Picking up where I left off

[dedicatedtostop]

Okay long story short,  I was 12 days clean... Felt great, exercised my butt of to get there and BOOM.. Re-injured my back.

So here I am I still have no idea as to what's wrong( hopefully) just flared up the herniated disc, The soonest available on the MRI is Tuesday.
With that said, I am still having pain but not near as bad as it was. I have made the conscious decesion to stop the pain pills starting tomorrow.
I have only been taking them every 4 hours but boy I am freaked out yet again to start over:(

The biggest problem is that I start a new job next week and I seriously have no idea how I am going to do this with my back hurting. Taking pills is not solving anything though because either way, it still hurts therefore I have decided to stop now before the potential grows to addiction again.
I am trying to convince myself it won't be too bad, I have only been taking them as prescribed for 2 weeks and I had around 12 days or so before and I felt really good.

I am however absolutely terrified that I am not going to be able to stand up through the day starting a new job...... But I HAVE to.

So here I am, convincing myself that it's gonna be okay!
I have no idea what to expect orchid withdrawals and I have no idea what to expect pain wise from the job.
I just know that pain or no pain, the pills have to stop now while I am ahead otherwise I will end up right back where I was!! I need my MH friends!!

[littlebit010101]

Hey littlebit I so love ur name...lol...I'm not much of a poster but thanks...I have just been loving life....had some UPS and downs but chugging along..life is good.....my husband and I celebrated 30 years of marriage on the 3rd and it just keeps getting sweeter....sometimes I get scared bc its so good now..lol...but I been watching u and WOW u r amazing...being so helpful to everyone....keep it up.....life is amazing when u live it...thanks again...

[littlebit667]

There you are, I wondered how things were going.  I am so glad that things are going well.  Good to see you post.  :)

[littlebit010101]

I'm doing good....went through all my uncle's stuff...that was tough...found a bunch of pics that made me cry but its ok to cry...we bought us a used camper (a fixer upper) lol...but we r taking it to Florida and plan on spending at least two weekends a month there...only bought two be drive from us.. so much needed.. I can't wait...my grandson is excelling in dive I have been to all his meetings since I been able.. his coach said he wished he had ten just like him....he wants to take him to compete at end of season and this is his first year which I told my daughters since he was two and started diving and swimming like a fish in our pool it was his gift....so I. Been busy but its great..  so glad ur doing some better..  I can't imagine being in that pain and having to work...ur still my hero....take care much love and hugs... Thanks for letting me know.  

[dominosarah]

Your a nurse too?  Oh geez, i dont know how you people can do that job!!  I get light headed just thinking about it!!

Any word on what is going on with your back?

[dedicatedtostop]

Love my new job.... It was a good week, the back pain was manageable( sti taking lortab every 4 hours:( but right now I dont have a choice! Let me say.... I m still taking them as prescribed!!! Yesterday was a busy day for me so when I woke up this am my back was killing me but it's easing off now.
Still taking it one day at a time...sigh...
How are you doing????

[littlebit010101]

Hey u.....how's it going?.....can't wait to hear bout the new job....much hugs and kisses....

[dedicatedtostop]

Thanks guys!! Sara not really, but I am a nurse... A little nervous going back in:(

[dominosarah]

Take it as it comes, just roll with the flow......You have been thru worse.  Stay positive in your thinking and you will breeze right thru this.  Is your new job physical?

[Luckytwice]

Well, i'm not sure how many days you have been taking them, but if it's a week or less, I don't think you will have much of a problem.

If you have to take some at work, then i guess you have to. I would just take what I had to, and no more, and not worry about it.
If you are home and relaxing, and the back pain is tolerable, I just wouldn't take them.  Try a relaxing hot bath, some gentle streatching, and relaxing technics to ease discomfort, don't push it, just enough to release tension, and take it easy.

The less you take them, the better, and less likely a chance of that physical dependance happening again. If you can space out the time between pills to twelve hours, then it doesn't allow the opiate to remain in your system and stay bonded to the receptors, which will reduce the likelihood of dependence.

[dedicatedtostop]

Anybody have thoughts on what to expect?

[dedicatedtostop]

Thanks for your support! I think I will stick w tomorrow, that will give me enough time to be sick if need be before I start. I obviously am hoping for the best w the wd's and I swore to myself when I re-injured my back that when the pain slacked off I would stop the pills. Obviously if it gets unbearable after the first day then I will go from there. My hub has been holding the pills and giving them to me q 4 hours so we are on the same side w this plan as well.

So... We shall see but I gotta give it a try.

[sandstone27]

I know how you feel.  But let's relax and breathe a little bit here.  In my opinion, it's hard enough to start a NEW job, Mondays are NEVER easy - do you really want to throw withdrawal into the mix?  

You're strong, you're dedicated (your screename says so:)...I'm not advocating continued drug use, I just feel that a few more days of responsible use is not going to hurt you one way or the other...cut yourself a bit of slack and get through your first few days of work and THEN focus on stopping again.  You are taking the meds for real pain.  It will be OK.  
Just my opinion - you have to do what YOU think is best for you, and if that means quitting tomorrow, then you have my complete support.  I just don't want you to worry needlessly.


Well wishes to you...

Sandy

[Luckytwice]

You will develop a physical dependence again, that's a given. Depends how long you take them is all. If it's only for a week or two, then a quick taper and you should be ok. Take as few as possible.
Got a back brace? That may help you stay on your feet at work. It will give you a little support at least.

[dedicatedtostop]

Thanks for the advice, I have not tried the"bed thing" but I did go to the chiro last week. I have and am still doing heat and ice and forced bedrest for 4 days... That's hard for me:).... Thanks for the advice on the bed, will give it a try

@ sandy... Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. I was so dedicated to beating this that I worked so hard to get there only to re-injure myself. Either way, I feel as if I don't stop taking the pills(even as rx'd) that I am setting myself up again.
I HAVE to start that job next week and what scares me the most is... New job+pain+ throwing myself into withdrawals! I don't know what to expect:(
I am leaving it all in gods hands

[Luckytwice]

Try tilting your box spring or taking the legs off one end and lay with your head on the low side, feet on the high side and stretch out you back as much as you can. I use an inversion board but not everyone has one of those.
The idea is to take all the pressure off your herniated disc so it can re inflate a little. Do this as often as you can and stay off it as much as you can, avoid any sudden moves. As you probably know this is when you are most likely to get a pinched nerve on top of it all. Alternating hot and cold compresses on the lower lumbar muscle will help loosen them up as well.

I feel for you, I have three herniated discs so I know how bad it can get. I'm a whole inch shorter than I used to be, LoL!

[sandstone27]

And it WILL be OK..even if you have to wait a few days to stop, I can tell from your post you don't want to go down that addiction road again.

[sandstone27]

Hi,  I'm sorry you injured your back - I hurt mine the same way - trying to strengthen it.   It took about 10 days before the pain subsided.  

If you really don't think the pills are helping you any longer, then there is no point in taking them.  You'll find out once you stop if they were helping with pain or not.  I would see how Monday goes, and if you find that the pain is unbearable because of your injury, you may want to consider taking them until you have the MRI done on Tuesday, and can talk further with a doctor about your pain and how to manage it.  

Not sure if this helps or not, but it all depends on how severe your injury is and how bad the pain is..  

Good luck to you, and let us know how you're doing.

Well wishes :)

Sandy