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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (7049)Comment receiving replies
Hello everyone, it's been awhile since I have been here but I am here today to tell everyone something very important. I also have chronic pain and have for years, I have tried everything but it's still there. But that's not what I am here for today. I am here to plead with everyone to make a good effort to relieve your pain with natural remedies, I know they don't always work but try anything and everything before taking narcotic pain relievers. My sister- in- law and my best friend refused anything natural, she claimed she only got relief with large doses of Percosets and Klonopin for her anxiety. She tried Methadone and Subutex and did very well on both, for a while but they stopped working for her and she was back doctor and hospital hopping to get more of what she said helped. It got so bad that she was asking strangers for a ride to the hospital because she had called EMS so many times she didn't want to call them again. She went to the hospital twice in one day, for a while, then they threatened to have her picked up if she came back again. The hospital refused to give her any narcotics and the Drs in town knew her well and they too refused to give her anything. Once in a while, she would find a Dr. that didn't know her and would give her narcotics, but once he found out she had gone through 90 Percosets in less than a week, he too refused to give her anymore. She spent her bill money every month, ( she was on SSI ) on pills, I did everything I knew to help her, but the drugs had too strong a hold on her. My sister-in-law died last week in her sleep. No matter the cause of death it would be drug-related. She was 58 years old. A wonderful woman that I love still and will miss always. I saw a woman go from 0 to 10 in a matter of weeks. Her addiction cost her her life. Yes, she had chronic pain, but X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, showed arthritis, maybe some Fibromyalgia but nothing that would have caused her as much pain as she claimed to be in. It was her addiction making her pain so bad. Not that she wasn't in pain, because the pain was very real to her, but her need for the pills outweighed everything else. She gave up on herself, the depression and anxiety became so bad she refused to bath or change her clothes, she wouldn't eat, saying she was in too much pain to eat. She wasn't sleeping much, she would wake up every 2 hours and would find it hard to go back to sleep. She lost weight, her complexion changed, She would take the pills and sleep for hours during the days, hence her not sleeping at night. She smoked and would fall asleep with a cig. in her hand and had burned holes in all her clothes, floors and her bed. I tried everything I could, I sought the help of Dr's, DSS, Social workers and even went to the magistrate for advice but no one would help, She was a drug addict and that's all they could see. They overlooked the fact that she was a human being with a huge problem. No one cares when you are an addict. I am telling this story in hopes of saving lives. Yes, chronic pain is bad but so is the addiction. Pain won't kill you but addiction will. And I might want to add, no one starts off with the intentions of being an addict. It happens slowly, you start taking narcotic pain relievers as directed, one day it just doesn't seem to work so you take one extra, ok that helped, then one day you discover your pills are running out before time to refill, what happened to them? you didn't take them, or did you? you certainly wouldn't take all those pills, someone must have stolen some of them. You begin to think about who was in your home that would have taken them, you turn on your friends because they stole from you, how dare they. You are in pain and have nothing to take, damn people, stealing your pills. You get more pills and for a while, they are working fine then it starts all over again. One just isn't enough anymore, call the Dr. but he says he can't give you anymore and the cycle begins. Then one day you don't care about anyone or anything except getting that next Percoset. You are now in a living hell and the people that love you feel it too, they worry, they plead with you, you begin to lose weight, you have no concern for your appearance, you don't bath, your hair begins to smell bad, you are in more pain now than ever before, you go from Dr to Dr. hospital to hospital, you beg for something for your pain but no one listens. Can't they understand the pain you're in? They offer you something else for pain, Are they frigging kidding? your pain is far to bad for anything else except Perocet, after all, YOU KNOW they work, whats the matter with everyone? People have changed, And life just lost its meaning. You forget things, you hurt and no one will help you. Then one day you go to bed and your problems end. You are no longer in pain, you are happy and healthy. What about the ones you left behind? you know the ones who love you so very much. what about them? The heartache, the tears, the emptiness. So folks, please, stay away from the narcotics. I know, I know, you got it all under control, you would never abuse your meds, not you. Okay, have it your way. Do me a favor though, get your will and your insurance up to date. I hope this will touch someone's heart and save their life.
Replies to "Hello everyone, it's been awhile since I have been here but I am here today to..."
I know I've said it before but it is still a great idea. Look into the Pain Pump. Yes it is narcotics but such a small amount, (2.75MG. per 24 hours) that you don't know your taking it except for the fact your pain is greatly reduced. Search these archives under wsh66 and read the more in depth things I've written about the pump. I go down to Mpls. to have mine refilled this week. One needle, 5 minutes and I'm good for another 3 months.
@jeanie26 I nearly lost my daughter to this type of thing. I stood with her even when she ended up in jail. She may not like me anymore and this is better than her dying. Her pain was depression. I so hope she is okay. Hurts way down deep. I have not seen her for over a year. Others have seen her at work.
I fully understand how you feel about narcotics. I have seen this type of thing and it is painful to lose a loved one in this manner. There are some that get a high and do start wanting more to obtain this high. Chronic pain is not always due to physical pain.
Sad that insurance will not cover natural ways. It is all about the bucks.
Chronic pain is a challenge.
@parus I am sorry about your situation with your daughter someday she will realize you did whats best for her . Stay strong and keep the faith you will see her someday I pray .
@jeanie26. First of all I want to thank you for sharing this story. No one ever thinks" I want to be an addict when I grow up!" I was a volunteer in a treatment facility many years ago. I attended AA meetings and Alanon meetings, along with Co-Dependents Anonymous. In all the groups I attended, in all the meetings I helped to facilitate, not one person ever said that someone forced them to take those pills or pick up that drink. Your precious sister in law was very sick. She needed help, and many hands were outstretched to help her. Including yours. But she was so far down, her thinking was so far gone, that she wasn't thinking clearly when she made that choice. There is nothing more that you could possibly have done to help her. I realize that my saying this probably doesn't mean a whole lot. You don't know me. Let me tell you who I am. I am just somebody who has lost more people than I want to think about to this crazy, mixed-up world of addiction. You are a person with a great heart for others. I am so sorry for your loss, for your pain. You tried. You really did. I myself have been so down with depression before that I didn't know how many days I had worn the same clothes. Depression robs you of your life. It isn't just sadness, it's words coming at you that won't leave you alone. "You're worthless. You're no good. No one would miss you when you're gone." It brings people to a solution that is no solution at all. Just more heart ache. Your posting helps others to understand that Narcotics are to be avoided if at all possible. Your caring heart makes sure that others see what a slippery slope taking strong medicine is. There is a time and a place for everything. But as a rule, we should all try everything we can to get ourselves better, to avoid the path of addiction. Thank you again for sharing. Love and light, @ mamacitalucita
whs66 what’s in the pain pump ?
It is a small pump surgically implanted in my abdomen with a catheter running up my spine that delivers 2.75 mgs. of Dilaudid every 24 hours. Meds delivered in this fashion are 300 times more powerful than those taken orally. I also have a remote control that allows me to deliver .9 mgs. of the same med in 10, ,09 mgs. doses, once an hour over 24 hours. I go to MHealth every 3 to 4 months to have the pump refilled. The pump must be replace about every 5 years. I still have pain but it is very manageable. Before the pump I was taking 252 mgs. of assorted med per day and they had quit working. My life had become unmanageable and unbearable. In these crazy days of people losing access to the drugs they need, it is a great solution. I'm living again and doing many of the activities I couldn't do for several years. Contact Dr. Michael Park at MHealth, which is part of the Fairview and U of MN system. 612-301-1425. Good luck.
So ... this is for your back pain ? What all do you have going on that you needed this? Just wondering what kind of Doctor did this for you ?
Sorry about your sister in law but everyone is different. I have been on the same dose of a narcotic and it has allowed me the ability to exercise and keep myself in better shape. It has saved my life so to speak. I eat well and NEVER and I mean NEVER take more medication that I am written. I have been on the same dose of my medication for years and am stable. I tolerate a level 3-4 pain on a daily basis but I accept that. Natural remedies were worthless for me. Like taking candy. Addicts will find ways to get more medications no matter what. Many chronic pain sufferers I know follow their prescription instructions to a tee.
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@jeanie36, Hi Jeanie, I am Gary and a vol. mentor here. Welcome back and I am sorry for your pain and heartbreak. It is so very sad to see what the narcotics do to some and as a 12 year sober alcohol abuser, I understand how it sneaks up and grabs you and by the time you realize something is not right, you are already in the grasp of something demonic. My heart goes out to anyone who finds themself or a loved one in this position, but there is help for addiction and the anxiety and depression that come with it. Unfortunately, the only medication I have found besides narcotics that help my pain was synthetic cannabis and it is no longer legal in my state. We really need some alternatives for pain treatment. Please be kind to yourself in the aftermath of your sister-in-law's passing. You are not at fault and you truly did everything you could to help. I know we always wonder if we could have done more and let way too much fault settle on us and that is unfair to you and to those who care about you.
Peace and blessings, Gary