hunterworth

So i was in a car accident last year, and was prescribed hydrocodone. 1) do they take drug tests for non-pro racing 2) Is it illegal to race on pain killers? If it is, is advil illegal to have in your system?

Creatre

You'll be fine, unless you are planning on winning some big P12 race.

If you were in the wreck last year, why are you still on the hydrocodine? A year of that seems like it would cause addiction.

Creakyknees

1) yes
2) yes

but advil is fine.

+1 ... I hope you're not still on hydrocodone a year later. Anyway I can't imagine racing well on that stuff, it knocks me for a loop.

hunterworth

the accident caused some more damage that was already there, so its just a dull pain thats always there. I only take the Hydrocodone when i go on really long rides or when i need to perform well so the pain doesn't irritate me. Otherwise its just Advil. Im not addicted to it at all.

And Creakyknees, the medication doesn't affect my reaction time or judgement ability. I just take the Hydrocodone on long ride days cause i could imagine taking Advil every ride isn't the best for your body.

Thanks guys for your help, appreciate it.

ericm979

You might try naproxam (aleve is one brand). Compared to ibuprofen it's less risky for cardiac damage and some other side effects. It seems to be somewhat more effective for me. YMMV and all that of course.

UberGeek

Hydrocodone DOES affect your reaction time and judgement ability. To say otherwise is flying the face of science. It's like an alcoholic stating that 6 beers doesn't bother him at all.

danlikes

When I had my knee rebuilt I was given Hydrocodone, I broke the pill in half, knocked me out for 8 hours, i had to reduce it to 1/8th before I could stay awake. they were like 400mg are so regular horse pills. I used two pills over a week then just did not use it.

Aleve is a regular one for the aches in the ankles and knees.

kindablue

Depending on what kind of Hydrocodone you take, there could be Advil in it. Have you asked your MD about this? I'm sure it would be cheaper (and likely better for you) to use an OTC pain relief medicine rather than a controlled narcotic. I'm not a MD, but that seems to be the general census here.

IMO its up to you if it affects your judgement or not, everyone is different. I for one was out like a light when on Hydrocodone, but you may be on a very light cocktail of one.

Be careful though when signing up for a race, if the drug does affect your reaction time/alertness you shouldn't race (or drive) on it.
-->If I were in a race and someone caused a crash because of a drug they were taking I would raise hell to make sure you never race again.

P.S. on my after work climbing route, there is a tombstone/memorial for a cyclist who was killed by a driver under the influence of pain killers.

MikeyBoyAz

I was under the impression that pain was an indicator of a problem... so ignoring a problem with medication that removes the indicator seems wrong logically... right?

hunterworth

Yes, hyrdocodone does affect judgment and reaction times for some, but for me it does not. Everyone says that hydrocodone makes them tired or gives them an upset stomach, but I'm complete opposite. I feel better due to not feeling pain, so i perform better when I am riding. I am very aware that it is a nardic, and I take that into mind and evaluate how much pain I am to determine if i need it or not (most of the times its just advil). And yes it is a lower dose than if i were to get my wisdom teeth taken out, just stronger than 3 advil. Just to clear that up.

Since it is illegal then, i will try out Aleve or other non-narcodic pain killers. Thanks for concerns guys, appreciate it.

Enthalpic

It's only banned in-competition; so you can take it at any time except the 12 hours before or during a race.

Depending on the location of your pain you may want to look into topical products (e.g PENNSAID, Voltaren emulgel, etc). These products concentrate where you need them and spare the rest of your system.

kensuf

how about gin?

Enthalpic

Alcohol is only banned in comp for select sports, cycling not included. Drink up.

Walter

Due to the permanent large motor nerve damage caused by a motorcycle accident I can get pretty much unlimited Rxs for most any painkiller known to man however Ken speaks wisdom.

RacerEx has mentioned this as well: 2 OTC Aleve and a shot of whiskey (I like Irish but Canadian, Scotch, TN Bourbon, etc) dulls the pain as well as any Rx in my experience (except intramuscular injections of Demerol anyways) and has none of the negative side effects of the Rx stuff such as screwed sleeping patterns or flunking drug tests.

Don't drink to pass out. A shot and Aleve is all that is needed.

robberry

I wouldn't not want to be on a narcotic while riding. It dulls the senses and reaction times, and just isn't safe training or during a race.

Your body produces pain in reaction to something to something, and after a year, it should have repaired itself, or you should be getting surgery. A year is a long time to be taking hydrocodone. I would really talk to your doctor about switching to a non-narcotic method of pain relief. If you're taking it regularly, your body IS addicted after a year.

A had run of bad luck a few years ago, wisdom teeth > car accident > kidney stones, and after a certain point, it is a borderline addiction, not "just" relieving the pain.

hunterworth

I have a back issue called Scheuermann's disease. Its a lower back pain that is from growing up and my disks basically being smushed. Its a long term thing, no way to fix it, and surgery is not needed at all for it. It is in my adolescence, but can carry over till after that, so i will grow out of the pain eventaully. And im not taking it daily at all. Thats just asking for a hole in your stomach. I was given a bottle of 100, i have 46 left. So i havent taken that many over the course of a year.