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Addiction

by Tom G., Apr 10, 2001 12:00AM
Is there an altenative to narcotics for pain relief? I have tried the neurontin, and topomax but they provided NO relief. I get spinal epidurals every six-eight weeks which only provide about 7-10 days relief. 3yrs ago I had a lumbar laminectomy and got a disc space infection from the operation which went undiagnosed for approx. 3.5 months. As a result the infection destroyed what I had left of a Disc and progressed into osteomylitis. The damage caused by the infection required a second operation which involved fusing my vertabrae and installing rods and screws to stabaize my spine. Following the operation I was in ICU for three days. I was MISERABLE. I still have considerable nerve pain in my hip and leg as well as my entire lower back. I am currently being treated by a pain specialist that performs epidurals and perscribes morphine er and ir. I take a total of about 250mg per day which takes the edge off of the pain.

    I have been reading the posts on this board because I know I am taking an extremely addictive medication and am wondering if they are able to correct my back condition am I going to have a problem going off these meds? I have forgotten to take a dose before and started yawning for no reason which I have read is a symptom of addiction??  Thanks in advance for your professional and experienced advice....Tom G.
Member Comments (59)

by Thomas, Apr 10, 2001 12:00AM
To: Tom
Tom,



First, let me say, as someone who went through a diskectomy/laminectomy about 5 years ago, you have certainly gotten about every rotten break it's possible to get. I hurt just reading your post! As far as pain relief goes, there are others on the forum that can contribute at least as much as I can, but I'll give you my perspective as someone who had to rely on the same drugs for pretty much the same reason. To be completely honest, however, I must tell you I was an rx narcotic addict for twenty years before I ever developed back trouble. So take that for what it's worth.



From the sound of it, the only way you're going to live a life free enough from pain to make it worth living is to freely avail yourself of the morphine your doctor is offering. There are those who think anti-inflammatories are god's gift to pain relief, but they're also all pretty much neophytes who have never experienced a fraction of what you describe.



In my experience, based on the mechanism by which morphine provides pain relief, it is not possible for a human being to use high, frequent doses of morphine or other opiates without becoming habituated mentally and physically. But let's look at that statement for a moment. Our society automatically considers addiction of this kind to be evil, to be a symptom of low moral character, when all it is simple human physiology. There is no morality involved whatsoever.



Yes, if you ever can get to a point where you don't need such strong pain relief, you're going to have to go through a clean, honest, intelligent rehab process. But so what? You didn't ask for this to happen to you. You're no criminal. You're just a human being in unspeakable pain. It is a doctor's obligation to relieve that pain just as it is his obligation to help his patient off of the drugs currently necessary for achieving that pain relief.



Yes, yawning is an early symptom of narcotic withdrawal (or forced viewing of chick flicks).  Just don't buy into this idea that becoming habituated to opiates is evil. What else can you do in your situation? Besides, there are new drugs, some of them opiates like buprenorphine, that provide pain relief without incurring as much dependence. Ask your doctor about them.



But above all, Tom, hold your head up high. You've done nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone of us would do the same thing in your place and face the same consequences of having to rely on morphine for as long as you have.



Peace.

by Francoise, Apr 10, 2001 12:00AM
That is one of the best, most responsive, compassionate answers to a post I've seen here or anywhere else. Very well done.



You said: "Yes, if you ever can get to a point where you don't need such strong pain relief, you're going to have to go through a clean, honest, intelligent rehab process."



Is there such a thing as you describe? I'm in the same boat with oxycontin. Don't know if I'll ever be in a position where I'm free enough of pain to contemplate getting off that med. But it would be very comforting to know I can get off if that time comes, and do so as you describe above. I'm particularly vulnerable to depression and so I'm, well, terrified of coming off.



Can you advise?



Francoise

by cindi, Apr 10, 2001 12:00AM
To: TOM
Thomas's post was so very true and extremely well written and understanding of your situation.  I do have to agree with him as far as everything he said....so many people with chronic pain such as yours have no choice but to take narcotics and yes there is an issue of addiction, or dependance but so what....as a nurse I can tell you I have seen so many people on narcotics long term, become dependant and they really didn't give it too much thought other than when the time came that the pain was controlled with with a medication with less strength that they gradually tapered their dose which is recommended with alot of drugs other than narcotics, such as steroids and antidepressants. Your doc sounds compassionate enough that when the time comes to get off the medication he may be very willing to help you with the process.You are so lucky that your doc is willing to continue to prescribe pain medication, I have heard so many people complain about their docs lack of compassion, including my self and my husband.   In all honesty though I do agree that you are in no position to get of the morphine and live a painfree, productive life..  Please do as Tom suggests and hold your head up and please do not be ashamed, there is no shame in having to take medication for anything that ails you, diabetics have to take medication, cardiac patients need heart meds, chronic pain patients need pain medication,  it was invented for a reason...amd yes FRANCOISE  there is an intelligent honest way of coming off narcotics, tapering down, using the help of your physician when the time comes, there are treatment centers, and there is medication out there to help with this process and there is medication that is designed for the purpose of treating depression....there really is help out there...good luck to both of you and God bless       Cindi

by siliconboy, Apr 10, 2001 12:00AM
To: Tom
Sounds like you have plenty on your plate without throwing addiction into the mix brother. You'll not get better responses than the previous but I will add a little story.. Have you ever seen Dr. Dean Adell on the tube? I'm not sure just what inpired him for this rant that I saw years ago but it went something like this. There are people in the world that have crippling chronic pain, many of them such as terminal cancer patients could care less if they become dependent on anything, much less something that may allow them some shred of dignity and peace. He went on to say - who cares if someone gets addicted? If they're in pain treat that NOW. We know that regardless of what anyone does 10 - 20 % of the population is going down the road to addiction at any given time. If they get to a point where they don't need the meds anymore - we'll treat 'em for addiction. Dr. Dean is pretty much a great guy and more than a wee bit geeky - he won me over with that spot.



chill and worry about what's in front of ya' - trust me "this is the voice of experience" :) you can kick the dope and they get better at making it tolerable every year.

David

by Pixie, Apr 10, 2001 12:00AM
Well said, Thomas. Pain relief is so often withheld from people who desperately need it out of fear of addiction. Addiction can and probably will be a side effect of the treatment you need for your ailment. Side effects are rarely pleasant. Some drugs can cause seizures, stroke, bleeding, infection, depression, coma, death, yadda yadda....

If your pain is in any way interfering with the quality of your life, then you must take whatever drugs are necessary to relieve it.

My doctors have so often left me hanging. They don't think narcotics are an acceptable treatment for chronic pain-only acute