help with 20 year use

Question

I have been trying since 2012 to get off opiates.  Should I take time off work to get myself right?  I am thinking of taking a month off.  I still have knee and back pain, which I am going to see a specialist about.

toothfairie · Accepted Answer

Hi holagirl,  I was on opiates for 25 years off and on....in Nov this year I will have 3 years clean.  Yes it's totally possible for you too.  You just have to push thru and fight for your life....it's SO worth it!  Keep posting, this is a great site for support and info.  Just wanted to add my support and let you know you can turn it around no matter how long the use...if you wake up every morning, you still have a fighting chance  :)

toothfairie · Answer

Ok well keep in touch!!  Good luck with doc appts!

BearsFan1966 · Answer

For the first few days off of pain meds my pain level was off the charts! Just know that this is your mind saying "take a pill" once you push threw that it does get better I am now at about a 4 and I will take that without pain pills any day! We are all here to support you and help any way we can!

holagirl907 · Answer

Thank you..  For now...I am still on something.  So, I may not be back on here until around the 11th of August.  That is when I go in to see one specialist about my back. He is going to try burning the nerves. 

 I go to another about my knees on Sept 3rd.  

Thank you again!

toothfairie · Answer

I hope your pain gets better as well....Just let us know how you are doing and we can help...I know you've done this before so you sort of know the drill...but that doesn't make it any less tough to go thru.  Just remember those feelings are temporary...just breath.  I don't post alot but I check in often....you can always send me a PM if you have questions, it pops up on my phone.  I'm off today so i'll be around.

holagirl907 · Answer

OK..  thank you.  My work is sitting in front of a computer all day and it is really slow right now.  
Whenever  I quit in the past, being at work always made it worse, I would just obsess in front of the computer all day! 

 It is good to know that your pain got better.  Praying that mine does too.

Thank you all!

toothfairie · Answer

I actually detoxed around Thanksgiving, so I had a week off, then took and extra week...then I was back at working 2 jobs...lol  it actually kept my mind busy, so i think it helped...did I WANT to go to work...no,  but I live alone and had bills to pay...lol  I was lucky, some have to work thru it all.

toothfairie · Answer

I have degenerative discs in my back so I live with pain as well...but now it's manageable with ibuprofen or tylenol.  You won't know your true pain level for a while...but mine actually got better OFF opiates.  It triggers your receptors in your brain to make you think you need more pain pills.  So if you can stay off them awhile you will know what level your pain really is.  I know it's tough...believe me I know...just hang in there and if you see a specialist, tell them your story...that you want off the opiates.

holagirl907 · Answer

I just want to know....did you work through all this?

holagirl907 · Answer

That's awesome!  Good to know.  
I do get shots every six months for the pain.  It helps somewhat....  I am going to see a specialist, so I guess for now, I wait and see what he says.  I cannot stand this anymore, but I also cannot stand the pain.  Maybe I have never been off long enough to know what my 'real pain' even is?  I think the longest I have ever been off is 2 weeks.

Ben727 · Answer

I used for 10 years, mostly hydrocodone. I was taking massive doses the last couple years. I have very bad knees, which is why I started out on it. I just passed the three year clean mark recently, so it can certainly be done.

One thing I noticed was that opioids weren't really managing my pain very well at the end there anyway. If i were you, I'd look into non-opioid methods of pain control. I used to have back pain and then started doing the plank position every day. Once I worked up to three separate one minute sessions a day, I have zero back pain. This has been for over a year. Plank is super easy to start and super hard to do for a long time. I highly recommend it.

As for knee pain, that's a tough one. How bad are your knees? If you've had a bunch of surgeries like I had, maybe you should look into a knee replacement. I got one, and it's like I knocked 15 years off my age. There are also shots you can get every six months direct into the knee that will control the pain quite a bit. There are herbal/mineral remedies like fish oil and glucosamine that some swear by. I think it was important for me to have a plan to deal with pain before I quit. It will take a huge effort, but it is really well worth it!!

holagirl907 · Answer

Thank you. I see my doctor on the 11th, and I will ask him if he will write me off work for 2 weeks, so I can get better. If not, then I will just have to think of something to tell my work. Someone else had a problem with pills a few years back, and it didn't go over well with them here. I work for a small business.

BearsFan1966 · Answer

Trust me there are many who have used as long as you have.....They will post soon, just a little slow right now but they will be here. I was on them for 12 years the first time I stopped before my accident, so have faith it does get better I promise! You will get your life back!

holagirl907 · Answer

I'm just scared that I can never completely quit. I haven't seen anyone on here who has used them as long as I have.  :(

holagirl907 · Answer

I've been on Darvocet or Vicodin for 20 years....daily use.
The no sleeping and pain keeps me going back.

gnarly_1 · Answer

Hi  well I see you been a member since 2011  but havent seen you post much....you kinda got to get sick and tired from being sick and tired all the time   the pills help at first but then they turn on you  they dont work as prescribed then we take more and more for the same effect only to run out early and are often forced to withdrawal  if your ready we do home detox all the time  taking a month off would be great  set yourself up for success  pick up ez food to make  a few cases of gatoraid  epsom salt for the bath  and look up the thomas resipe a lot of our members swear by it....the thing here is a successful detox is all about attitude the best thing you can bring to the table is a positive attitude  it will make the difference between being uncomfortable or suffering   suffering is a choice  this is 1/3 phyical and 2/3 mental  be ready to fight it out on both fronts  I have said this a million times  but ''you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile''  this to shale pass a hot soak with help with most of the symptoms  rent a bunch of funny movies for the long nights of no sleep  if you dont mind share a bit about what your taking how much and for how long it will help us help you ...we all look forward to helping you........Gnarly

BearsFan1966 · Answer

If you can afford to take time off then yes I would at least a couple weeks. The first week is the worst physically then the mental kicks in. I am on day 10 for the 3rd and final time. I feel much better but still fighting the energy part. You have been here for a while and you know the drill....the pain will ease once you are off the meds. It took about 8 days for mine to be ok, I am fighting back fractures and kidney stones so it is doable! Keep posting and we are here for you!