Kenai, the fentanyl patches are far too dangerous to play with for recreational purposes. If you're going to be abusing them the morphine ER would be easier and safer.
Still, it's a bad idea to use your pain meds for recreational purposes. Once they stop working for your chronic pain you'll be in a very bad situation.
I have researched it enough to decide I will NEVER try to monkey around with fentanyl. And I have found a LOT more complaints about those patches than the pills I'm taking now. And as I said a while back I was in the hospital and they gave me morphine through my IV and it didn't even TOUCH my pain. It was miserable, three times they injected that stuff into the IV and I got no relief at all. So I'm not anxious to trade my generic perc's for Morphine ER. My chronic pain issue has gotten more complicated over the years. At first it wasn't really chronic, Back in the 1970's one of my knees would go out badly and I'd need to use some pain meds for a week or so. But over the years I had a number of surgeries on my knees. Somewhere around 20. I finally ended up with an artificial joint on my left leg but now IT'S starting to hurt badly on occasion. And my right knee is the kind where the X-Ray Tech calls all his friends in to look at what some poor bastard is actually walking on.
But it wasn't until three years ago when my lower back went looney tunes that I began to experience what I think of as true chronic pain. There is no comfy position, no matter if I sit, lay down, or stand, it HURTS. I got an MRI and they showed me how the canal narrowed where they thought I had a pinched nerve. And I've got some bulging disks at L2 or something. And while there ARE some respites, for the most part it's continual. When I talked about recreational use what I actually did was save up some of my meds for the days when I have to go to my part time job. I HAVE to have that income, my SSDI just isn't enough to survive on and I've been DAMN lucky to work for a company that saw how the issue with my back affected me. They have seen how I've gone from hurting very badly occasionally to hurting very badly most of the time. And they have arranged for me to have a job with a chair and have even given me some latitude on the hours I work. So on the mornings I know I'm working I've sometimes used a double dose to get me through my work day. I'm always aware of the amount of acetaminophen I'm taking and don't go over that limit. And while I admit to enjoying it, I actually NEED that much meds to be able to handle working. Even though I get to sit most of the time I have to do a bunch of filing and THEN I have to stand and bend and stretch etc. I never thought I could use the phrase "pain in the Ass" seriously in a sentence. But that's the part that hurts the worst for me. My left Buttock just BURNS and the pain runs down my thigh. Sometimes my toes sort of tingle. By the time I' been there for 4 or 5 hours I'm toast. But Those hours are critical.
In the past the other meds my Dr mentioned would have cost too much even with my Medicare D plan. But these two the Morphine ER and the fentanyl patch cost about the same so I can't use that as an excuse to stay with what I've had. But I MUCH prefer to keep using the generic Perc's because I can safely increase my morning dose when I'm at work. I don't see anyway to do that with these other two. Especially the fentanyl. That stuff sounds NASTY.
As I type this I'm having to dissuade my Cat from taking the heating pad I'm sitting on for his own purposes.
I'm very grateful to the people who have taken the time to respond! To be honest I'm scared about having to change things. It hasn't been perfect but I've found a way to make it work for me.
Do any of you have a suggestion that might help me stay with the meds my Dr's got me on now?
Yah, I despise Sarah. I voted for her as Governor, but boy was THAT a mistake! And ted is just a pig.
Ya its really bad having a high tolerance, then out of nowhere you really need pain treatments for whatever condition. I didn't realize he was just recreational with it. Sounded like he have some old and new pain issues but its up to him. If you to high with the meds they will bite you in the ass either way. Seems like methadone is more usefull for pain in tolerant/abusive types like me and alot of others. I trying to go without opiates for awhile but know the day will come when this hardware fails or somsthing else happens. Pain is inevidible, at least next time my tolerance should be low enough for standard meds to work. Morphine er ir give me a gallon of morph after last surgery and nothing. Maybe 5 minutes until it wore off. If it works for you thats great and wish you the best.
Thanks for the reply Rod. I didn't do a very good job explaining my situation. Recreational use is NOT my main concern. I have a new counselor who gave me a book to read last week. The Title is "Living Beyond Your Pain"Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy to ease Chronic Pain".
I'm NOT impressed with what I've read so far. I know there are people who choose to just live with it, but as long as there might be a substance I can use to "ease Chronic Pain" I'm all for it! Nobody gets out of here alive anyway. SO I am not that concerned with being addicted if I'm certain the pain I'm experiencing isn't going to vanish after a miracle surgery. I've talked to a bunch of folks that had the various spinal surgeries for conditions similar to mine and the general consensus hasn't been very positive. Plus I can't afford not to work my part time job for a month or two while recovering. I'd end up homeless.
Jesus Benny! My last leg surgery left me hurting so badly they put me in a sort of rehab hospital instead of discharging me home. That first night I went out in my wheelchair into the alcove where patients could smoke and actually looked for a way to end it. That's a shitty place to be in. The next morning I told the DR exactly what had happened and he upped my meds. I eventually got to go home. Your a young guy! I'm in my 60's but there's a decent chance during YOUR lifetime alternative methods for chronic pain will be developed. Don't give up. Please.
What are "BT Meds"?
Yeah, I'm one of the guys that drives the TSA people nuts cause of all the hardware, plates, screws etc. I carry around with me. I grew up in Colorado and skiing was MY sport. It's one of the biggest regrets I have that I can't ski again. You find a way up here and I'll do my best to get you into some fish. It really is a spectacular place!
Yes, I understand what your saying. And I'm having a hard time dealing with the realities before me. I very much appreciate your taking the time to address that part.
Kenai, the fentanyl patches are far too dangerous to play with for recreational purposes. If you're going to be abusing them the morphine ER would be easier and safer.
Still, it's a bad idea to use your pain meds for recreational purposes. Once they stop working for your chronic pain you'll be in a very bad situation.
I don't "know" anyone on these Forums, But you and Rod have high post counts so I PM'd Rod and was going to send it your way as well But have to wait 3 hours because of a spam filter or something.
I am truly frightened by what's going on in my life right now. Even when I double up the dosage of the Perc's it doesn't last for 4 to six hours. And this back pain is by far the most DEBILITATING pain I've ever experienced. After an MRI they showed me a short film. It shows the canal and the narrowing is obvious even to a lay person such as myself. And I've got some bulging disc's etc.
Anyway it HURTS.
Of the three med plans, the perc's the fent, the Morph ER, which one would be most likely to actually relieve the pain for the times they claim to be efficacious.
The reason I say I'm frightened is because I DEPEND on the income, however small, that I ean from my part time job. My SSDI covers my rent anda little of my other costs but I HAVE to work and earn supplemental income Or I will become actually homeless. In Anchorage, at the beginning of Winter that is not an exciting prospect.
It looks like I'm going to have to choose between occasionally getting high when I go to work, or maybe just be ABLE to get to work. Getting old is not for sissies etc.
Guy's and ladies, I'd like to thank those of you who have taken the time to reply to me. I realize how garbled I am right now. And I VERY much value people with the experience you have (my guess using your post counts) taking the time to respond.
I remember right after I got home after my lung surgery, my incision opened up and you could actually hear AIR coming out of the space when I breathed. It was gross and weird and scary.
