:( Afraid of Pain meds addiction

Hi ladies, Just thought I'd ask your opinions on something I hav been in severe pain for a very long time before finaly getting this surgery done and I have done some research on pain medication addiction I have been taking vicodin ( 3 pills daily) for months! I read the pain scale and I am about a 6 or 7 on good days I have seen 10 where I have passed out because the pain was to much for me but I would say on most days average would be about a 7 which is awful I know I go as long as I can without having to take my meds mostly its one whn I wake up one lat afternoon and one before going to sleep and I even sometimes skip the afternoon one because of my fear of the addiction or even running out of my meds and going to a 10 again! I have read some older posts and I saw someone said if you are not taking it for the "buzz" then you are not addicted! I can say from the first day of taking this med I have never felt any buzz infact it never has taken my pain completley away on top of everything else I'm allergic to NSAIDS (ibprofin) and can not take darvocet or ultram because I get terrible side effects so my real concern here has any of you ladies expierenced a horrible drug addiction from this? I mean in my own mind I feel like after this surgery is over and I'm feeling less pain I wont be feeling that urge to reach for a pill... but I have herad so much about the mental and physical addiction I'm now becommng very afraid because thats all I need after my surgery finally starting to feel well and then go through a "dope sick: fase plus if I have the addiction with me being allergic to most other pain meds it will very hard if god for bid somthing were to happen and I need them again?? I'm so very sorry this post is so long But please take the tim out to read and address it for me if you can any advise is much appreciated!!

My doc only gave me 1 bottle of pain meds and no refills. I don't see how a person could get addicted to them unless she likes feeling sleepy all the time and constipated. When my bottle was empty, I started taking ibuprofen. Since you are allergic to ibuprofen, you can take Tylenol when the pain subsides. And, yes, after surgery, eventually the pain will subside!

see I know thats how most ppl feel with that medacine but as i said I do not get that all i get from taking that med is enough pain relief to shower and maybe make myself something to eat I even still have a little trouble slepping because the pain is still that bad (4 hrs a day) as far as constipation I have never gotten that either even tho I know it is a very comon side effect I ty very much for your reply

p.s lol @ taking just tylenol if I could do that BELIEVE ME I would but that does not work at all for me

again ty very much for you reply

Well, first of all -- is your doctor concerned with addiction?

I'm no expert, and this is just my opinion, but 3 vicodin a day isn't really that much... not if you are experiencing pain at a 6-7 level on the pain scale most of the time.

I think if you have strong concerns about this, you should speak to your doctor. Also, you should discuss post-op pain medication, because your doc may want to increase your dose and/or change you to a stronger medication in the event that you have built up any tolerance to Vicodin.

Again, I don't think you need to be concerned. As long as you're taking the medication for actual pain, and not to just feel "normal", to stave off withdrawal symptoms or getting a "buzz", you may be dependent on the medication, but you're not addicted to it.

This is a very sensitive subject, though. Please seek out medical advice for this. I wish you the best.

This is a subject that is rift with ignorance. You are asking some very good questions.

Addiction is a psychological dependence. You can have a physical dependence without the psychological dependence. A person can have both a psychological and physical dependence. Or any combination of the above.

You are not likely to have a physical dependence with the pattern of usage you are describing. But it is possible to develop physical dependence with low usage over a period of time. I was unlucky enough to develop a physical dependence on my pain meds after my two back to back surgeries. Taking it for a "buzz" is not the criteria I would use to describe the problem. I discovered my problem when I missed a dose and became anxious, shaky, and depressed. I felt awful. Taking the pain pill made the horrible symptoms go away! So I ended up taking them to feel normal. No "buzz". I recognized the problem and went to my doctors for help. Only one of 3 doctors knew how to help. This was a big surprise to me. Don't be shy about discussing your concerns. It took me about a month from the time I recognized the problem to get myself fully back to normal. The experience was an eye opener. I discovered that there was a high level of ignorance in the medical profession on recognizing and helping with the problem. There is even more ignorance in the general population.

The word "addict" has a powerfully negative connotation. I think there are many people who don't deal with the problem because of how loaded this word is.

So my point is. Discuss your concerns very openly with your doctor.

Hi - I too have been taking Vicodin as you mentioned for pain on the level of 6-10 depending on the day, for about 2 years now. I know I am not addicted because if I don't have much pain and it is tolerable I don't even entertain taking a pill. I totally agree it takes the edge off the pain but doesn't fully take it away.
If you are not taking the Vicodin when you are not in extreme pain, and you are not thinking about Vicodin when you are not in pain or the pain is tolerable, and you when you are stressed you don't think about taking one, then my guess is you are just like me, not addicted. I have issues getting pain meds so I take as few as I can. I am confident you won't have a problem but if you are concerned speak with your MD.
Good Luck

If you need the meds to be out of pain, and they work, than I think you should use them. But you should also be looking for alternatives to heal your pain. I took hydrocodone for several months for a back problem, but eventually was relieved of the pain through surgery. But I remember well the fears that my doctor wasn't going to give me anymore, and my life revolved around pain otherwise.

I've heard some interviews with people addicted to hydrocodone and they talk about taking 8 at a time. What? Like their bowels can even function like that? I have no idea.

I do think a doctor's intelligence and knowledge on the subject can vary greatly, and it's important that you have a good one. My old doctor who prescribed my pain meds for my back was a small town older man who was really stingy with the meds because I might get addicted, so I was scattering them out just to keep from running out, and taking 6 Advil at a time otherwise.

Now I live in a big city and see a psychiatrist for some depression issues. When I fell into a deep funk this spring, the docs prescribed Klonopin. I came home and read that it could be highly addicted and freaked out. I talked to him about my concerns and he said not to worry, that they were monitoring me closely (like an appt. every 3 weeks) and wouldn't allow that to happen.

So, it's a difference I think, of a doctor who is willing to let you be in pain for fear of being responsible for an addiction, and a doctor who is willing to help you find solutions to your pain and work with you while monitoring you closely. I think that's more responsible. That way you aren't in fear that you're going to run out and just live in misery the rest of your life.

Good luck. I know what constant pain is like. Had it in my back for 9 months and it can be so miserable. Maybe you should see some more specialists for your condition?

tysvm ladies you have no idea how much you have helped me to feel more at ease on the subject I called my doctor this morning and told his nurse about my fears my doctor called me back directly and told me my fears are justified but also told me with a sort of giggle that with the kind of pain I am dealing with he normaly would be giving me a even higher dosage then I take but I had asked him to give me the min. because even then with all the news coverage I have seen on vicodin addiction I was afraid he told me that I'm allowed to take up to 6 a day and me only taking 2-3 a day that the possability of me becomming addicted was minamal he also said he has me closley monitored and I have never even come close to taking the max dosage allowed before a refill and that after surgery if there was any sign that I may have a problem that there are things he will be able to help me with to get right back to normal so that helped to put my mind at ease you ladies have no idea how greatful I am per your responces to this post I feel so much better!!tytytytyty

oh also starlight7 I just wanted to say to you real quick I have been dealing with this off and on for 15 years and only this year the pain has gotten so great I made myself go ahead with the pain meds.. but I have seen many specialist including PM doctors physical therapy other operations laproscopy DNC lupron shots etc.. I know the only thing that will help me now is finally going ahead with the surgery lost of love ladies