I've been on pain meds before, and have gone off them twice

Addiction & Recovery Substance Abuse
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I've been on pain meds before, and have gone off them twice -- with great difficulty. My problem is that I need them for chronic pain, but don't want to go back to dose increases and physical addiction: a real loop and serious life issue !

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Does anything else help, massage, chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture?

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This is a very difficult area. If you truly have addictions then some would say that you must find every way you can to relieve pain without opiates. So you have to be honest with yourself. Are you able to get by on a strict, minimal dose of narcotic pain pills, and also use all other ways, like what ckarma says? If you can, then find that absolute minimum. If you can't, then be honest with yourself for what it is. I hope you feel better and live the best you can.

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