Typical story here, back in Oct 2002 I woke up with a stabbing feeling in my left shoulder blade. Went to the Dr. he gave me Vicodin and flexeril and said to take that for 2 weeks and if it didn't get better he would prescribe PT. Well I didn't go back in 2 weeks, instead he just kept filling my scripts for 3 months then they said that I needed to come back for another office visit before he would give me anymore drugs. So I went and he said go to PT I did that for 6 weeks, the pain was still there, so they sent me to a neurosurgeon. He sent me for an MRI, once he got the results of that they said he wanted me to do a series of steroid Injections in my neck. I'm deathly afriad of needles, so I had the choice of electing sedations for those injections. It was a series of three shots 2 weeks apart, still all along taking the vicodin and flexeril. After the third shot and I still didn't have any relief from the pain, he pretty much said he couldn't do anything else but surgery. I told him that I would have to think about it, he still continued to fill my meds. Jan of this year I was up to 10mg of Vicodin 4 times a day by this point, and still in pretty bad pain. I went back to the Dr. he said to go get a myleogram done ( boy that was fun!!! I was sick all weekend after that test) it showed a herniated disc in my neck which is what he thought all along. Hmmmmmmm ?? Anyway they did surgery on Feb 17th this year. I am still in pain, I have went back for another MRI on my shoulder since thats where I have most of the pain still, I have tried to get off of the vicodin twice myself.... which I couldn't do, the withdrawl is way to much to deal with. I have tried to quit smoking before and its nothing like the feeling this withdrawl does to you. I have went down to 7.5 mg vicodin 4 times a day. Now I'm scared to quit taking it because if the withdrawl, I start getting the withdrawl feeling in between times of the doses now. Like after 4-5 hours of the dose I start feeling sick so I pop another one, and I still have pain, but now after reading up about the pain addicts have I'm not sure it is really pain from the disc or if its pains from addiction??
Well I didn't mean to go like this, I have an appt this week at a Pain Management clinic, not sure what they do there I'm assuming they will start trying to get me off the Vicodin...... I hate the withdrawl symptoms I just don't know how I'm going to deal with it... scared about that part, but I still have pain in my shoulder, so what will I take for that pain?? Anyway thanks for taking time to read this and for any advise you have I'd appreciate it.
Hi TX Rose: Boy that is the story with us pain people, isn't it? You are so smart thinking this way. I did too, but don't follow in my footsteps when they tell you the vicodin isn't working and you need something stronger...that's what I did, and now I am stuck on a medication I am terrified to come off of.
That said, I think you have taken the right steps in your decsions. You are questioning whether the pain is withdrawal pain or actual pain. This is what I did as well. I kept whining about leg aches and no dr. (PCP or Pain specialist) ever said that could be a withdrawal sympton--I found our thru great sites and people like the ones here that leg aches are probably one of the biggest withdrawal symptoms out there....not one single doctor told me this, they all told me aches such as I described were part of my condition...
We build tolerances to these meds and our bodies want more, so maybe some of what your feeling is your body wanting more. Telling your Dr. you are uncomfortable using vicodin is a good discussion topic too. Tell him you've researched it, print what you have found and bring it in to him. Be honest in explaining that you have tried to come off medication and you feel awful when you do...Tell him everything you have just written here. Explain you want to know if you can handle the pain on your own.
Have you abused your scripts, have you been seeking more pills, and other addicitive habits? Make note of all these things as well.
I am almost happy for you (though feel terrible for anyone in pain) that you have potentially caught yourself headed for a serious situation. And please please please before you increase your dose, change your medication or anything else, make a professional listen to you and understand your fears of addiction.If you don't like what they say, find another doctor. I have heard drs say to me, "It's not addiction when you are not seeking". Well, if your afraid, then they can call it anything they want to...there is a problem...
You are sharing the thoughts I had 2 years ago. I was down to only 3 vicodin a day and supplementing with ultram until I went to a pain center and agreed to try duragesic...worst mistake I have ever made-though I didn't know it at the time. I had been going to yoga, getting massage and learning to live with pain. I thought the pain center would further help me along...they didn't. Don't get me wrong, I believe medication can be a lifesaver for people truly crippled by their pain. But for others, me included, finding ways to deal with pain other than using narcotics is probably a much smarter thing to do. I think you have come to the right place...read the boards and see the trouble so many of us are in, and then find a doctor that will get you off vicodin as painlessly as possible...I know there are ways that can be done. From there, I pray that you can find ways to deal with your pain thru physical therapy, exercise and even alternative means like accupuncture and bio feedback.
Best of luck to you. Stick around and get to know people...We all feel your "pain", and many of us feel all of it. xo
That said, I think you have taken the right steps in your decsions. You are questioning whether the pain is withdrawal pain or actual pain. This is what I did as well. I kept whining about leg aches and no dr. (PCP or Pain specialist) ever said that could be a withdrawal sympton--I found our thru great sites and people like the ones here that leg aches are probably one of the biggest withdrawal symptoms out there....not one single doctor told me this, they all told me aches such as I described were part of my condition...
We build tolerances to these meds and our bodies want more, so maybe some of what your feeling is your body wanting more. Telling your Dr. you are uncomfortable using vicodin is a good discussion topic too. Tell him you've researched it, print what you have found and bring it in to him. Be honest in explaining that you have tried to come off medication and you feel awful when you do...Tell him everything you have just written here. Explain you want to know if you can handle the pain on your own.
Have you abused your scripts, have you been seeking more pills, and other addicitive habits? Make note of all these things as well.
I am almost happy for you (though feel terrible for anyone in pain) that you have potentially caught yourself headed for a serious situation. And please please please before you increase your dose, change your medication or anything else, make a professional listen to you and understand your fears of addiction.If you don't like what they say, find another doctor. I have heard drs say to me, "It's not addiction when you are not seeking". Well, if your afraid, then they can call it anything they want to...there is a problem...
You are sharing the thoughts I had 2 years ago. I was down to only 3 vicodin a day and supplementing with ultram until I went to a pain center and agreed to try duragesic...worst mistake I have ever made-though I didn't know it at the time. I had been going to yoga, getting massage and learning to live with pain. I thought the pain center would further help me along...they didn't. Don't get me wrong, I believe medication can be a lifesaver for people truly crippled by their pain. But for others, me included, finding ways to deal with pain other than using narcotics is probably a much smarter thing to do. I think you have come to the right place...read the boards and see the trouble so many of us are in, and then find a doctor that will get you off vicodin as painlessly as possible...I know there are ways that can be done. From there, I pray that you can find ways to deal with your pain thru physical therapy, exercise and even alternative means like accupuncture and bio feedback.
Best of luck to you. Stick around and get to know people...We all feel your "pain", and many of us feel all of it. xo
One more thing. I had mylegrams when I was in my teens (pre MRI) when they were trying to find out what was wrong with me. They are the pits, aren't they?? I think I'd rather give birth!! LOL..
Hi Breeze,
Thanks for taking time to read my post. Come to think of it I do have leg pain. Mostly in the morning. I did tell my D,r he just said it had to do with my nerves, but I bet it is like you said a withdrawl symptom. It bet sleeping through the night lapes the doses therefore it's withdrawl.!!! I've been getting very angery the past couple days, because I don't feel good, you know not myself.... besides my shoulder hurting that is, anyway you are right I probably need more of the drug to feel nomal and I'm not doing it so therefore I'm withdrawling. I hope to be strong and not take more, since I know whats going on and I'm not going to let myself take more !!! Don't worry, I will have alot to say to the Pain Management center when I go this week. But again thanks for the advise, I will stick around, and post my progress..... you do the same, you can email me at txstar65@swbell.net if you wish, have a good week !
Thanks for taking time to read my post. Come to think of it I do have leg pain. Mostly in the morning. I did tell my D,r he just said it had to do with my nerves, but I bet it is like you said a withdrawl symptom. It bet sleeping through the night lapes the doses therefore it's withdrawl.!!! I've been getting very angery the past couple days, because I don't feel good, you know not myself.... besides my shoulder hurting that is, anyway you are right I probably need more of the drug to feel nomal and I'm not doing it so therefore I'm withdrawling. I hope to be strong and not take more, since I know whats going on and I'm not going to let myself take more !!! Don't worry, I will have alot to say to the Pain Management center when I go this week. But again thanks for the advise, I will stick around, and post my progress..... you do the same, you can email me at txstar65@swbell.net if you wish, have a good week !
Yep. When I took vicoden, every morning my legs felt like someone was putting pressure on my bones...the cure? Pop a couple and by the time I got to work it was gone. I honestly thought it was part of my back pain...until now. Very frustrating! Please keep us posted. I will be praying for you.
