Overcoming an addiction to pain killers

NEW CANAAN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Managing pain without medication; too often people get addicted to pain relievers.

It's a challenge, but there are strategies in place to help many of them get their life back.

There are more sunny days than not for a recovering pain management addict who sought relief from hand surgery.

"I did everything right," said Jonny. "I asked a friend of mine to pick up the prescription just bring me one, but eventually it overcame me."

The path back to life for Jonny began after talking with his daughter.

"At that moment I said I am lying and I have been lying and I'm so sorry," Jonny said.

Thirty days at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan.

"In my mind, I'm an athlete and I'm in training," he said.

Jonny is now hooked on doing what's good for the body and soul.

"I train now six days a week," he said. "I learned how to meditate here. I meditate every day."

That's just one of the strategies prescribed for patients to get rid of the pills and manage the pain.

"When you have significant chronic pain, you begin to turn inward," said Dr. Seddon Savage, Silver Hill Hospital, "you begin to focus on the pain, you begin to splint and guard and it becomes layered with many other problems."

Dr. Savage, medical director of the chronic pain and addiction center, also stresses that finding something to be grateful for is a big part of recovery.

"So often if you're thinking about how much you hurt, how many losses you've had as a result of pain, you don't recognize all the things around that are really valuable to you," Dr. Savage said.

She says it starts with accepting what's going on at the moment.

"I've never known anybody that could sustain it all their life," said Jonny. "So it's just a matter of, I guess, being a little brave, finding that strength in yourself, to be honest like I was. Just say all right, it got me, it got me, now what do I have to do."

To safely dispose of pain pills you no longer need, this Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. You can drop your medications off at the UConn Health Center in Farmington between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Police departments across the state will also accept your unused medications. Just call your local department to see if it's participating.