getting off pain pills

Drinking 3 glasses of wine a day is widely considered to be alcohol overuse by most professionals. Combine it with taking morphine and hydrocodone, and you have a bona fide substance abuse condition. The combination of that much alcohol and the Schedule II drugs could eventually cause your daughter to have to grow up without a mother. Consider going into a drug rehab outpatient treatment center. They can also help with psychological methods of pain control, and when combined with a vigorous graded exercise program, can produce the same degree of pain relief as the medications.

well thanks for the sympathetic reply. I exagerrated a little on my wine consumption, its not every day and besides having a couple of glasses of red wine is supposed to be quite good for you and im not excacrly knocking it back with a handful of pills. I was feeling very down when i wrote what i did. I think i just wanted a sympathetic ear, someone to talk about it, someone maybe in a similar position. I am on morphene but the lowest dose and take 2-3 hydrocodone pd. My daughter will NOT grow up without a mother. Ive been to see my doctor and shes referring me to a physical therapist so im going to go from there. I do excersise daily and do a martial art twice a week even though im in a lot of pain a lot of the time.

You are correct - you did not post on this site for negative feedback. What you need now is support.

What is the back pain caused from - do you know - have you had an MRI?

I had a herniated disc and did not want back surgery. I put it off for approximately a year, until I could no longer stand up straight. It was an outpatient surgery and a huge success. I have heard pain management is only temporary and yes, of course, pain killers are not the answer, as you know.

I have heard acupuncture is a great alternative. I too live two hours away, but it is worth the drive. Not only can it help with the pain, but insomnia as well. I have only been once to an acupuncture therapist for insomnia, anxiety/depression due to perimenopausal symptoms and will have 5 more treatments. I have known several people who have had acupuncture treatments for pain and they have all had positive results.

Be careful with the physical therapist unless you know what is causing the pain. I am sure there are good/bad just like medical doctors, but I have heard more negative input than good.

Good luck in whatever decision you choose.

I stand by my statement. People who consume large amounts of alcohol while taking morphine are in denial or have a death wish. There is absolutely no plausible justification for gambling with your life when it is clearly stated by the pharmacist' literature given to you and probably by your doctor that consuming morphine and alcohol is an absolute taboo. It doesn't matter whether you take the morphine at the same time as drinking the alcohol since you are probably taking a sustained release morphine that remains in your system for at least 24 hours. You need some professional help, both for substance abuse and for your denial of your problem. NO DOCTOR prescribing morphine would ever tell you it is ok to drink 3 glasses of wine a day, and would probably immediately cease prescribing narcotics if they knew about your alcoholism. Get a clue, get help.

Hey bubbly. Yes I understand what algosdoc is saying, allthough I think it can be said without jumping down your throat. I too take a large amount of narcotics and morpine per day for back pain and crohns disease and I also used to be a heavy drinker. The thing that opened my eyes was that the acetamenophen that is in the Percocet and lortab is bad enough on your liver with the amounts that you take and when you add alcohol to the mix, it can lead to some dangerous conditions. I would advise have frequent blood tests so your doctor can make sure that your liver isn't in trouble. Even though I have quit drinking, the meds. alone have still shown some abnormal liver results so I am seeking alternatives to this. I hope you find some help and you can also ask your doctor about Methadone to help you get off the pills if you really want to get off of them. It's not your fault at all. These meds. are great for pain, but they are highly addictive.

HurtingForHelp

I agree - why jump down someone's throat - there is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED for that!


algosdoc

No one is trying to change your mind about the statement you made. You are entitled to post what you feel, I just believe it could have been expressed in a different manner.

I believe you have some serious issues when it comes to helping others. You sound bitter and angry. Bubblycat is well aware that there is a problem, that is why she has posted here. PLEASE - use some tact. Maybe you need to re-adjust your thinking when it comes to giving advice. Again, you are entitled to post what you feel, but she is reaching out through a support group - isn't that why we are all here? death wish - gambling with you life - denial - alcoholism???? WOW - pretty harsh!!!!

After your post, she may have decided to leave ehealth. Afterall, that is not why she became a member. Again, try rewording your statements, in a postive way, without being so harsh. Lashing out at someone never helps. You could have expressed the exact same feelings you have, but in a positive, caring way.

Bubblycat

As you know, there are many types of people in this world with different personalities. Some have the "It Factor" when it comes to listening and giving advice, others, well................. they don't have a clue. You have a supportive husband who is concerned, that helps a lot. I hope you will return to the forum and let us know how you are doing. Many of us will lend an understanding ear and try to give you help through personal experiences.

I beg to differ. Support is not simply acknowledging a lifestyle that is overtly dangerous without comment. Tough love IS support and there is absolutely no rewording necessary. I stand 100% behind what I said.

I do not mean to be confrontational or offend anyone. I am sorry I addressed your comments, as I said, you are entitled to your opinion just like everyone else.

I am new to ehealth as well. In the beginning, I received numerous responses to my post through private messaging. I did not understand why I was receiving private messages instead of posting on the open forum - I understand now. Please Private Message me and let me know how you are doing.

Thank you both for your support, its true, it is why i came to this website. Algosdoc on the other hand i think is a very sad, lonely and exceedingly negative person. The first reply really got to me and hurt so much i turned and took a pill, great help you were. I do NOT drink 3 glasses of wine every day and yes i admit i shouldnt be drinking at all, along with the morphene. Concerning the acetometophane, my first doctor told me it was ok to take 1500mg of acetometophane even if i drink. Now i was shocked by that and changed doctors. I do worry about my liver and will ask my doctor next time i see her whether i could have a blood-test. Since joining EHEALTH my back troubles have become more real and i will seek alternative treatment. The reason i got trouble in the first place was after being in Asia, where i fractured my head, lost my memory for about a month. I woke up at home in hospital and it took me several weeks before i found out how i got there. Turned out a supposedly friend of mine stuck me on the plane and told the crew i was a little drunk. Now this was nearly 10 years ago, I know now they wouldnt accept that comment. I was in a lot of pain after and partially paralysed on my left side for about 6months but i didnt take much pain-killers back then. That didnt come until a car accident i was in about 5 years ago. Back then i was pescribed de-hydrocodone as i was in a different country. The morphene and norcos ive been taking for about 2 years. Thank you eeyore, i will add you as a friend. Reading all the stuff before especially what aldosdoc said is actually making me a little sad. She/He has been on this web-site since early 2004 so evidently this person hasnt much better things to do than throw negative ,feed-back at people. Im just so relieved that there seem to be HUMANS on this website whom are willing to support me by listening to my troubles.

Im not so sure about the methadone. I thought it was much more addicitve. Ive tried it in the past, but didnt think it helped much with the pain. Im not sure though, but thanks for your comment.

Wow - sounds like you have been through a lot. I wish we could just let what other people say go in one ear and out of the other. We would be a lot better off if we could. Some people are just not made that way. I too have a very supportive husband, and he always tells me to ignore ignorance and consider the source. I try, but I too am very sensitve, and I do let what other people say hurt me. Do you know what is causing your back pain? That is the first priority - then, you can address the medication, if you have become dependent on it. I fear I have become dependent on medications as well. You HAVE to take the medication, and if it helps to drink a glass or two of wine each night, then do it. Like I said, you can address those issues after you get the pain under control. I am so glad you responded to my post - I can relate to your pain and frustration.

Thanks. Originally i was told i had Scheuermanns disease. When i came to the states i had another mri but it didnt come out right. I think i was too nervous. When i go to my doctors next i will ask for another although they kinda freak me out. I trust my doctor so hopefully whom-ever PT wise she refers me to will do me good...watch this space... Im so glad you seem to understand. It does soooo help knowing there are other people out there with similar frustrations. Thanks again, keep yopu posted.

I wish you well. Head injuries can indeed have long term consequences.

I have had two MRI's due to a herniated disc. The first one, was a closed unit, I hated it. I requested an open unit for the second one.

WHY do i get the feeling ALGOSDOC that you are being sarcastic, you evil witch!!

Quote: "I had a head fracture several years ago hence the back pain"

Ok, then i am sorry.

Evidently i jumped to the conclusion that you were being sarcastic and maybe you'll admit to jumping to conclusions also