I can sleep now but im a drug addict

[Chris1900]

Hello.

Just watching the RLS programme on channel 5. I have suffered for over 30 years since i was 7. Im now on both pain killers and other pills to keep my legs in check. But im now dependent on drugs.

[Hidden]

Dependant on drugs to live is not the same as an addict - no one calls diabetics addicts yet they are dependant on their meds too!

It is a pain in the @ss taking drugs all the time but its much worse not having them!

[Chris1900 in reply to Hidden]

You make a good point. But i tried to come off my pain medication recently and became very unwell showing serious withdraw symptons. I felt like a DA.

[Hidden in reply to Chris1900]

I know the feeling - I came off tramadol on my own but after a couple of months I was a mess and went looking tablets again - I was made go to a pain clinic and had to wait a year, it was a year of sheer hell that had me at the edge more often than not.

Since then I'e realised I need the drugs to function no different than a diabetic. Many who take blood pressure medication but if they did lifestyle changes they wouldn't need it - I'm sure they have good reasons not to make the changes but still they have the option unfortunately people like us don't.

And anyway there are many worse things out there than a drug addict, a politician is one that springs to mind

Take care.

[Chris1900 in reply to Hidden]

You have made me feel a little diffrent about my "medication" . Thanks

[Hidden]

Unfortunately hysteria among Drs about opioids means they are often under prescribed to those that need them yet can hand out really damaging drugs to people that could make a few alterations and do without drugs. The system is f**ked!

[Gmc54 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, ny gp was very reluctant to give me even the lowest dose of tramadol, but was prepared to give me pramipexole, in ever increasing doses (which I augmented on) and ropinerole, which after my experience with pramipexole I refused. Luckily he did give me the tramadol after much persuasion, and it works most of the time - at least for now.

Maybe I should have asked him for methadone and watched him explode!!! Lol!

[Hidden in reply to Gmc54]

lol its mad isn't it - this drug will help but we wont give it to you in case you become dependent but we will give you this one that can destroy your life and that if it works you will be dependent on it!

WTF do they teach at med school, (mind you I blame the media and politicians for the drug hysteria)?

[Hidden in reply to Gmc54]

BTW there are guys on here getting methadone and it is working well for them, but I think they are in the US, mind you I'd be tempted to float it with my GP to see him panic

[involuntarydancer in reply to Hidden]

My understanding is that methadone is the optimal opiate for severe rls - it has properties that render it particularly effective.It has a long half life though. I personally would prefer to take OxyContin if it were a straight fight between the two.

[Hidden in reply to involuntarydancer]

What part of the world are you in and have you approached your Dr about it?

Jesus mine would freak if I came looking methadone!

[Gmc54 in reply to Hidden]

I'm in the UK. I think it would be a case of "never darken my doors again" if I asked him for methadone!

I take it you're in the UK as well?

[Hidden in reply to Gmc54]

North of Ireland. I often think the Dr's here are even worse than in England, etc. Although I will give credit to mine - I may bitch about him but he's doing his best....at times!

[involuntarydancer in reply to Hidden]

I'm in Republic of Ireland - Dublin but my GP is a long standing friend and knows me well. His position so far has been if I ask for it, he's prepared to give it to me. He knows next to nothing about rls and really doesn't want the hassle of educating himself. He can't prescribe methadone though (probably just as well given his laissez faire attitude) but he was prepared to refer me to a pain clinic if I hassled him enough. As it was, I haven't needed it. While I understand the problems with too readily prescribing of opioids, it does drive me crazy that the medical profession is prepared to withhold these treatments when they could afford such relief.

[Hidden in reply to involuntarydancer]

It is a bit annoying too when there are Drs out there prescribing opioids to people they know who are misusing because it is easier than confronting the problem!

If a drug is deemed suitable to treat a problem then I see it as the duty of the Dr to give the patient the help they need.

Maybe if they educated themselves more about addiction and dependence they might do their job better!

[Clive_w]

I've had this since I was a baby. I banged my head on the pillow to take my mind of it so everyone thought I was weird. I avoided Jobs where I had to sit down for anything other than short periods. Hid it from partners and take loads of pain killers. Still not taken seriously 63 years later.

[Hidden in reply to Clive_w]

Yeah I've had to pick jobs that I could be mobile in. My last job required me to sit for long periods however I would have to get up stand behind my chair and either hunker down or stretch my legs out behind me.

I got some very strange looks and comments at times but my colleagues and boss were great about it. Had I not been able to stand when I want I would have had to leave the job. I lost count of the times that I would pace in circles round a small office to try and get ease!