Not having the greatest day right now. So, I will try to make this short as possible.

I'm a long time member of this forum here. I see a lot of new faces, so I will quickly introduce myself...

My name is Nick. I'm 29 years old. I suffered a mild "complicated" traumatic brain injury back in 2011. My main symptoms are severe sensitivity to visual and auditory stimulation, and serious problems with communication. There's a whole plethora of other symptoms, but those are the most debilitating. The sensitivity to stimulation is extremely debilitating. I wasn't able to watch TV, listen to music, or go ANYWHERE without my brain shutting down....and I don't mean for a moment. It would shut down for days, weeks or months. I couldn't do anything while my brain was in that state. I spent everyday of my life locked in a dark, quiet room for years.

Long story short, I started taking opiate based, narcotic pain medication for my headaches about a year ago. I noticed at a slightly higher dose that I'm prescribed, it completely ELIMINATED my cognitive issues. Yes, I know that sounds funny but I'm 100% serious. I've finally got my life back!!! I've gone back to dating, I watch movies, go to casinos, play video games everyday...and much much more. Basically, I'm able to do everything I was able to do before my injury!!! I am now a very social person like I was before.

It's amazing....

But...it's NARCOTIC pain medication. I'm taking more than prescribed (of course at a safe dose). My tolerance raises more and more every week, leaving me with 2 choices: Stop taking them and suffer tremendously. Or, keep raising the dose, run out of pills and have to resort to the black market to obtain more.

I don't know what else to do. I've tried every type of medication, vitamin regimens, therapies, had every test performed under the sun and seen every type of doctor you could imagine. NOTHING else works for me. I somehow manage to scrape by every month, never going more than 2 days without medication...but...there has to be another way.

Does anyone else have a similar experience with narcotic medication to relieve symptoms??? Any suggestions???

As of right now...my plan is to try to bring my tolerance back down by teetering. Once my tolerance is back down, I'm gonna try taking them for 3 days, and stopping for 3 days. That way I don't run out, or it doesn't cost me as much. The three days that I'm not taking them, since I'm not working, I will just lock myself in the room and rest while my siblings help with my son.

Well, let me know what you guys think....

Nick

P.S. Judge me if you please. But, we all know only God has that honor. I was desperate to have my life back. This is what works for me!!! I pray that everyone here finds what works for them.