I also have fibromyalgia, though not the back issue that Anoymous' mom has and agree with her! After the merry go round of finding the right combo of meds to keep the pain from ruining my entire life and having been basically branded a drug seeker by a few specialists (my pcp always believed me and finally got me to a good specialist and on the right path) I know that meds like vicodin can be a lifesaver at times. I take vicodin hp for breakthrough pain. I have never felt 'high' when taking it as directed. When I'm in so much pain that anything that touches my body, even putting my feet on the floor, has me crying and wanting to scream I need something strong or I will go crazy from it. Even if it does not take the pain fully away once in a while it does, because of it's effect on the brain, take the mind off it for long enough to give me a much needed mental break. That's what it is supposed to do and also why it is addictive. If taken when not in pain you get the false sense of euphoria that drug addicts seek. If I could find a med that helped me be pain free as well as vicodin hp but was non narcotic I'd jump to get it! So far none are out there. Anyone in real, chronic pain that is totally debilitating knows how hard it can be to not only get relief but to find the right docs to help. And because of some people abusing narcotic meds it makes it very hard for those of us who need them to get them. No one can truly judge anothers pain. Chronic pain can fully stop a persons life and make them feel insane for days, weeks and even years if untreated. To label someone an addict when they take these meds is unfair and totally wrong. When taken as directed, even over long peroids on and off it is safe if you and your Dr discuss it and you use them only when needed. Seems these day as soon as people hear the name vicodin (or the other meds like it) they automatically decide the person taking it is some kind of junkie. And, to whomever said a persons whole personality changes on vicodin- yes, mine does, I go from being a crying pain wracked mess who can't function at all on the worst pain days I have to being able to get out of bed without falling to the ground in total agony and walking around. And because I can do those things I tend to be happier all around. But it is because I get pain relief and can mostly function again rather than because of any drug 'high'. Until someone has walked a mile in the shoes of anyone with severe chronic pain they have no right to label them. Sorry to have gone on so long but this is a topic I feel strongly about.
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I also have fibromyalgia, though not the back issue that Anoymous' mom has and agree with her! After the merry go round of finding the right combo of meds to keep the pain from ruining my entire life and having been basically branded a drug seeker by a few specialists (my pcp always believed me and finally got me to a good specialist and on the right path) I know that meds like vicodin can be a lifesaver at times. I take vicodin hp for breakthrough pain. I have never felt 'high' when taking it as directed. When I'm in so much pain that anything that touches my body, even putting my feet on the floor, has me crying and wanting to scream I need something strong or I will go crazy from it. Even if it does not take the pain fully away once in a while it does, because of it's effect on the brain, take the mind off it for long enough to give me a much needed mental break. That's what it is supposed to do and also why it is addictive. If taken when not in pain you get the false sense of euphoria that drug addicts seek. If I could find a med that helped me be pain free as well as vicodin hp but was non narcotic I'd jump to get it! So far none are out there. Anyone in real, chronic pain that is totally debilitating knows how hard it can be to not only get relief but to find the right docs to help. And because of some people abusing narcotic meds it makes it very hard for those of us who need them to get them. No one can truly judge anothers pain. Chronic pain can fully stop a persons life and make them feel insane for days, weeks and even years if untreated. To label someone an addict when they take these meds is unfair and totally wrong. When taken as directed, even over long peroids on and off it is safe if you and your Dr discuss it and you use them only when needed. Seems these day as soon as people hear the name vicodin (or the other meds like it) they automatically decide the person taking it is some kind of junkie. And, to whomever said a persons whole personality changes on vicodin- yes, mine does, I go from being a crying pain wracked mess who can't function at all on the worst pain days I have to being able to get out of bed without falling to the ground in total agony and walking around. And because I can do those things I tend to be happier all around. But it is because I get pain relief and can mostly function again rather than because of any drug 'high'. Until someone has walked a mile in the shoes of anyone with severe chronic pain they have no right to label them. Sorry to have gone on so long but this is a topic I feel strongly about.
April 25, 2012 - 5:14amThis Comment
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