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Just something to seriously consider with drugs that are addictive

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 10/28/2014 11:34 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this site, but must say I wish I can found this place years ago. What a great supportive place to visit. Thank you all.

I'm writing to you as an addiction specialist/counselor so I view pain relief a little differently than most people do. Let me say this, I surely understand the true meaning of chronic pain and NEEDING relief. I have memories of calling my Internist and begging and pleading with him to perscribe either more or a higher doze of medication. I wanted and needed relief NOW...He did refuse and looking back, thank God. He probably saved my life.

To all of you suffer's out there...PLEASE get to the bottom of your pain and please don't mask the problem with addictive medications. What you are suffering from may not kill you, but be assured these drugs can and will kill you. I see case after case with individuals who have had surgery/injury and the doc sends them home with a prescription to rid the pain. This all seems appropriate and in some cases its necessary, but the doctor fails to tell his patients how addicted they become and what that'll mean to their lives. PLEASE be super careful and use these drugs with caution.

I understand some of the individuals reading this can't live without this medication and I apprecaite that. I speaking to the individuals who are crying out in pain and not telling anyone the pain is in the need to fulfill a drug addiction and not a physical pain. I think everyone needs to look close and be honest about the need of these drugs...These drugs will take your life away piece by piece and you can expect to die an early death. DO you really want to spend your last days in a daze and then have it all come to an abrupt end...Leaving behind all the people you love to carry all the pain of losing you.

I know this all sounds depressing and most of you will read this and say, Ya, But, in my case..." Just be aware, be careful and remember your pain may not be something that'll kill you, but these drugs sure will and thats a promise.

Posted 10/29/2014 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
I think you're looking for a different site.
Posted 10/29/2014 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Do you suffer from chronic pain?
Posted 10/29/2014 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I do suffer from chronic pain..

Tidalmouse, what would make you say you think I'm looking for a different site?
Posted 10/29/2014 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Annadoll, please understand that the owner/administrator of Healing Well has rules in place for the forums.

Rule number 8 specifies as follows; If you are a medical professional, do not use the forums to distribute professional medical advice and/or promote your services.

You are more than welcome to participate in our forums as long as you stay within the guidelines.

Members, please do not ask any questions that can be considered violating this rule.

Thanks.
Posted 10/29/2014 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
I think she's backing up what we all say just doing it a different way. Those of you who know me and Susie know we preach advocating and educating, never stop looking for the cause of your pain,know what your being given and don't rely soley on your pain meds, taking b/t meds around the clock is not b/t it's now a schedule and builds tolerance. The longer your a CPer the higher your tolerance and the longer your in pain with many issues you need room to advance as your pain advances. If your taking maxed out doses 2 even 5 years into this journey where will you be in 25 or 20?

Welcome Anna to the Cp forum at Healing Well. I hope you find this place we call home supportive and welcoming and as an addiction specialist you also understand how far we have come in addiction versus dependence recognition within the healthcare system as well as the controlling agencies of opiate treatment for pain.

The vast majority of folks here do not rely or depend upon narcotics alone in the quest for relief and a better quality of life but rather use numerous combinations of modalities to ensure that we have the best pain control with the least amount of meds.
Posted 10/29/2014 2:50 AM (GMT 0)

AnnaDoll said...
Yes, I do suffer from chronic pain..

Thank you for clarifying. It wasn't clear in your post - you said you had memories, so I wasn't sure if you were still struggling with it. We do get a lot of people trolling the forum and quite a few who post things such as trying to sell products, etc., so do forgive my question if it seemed rude.

Welcome to the forum, tons of people here are very experienced at making their way through the maze of chronic pain. I'm not sure what your current issues are but I hope you find a way to manage them that works for you.
Posted 10/29/2014 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
There isn't much of anything we put in our bodies that is "good" for us.  My Father just had triple bypass surgery and never took a pill in his life.  We get what you're saying, most of us don't want to take anything that will kill us. 

I'm either at home in bed, with a blanket over my head suffering in the dark in pain and unemployed or I can take my meds, go to work, make money, put food on my table, pay my mortgage along with other bills, put my boys through college and have decent quality of life. 

I've had neck surgery and need another so I'm sorry if taking meds doesn't agree with what you believe.  Most of us aren't taking meds for recreational purposes but rather trying to improve quality of life until it can be fixed.

Posted 10/29/2014 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
AnnaDoll,

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for recognizing that many (most, I think) people on this forum are truly in need of pain meds. You are correct in saying "get to the bottom of your pain," and that's what many of the people here are trying to do and help others with our experiences.

I appreciate that in your line of work you are seeing people who are addicted or getting that way. I think you'll find that most of us have tried many methods of pain control that do not involve drugs, and we encourage others to try these methods too. Vickie said it better than I can.

I hope you are doing well with your own pain.

Best wishes.
Posted 10/29/2014 5:55 PM (GMT 0)

jpjr50 said...

I'm either at home in bed, with a blanket over my head suffering in the dark in pain and unemployed or I can take my meds, go to work, make money, put food on my table, pay my mortgage along with other bills, put my boys through college and have decent quality of life.

This takes the words right out of my mouth! Having exhausted all other treatments, I'm sure the majority of us here only get relief from the medication. Nobody wants to take them.
The "bottom" of my pain is that I have a chronic destructive illness that has no cure yet. As I go through the non-narcotic biologics one by one, I'd rather take the risk of becoming dependent on medication and "mask" the pain, than wanting to die from zero quality of life. There just isn't any other option.
Posted 10/29/2014 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
To the OP - I hope our responses did not scare you away. I echo MMM and JPJR's sentiments. If we could manage our pain completely (i.e. have a decent or good quality of life) without addictive drugs, I'm pretty sure most of us would snatch it up in a moment.

That said, it is always interesting to have different perspectives in this forum, in my opinion, so your contributions are more than welcome. For me personally, I do react strongly to suggestions that I'm an addict, which I did imply from your post. I assume you are well acquainted with the difference between dependency and addiction.

A friend of mine is an ER nurse who tells me every day how many people she sees whose lives are ruined by prescription drugs. Our lives, in contrast, are ruined by chronic pain, and the meds are simply ONE means that we use to control it.
Posted 10/30/2014 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
There is a big difference between addiction and dependence . . . The former has a psychological and genetic component whereas the latter does not. Dependence on a drug should be seen as a side effect and treated as such . . . Q
Posted 10/30/2014 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
I am with Vickie, after reading her post a couple of times I think she understands the difference. Sometimes we are just not all that clear when typing things out & ultimately its about how the individual interprets things. In no way do I feel she was attacking anyone or saying all medications are bad for people. So, lets try not to get all defensive.
Posted 10/30/2014 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Susie,
I was referring my comment about difference to the OP as I know and agree with Vickie's viewpoint. No arguments from this corner, I just thought that the OP didn't consider the concept of dependence clearly, or at least my reading of her post led me to believe that. . . Q
Posted 10/31/2014 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Ms.AnnaDoll. i believe that most of us here in this group is quite aware of our use for pain meds for our Chronic pain due to our unforseen illnesses, such as myself. I was also a Drug Addiction counselor, but coming on to this group to preach about us dying from pill addiction when we are Chronic pain suffers is atrocious I must say.

Your comment is nice, but maybe another site it. We are quite aware of our meds intake.

Lynn
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