Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
I very much fear I am becoming addicted to my pain Meds. I've been taking more Yum rxed because the regular dose isn't helping - i see my pain doc tomorrow. And I just can't function without the Meds. Mostly because I'm in pain.... but I'm scared its more than that. Help me out here people! I used to have a pill problem in my teens when I was very depressed. And now that I'm rxed these pills.... I don't want to fall back into my old ways. Any tips?
Did the Doctor keep you on Percocet for break through pain? If not, maybe during the next visit you can talk to him about something for when the pain peaks and the ER medication is not enough. I don't understand why you need to wait to take the Morphine though, you should be able to start it right away.
You are so brave. I feel for you. You have a strength in you that few have.
Please think long and hard about what you say to your DR. These days Dr's will take you off all your medicines to save their butts.
Maybe , if you havent done this already. You could go to a NA or AA meeting and get a sponser and see what they say.
Maybe? have this sponser go see your DR with you?
Just a thought.
We chronic pain people get depressed and we have anxiety. It comes with the teritory. Sometimes , when our pain is out of control and life is so hard , it can be easy to just take an extra pill to ease our emotional pain too.
I see a counselor. It helps me. You can find a low cost clinic for counsleing.
Whatever you decide. Please know that I think you are brave and I hope nothing but good comes your way as you weather this storm.
Hugs
Vicki
Whew, I hate to disagree with you at all, and especially openly, because I don't want to regard you as a "soon to be former comrade". You seem to be a kind soul.
As I say, I've never had need of a 12 step, although I would be open to learning the two-step, or even the tango.
Anyhow, taking a sponsor or even mentioning AA or NA at a doc appointment would get you '86-ed, thrown out on your ear, given the bum's rush, and anything else they can think of with extreme predjudice, much less a sponsor. And you'll be front-page news to any other doc. Because the sponsor is not family or caretaker, they probably wouldn't get into the office with you.
If you say that you are seeing a counselor to help cope with residual pain, the doc likes that. It will bring a gleam to his eye, but don't take a counselor he recommends unless you want the info to get back to him, confidentiality notwithstanding. This life is like living under the KGB and Waffen SS, and don't forget it.
I had heard someone talk about NA, and I drove by a couple of local NA meetings to confirm my suspicions. A couple were enough. There were enough cops driving by to make a Dirty Harry movie, all checking faces, and God only knows how many unmarked. I had a cell phone with a camera back then, but decided not to use it. I love to buck the system, but not that much. It was really sad seeing those poor people standing there waiting for the doors to open with cops harassing them and gathering information. There is nothing "anonymous" until you're in the door, apparently. Perhaps I'll take a cheap video recorder some time,record it discreetly, and put it on You-Tube.
My point is, 'Loose lips sink ships'. Tell the doc what he wants to hear (meaning no conflict, or perhaps an increase if you can make a good case), and take a spouse or sibling if you like, it does keep them on good behavior. But (and thhis is a Snake 'no-shitter'), get your help privately and keep it private.
-Snake
-----How to know if you are becoming addicted to pain medicine-----"ask yourself these questions"----------------------
* Do you take your pain medicine "just to get through the day?"
* Does it seem like you have to take more medicine to feel its working?
* Have you missed work or daily activities due to your medicine?
Well lets actually think about this bullshit....
First questions answer....
* Well yes by golly I do ... Its THE ONLY way I can get through the day because IF I DONT take it ... I not only "cant get through the day" but there will be NO day to get "through" because there will be NO DAY even STARTED!
Second questions answer...
* Are you kidding? Really ... you dont know the difference between TOLERANCE and ADDICTION? Yeeeaahh... well... thats just great and YOUR the doctor here?
* Third Questions answer ...
Noooo ... more likely missing work and basically just missing LIFE in general is due to... NOT having the proper pain control.
I just really hated seeing this poster hanging there because its not the truth. If someone were to actually ask him about it... he would probably think "hmmm ok this person is possibly an addict."
So misinformation is out there because people are afraid to ask any questions because they are afraid they will have their meds yanked. They dont want to appear to the doc that they may be addicted to their meds ( I mean c'mon the poster tell us what to believe - posters dont lie!)
So this also tells me
** If people are still in pain at he end of the day... tough it out... (even if I havent given you enough to control your pain in the first place)
** I wont give you MORE medicine so dont ask. Its because "addiction" makes you think you need MORE.
** And because I have given you pain medicine you should be able to work and do everything you did before. The amount I give is the same for everyone ... because... everyones pain is the SAME.
GRRRRRRRRRRRR.