I have been on methadone for over 10 yrs,,and I do believe it has saved my life,,former heroin addict. I have earned all the take homes allowed in my state.
The past 3yrs, I have been in terrible pain,,I need an operation on my lower back and left hip. I can't stand up for over 10 mins, can't walk up the street and back,,every month i go to my dr. He feels I should be on a break through medication for my excruciating pain. I wanted to know if anyone could possibly help me with this decision.
I am on 120 Mg's daily, I don't crave heroin or the needle and haven't used a illegal substance. My dr knows Im on the program. Should I go higher on my methadone dose (considering it is also used for pain) I sometimes take half my dose in the morning, and the other half a couple hours b4 bed time,,if I take my full dose at once I notice I can't /don't sleep for more than 2 hours at night, cuz I am in so much pain. If I split dose I notice I can get about 4hrs sleep at nite. Still waking with terrible pain.
Hopefully someone out there will be able to give me some advice,,, I've tried all of the non-narcotic pain meds, neurotic, tramadol and many others. They don't help me. If Im put on a 10 Mg's of oxycodone for breakthrough pain 3xs a day,,will that cause relapse in the minds of my clinic/counselor??
Im putting off the operation until I can figure out something ,about the pain b4 and after the operations. Please help me figure out what to do... THANKS. UNCOMFORTABLE EVERYWHERE.
This sounds like a complicated situation. need methadone bc of the pain or is methadone causing the pain? to have surgery and still be taking methadone might not be the answer, but stopping methadone if it is needed might not be the answer. take a new look at what is causing what. it may mean tapering off methadone while increasing other therapies to address the pain. massage, acupuncture, yoga-meditation. vitamins, supplements, heat packs, etc. really go out on a limb with alternatives. just my thought, I would not want surgery and sometimes surgery makes it worse. I know.... how could it be any worse.... have a serious talk with doctors about the methadone and the surgery and find people who have been in your situation to see what their results were.
if methadone is causing the pain in the idea that you are not taking enough and the pain is from withdrawl, then they want to increase it..... but you take too high a dose at one time and you have other symptoms/side effects that are undesirable.... it is the chicken and the egg.... you will need to go through some tough decisions and discomfort. rule out some things before fully understanding what is causing what.
read more in the posts here, you may find your answers.
PS - overweight causes back, hip, knee, joint pain bc the body is being pulled out of alignment and holding up too much weight.
sleep - do some research on back pain and sleeping positions - to place pillows under legs and arms and back, neck etc to take the pressure off your joints while sleeping.
if methadone is causing the pain in the idea that you are not taking enough and the pain is from withdrawl, then they want to increase it..... but you take too high a dose at one time and you have other symptoms/side effects that are undesirable.... it is the chicken and the egg.... you will need to go through some tough decisions and discomfort. rule out some things before fully understanding what is causing what.
read more in the posts here, you may find your answers.
PS - overweight causes back, hip, knee, joint pain bc the body is being pulled out of alignment and holding up too much weight.
sleep - do some research on back pain and sleeping positions - to place pillows under legs and arms and back, neck etc to take the pressure off your joints while sleeping.
Personally...and in my humble opinion. ..I would stay on the methadone....your begging for trouble if you start with the oxys...I'm assuming you'd have to taper before that?. ..lots of people get operations and stay on they're dose...i might consider upping it a bit to see if it helps with the pain...only deal is...when you get the operation they won't be able to give you much of anything else...mmt doesn't fix you...the cravings and behaviors will have to be dealt with if you get off...might be a bit much to handle with pain killers and operations...
Unfortunately, I have a ton of experience having surgery on methadone maintenence. I fell off my horse and broke my back. I had two surgeries and a ton of hardware!
I wouldn't stop your dose! You said yourself in another thread that methadone saved your life. Methadone is what is keeping your addiction in check!
Hopefully your doctor can guide you. Unfortunately, some doctors think patients on methadone do not need anything for pain. THIS IS FALSE! We need pain medication for acute pain and surgical pain just as anyone would. In fact, our doeses need to be higher to be effective. We also have to make sure they are aware not to give us any antagonist medication that will put us into withdrawal. You would think the doctor/anesthesiologist would know NOT to use those, but they do make mistakes...especially if they are not used to treating patients on methadone.
If you need breakthrough pain medication, see if there is a pain management specialist who also treats addiction..a lot of them do both.
As for your clinic, They are all different. At mine, as long as you are being treated by a doctor and have a legit script, they consider you compliant. However, my clinic makes you sign a release and they call the doctor to discuss your treatment plan and so they can make sure the doctor knows you are on methadone.
Good luck...Chronic pain sucks!!!!
I wouldn't stop your dose! You said yourself in another thread that methadone saved your life. Methadone is what is keeping your addiction in check!
Hopefully your doctor can guide you. Unfortunately, some doctors think patients on methadone do not need anything for pain. THIS IS FALSE! We need pain medication for acute pain and surgical pain just as anyone would. In fact, our doeses need to be higher to be effective. We also have to make sure they are aware not to give us any antagonist medication that will put us into withdrawal. You would think the doctor/anesthesiologist would know NOT to use those, but they do make mistakes...especially if they are not used to treating patients on methadone.
If you need breakthrough pain medication, see if there is a pain management specialist who also treats addiction..a lot of them do both.
As for your clinic, They are all different. At mine, as long as you are being treated by a doctor and have a legit script, they consider you compliant. However, my clinic makes you sign a release and they call the doctor to discuss your treatment plan and so they can make sure the doctor knows you are on methadone.
Good luck...Chronic pain sucks!!!!
i am on 40 mils of methadone last 4 years (right now 35 mills) and last year had gallbladder surgery , pain i had before and after surgery was great and i tried 100 mills of methadone but didnt help but once i got Tramadol my pain was gone. i know you said you didn't like Tramadol but they are great post operative painkiller and maybe you needed higher doze as Loleedee said just be careful Tramadol is addictive as most painkillers are. your best option is ta talk to eople at your methadone clinic and see which painkillers you can take and not mess up your script and have chat with your doctor then ... whatever you decide painkillers you need you simply cant keeep going on and be in so much pain. Good luck!!
Happy Halloween,,,this is my first time ever being on any type of forum,,,and I would like to thank the people that have sent responses to my question "whether to increase my methadone, that I have been on for 6 yrs,,,due to chronic pain,,I have been drug free for almost 3yrs,,besides my daily dose of 120 mg.
I forgot to explain why I am in need of the surgery,,,I have degenerate disc disease in L3L4 L5,,,also I have arthritis in my T areas of my back,,but there's a bigger problem in my S1, Im trying to explain this in a way for people that aren't doctors so plz hang with me because this last part is what scares me and hurts the most,,,the faucets in the S1area are narrowing and my spinal cord goes through or near one of the faucets that is narrowing to the point of a must have operation before it narrows to the point of possibly paralyzing me,,,that's what the neurologist said. So it's basically 2 operations,,,he wants to fuse the L3,L4,L5, n put cadaver disc in replacement of the degenerate discs....it's getting very hard for me to do day to day tasks,,, because i can't stand for longer then 10 mins without the burning fiery pain that run down my butt to my toes.
My clinic n my dr know about each other. I get take home bottles for 6days,, something that I am very proud of myself for being able to achieve that many take-homes,,,I wonder if instead of taking breakthrough oxycodone which is what my dr thinks will help me the best,,,they say I won't feel a buzz on them becuz of my high dose. Tramadol I have tried before but it didn't seem to work,,I have tried neurotin ,meloxicam, and lots of others that don't do anything to help me. Does anyone think if I were to go higher on the methadone to be able to take in the morning, afternoon, and nite time would be better then taking a different opiate that only works for 3-4hrs?? ,,since methadone saved my life and made me a better person and mother. What if this was you and you had your choice would you go on a higher dose,,, methadone is also for chronic pain,,,even though the withdrawal is worse the heroin,,if stopping cold turkey. Something I would never advise,,,unless you get thrown in jail where I live they do nothing for you,,well the bare minimum of lithium for 3 days. Sorry got off track,,,if anyone else has any ideas or have went through something like this,,(suffering with chronic pain while on methadone) please send me your thoughts. I can't even find a methadone anonymous meeting in my area. Sorry for the rambling but I am looking for help. Thanks for reading and I wish everyone happiness, good health and ,love.
I forgot to explain why I am in need of the surgery,,,I have degenerate disc disease in L3L4 L5,,,also I have arthritis in my T areas of my back,,but there's a bigger problem in my S1, Im trying to explain this in a way for people that aren't doctors so plz hang with me because this last part is what scares me and hurts the most,,,the faucets in the S1area are narrowing and my spinal cord goes through or near one of the faucets that is narrowing to the point of a must have operation before it narrows to the point of possibly paralyzing me,,,that's what the neurologist said. So it's basically 2 operations,,,he wants to fuse the L3,L4,L5, n put cadaver disc in replacement of the degenerate discs....it's getting very hard for me to do day to day tasks,,, because i can't stand for longer then 10 mins without the burning fiery pain that run down my butt to my toes.
My clinic n my dr know about each other. I get take home bottles for 6days,, something that I am very proud of myself for being able to achieve that many take-homes,,,I wonder if instead of taking breakthrough oxycodone which is what my dr thinks will help me the best,,,they say I won't feel a buzz on them becuz of my high dose. Tramadol I have tried before but it didn't seem to work,,I have tried neurotin ,meloxicam, and lots of others that don't do anything to help me. Does anyone think if I were to go higher on the methadone to be able to take in the morning, afternoon, and nite time would be better then taking a different opiate that only works for 3-4hrs?? ,,since methadone saved my life and made me a better person and mother. What if this was you and you had your choice would you go on a higher dose,,, methadone is also for chronic pain,,,even though the withdrawal is worse the heroin,,if stopping cold turkey. Something I would never advise,,,unless you get thrown in jail where I live they do nothing for you,,well the bare minimum of lithium for 3 days. Sorry got off track,,,if anyone else has any ideas or have went through something like this,,(suffering with chronic pain while on methadone) please send me your thoughts. I can't even find a methadone anonymous meeting in my area. Sorry for the rambling but I am looking for help. Thanks for reading and I wish everyone happiness, good health and ,love.
I think we all answered your question. ..what is it you want to hear ?
Legitimate drugs for pain should be assessed on their therapeutic value by professionals.
(Not by faceless, anonymous on-line posters of dubious knowledge/motives)
Addiction drugs should be assessed on their necessity/value .
Some will argue that methadone saves you from your addiction.
Others will say that methadone keeps you addicted.
My fear of pain kept me trapped for decades in "medications".
It wasn't until the meds (alcohol/drugs) quit working (and they will) that I had to face reality.
I knew It was time to $hit or get off the pot - it was a choice to live or die.
On my own I would have died, another "victim" of addiction/alcoholism.
With the program and fellowship of AA/NA I was given a new life-
as millions are ...
I am approaching 73 yrs old, with numerous self-inflicted injuries and conditions.
I can tell you I have never "felt better" in my life as I do now.
I take no meds (except a mild blood pressure pill and a statin).
The only mind altering/life enhancing thing I partake of today is increasing amounts of honesty and gratitude.
An AA oldtimer told me 25 yrs ago "My problem is I never learned how to suffer."
I thank him daily for that simple fact he brought to light for me to ponder.
Good luck with your decisions.
In the old days I would end up in the psyche ward trying to "make up my mind".
Every alcoholic/addict I have met does NOT want to know/accept the TRUTH...
We addicts become perverted to the point where we think that hiding the truth is a virtue.
Normal people don't live like that and for me to change is PAINFUL !!
So I hide in my drugs/alcohol so I won't have to suffer the pain of recovery !! INSANITY.
The fear of some (bearable) temporary pain keeps me from the bountiful blessings of normalcy.
All the best.
Bob R
(Not by faceless, anonymous on-line posters of dubious knowledge/motives)
Addiction drugs should be assessed on their necessity/value .
Some will argue that methadone saves you from your addiction.
Others will say that methadone keeps you addicted.
My fear of pain kept me trapped for decades in "medications".
It wasn't until the meds (alcohol/drugs) quit working (and they will) that I had to face reality.
I knew It was time to $hit or get off the pot - it was a choice to live or die.
On my own I would have died, another "victim" of addiction/alcoholism.
With the program and fellowship of AA/NA I was given a new life-
as millions are ...
I am approaching 73 yrs old, with numerous self-inflicted injuries and conditions.
I can tell you I have never "felt better" in my life as I do now.
I take no meds (except a mild blood pressure pill and a statin).
The only mind altering/life enhancing thing I partake of today is increasing amounts of honesty and gratitude.
An AA oldtimer told me 25 yrs ago "My problem is I never learned how to suffer."
I thank him daily for that simple fact he brought to light for me to ponder.
Good luck with your decisions.
In the old days I would end up in the psyche ward trying to "make up my mind".
Every alcoholic/addict I have met does NOT want to know/accept the TRUTH...
We addicts become perverted to the point where we think that hiding the truth is a virtue.
Normal people don't live like that and for me to change is PAINFUL !!
So I hide in my drugs/alcohol so I won't have to suffer the pain of recovery !! INSANITY.
The fear of some (bearable) temporary pain keeps me from the bountiful blessings of normalcy.
All the best.
Bob R
While I respect Papa Bears opinion, I do not believe that methadone keeps one addicted. I also do not think 12 step programs help everyone. I sometimes think that well meaning 12 step people unintentionally alienate other people by "expecting" 12 steps to work for everyone, when in fact they don't. It is not because they have somehow NOT excepted a higher power or confessed their wrong doings...it is because individuals respond to different treatments and methadone works well for addicts who have tried and failed other treatments. Instead, lets praise them for forging their own path to recovery!!!!!!
Now, for the topic at hand....Methadone, when used for pain, is given in small doses, usually four times day. If you are on methadone maintenence, another opiate may work better. Remember, even a small dose of another type of opiate will work "synergistically" with your methadone, so the other opiate dose may not need to be very high. As addicts we tend to "play doctor" because we know how our bodies respond to opiates.
In this situation, I would stop over thinking this and do what your doctor reommends..and give whatever medication he gives you a fair chance at working. It often takes several weeks to notice improvemnt.
The condition you are describing is spinal stenosis and surgery is usually very effective for it. I have had several on my back and can tell you that after the first 48 hours I didn't need pain meds anymore. Also, as someone with chronic pain, medication is only one part of healing which usualy includes exercise, stretching, heat?ice etc. Medicine is not the answer. (though, as an addict, I often wish it was! LOL)
If methadone is working for you, DO NOT STOP IT!!! Why stop a treatment that is working for you?
Now, for the topic at hand....Methadone, when used for pain, is given in small doses, usually four times day. If you are on methadone maintenence, another opiate may work better. Remember, even a small dose of another type of opiate will work "synergistically" with your methadone, so the other opiate dose may not need to be very high. As addicts we tend to "play doctor" because we know how our bodies respond to opiates.
In this situation, I would stop over thinking this and do what your doctor reommends..and give whatever medication he gives you a fair chance at working. It often takes several weeks to notice improvemnt.
The condition you are describing is spinal stenosis and surgery is usually very effective for it. I have had several on my back and can tell you that after the first 48 hours I didn't need pain meds anymore. Also, as someone with chronic pain, medication is only one part of healing which usualy includes exercise, stretching, heat?ice etc. Medicine is not the answer. (though, as an addict, I often wish it was! LOL)
If methadone is working for you, DO NOT STOP IT!!! Why stop a treatment that is working for you?
Thanks for all of your posts. I am very new at asking for any help from others,,,but I have read alot of things on here,,not just methadone forums. Sorry Constantine,,for writing again but hey it's a free country,,so far.!! And i didn't know how much I bothered you by trying to explain myself.
Anyway back to thanking the other people who have suffered in this life of using and abusing drugs...I have tried the NA way before,,,and it's not for me especially when they find out Im on a methadone treatment clinic. But thank you Papa Bear you have alot to teach some of us,,,you seem to have been through ALOT in life but you did it,,,you got clean and have stayed clean,,,I commend you. Also Lolee, I especially liked your replies,,we seem to have alot in common. Chronic pain,,,your operations I would love to hear more about your back operations and your addiction. If your willing to ,,I don't know if we are able to discuss anything privately? I guess not. But thanks again for all the help....I don't have a social life,,, because of me feeling inadequate wherever Im at. Even behind this screen I feel like Im not able to be myself,,,,,and we can be anyone onlinr,,lol.
Anyway back to thanking the other people who have suffered in this life of using and abusing drugs...I have tried the NA way before,,,and it's not for me especially when they find out Im on a methadone treatment clinic. But thank you Papa Bear you have alot to teach some of us,,,you seem to have been through ALOT in life but you did it,,,you got clean and have stayed clean,,,I commend you. Also Lolee, I especially liked your replies,,we seem to have alot in common. Chronic pain,,,your operations I would love to hear more about your back operations and your addiction. If your willing to ,,I don't know if we are able to discuss anything privately? I guess not. But thanks again for all the help....I don't have a social life,,, because of me feeling inadequate wherever Im at. Even behind this screen I feel like Im not able to be myself,,,,,and we can be anyone onlinr,,lol.
Feel free to ask me anything you want! My life is an open book..not one most people want to read, but I digress!!!
I understand not feeling the AA/NA way. I have strong feelings because I went to meetings and rehabs that were 12 step places and thought I was a failure for "not getting it" when, in fact, it was just not the appropriate treatment for me. We are all individuals and what works for one may not work for another! Even in conventional medicine, not every blood pressure med works for everyone with hypertention, not the same chmo for every cancer. It is not a failure on your part if it doen't work for you..it just isn't the right treatment for you!!!
I understand not feeling the AA/NA way. I have strong feelings because I went to meetings and rehabs that were 12 step places and thought I was a failure for "not getting it" when, in fact, it was just not the appropriate treatment for me. We are all individuals and what works for one may not work for another! Even in conventional medicine, not every blood pressure med works for everyone with hypertention, not the same chmo for every cancer. It is not a failure on your part if it doen't work for you..it just isn't the right treatment for you!!!
