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Thread: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

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    Veteran Member charlotte_ai's Avatar
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    Default Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Let it never be said I am not partial to partaking in a little over the counter mood/pain/etc improvement. I am always partial to something to relieve pain and make me feel generally better about my day. I'm not hugely into recreational/illicit drugs, I'll have them if they're about, but I wont chase them if not. I feel like, however, that I take far too many over the counter meds, and my poor little body really isn't holding up as well as it used to.

    I have tried a lot of things in my lifetime to deal with my back pain, which I have had since I was in my teens. Exercise/rest, chiropractic, Strong drugs, weak drugs, stretching... I have a scoliosis that causes almost constant daily pain. The only thing I have found that actually works is complete rest at home. No driving, no working, nothing strenuous at all. These are the times when I don't need anything to get me through the day. The pain mostly goes, and I feel great.

    I try from time to time to go "cold turkey" like, dead straight off everything, and not take any painkillers. I get to a point where the pain affects my functioning. Takes about 3-4 days. It's not severe, but nagging and eventually I give up and do a run for some more codeine. I know it's addictive, but eventually I get so frustrated and grumpy about the pain that I just go "f*ck it!" and take something. I did have the theory I'd rather be pain free for the now, and live a shorter life in the future, but the speed at which the drugs are catching up to me is starting to scare me. I took Nurofen Plus for too many years, and shredded my stomach lining, so now if I have them I get massive pains, or really sick. I switched to Panadeine, but I know the paracetemol is bad for your liver...

    I have sought medical advice, and I go to an osteopath regularly, but it only fixes me for a short while, then I am super sore again. every time I have x-rays for whatever reason, the xray notes always comment on the curve in my spine, but the dr's never really worry. I don't try for painkillers from them, as I present with classic medication seeking behaviour, and am lucky to get anything when something major goes wrong with my back/neck/migraine etc. The dr's just don't seem to care though. Just refer me to get chiropractic again, which is only a short term fix. I feel like I am certainly shortening my lifespan, putting a strain on my body, and it's bloody expensive buying codeine all the time... My sleep gets all fucked up and I take sleeping tablets here and there to sleep. I'm definitely a bit of a medication junkie.

    I just feel like I am at an impass. Either tolerate constant pain, and get off the painkillers, or keep it up and at least function in comfort and happiness, knowing that it's catching up with me, and fast...

    Just needed to vent... (I'm out of codeine last few days so I'm sore, headachy and cranky)

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    God/dess shasta's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    I wonder how you would feel if it was really ALL out of you. Then maybe natural remedies might work better. Can you go to a rehab when you can go off safely? Hopefully a place where the have in house hearbalist, chiropractic, yoga, massage, etc.

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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    My mother was run over on the back of a motorcycle when she was young, and it caused permanent damage to her spine. A few years ago, a slipped disc pinched the nerve that runs down your lower back to your legs (sciatic, I think?), and she was in constant, agonizing pain. She became addicted to pain killers and even then could hardly walk. She couldn't sleep most nights because the pain of lying down was more than she could bear. Like you said, the chiropractor was relief, but only temporary. She ended up getting microsurgery on her back, and though she still has some stiffness and pain (she's 60), I think it may have saved her life. If you continue to take codeine like this, it will eventually become ineffective at normal dosages. You'll up, your body will adjust, you'll up, and eventually you may overdose. I know many people who are or have been addicted to opiate pain killers. One of my friends died of a methadone overdose a year or so ago, at 22. Once they became addicted, their minds went to shit, they started looking like shit. You don't want to go that route. It's long and it's painful and it ruins your life. Find a doctor who will take you seriously, and find another way.

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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    I've been reading into amino acids a lot lately because of a sciatica issue. i'm not sure if it would help uou but each amino acid targets something different and there's one that helps the nerves, and some help recovery. it's obviously not a magic bullet but maybe as you find ways to lower your drug use you may be able to strengthen your body in other ways. Does an inversion table help with scholiosis? Why hasn't someone suggested surgery or have you asked?
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    Veteran Member charlotte_ai's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Quote Originally Posted by FiendishGyrator View Post
    Does an inversion table help with scoliosis?
    funnily enough, I just read about that in the last few weeks, some people have raved about it for back pain, and hanging upside down off the couch does help for a half hr or so.
    Ive just recently started reading about advanced stretching and alternative techniques as I'm starting to prioritise my health more than in years gone by. It runs in my family, everyone on my maternal side has had the same sort of issues with spinal curvature, although never so severe they considered surgery.
    If I try it I will pop back and update. Thanks for the reminder!

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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    I know it sounds bad, but I deal with 1-4 migraines a month that last anywhere from 18-48 hours at a time. I can't drive, work, think, etc when I get them-- the vision in one or both eyes goes wonky the day before and blurry during the migraine itself. I've noticed extreme mood swings before and after the migraine as well. Hormones don't help too much, and ibuprofen rarely works. The only thing that's worked is anything with THC. I can function, the pain is numbed or gone, and my moods stabilize so I don't drive my man insane. I know it's illegal, but I can't do anything else. I'm allergic to opiates (I can't even keep them down), and other pain killers are just blah.
    Sometimes, the OTC and prescrip stuff just doesn't work on people. Maybe you should go to your doctor and ask about something different. If you live in a state that's bucking the nation's view on cannabis, then go see if that helps.

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    Veteran Member charlotte_ai's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Quote Originally Posted by shasta View Post
    I wonder how you would feel if it was really ALL out of you. Can you go to a rehab when you can go off safely?
    I'm not sure it's a rehab situation, I'm not a user such that there's a risk or harm behind dropping it cold turkey, and if someone said tomorrow "if you take one more codeine pill you will die today", well I would just stop. It's more I get fed up and emotional from hurting, and in an irritating way. Severe pain I can deal with, I breathe and meditate, and I actually quite like strong pain (masochist) its just the nagging, aching, always there one that gets to me...
    i know I sound like a whiny bitch, and I see how much worse people can have it, with cat accidents and falls and broken backs, and sometimes I feel pathetic, but it's had such an ongoing, 12-14 year impact on my life. Pain and drug free days are absolute bliss like I can't describe.
    Dancing has helped, it had actually mobilized and strengthened my back, but not enough to not need painkillers.
    Rehabs not really an option I'd consider. There's too much in my life to have the time, even if I felt it was the best route.

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    Veteran Member charlotte_ai's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    ps- bunny, if it's really bad I smoke weed and that helps more than anything. I try to limit that though, as my mums just been in a psych facility for what they believe was a drug (weed) induced psychosis/paranoia. It was an awful place...

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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Did they determine if the pot caused the psychosis or if the psychosis caused her to want to smoke? Science seems kinda divided on this and that it may bring schizophrenia out more in individuals already prone to it.
    I'd personally try to limit intake, but codeine can mess you up WAAAAAAAAY more than weed. I'd just monitor myself, try both, try something else from the doc, and see what works. if you don't really trip from weed use, then I'd say try it and monitor, monitor, monitor.
    I honestly can't function with migraines without pot. It's sad but true.

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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Unfortunately, I think males present with schizophrenia early in life and women tend to present in their late twenties (I'm pretty sure that's schizophrenia that I'm thinking of) so yeah--suckage and better to be careful but that sucks that the thing that might bring on psychosis is what takes the pain away, I'd do a LOT or research digging to prove it one way or the other.

    Inversion tables: go on craigslist. I was surprised by how many I saw tere in my area. Seems it works really well for some and nothing (or exacerbates pain) for a lot of others. If hanging off the couch helps you sound like you'd be in the lucky group. You can also, until then, get a big yoga ball and stretch your back by laying on it with feet on floor and rolling back and forth and then "hanging" with your head as close to the floor as you can.

    I just had the craziest chiro appt yesterday with a physical therapist/masseuse/chiropractor and he did things to the ligaments and muscles connecting my sacrum to my pubic bone that I have flat out NEVER experienced before. So, I know you said chiro hasn't helped but maybe with a really good one with a basis in physical therapy you might have some long term help?
    I've been to a LOT of chiros. Two were pretty good and I wouldn't mind regular care from them. Two are absolutely top notch and I worship at their doctor altars. However, I've had one nearly do me in from all the damage he caused by one visit and another three or four who just weren't worth it and probably only got business because their patients hadn't ever gone to a good chiro before.

    Oh, and oddly, I found this guy searching for an accupuncturist because his partner is an accupuncturist-- I haven't seen much about accupuncture and scholiosis (I have that too but relatively minor except it cause havoc when I haven't gotten adjusted in...ahem, a year) but maybe worth looking into, especially if you can find an herbalist accupuncturist to help.smooth thr way off codeine.
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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Quick threadjack: bunny, if you haven't already, you may want to try Excedrin. I get some nasty migraines and if I catch the signs early enough and keep taking Excedrin throughout the day, I can often blunt or even prevent them. Excedrin was recently pulled from the shelves supposedly because of pill imperfections and mislabeling, but most stores like WalMart and Walgreen's carry generic versions that still have the same mixture of caffeine, NSAID, and acetaminophen, if Excedrin is still unavailable where you are.

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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Excedrin does NOTHING. Excedrin migraine, tylenol, aleve, ibuprofen if less than 6 pills... I don't take any of this stuff as it never worked for me, no matter the dosage. Even taking stuff to prevent them doesn't work, and since I have PCOS, I'm already at risk for liver issues later on. My mom never drank alcohol and took ibuprofen for years to manage a late-diagnosed hernia and female problems... she has early cirrhosis of the liver now. :/ Hence, weed for me.
    My entire family on my mom's side has issues with certain forms of anesthesia and pain killers. I've woken up while put under twice before myself; many in my family get very minimal results from painkillers. Trust me when I say I've tried a lot of stuff, often to no or minimal results.

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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    I would recommend a psychiatrist that specializes in addiction (not that I am saying you are an addict). Here's the reasoning: Personally I am a recovered addict. I do not have a chronic pain issue that would require pain management, however I do know many people who are addicts in recovery, suffer from chronic pain, and cannot take addictive pain medication (even relatively "mild" opiates like codeine) because it is could be detrimental to their sobriety. Addiction psychiatrists see patients like this all of the time, day in and day out, and I assure u they do not simply tell their patients to deal with the pain. There are non-addictive alternatives that could be helpful to someone like you with a concern about becoming dependent on drugs (a wise and legitimate concern in our prescription drug dependent society, in my opinion) and despite any regular doctor's best intentions they simply do not have the level of knowledge and experience with drug-dependence to guide you through your pain management. For example, I have specifically told a doctor about my history of opiate dependence, detoxes and treatment centres only to have him prescribe me codeine-containing medication for a freakin' cough!!! Hello?!? What?!?

    Anyways, I think this could be helpful and worth looking into. I wish you the best in discovering a solution. You deserve to have the quality of life that would come from being both pain and drug-dependence free.
    Good luck :-)

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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    The problem with drugs that have addiction potential, is just that, the potential. When that potential is managed, and the patient is emotionally healthy, the chances of an addiction developing are much less. I think you should work with a doctor to find multiple products that can alleviate your pain, and cycle them in low doses in order to prevent your body from developing tolerance to any one medication, and subsequently addiction, and therefore damage to your body from the higher doses that are caused by addiction. Using multiple medications should allow you to have your long-term alieviation of your symptoms without your body being damaged or becoming addicted to a single substance because of overuse.

    To illustrate an example: I have issues with anxiety and insomnia. To treat them, my doctor prescribed me with clonazepam (klonopin), an extremely addictive benzodiazepene. I was instructed to watch my usage carefully because of the addiction potential, and advised not to use them more than 1-2 times per week MAX. This concerned me. I also smoke weed recreationally and have found it to be an effective way to manage anxiety and insomnia as well. Another natural remedy that is effective, but not nearly as much, is chamomile tea. Instead of relying on just one medication, I've found it more effective, and also more safe to use weed, however if I smoke too much, the same thing happens, my tolerance goes up, I need to smoke more, and then I'll get bronchitis or something. Not good. So what you do is layer the remedies from least to most harmful, in this case, tea, weed, clonazepam. Most days you should be trying to get by on the least harmful (which yes will probably be the least effective) remedy. If you are having a "bad" day, allow yourself the next most effective remedy, and if it is really bad, like affecting your functioning bad, you allow yourself the hardcore shit. It's up to you to relatively distinguish how bad a day is, and make sure you don't overdo any medications that can be damaging. A good indicator of that though is usually when your usual dose becomes ineffective because of you developing a tolerance.

    I am not a doctor, and I am just saying this has worked well for me, but obviously run this kind of idea by your doctor first, so he can make sure you don't have any possible bad reactions from whatever mix works for you.

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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    ^huh, I never thought about that whole smoking more leading to lung issues.

    At that point wouldn't you just be clarifying weed butter and making special cupcakes?

    weed (if that helps you) plus frosting and sprinkles sounds like an automatic mood-booster.



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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    I had problems with being fed drugs for my knee pain. I found it was a better route to eat better, do yoga, and if I was in too much pain, to just take time off. No amount of money is worth making the pain worse and drugs only prolong and worsen the pain. I would also look into surgery options, if possible.

    On that note, I'm also not above a mood enhancer, on occasion. I will pop a little vic if the pain is too much too handle after a long week. Not often (no more than once a month), though.

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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Awww, Charlotte you poor thing!! I feel so sorry for you. I don't have chronic pain but I suffer from panic attacks and I had one recently and was at CVS with an expired prescription begging them to refill it because I was so distressed, and then when they said no I was incapacitated, literally sobbing, hysterical with everyone staring at me. It was awful, and it is awful because when I feel that way it's like anything, anything, anything, to make it stop. I finally went home, eventually got hold my doctor (it was a Saturday) and he told me I had to just to breathe and wait till Monday. I told him I had some Vicodin left over from surgery and asked if I could take that and he accused me of being an addict which made me even more hysterical. Medication is a very hard thing to have in your life. Like Odette mentioned, I have been on Klonopin and also Ativan, both can be highly addictive, especially Klonopin and I don't want that risk in my life, but sometimes for me, when I am on the edge it's like OK, do I want to be freaking out, hyperventiliating, housebound and screaming inadvertently when the toaster pops, or do I want to feel calm, slightly blissful and at peace. So of course you choose the meds and at moments like that tea doesn't cut it, and I'm sure not for pain at your level. Still, though, Odette is right, take meds only when it really IS too much. Weed is probably ultimately better than meds too - I'm usually a natural health advocate with the exception of this. One thing that works amazingly for me is acupuncture -- I feel 100 percent Klonopin-y after a session and am lucky enough to have cheap community acupuncture nearby.
    Also a friend of mine tried a slightly out there system called Matrix Energetics for an extreme back problem and was dramatically healed. That said, you gotta believe in that stuff to get results, but I am sure for chronic pain anything is worth a shot. Stay strong girl!

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    Default Re: Dealing with pain/excessive drug use...

    Oh, Charlotte, I stumbled across your post last night, and can TOTALY relate! I have had scoliosis since my teens also (genetic from my dad), and was put in a 'milwakee brace' all throughout my teen years until I was 18.)
    As soon as that brace came off, I started flaunting my body, and started modeling, then stripping. I am now much older, and all those years of wearing high heels, and lifting heavy objects(because i had no pain then), have taken a toll. I was diagnosed with arthritis in my entire spine to make matters worse, and suffer from extreme migraines.
    Since i never could swallow pills without crushing them, when my back pain started in my 30's, my Dr. gave me liquid codeine. i had an allergic reaction to it, so i just looked into holistic suppliments, and treaments. NOTHING has helped, and since I am now in an early menopause, I must take extreme care with my battered body-the things You mentioned, like resting at home when it becomes unbearable really struck home with me- I can NEVER make plans with anyone, because i never know how i will be feeling on any given day.
    i cam mostly now, and find that twisting my body in odd ways while camming, can set off a new set of body aches.
    I found a natural sleep aid that's awesome that you might want to try-(it is over-the -counter.)
    it's called MIDNITE (they make one with a pain inhibiter built in), and the other is by a company called STRESS-RELAX(melatonin. Both come in chewable, or tablets.
    I just found online support groups for adults with scoliosis, and if you google it, many will pop up,and You can choose which is best for you.
    I wish you much luck, as scoliosis pain is NO JOKE! i know there are worse health conditions to have, but, with our careers, it's a BITCH to smile while working, and acting as if You are not in any pain.
    You have a compadre here, so pm me if you need to vent, or anything. i understand.

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