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Hydrocodone/Medical Marijuana
I'm 62 years old. After 15 years of taking 3200mg of Ibuprofen a day for achilles tendonitis (which damaged my kidneys...before the discovery of ibuprofen's affect on them; in about the year 2000 or so), my Dr switched me to Norco (10mg Hydrocodone, 325 Tylenol...sorry can't seem to spell the generic name). Another 15 years down the road, I started having lower back, hip & knee pain. The Norco has worked wonderfully at relieving the pain. The last couple of years, I've been having trouble sleeping. Can only seem to sleep an hour or two at a time, having to get up for bathroom runs numerous times a night. California in the meantime had legalized medical marijuana. In the sense of full disclosure, I have done pot recreationally since the early '70s, but decreasingly in the last 10 years or so. Now that it's "legal", I started taking edibles as a sleep aid; have not noticed that the marijuana has had any pain relief for me, but as a sleep aid, it's been wonderful. So, Norco for pain, pot for sleep has been my regimen for about the last 15 months, and I've been feeling 25 years younger; no pain, nearly full 8 hours straight a night of sleep. I'm waking fully rested & ready to take on my days. For the first time in the years I've been taking Norco, my Dr had me do a urinalysis, results, of course, showing both the hydrocodone AND the THC in the pot. He gave me an ultimatum: one or the other, but you can't do both (due to DEA laws, etc). At this point, being a somewhat stubborn person, I'm not willing to give up my newly regained increased quality of daily life. What are my options?
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@chilid First off, welcome to Mayo Connect!
This is quite a position to be placed in. Have you outright asked your doctor what his/her response to that question would be? How would he/she advise a sibling with the same issue? That might be a clue which direction to take. It seems that allowing the body to rest gives it a better chance to deal with pain.
Ginger
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2 ReactionsI am there also, so to speak. Because of chronic pain in my neck, caused by arthritis and also a car accident, I am also taking Hydrocodone10/325 for the last 8 years. I also have trouble sleeping, and wake up every 2 hours, either having to go to the bathroom or with a severe stomach pain, caused by constipation, which also is caused by the pain meds. Now my children are after me to take some marijuana, since it is legal in our state of California.
But I also found out, that my doc can not prescribe the hydrocodone, if I am also taking marijuana, since it is prohibited by federal law. So I did not take it.
And sure enough a few weeks ago, my pain doctor had me take a urine test, and could tell, what was in the blood. Even a sleeping pill showed up.
So I am not going there with the pot. But I decided to wean myself off the hydrocodone, and I can tell you, it is not easy. But with all the news about hydrocodone, I really hope, I can do it. Never thought, it was that dangerous, otherwise I would never started it. And I did start with two pills and then was
slowly put up to 6 a day. The problem is, they do help me. My doc says, I am dependent on the hydrocodone, not addicted. But my life is not the same anymore, and I really hope, I can be successful with the weaning off. It has been already 8 months. Wish me luck! I want my life back, and not be tired or in pain all the times. It put me in a very lonely, depressed state and nobody talks about it. Has anybody weaned off the hydro successful, after about 8 years?
One always reads about overdosing about it, but what to do and where to get help, nobody says. My other doctors do not want anything to do with it. I think, they want my pain doctor approach this with me, but he also just says, wean yourself off!!!!
My doctor just put me on Hydrocodene 5/325 and asked me to cut them in half. Ya Right. My pain is severe and these won't touch it. I used Marijuana when I lived in Oregon. I am in Texas where it is not legal. Good Lord what is wrong with these people? I used the oil in Oregon. It helped me by far more than what these doctors are giving me. My doctor today told me to start CBD oil. He told me I can get it on line. I have tried it and it works great but not as long as the actual Marijuana. CBD does not get you high. When I went to the clinic in Oregon, I had a Medical Card given to me by my doctor. When they asked me what I wanted, I would say for my pain but don't leave out the good stuff for my attitude. LOL. Good Luck. you will find that Marijuana works much better. This Hydrocodene, does NOTHING for my back. I refused surgery or killing the nerves. Won't do it.
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4 ReactionsI totally agree with Ginger. Do the Marijuana before the DRUGS
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2 ReactionsAs soon as Texas approves Medical Marijuana, I will be back on it. I moved from Oregon and there was never a problem getting my pot. My Primary doctor signed me up for it. I agree it works for at night and does not mess with your Kidneys or Gall Bladder. I lost a Gall Bladder over a doctor putting me on Morphine and me trying to come off of it with no help. Stupid, but I did not know better. For the life of e I cannot understand states not approving Marijuana. I did not smoke it. I used the oil. Now I use Kratom under I can get the Marijuana again. Kratom works for me. Its legal.
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1 Reaction@Texas Freedom does,t the CBD oil have about 3%THC in it? I get my cbd cream from IRIE .com
My Husband had the same issue when the Medical Marijuana laws recently passed in Florida. He had to change Doctors. He and I had the same orthopedist and PM doc’s for years, but at their facility, they decided to opt out of allowing medical marijuana patients to be prescribed opiates. I know things change State by State, but basically here, he had to get his medical marijuana card, then find a PM Doctor that would treat them with Opiates. Not as hard as it sounds really. It can take a couple of months, but for some it is very much worth it ...
Good luck
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1 ReactionI am 70 years old and was started on Oxycodone about thirty years ago. Back then the bad effects were not really known, so my Doctor started me on two 5mg a day, which withing a few years became 6 -40mg oxycontin plus 10 10mg Percocet a day. At one point i was taking over 400mg a day of oxycodone. By the way, i was in two accidents and have seven herniated discs. I was examined at the University of Virginia hospital and their team of neurologists recommended no surgeries because it would be too dangerous and with just a 20% success rate they advised against it because they said i could be crippled and have to use either a walker or Wheel chair. I get around pretty good so i didn't want to risk being in a wheelchair forever. So that's when the high doses of pain meds started. Due to becoming totally addicted to pain meds, i abused them until i ended up in a fist fight with two big cops. I volunteered to go to rehab. That was about fifteen years ago, and although i still take 40mg of Hydrocodone per day, my pain is so severe i am miserable. I think the Hydrocodone relaxes my muscles which in turn cause my neck and upper back to hurt much worse. I also have arm injuries. I have pins and screws in my elbow and torn ligaments in both arms which hurt bad. Both rotator cuffs are bad too. In other words i need pain meds. I am still in a lot of pain, but learned to deal with it. I just ordered some thc gummies and they are arriving today. I will be careful but i am hoping they help with the constant and very severe pain. Sorry for the novel, but i don't ever tell anyone my troubles and i guess this is venting. God Bless all of you dealing with the pains and addictions.
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12 ReactionsHi there @daveyboy70, welcome to Connect. Your story is definitely worth sharing if it helps get it off your mind. I'm sorry for your struggles. My mom had a motorcycle accident over 40 years ago and began her journey with opioid use. I wish she was able to find other ways but as you said, the bad effects were not really known back then.
In addition to opioids and medical marijuana, are there any tools that have helped you function better? Having been through so much, do you care to share any tips or tools that have helped you emotionally persevere?
Well THC medically is better for you as you im sure already know.
I would say maybe try some new strains and try to address pain naturally but ultimately: whatever makes you have a quality of life and comfortable is important here. Id be most concerned about your stomach lining with ibuprofen use that long however id be careful with liver and stomach sensitivity. Take it from me, ulcers are NO joke.