I have taken as many precautions as possible to ensure I am not given opiate based pain meds. I tell every doctor I see that I am a heroin addict and not to give me pain meds. In the event of a car crash and I’m unconscious then I don’t need pain meds bc I can’t feel the pain. When I wake up I will decline them. Give me some ibuprofen. For surgery I would opt for non-narcotic based anesthesia and decline pain meds for recovery. Of course there’s always a chance I am administered opiates in an emergency situation or if there ever is a time where I truly need them I guess.
Part of the opiate crisis stems from people counting pain as a vital sign. In my opinion it’s not. Pain won’t kill me I’m pretty sure. Plus opiates don’t cure pain. They mask it.
That being said, I don’t consider taking pain meds under doctor supervision or exactly as prescribed to be a relapse. Nor do I think that I’d be off to the races if I did take them. I’m just not willing to take that chance. A temporary reduction of pain is not worth the potential for relapse. No matter how small that potential is. A relapse for me will absolutely kill me. Either through suicide or overdose. I can live with pain since I know I get to live.
When I’m old and terminally ill I’ll probably revisit the issue. My uncle has cancer and was given a shitload of opiates (the really big ones if ya know what I mean) because he was only given 2 months to live. This was 3 years ago. He’s kicking cancers ass, but he’s probably going to be on pain meds the rest of his life bc he’s pain intolerant now. If they were to stop giving them to him he’d probably go in to pretty severe withdrawal. I don’t think he’s an addict in the sense that I am. But he’s pretty heavily dependent on the meds now.
Just to throw my 2 cents in here: I spent a long time taking opiates because I “needed” them, and maybe for the first couple days when I was in the hospital for more serious accidents I did, but by the time I left what I really needed was to get high. I’ve found now that I’m off the stuff most of the pain I was in was self manufactured. As for a means of eliminating pain ibuprofen is a way better drug. I have a bad hip that for about a day every week causes my back to hurt and pain to radiate down my leg to the point I end up limping and in pretty bad discomfort but that day tends to be one of my days off when I’m not exercising it… taking an ibuprofen and a walk has been way better medicine than taking oxycontin and being lethargic. The same holds true for dental pain, almost all of it is based on inflammation and swelling and I’ve taken hundreds of mgs of opiates trying to get rid of it when an nSAID did a way better job because it actually reduced the swelling and pressure, taking the pain away.
When I made this last serious strive for sobriety last year I decided to quit the opiates and drank like a fish through withdraws trying to stave off that hell and 9 days off them I found myself in a ER with a pretty severe bout of pancreatitis crying in pain, then in relief and disappointment when the nurse hit me with that first shot of dilaudid. There are situations severe enough that we legitimately need the stuff, we just have to remind ourselves what serious pain is and when its justified to take opiates and as far as I’m concerned a toothache and a little chronic pain ain’t it lol
I broke my ankle about 3 months in to this recovery and I refused to even see a doctor because I didn’t know if I would turn down pain meds or not. Before you say “How do you know it was broken without seeing a doctor?” I have broken each ankle (twice now) and have been to the doctor’s those times. The thing was the size of a grapefruit and the bruising went from the toes to almost my knee. It was not a severe break, but it was broken. Hurt like hell for about a week. It was good though because I couldn’t walk much so I had to use my phone list to get rides to meetings. That break really forced me in to the program and to interact with other drunks. Best pain I ever had looking back on it.
Right now mine is keeping my recovery first in my life. With all the shit I have going on I find myself slacking on some things. For me I need to stop making excuses. I have a pretty good plan of action, I just need to continue to execute it like I previously was. Being tired is not a goddamn excuse Derek!
Sorry to hear it I have a cousin my age who has robbed everyone in our family for dope money, took both his brothers and a couple of our good friends down that road with him…we buried one his brothers last thanksgiving and my best friend growing up in February all because of a stupid fight in high school that led to him having a broken collarbone and going to a crooked doctor willing to continue writing prescriptions for percocet years after he was healed just to make a dollar.
Amen to that! I look forward to the days my back and leg start kicking up (pun not intended but I’ll take it lol) it gets me off my ass and reminds me that if this is as bad as it gets its NOWHERE near as bad as it was!
That is exactly why I find the statement dangerous. I DID use the “relapse is a part of recovery” as an excuse to drink because I figured “everybody’s doing it” (or something similar). However, because I used it as an excuse I suppose that is proof that I never was in recovery (yet) and therefore it was not actually a relapse. It was just having a drink after a short break. (maybe that is just semantics, but I fully believe that words mean so much more than people give them credit)
My biggest obstacle is prioritising my 4th step. It’s been limping along for a few months. I tend to prioritise other things, especially things that are recovery based but “easier”. Work on my 4th step or go to a meeting? I pick meeting. I was pleased with myself as I made BIG progress this weekend whilst at Roundup. I skipped fun stuff like swimming and taking a chairlift of the mountain to sit and write. There is still more to do, but I keep talking about my struggles with it at meetings and with friends to try to keep the momentum up.
I NEED to deal with the fear that has been driving my life, otherwise it is just a matter of time for me.
I’ve heard this a lot. People will hem and haw for months but once they sit down and get to it it is done in a matter of hours. I’m not there yet. I guess I’m hemmin’ and hawin’ about getting a sponsor!!! LOL Hopefully I will get right to it when I do get that sponsor.
I’ve been actively working on it for months, a few hours isn’t going to cut it for me, though probably now that’s all ive got left. I have a lot of resentments lol
So my sponsor probably took me through my 4th a little differently than yours. He didn’t want me to recount every bad thing I’ve done and every resentment I’ve ever had. He wanted me to pick the big ones that are on the surface right now and get some pen to paper. He said we can always re-visit the little ones later if I feel they are still bothering me. I sat down in one night and wrote for about 3.5 hours and got all the big stuff out. I did a sex and fear inventory as well. I wasn’t concerned with the people who used to pick on me in 2nd grade. I was more focused on the here and now.
I know they always say you can never write to much, but I believe that this step can be thoroughly overthought and that is just as dangerous as not doing it all. Remember, you can always do another 4th step anytime you need it.
All that being said, listen to your sponsor and not me lol.
Yea, I’ve heard the different approaches. Mine is taking me the long way. But it is helping, because I am identifying themes and patterns that I wouldn’t have if I just focused on the big things. Like I’ve been having a conflict at work recently. But that’s no surprise, as I have had conflict at all my previous workplaces. What do they all have in common? Me.
I am getting close though - then onto fear and sex.
Million percent if I was prescribed Opitates for pain relief I’d abuse them. When I was drinking I necked all the Mrs high strength cocodamol she got for pain relief after childbirthover
Turmeric. Take it every day, and that pain will go away most likely. A fellow martial artist recommended it to me in my 2nd month of training, when every joint in my body hurt, especially my knees, shoulders and hands. If this 53 year old can train in combat sports and martial arts every day with minimal pain without taking any drugs OTC or otherwise, turmeric will help you.
I treat people who have been in severe wrecks. People who have unstable fractures in their spine pressing on nerves, sending near constant pain, numbness, tingling and weakness down their extremities. These people I suggest they take anti-inflammatories sparingly and use herbal remedies, like fish oil, bromelain and turmeric.
You never have to question whether Opiates are inevitable. They’re not.
I don’t think these one in a thousand possibilities are a logical strain of thought. Seems like addict brain grasping at straws.
Losing a leg doesnt typically cause constant severe pain. Even through the healing process there are still non addictive remedies that can help one cope with the pain. Phantom leg pain can be controlled through NSAIDS as well.
There are TENS units, herbal anti-inflammatory supplements, good old ice and heat, NSAIDs, cold laser therapy, pain patches and other topicals, poultices, as well as massage therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture, Chiropractic, etc. There are so many other therapies that one can use. The list is huge.
I have a cousin my age who has robbed everyone in our family for dope money, took both his brothers and a couple of our good friends down that road with him…we buried one his brothers last thanksgiving and my best friend growing up in February all because of a stupid fight in high school that led to him having a broken collarbone and going to a crooked doctor willing to continue writing prescriptions for percocet years after he was healed just to make a dollar. 
