This is such a personal choice. I was given meds and orders for Spinal Epidural. I just did not like the way the meds made me feel, and I was dubious about the spinal. I had a lot of pain and discomfort for many months. But, I was also trying to live my normal life activities...without success. I needed to change my Ways.

I opted to delay the meds and epi for awhile. I know degneration is progressive, and I opted to use ice and Tylenol daily. Most effective for me, I stopped doing lifting, yoga, sitting too long, walking to long..etc. I rest more too. As months passed, I got better. I still have mild to moderate discomfort. Bedtime and mornings are the most difficult for me...but when I am patient and move slowly, I manage.

I am also retired, and that makes a huge difference! If I were still working, I could not have altered so much.

Best Wishes for Pain relief to you!!!

If you are feeling ok, then maybe hold off and monitor yourself. You can always start at a later time. I was on Celebrex for my joints. It helped but now I deal with stomach issues (which is also my fault as I added ibuprofen to it...which was a no no). Tylenol is safe, and is one of the few pain meds you can take when pregnant (just as a reference that it is even safe for a growing baby). It won't help with inflammation though.

As yoga said, it's a personal choice, and only you knows how you feel. There are risks, but also benefits if you need it. In some arthritis cases too, the meds limit further joint damage so it depends on your diagnosis.

You don't mention what type of pain medication you are on but many are opiates or narcotics. After suffering with pain for a long time it makes sense that you have sought something to help you get it under control. Pain takes its toll on a person! I'm happy for you that you are pain free for the most part. My only advice to you is to take them exactly as prescribed. Even then, if a person uses opioids for a long time, they develop physical dependence and tolerance. If a person stops using opioids after they become physically dependent on the drug, they will experience drug withdrawal symptoms.

My brother was sent to a pain clinic after a few years of severe pain and was put on opiates....They would continue to increase his dosage as his body became tolerant of the drug. The drugs did relieve most of his pain but not all. He is now on a very high dose and totally addicted to them. He has tried to cut back but the pain becomes unbearable plus there are the withdrawal effects.

Good Luck and I hope you continue to remain pain free. Sometimes a person must do whatever it takes to try to remain pain free.

My thoughts...Last spring (2012) when I suddenly had extreme pain when getting out of bed, I KNEW I couldn't go on like that any longer. Without the pain meds, I would be bedridden. I am just as concerned about dependency as anyone else. But I have chosen to not be confined.

THINK YOGACAT IS RIGHT. i HAVE A VERY ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY, pAIN PILLS I CANNOT TOLERATE. to SCARED GETTING HOOKED ON THEM, i THOUGHT Motrin WAS SUSPOSE To be GOOD AND SAFE. I DON,T KNOW ALL I DO IS TAKE Excidren , DO STRETCHING AND WALK. TAKE XANAX, PROZAZ. I HAVE GAD, PTS. OCP. AND TONS OF ACHES AND PAINS. bUT ID THEY HELP YOU GO FOR IT. tHIS PAIN DOES HURT. NIGHT

I was diagnosed with degenerative spine AO, at 29 ages ago, my doctor sent me to learn meditation, and self hypnosis. because he told me I was too young to start on pain meds.
I have now AO also in my hands, fibromyalgia and PMR ,and I do not take any meds, I have learned to live with pain, I do get massages, , use the wax machine for my hands.
Because I had chemo , my stomach could not handle medicines.
If I have a really bad day, I rest, and I lead a very active life.
I was sent to a pain support group , it was horrible, very depressing, having had breast and skin cancer, I stay away from negative people and the support was heavy on negativite.
One does what is best for ones life.
I continue with my meditation, tai chi, and self hypnosis, my pain is not gone, but I can manage it.

I so agree with yogacat, it is a personal decision, I am on pain meds daily, and also could not get out of bed or stay out of bed without them. However, I waited 10 years before I finally decided to go with the pain meds. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease ,osteoarthritis, in 2002, COPD and a few more. I had no choice but to retire in 2006 because of all my illnesses. I had back sugergy Oct. 2012 and glad I had it (pain in leg was so severe I could not walk a half of block) It is so important to follow your dr's advised and only take what is prescribed to you...sometimes if my pain is not severe , which means some days I can tolerate the pain a little better.. I will actually take less than what is prescribed to me or cut one in half... it is important to try and stay as active as possible, because from my personal experience I would get so depressed from not being able to do things I used to do (although my mine tells me differently) Good Luck and my prayers are with you

I too take pain meds and was worried about getting psychologically addicted and wouldn't know it. My doc told me as long as I'm taking them as prescribed, I'm OK. When it's time to get off, weaning at 10% a week works for me. I have done this with anti depression drugs before and after doing research about it this seems to diminish withdrawal affects. Also, your pain management doc gave me a patch of blood pressure medication when another doc took me off Ativan too quickly and it really helped. But until the cause of the pain can be cured of "fixed", meds help me function.

I believe that what ever works for you is just fine and no one should judge. I have been on pain meds sometimes they work and other times they dont want to. If this works stay with it.

Thanks to all who replied. I am not abusing the pain meds. I feel so much better while taking them though. I am able to clean my house, take walks, weed my garden and the list goes on.

I feel like the benefits outweigh the risks.

I am so grateful to have found this site where I can share honestly and not be judged.

If you follow up with your dr alot and follow directions for meds your dr will make sure you are ok. I did tell my dr. that i was scared to go on pain meds because of addiction and he told me when the time comes that i have to come off he will help me and be by my side so its not bad. Talk to your dr about how you feel some drs do have a heart.

I have had a TKR and spinal surgery (can't remember what it's called, but I have 6 screws and a "cage"). Unfortunately, none of us realized that overgrowth of scar tissue runs in my family. Though the knee is pretty good, the back isn't. The doctor says more surgery to remove the scar tissue will just end up making things worse. Wednesday, I had my fourth injection in my back. It's starting to kick in today.

As for the pain meds, I still need them for my feet, ankles, other knee, back, neck, shoulders, wrists and fingers. So, yes, I still take them and the doctors think I will always have to.

A bit of encouragement for those who are concerned about addiction. It can happen to anyone, but it won't happen to everyone. Alcohol and tranquilizer addiction run in my family. My mother and sibling both. Several others, too. There are those who feel that the tendency to have problems has a physical basis. Genetic. The only one still living is my sibling who has been sober since 1981. We have had long talks about it. Our mother and others got addicted as they ended up drinking, etc. for the "high". Not for pain or actual physical problems. They couldn't wait for the next time. I am extremely cautious not to take anything unless I actually need it and not more often than prescribed. So far so good - 6 years.

Good luck in what you choose to do. Now if I can only figure how to get down on the ground and garden - plus get back up again.

One added sideline to pain meds. Both my parents were arthritics. My father had it bad and, had he lived many more years (died at 62 from an unrelated condition) would have probably been in a wheelchair. He worked in a plant nursery 6 days a week. Humidity was heavy. The location was within view of the Pacific Ocean - 10 minut4e walk at the most. The only meds to b4e had for OA was aspirin - 4 every 4 hours round the clock (kept a timer next to the bed). In the early 1960s, they had no joint replacements that I know of. Just Aspirin. I'm glad I live in a time that has a variety of meds - if one doesn't work, another might.

I, like dreaming, was told to adapt meditation and self-hypnoses. It has worked for 29 years, until last year. When you are unable to lay, sit or get comfortable enough to sleep it is time to do something. I finally talked to my Dr. I requested opiates only at night so that I could sleep without pain. It did not take long to go through most of the small doses, I am currently on 5 mg perks. For pain at night. During type day I still work self hypnoses and mediation. In addition, I take neurontin for fibro, neuropathy, and OA. Plus other ailments of my bones and nerves.

Morning,ive taken pain meds now for 10 yrs,Mornings and sitting long periods hurts so much,,if i didnt take the meds i would just cry,,because of the pain,,I also can get alot of stuff done thats needs to get done,,each day i do 1 thing,clean the house,,today is dust day,,lol Taking pain meds is a personal choice :)