“Can I be prescribed any pain medications if I was an addict?”
Three years ago, I had a bad addiction to prescription meds. Now that I'm out of rehab and have been clean for a year, I haven't had the urge to relapse. But I got into a car accident just last week where I severely hurt my bad. I told the doctor about my addiction and said that I shouldn't be having pain medication in case it happens, and that I can treat the pain naturally. However, it's really bad. And I don't think natural medicine is working for my back pain (mainly along my spine). Can I be prescribed any opioid medications even if I was addicted? What are some other options?
2 Answers
You should avoid opioids at all costs. Alternatives include physical therapy or chiropractors; injections; surgery; or a neurostimulator. Medications might include over the counter NSAIDs like Ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Opioids are not a great idea in this circumstance.
As a rule the pain from an auto accident lasts a few days to 2-4 weeks and then goes away. Pain that lasts more than that is almost always due to muscle spasm, which you should treat with a muscle relaxer like Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) but mostly physical therapy. Ice packs or heat can be helpful; often ice is more effective. Be sure to use a thickness of towel so you don't get frostbite.
DO NOT STAY IN BED, but move around within a range of reasonable comfort. Prolonged rest makes this worse. Once you're beginning to feel better, you should be walking every day. If you have nerve damage causing weakness or numbness somewhere, you should see a neurologist right away. (Not a surgeon.) If you're having trouble controlling bladder or bowel function, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT A GOOD HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY. This rarely occurs, and usually your pain is just due to muscle strain.
There are several good drug choices for pain relief. Most simply, you can take a NSAID like Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), or aspirin in combination with Tylenol with generally good results. Ibuprofen: 400 to 600 mg four times a day as needed; don't exceed 2400 mg/day in all. Aleve: 440 mg every 8 hours as needed (works longer and is often a better pain reliever). Don't mix Aleve with ibuprofen on the same day. You can add regular-strength Tylenol 650 mg four times a day.
Second choice: buprenorphine. This is the same drug that's in Suboxone but is available in much lower strength as Balbuca strips, which you put in your cheek every 12 hours as needed. It's an atypical opiate that shouldn't trigger relapse. Unless you immediately feel euphoria and opiate craving (unlikely), it's extremely safe. Bad news: most physicians have never heard of Belbuca, and it can cost $600 for a month's supply.
Most people won=E2=80=99t like the third choice: go to a methadone clinic. I would do this only if you think your pain will last a long time.
DO NOT STAY IN BED, but move around within a range of reasonable comfort. Prolonged rest makes this worse. Once you're beginning to feel better, you should be walking every day. If you have nerve damage causing weakness or numbness somewhere, you should see a neurologist right away. (Not a surgeon.) If you're having trouble controlling bladder or bowel function, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT A GOOD HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY. This rarely occurs, and usually your pain is just due to muscle strain.
There are several good drug choices for pain relief. Most simply, you can take a NSAID like Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), or aspirin in combination with Tylenol with generally good results. Ibuprofen: 400 to 600 mg four times a day as needed; don't exceed 2400 mg/day in all. Aleve: 440 mg every 8 hours as needed (works longer and is often a better pain reliever). Don't mix Aleve with ibuprofen on the same day. You can add regular-strength Tylenol 650 mg four times a day.
Second choice: buprenorphine. This is the same drug that's in Suboxone but is available in much lower strength as Balbuca strips, which you put in your cheek every 12 hours as needed. It's an atypical opiate that shouldn't trigger relapse. Unless you immediately feel euphoria and opiate craving (unlikely), it's extremely safe. Bad news: most physicians have never heard of Belbuca, and it can cost $600 for a month's supply.
Most people won=E2=80=99t like the third choice: go to a methadone clinic. I would do this only if you think your pain will last a long time.
