20 years ago, I was in a near fatal car wreck which has finally eroded my vertebre; caused degenerative disc disease, nerve damage and radial nerve damage to both hands. My options are to have a neck fusion using my hip bone of which they can't say if it would work or not or if it wont make it worse.(I can use my hands now after 1and a half years) or to keep takin percosett for the rest of my life. I am now no better than any junkie; addicted to opiates. I stopped taking them before and the pain was so severe that I couldnt sleep or work. So I had to start taking them again. Now I am drug addict. I know I have a legitamite reason to take these drugs, no one faults me. But: I want to live a normal life, not on drugs. But I dont want to live in constant pain or run the risk of becoming paralized or becoming even worse off than I am now. Rock and a hard place. I need advice. P.S. I am 38 yrs old

Is there something else that they can give you that's not a narcotic but will help ease the pain?

I know neck fusion can be risky and painful in itself.

I'm sorry to hear that but if it were me I would take the drugs. I have my own problems with my neck and I can deal with pain but not in the neck area.

Colleen,im sorry to hear about your injury. being an emt i know about back pain,but im sure yours is much worse. below are a couple of websites with good information on spinal injuries. one is info about clinical trials in progress right now.Also is info about alternative procedures that you might find helpful. I hate to see or hear of anyone in pain,so i hope you find these helpful. Ronnie

just copy and paste,if i can help with anymore info just message me


http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/4088.asp


http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article42.html

millions and millions of people take prescript. drugs daily for the remainder of their lifes. the trick is not to abuse them. if your not abusing, keep taking them. the Dr. prescribed them for a reason.

Colleen-

It is called pain management. There are pain clinics out there to help you regulate. Don't call yourself an addict. You are not taking the stuff for a high. You are taking the stuff to get thru the day.

Hugs, M

I know exactly what you are going through!! Pain management is a joke, they really don't help you regulate anything. I think you have to do what you have to do...I myself, I take my pills so I can deal with my every day life.
I understand the pain that you go through...if you need the pills then you need the pills. I do know that I only take what is prescribed for me, but I still am very "out of it" when I take my meds. I am learning to cope and I think that is the key when you know that life is going to be like that...I have good coping skills. I have kids that I have to take care of everyday, thats why I deal with pain.
I wish you luck Colleen...just hang in there, I have been dealing with pain for over 4 years now

If the pills aren't doing any good, don't take them. Change your perscription. But in all honesty, pills alone, are very addictive and not really enough for a successful cure. Personally, I suggest a new perscription and some persistent prayer.

I agree with MicheleNC.......I have to take pills for the rest of my life for various reasons. Having to deal with two or three different kinds of pain and or management, I see nothing wrong with you taking and using what you need as long as it is prescribed....I do and I know what happens when I don't. I don't like that part of me. Ultimately it is up to you and I would discuss this with your Dr as soon as possible. Hope you can feel better in some small way or BIG way.......wishing you hugs! and prayers!

Karen

I can't say that I understand chronic pain or pain management at all, but I feel for you... It must make life pretty hard sometimes.

I'm sending healing thoughts your way!

Just got back from a meeting where a lady has her husband to give her medicatication to her because she doesn't trust herself with them. She has to take medication because of her physical condition. She has to walk on canadian canes. He comes to the meetings with her as support and he introduces himself as just being there for her support. The open meetings everyone is welcome but the closed meetings are just for the addicts and alcoholics. It was nice to learn she doesn't have to get a court paper sign as so many of our new comers are court ordered and drug court is really picky with all the new laws. Makes one wonder though with the blind they can have seeing eye dogs. Confidentiality laws; Federal laws and so many state laws all have a bearing on our meetings but still we are under no surveillance at any time. The main thing is to share strength, hope and experience because the therapeutic value of one addict helping another addict is without parallel because who can best understand another addict but an addict? Our anonomity is one of our strongest things to help us in our struggle to stay clean.

I would get a second opinion and read up on your type of condition so you can weigh the odds and make an informed decision.Meanwhile if the percosets give you quality of life keep taking them.No shame in that.:)

Have you tried meditation? or visualization? I know sounds lame, but can work for alot of people!

I agree with the 2nd and even 3rd opinions, always get as much information at possible.

One concern I would have is that over time your body builds a tolerance and then the Percocets won't work anymore and they will have to give you something else. The doctors around here don't like short-acting opiates for chronic pain and are putting people on methadone for longer-acting relief.

Surgery is scary but they do do incredible things with surgery too, again, get opinions and see what is available.

I know of a patient who has severe chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, was on opiates for this and anti-inflammatories. She started taking "mangosteen" - actually an herbal and stopped her painkillers. Also, phenacaine is an herbal, and anti-inflammatory that is being more well known, but still new, and some people are having luck with it. Don't know if either of these would have any effect on your pain, every person's body is different, but just thought I would mention it. Phenacaine works for some, not others, some people who took Celebrex have stopped Celebrex and now take phenacaine and get better relief with it, and since it is herbal the thought is that it will not have the side effects that Celebrex can cause. A doctor I work for is starting to recommend these to his patients with pain for them to try.

Chronic pain is awful, I wish I knew of some real fix for you. I battle chronic headaches and arthritis in my neck, but that is nothing compared to what you deal with daily. I hope you can find some relief from your pain in whatever you do. Take care.

Colleen, the lady I mentioned, yesterday is in a different situation today and you may be able to relate. One of the medications that she has to take she found was not what it was supposed to be. We tried to have a meeting but it got out of hand and the chair person had to get the meeting back on topic. So many times when addicts get together the meetings can get emotional. As an addict she had to regain trust with her family and herself. As another addict added input, "We used drugs, people, places and things so much that it is no wonder even our closest family and friends gave up on us. The reading says, "We used to live and lived to used." It can get very brutal sometimes at the meetings when you get a room full of con artists are present and one con artist is trying to con themselves. It can to the point of recovery versus the disease and is like when birds of a feather will flock together so long as all the birds are the same color but when you got one bird who is different all of the other birds will peck at the bird of a different color. We kept trying to tell her to believe in herself. She thinks the pharmacy made a mistake in her prescription and like she was saying this medication doesn't even make you high so why would I even lie about it. Luckily for the lady she has a sponsor who is taking over it and who says she is going to help to get to the bottom of it. In the words of Mister T, "I pity the fool." when she finds out whose is to blame.

Living with chronic pain is no picnic. I think of medication as fuel for my body to cope. We can over eat or under eat and too much of anyhing is toxic but if the medication keeps you from stressing your heart or your mental state (Depression) then it is a fuel you need. How long do you think your body would last without water? You are addicted to water if you think about it. With any chronic condition I would say learn what you reasonably can and make an inform choice. Not everyone needs medication for the balance of their life. If the pain meds let you hold on maybe they will come up with a cure. If I had to have a back surgery I would be careful and pick the best hospital and doctor. I lean toward Shepard Spinal Center in Atlanta but sure there are others.

Well, her sponsor found out and she admitted before the group that she lied. She was in tears, again but this time we hope she is serious about working her program. Luckily for her she has a tough sponsor. She said she was sorry for letting the group down but we assured her that she didn't let the group down but herself. She accepted the white key tag or what AA calls the 24 hour chip. We let her know that she has the same time as any of us have which is today.