So sorry you have crps. Many folks have that on NT. The SCS is an implanted device that interupts the pain signals to the brain. Many folks here have this device and it litterly saves their lives. The agony from RSD and CRPS is horrible. I only have PN so I understand how much that kind of nerve damge hurts people. Look in to this device, and start asking around the boards. You will find many who have this, and it starts with a trial implant. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

Personally, I don;t FEEL addicted. However were I to suddenly STOP taking my meds I am sure my BODY would suffer withdrawals. I have only been on tramadol and now oxycodone, i have ran out of tramadol before, and my body started sweats ans grumpiness and i felt like I had a fever or a cold. But "addiction" has such a negative feeling associated with it. We aren't junkies, looking for a good high. But physically dependent on these medications for pain relief. A SIDE EFFECT would be physical addiction. No no high just s relaxation, from not being in such severe pain. Almost ANYONE who has been on these types of pain killers for a very extended period of time would feel the "withdrawals". I don't know much about the SCS pumps, do I can't offer an opinion there .

Yes if you stop any of those medications, you body does indeed go into withdrawl. I got off morphine after 12 years. I will never go through that awful stuff again, as I will never take that drug again. I am ultra careful now in what I do take, and never on a regualar basis. ginnie

Actually, the difference between becoming tolerant to opioids, which is a physiological response to taking them for a long time and occurs with everyone, and addiction, which is a long-term illness of which using the substance is but one symptom, is pretty distinct and not hard to Dx - even self-Dx.

I asked my first pain doc about this, and he said that someone whose opioid script enabled them to return to some aspects of their normal lives, which they pursued enthusiastically, was getting what they needed. Red flags are a decrease in activity instead of an increase, a preoccupation with always being sure there was a good supply as well as standard addict games, like "losing" scripts, wanting early refills, etc.

As far as self-diagnosis, just answer one question with complete honesty: Do you crave the next dose of opioid for reasons unrelated to your pain level, and rationalize reasons to use your breakthrough med even when you don't really need it? If so, you're already in trouble and should talk honestly with the prescriber. It does not mean you'll automatically be booted from your opioid regimen; there will probably be closer monitoring, smaller script sizes, etc. as your doc feels are needed.

For many years, it was believed that chronic pain patients almost never became addicted since we become tolerant so quickly to the euphorigenic effects, and often don't feel them at all, but this unfortunately has been shown to be untrue.

In fact, the main cheerleader for using opioids for long-term, non-cancer pain since the mid-1990s was Dr. Russ Portenoy, a superlative pain physician at Beth-Israel in NYC. A month ago, he wrote an editorial in the WSJ essentially saying that if he'd known back then what we know now, he'd never have encouraged such widespread use of chronic opioid use. I can post a link to this if anyone's interested.

I'm NOT saying that I totally agree with this new position. Opioid availability for people like us is under chronic attack by the DEA, and any further threats to this make me very nervous.

HB

My pain doctor explains it simply that there is a big difference between being addicted and your body being dependent.

You can't control the bodies dependence on medication you take long term.

Hi! I have been on vicoden and then percocet for about 8 years. I didn't think anything about it until my neurologist got keyed into the fact (even though she sent me to the pain med. doctor) and acted like it was the worst thing she had heard all week. So now I've been sent to another pain doc. and changed to fentanyl (didn't like) and now ms-contin with the suggestion that I try a drug holiday. Funny, but since I still had pain for all this time, I was surprised by all this. On top of this, I found that my stupid state (TN) had some new regulations that are making it more difficult for docs to prescribe drugs. I guess I appreciate all the hysteria around opioids (and opioids in TN in particular), but WHAT about us pain patients? I have never taken more two 10 mg. of any of these drugs a day; am I going to have a very difficult time going on a drug holiday?? And do I have to feel like a guilty drug addict (peeing into a cup at age 65) while trying to live a wreck of a life with crps? How 'bout some compassion . . . we're not lying around on pallets smoking opium! Better yet, how about some new, safe drugs for pain. Now stepping off my soap box.