Treating the pain vs feeding the addiction

After reading another post here this morning, it prompted me to write about an experience of my own, in hopes it will awaken something we are all exposed to.

I have several serious issues with my spine that have required me to deal with pretty strong pain relievers.  Some of these same drugs are what we all deal with after surgery.  When I got to the point where Vicodin and Darvocet no longer kept the pain level at a reasonable point, I had to go to Percocet, a fairly strong opiate that my doctor HATED with a passion.  But he prescribed it because it worked for me and kept me mobile and functioning with some level of pain relief.

After a conversation with him about my trying to lose weight to help my issues, and seeing if there was something else that could give me that level of relief, he told me how he felt about Percocet but not WHY he felt this way.  And, I didn't think to ask.  I needed a higher dosage than he was comfortable with and so I stayed at the same...as far as he knew.  I really was taking 2 more pills daily than he knew about just to keep the pain at bay.  (I told him about this later).

And then I did the one thing that I needed to do.  I asked my pharmacist why my doctor would have such a strong objection to this medication.

He asked how long I had been on it.  3 Years I told him and I am already taking more than is prescribed.  "You were addicted after about a week", he told me.  So I asked what the signs of addiction were.  He asked if after a few hours, did I feel like I was coming down with the flu. ???  I said that I got a bit shaky, didn't feel good and my whole body ached until I took the next dose.  "And where was your pain level before taking the next dose", he asked.  Well, my whole body hurt.

"That is your addiction talking to you, not your real pain", he said.  And he was right!  I got home and started paying more attention to what was going on with my body when it was time for more meds.  He was so right!!  What had happened without my ever noticing was that I was no longer treating my real pain caused from my spine.  I was feeding my addiction to Percocet!

Within one week, I had taken myself completely off the Percocet.  I did not like the shakiness, feeling as I was jumping out of my skin.  Nor did I like the feelings of coldness and shivers.  Neither were horrible but they were there. 

Then, I saw my doc again, told him what I had done and he was so happy!!  I am now on Tramadol and it does not do the job with my real pain, but I can manage.  Not as before, but doable.  I thought that if this past can help one person to recognize addiction, I have done something good with it.

I'm sure there will be several people who may, or should recognise themselves in your story ....  

We treat prescription drugs and the addiction thereof as somehow different or more acceptable than say, addiction to an illegal narcotic - but having lost a family member to a drug overdose this week (of prescription medication - albeit NOT his prescription), this very much resonates with me.  He was 39, successful businessman with a wife and 4 year old son - not how most people would perceive a drug addict!

Thank you for sharing this!

I'm sorry about your family member Kim. Hugs.  

I am so sorry Kim for your loss!

And I want this to resonate with everyone here because we DO (most of us anyway) have these similar drugs going home after surgery.  I had NO idea that I was indeed addicted to Percocet using my own knowledge.  But after talking to the pharmacist, I do feel a lot of us do not or will not realize how quickly they become addicted or how the addiction disguises itself and mimicks (sp) the pain we are trying to alleviate with it's use. 

Nor do many people realize that many of these drugs also have acetaminophen in them and so, if innocently taking a Tylenol or two for break thru pain, we may be overdosing on it.

Well, I am sure you all have heard enough from me, just please pay attention to the drugs you take.

Gosh, I am so sorry about your loss Kim.  It breaks my heart how so many wonderful lives are cut short by drugs.

Missy

Sorry to hijack the OP's excellent post - just wanted to share that just because someone is abusing prescription drugs, (as opposed to illegal drugs) doesn't make them any less a drug addict and certainly does not make them immune from dying from an overdose - thank you ladies for your kind wishes.  

And you are also making an excellent post Kim!  Around here, street value for Vicodin is $10.00 PER PILL.  Percocet and Oxicontin (which gives me nightmares) are of much higher monetary amounts!  The school kids and adults in and around this area are hooked on other people's prescriptions.

That's really scary.  I take Vicodin for pain from a stress fracture that just doesn't want to heal in my foot and I have been taking it almost every day for about 6 months.  Usually twice per day but sometimes only once per day. Just another reason that I just  HAVE to get approved for this surgery.  My doc says my foot will heal real slow because of the weight on it. :(

I'm glad you are managing now with the other medication and I appreciate you sharing your story. 

Missy