My addiction to Opiates...

[Vino]

In Febuary of 05 I was involved in a work related injury where I severely hurt my back. I al diagnosed with herniated discs at L5-S1 area . I have cronic lumbar spasms, and nerve pain that shoots all the way down to my right foot/big toe (right side). I am 28 years old and my father is in better shape than me heh.. anyway, I have been taking Percocets for 6 months. I started with 5/325's to 10/6xx's and now 10/325 (after finding out that they made a 10 oxycodone pill with just 325 APAP.). I have also been using Lidoderm (sp?) patches on my back when I wake up.

I'm not going to beat around the bush so I'll get right out with it.

I am dependant on Percocet (or any RX opiate). I have tried weaning off but always cave in. I tried Ultram, but they do not help my back pain. It's a double edged sword for me...

1) Deal with the back/nerve pain and go cold turkey.
2) Partially aleve my pain but keep taking oxyxocone.

Either way I suffer. After having 2 MRI's, a discogram, and a EMG I finally have been approved for disc replacement (Charite') which is a great new alternative to old fasion fusing. Problem is, my surgery is in over a month, and after surgery.. I'm sure I will be in worse pain (at least at first). Maybe I am wrong, I just dont know. Lately, I have had problems urinating (takes forever, and sometimes I have to push super hard to start... I hope to god my liver is okay. At an average I have been taking 2-4 10/625 pills for 5-6 months. Wish I would have just taken non APAp OC's or something for the pain.

Maybe I am okay, as I hear about people that have taken rx opiates for years on end. For me, 6 months is too long and I am sick of it. Withdrawls SUCK: runs, cramps, coldsweats, etc

ALso I'll add that I have a 3 months old daughter and loving wife. This has been hard on us all...


Anyway enough rambling out of me. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Vino, Las Vegas[V]

[mpvt]

Hi Vino:I have had 4 lumbar surgeries and have taken every narcotic pain killer there is for 25 years now.I think your overreacting about the percocet.You have a legit pain problem that can only be handled with opiates.I don't understand why they still have you on percocet,it's a poor pain killer for chronic pain.Oxycontin is what you should be taking.I'm sure you know what it is (sustained release oxycodone).You would only use the percocet when you had break through pain.You are also experienceing a common side effect of all opiates (can't pee or have trouble starting).This is a common problem that as long as you can handle it,you just deal with it.You can tell your doctor about it though.Once your surgery is done you may find that the percocets aren't as important to you as you thought.Pain dose strange things to our bodies and minds so if I were you I would just carry on and look after your pain.Once you've had your surgery then you can see if you need to do something about the pills.Good luck and let us know how your doing.Take it easy and try and keep control of your pain......Dave

[Shaneleo]

Vino, I had a ruptured disc in the same area as you L5-S1 and all they did for me is a microdiscectomy. I had all the same symptoms as you except the pain shot down both of my legs instead of just the right one. After the surgery it helped quite a bit and now dont have the pain going down my legs, at least that I can feel any way. I was taking Methadone which is a really strong pain killer for about 8 months for the pain. Well the meds made me a zombie and gave me really bad depression. Needless to say I wanted to get off them so I did. I moved to a drug called Suboxone and it has been working good for me. During the tranisition I felt quite a bit of pain that I haven't felt for a long time becasue of all the pain medication I have been taking. So I guess this surgery didn't work as well as I thought because I have still having to take pain meds to manage the pain (Suboxone). I am curious about this surgey that you are having and would love if you could email me and keep me updated about how it goes for you. I hope to one day not be taking any pain meds at all and will be free. Good luck to you and I hope your surgey works well for you.

shane

[mtlmd]

Just becuase you have pain and take pain pills doesn't make you an addict. If you were taking high doses or taking pills just for the high and not the pain, then I would say you had a problem. THe only warning is that you WILL have withdrawl when you eventually come off your meds. This is because of something called tolerance. Just make sure your doctor knows about withdrawl and medications to give you to ease the side effects. Having pain esp for such a long time is debilitating. Don't feel badly about taking legitimate medication.
Hope this helps - someone who's been there.

[sara22]

i've been addicted to opiates for about 3yrs i have only managed 2 wean myself of once and it was only for 1 meek and then i fell of the wagon i have tried to stop multiple times but never got completely off. i am staying with my sister now and she is helping me wean off by hiding my meds and giving me my doses. i didn't even know that you can get addicted to pain killers. i always thought addiction was crack, cocaine ect. i always looked down on drug addicts and judging them and here i am a single mom 22yrs old addicted to opiates. i was reading a post one day and about got sick when i seen that pain killers are heroin there derived from the opium plant. anyways i writing hoping that i can help someone out there even with withdrawls. Bayer back and body ache works good along with tylenol since thats whats in most pain killers. wheat grass also helps with detoxing. as far as leg cramps go i bought a heated back massager and prop my legs on it. and my hot tub or a warm bath on them helps. also ambien helps for insomnia. i hope that this will help anyone in there attempts to get off painkillers.

[jacobs8]

I would also say that you dont have a problem with addiction as long as you are taking opioids to ease the pain. The neurological pains can often be so intence that you would to anything to get rid of them.

I hope the operation helps you get rid of the pain, and after that you can quit taking the drugs.

[mpvt]

Most people that take opiates for pain don't become addicted.If the patient is on the opiate for a long period of time they will come to be dependent on the drug but this is nothing to what addicton is.Dependence is a patient who takes their pills as prescribed or when needed and doesn't abuse or buy extra pills ect.
Addiction is were you get your prescription and it's gone in 2 days and you start to look for pills either through other doctors or people you know or may not know.Most people don't become addicted.....Dave