Stopping methadone

[likemike]

I've been on Methadone for only a week. Actually weaned myself off Suboxone (it took several months and it was miserable), but then had a very painful day so I took 2 darvon, the next day I took 2 more. That was it. I was in withdrawal again. This time I started Methadone to help with chronic pain and withdrawal. I limit myself to only 5-7 mg's per day. I know, some of you are laughing because so many people take 60 or 160, but I only take 5-7 and have been on it for a week. If I stopped CT, would I get very sick? I hate being sick along with the chronic pain. If so, how long do you think it would be before I feel better? a few days or a few weeks? Now when I skip a dose I just get so nauseated that I can't stand w/o throwing up. I want this monkey off my back. any help is appreciated.

[likemike]

Yes, I followed Dr.'s directions to get off Suboxone, I was down to smashing them and putting a crumb the size of a grain of salt under my tongue once a day and still was sick when I stopped that. As for the back injuries, I have seen literally dozens of doctors, have a good neurologist, good pain doc, good internal med doc., good physical medicine doc, good psych. doc. and even better attorney. They surmise it will be around 15 years before I start feeling any improvement. also have TBI, tremors, and seizures and every time I have a seizure, I injure my back more.  I have 24 hour attendant care and do not put my socks on by myself, nor do I bathe myself. I have started the paperwork for medicare, but that too take a long time, especially when you're fighting insurance companies over $ and benefits.  Before my accident, I had only taken narcotic pain meds about three times in my whole life. Now I sound like I'm whining. I hate that. Yesterday at 4 pm was my last dose of methadone. Feel like **** now, but hopefully it won't last long.  I'm not too encouraged when I read doctors posts that say it's just as hard to get off 1 mg per day as it is 65 mgs. per day.....Thanks so much for the support.

[justlikeyou]

in the last 3 months my back has stopped hurting, it was bad for 5 years after an injury. i feel very sad that your back is that bad, my advise would be see a doctor, get the paperwork in order so you can take enough time to heal (several years) find a good chiropractor and do whatever it takes to allow your back to get better. if you dont give it the oppertunity, it probably wont get better, ever. the human body is amazing and will try to heal if you give it a chance.

but you need to give it that chance.

i couldnt have got thru the 5 years of back pain withput pain meds, i would have found it impossible to function.i couldnt even put my socks on without serious discomfort, for 5 years!

[Calzy]

Like IBKleen said, using pain killer drugs to get off pain killers just keeps the addiction rolling along. Did you follow the drs directions to ween off the Suboxone? You going to have some withdrawal from what ever you get off so talk to your dr about some different meds that can help you with this. The pain can be increased by the pain meds so you have to give it time to get those meds out of your system and your pain level will ease. The physical w/d's can last a week or so but than you have to learn to live without using and that can last for months or more but it gets better the longer your clean. Get some support in your efforts to quit. Get reading here and asking for help until you get it right! Good luck

[likemike]

Staying clean would be a cake walk if I didn't have 8 herniated discs, compression fractures, spinal stenosis, etc. from MVA. Chronic pain is awful. I'm damned if I do...damned if I don't. Once off the pain meds I can think clearer, don't have monkey on my back, but can't walk by myself, haven't been able to sleep laying down in 3 years. The pain is tremendous and I'm not a candidate for surgery so staying clean isn't an emotional thing for me...it means no life outside my living room. But at this point it seems like the best option for me, which is why i posed the question in the first place. Thanks.

[IBKleen]

If you have only been on for a week, get off now while you are ahead.

Pain meds, Suboxone, Methadone, etc.....sounds like a roller coaster. Once you are off the meth, please consider doing something in terms of STAYING clean. Find a support system and get on track with your recovery. I hate to see someone repeatedly relapsing. there is help out there. Good Luck.