Pain v. Pain Medication

More tradeoffs. It’s been wonderful having clarity and not being under the constant fog of medication. I’ve already written about that. But on the other hand, I can’t do much and when I do…

After cleaning the kitchen (dishes blocked access to the sink) and mixing up a quick batch of cookie dough, my husband asked me, “Did you overdo it?” See, overdoing it has been an issue with me in the past, just ask my sister who has often been the one asking the question.

But to this inquiry I replied, “If I do anything, it’s overdoing it.”

Now I do the dishes and can barely stand afterward. I do my homework and thankfully remember what I’ve read, but can’t sit up without excruciating pain. I’m starting to wonder if I shouldn’t just get back on the pills. I hate them and I’ve tried about everything (NOT methadone, although it has been recommended). Here’s a list, just a little FYI:

-Lortab
-Vicoden
-Norco
-Oxycontin
-MSContin
-Dilaudid
-Fentanil
-Bupificaine
-Duragesic patches
-Ultram (which technically is an NSAID)
-Countless NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
-About every muscle relaxer manufactured
-Currently on Neurontin (which at least makes me sleepy at night)

I’m sure I’m leaving something out, but you get the idea. And the dosages, oh, that would take days to list. But the point is, as I ramble, that I hate them all. I always have had to take 2-3 other medications just to tolerate the pain medication. It’s just not much of a life.

But lately I’ve been wondering, especially late at night when I lay awake crying and trying not to wake my poor, long-suffering husband, is this much of a life either?

PS I’ve added a link to the right side for Medtronic, the manufacturer of my pain pump that has some info for those curious about it.