I know that this is a kind of crazy question because you should always take medication as prescribed but I am worried about my mom. She has neck pain and instead of taking them like she is supposed to, she takes them like she wants. She also can take one and then do normal activities.(dishes, cooking, laundry, taking out the trash) here is the rest of my question, if you can do all of that do you even need to take the medicatin at all? When I had severe trouble with my back and spine I would still be in severe pain even after meds and I don't know if she is really as sick as she says since she is still so active. Please help. Thanks.
2007-09-05 15:58:31 · 6 answers · asked by reggieg 4 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
She is an RN and definately knows better. I have thought for a while that she has a drug problem. She has taken the symptoms that i had when I had a 7 cm ependymona removed from my spinal cord and is telling her doctor that. I think that she is hurting, but how much?
2007-09-05 16:43:36 · update #1
i had a script for percoset i was getting 120 / month and was taking 6 to 10 a day 1 1/2 to 2 times as much as i should have to deal with 2 herniated discs in my lower back.and i did this for a 7 month period and eventually did spine surgery here.http://www.getadr.com/ . i think your mother should completely exhaust doing a non invasive approach before looking at surgical intervention.here is a great book you should get her.http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Own-Neck-4th/dp/0958269246/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/103-8163448-7733438?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189049426&sr=1-3
i suffered for 10 years and this was the best physical therapy out there..i got the book for lower back.anyways it is very hard to get off the pain meds when your hurting because they work....they take the edge off the pain.unfortunately you build a tolerance and need more.another phenomonom is that you can develope a physical dependency and or a psycological dependency.people that have both types of dependency have a hardest time getting off them.my dependency was psychological i thought i needed them otherwise my back was going to start hurting really bad.so the best advice i can give you is .....find a way to make the pain go away then have her wheen herself off them.alot of peole with spine issues become addicted to pain meds.2 girls who had neck surgey when i was getting my surgery done were checking themselves into detox when they got back home.the good news is 90 percent of people who have neck issues dont need surgery
if you have any specific questions dont hesitate to email me .and good luck
2007-09-05 16:40:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The point of pain management is to be able to do thigns. My condition is excruciatingly painful without my meds. I can't get out of bed and get dressed if I don't take them. But when I do, I can do pretty much everything: drive, work ( a job where I'm on my feet), clean house, walk my dog, etc. The goal of pain management is for the patient to be able to do every day activities with little or no pain. People think I'm not as sick as I say I am all the time because I am down to a level 1 or 2 pain on a BAD day with my meds. It's hurtful when people don't believe you have pain because the meds help, ESPESCIALLY when it's family!
That being said, your mom should only be taking the medication AS PRESCCRIBED. If she is taking more than her doctor prescribed for her to take, it is a problem that needs to be addressed. You should go with her to her doctor's appointment and speak with them together. She can't just take it like she wants to, she has to take it like she's supposed to, or her tolerance will skyrocket and the good pain relief she's getting from the meds now will cease. It's important to talk to her and her doctor about this together; she may have more pain than the meds can relieve and need a stronger medication or dosage OR she could be abusing the meds. Either way, her doctor should know about it.
2007-09-05 16:49:25 · answer #2 · answered by Mandy VZ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Vicodin really only work for 4-6 hours, so some people would needs 6 separate doses to constantly have pain killers in effect. If she is taking more than one dose at a time, there is a problem. However, she really should tell her doctor that 1 works, but only taking it 3 times doesn't cover enough time to last all day.
The other part of your question - some people, like myself, have pain that isn't going to go away, so we take a level of the pain killer that allows us to return to normal function. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to weight lift, or move furniture, but it allows me to do laundry, pick up the cat, grocery shop,etc. Not everyone handles pain or pain meds the same. (My husband's brother can take morphine and have no effect, while my husband can take 1 tylenol #3 (codeine) and be out cold.)
As long as she is using them to solve physical pain, and not emotional, and she isn't taking more in one dose than she ought to, I don't think you should be worried - just be watchful.
2007-09-05 20:17:57 · answer #3 · answered by Ryan D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please talk to your mom's doctor as soon as you can. Vicodin is very addictive as others have stated, but also, I can tell you from experience that Vicodin can change your personality and mental capabilities as well. It was prescribed for me one time; I only took one pill in the morning and one pill in the afternoon the first day and I was ready to kill someone! The complete opposite of my normal personality. I also couldn't see very well and felt 'high'. I knew something was wrong with me, but it took me a while to make the connection to the Vicodin. It didn't help with the pain, either! I wrote a nasty e-mail to my best friend, which I would never do in a million years. Later in the year, I was in the hospital for surgery and the nurse asked me if I was allergic to any medications and I told her what happened with the Vicodin, and she said the same thing happened to her when she took it. She was ready to kill her husband. - See if your mom's doctor will prescribe something else for her pain, if she needs it. It would be best if she can stay away from the Vicodin. Best wishes to both of you!
2007-09-05 16:24:37 · answer #4 · answered by kayel 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She is taking too many; so many that pretty soon they will stop working so well. But the truth is that stopping or slowing down on the drug is up to her--and to her Dr, if he refuses to give her more. Trouble is, with a neck/back problem they are often prescribed for long periods of time. Wish I could help you, but she is the one who needs some help. I hope your mom gets past and gets over it,and that she is not driving on top of Vicodin. Driving impaired could kill herself or others.Good luck to you both.
2007-09-05 16:12:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're right, she should take only as prescribed. aking 5 a day is not an overdose, but unless the dr said to she shouldn't be. Some people can be active in severe pain. I live my life in severe pain, and I work a full time job. Different people have different abilities in pain, and her pain maybe not as severe as she is saying.
2007-09-05 17:21:00 · answer #6 · answered by Mr & Mrs G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, honey, but if she's not already, she'd becoming addicted. Get her some help. Talk to her doctor or best friend or your dad. It's NOT good. Vicodin is VERY addictive!
2007-09-05 16:04:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she is in need of additional medication to ease the pain then she should speak with her doctor. Taking the medicine more than prescribed also means she will run out before any refill is allowed.....prolonging her period of pain.
2007-09-05 23:44:04 · answer #8 · answered by iraq51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best to ask your doctor or your pharmasist
2007-09-05 18:28:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋