Painkillers in the NFL:Keith McCants on the war within

CB4 · Feb 15, 2015

capnfrog said:
Sometimes, if you don't know what you're talking about it's best to say nothing. Before I became disabled I spent many hours going to Narcotics anonymous to support friends that had an addiction, I spent lots of money on taxicab rides when they gave the excuse that they couldn't afford a taxi. I went to N/A meetings in Birmingham, Nashville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and several more cities along the rivers, I never thought one day I would be in the same shape and if something doesn'tchange I see me headed that way, full speed ahead. When you would do most anything to stop the pain you have the first hint that you are in trouble, then it will finally gets to the point where even if there is no pain you want the pain pills because of the addiction.

Sorry about your situation. I am an addict many years in recovery. I am also the father of an alcoholic/addict that just celebrated his fourth year clean and sober. Has your surgeon/internist referred you at any point to a pain management specialist? Many things can be done to at least attempt get you weaned off the opiates without severe withdrawal. Seems the least he/she could do.

RollinTider1335 · Feb 15, 2015

capnfrog said:
It's plain to see that you don't have a clue what you are talking about. Not trying to be a smart arse but if you've never been there you don't have a clue.

You don't know me very well to say that and the pain I live and have lived.

cuda.1973 · Feb 15, 2015

capnfrog said:
You got it right. Most people don't understand the difference. Taking the drugs for pain eventually leads to addiction.

Could lead to addiction.

In my case, the painkillers stopped working. I was not willing to take things to the next level, as that level had a greater potential for addiction. As well as severe impairment. Decided to live with pain, which had its own form of impairment, as opposed to drug-induced impairment.

I toughed it out until things healed. It wasn't fun or pretty. I realize that won't work in a lot of cases. I still deal with pain, and have so, for the last 30 years. At least now it is easily managed. In that sense, I caught a piece of luck. About the only luck I caught, though. Other than still being here.

cuda.1973 · Feb 15, 2015

OTOH...................

Had a buddy, who almost tore off his foot, trying to learn to ride a motorcycle. Made the mistake of trying a 7500 cc, first time out. It fell on him, and almost tore his foot off. They somehow reattached it, but he was in horrendous pain, ever since then.

Despite being worth between $5-10M, he could not buy enough pain relief. He knew some of the best doctors in town.

One day he decided to end his suffering.

I hope it does not come to that, for McCants, or any of our posters. I have seen that already, and do not wish it on anyone. Although I would understand their plight.

capnfrog · Feb 15, 2015

RollinTider1335 said:
You don't know me very well to say that and the pain I live and have lived.

I apologize, I don't know the pain you've been through. I only know what I go through every night and some days. Not taking something to ease the pain is not an option for me. I quit cigarettes by smoking herb, then I quit smoking herb, then quit drinking and I can easily quit pain pills if I could find a way to stop the pain. My wife wants me to have another operation but I said no to that. I made up my mind today that I will do something this week when I have a face to face with my Dr.

Padreruf · Feb 15, 2015

After 2 shoulder surgeries and 1 knee I discovered how dangerous opiates can be. No, I did not get hooked...but I found myself looking forward to them. I got off them and try to work out and stretch to keep pain down.

BTW, I have a good friend...former UA footballer from the 1970's who almost lost his life to opiates...he was hooked big time. Doctors gave him prescription after prescription for YEARS! If I told you who he was, some of you would be stunned...others would not. "Judge not that you be not judged..."

I just pray for his sake that KM can get whole and enjoy whatever life he has left.

davefrat · Feb 16, 2015

capnfrog said:
This issue hits home with me and I realize the situation McCants is in. After a bone fusion on my spine I was having steady unbearable pain going down my left leg, the surgeon said that nothing could be done about it. I was the 20% that the operation wasn't successful on. 9 years ago I took 1- 5 mg lortab, 2 years later I took1-10mg lortab to stop the pain. For 3 years I have been taking 2- 10mg. to stop the pain and it has now gotten to the point that 2-10mg lortabs don't stop the pain. Where is this going to end up? I've seen addicts throw 6-10mg lortabs in their mouth and chew them and swallow them with coffee. Am I going to end up like that? God please, I hope not. When you can't lay in bed because of the pain and sleeping pills make you stumble around the house all night and you can't drive because of falling asleep and running off the road and wrecking, some thing has to give. I feel sorry for the Keith McCants of the world. Suicide is the easy way out but that hurts too many people besides yourself.

i assume you've seen a pain management specialist already.

i feel for you man.

i have a few chronic issues but nothing like that.

cuda.1973 · Feb 16, 2015

Ironic this subject would come up here, at this time.

Talked to a close friend today, who has been paralyzed, for around 10 years. His spine was broken in 2 places, when he was throw from his bicycle.

He takes lots of opiates, as around 30% of spinal injuries have sensations, similar to "phantom limb", as amputees do. Long story short, medical research is now showing that opiates not only act on the pain receptors, in the brain, but they also inflame the nerve endings.

End result in his case he is now going through a phase where the opiates are wearing off more quickly than they have, and when they do, he is in greater pain than he was before taking them. The nerve inflammation they are creating is making his situation worse.

He has switched to an unconventional pain management regimen, that avoids the nerve inflammation problem. It is obviously non-opiate based. The initial results are promising.

bamaga · Feb 17, 2015

Some of you know I had my right arm almost ripped from my body in a car accident 11 months ago. 12 surgeries later , I'm taking 10 mg oxycodone 6 times a day. I feel my self going down that addiction road. My last visit with my surgeon , he said the only thing we can do at this point is manage the pain with pain killers, which BTW is really a misnomer. He said he would eventually like to step down to loratab or something milder. Just don't know if that will happen . Like Capn, this hits home. But I feel I do have choices. Alternatives take time , percocets are easy and cheap. a professional athlete has other things to do and teams want their athletes available. But they have better resources than I, and can find an alternative. Like a fat person with a fork, personal responsibility lies within.

IMALOYAL1 · Feb 17, 2015

I'm taking 10 mg oxycodone 6 times a day

Opiate addition is the worse there is as far as I know. Some Pain Clinics in South Florida will prescribe 120 to 180 30mg Roxicodone per month, with nothing more than a MRI. (and if you need an MRI they can tell you where to get one very easy) If you tell them you can't sleep they will prescribe 90 1mg Xanax or 10mg Valium per month, and advise you not to get both filled at Walgreen or CVS because the pharmacist will tell you that much and that type of medication will kill you. Unless your selling it you will become addicted very quickly and very few people have the will power to stop.

They don't call it hillbilly-heroin for nothing.

My Ant has had 7 back operations among others, and I don't think she could tell you where the addiction ends and the pain starts.

It's a shame the body builds a tolerance and a craving for more.

GeorgiaTider · Feb 17, 2015

Agree. Blaming others is the easy way out and dishonest.

B1GTide said:
Blaming the NFL (or anyone else) for his drug issues is neither productive nor helpful. He needs to take responsibility for his behavior if he ever hopes to stay clean.

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