Addiction vs. Tolerance, Joyce and Pain

[Guest guest]

JOyce,

I missed the first part of this message but I just want to tell you there is a huge difference between tolerance and addiction with drugs. You can get addicted to many things, drugs, gambling, food, sex. If you don't want to get addicted chances are you wont. I was on percocet for over 2 years which is a narcotic and can be very addictive. I never got addicted, but because that and vicodin are meant for short term use, a few weeks or so, you can build a tolerance. They were not even lasting 30 minutes on my pain anymore. A reputable pain clinic will not just give you drugs. The program I am in took 2 months of testing before I even got drugs. I have to take several psyche tests, meet for an hour with a pain shrink and sign 6 release forms including one stating that I am subject to random drug tests. Drugs such as morhine, oxycontin, ms contin etc. are meant to be used for long term pain control. They are the best drugs for many people. I can tell you this is the only thing that have even touched my vulvodynia pain, but I also have widespread joint and muscle pain that does not respond to any of the nsaids(vioxx, celebrex, advil, alleve) I have to meet with the pain specialist at this point every 2 weeks. Don't let a fear of addiction control your life. Too many people suffer needlessly because of the "addiction fear" in this country. If we focused as much attention on nicotine addiction we would not allow farmers to continue to grow a product in this country that has absolutely no benefit to people but keeps them addicted and keeps killing them.

Lynn in WI on her soap box!!