Addicted to Prescription Drugs

• As an adolescent she suffered with neck pains.

• She ignored it though like young people do feeling invincible and that she will live for ever.

• She couldn't even move her head at times.

The years rolled on and life’s experiences of pleasures or woes continued to rain down on her. After she was married with a family she noticed the pain gradually getting worse, developing headaches, which prompted her to see the GP. There was no reason given her as to why this was happening. The solution, she was told, would be painkillers. That was okay as a temporary measure, she wanted rid. She put it down to her diet, too much caffeine, ice cream and chocolate. Things would work out eventually, she knew what to do. Or so she thought.

She was very active so you can imagine her panic when one morning she couldn't move or get out of bed for the pain. What to do? She rang a friend and after a struggle getting in the car, took her to see an osteopath.

He manipulated her back. (Ooh painful) but the best thing he did for her was give her a diagnosis. Scoliosis of the spine. (This is a condition that causes an abnormal curve of the spine). He couldn't tell her why she had it, whether it was something she was born with or if it was from a fall. As I said, she had always been active and that included sporty. As a youngster she did a lot of trampolining. She wondered if that was it. She definitely remembered falling then.

The osteopath gave her exercises and advice as to what to do.  At last she was on the road to recovery.  She wouldn't be able to cure the scoliosis.  But she may be able to prevent it getting worse and she felt satisfied to at last have a reason.    It wasn't caffeine after all.

The only thing was, she had developed another problem over the years and wasn't even aware it was happening. How her GP didn't see this I do not know! She developed an addiction to pain killers. This is such a serious matter that creeps up on us slowly. We tend to think that if something is legal then its okay. These were prescription drugs. Surely it was okay, her doctor gave them to her for crying out loud. But it wasn't okay and it took a lot of pain and withdrawal for her to be free of them.

So the moral of this story is to be careful when taking prescription drugs. Withdrawal from any addiction is not pretty and coming off painkillers is likened to the feeling of withdrawing from heroin. It is the same family after all (opiates) It took her years to overcome with a lot of pain, dedication and will power.

Copyright © 2011 Lesley Sherwood