Alcoholism Support Group

I have been sober for over 30 years. I now must take medication for pain and I am not happy about it. The medication doesn't help much anyway.. I take less than the doctor wants me too. I just don't like taking it. I love being sober and the medication doesn't get me high. But with all the stuff on tv about addiction etc I am very concerned. I don't takeot to feel good only for pain.

Having a healthy respect for the addictive factor of pain pills is wise. I am on percocet (pain), flexeril (muscle relaxer) and xanex to help me sleep and with the anxiety I deal with... and a million other meds... I am 27 days without a drink today... but i've played with meds a litte and they do get me to a feel good high place- I really need them so I do this sparingly- but I still do it.... we all know that things that alter how we feel can trigger relapse- I wish you the best for finding the right pain management for you. Congrats on 30 years! 30 days is success for me! Hang in there.

Wow...30 yesrs..and congrats on the 27 days sober. Do you feel better?

You may check out the book "a day without pain" by Mel Pohl- havent finished it yet- but he is not a big fan of opiates - big dude in Las Vegas recovery scene (which is where I'm attempting to stay sober!!!!)... There is also a chronic pain support group here on MDJ.

Congratulations, 30 years sober wow!! I am going to say this realizing that pain meds can be addictive etc...and can lead a person down a dark road. Ask yourself this can you function daily and not take anything for pain or does the pain keep you side lined ?? You said a very important fact, "you take only what you need,not to get high, for the pain. My mother live with chronic pain and has for many years. The oolder she gets the pain is becoming worse. She's tried a pain managment program and it did not work. I have watched her go without the pain meds until she is literally in tears. My sister and brother were concerned about the pain meds becoming habit forming. The point I took with them is "until you can come up with something that she has not already tried, you have no right to pass judgement of any kind." She is taking the meds for the pain, she is taking them as perscribed, and there is nothing else available to her. It is great that you are aware of what the repercssions can be with pain meds. Don't be so hard on yourself you are taking great care with the meds. If you can come up with some kind of alternative go for it. Maybe swimming might help, that is low impact. bobo 24

You know- don't know if u have the option but (what I need to find the strength to do) maybe u can ask someone u live and trust to hand them out as needed????? The problem for me and this option is I'd probably just stockpile them on my low pain don't need to leave the house days- but you sound pretty responsible with them.

If I did not have my pain meds I could not fuction. I would as Bfly says.."sidelined". My qualty of life would suck!

Post edited by: Bangbang, at: 06/21/2012 01:19 PM

Pain is something that is so hard to live with, and it drives people to self-medicate (and so often with alcohol).

I was burned in a suicide attempt in 1973. In debriding (removing the skin), they gave me acetamine (was like LSD), and then one pain medication after the other (Percoset, Darvocet and many more) while I healed (I had skin-grafting). The strategy was to continue to put me on one pain medication and then reduce the dose and go to the next one. I think they were trying not to get me addicted to pain meds.

When I had knee surgery because of MRSA infection, they cut open my knee and it had to heal over 5 weeks. They prescribed Vicodin but I took as little as I could and just lived with the pain.

In the burn unit, a hypnotherapist came in and that was how I was more successful with the pain than anything else.

Maybe something like that might work for you?

I had both hips replaced need to have a third hip replacement and I need both knees to be replaced. Both my shoulder are in pain and need surgery. They ( doctors) aren't sure they can help me. I have lower back pain been through rehab and everything else there is for pain management . I have no choice about taking medication. I need it just to get out of bed or stay in bed. I want to get over the guilty feeling of taking the medication. Like I said before I don't take it to get high or feel better. I take it only to allow me to feel something other than pain. I couldn't type an answer with out the medication. I am also angry about the fact that people think I am a drug addict because I take meds. I think I m a drug addict because I take meds.

We call it drug dependent because we take the meds for a reason other than getting high. I am on oxy and habe built up a tolerance and no longer get high from it but it helps with my pain.