Is this addiction or pain control? or both??

[Kashia]

Even though I haven't posted my concern yet, I feel so relieved to have found this forum....tonight, alone, worried, and in pain.

Jan 5th while walking down the street enjoying a little reprieve from the blizzard and snowfall, I slipped on ice. Hard fall- Left proximal humerus fracture. Painful.

I was visiting my family at the time. Initially I stayed with family but when I was able in a couple weeks, with family nearby, I rented a little cabin where I will spend my time for the duration of this healing.

I am at week 5. bone shows some density but separation still visible.

At first I was taking 1 hydrocodone 10mg q 4. Dr said 1-2 q 4 but I never needed 2. After couple weeks I began

trying half dose, sometimes working, other times onset of pain would come so suddenly I had a hard time getting it under control- would refer back to 10 mg q 4 all day again. and so on.

One morning after being on lower doses previous day I woke up shaking but didn't recognize this sign.

anyways now I am doing better taking half dose, 5mg, q4-8 hrs.

I alternate between trying to decrease dose times, feeling pain, feeling guilty-

one of my sons now will not visit me because I started crying

while he took me to the store. he has zero tolorence for drug use period ( father addict) so yes, I have been crying a lot last couple days.

It just occurred to me tonight taking narc's this long creates other problems like withdrawal when you try or feeling pain when you don't.

So my son's have been so supportive, this one also until he decided

I now have a drug problem.

I am hoping for some clarity from any of you. One issue is my pain control, decreasing doses and eventually stopping when pain allows.

The other is..well family issue. If I can gain some clarity and know I am doing the therapeutic thing for overall healing that will benefit. and I can not worry about what he is thinking.

So is the idea to just become use to pain - increase my tolerance, try other things-should I be concerned at this point about addiction now?

anyone have ideas how to decrease use and decrease w/d symptoms...

do you titrate dose as pain allows? I have never experienced any long term pain, fractured shoulder, injuries etc

thank you in advance

[Medic181986]

I have never been a drug addict. Though, I can say that I have been on pain meds for six weeks or rather doctor wrote them for six weeks. I was so afraid of becoming an addict that I stopped taking them after TWO days. However my older sister takes pain meds for her back. I often wonder how she can take so many, that make her act the way she does. I know she must be in some pain but does she really need to be on FIVE different ones? So I understand the part about you son's reaction, cause I often want to tell my sister to stop the drugs or I will stop talking with her. It is hard, but something you might want to talk with your doctor, that you have concern, to see what the two of you can up with.

[Kashia, ASN, LVN]

Hello everyone,

I want to thank you all for your insights and advice..and support.

I kind of dropped of Allnurses for a bit but did read posts that were there. So I return today and see there were more of you and just thank you so much.

A little up date....Bone pain is painful!

I ended up talking with the pharmacist, as I remembered they really are more knowledgeable in this area. I discussed with him what I was taking, and how I was lowering doses in relation to decreased pain level. He said he thought I was doing really well. Advised me not to stop all at once but decrease about 20% each time I lower. That plan is working well.

My pain level at rest is much better, 0/10..yeah!.

Now I am in PT and ice but still taking some meds and feel ok about it....

Thank you all again, Love and in health, Kashia