Expert: Jacqui - 3/8/2010

Question
my sobriety date was march 24 2009. i checked myself into an inpatient facility and completed 9 weeks and im currently still working my 12 step program although iv recently had a relapse. I'v had 12 surgeries on my right leg hence the addicton to prescription pain killers. I had a surgery in october of 09 in which they removed al hardware in my knee. it grew mrsa and im still fighting the infection today. Prior to the surgery and after the surgery i was prescribed percocet 10mg. I was having a problem getting off the them and so i went to a suboxone clinic and have been taking them since. they have helped me tremendously but recently i fell of the wagon. iv taken 80mg of oxycontin 3-4 times a day for the last two weeks. my pain being my biggest trigger i made an appointment with a pain clinic and they told me that they would like to do injections but they want all the infection out of my mbody first. after i left there is when i went to my medicine cabinet and took out the oxy bottle and it was down hill from there. i guess i had high hopes for pain management and i felt let down however i realize there is no excuse for my behavior. while i feel i had alot of good things goin for me i feel like i majorly screwed up because i signed contracts with paimanagement and the syboxone clinic to not use narcotics. im in need of the syboxone and would like to go  back to pain management but i can not go if im not clean so how long do you think i should wait befor i can return or can i do anything to push the drug out of my system faster. i have made my sponcer aware of what has happend and im starting my steps over. i realize staying sober is a life long battle that i will be fighting. also i just found out i might have to have bone cleaning done says infection disease control. that means another surgery and im scared out of my mind. this is my life and i choose to live. i have three kids and i want more then anything to be sober. i have flused all narcotics in my medicine cabinet which i wish i would have done sooner but i did not. please help with any suggestions you might have for me. pain is a real issue, i can tolerate alot of pain but i feel that im missing something and i need to get back on suboxone but will the anestesia still work if im taking suboxone up to my surgery date. im so confused i just know i need to go back to the clinic so when do you think it would be ok for me to go? thank you for your time and consideration  with my crazy situation. im not your typically junkie off the street but my sober support dont have the answers that im seeking and sorry for the junkie comment i was uncalled for and unnecessary if i dont want to be judged i should judge others. please help thank you nicole

Answer
Hi Nicole,

Thanks for taking the time to contact me.  You are right, you are not the typical junkie on the street, as there is no such thing as a typical junkie on the street - in fact I hate the word junkie.  I also am not so in love with the American drug treatment system, as it is really quite punitive.  Why won't they take you back?  It is extremely likely that people relapse at least once, so if that is enough to stop you going back to drug treatment, then it is unlikely that they will have anyone to treat!  

As far as how long it will take the oxy to get out of your system, it kind of depends what you mean.  If you mean "out of your system" as far as being able to take the suboxone without any precipitated withdrawal (as suboxone removes other opiates from the opiate receptors in your brain and this can cause withdrawal symptoms until the bupe kicks in properly), then it should only be a couple of days.  If you mean "out of your system" for a drug test, then I would wait at least 5 days and maybe 7 if possible.  

What most struck me about your message was the feelings of failure.  It is also pretty evident that you are overwhelmed.  Unforuntaely people who take illegal drugs are treated terribly in many societies, and especially America.  In reality, many people take illegal drugs (including your last three presidents ... with the last two know to have used cocaine).   You are not a failure.  You are just a person who is in pain.  I guess there is also part of me that wonders what you mean by pain management?  Do you mean non-medical pain management?  Or do you mean stuff like acupuncture?  Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) isn't a very good pain reliever, so that is why things like oxycontin are used instead.  If the aim of the pain management place is to just get you off oxycontin, it isn't pain management, it is drug rehab.  Pain management should be about managing the pain not judging whether or not you take narcotics.  

It sounds like NA has worked for you (although I am not a huge fan, I know it works for many people), and it is good you have people to speak to.  The thing about NA that I stuggle with is that being "drug free" (except in NA this doesn't include caffeine or nicotine) is a life long battle.  Many people stop using and don't have to battle forever.  Sometimes the thought that you are going to be constantly tempted can be enough for people to say "f**k it!" and want to go back to using.  You will get to a time where things are easier.

I hope I have answered your question.  I really hope that things are okay for you, and please contact me again if you need to.

Take care, and whatever you do, do it safely!

Jacqui