Why do I still feel so this way?

[lene54]

I was on hydrocodone for 3 and a half years because of my back.  I have had 3 surgeries and am having my 4th this month.  A pain specialist put me on methadone for about 3 mo changed to morphine then to fentanyl patches and then put me on suboxone to get me off the drugs that I was unable to handle.  The suboxone only made me worse.  I had to go back on  10 mg hydrocodone about a yr ago before my 3rd back surgery.  I went thru awful anxiety attacks and flu like systems with no energy. I still take 2 10mg hydrocodones a day.  Everyone said I would get better before too long.  I am much better than I was, but still do not feel good.  I wake up every morning feeling awful.  I have anxiety and no interest or energy to do anything.  Has anyone else experienced this for this long? I didn't feel this way before the pain specialist put me on all those drugs.  Any ideas or welcome..

[lene54]

Thanks, Maybe after the fusion surgery I will be able to do that.  It is my dream to be pill free..I have been told I need the fusion to stabilize my spine.  I just have to believe they know what they are doing.  I've started second guessing if I would be better without the surgery.  My son told me I'm too negative.  I'm just afraid of making a mistake, and being worse than I am now.  Only people that have dealt with medication problems and back pain can understand how I feel.  

[Twist00]

So sorry about your pain. I know how bad back pain can be, and I don't know if this will comfort you...but I found when I eased up on pain meds, my lower back would hurt so badly...and I had nothing wrong with it.

This is going to sound nuts, but pain can actually be worse on pain meds, because when you "come off them" your pain is 10x worse. All your nerves will feel raw. I had back pain from WDs for about 18-19 days, and I can still feel it a bit at times. I know that is hard to hear...but maybe it'll give you hope that it'll be better once you're finally off.

I'm not suggesting you stop, because it sounds like this has been a long history for you, and I'm no doctor, just my own thoughts on it.

[lene54]

Thank you for responding and the others.  I have been on lyrica since my first surgery 4 1/2 yrs. ago. I reduced it to 50 mg. because I was afraid it was causing the pressure in my head.  After I came off the drugs the specialist put me on, it was the only thing that made me function.  I took 75 mg twice a day for awhile.  I started having the pressure in my head ago, so I only take 50 mg., but still deal with pressure.  I know it is awfully hard to get off of this drug.  I'm afraid to depend on it, even though, it actually makes the pain better and I feel better when I'm taking it. It's like the anxiety medicine.  The doctor wants me to take more than I take,  but I do not want to get my body dependent on it.  I been though enough getting off medications.  I have never been able to take anything before this back problem started.  I don't know if I'm doing the right thing having this other surgery.  I am so worried about what it will do to my system.  Thanks again for trying to figure this out for me.  I welcome any thoughts.

[ariley13]

I'm just curious when you started the Lyrica? If it was about the same time all of these symptoms started, that may be the culprit. Lyrica has an unknown action on the brain and can cause all kinds of crazy side effects. It also can be very difficult to get off of. I hope that you can get some relief soon, and figure out what the problem is. Good luck to you!

[lene54]

That's why I'm having a 4th surgery to see if they can fix the non union.  They tell me the plastic disc is rubbing against nerves and causing me pain.  I have been unable to work without taking the 2 hydrocodones.   I pray that after the surgery the pain will go away.  I am going to retire and try to get off the hydrocodone and the lyrica.  Then I pray that I can feel alright again.  I have felt like crap for a yr.  I don't understand why it has gone on so long.  I haven't taken anything but the 2 hydrocodone and lyrica for a yr.  The other meds should have been out of my system by now.  Why does the anxiety and awful headaches with  no energy continue?  I have talked to doctors and they just say it's all because of anxiety(which I have never had before in my life). Like I said, I was on hydrocodone for 3 and half yrs before and did not feel this way.  I have always been a believer, but my prayers have not been answered yet.  

[hydro_fool]

At only 2 of the 10mg per day you are at a great spot to stop!  If you have had enough of this crap then now is the time.  You are already going through some WD's so why not be done with it and stop altogether?  Again... you have to be ready to quit so I hope that is the case.  I understand the surgery, but please be open with ALL of your doctors and tell them about your addiction to all the pain meds.  I will send you a message with a guideline to help you get through this and feel much, much better as you go forward.  

[ricart70]

Hey hang in there it takes a while to get feeling right after opiates. The longer you stay off the better you will feel. The anxiety and loss of interest will go away but it just takes time.  It is the opiates .