ? If you have a legitimate, chronic painful medical condition ( um,,,cancer perhaps ? ) and it's not OK for you to use medically prescribed narcotics to function and live well....then why the heck do we even use narcotics in medicine at all ? If those people do not qualify, who does ?? The goal of medicine is either to cure or treat illness and injury, and to alleviate pain. This meets all the criteria.

Ana of KS 9:44PM June 23, 2010

Hello? What are we thinking? I am a chronic pain patient and have been one for over 7 years. My top ranking neurosurgeon did not use any of these drugs with me after doing the first surgery. I was introduced to non-addictive drugs and physical therapy along with guided imagery. The most important thing about him...he is not funded by any drug company and is sickened how physicians have become drug pushers for profit.
It wasn't until I visited my family physician because I could no longer afford the hour long drive to the surgeons office for treatment that I was introduced to oxycodone, soma, xanax and ambien. Yes, all those at once to help ease my pain. I was afraid of the surgery the neurosurgeon wanted to do so I took the easy route and went with the drugs. I finally got sick of all the medication and decided to have the second surgery.
Unfortunately, due to the degenerative nature of my genetic diseases I am in need of yet another surgery. The issue now? My family physician got mad because I wanted fixed instead of medicated and refused to fill anymore pain medication for me. He sent me to a pain clinic who not only put me on higher pain medication but also wanted to put steroid injections into my spine which could have paralyzed me for life if I would not have questioned it by going back to the neurosurgeon. Thanks to him, I'm still walking but live with a pain level of 8-10 EVERYDAY.
The insurance company keeps refusing the necessary surgery to fix my problem and would rather pay to keep me medicated than fix the problem. It's big money. Why not create the drug addicts then treat them for the addiction rather than fix the problem to begin with? It is all about money. Someone needs to put a leash on these drug companies and the physicians who push the drugs for them. I can only imagine the perks given to the physicians who advertise and push the medications for the drug companies.
When choosing a physician, the first thing you should do is see how many drugs are being advertised in the office. The best physician advertises for no one!! Choose your physician wisely and stick to your guns when the insurance companies refuse to let you get your problem fixed instead of keeping you medicated!!
In this day in age everyone sues for anything under the sun...so why are we not questioning the actual pushers of these drugs and the insurance companies for refusing necessary surgeries in lieu of pain medications? I don't know about you but I would much rather have someone fix my medical issue than stay hopped up on some useless drug that will kill me long before my disease ever will...

November Rain of OH 5:26PM June 23, 2010

As I write this, I'm waiting for hydrocodone to take effect, along with Imitrex, to stop a breakthrough migraine. And that on top of an opioid patch which provides me with ongoing long-term pain management, since I live with transformed chronic daily migraines/headpain. I also have ice at the base of my skull and neck, plus a cold patch on my forehead. Just another day of living with constant pain 24/7, going on now for 16 YEARS!!! I have tried every possible combination of treatments. And mind you; my current treatment program has brought my average worst pain of the day down from averaging 6 to 7 (in the familiar 1 to 10 scale) to a now 5 to 6. And that is reason to celebrate!!
Yes, I am DEPENDENT on opiods, to handle the pain I live with 24/7, much as a diabetic might be dependent on insulin. Fortunately, I'm not addicted. As I understand it, only about 10% of us will be addicts when exposed to opioids.
Regardless, we as a society must learn the difference. I don't mind having my blood checked or provide urine specimens without warning. I have signed rigid agreements with pain management doctors, to make sure I don't deviate from our regimen.
And to Diane of NC, please find a pain management doctor who will understand your type of pain, and be merciful to provide the amount you need. You have to be proactive, and fight for what should rightly be yours -- a life with less pain.
As for opioids, as I understand it, no one has yet come up with a better form of pain killers for certain types of pain. When they do, I'll be the first to switch. But until then, I'll stand up for my right to live with a bit of less pain, thank you very much.

Marcus of MD 12:14AM June 23, 2010

The addicts are going to get their drugs anyway. In the mean time people like myself who have medical conditions that keep us in pain all the time suffer. I am allowed a whole two pills during every 24 hours. I am 65 and in pain all the time. I hope some of these do gooders will feel what we go through on a daily basis. When I take a pain pill I can almost function for a little while. That's getting high? When pain medication releives pain there is no getting high, it's just not suffering for a little while. I am so tired of these studies and reports. We are addicted to wanting to be without pain for a little while and try to lead a normal life, maybe clean the house, spend time with the family, cook a meal. Wow what highs. I am also restricted in the amount of Ambien I can have. I need it every night, but get 20 and suffer for ten days. Oh God, I'm addicted to sleep too?

Diane of NC 1:50PM June 22, 2010

Just another way of big brother getting involved and making it harder for legitimate people who suffer from chronic pain to obtain medicine from licensed doctors!!!! I agree something needs to be done to stop the illegal use/abuse of narcotics but, not sure this is the way!

sheryl of FL 8:58PM June 21, 2010

We are NOT all the same and I do appreciate the medical providers that recognize that. However engaging FDA, Federal restrictions, etc. based on the advice of people NOT in chronic pain SCARES the heck out of us that need these meds.
I was reading the article from the person who took the pills and felt great, chasing that first high? What high? I take my meds and take the pain scale from 10 down to maybe 4 before it spikes again. Whoopee I get to stand up, walk around, drive a short distance, maybe enjoy a meal or a movie out of the house. Feel great--not happening!!

en pain of CA 2:49PM June 21, 2010