I would answer yes to your question because something similar happened to me and after 3 years of being hooked on vicodin, I had to go through an outpatient treatment program to get off them.

If you don't mind me asking, what dosage are you taking?

God Bless

I’m on OxyContin 40mg twice a day and take Percocet 10/325 as needed, I might use 2 a day for breakthrough pain 3 at most.

I just think I sabotage myself and prefer pilas over cannabis because I am not getting the relief I am accostumed. I have kept this hidden from my pain management Dr., I use a different doctor for cannabis and haven’t really followed up with him. I mostly use the cannabis at night since it helps me fall asleep quicker.

I started taking two 5 miligram vicodin twice a day and 3 years later I was taking five 10 miligram vicodin 3 times a day. Of course, I wasn't getting them all from my doctor but I was pretty clever at buying them elsewhere. The DEA closed down my sources so decided it was time to quit.

I was put on suboxone for about 6 months and was able to wean myself off from it without withdrawals. You can't get high from it but it plugs the opiate receptors in the brain so you won't get the cravings. Without it, there is no chance I could have quit on my own.

I found that ibprofen worked great for my chronic back pain and I still use it today, 10 years later from the time I went into treatment.

Do you have a plan for quitting?

God Bless

I just feel under so much pressure to quit, even though I truly need the medications. I have tried OTC and Prescription non-opioid pain relievers but the relief is never enough. So I truly do have a chronic pain condition but I want to switch to cannabis so bad because I feel i cannot go on for the rest of my life on opioids. Just because society tells me they’re bad. I feel there is more acceptance to cannabis than opioids , I feel a lot of shame when I have to talk about the meds I take for pain.

If you are taking them as prescribed, then don't feel guilty about it but there are other ways to deal with pain, unless it's the excruciating after surgery type pain.

5 years ago, I severed my thumb on my table saw and although doctors put it back, the pain was horrendous. I was at a different hospital and they had no idea I was an addict at the time. The doctor was only giving me a few 5 miligram vicodins which did not do anything, given my high tolerance for them. I had no alternative but to take ibprofen ..... You can take up to 4 pills at 200 miligrams each which is the prescription dose.

If you are going to be without narcotic pain killers for more then a day then I would take a level teaspoon of kratom, twice per day provided it is legal in your state. Medical marijuana is also a very good alternative.

God Bless

Thanks for the tip, heard of kratom, I really need to read up on it more.

Actually where can you purchase kratom?

i have been on fentanyl patches for about 14 years now, and a chronic on again off again alcoholic, Its a dangerous walk were walking, but back pain sucks, yes?! Be safe...

Hey. I understand you completely. I've been in those situations when you feel so desperate that you just drown yourself in alcohol because you feel there's never going to be an end to the pain. Yes it's a dangerous mix, but please hang in there I would never judge you for it, because I've been there. Our situations are unique and chronic pain is very hard for others to understand. Hang in there...

Ok I have been on opioids for probably twenty years. My first question is why do you take your pills. Do you feel “high” when you take your pain meds. My guess is the answer is you take medicine because you are in pain and after taking your med you are no high because if you take them as prescribed this does not happen,

Unfortunately I too felt the damn pressure of getting off my pain meds and went the marijuana route. What a joke that was did not touch my pain, I became a complete waist of a human being. I gave it a two year try I took absolutely no pain meds. I have come to realize my life has some quality with pain meds. No one has the right to tell me or to tell you that you should do this or try that. By the way I tried kratom which didn’t work either.

As you can tell this subject gets my dander up. Sorry about that but I will not apologize and people who take whatever med for pain control are not addicts. Of course there are people out there but we should not all be punished for those people. Ok sorry about My tirade.

Totally get you and it's completely true. I get more quality of life with opioids but again it's the stigma they carry nowadays. Yes I wanted to give cannabis a try not just because of the pressure from society but because I wanted something "natural" without the side effects (tolerance, chronic constipation, effects on the liver, etc.) But again, I'm not finding relief in cannabis, maybe a relaxation and the feeling of not thinking about all the issues with my constant pain. But definitely agree we shouldn't have to be struggling to take these meds because of the pressure from society. Thanks!

I'm on 2/200 mg MSContin/daily, all done IV. Because I've been on such a high dose, for over 20 years, my back and diabetic feet hurt like hell. Morphine is actually one of the more healthy drugs to use. It doesn't hurt liver function and constipation is solved by having a cup of strong hot coffee, and don't take your dose until you shit. Once you've got the hard backed up lumps out, eat food high in fiber. Eat lots. Drink lots of very strong and very hot Coffee. Move around, bending your body around, walk a few blocks, run, as much as you can tolerate. After the first few times, you'll make your coffee, drink it while walking around, head for the crapper and shit, Daily!

People were talking about Methadone vs morphine. As pain killers, they both work great..at first. Clinics usually start people at about 30 mgs/daily, then put the dose up 5 mgs a week. By going up so slow, tolerance is built up right away. By the time you're up to 100 mgs, no pain relief, due to a built up tolerance. It's the best drug ever invented to ward off withdrawl. Even feel good in the next morning. Mojo for pain and fun..Methadone for dope sickness..

Here's the other side of the coin for comparisons sake....

I've been a Chronic Pain patient for 33 years, I've had 31 surgeries in the last 20 years. I used heavy narcotics meds off and on for the first 20 or so and then daily for 10 years. I was on Fentanyl patches, I used Oxycontin, I used Morphine, I rotated through all of those hard LA narcotics and always had straight Oxycodone as my Breakthru med. My multiple daily Chronic Pain causing Diseases are not curable, they are just manageable. Along with those I have a Seizure Disorder, Liver Disease, Chronic Kidney Stones/Kidney Disease, Lung issues, Asthma, Chronic Migraines and am BiPolar. Yes I have a body that is complete CRAP. lol

I also have multiple University Degrees, the highest being a Ph.D, during my 25 yr. marriage was always the "Breadwinner" for my family, and raised 2 sons, in and amongst all that crap. I knew what pain level I could handle and as long as the pain stayed at a 5, I was good. So my Narcotic levels didn't get too crazy, meaning I wasn't eating 400mg's of Morphine a day like some CP'ers I knew.

With all my Issues I took 22 pills & injections a day, and all those meds rarely played nice with one another, but it didn't really matter because I still had a life to live, 1 son still in College and Post-Divorce (10 years, my idea) am responsible for my upkeep and well being.

When my Dr. who managed my pain meds decided to retire last year in March, and she'd been my Dr. for 20 years, I had to decide whether I wanted to whore myself around and try to find a new Pain Dr. or if I just wanted to give the pain meds up and try other things. See what people don't get is that when you've been on Narcotics for any extended length of time past say a year, you have no idea of knowing what your true pain level is, because your Brain can no longer tell. Your Neuro-receptors can no longer tell. Tolerance and dependence take a toll on the Neuro-system of the body...a big toll.

I decided to give up the pills. Which I did. I did it by myself, over a 3 month period of time. I created a tapering schedule for each, the LA Morphine and the Oxycodone. I tapered off the Oxycodone first, then tapered off the Morphine. Using half-life measurements, patience and a set amount of time that I reinforced weekly so my brain knew there was a deadline, I got off the pills. I still use NSAIDS, Muscle Relaxers and Arthritis meds...so I can walk and move my joints, but I don't take any kind of Narcotic med or Tramadol.

I put other therapies into place to manage the pain. I go to the gym 3 - 4 days a week. I had a Personal Trainer develop a workout strictly around my abilities due to Illnesses, it focuses on low weight/max reps. Cardio on the Treadmill, Hyperthermic Heated Hydro Massage, and Hyperthermic Chamber Massage. Lots of heat based massage. My Orthopedic Surgeon and Neurologist had to approve that plan and they changed what didn't work for them and signed off on it. I do Plasma Rich Protein Therapy for my joints. I do swim therapy every week, year round. I do Accupuncture once a month if the pain is bad...generally more in winter. Its summer now so I'm in my Kayak on the weekends and that works my back and upper body. I eat a clean, healthy diet. No processed foods, no high fructose corn syrup, no soda or junk food. Basically lean protien 3 times a week and veggies and fruit, greek yogurt and low sugar gatorade, lemonade or cranberry juice...and begrudgingly water.

Yes I still have pain, every minute of every day, but it's manageable....and it's always going to be there. But just getting off the Narcotics allowed me to reduce my overall meds by 1/2 most of the time. And when your brain finally has a chance to clear out and reset, your pain level and the difference in how it feels, shocks most people. Because it is a more manageable pain that can be managed with a combination of different things. Long-term Narcotic use does do damage to the other organ systems in your body and sometimes by the time you figure that out, it's too late to do anything about it.

And no, I'm not saying every one should get off their evil meds and not use them anymore. Not at all. When I have oral surgery...I take Oxycodone for a few days, because I'm a wuss when it comes to dental pain. But when you get to a point where your on Narcotics and they don't help and you have to take more and more and they still do very little.....its because your Brain and your Neurotransmitors have just been overloaded and lost their ability to neutralize the pain.

So, yeah that's me and my pain med journey. Its a choice and everyone has to make their own choice. I just didn't want to deal with the system anymore...I'm stubborn that way.

How are you doing today?