Monday, April 28, 2008
first post ever..I was hit by a drunk driver in 2000...ending up with many injuries, including,, a broken neck , hangman 's fracture . went off pain meds all together..4 yrs..ago. suffered and self medicated. 6 months ago , I was put on ms. contin 30 mg 2x a day, feel sick and ..dont like emotional yucks..addiction feeling..cut back to one a day..got major head cold symptoms and next day, coughing to the point ..of throwing up.. { by the way, excellent on neck pain}
had to turn back..ate one and felt better.. but three days later... now back til 2 ,and scared!! That.... is a dark place !! any advice or similar ms contin type yucks..?? misery needs company
Hi! thought I would let you know a bit about the hazards of those meds you are on! I have personally been in and out of emergancy rooms due to the addiciton withdrawl syptoms you described. That is why over the last seven years on Oxycontin and Fentnyl patches my tolerance level got to the point where the meds were doin more harm than good. I don't know the progression rate in which you were perscribed to that level of medication but I must warn you it will get worse in regards to the body first affects of feeling sick from that stuff and I really hated that ms contin It seemed like you could taste its medicine in you? I mean it really made me ill as well after a month my pain mngt. changed my meds, but that is not the point I wanna make here the thing is you will build a tolerance and your body will actually gain other pains from the hurting of it needing the medication and oh' I am tell'n ya' the extra suffering is depressing. This is where professional help is truly needed to monitior your health safely in leveling out to the barest minimum needed or other ways to help with coping skills or tools that will benifit your health because alot of folks must realize we do not need other health ailments (kidney & liver damage and other's) ontop of our original disability. It took me seven years to find this out in pain managment and jsut about ruined my health, I was fortunate enough to have a family physican help get off all my medications and I know alot of folks need to be medicated but they also should look in zeroing out and start back at a low dosage; so as to benifitting the rest of their bodies. No one should take these actions without a physicains care and it took me 28 days in the hospital to get off 280mg a day of Oxycontin and the 50mg 3 day Fentnyl Patch.
I would say if anyone of the meds I have been perscribed and "please never self Perscribe friend" it leads to an addictiver nature if you have to be medicated the rest of your life. oh ya! back to the medication in the 30 years I found benifcial and not addictive but just as all the others can be poisonous over long term usage is the Duragisic Fentenyl Patch. This low dosage is delivered over a 3 day span and personally if I had a good 3 days I would not wear it and never had the sickness from withdrawls. umm.. alot of folks say they are alergic to the glue and Yep' so was I it actually scarred my arm and the hives also, but I took a strong benadryl or what my Doc gave me; You have to wonder why some folks are so ressistent to wanting to use this patch when they take meds of equal strength. They always say I can't use that and leave it at that? I personally sat once a week for years in pain managemnt group therapy and if someone wants to help the hurt you have to make adjustments to get that help. Sometimes I wonder if an addictive nature takes over and some tend to wanna have that little pill available at their calling?
I recommend a good group therapy that may help you find some other medicine that does not cause you other problems. It seems like alot of folks out there do not have a true pain mangmt. one that is responsible to educate us on the pros and cons of liftime medication? I know once those keys have been turned on in our brain with a particular medicine or really anything even 'cafffine or cigaretts' those keys cannot be unturned; It has been three years since I took any pain Medications and I can still smell the Oxycontin in my head! I am fortunate to live a happy and prospurose life and may not be pain free but am In Charge of my Life and Live everyday not just Exist in that day.
i hope friend it does not take you so many years as it did for me to find this and at no way are any of this words directed as critisism, but on of hope and perseverance for those wanting to challange the day!
A Friend!
MB
Thanx so much !!I guess this is the same reason I stopped before...and you are right about the pain.. I can remember thinking that when I got off that medication, (norco)that the pain was managable w/o the opiates ..and less...than with..
when I am truly honest with myself..I think I went to pm again because I wanted the Mental pain relief..so ..yes a group would be good..the accident has caused alot of disc degeneration..so knowing that my situation will progressivly worsen ..has been depressing..for me..as is knowing the horror that lies ahead w/ the detox.. and then the unknown..how will I manage the pain therafter..personally i went back to physical therapy when put on ms contin..and I was too medicated , and dizzy..from the meds to embrace it... thanx again for sharing
Thanx so much !!I guess this is the same reason I stopped before...and you are right about the pain.. I can remember thinking that when I got off that medication, (norco)that the pain was managable w/o the opiates ..and less...than with..
when I am truly honest with myself..I think I went to pm again because I wanted the Mental pain relief..so ..yes a group would be good..the accident has caused alot of disc degeneration..so knowing that my situation will progressivly worsen ..has been depressing..for me..as is knowing the horror that lies ahead w/ the detox.. and then the unknown..how will I manage the pain therafter..personally i went back to physical therapy when put on ms contin..and I was too medicated , and dizzy..from the meds to embrace it... thanx again for sharing
Hey! Friend!
i wanted to let you know that it is O.K. to have a bit of depression because that and pain go hand and hand. The thing is to relize this and be honest with yourself aout it; It takes alot of courage to face these facts and try not to put on a mask everday to cover ones anguish. Myself at the time when I was at my lowest needed someone to hold my hand and walk me through this long journey of chronic pain. If you find yourself in that position just call someone or likemyself give urself a break at one of those bed and breakfast hospital stays: ) They can be very accomadating to your situation and may be good to help with the detox thing! I needed 28 days in the hospital to recover my health (liver and kidney) problems from my meds after 7 years on 'em, but I was able to zero out and then adjust to a lower dosage of medication to manage my days. "oh yah' its not that bad"!
Though it took me 30 years to find what's best for me; others have to make their own journey and try to avoid the hazardous detours along this path of chronic pain.
I relaize with your situation you may need long term medication and this is why it is important to find what is and is not tolerable. Pain at some point' you will find is a state of mind and one tool is redirecting that pain towards somthing productive or creative! It will take time to find this and when you do it is comforting to the soul and eases the mind of the constant reminder of your situation. I don't promise it will simply vanish just that you will find a time you escape a moment in the day doin something you are passionate about and this my frieind can be the Best kinda of Medicine.
It is one of false hope for those to think bein totaly pain free is the goal? I found as you have mentioned their is a point when you can manage some pain. It may take years for those to find this level of understanding, but it is importatnt to have a group support system to prepare you not just for the physical challanges ahead but the mental and financial obstacles as well. Some tools you find in your journey will help you with maintaining a quality of life and I realize if needed; many will have to do this medicated. It is imperative though that this is done in a safe enviroment and one that provides us all with knowladgble ways of not just coping but living with Chronic pain instead of only existing with It. A Neuropsychatrist, a Family physicain or pyschologist is always helpful and it is in our nature to want to fight this challange alone at first, but I say; it is a blessing if someone is their to hold your hand or give ya' a push in the right direction.
Hope this finds ya' in Good Spirits!
MB
I really appreciate your wisdom ! I have once again stopped the ms contin..yesterday at 4 pm..I took half dose..
this morning is not too.. bad ! I awoke in a full sweat..can be normal..(.I am 43 ..so I think I am in perimenopause ..) felt as if I had to throw up..but..i am also having a problem w/ my eyes.. like there is an infection ..?? Have you heard of this in withdrawal ?? It started last weekend at first attempt.. have had the red eyes ..ambarrassed to see anyone ..makes me lOOk..worse..than.. I am..I took an ativan...05 mg..my normal dose .(.I usually only take half..) I had cofffee..my other addiction..morning only..organic french roast..
I live in northern california..via sanfrancisco..in a small town..also we are limited with support groups due to small populus..also doctors etc..most come from the largest nearest..town.
The ativan needs to go too ..Da ..figured that using it to detox..is ok..know that that is going to be another fine withdrawal experience too.. .05 x 3 daily..i usually half pills..because i am aware of their danger..was diagnosed w/ p.t.s..d..it was an ugly accident ,to say the least..head light ..to head light.. the drunk teen hit my car going 75 mph..passing a car on blind turn...I was coming around turn..5 mins from home..had just gotten off work 1 hr drive , windy counr ty roads.. had just done three massages ( worked in spa..calistoga ca..) got off work.had sauna and mineral bath.."the good life !!!"
holistic health is my background..!! and here I sit stuck in the web Of pharmacopia!! Some of the physial repulsion I feel when I take ms contin may also be a mental..repulsion as well..I was afraid..of it.!! still am..
I have a 4 yr old ..my mom has him for the duration of thr detox.. I went to heathfood.store,.got mega geeen juices..ginger..and a positive mood herbal supplement..st johns wort..calcium mag..etc..
and..a calming combo...valarian root, camomile..scullcap..etc.. spent a fortune but..i needed to commit, and that helps me see ing my old healthy bottles in place of the script bottles.. when its over I plan on going back to physical therapy..and then maybe do the Pain man. shots..
I was on ultram..before the ms contin and celebrex.. keeping celebrex..it hel.ps I have arthritis in several spots..knees are bad .... so far I do,, have ache legs..and wrists..from no ms contin , I am pretty sure. "ultram.."had thought was no big deal ..non narcotic? but i see on message boards that some have issues with it..so I dont want that..Again,,~!!! ok off to the unknown..there must be enough in my body still to not have bitten ..me yet !! (60 mgs daily dose )
feeling nausea coming.. thanx for letting me share.&.giving hope.. Soleil Skye