[betsy_still_tokes]

I heavily used painkillers with a fairly high amount of APAP and/or acetimenophen (i.e. hydrocodone, vicodin) for quite awhile in the past. I had spinal fusion surgery in 2001 and my back has just recently begun to cause me the most unpleasant severe pain.

I am very cautious about taking any acetimenophen now since I used to consume about 2000-3000 mgs a day, and am concerned after reading some posts here that I may have already damaged my kidneys and liver, but how do I convince my doctor to prescribe me something for the pain that doesn't have acetimenophen? He will want to know why, and if I tell him I took so many painkillers without a prescription he won't want to give me any, thinking I had and will abuse them. I have got to get them somehow, though. I have even been taking some of my mom's 800 mg Motrin that doesn't even dent the pain.

Jesus Christ will help you through. -Betsy

[Cats Meow]

Betsy, I don't know anyone who's had back surgery that are better off, they are either in the same amount of pain or worse, I think it's a racket. You know the liver has an amazing ability to repair itself, so if you've gave yourself a break from the APAP, chances are very good you have no problem there, and you're also very young, it takes quite awhile of acetaminophen usage to cause a problem in the first place. You shouldn't need to worry much about consuming 2-3000 mg a day, more then 4000mg I've read, is when it starts to become toxic. Of course it's not a good idea to tell your doctor anything about previous usage, it'll only raise suspicion, maybe you could ask him to order a liver function test to ease your mind, explain you have done research and are greatly concerned, plus you want to factor in future use, and want to help make an intelligent decision regarding your health. You could discuss with him changing you over to Vicoprofen or Reprexain, they both contain 200mg of Ibuprofen, however then only come in 5 and 7.5 mg pills, but of course he can double the dose. Since you've had the surgery in 2001, I assume you've been on opiate therapy since, and since you're still in pain and may always be, he may as well move you to a long term, better suited form of pain control, such as a controlled release medication. That's the angle I would discuss with him. I have a serious herniation myself and at one time was prescribed 80mg OC qid, plus I self medicated on top of that with OC and hydro, the pain still persisted, I then voluntarily choose to reduce my dosage and found my pain level actually decreased as I tapered down, today I take only 10mg hydro qid and my pain is equal or less then at my highest dose, but I had to say goodbye to euphoria, and now it only takes the edge off, but I'm able to function better, as long as I don't do anything strenuous.
Cats

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