Mind over matter- can it be done?

[freshstart01]

Norco w/d. Once mentally and physically heeled, is it possible to take med, maybe different type- as prescribed . When needed for extreme pain, if someone holds and gives to u as prescribed? For real pain? Or is OTC better, although doesn't work...?

[freshstart01]

Thank you. I like "taking them moderately for physical pain is not the same thing as taking them long term for physical pain"
Never want to be in that dark place again. Still struggle. Took 1 for pain yesterday with a motrin.  Helped pain- had zero high.  Then forgot about it and went on about my business.

[Bubulous]

I like to come up with new material but I will use and earlier post for this:

In this time of need you have to use you knowledge and as I said notice the ironies of life and enjoy them.  Of course you won't become addicted to them again.  Taking them moderately for physical pain is not the same thing as taking them long term for emotional pain.  You have all the knowledge needed to not start back.  If you let go of the emotional damage and forgive the driver for what he did you will be more prepared.  

Life gives us ironies and obstacles every day.  Anyone could find theirself in your position but noone should feel like they are taking a step back.  If you let go of any negativity you will have nothing mental to supress.  If you have nothing mental to supress and experience any physical withdrawals they will feel more like being a little sick instead of feeling like your world is going to end.

Fight the negativity, fight the depression, enjoy irony, embrace love, and get better.

I will try to come up with something newer next time : )

[freshstart01]

So our pain comes from the brain? I wish I could shut it off. My brain.

[Ballgame]

My pain dr says it's all in the brain. The receptors are in the brain and can somehow be managed mentally. It can't, your body physically becomes dependant. I think his point is that if you have to go through wd then you just do it. Easier said than done!
It's the receptors that need the drugs

[freshstart01]

Dan- your story is inspirational. I also have medical issues,  etc...which is painful. I don't take pain meds unless I have to and will have someone hold them for me. That's the only way I will win. Only 19 days. Too soon to go back. Wish I could postpone surgery.

[TooThoughtfulDan]

I am glad that you brought this up, as I face possible surgery in a few weeks with only a few weeks clean from Vicodin.  I know if I have the bottle in my hands, I will just take more and more, (and more) until I am sick.  My wife had agreed to hold the bottle and dispense them--incidentally she is a career RN.  My current script is for a too large amount, so I think when we fill it at the pharmacy, we will do partial fills.  I do not need 120 Vicodin in the house.  I am thinking 4 to 8 (they are supposed to be 10/325  4x)  That would get me through two days.  Then we could see if Advil or Tylenol would work.  I have back pain right now, but I manage ok, and I don't have my month's supply of pain med, because I downed them in the first week.
I spent all last night really thinking about your main question:  Can an addict become unaddicted?  Notice I did not say, "become not an addict."  I am very much an addict.  I drank very heavily for 25 years and became sober through AA.  At this point in my life alcohol is very much take it or leave it--I do not obsess about it.  I drank two quarts of beer while detoxing of the Hydrocodone, it helped some,and then I lost interest.  I am totally done with toilet hugging because of booze.  My true addict self however saw no problem setting me up for toilet hugging after Vicodin.  Then after I got off the booze, I replaced it with benzodiazepines.  I was on them for a total of 3-4 years, the last of which I gulped handsfuls of 4mg Xanax.  My behavior became so shameful, we had to leave the town where I was a professor, and just move 5 states away.  I sat on the couch for a year dealing with the most intense anxiety, paranoia, fear, self loathing, and cloudy thinking a person could ever endure.  Because I had messed with the GABA pain pleasure system in the brain to such an extent, months after becoming clean from Xanax, I could not sit and eat in a restaurant with my wife--the panic was so severe I would choke on the food.  It took me two years of a light dose of Elavil and a loving wife before I could make it out the door and work.  I can truly say without reservation that now I have no desire for Benzos, whatsoever.  Am I issue free?  Hell no.  I smoke cigars, chew plug tobacco, and am fighting (successfully) being overweight.  I teach high school kids and still have anxiety issues. I like the clear headed feeling I have today, and I too worry about losing that to another addiction-Hydrocodone.  I do not want to be in super pain, so I am hoping that I can learn to manage this portion of my addictive life like I have others.  Booze is a thing of the past.  I no longer can handle a cigarette, smoked them since I was 12--just an occasional cigar or a little chewing tobacco.  I run from the thought of benzos, I am afraid of them.  I have a life, and with a little thought perhaps I can have a surgery if needed, manage the pain, and not do the taking a few more hydros to feel good ***** that I have learned to do in the past three years.  I spend a lot of time thinking about why I am still an alcoholic, but do not really want to drink---etc., and then prove to myself that I am so powerless over hydrocodone.  I realize that an addict posting that he or she can control addictions will get an uproar on a site like this.  But I am talking about various personal experience with managing addictive things, which came from  the interesting topic about using pain meds successfully for pain management.
Too Thoughtful Dan