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Haven't posted in a while, but was wondering if anyone could offer their opinion and/or knowledge on taking drugs for pain management.
TO give you some background:
My mother has been a heavy partier throughout her life, beginning probably when us kids were early teens, then ended up leaving the marriage with my dad (and leaving us) and partying really hard. She drank a lot, and I remember her smoking pot, taking mushrooms, taking quaaludes, and pretty much becoming our "party friend" instead of our mother.
I myself have been sober almost three years, and as things are clearer for me in my adult life and in sobriety, I realize that she probably is an addict/alcoholic. She has toned down the heavier drugs, but is older (in her 60s) and sometimes drinks way too much.
She has had many many surgeries in her life, and in the last probably ten years has been prescribed pain meds such as Oxycodone to "help" her with her pain. She admitted that she was addicted to them in the last couple of years but says that she "needs" them to control her pain and cannot go without them. She was going from physician to physican (what I think is drug seeking) and finally found a "pain specialist" who has given her what she wants (needs?)
Due to health insurance concerns she has now been switched from the five Oxycodone pills she was taking daily to Methadone (don't know the dosage), which really frightened me - (this is a major narcotic). I am trying to mind my own business with this situation, but have noted recently to her my concerns about her taking Methadone. I have a cousin who detoxed from it (also was taking it for back pain) and he said he felt like he was going to die in detox.
My question is, are there people who have to take narcotics if they have chronic pain or is there another way to live with the pain, i.e. natural methods such as exercise, hot baths, yoga? I tend to think with her history that she is addicted and will not make the effort to try to wean off of any narcotic.
My sister just vented her concern to Mom and Mom replied with an article she found on new studies that suggest that some people with chronic pain absolutely need narcotics such as these to live a normal life, and that some physicians do not think of this as an "addiction" any longer.
Mom is moody and tired all of the time, and seems to be making excuses for not wanting to get off of these heavy meds. Sometimes she claims she doesn't want to take them any longer, other times she insists she needs them. Is an intervention necessary? I am afraid she is getting older and her body will break down from all of the drugs and alcohol she has put into her system.
Oh, yes, she and I took a trip recently, she drank around 5-6 glasses of wine and passed out in bed, felt horrible the next morning, so I know she binge drinks also. What about the combination of methadone and alcohol??? Worrisome, but I know that if she does not seek help, there is nothing I can do...
Thanks for listening... any advice or input would be great...
Drinking and taking prescription drugs is not a good idea at all. But I have to say this. She's 60 years old and has raised her kids. She apparently has legitimate back pain. If she is going to pain management. They have to follow very strict guidelines. They would make it virtually impossible for her to "doctor shop" If she gets caught then she will do jail time, don't worry about that. But in my honest opinion I have to say mind your own business. I don't mean to sound rude so please don't take it that way. She is a grown woman and is seeing a dr. Doctors are under a microscope anymore for prescription drugs so I'm sure they keep an eye on her. There is not a way to deal with constant pain with natural rememdies. Sometimes pain medication is the only way. I have to take Vicodin for my back and I could see how it can be addicting. It's easy to take more then the recommended dose because you become use to them. I know that if I go over my recommended dose then I just have to suffer and it's my own fault. In no way, shape or form would I ever go to another dr. You can try talking to your mother but that's about all you can do. She is an adult and under a physicians care. God Bless
Unfortunately, although they have increased the watchful eye on Doctors, believe me ..... there are still plenty of Doctors out there who are making a fortune being "legal drug pushers" because they have the MD behind their name. I know this because I have drug addicted children and I see it all the time.
I don't really have an answer for your mother. I'm sure that deep inside her she knows ... she knows!
You already know the answers here are for you .... following the 12 steps and taking care of you .... knowing where your "power" is.
We are totally powerless over other people...alcohol...drugs....etc. I still have to go back to that each and every day!
Take care of yourself .... keep giving your mother to God, as I'm sure you do ... know that God loves you and your mom .... and we do too!
I myself live with chronic pain and migraines and I can tell you that your body does strange things, to get drugs even when its not a narcotic. I have learned so much in the last year on this subject. A persons body will actually create apain to get just plain old aspirin or tylenol. It is called rebounding. I have experienced this not only with pain medications, but with prednisone a steroid. I am not excusing her behavior, but trying to let you know that the pain can be very real, because the wants something. And no mixing any prescription with alcohol is not smart, but chronic pain, makes your brain do things you normally wouldn't do. It not something they teach us in our medical training. Who would think that the body would get off on tylenol? We don't feel a buzz.
Just a few weeks ago I was in so much pain and nothing was working, I was going to add wine to the mix and Christy ( my beloved Cujo) was about to jump 6 hours up here and kick my ass. I just wanted the pain to go away.
i myself have found no natural pain relievers. I do use things like Biofreeze to ease the tension in my neck, I got fitted for a bite block for my clenched teeth and sitting quietly and meditating. Relaxation and avoidance of stress is key.
Josey
ps feel free to pm on specifics
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Julianne - It's best to move on. You cannot look back in anger in life. It's too short
Yeah, I agree you would feel so much better just backing off and just loving her without trying to fix it all for her. You can't. It is hell to watch your loved one self destruct, isn't it? It's like you are feeling your pain AND your mother's pain, which she isn't feeling at all thanks to the pills and booze.
Just FYI, Methadone is CHEAPER than Oxycodone, but not necessarily worse. It's got a rep for it's use in detoxing heroin addicts, but it's just another opiate. And yes, it is frequently used for chronic pain. No, she shouldn't be drinking, too. Like Irish says, she KNOWS.
I too am prying myself away from the constant focus on an A husband just barely in recovery (again). It's been so funny, and kinda sad too, but I am beginning to think of all this stuff to do, some important, some silly and fun. Why all of a sudden are there all these "new" interests in my life? I'm not obsessing on my husband as much. I feel so much better, even though he doesn't. It's a little miracle.
have i learned A LOT from all the replies to this woman post. something in every reply clicked in my head.
from friend of yours........''mind your own business'', thank you , a reminder to keep my nose out of my husbands stuff.
from irsh54........''follow the twelve steps, take care of you,knowing where your power is and SHE KNOWS.'' just another reminder of how important you all are to me and that the alacoholic in my life DOES KNOW.
jrtjosey..........''your body does strange things, to get drugs even when it is not narcotic''. WOW, i had no idea and it makes perfect sense to me, thank you for sharing.
kim65........''it's a little miracle''. thank you kim65 for reminding me. IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER . tonight i found myself enjoying peanut butter toast and a bowl of porridge. an old time favorite of mine that i haven't permitted myself to enjoy for far too long AND i heard myself humming a little tune.
First & foremost - Congratulations on almost 3 yrs sobriety!!!!!!! That is awesome. That is a huge battle & I'm so grateful that you have continued your path of recovery.
Second, the most painful thing I have learned about alcoholism/addiction is that when the A's in my life want to drink or use - there is nothing, absolutely nothing - no Dr, no FDA guidelines, no State law restricting alcohol sales on Sunday, no money, no car, tears, pleas, bargains, jail, rehab, treatment center, or four walls, that can keep an A for drinking or using if they want to.
It is scary to see them mix alcohol & RX drugs. Like you said, unless she admits she has a problem & seeks help - there is not much you can do for her. But never forget all the things you can do for yourself. Continue to work on yourself, further your recovery, Detach with love, Healthy Compassion and make sure that you have stayed in your own garden of recovery.
Attraction rather than promotion - We can always have hope that one day they will want what we have.
Peace to you, Rita
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
jrtjosey wrote: I myself live with chronic pain and migraines and I can tell you that your body does strange things, to get drugs even when its not a narcotic. I have learned so much in the last year on this subject. A persons body will actually create apain to get just plain old aspirin or tylenol. It is called rebounding. I have experienced this not only with pain medications, but with prednisone a steroid. I am not excusing her behavior, but trying to let you know that the pain can be very real, because the wants something. And no mixing any prescription with alcohol is not smart, but chronic pain, makes your brain do things you normally wouldn't do. It not something they teach us in our medical training. Who would think that the body would get off on tylenol? We don't feel a buzz.
Just a few weeks ago I was in so much pain and nothing was working, I was going to add wine to the mix and Christy ( my beloved Cujo) was about to jump 6 hours up here and kick my ass. I just wanted the pain to go away.
i myself have found no natural pain relievers. I do use things like Biofreeze to ease the tension in my neck, I got fitted for a bite block for my clenched teeth and sitting quietly and meditating. Relaxation and avoidance of stress is key.
Josey
ps feel free to pm on specifics
I'm not posting this to start a debate but I would like to know where you got your information about "rebounding" I have never heard of this and I don't find it to be true. Maybe the way you worded it I took wrong. I know if I stop my vicodin I go through narcotic withdraw from the codiene but once off of it for a few days my body doesn't "make up" something so I take aspirin or tylonol. So please explain your point. Thanks.
I got rebounding from a pain clinic I went to, to manage my pain, and I also heard it again last week at the "World famous Mayo Clinic" where I went for two different problems, both physicians spoke of rebounding!
please google "medication rebounding" and you will find it to be a real condition from over the counter and narcotic pain relievers.
Josey
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Julianne - It's best to move on. You cannot look back in anger in life. It's too short
Drug rebound occurs when a medicine is used frequently over a period of time to treat a specific problem, like a headache. Paradoxically, the medicine itself can become a trigger, causing the same symptoms when it wears off at the end of its effective time-frame or is withdrawn. The person finds themselves taking the medicine more frequently or in higher doses, trying to control their symptoms. Medication rebound often occurs with decongestants (cold pills, nasal sprays or eye-drops) and over-the-counter headache medications.
From The St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute.
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
