Pain management without pain meds?

[BK1012]

Reading a lot of the posts I see a ton of people have back issues.  I have arthritis in my neck and am in pain all day everyday.  What have some found to be helpful?  I do use a tens machine that works a little.  Any other safe ways to deal with the pain?

[IBKleen]

I am also a pain patient that does not take medication. I have found acupuncture to help with the nerve pain I have from 5 herniated disks. I take Motrin and for me, I use moist heat. Mostly I simply live with it. I have good days and bad days. And even on my worst day it is better than using drugs.

On another note...I have read your posts and it seems that you are struggling with thoughts of using. You appear to be right on the edge. I wonder how much pain you are really in or is it your addiction calling your name. I know it calls my name more than I would like. Are you doing anything in the way of aftercare? I know it was mentioned to you..it had to be. Ask anyone here who has relapsed and now has accumulated clean time what they did different this time to STAY clean and they will tell you aftercare. I don't like to push things down people's throats abut this I will. Aftercare is essential. The drugs are not the problem, YOU are the problem and until you fix YOU, you will most likely not get any time under your belt. Aftercare is what keeps me clean and working on ME. I am sick and need fixing.

I hope you will think about it. Ask any questions and see what other members do.

[BK1012]

I really do have pain.  Granted it was a great excuse to use but I am trying to find other ways to deal with it.  I do know that I am the one with the problem my addiction has nothing to do with the pain.  I was just hoping to get any other ideas so that my brain doesn't always jump to "well if I just ad some pain medication"  

[IBKleen]

It's been over 7 years clean for me honey and my brain still tells me I need medication. That does not go away. But with aftercare you will learn skills to help with your "reaction" to those thoughts.

I really do have pain as well. Like I said 5 herniated disks. More days than not I am debilitated. It has taken much of my quality of life. It is ever present. Sleeping is like a contact sport. I get jabbed every which way I turn and a good many nights I sleep in the den in a lounge chair.

Like I mentioned, I would look into acupuncture and even try T'ai Chi. There is a book..."Pain Free" by Peter Egoscue. Check it out on Amazon. Also, have you discussed any non-narcotic medications with your doctor? They are available and for arthritis there is also injections available. Do your homework and you may very well find a solution.

Another thing I can tell you is that I really suffered with pain during withdrawal and for some time afterward. I relapsed over and over until I finally just got through it and after a while I found that my pain was not as bad. It was not gone by any means but it was not as intense. If you can give it some time and assess it in a month let's say, you may find it has lessened. I hope you do.

I am glad you are here and looking for help. Keep posting and asking questions. The members here are helpful and knowledgable. Hang in there and whatever you do just don't use.

[weaver71]

I found acupressure to work too, but couldn't afford acupressure. I like all of IBKlean's advice, try all of it. I do want to point out something though. You said, "My pain has nothing to do with my addiction." I can't say if that is true or not, but my pain was worse the last couple years on opiates than it is now. Look up opiate induced pain or opiate induced hyperalgesia. Over years of use, our brains want the drugs enough to cause pain, so that it can get drugs and make you believe that is the only option. Even if we know better, many of us still have that feeling that we can't live without drugs. With the brain scans and new science, this is not a theory, long term side effects of opiate use is pain. This may not apply to you, but it sure does to a lot of us. It may be that you will have less pain with clean time, that is pretty common, but definitely try other methods to deal with pain. You will find what works for you, with enough time and effort.

[weaver71]

couldn't afford acupuncture, typo above.

[BK1012]

Weaver71 yes I have read that!  What I meant was the reason why I started and probably continued was to get high not really for the pain.  Needing it for the pain was the lie I told myself.  I am hoping the longer I am off the less pain I have.  I am in that time where it is more pain but I am not fooling myself that pain meds are the only way to go.  

[clean_in_ks]

Forgive me for not remembering, but aren't you the one that is going to a suboxone/psych dr tomorrow?  

[weaver71]

I see your point. I was talking about your pain being BECAUSE of your addiction, rather than your addiction being because of your pain. I liked the pain relief of opiates, but that was a pretty small part of it, compared to all the other reasons. I still hurt, but without the anguish of active addiction, it's only parts of my body that hurt, not my whole being. This thread got me to thinking, there's a Yoga class a block away from me, I believe it's time to try it out.

[BK1012]

Yes I am  clean_in_ks but I have not decided what I am going to do.  I also don't know if I will still experience my arthritis pain if I start on Suboxone.  
Weaver I see what you are saying.  I am not sure if the arthritis is so bad because of the years of pain meds or if it is just what is it is?   Time will tell.  I am so nervous about tomorrow I have no idea what to expect.  I don't know if I want the suboxone and I don't even know if the doctor will even prescribe it to me.  I just thought if I had any ideas about pain relief that I could use the tips sub or no sub.  Like I said I do a TENS machine it helps and I do yoga.

[jethro733]

The subs will be just another trap, and getting off them is so so so much more difficult than what you've just been through...  When you're on pain medication your body is not producing it's own endorphins (morphine), when you get off them for a good month or two you will start to feel your body beginning to make it's own pain medicine and what was before unbearable pain becomes a lot more manageable...  Just give yourself more time for the body to straighten out I'd say.