I have been on heavy narcotics for the past 10 years because of a painful bone disease and neurological degeneration. I have avascular necrosis from having to take large amounts of solu medrol a steroid after a serious head injury.This caused the blood flow to my knees, hip and ankle joints to stop and the bones to die, My knees no longer bend at all any more. Because of that I walk with my hips and my back has been deformed into a major sway back causing pressure on my discs and nerves causing neuropathy in my right knee, leg and foot. It feels like there is barbed wire wrapped around my knee and ankle and like my foot is being tortured by electric shocks. Now I have a pinched nerve in my left arm causing pain in my left shoulder, upper arm, elbow and wrist. I am now confined to a wheelchair or electric scooter. I am not a cry baby and have done everything, steroid injections, physical therapy, surgery, everything any doctor has ever asked me to do. The doctors all admit the pain must be severe but if someone has never had to depend on morphine, methadone or hydrocodone to get though the day they have no clue what what I am living with. I have a pain specialist and have never had to ask for more then I am allowed a month, gone to the ER for extra, seen more then one doctor at a time to get my medicine but I still get treated like a criminal. Because I have weak legs I fell and knocked myself out. My husband called the ambulance and at the hospital they treated me like an overdose patient even after they found no excess of medication in my blood and counted all my pills and found I was to the day with my medication. I am not am addict. I am dependent on the narcotics for any quality of life but without them I would be bedridden and most likely suicidal. I just want people to understand. Even doctors and nurses. I am not getting stoned or high. I am not pain free nor do I expect to be.I do not drive under the influence. I just want some quality of life. Invent something that removes pain other then a narcotic and I will take it gladly.
#1 by I do care! on February 20, 2010 - 5:26 pm
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You poor thing. It would hurt so much.
I have also been in the same position as you when I used to be on many pain medications.
Sometimes my pain would require me to attend the ER and the Doctors and Nurses, people I work with, also treated me like a drug addict.
One Nurse even called me one straight up!
I am lucky now as my pain is usually well controlled with my neurostimulator so I hardly ever take pain meds anymore and that changes EVERY ONES attitude in the ER. Which it shouldn’t. Pain and being on pain meds does not make you an addict or a drug seeker.
I am going to add you as a contact. And give you this web address which explains exactly what your saying, but from my side, and how things are now. But the story is now about 5 years old so it need updating badly.
It’s http://www.medtronicneuro.com.au/ambassa…
I am happy to chat with you anytime.
#2 by ek 5 on February 20, 2010 - 10:01 pm
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You could be, but if things are as bad as you describe, it doesn’t matter.
#3 by stangdud on February 20, 2010 - 11:26 pm
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you are not an addict, as long as your doctor is still prescribing you the meds.
#4 by shortsto on February 21, 2010 - 6:07 am
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I cannot imagine the pain you are in, it sounds terrible. No one should have to live with that kind of pain, and it sounds like you are doing everything right. The pain management specialist is definately the way to go. I don’t know if any physical therapy would help your situation, but it would be worth looking into if you haven’t done so already.