To use or not to use?

[VicUser]

For those of you that know me you know my story, for those that don't I took vicodin 3 pills per day on average of 5/500 for the better part of 7 years for back and leg pain. I have tried many different ways to get rid of the pain w/o drugs and with non-narcotic drugs, different treatment and even epidural cortisone shots. I had one pain Dr say that as long as I didn’t need to increase my dosage that I was fine with the vicodin usage.

Just about every time I would see my Dr I would get a lecture that he was not a drug dealer and to be careful. In November he seemed put off that I was there for another refill, so fearing that he was going to “pull the plug” on me I decided to see if I could live without them. With acupuncture treatments it has been bearable, but as I tried to back off on the treatments the pain has come back. Since November I have spent $1000 on acupuncture out of my pocket.

I saw my Dr today and told him I quit taking vicodin and the rest of the story. He said that he didn’t really mean for me to quit just be careful, however he would do whatever he could to support me in finding a treatment that was narcotic free. He still doesn’t have any other suggestions other than what I have tried or am doing.

Here is my problem, vicodin does work and since I didn’t keep increasing my dosage maybe I should use 1 or 2 a day and get acupuncture occasionally. I am not sure that I can continue with acupuncture at this rate as the cost per year would be about $3000, but I am not sure that I want to start using again either. He said he would write a new prescription if I wanted them. He is a good and very caring Dr and wants the best for me so I can stay active and be productive, but doesn’t want me to become a vicodin junkie either.

So as I sit here and ponder, your input is welcome.

[bmc1976]

Sounds like we are in the same boat. I suffer from lower back pain and sciatic pain. My pain seems to come and go. I have tried everything non narcotic for pain relief to no avail. When my pain comes back, I go back on the pain meds. I hate too, but would rather deal with withdrawals than the pain itself. I have went through them 6 times. My problem is I end up taking more than prescribed because my body builds a tolerance to them. It sounds like you have everything in check though. Only taking 2 to 3 a day for over seven years is impressive. My opinion is if you need them for pain, you should take them if you feel you have to. I feel for you because it is so difficult living with pain. There is quite a list of non narcotic pain meds. I have tried quite a few if you would like to know what they are. They just don't seem to knock out the pain like narcotic pain meds do but they do help some. Maybe you could try non narcotic for most days and then the vicodin when it's unbearable. I'm sure you've tried it all too though. Best of luck and make the decision you have to make and don't be ashamed.
brian

[cocobeanlisa]

Shotrock,

You said that right , I am jealous also.  If I could take pills like a normal person I would get high every day..

Get it, normal people don't get high.

cocobean

[Shotrock]

Here's my take on your situation, at first i think your pain was helped by the vicodens, but once your body adapted this small dose was doing nothing, but your head was telling it it was. Try this for fun, take 8 norcos, just kidding that would be me.  Try this find a Vitamin or an Amino acid something similar to size and shape of Vics and have someone give you your dose, but not tell you if its Vic or Vitamin. Our mind is very powerful your only addiction is you think you need it. I could be wrong, humor me give it a try.  Good Luck just a jealous hydro junkie here.  Day 11

[cocobeanlisa]

Hi,

I was reading all of the post, and some great stuff..I started taking pain pills for back/neck
and double mastectomy pain..It was real pain and for many years was on the prescrib amount until I built up a tolerance.  Than one day it was 4 pills and the next 2, and than 5 and so forth until I knew it I had to take at least 10 pills to feel any thing.

If you can take just 2 to 3 pills a day, that's great and yes quality of life is very important.
I still suffer great back pain and nerve damage but the pills are no longer an option for me.

The main problem is that since I have abused them and they no longer work , my doctors have said that in 10 years from now when my body can no longer tolerate the pain there is nothing I can do.  I either will have to go on morphine or such or not beable to function.  

Since I gave up the pain pills I found a Doctor who is a DO, he treats me with heat/message and other things (no drugs).  It has helped a great deal and my insurance pays for it.  Pain pills would help the pain more but again not an option for me.

If I where young I would stop the pain pills and deal with the back pain, its hard, but remember back pain only increases with age.

Good luck, and if it works for you and you can stay at the RX amount great, live enjoy.

cocobean

[catmagnet]

I'll just say you're 39 .I've been 39  for several years now =) seems to be a good age...

[cathy5841]

the lady that is having surgery (on another post) she just mentioned she takes nora tryptalene (sp)  check that out. her name is goldieboomer.  she said it works great is non narcotic

[VicUser]

Somedays I feel 102 on somedays my wife says I act 2, so anywhere in there fits I guess...LOL

[VicUser]

Not a problem, I like most of the people here and enjoy the conversation. I have a feeling sticking around would help a lot on those days that I would want to take more. I really hope I can come up with something else though, I am going to give it some serious though before I take any. I would have to get a new script any way.

[catmagnet]

Sorry, I don't know how old you are=(

[VicUser]

My Dr said that if I were 70 he would have not problem at all with me taking pain meds, but at my age it's a slippery slope.

[catmagnet]

You know, I agree with worried, quality of life is important, especially as we get older as we don't have as much time left. My mother takes celebrex and she has a bad heart to start with ( celebrex can cause heart attacks) she and her dr. agree  if she dies 6 months sooner, or whatever, at least she enjoys herself. I don't see a problem with 2-3 pills a day if you were using them correctly, as for myself, I let things get out of hand , so I think I'd be better off with none if I ever get there.

[cathy5841]

whatever you decided to do, make sre you still hang out with us.  we like you

[flmagi]

I agree with Cathy, if you don't need to take them every day, then just take when really needed. You're very strong to have taken them only as percribed for 7 years.  Quality of life needs to be taken into your concideration.

[VicUser]

You are making sense. The one thing that I thought before stopping, and this was based on me periodically stopping for a week or two, was the pain in my back would be too bad. I found out that that was my body wanting the drug. If I do start again I may limit myself to two a day on average, taking one on light pain days and three on heavier pain days, but set the limit at three in any one day regardless.

[allaboutmary]

Good idea Cathy.  Leave them as an option, when nothing else is getting rid of the pain. Like Cathy said you might not need them on a daily basis.  

[worried878]

You know quality of life is important...I dont believe in long term use of narcotics for pain, but if u r one of the ones who does not build a tolerence then I would take them if it helps the pain...15 mg a day is not very much...I was very slow to build a tolerence but I did eventually...you are well aware after being on this forum of how careful u need to be and the second u abused them I would quit...I guess for some reason I thought you had a larger habit than that...risky and you are right to be weighing it out

[cathy5841]

okay you asked..lol  i personally would take them, if i were in your shoes.  i clearly am not....you take as prescribed and dont abuse.  you have a legit reason and need them.  i dont think i look at you as an addict.  maybe you were physically dependent....i dont know that, i know that is something you can not contral.  addiction is something that can be controlled we just dont do it.  IMHO   you do not have to take them everyday even.  maybe set a limit for the pain, when it gets ___level you will take one.  otherwise you will use ibuprofen or soemthing else.   am i making any sense?

[mimi1313]

I'm sure you did go through wds from 7 years of use but did you have mental cravings? If you didn't, you may want to take them responsibly. Like Mary said you went 7 years and didn't increase your does so it doesn't seem like you are taking them to get high.

[VicUser]

Mimi
Yes, I would say that I was dependent on them and addicted is a relevent thing I would guess. When I stopped I did got through mild withdraws, but nothing to write home about.

Cathy
I know, but I respect the opition of many of you and sometimes talking helps me make a better decision.

Mary
My Dr pretty much said that he would not allow me to increase the dosage and I won't buy off of the street. It's not worth the risk. I am so on the fence with this. I don't want to take them again, but on somedays the pain really gets to me.

[allaboutmary]

Ok so you went 7yrs without increasing your dose.  Thats pretty impressive, and you surley can say you haven't abused them. You have tried other things to relieve the pain. I myself , believe in quality of life. So if you could continue taking as prescribed and they take away the pain you probably should go back on them.  Just be careful my friend. You don't want to end up in my shoes.  

[cathy5841]

UUMMM VICUSER, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.  BUT YOU ARE THE ONE TO ANSWER IT  

[mimi1313]

So you were taking them strictly for pain? You were physically dependent, but not addicted?

[VicUser]

I though my Dr was going to stop prescribing them. When I saw him in Nov his attitude was different than all the other times. Maybe he was just having a bad day.

[mimi1313]

That's a good question. I know you only took, maybe 2-3 a day right? You just wanted to be off of them. I would weigh this carefully. I understand wanting to be able to do the things you used to and I don't think you took them for the high, Why did you stop in the first place?