Quote From: geekasaur Life in chronic pain is no joke, and I completely understand where Joani has been and how she got there. Everyone is right that if you take narcotics you will be physically addicted to it. What few people get is that for many people in chronic pain, they will back that up by saying, "So, what's your point? Yes it is addictive, and I would dearly love to be on anything else, I would, if I could, but I can't, so I won't."
I came down with something called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in 1994, comepletely out of the blue. Prior to that, I cycled 60 km (about 35 miles) a day, to and from work. My wife and I were very good ballroom dancers, which TV watchers now know is a lot of effort. Instantaneously it was all over. I was using a cane, then 2, then Canada canes, then crutches, then a walker, a wheelchair and now a power chair. Every step down came with a lot of resistance and I waited far too long before finally giving in. With my meds it was the same story. I began with anti-inflammatories and the other painkillers, followed by codeine and then on up through its derivatives, morphine and its derivatives, etc. When my condition was it its worst, I was on 85 mg of sub-cu dilaudid (hydromorphone) an hour. Sub-cu is about twice the strength of pills, I am told, which would make it 10 times stronger than morphine.. I am now on about 10% of that, as fentanyl. Thank God for socialized medicine, because the dilaudid cost $350 Canadian a day, about $300 US. That is a day, folks!
Right now, all up my drugs and other medical expenses total $23,000+ a year, most of which is covered by socialized medical support and insurance. It still isn't cheapand doesn't include all the non-medical costs, like equipment and "decorating" costs, and a great topic for an expose is the cost of being disabled - try toilet seats. Going down the last 2" is the killer, so a toilet seat that eliminates it is worth its weight in gold, or almost, since it costs $135 and not even gold costs that much! You can buy motorcycles cheaper that power wheelchairs, suitably kitted out with extras like seats and controllers (I am not joking!).
Joani has my sympathy and deserves yours. Yes, she made a mistake, Yes it is awful easy to make, and easier to throw stones. While it doesn't make her mistake right, neither is all the stonethrowing.
I can also say that chronic pain is no joke. I have suffered from lower back pain for many years, and finally had 2 surgeries and many other "procedures", but nothing has helped relieve the pain that I have constantly, 24/7. Yes, I too am on painkillers, oxycodone, duragesic patch-Fentanyl, and also muscle relaxer Soma-but still can't perform my daily duties. I don't work, can't keep up on housework, etc. It is very depressing because it makes me feel like I am going crazy at times, because doctors don't know what to do with me. I mostly prefer to sit at home alone because I don't want to bother friends and family with my pain and the daily agony that goes along with it. The meds is what my family don't like to hear about-they are worried about me, but I have to get some form of relief from the constant burning pain that never, ever goes away. I can certainly relate to Joani and her return for help to feel better. If only a miracle doctor was out there to fix my back to what it used to be. Good luck to all out there that know what we are going through and God Bless All.
Sarah and Tecoa check in with Dr. Phil after three months of drug rehabilitation. Sent to two separate rehab centers, the twin sisters had to learn to stand on their own two feet before they could move forward in sobriety. The sisters haven’t seen each other in months. How is Tecoa doing after giving birth and placing the baby for adoption? Which twin relapsed and used IV drugs after months of hard work? Then, after rescuing Sarah and Tecoa, Joani finds herself back to the life of addiction -- abusing pain killers, lying to doctors and even meeting one of the twins’ old drug dealers to purchase heroin! How did this happen? Plus, a viewer inspired by Sarah and Tecoa’s story reaches out for help. Talk about the show here.
