Addicted to lortab for back pain, but Im ready to slow down or stop!

[alinikki]

I am so tired of taking precription pain meds. I feel the addiction of them now after 5 years of taking them consistantly, but I have a buldging disk in my lower back that hurts constantly. I used to only take 3 lortabs a day, now its getting to where one lortab does nothing for the pain. My doctor has prescribed me duregesic patches (50mg) that hardly work, two help alot but she only want me wearing one. My tolerance to lortabs and pains meds is so high nothing help much anymore.

Over the past few months, I have started to worry that the lortabs could harm my liver. I also worry about if alot of the back pain is caused from my tolerance to pain decreasing from the pills.. Should I seek help to get off them completely? If so, how can I deal with the pains in my lower back? I am sick of taking pills, sick of worrying over running out (too painful without them)... but I cant handle the back pain without them. any suggestions?

[Sunnyd210]

Have u tried anything else for the pain besides narcotics?

[sdleo]

I do think you should try to get off them and talk to your doctor to have him help you. I also thought I had more pain than I really didwhen I took the meds. After the w/d your pain will decrease and I'm sure there is something else you can try for pain. It's hard when your tolerance to meds gets high because you worry about things like if you have a surgery and they give you a couple pills afterwards that won't take care of your pain one bit and you're stuck. You can wean yourself off but that's hard because it seems like you still will have some symptoms while doing that but I had to do it cold turkey. How many are you taking daily? Yeah talk with you doc and have him help you get off the meds. Normally they don't have a problem helping someone gets off meds and are willing to prescribe other meds to get you through the w/d. Good luck and keep posting that will help alot!

[alinikki]

I agree... I called an addiction doctor today and made an appointment... I lose count of what Im taking. Its way over the amount I should. Probably about 5 - 8 a day, and Im wearing patches. My family doctor prescribes vicaprofen 7.5's which I take 2 at a time and 50 mg duragesic patches to change every 3 days... both are WAY too weak to even knock the pain to bare-able when following the script...so I take more, then run out...then start doctor shopping,etc... Im so so ready for all this to end. I want off...I want to be normal again. I am sick of spending 300 a week on lortabs...or whatever I can get. Insurance doesnt cover anything anymore... I just want to stop and move on with life. I find myself missing my car notes because I spend too much to keep from hurting! I believe if I can get OFF these then I can manage the pain with tylenol or aleve. then if that doesnt work i may end up on them again, but at least i gave myself a fair chance. I ahve a friend who took them and said he hurt so bad when his body wanted more. He said he had aches and pains all over... this could be my whole problem. Im praying that Suboxone will help me. Ive read all about it and i understand how it works... so now.. just gotta take that step toward getting better... thank you for all your help here. I look forward to hearing your expereiences!!! they help me so much.