Dealing with pain med addiction post treatment

rchalmer
rchalmer Member Posts: 15

Hey Y'all,

 

I'm not expecting many public replies to this request for help since these boards are "google searchable" but I'd love some email responses...

 

I'm 2 yrs out from a partial nephrectomy on my right kidney from a stage 2 clear cell RCC. 

I've had other surgeries and back issues. 

 

I'm in a 12 step program and am looking for other surviviors that are dealing with pain and addiction. 

 

obviously please keep your own anonymity in mind when contacting me. I just need some help. I've not met anyone in my region that is a kidney cancer survivor and I could use some advice...

 

hope this makes sense...

 

- R

 

 

Comments

  • twinthings
    twinthings Member Posts: 409
    I hope you're getting help

    R, it's nice to meet you but sorry for the circumstances.  I hope that your email is blowing up with the help you are seeking.

    Fortunately for me, I won't be of much help.  I do however, have much secondhand experience with prescription addiction and I am well aware of the pitfalls of such addiction.  Because I have a couple of dear friends, as well as family members addicted to pain pills, I suffer the pain of bilateral pinched nerves and two blown discs in my cervical spine, rather than taking my meds.  I've seen my loved ones struggle for years and it scares the hell out of me.

    Kudos to you for admitting you have a problem and reaching out for help.  Takes a lot of courage! 

    Sending well wishes you way!

     

    S

  • Darron
    Darron Member Posts: 310 Member
    Find it!

    I won't be much help on te pain med side, but step one is seeing and admitting the problem. Is there a group or program in your area that can help?

    You can do it!

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    Darron said:

    Find it!

    I won't be much help on te pain med side, but step one is seeing and admitting the problem. Is there a group or program in your area that can help?

    You can do it!

    What I know

    is that identifying a problem is the most important start to solving it. It is all about how badly one wants something. You've made the first step. Good luck.

  • TillieSOK
    TillieSOK Member Posts: 252

    I hope you're getting help

    R, it's nice to meet you but sorry for the circumstances.  I hope that your email is blowing up with the help you are seeking.

    Fortunately for me, I won't be of much help.  I do however, have much secondhand experience with prescription addiction and I am well aware of the pitfalls of such addiction.  Because I have a couple of dear friends, as well as family members addicted to pain pills, I suffer the pain of bilateral pinched nerves and two blown discs in my cervical spine, rather than taking my meds.  I've seen my loved ones struggle for years and it scares the hell out of me.

    Kudos to you for admitting you have a problem and reaching out for help.  Takes a lot of courage! 

    Sending well wishes you way!

     

    S

    Sindy, I also have a family

    Sindy, I also have a family member, still living, that is addicted to pain meds.  My mom, who is deceased from kidney failure, never met a pill she didn't want to take.  Consequently, I fight taking meds of any kind and almost got into trouble after my surgery.  I have a sacral spinal cyst and a blown disc at L4-L5 that is pressing on my spinal cord, plus bone on bone arthritis in both hips and spine, RLS and Fibromyalgia.  I take a 2mg Valium when my legs are jerking so bad I'm in danger of kicking the back of my head in :0 and a Tramadol when my back hurts so bad I can't move.  The family member keeps her pills all in one bottle and marks down when she can take more....oxycodone, Vicodin, Percocet, neurontin, soma, and God only knows what else.  She cannot/will not get off of them.  I respect anyone who can recognize they need help and go get that help.

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    I can understand how it happens

    I am under constant moderate (3-5) pain.  I am not taking a lot of pain meds...my bottle of pain meds (20 2 mg Dailaudid) is from July; I only use it when it gets to the point when it is really bad.  With one kidney and a 1.6 creatinine,  the only pain meds I can take are narcotics and Tylanol.  Tylanol does nothing for my pain.  So, I can take the narcotics or be in pain.

    As I am not able to work on the Narcotics, I chose the pain.  But, it is close.  My Doctors would easily give me more Narcotics....they have no problem using the meds constantly.  I do.  My father is addicted to oxycodine for chronic back pain, and I do not want to be like him.

    But, I can not imagine living with this pain for 30 years (I am 50).  The pain makes me hope for non-ned; then I have an end of pain in site.

    So, yes, I can see how it is easy to get addicted.  It is tempting.

    (I have good disability insurance, and am wondering if combining the pain meds and disability is a better option than my current struggles).

  • rchalmer
    rchalmer Member Posts: 15

    I hope you're getting help

    R, it's nice to meet you but sorry for the circumstances.  I hope that your email is blowing up with the help you are seeking.

    Fortunately for me, I won't be of much help.  I do however, have much secondhand experience with prescription addiction and I am well aware of the pitfalls of such addiction.  Because I have a couple of dear friends, as well as family members addicted to pain pills, I suffer the pain of bilateral pinched nerves and two blown discs in my cervical spine, rather than taking my meds.  I've seen my loved ones struggle for years and it scares the hell out of me.

    Kudos to you for admitting you have a problem and reaching out for help.  Takes a lot of courage! 

    Sending well wishes you way!

     

    S

    Thanks for reaching out

    S,

     

    I've recieved 1 email so far, and I hope to get more. I applaud you for being able to suffer through the pain you have. I have moderate-severe arthritis in both my AC (shoulder) joints as well as my knees that give me a lot of pain as well as major lower back pain that as of yet has been undiagnosed. 

     

    I've been clean almost a year and it's only been since my neprhectomy that my med addiction has escalated to the point of addiction.

     

    My family (Mom's an RN) doesn't beleive I am in pain and still think I am drug seeking. the lack of trust in my family members sucks but it's something I have to rebuild. 

    reaching out in a public forum like this was a little nerve-wracking, however I'm glad I did. 

     

    -Ross

    also .. how do you send friend requests?

     

  • rchalmer
    rchalmer Member Posts: 15
    Darron said:

    Find it!

    I won't be much help on te pain med side, but step one is seeing and admitting the problem. Is there a group or program in your area that can help?

    You can do it!

    programs

    Darron,

     

    I've been in NA (Narcotics Anonymous) for almost a year and I've known about the program for a long time. I go to meetings on a regular basis and am working a program and have a sponsor.

    I'm studying to be a substance abuse counselor as well as working to get my BSW and MSW (social work). 

    I started taking classes in substance abuse long before I realized I myself had a problem as I have family members that have issues with addiction. 

    -Ross

  • twinthings
    twinthings Member Posts: 409
    rchalmer said:

    Thanks for reaching out

    S,

     

    I've recieved 1 email so far, and I hope to get more. I applaud you for being able to suffer through the pain you have. I have moderate-severe arthritis in both my AC (shoulder) joints as well as my knees that give me a lot of pain as well as major lower back pain that as of yet has been undiagnosed. 

     

    I've been clean almost a year and it's only been since my neprhectomy that my med addiction has escalated to the point of addiction.

     

    My family (Mom's an RN) doesn't beleive I am in pain and still think I am drug seeking. the lack of trust in my family members sucks but it's something I have to rebuild. 

    reaching out in a public forum like this was a little nerve-wracking, however I'm glad I did. 

     

    -Ross

    also .. how do you send friend requests?

     

    hold the applause

    Ross,

    I am not to be applauded.  I think it's fair to say, if I hurt bad enough, I'll take my Norco.  I am a strong woman, not a stupid woman.  I would not let myself suffer great pain, knowing my Norco would help.  But despite what my neurosurgeon says, that most people with my diagnosis are on pain management prior to surgery,  I just don't need it very often.   I can't explain it but I do know, I'm no superman, (or woman Kiss) who pushes through her pain, stronger than all the rest.  I wish I could stake that claim, but I'd be lying. 

    Sadly, my condition is getting worse.  Surgery is no guarantee so, to do it or not to do it has been bouncing around in my head for the past 6 months, since doctor recommended it.   Doctor tells me not to wait till it's an emergency situation...he doesn't know me too well.  I'm a stubborn one!

    As for sending friend requests, I didn't know you could do that on this forum.  Despite spending much of my day on a computer, I'm not too tech savvy.

    Keep working on that trust issue with your family.  If you are sincere, your actions will speak louder than words.  These things take time.

    Good luck!

     

  • Phoenix Rising
    Phoenix Rising Member Posts: 170
    Something to try for pain....

    Friends, I have no addiction but plenty of pain. My lower back pain has been ongoing since my surgery in 2009, and it gets worse as time passes. I have intentionally avoided both prescription and over-the counter pain  meds because of the damage they can cause to internal organs as well as the possibility of addiction.

    In my research, however, I ran across a pain supplement that, from my reading, has been very successful in managing nerve pain, osteoarthritic pain, pain from surgery, migraines,  etc.  It is widely available in some other countries, but can only be purchased through one pharmacy in the United States.  The specific chemical is naturally produced by the body, but people with chronic inflammatory conditions do not produce enough of it. 

    It is classified as a supplement, so no prescription is needed.  Reports say it has no side effects and does not interfere with other medications.  I ordered it Friday, and the shipment arrived yesterday.  I can't tell you whether it is working, since it has to build up in your body before takes effect, but I will keep you all posted. Maybe it would help those who have addictions?

    Do a net search for Palmitoylethanolamide and dozens of reasearch articles will appear.  In the US, it is called PeaPure, and in other countries it may be Normast, or Pelvilen. 
    Here are a few websites:

    http://www.hindawi.com/journals/iji/2013/151028/


    http://painsandiego.com/category/peapure/

    http://palmitoylethanolamide4pain.com/about-2/

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmitoylethanolamide

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22697514

     

     

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    rchalmer said:

    Thanks for reaching out

    S,

     

    I've recieved 1 email so far, and I hope to get more. I applaud you for being able to suffer through the pain you have. I have moderate-severe arthritis in both my AC (shoulder) joints as well as my knees that give me a lot of pain as well as major lower back pain that as of yet has been undiagnosed. 

     

    I've been clean almost a year and it's only been since my neprhectomy that my med addiction has escalated to the point of addiction.

     

    My family (Mom's an RN) doesn't beleive I am in pain and still think I am drug seeking. the lack of trust in my family members sucks but it's something I have to rebuild. 

    reaching out in a public forum like this was a little nerve-wracking, however I'm glad I did. 

     

    -Ross

    also .. how do you send friend requests?

     

    Not being believed

    I have a sister who has had a lifelong serious problem with alcohol and drugs (pain pills) to the point of needing a new liver. The bad thing is she's developing arthritis now in her early fifties that I'm sure she inherited from her grandmother that had both very serious osteo and rheumatoid crippling arthritis. I can see the deformities forming in her hand and feet, and yet nobody knows whether to believer her about her pain. I feel very sad about her situation, because her liver is so bad she's not supposed to take medication, and yet she does/is. It's a real tuff quandry to be in. I hope you find relief and support.

    I don't know from personal experience, but I know several people that are very serious meditators and that are in pain from arthritis, and they say their meditation has helped them. Unfortunately, it's not a quick fix. You really have to work at it.

    Todd

  • twinthings
    twinthings Member Posts: 409
    todd121 said:

    Not being believed

    I have a sister who has had a lifelong serious problem with alcohol and drugs (pain pills) to the point of needing a new liver. The bad thing is she's developing arthritis now in her early fifties that I'm sure she inherited from her grandmother that had both very serious osteo and rheumatoid crippling arthritis. I can see the deformities forming in her hand and feet, and yet nobody knows whether to believer her about her pain. I feel very sad about her situation, because her liver is so bad she's not supposed to take medication, and yet she does/is. It's a real tuff quandry to be in. I hope you find relief and support.

    I don't know from personal experience, but I know several people that are very serious meditators and that are in pain from arthritis, and they say their meditation has helped them. Unfortunately, it's not a quick fix. You really have to work at it.

    Todd

    If only

    If only we lived in Colorado!!  Innocent

     

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member

    If only

    If only we lived in Colorado!!  Innocent

     

    Or California!

    It's not that tough to get here. $25 and a complaint of persistent pain will get you a prescription....

    Todd

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513

    If only

    If only we lived in Colorado!!  Innocent

     

    many states have medical marajuana.

    My state does not.  And more so, my job requires a security clearance with poly.  Medical Marajana is a no-no.

    I do hate the pain. 

  • rchalmer
    rchalmer Member Posts: 15

    If only

    If only we lived in Colorado!!  Innocent

     

    Twin,
    Colorado wouldn't be

    Twin,

    Colorado wouldn't be helpful for me...my choice was always pain meds... which makes taking anything that can make me feel loopy hard to take. 

    I can handle the pain I have... not sure if any of it is caused by my kidney issues or if it's just back pain and arthritis... I have days when I can barely move.. and days when i'm able to function almost normally...

    I'm worried about not being able to handle MORE pain then what I'm already white knuckling.... my pain level (which everyone tells me is a lie) is on average a 6-7 daily. everyone always tells me I should be in tears and crying and all... I just tell them having a high pain tolerance doesn't mean I dont FEEL the pain....

    add that to the history of addiction and you get mistrust. I have arthritis in my AC joints in both shoulders which WILL need surgery as my last round of cortisone shots (less then a month ago) has already worn off and I get stabbing pain just clapping my hands togehter....

     

    it's a hard road...

    -Ross