severe leg pain withdrawal?

[runningfreefinally]

I have suffered with severe daily migraine for over 15 years, as well as major depression (possibly brought on by many meds.).  For the past 24 years the doctors have tried over 100 meds on me, as well as 2 surgeries.  Recently I was up to 30 meds.  I decided enough.  I went tapered off (starting about 2 months ago) meds such as Fiorinal w/ codeine (8 or more a day), Oxycodone (6 or more a day), Valium, Ambien, Sonata, Prozac, Zyrtec, Wellbutrin, and many more.  I am also going off of Carbatrol and Adderall.  

The withdrawals have been horrific.  The biggest remaining problem is severe (curl up in a ball) leg pain.  Does anyone know how long this will last?  And what can I do to help it?  The doc wants me to take Zanaflex for it, but I'd rather not because I want off of all meds.

Thanks.

[JadedSweetheart]

You may want to try the Substance Abuse forum.  I am not at all saying you are abusing meds, they just have a lot of experience with withdrawls and are very helpful for these things.  
Also, you may not be addicted, you may be opiate dependent.  There are a lot of differences but I think one of the major ones is whether or not you take too many meds or take them for reasons other than pain.  
I hope you are able to find a solution to your terrible leg and back pain.  I went through partial withdrawls when I couldn't get my medication filled and it was bad enough.  One thing that helped me was warm/hot baths.  They were the only thing that really made a dent in the pain.
I'll send this to you as a message in case you are not checking this thread.

[bstpitch]

I see this is a very old thread but hopefully someone is monitoring or someone else notices this. I am 25 years old and broke my back 3 years ago skiing. These doctors tell you pain med is the answer and yes it works great but then you get addicted to it by the same doctor who prescribed it, and then they kick you out and call you a drug seeker. yes i am a drug seeker, but not all for the reason they accuse you of. I still have major back pain and massive massive leg pain from the withdrawal. I would much rather be addicted and not have this leg pain. I have found zero relief from the leg pains except from opiates. those who read and those post on here please email me if you have any suggestions for the leg pain. if i could stop those i could stand the back pain. i tried heating pads and all the otc you can think of. anything prescribed not narcotic I can get?

[SallieBeth]

I saw a comment on here that was nearly the exact description of my past pain med history. It began with migrains, the Doctors over prescribed everything under the sun for about 15 years. I am now a recovering addict of pain meds who must use them from time to time to help with pain situations. I then go off all meds again and the leg pain becomes almost unbareable. What can I do? I'm going to my Doctor on Tuesday and honestly I don't want another prescription for Lortabs. I'm scared because the pain keeps me from attending school and work. I'm 43 and have returned to college, trying to change my life. But really what has changed? I still have problems with pain...

[sparkeler]

It's very hard to just stop pain medication when you have been on it for so long.  Withdrawls can be so brutal.  Your doctor's opinion to give you Zanaflex to get you off all the other pain medications is a comfortable idea.  He will ween you off eventually & you won't have to take any meds.  But the withdrawls you are experiencing now can only intensify & last a few weeks.  It all depends on how well you can handle it i guess.  

[Heather3418]

It would be very hard to stop your current pain without some kind of medication and possible PT.  I know exactly how you feel about medications.  It can get overhwleming, by the sheer number it takes to control pain.  I personally, do not think that doctor's have a real "grip" on pain control and try numberous medications, sometimes forgetting that there ARE some of us that do not want to live out lives in a pain pill haze.

I can tell from your description that you are suffering from some severe spasms.  I know of NOTHING but medication, that can help alleviate their severity.

Zanaflex is a good drug, having taken it myself; but it is NOT all it is made out to be.  Certainly NOT a miracle drug, by any stretch of the imagination.  I personally, do not like the liver side effects that could occur.  SO....I take Soma for my spasms.  Soma is very sedating, but does allow me to get some relief. Notice I say 'some.'

I wish there was some advice that I could offer.  You are very brave to go off all of your medications, but totally understand your need to be rid of them.  But the trade off is pain....

Best Wishes,
heather3418