Addicted? Dependent?

[inkjunkie]

More correct question would be when does the line between the 2 of them get a bit blurry?

Rolling into the 5th month of no opioids and the 4th month on no Gabapentin. Starting to feel a bit better mentally. Doc that put the Spinal Cord Stimulator in subtlety suggested that I quit the drugs as the dosage had not been upped in 4-5 years. He also suggested I go to PT and see a Massage Therapist. Have been going to PT for 4 months or so, have a bunch of exercises/stretches that I do at home.
Just had my second massage. While I still hurt quite a bit my back pain is half of what it was prior to PT and seeing Briana.
Briana and I have been talking about Opioid use. I also have been talking with my head doc about this.
I explained to them that I feel that I may have crossed the line between dependent/addicted, perhaps not knowingly because after I quit the drugs, when the pain level I was at did not worsen I really started to question things. I suppose in the end it really does not matter.
I am looking at having to have my left knee/hip/shoulder replaced down the road. I am on the fence about putting them off as long as possible vs just getting them done. I really don't want to start taking narcotics again, even if it is just short term.

 

[missing linc]

Can't blame you for not wanting to get back on the medication, I know that gabapentin works really well, at least it did for me, but the long term damage often isn't worth the relief. I do hope that you have some real relief from the pain you've been dealing with.

 

[Brooks James]

Im glad the meds work for you. 20 yrs ago i blew my back out. I went through all the different pain meds which helped me little, and, By 3 months use I had a huge tolerance.Many yrs now on oral steroids
Prednisone. Also gabapentin. Max dose of tylenol and advil every day. All the surgeons I have consulted said. I Would have some relief for a while, but eventually right back where I started.
Good luck
,

 

[inkjunkie]

Im glad the meds work for you. 20 yrs ago i blew my back out. I went through all the different pain meds which helped me little, and, By 3 months use I had a huge tolerance.Many yrs now on oral steroids
Prednisone. Also gabapentin. Max dose of tylenol and advil every day. All the surgeons I have consulted said. I Would have some relief for a while, but eventually right back where I started.
Good luck
,

One thing the surgeon that put the Vertiflex and Stimulator in has told me that he will be going into my back again. He wanted me to go to PT/MT for a couple of reasons. He was confident that between the two it would help reduce my pain levels. The other reason was we have discussed a pain pump for my lower back pain. He told me that several things were necessary for him to put me into a trial for it. Go see a mental health provider that specializes in pain management. Which I am doing. Go to PT/MT to rule out the need for more cutting. He has also told me that at some point I will need to have a second Vertiflex put in, he just did not feel it was necessary yet.

 

[Back in Time]

One thing the surgeon that put the Vertiflex and Stimulator in has told me that he will be going into my back again. He wanted me to go to PT/MT for a couple of reasons. He was confident that between the two it would help reduce my pain levels. The other reason was we have discussed a pain pump for my lower back pain. He told me that several things were necessary for him to put me into a trial for it. Go see a mental health provider that specializes in pain management. Which I am doing. Go to PT/MT to rule out the need for more cutting. He has also told me that at some point I will need to have a second Vertiflex put in, he just did not feel it was necessary yet.

Glad to hear after all this time you are finally getting some relief.

 

[dartindanno]

It might sound odd but yoga did wonders for my neighbor that had severe back issues. He was using a walker to get around but now over a year of doing yoga he's walking 2 miles a day. One word of caution, he said he fell and fell a lot doing yoga so make sure somebody is there to help