Pain Management Community

Well The Cleveland Clinic Has a Pain Medicine Department and it is one of the most highly rated Hospitals in the Nation why Not start There ??

And has a professional said you where addicted or are you Dependent on the medications for Pain Relief there is a big difference between the two.

So please explain your use of addicted because just by the fact that you say you take your medication as prescribed says you are not addicted you are Dependent and there is a BIG difference between the two.

Please see a doctor as soon as you can. You are on fairly high doses of meds and withdrawal will start as soon as you run out of meds. It would be best to have a good doctor to oversee your care. The suggestion to go to the Cleveland Clinic is one option.

Take care, Annette

This is a common nightmare. Many of us have been through comprehensive pain management programs and, over a period of years, discovered the best combination of pain drugs for our unique body chemistry. But when our physician, who has prescribed these drugs for decades, retires - we're left at the mercy of a new, unknown doctor, who asks us to stop using our working medications. Many of us have through trial and error discovered which medications, in combination, work best for us. Asking us to stop and start over makes no sense. It is counterproductive and leads us into agony. I tried this about five years ago and it was pure hell. Why can't PM physicians accepts that we've tried two dozen different medications and finally realized which combination works best?

How long have you beentaking the medication? I am an addiction specialist in California had have been working with Rapid detox for 6 years. Could be that you are just physically dependant on the medication as will happen when taking such high doses of opiates. Ive seen successful detox for patients on as high a dose as 1800 mg of oxycontin so I know its a doable thing to get off these opiate meds.

no,theyre prescribed by dr. and i have called around and was told i would have 2 wait 4 appt. and i am dependent on them.i have children and really cant stand up to get out of bed until ive taken meds.cleveland clinic said they can put me in hospital and treat my systoms.

agree,will see in next few days what happens.thanx

ive thought about that,just cant afford.im on state medical.if i could i would give it a shot.really i called a place last year in cali.any suggestions?

you must have a case worker Im assuming if you have state medical. Have you spoken to him or her? The medical care is above board and top notch for rapid so it is going to be a little pricey

Keep in mind that dependence is a medical condition. It could happen to anyone. Hopefully if you address it as the medical condition that it is more options will open up for you.

Rapid opioid detox was about $10,000 the last time I checked. According to a TV news program, the care is not always top notch, be very careful when you opt for this. She will still need a pain management specialist when she gets done with detox.

Take care, Annette

Chronic pain is also a medical condition, sometimes chronic opioid use is indicated for treatment along with other approaches.

I look at dependence as a side effect of using opioids rather than as a medical condition requiring treatment. If one is having other side effects that make opioid use ineffective or intolerable, just taper off the opioids under a doctor's supervision.

Take care, Annette

If May I ask, what were you being treated for? I don't think this is to much medication depending on your disease and level of pain. It may seem high to those that may not have your same pain syndrome and sypmtoms. I don't think you are addicted just dependent on the relief you feel from the meds. Don't ever go into an appointment with a pain department and say your addicted. Unless you feel really are addicted. I can tell you to get a referral from one of your other docs. Even your primary will do. Tell them it is urgent. If you have a family doctor, speak to them about covering you until the pain doc can see you. Of course this is all dependent on you. Do you have documented diseases that cause you extreme amounts of pain? I have found if you go in with xrays, mri's, etc. Documented proof your not kidding around. You are in serious pain. Otherwise, if it is an addiction, any pain doc worth their weight, will spot it in a minute. Then you have a dark stain on your records from then on. So be honest and hopefully you can get help either way.

Annete and Cweinbl, well said.
If you are in tremeendous physical pain you may need signifigant levels of opiates to give you quality of life and allow you to function.

This is night and day differance from someone that is not in pain and has taken enough drugs to get high that they have become addicted. You may be dependant on such drugs for you to live out a decent life.

I hear (reading between the lines) anxiety about how to replace your doctor and what you are going to do to live a decent life.

IMHO, you need to find a good pain managment doctor or clinic to help you find the right solution.

In here, this is the last place someone is going to judge you as a drug addict because you take opiates to manage your pain. As Annete said "Opiate use is a treatment for chronic pain."

Sure things don't always go perfect and our bodys sensitvity changes with time and each of us is unique in the way we metabalize each drug.

Are you worried that you take too much oxy or are you worried that if you ask another doctor to prescribe you similar doses he will think you a drug seeker?

Get a copy of your medical records and find a pain doctor/clinic. If you are in great pain don't label yourself an addict. If you really think you're an addict and shouldn't be taking drugs becuase you don't really have pain then seek help for that.

Chronic pain and drug use to care for it can lead to anxiety and depression. Take time to really think about what you're doing. if you lable yourself an addictive personality you will have problems getting treatment for pain. If you don't have pain and are addicted then you need help of another kind...please think about this carefully.

I am personally aquainted with persons who have been through the rapid detoxification in Southern California and have seen only success. Of course pain managment will still have to continue. Rumors about rapid detox are a shamme. It really works.