New Here, sorry I didn't introduce myself :-(

OK, so I just joined this group and I'm sorry I didn't 1st introduce myself.
Am I supposed to tell about why I'm here? I guess so, so here goes. Don't fall asleep!
I have been an athlete most of my life, from race horse jockey to triathlete, which is only superseded by my love for animals. But, now, after a race track/horse accident, and a few bicycle accidents, and I managed to wear out my right shoulder (swimming!) so it's been replaced, then I fell while standing still and broke my left hip, so I am like the walking wounded. Needless to say, I have "chronic pain" from all the broken bones I've had. And it SUX!
My orthopedic doc sent me to a "pain clinic" 2 yrs. ago and I've been on narcotics ever since the hip thing. Presently, Lyrica, Flexiril, MS Contin, and Percoset or Norco.
Annnnnnnd....I want OFF of it ALL! So, I've come here to whine. LOL
I keep saying I'm tapering off, but that's only because I keep nearly running out of my meds every month! But no, seriously, I want off but I'm really scared of the withdrawals because I've done it a FEW times before. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Shalom and Gut Shabbos to any fellow Jews here.

No worries and welcome to HW! Sometimes when you reply to a old thread you get missed and we like to individually welcome new members and maybe find out a little about you and your CP journey!

I know exactly what your saying and hear what your not!! A few months ago I began feeling that my meds were robbing me of far more then this 15 year pain journey. I had been on methadone for 13 years! Everyday for 13 years! I had enough and because I have a really great Dr and a real aversion to being in w/ds I made a decision with him to figure out how to get off.

I was switched to a Butrans patch along with clonidine and stopped the methadone! Was it an easy road I had chosen? Nope not going to paint a pretty picture here but because of his help and the support and cattle prodding of my awesome forum I survived and am so much better for it!!

There's several here that have done what I did and your wanting to. They also made it with honesty, and a little stubbornness along with good Drs.

You can do a forum search with search option above to see my actual thread titled "med change " and you will find the others that traveled that same path. Its only back a few pages. There's a wealth of good tips, information and advice there to help you move forward.

There are too many medications an options to prevent someone from suffering w/ds and its a proven fact that's the reason most never get off narcotics!

Im not saying being totally off will be a life you can live but changing, lowering, and taking a break certainly gives you the freedom to evaluate where your pain is today and reset the pain receptors possibly slowing or lowering your tolerance levels.

Get your Dr onboard first and ask to try one of the meds like butrans, or Subutex to see where your pain stands.

Good luck and we are here if you need us.

HA! I forgot about the surgery I had 9/18/13 to straighten an old malformed break. They sawed the bone apart, put in a graft and a plate w/ screws.(I also have Osteoporosis) THAT (wrist) has been causing the major part of w/my pain; and it has NOT been controlled and is the reason I run out of meds! But how can I tell my Doc that I took more than prescribed? 5 percocets/day instead of 4/day ?
I feel like I need to either cut way down or quit for awhile to "re-set" my pain receptors. But I HURT!! A LOT!! If they increase the narcotics, then I'll get into constipation and I already have NO appetite. I'm 5'4" and 96 lbs.! I use marijuana for appetite.
Right this moment I'm on the verge of w/drawal because I'm too low on meds. What should I do?

I was discussing only "Medical Marijuana".
And I know better than to tell my doc I took even one pill more than was prescribed on any day.
I have ADHD & Dyslexia too, and sometimes I just lose track a little. These problems don't help chronic pain either because "hyper" is part of that deal. I need to put my $2,000 bike on the wind trainer and start peddling! WHY have I not done that yet? Bike needs cleaned & oiled and there's SOOOOO many distractions! Oh phooey!!!

Vickie- I can't tell you how much I appreciated and needed your reminder about never being pain free. Recently increased fentynal dose and I am not seeing the results I so desperatly hoped for. Just means I need to work harder in other (non narcotic) ways to bring down the pain. Thank you. Having a hard time putting one foot in front of the other in this cp battle lately.

Im glad KT. That in essence is one of the most difficult thing's I've had to learn in this big mess. Remembering that that pain free pass doesn't come with CP. Once I lowered the expectations of my meds and took on some of the responsibility of taking care of the rest of the pain the best I could, my CP became more manageable!

It's easy as it seems Channah has, fallen into relying on meds alone. It has to become second nature almost to remember that eating healthier, exercising more, using yoga, hydrotherapy, TENs, heat&ice, massage, creams, gels, anything even distraction, that makes those pain numbers come down a notch, gives the meds a much better pain level to work with.

I joined HW a long time ago and learned so much from "watching " others, listening to how others cope, and using the advice I was hearing and from that I went years not using b/t meds, stopped smoking after 30 years, joined a gym, watch eating foods that were known to cause problems, and kept as much weight off my back and knees as possible. I stopped reaching for the pill bottles first and started doing that last and found it actually taking less as time passed.

It's as important as anything we do, helping the meds not relying on them.

Tina;my next refill would be on 12/27 & 1/5 if I keep my same meds. My appt. is on 12/23. Don't ask how the dates don't coincide, it had to do w/ waiting for the pharmacy (a WEEK!) to get the meds in and I had only Percocet for that week! It is hard to get pain meds. around here, pharmacies are always out of many of them. But if I change the meds I'm on, since they aren't working well, they will let me. So, I am considering changing to Exalgo (Dilaudid) for BT and either an increase on the MS Contin 30mg. or change to something else, although I don't like patches, Fentynal is a possibility and this way I can get them filled ON 12/23, the day of my appt. But I think I'm going to call my doc tmw for an earlier appt. because I'm having too much pain the way it is. And I will not mention that I'm running out because my wrist from surgery is STILL excruciating!!!

I called and can't get an earlier appt. ; figures!
OH! And I just wondered why your name on here has "Mallard" in it? Are you also a Duck lover?....as I am..I do rescue/rehab w/ water fowl on a very small scale. I have an indoor pet Muscovy drake, too. ;-)