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Posted 1/3/2009 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have been coming to this form for quite some time. Here is my story and view, you can tel me how messed up I am. I am in my 30's and have had back issues DDD in L4 and 2 bulging disks. Ciatic issues as well. As a dumb kid I believed in living hard and leaving a young corpse. Now I have kids of my own and I dont have that same thought process. I know recovery, because I was court ordered and stayed with it to start a new life. In that recovery I stayed away from all narcotics, wouldnt even take nyquil. I meat my wife and got involved in church and that was my recovery. All the time dealing with my back pain and getting worse. Many of times I couldnt play with my kids because I was hurting or afraid to get hurt. I could lift block and concrete and feel little pain to being crippled for weeks and the same as with dusting, it didnt matter. My kids learned to by pass me to play with Mom. My wife would see me scoot across the house and some times not even move. Tears in my eyes from the pain. I tryed All non-narcotics, physical therapy, excercise, vitamins, enversion techniques, and chiropracters. yes at first it helped, but after awhile it didnt. I finally after 5 years started with Hydro's as needed and from there on 150 7.5 oxy's a month. ...................... I have sta down with my wife and other close family members, and they remeber my pain, they want me to do what is right, but want me to figure out an alternative before uiting the pain meds. I tryed Lyrica, gabrapentine (spelling) tramadol, nothing worked. I am tired of both the worlds its like Dr.Hyde and Mr. Hyde! I think its awsome when I see someone hurt, they take an IBU and feel fine, I envy them. I have gone through Aleeve, Doans, tylanol back and joint...........
I see different people in this world.

One has the remarkable ability to handle their pain and function through it. Awsome.

Some cant handle it and it really ruins there quality of life. Me!

Others that can be on meds as needed and decide "ah I dont need any more" and walk away.

Oh and by the way I have been on the OXY's for 3 years. I have never really gone more than 4 days.

So here is my story, and now it is your turn to offer your advice. As you can see I am not really possing a question, just a topic I would like to see how you all feel.



Cooter

Post Edited By Moderator (Chutz) : 1/3/2009 10:48:01 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/3/2009 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Cooter...I can relate. As I read your story I swear you were writing about me. I too am on pain meds for terrible back troubles. I have had 2 surgeries, one fusion, and have been diagnosed with Post lamenectomy syndrome. My Dr. is great and I couldn't ask for better, but I also tend to run out of meds before I go back to the Dr. It doesn't happen all the time, but enough where I freak myself out horribley.

Withdrawl is the Worst!!! Right now I am worried about the next 8 days with little meds. I had some very rough times over the Holidays and took a couple extra and now I am paying for it. When this happens it seems like the clock is going backwards and time can't speed up enough for me.

Most people will say "How horrible that you do this to yourself, you must have a problem". But I think it's just bad medicine management. Most of the time I am fine. But not now....

I hope things get better for you and me and anyone else that goes through this.

Me
Posted 1/3/2009 11:47 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Unique,

   The part I hate the most is having to take something. I never needed so much as an asprin most my life. Here I am Medical junkie by doctors orders. I have almost a week till refill. On day 3 of cold turkey. I was off two weeks and I way over extended. Got busy trying to catch up on duties for the holidays, then taking care of new born twins. My tenn age kids helped or I would not have made it. I doing this stuff to my self period, even it is once a year. Sometimes its like catching the flu every couple months! Thanks again.

Cooter

Posted 1/4/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Ooter & Me:

What I'm about to say is probably going to sound harsh and unkind. I don't mean it to be cruel, but I think some things need to be said honestly and I hope you can take them constructively as they are intended. I will say that I have not posted for a long time as I am going through an additional fairly serious health issue of my own (in addition to the CP) right now and have been unwell and just not up to posting lately. But reading this post really struck a nerve with me and I just couldn't leave it be.

The behaviors you are describing are addictive behaviors. I see that you have some pain issues, and I certainly don't want you to be in pain. That needs to be cared for by a doctor. But to say that you are a "medical junkie by doctors orders" just frustrates me! You have said that you are not taking the medications your doctor has prescribed in the way that they were prescribed. You are not following your doctors orders. You cannot blame that behavior on your doctor. That is a decision you are making yourself - and it is a bad one.

It is absolutely never okay to take prescription medication in any way other than the way that it is prescribed to you. Period. Doing so is dangerous and illegal and puts not only you and your doctor in jeopardy, but also jeopardizes the chronic pain community at large. The insanely restrictive rules and regulations that are in place right now to manage the use and LEGAL distribution of narcotic medication for the treatment of REAL pain is the direct result of the widespread abuse of these very medications by others. For the most part, the abusers responsible are people who do not have any pain condition at all - they just have drug problems. But there are people - a very tiny percentage, but they exist - who are legitimate CP sufferers who abuse their medications. Either way, the result is that greater restrictions and more hoops to jump through make it more and more difficult for all of us here to get adequate and humane treatment for the serious pain we suffer every single minute of our lives.

The first thing you MUST do is STOP. You have to STOP taking more of your prescriptions than you are allowed. We all have days when we need more - when the medications we are prescribed just aren't enough to even take the edge off the pain we suffer. For many of us, me included, it is a daily struggle. But that is not an excuse to practice unsafe and illegal behavior. There are many many times when I pace and cry and suffer while I count the minutes until I can take more pain medication. But I wait. And if I absolutely can't, then I call my doctor or have someone take me to the hospital. That's what the ER is for. When your pain becomes so uncontrolled that you can no longer bear it, you need to seek the help of your doctor. Document those times. Keep a journal. Tell the doctor what is happening and how you are feeling.

OK, I am not a doctor, so this isn't medical or clinical advice here. And seriously, I am not trying to be mean. But this is a serious, serious issue. I do hope very much that you will contact your doctors and let them know how you are feeling so they can help you. I hope that you will find relief for your pain. I do know how awful it is to feel this way, I really really do. But please, please stop hurting yourself this way. I wish the very best for you.

Ry
Posted 1/4/2009 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
Ryand,
Thank you for taking the time to say all the things I've been thinking. I just didn't have the energy to do it.

Ooter neither I nor Ryand are trying to be hurtful, but many of the things you do with your medication hurt us CPP's a lot. All I can say is "ditto" to Ryand's post, including her last sentence.

PaLady
Posted 1/4/2009 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
I do have to agree with Ry and PaLady on this one. Some tough love to swallow, ooter, but it needs to be said. I do wish you well.

Chutz
Posted 1/4/2009 6:23 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks guys,

   Trust me I am not offended. Maybe I was harshin my analogy. I am junkie by choice and a patient by condition. I agree with you and I need to stop, I can up my strength, but I dont want to. I dont like taking it all the time, but then I have to deal with the pain. I have to change my habit and if I cant, then I will have no choice to quit. I am as scared of that as I am of having to go through withdrawls. I posted, because I like what you all have to say, If I wanted sympathy or support to use the way I do, then I would go to a dealer! Thats a joke! I have discussed this issue with my wife, in which she wants to hold my script and give them as directed, rather than me quit. If that wont work then she will support my quitting. I feel that is strange and doesnt support me being responsible. Its so strange but obvious why this has become the most favorite drug of choice by teenagers. I am not un active, I ride quads (Taking a break as they were stolen) with my teens. Play paintball and well thats all I have time for if that. I have learned how not to cripple myself, and listen to my back when it says no! That came after i was on a pain mangement. Now if I run out I hold up for 2 days sick. Wife knows what is going on. She is worried, bout my pain and my meds. I just dont want to live in the hell of addiction!

Cooter

Posted 1/4/2009 8:00 AM (GMT 0)
Cooter,
It's late and I'm tired so please forgive my wording if it's a bit (or a lot) "off". I did want to commend you for taking ownership of your problem.

People who have chronic pain and addiction issues (all of us become dependent on many of the meds, but that's not the same as addiction) have a very challenging, but not impossible, situation to deal with. i would suggest trying to find a good Addictionologist who's a specialist in Addiction Medicine, to work closely with a pain management doctor. Addictionologists have special protocols for dealing with chronic pain. Again, it's not going to be easy, but they can help look at all possible options for you including such things a delivery systems (for example, a patch that is harder to abuse). And there are new medications on the horizone which will be harder to abuse. See if you can find these specialists and work with them - and most also have family involvement, too, so your wife could be part of it.

PaLady
Posted 1/4/2009 4:18 PM (GMT 0)

Pretty rough topic to fully understand, in no way will I, can I, nor do I have the authority to "bash" you over your behavior. Cooter I just want you to dwell on something, just for a moment if you will and those of you in similar situations. This will likely be long winded so you may want to ignore my reply in it's entirety.

I have a couple of physical diseases that require a variety of medications with a narcotic being one of them.  In the beginning, I was one of those who could take an Aleve, Aspirin, etc. I openly admitted to a physician about drinking a few beers with the "boys." My statement was never fully investigated or was I given the chance to explain. Shazam, into my medical records it appeared. This in turn evolved into alcohol abuse, which later, through much psychological testing, psychiatric questioning, was reduced into an effective rationally functioning alcoholic in remission. A few beers with the boys, was in all actuality, MAYBE a 12 pack in the 4 or 5 times I played golf a summer with "The boys."

There was a 3 year gap in which I lived in shear agony as my diseases (PHYSICAL) pounded away at me and progressed, the whole time simply trying to receive proper medical treatment while battling a "tag" that followed me everywhere trying to erase it. I never hid or lied about my statement it was, at the start, a SIMPLE misunderstanding. One simple sentence. 3 long, very long years that eventually with no treatment disabled me and put me in a chair. It sounds to me as if you are in quite a dilemma, not only are you battling pain that to me sounds as real as the sun in the sky, but also trying to receive a psychological boost, if you will, in trying to overcome what is Chronic Pain. Try to remember back how you felt BEFORE you were prescribed these medication(s), Dr's don't just hand a prescriptions for the fun if it, there was a solid physical finding to receive such a potent narcotic(s). You could very well paint yourself into a very dark corner. I am not one to hand out tough love, nor am I qualified, I will only suggest something.

Hypothetically if it were me I would fight those inner demons (Taking anything anyway other than prescribed) that are urging you to behave in a dangerous manner. See in my humble opinion there is no fine line between addiction as an individual perceives it, and abuse. This in my personal experience, is how the medical field sees it also. Wherever or whomever you seek out to help you make on thing clear, that is to be FULLY understood. I see both sides of the mirror especially ryand's standpoint. Addiction is abuse there also resides the complicated issue of dependency and the under-treatment of chronic pain. Remember something very simple can rapidly grow into a beast in which you have never even contemplated encountering. Word up and get well.

Posted 1/4/2009 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree with all of the posters. I am not one to sugar coat things and I won't now either. Cooter, I do hope that you can find an addictionologist. In the meantime, it may not be a bad thing to allow your wife to hold your meds and dole them out as prescribed. It's not ideal and doesn't allow you the freedom to do as you please in regard to taking them but it does give you some responsibility in attempting to get a reign in on your addiction. At least , until you can come up with a better alternative.
Uniquely, it may very well be that your chronic pain is undermedicated but you aren't doing yourself or your physician any favors by doing what you are doing, and that is abusing his trust in you to follow the prescribed directions for the meds. We ALL have days when the pain is out of control or higher than our current meds can handle, but it is OUR responsibility to let our doctors know and to let them tell us how they would like us to handle it. Whether that is adding another dose of our breakthrough meds or using ice and heat, or just plain laying down, is left up to them. Whether it works or not is left in our hands. Deciding to take more meds isn't solely our decision to make. And it does effect every other patient in the chronic pain community when you are caught. It creates a distrust, one patient at a time, and it effects every other patient that your doctor sees.
I know that what I've said is not what you want to hear, and I understand that you are in pain... I want to see you both get proper relief for your pain, one that will allow you to function as best you can in your lives.
Anyway, I truly don't mean to offend, that's not why I said what I did. I want you to realize that you both deserve better than what you are giving yourselves at the moment.
Sandi
Posted 1/5/2009 2:17 AM (GMT 0)

I cant thank all of you enough. I love the candid responses. I will try this approach with my wife. I will also consider the suggestion of my doctor to increase the strength of my current meds. In the end, if i can not control it I will have to quit and live in pain. Question I do have, is there a way to lower my tolerance while still taking my medication? Well thank you all for your feed back, and I have yet to have anyone hurt my feelings. I know I am out of control, but I never saw it as a way of hurting other patience in the pain relief community. It makes sense and it took along time for me to find a doctor that would give me meds when I needed them and was willing to sit down and discuss what my problem is and what my options are. I dont want to make him angry and cause him to not treat some one else in need in the future. That was some good food for thought. Please keep your opinions coming they are very helpful. Thanks again and God bless you all.

Cooter

Posted 1/5/2009 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
Cooter:

I want to also commend you for being willing to accept our constructive input to your queries. Clearly, you are heading in the right direction here. I think you are wise to begin with having your wife take charge of your medication right now. As you have noted, this is not a long term solution as it is not a self-reliant one, but it does resolve an immediate issue of keeping you on schedule with the prescriptions you have in your house for the time being. This is going to be a journey for you, and I believe this is an excellent first step for you to take. (again, not a professional opinion as I am not a doctor, but an opinion of one who suffers alongside you with CP)

I have been thinking about your question regarding tolerance, and while I want to again remind you that I am not a doctor, I do want to share my experience with you as I think it may help somewhat. The only time since my life of chronic pain began when I have felt as though my pain was actually managed, really managed, not just occasionally mitigated or sometimes taken the edge off, but actually managed - was not a time when I had a really high dose of a single pain medication. It wasn't really an issue of lowering tolerance or increasing doses. For me, and I think for most CP sufferers (although I hope others will also pipe in), management of pain was more a matter of finding the right mix of medications and other therapies. And it was a complex thing.

It took a long time to find just the right combination, as it should because each person is so unique. And I am in the devastatingly all to common position of being unable to find a doctor who will continue the protocol with me. My doctors started me on the combination during a hospital stay and the hospitalists prescribed enough of the protocol to last me for a few sweet weeks before my PM stopped it short. Her reason? Those medications that they had me on? The two pain meds were "highly-addictive" and should therefore be reserved for end of life cancer patients only. She did not care about all of the real evidence of improvement or the strong recommendations of the hospitalists.

I share that story with you for a couple of reasons. First, so that you will understand perhaps a little more why we are all so sensitive about this topic here. This experience for me is a direct result of the abuses of these medications by others. But I also want you to know that the right combination of medications might be out there for you too. And maybe it doesn't even have to include any narcotics at all! TALK to your doctor. Tell him exactly what you are worried about. Tell him what your pain is like and what makes it worse or better. Ask him to try different things with you. It may take awhile, and you will probably try some things that don't work, which is frustrating. But don't give up. Eventually, if you work together as a team, you might just find exactly the right combination of medications and therapies that will help you return to your life as you knew it before.

Again, I wish you all the best.
Ry

p.s. I just read what PaLady wrote (she is such a smart lady!) and want to 2nd her comments. There is so much more than medication out there, and too often I think we get zeroed in on the thought that some pill will make all the pain go away for us. It just isn't going to happen. She is so right about the grieving and the life-style changes. And the need for help to see you through those things. Don't shun the idea of seeing a neuropsychiatrist if your doctor or the addictionologist brings it up. I'd even ask about it if I were you. I've seen one, and I'd wager many of the CP'ers here have as well. They are trained in the support of patients who are dealing with chronic illnesses. They can teach you how to control your mind-body connection as much as possible to help manage your reaction to the pain.

Post Edited (ryand) : 1/4/2009 10:45:23 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/5/2009 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
Cooter,
Once again I agree with Ry, and I especially want to emphasize that your willingness to take all this in and work with it is a good sign. It takes awhile but you need to put together (as Ry suggested) a tool kit worth of things that help - some more than others - that you can learn to use to manage the pain. For most of us "management" rather than cure (which we'd all like, too!). I think it's also important for you to find the right group of professionals and a treatment program that will help you look at all the possibilities that will keep you from a major relapse.

I'm not giving you medical advice but I know managing chronic pain when there's also an addiction is challenging. It's going to take work and commitment on your part. You will need to learn to do as many treatment modalities which are non-addictive or don't involve medicaitons as possible, and add only the needed narcotics working very, very closely witih your doctor. You mention tolerance. That's the tough part. Many people who fall into addiction territory have some genetic predisposition, and therefore will develop tolerance more quickly than others. You can't change your genetic make-up (if this is the case in your situation, and maybe it's not), so you have to work with it as best as possible, knowing the risk factors. Even if you don't have any genetic factors, you know you've got a history of addiction and that mean your body will build tolerance faster than many others. Learn as much as you can about addiction, and the neurobiology involved (how drugs are processed in the brain). Knowledge is power. And a support system of not just health care professoinals and family, but something like AA - but trying to find a specialized group for chronic pain patients if at all possible - can help. It's a must to follow doctor's orders on your medication, and any deviation you need to see as a red flag for yourself.

You also may need to reassess your activities. It's possible you coul be injuring yourself and not feel it because of the meds. Most all of us have to change or limit many of our activities, and there's grieving involved - grieving the life we had, and thought we'd continue to have. A good therapist can help here.

I've got on long enough. Hope some of this helps.

PaLady

Post Edited (PAlady) : 1/4/2009 10:09:10 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/5/2009 3:04 PM (GMT 0)

My last reply on this subject was wiped away, somehow distorted, by the reader. Cooter here's nothing but a suggestion. Find a counselor who works in conjunction with a psychiatrist in the practice of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) they might provide immense input and vast knowledge working with the doctor who is prescribing you the medications. You asked a question about lowering your tolerance level? WITH the help of medical professionals you can take what is often referred to as a narcotic holiday. They do work to a certain extent. First and foremost until you show your preparedness to do "whatever it takes" only then will your problems be correctly addressed. With an open mind, your body can administer healing powers you've only dreamed of. Be strong and get well, you have my greatest admiration and have achieved the 1st step, recognizing there is a problem. Go champ!

Posted 1/5/2009 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
Ditto Ry on your initial response to this subject. There was a post recently and some people responded that they did not take their pain meds as prescribed daily because the pain was not bad enough. Well, to me that indicates they are possibly on a dose higher than needed. But, that person would on a bad day take an extra dose or two!!! They always ran short by the end of the month. If you are prescribed 30 days of medication taking 1-2 extra pills one time is not going to put a person on a low supply the last 8 days of the month, they took more than 1-2, do the arithmetic here. Something is wrong with that picture. This is not a good sign at all. I posted on this subject and no one responded to my question. Who makes the decision of this extra dosing? Is this written on the medication bottle to be taken this way, does the dr support the medication being taken this way or is it the patient making the decision on their own. If they are under the care of a pain mgt dr and have signed a Contract then they are not abiding by the Contract. I know with my pain mgt dr he stressed the importance of taking medication exactly as he prescribed it. There is a reason for this. The main thing is to keep and maintain a constant amount of medication in your system at all times. Your body and medication works much better this way.

 

Doctors are not always the bad guys as so many people are so fast to point the finger at. Usually, when it comes down to it, you have a non-compliant pain patient. People that help themselves to an extra dose here & there are considered non-compliant patients.

 

Cooter, I really appreciate you being honest about your situation and you really are in a bad spot to say the least. I do urge you to speak with your dr about the possibility of using a combination of medication rather than trying to rely solely on one to help your pain. I think its a great idea allowing your wife to hold your medications and have her dispense the medication to you on a regular schedule.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Good luck to you. Susie

 

Posted 1/5/2009 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Cooter,

Thank you for not taking offense to what we, as a group have said to you. I hope that having your wife handle your medications temporarily will help you get back on track as to your dosage schedule.

I am not an addict, in fact have never been one, but have lived my life surrounded by them, so I do have some experience dealing with them. I don't mean for any comments that I make to be harsh or

judgemental, because they aren't but come from a place of caring , and one of concern.

I hope that you will take the advice that Ry and PAlady have given you, and use it to start on a journey of managing your pain, and getting a handle on your addictions.

The poster who mentioned using many modalities to manage the pain is correct. There is NO pill that is going to take away, 100% of the pain, all of the time.

So , using ice, heat, rest, massage, PT, chiro, and any of the other modalities out there, may add to the relief that you find in the medication.

I would LOVE to have a time when I didn't feel pain anymore, but realistically, I know that is not going to happen, so the best that I , most of us can hope for

is some balance between keeping the pain levels in check enough, that it allows us to live our lives as best we can.

It may be that you have to give up quad riding. That may be one of the reasons that you still suffer pain as you do. Or maybe you will have to limit the surfaces that you ride

on......and yes, you will grieve the loss of the things you used to be able to do, versus what your new life will be like....but you will get through that.

I just wanted to wish you the best as you head down this road, use the resources out there, to help you stay on track, and manage your pain and your life.

You have every reason to get well......you have a wife that obviously loves you enough to stand by you through this, and is willing to help you, however you  need her to.

Best wishes to you,

Sandi

Posted 1/6/2009 6:50 AM (GMT 0)

Well, I guess that's what I get for being honest... I CAN relate to cooter, and I'm sure that more of us can then can't.  I have had CP issues for several years now and I have only had this happen a few times.  Usually it happens when I overdo it.

I won't apologize for this, it's my cross to bear and it isn't fun.  I do appreciate all of the input and caring words.  I also understand that it is dangerous and I shouldn't do it.  believe me, I don't do it on purpose. 

Anyway, thanks for the input, I do appreciate it.

 

 

Me. nono

Posted 1/6/2009 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
This is unrelated to the topic of the thread
but is anyone else having technical problems
with this thread just recently, or is it only
a quirk in my computer? The text now stretches
in long, long sentences that I have to scroll
to read. Sometimes I've seen this happen when
there's been a line of unbroken text or characters
in a post, but I'm not sure that's happened here.
I'm hitting the return key every few words to
hopefully make this easier to read.
Am I the only one?

PaLady
Posted 1/6/2009 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
Pa I noticed that as well. I was wondering if it was me as well. But apparently its not just me and I don't feel like the odd person out here LOL.
Posted 1/6/2009 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Yup, it's quirky on my screen too.

Susie? Did you have any technical difficulties when you posted your last comment? I'm not picking on you my friend tongue
it's just that your post is actually offset on my screen.
I don't know if it's just my screen, though...??
Weird, huh? LOL.

Ry

Post Edited (ryand) : 1/6/2009 2:00:24 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/6/2009 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
No PA, it's not just you. I thought it was me last night and my new monitor but
apparently it's not just me either.
I am going to do the same as you, hit reply after a few words
so hopefully it will not stretch across the screen like that.
Sandi
Posted 1/6/2009 7:18 PM (GMT 0)

Well, I guess that's what I get for being honest...

I CAN relate to cooter, and I'm sure that more of us can then can't. 

I have had CP issues for several years now and I have only had this happen a few times. 

 Usually it happens when I overdo it.

I won't apologize for this, it's my cross to bear and it isn't fun. 

 I do appreciate all of the input and caring words.  I also understand that it is dangerous and I shouldn't do it.

  believe me, I don't do it on purpose. 

Anyway, thanks for the input, I do appreciate it.

 

 

Me. nono

Uniqelyme,

I'm not sure what reply you are responding to, but I don't think that anyone was trying to make

you or Cooter feel badly. The truth of the matter is , is you are taking more medication than you

are prescribed, you are being non -compliant and that is how your doctor would view it.

If you know that you are overdoing it, then you either need to change the way that

you are doing things, or get someone to help.

Knowing that you are overdoing things, and it is going to result in extra pain, and

that you are going to take extra doses to compensate is setting yourself up for failure.

Have you ever discussed with your doctor that you tend to overdo things and it results in

more pain? Asked him for suggestions in how he would like you to deal with it?

Discussed with him, having an extra dose or two available? Or breakthrough meds?

I deal with a lot of overdoing it pain as well, but I also know that I am doing it, despite

the fact that it is going to cause more pain in a few minutes/hours because I overdo it.

I don't take extra doses to compensate for that. I do use ice and heat, lay down and try to

relax, use a heating pad......even take some anti inflammatories to help ease the pain.

The problem that you are creating for yourself, is that you would have to take several

extra doses of meds each month , in order to make yourself come up days short. It is not

a once in a while thing. That is a huge problem.

Anyway, I'm sure that no one meant to hurt you, or Cooter by what we said.

I hope that you will take what was said and use it to help you, rather than allow

hurt feelings to rule .

Take care,
Sandi

Posted 1/6/2009 10:24 PM (GMT 0)

eyes  mrsm123

Yes, I did talk to my PM last month about the pain increasing because I tend to try to

overcompensate...That is one of the reasons he put me on oxycodone 15mg. from

Lortab 10.  I have an appt. tomorrow and I plan to discuss it further. 

This is something that has happened before but not very often. And I also know that

I shouldn't do it, not only because of being "noncompliant", but also because it isn't

safe...I guess I look at it like "what am I supposed to do if I am in pain"?  So I take

an extra pill....then if it happens again...well you know.  Sometimes I end up running

out early and that is NOT GOOD....

 

So, I am not going to do that again.... I will have to learn to endure the pain and

be a good CP patient... tongue

 

me.

 

What is up with this stuff?  Why is this running so w  i  d  e?????

Posted 1/6/2009 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Me,
I'm glad you're going to talk with your doctor.
One thing that bothered me about your statement
is the implication that most of us do the same
thing and that's not true. Most CPP's do not
abuse their meds. I'm having to stretch my
percocet right now because the Rx ended
today but the nurse who sends my scripts
didn't return from vacation until today. She's
been great and mails them to me, but that
takes 2-3 days. And then I've got to hope to
get it filled at the hospital pharmacy my insurance
requires, but they're closed on weekends. So I've
stretching my percocets by taking one plus a
tylenol rather than two percs for the past several
days. And I just have to endure the extra pain.
Sometimes we do just need to endure for brief
times, although I'm not saying pain should continue
to go undertreated.

Regarding the technical problems on this thread,
I wonder if Cooter should start a new thread? The
only thing I've ever been able to pinpoint as
relating to this (it happens once in awhile) is an
unbroken line of text or characters (even just dashes-----)
but it seems to be in almost everyone's post that has
a signature. Perhaps those that have the line
in their signature could try shortening it? That's the
only idea I have!

PaLady
Posted 1/6/2009 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hey I came online and found the same mess yall did-what happened? The posts are really stretched out.

Me, I do hope your dr will help you out when you see him tomorrow. I too have a very high pain tolerance and that really hurts us more than helps us. As my dr explained by the time I would take BT meds the pain was so high it was very difficult to get it back down to a decent level. So, its more of a hindrance having a high pain thresh hold sure not a blessing. But, I still only take my BT meds as directed. I am having some terrible issues with burning pain in my buttocks and down the back of both legs to above the knees. Its awful, thats all I can say. Do I take more BT meds, no-I went out my back door the othe day and screamed at the top of my lungs, matter of fact I have done it a couple of times. I am seeing a new pain mgt dr on the 23rd for a meet & greet. I have a pump and my refill date is 2-5-09. After she evaluates me on the 23rd we will see if there is an increase in my pump or what. Generally, I have been able to to handle my BT pain believe it or not with my muscle relaxers. My pain is coming from severe spasms. I have taken some falls recently and that has not helped much either. Back in the summer I had trigger point injections done and that helped with the burning, they used Toradol, I cannot tolerate steroids.

I hope you get get help from your dr cause you know what you are doing. If you are running short 8 days before a refill, like I said before do the arithmetic, you are doing this more than once or twice a month. One or two pills does not add up to 8 days short. Be honest with your doc, its the best policy. Good luck, Susie
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