you are messing with dinomite with booze and pain meds....stop that now!

You can only pick one. Mixing will keep you from waking up in the morning. I know its easy to get desperate & want to numb the pain but doing both isn't the answer if you want to see the sun come up.

Can you not find a Dr, not an anesthesiologist who does injections, but a legit PM who will help you manage the pain better? Obviously what you're taking isn't enough. Do what you can, even if it means driving a couple of hours & staying in a hotel overnight.

You're in pain & need support. It took a lot of courage for you to come here & reach out. You're not the first person here to mix pills & alcohol to numb the pain.

Hang in there even if its just one minute at a time.

Hugs and peace,
Emerald

I am so sorry you are in so much pain. There are many of us here who can relate but taking alcohol with pain meds is dangerous. Maybe talk to your pain doc to see if there is a different med you can try. There are also different types of injections you can try. Please don't endanger your life or the pain wins. We can't let the pain win!
I am here if you need to vent.

Perhaps the next step would be to get some help with the drinking problem before you kill yourself.

With the Chronic Pain all you can do is get to the point with your Dr. that it can be managed to the point of giving you a quality of life. It doesn't mean you'll have your old life, or your active life. You'll have to adjust to a new life, but just because it's a different life doesn't mean it can't have quality.

Hi akacountrygirl, battling chronic pain & alcoholism is really tough. On your profile page you said that AA meetings worked for you, Darlin is there a way you can get to a meeting & soon? You don't need all of us to tell you how dangerous it is to mix your meds with alcohol.

I know it can be frustrating trying to find a pm dr to help you get your pain to a level that you are able to function. Most days I'm at a 7+ I know that my pm doc won't increase my meds if I want better pain control I need to find a new Dr. I choose to stay with him. After going to him for the better part of ten yrs I don't want to start over hence I've had to try to make some sort of life with the pain level I have. Having chronic pain is like mourning a death. You are mourning the person you used to be before the pain and need to go through the grief steps. Much like following the AA steps. Grief knows no time limit but sweetie you are not alone!! We are all here to support you. I really hope you are able to get to a meeting and find a Dr/counselor that can help you. I'm only a message away if you need a friend.

Hugs & God Bless
Lisa

All I can say is remember that WE love you.

My meds terrify me, and when nothing else works, my husband will hand me a glass of something - the name is not coming to mind. I have maybe one drink every two or three months.

Hang in there.

Alix and Misha

I see a pm doctor. They definately aren't giving me enough meds to conquer that pain. Now a days it is so hard to get pain meds much less enough to work.

Yes, I have had a drinking problem in the past and should work on that issue now, considering that I am going back down the same road that had me at death's door before. The situation at that time was different....I was suicidal and just didn't care weather I lived or not.

I do care now. I am having injections and taking meds and trying to have a half way normal life. I guess I just get frustrated because relief is not coming quick enough.

I am sorry to burden you guys with my stupid actions....I just felt like I needed to get it off of my chest.

Love to all.

You don't give up fighting! Have you seen a pain management clinic? I know the feeling about wanting to do anything and everything to stop the pain...but it sounds like you need to lock up the alchol cabinet and write down on paper by your meds when you took them and when you're due for the next dose..that way whether you like it or not...you know that more meds is not due yet.
Perhaps trying to get out and about more might lessen the pain? Being distracted helps a lot

aka, no amount of pain meds will ever make me pain free. Even with them I have pain. The meds just turn the volume down and alter my perception of the pain.

I feel for you with the drinking dilemma. I've been sober since '92. Not an easy road as I'm sure you'll agree. I just have high hopes for you and fingers crossed that one of the doctors working with you will do what he can medicine wise to help you. But for cryin' out loud. No more drinking with the meds! Hugs, Dianna

Darlin you are never burdening us!! That is what we are here for to support you. It's healthy to get it out your system. Often the tendency in many myself included is to stuff our emotions which in turn leads to stress and that in turn often leads to a higher pain level.

Have you ever tried keeping a pain journal? By writing down when your pain has escalated think what were you doing, was it something that may have contributed to a higher pain level. Make notes when you take meds what your pain level was did the meds help or not. Just as important notate when your pain is staying at your usual level were you taking your meds to keep it there. By doing this you will be able to show your pain doc what's going on. Just thought I would throw this out there.

Remember your not alone, please feel free to rant/vent til your hearts content.

Hugs & God Bless
Lisa

It's never a burden, and venting is good...I just think everyone cares too much to ignore that part of your statement...

I relate to some degree, but thankfully I've been able to keep my drinking under control and under the recommended daily amount.
I'm sorry to say this but GPs are morons when it comes to pain and even so-called pain doctors. They try a bunch of drugs on you and when they don't work, you're on your own.
One thing that has worked for me and I suggest that you try to do that is to try to separate the actual pain from the suffering. Try to concentrate on the pain *itself" instead of the suffering that comes with pain, the feeling of helplessness, what it could be, why it does not go away, how long should I live like this, etc. When you concentrate on the pain itself instead of all the agony that comes with it, then you'll find out that in fact it's manageable! Good Luck!

I've been a codeine addict due to the pain over the years so I understand about self medicating because by the end of my time on codeine I was taking way more than I was supposed to, to not only numb the physical pain but also my emotional pain (At the time I was in an extremely unhealthy relationship)

You really need to be going and seeing a therapist or a counsellor as well. Medicating the pain isnt enough you need to work through things and learn coping strategies and this is where therapy is really helpful.