Dimpled Delta said...
Thank you. I am a new member here. I have suffered from Chronic Pain for nearly 20 years. After years of hospitalizations for migraines a benign brain tumor was discovered in 2000. I admit in the beginning I over took medication for my pain trying to alleviate my pain, it took me and my doctors approximately 3 years to find the correct medication for my pain. My marriage ended, I had lost my parents in the months immediately before my diagnosis, my friends left, all assuming I was an addict. I did over take my meds initially. But, in the last 4 years I finally found my "cure" duragesic patchs. They have allowed to function despite the pain. Now that I have finally found the happy medium, how did the rest of you deal with the world not understanding your pain and the difference between pain relief/dependence and addiction? I have a urine screen run every month with levels of all medications, for those who are skeptical. I need to know how to live anew.
Welcome Dimpled Delta. I am by no means a medical expert, so this is just my opinion. I have looked up a lot of information on long term pain use for treatment. As I am sure most people do who suffer with chronic pain. They say that addiction can be a side effect of taking the meds long term, in my case, I have been on them for 6 years now. I do not watch the clock for my next dose (fix). I find that I only take it when I am in a lot of pain. I have run out before several times do to insurance company changes one month they pay for it then next month it is not covered so have to switch to something similar. I never craved it or went through withdrawl. I just had pain. My muscles did cramp a little and I yawned a lot, but it was nothing major. That is a natural response a body has when it goes through any change of adding or taking something away. It would do it with anything you have taken for a long time. Cigarettes, coffee, soda pop, and lots of non pain related meds will cause the body to respond this way. I personally do not think people in pain get addicted they just take it so they don't hurt as much. People who become addicted, take it for other reasons. They do it to get a buzz or to take away emotional pain of some sort. Just like drinking alcohol. It is fine to have one or two because you are thirsty or like the taste, but if you drink ten or 20 you do it to get drunk. So taking a a prescribed amount daily is very different than taking ten or twenty at a time. Addiction is an illness too, and does not make you a bad or evil person. If your friends left you because they thought you were an addict, in my opinion, they were not a true friend. Some people will change and act differently, but not because of the meds, they simply do not know how to deal with seeing you ill or in pain. It can be very hard on a loved one, a spouse or parent, because they feel they should be able to help you and they can't. It can sometimes hurt worse to watch someone suffer than to be the one who is suffering. As far as the world not understanding my pain, it doesn't bother me at all. Some people just like to talk about
others and create drama just because they can, so it wouldn't matter if you are taking too many pain pills (in their opinion) or wore too short of a skirt to church, people are going to talk about
it. Just hold your head proud and high and if you need friends or someone to talk to, then I think you are in the right place. I have met some very wonderful, unique, and caring people on here. I am very sorry you are going through this. You will be in my thoughts.