While doing my daily review of addiction news, I came across this article "Jenelle Evans and Courtland Rogers."Say what you will about the Teen Mom and her new husband, but this article struck a cord with me. Courtland Rogers was on the right path to baseball stardom and had a scholarship to play. One car wreck landed him in critical condition for 32 days along with his scholarship and basically his life taken away.
The pain medication the doctor's prescribed him for his injuries became more of a problem than he bargained for. He ultimate found himself addicted and is trying his best to stay sober. We wish him success. I never understood the prescription pain killer addiction until recently.
I had surgery in October for cyst and endometriosis. All my previous surgeries had been, I wouldn't call a piece of cake, but much more tolerable than this particular one. I was in excruciating pain. Of course I was prescribed an opiate drug for any aches that I had. I took them just like the prescription read. 1-2 pills every 4-6 hours as needed for pain.
I started out by taking one. One didn't quite enough cut the pain, so I stepped it up to two. Two seemed to work out perfectly. My mother didn't like the fact that I was taking these meds despite my pain, because she was afraid that I would get hooked on them. I assured her that I was taking them just like the doctor ordered and if I didn't have pain I wouldn't take them.
However, I started researching painkiller addiction and reading about how individuals become addicted. I now can obviously see how people get addicted to them. About two weeks ago I had complications from my surgery. I was in the most horrible pain of my life. My first go to was some Advil thinking it would manage my symptoms. Unfortunately, that didn't trigger any relief what so ever. I then went to my trusty pill bottle of Oxycodone. I took one pill. Hours later, I was still in massive pain. It had worsen and the next go around I took two.
By the end of the weekend, I had noticed that I had finished the bottle and my body was getting use to the two pills. It just wasn't doing the trick anymore. Since I was in agonizing pain, I didn't even think twice of popping the pills. I wanted the pain to go away ASAP. Luckily, my pain subsided and I was able to go on my normal days.
However, some people's pain continues and more pills need to be taken or higher dosages to keep the pain at bay. That turns one into what people call a "pill popper." I don't want to become a "pill popper," but what does one do when they are literally suffering? I have been checking into holistic and non-prescription treatments. The feedback I keep getting is that non-prescription treatment doesn't work as well as prescription treatment. It is worth a shot!
I hate taking medication, but sometimes it is unavoidable. Withdraw from the drug can be a bitch as well. If you think you are becoming addicted to pain killers, open up and talk to someone about it. Talk with your doctor about other avenues to manage pain without prescription drugs. People who already have an addictive mind can be easily addicted to prescription meds when prescribed for pain after an illness or surgery. Doctors don't always look out for that thing. Look out for number 1, which is yourself!
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