I have been on vicodin for 5 years for chronic backpain i am now wondering if i should go to a pain center?

Question

how will i know if i am addicted to the vicodin i take at least 2 - 7 every day and am usually still in pain it is just reduced from 10 down to a 3 in pain level.

Answer 1

after 5 years, tolerance is very likely. Addiction can be easily diagnosed by rapid escalation of dosage beyond that of justified pain management. Taking vicodin for reasons other than pain relief is a clear indication that there is a problem.

However your case sounds more like tolerance as well as break through pain. break through pain is when pain episodes occur on top of baseline pain. I am not sure if you have this but it should be noted. Normally prescribed analgesics do not treat this effectively. A stronger second medication needs to be used in a addition to vicodin for these episodes.

Also 2-7 vicodin/day is small dose when dealing with pain.
It sounds like maybe you just need a stronger pain med if you are not having breakthrough pain. Two recommendations: Norco 10/325mg. Same painkiller as vicodin but double the stength and almost half the Tylenol (better for liver). Also is percocet. This is stronger that vicodin.

you should see a pain specialist. If possible pain center would be nice. They might recommend a break from narcotics to let you body acclimate. Sounds terrible but they can mediate the hell. Try to incorporate meditation (detach from pain, erase emotional hold), Yoga is good, stay active, get a hobby (healthy distractions), eat right and maintain a overall better lifestyle/outlook.

Best of luck. I am wish you the very best.

Answer 2

If you have been getting the vicodin from your regular dr., ask him to refer to a pain mgmt specialist. There are other drugs that can control your pain better than the vicodin. Sounds like you have become tolerant to the vicodin. It's not uncommon in chronic pain patients after taking the same pain med for a long time.

Answer 3

Pain killers never kill the pain but the patient. If you don't want side effects you should follow Alternate Systems of Medicine.
For all pains acupuncture is the best treatment.
We treat back pain within 10 mins also but it may not be possible for you to come to us.
But you can try YOG and especially Meditation part.

Answer 4

Yes you should probably ask your doctor for a referral to a pain management doctor. They can be useful in helping you with different ways to manage your pain. They can also help you get off of the pain medication, it's hard but eventually when they don't help anymore it's just better to get off of them. Good luck.