Addiction

[Ejm7263]

I have been on pain meds since 03-07. I have graduated to methadone. I need off everything. How do I do it?  I have severe degenerative disc disease with lots of hardware in my back.

[weaver71]

Amino acid shakes or supps, those are the essential proteins your body needs to really heal itself. EmergenC electrolyte packets help to, they have B's and essential minerals as well. I also found the EmergenC made the water go down, which you want to drink as much as you can. A good multi vit is the other thing that helped me. Keep moving, do as much as you can as far as exercise each day, keep that liver working on metabolizing. Other than that, patience and endurance, stay in the moment. Know you chose to be where you are for a reason and it will pay off. Also, avoid caffeine, sugar, processed foods, the less your body has to work at processing food or toxins the better. Even red meat should be avoided for the acute detox, it has a mild toxic effect. Our bodies can metabolize one toxin at a time efficiently, so let that toxin be drugs, don't add anything that will be a deterrent. You are doing great, remember you are doing the single most important thing, just by not taking drugs. Keep up the good work.

[Ejm7263]

I got the calcium/mag/zinc and started on 4 before breakfast & dinner. Is there anything else I would be taking or have on hand? I've always relied on RX's, little knowledge on natural remedies, lol.

[Ejm7263]

Thank you. GOD Bless You!

[weaver71]

Most people have about a 90 day period of ups and downs with methadone. Many of us talk about waves of recovery, it will feel like it is passing, then it flares up again. My theory on that is the way methadone stores in fat and bone tissue, it felt like I would adjust to no opiates, then it felt like some would finally let go and cause some more symptoms. You lower dose could make it faster, with good days being more often and sooner, but 90 days seems to be very common for methadone, the first 21 to 30 days being the worst of it.

I know that fried feeling, I was up to 250mgs of methadone, when I finally said enough is enough. It took me a really long time to feel legit pain only, you won't suffer as much as I did, and it was still worth the wait for me. I have about 26 months now, and 2 days ago found out I have 3 fractured discs. My natural pain killers in my brain have returned and I didn't even know I had a broken back. Good nutrition and supplements help a lot too, I have been taking as good of care of myself as I can and it has paid off.

[Ejm7263]

The meds no longer work on the pain. I hurt all the time. I'm hoping it's the meds causing some of hyper pain.

[Ejm7263]

How long before the pain might get better?  I willing to wait just an idea. I have, in the past, been on large amount of IV narcotics. 7 years of varying amounts. My body & brain are fried.

[Jinx_777]

you are so smart.  

actually pain gets worse on opiates.  

ask for non narcotic things to get rid of pain.  i suffer from this too.

lidocaine patches
volteran gel
TENS unit.  you may have to go to PT to be instructed on how to use it
go to youtube and look up stretches for lower back pain
the ones i do are
lay on your back and bring your knees to your chest.  slowly paying attention to it stretching your spine.
then while knees are up slowly bring to knees to the left and slowly move them towards the floor.  then repeat the next side.  DO NOT BOUNCE when you move in either stretch.  that will get you.  slow slow slow.  if it hurts then stop at that point.  eventually you will be able to get all the way to your chest and all the way to the floor on the side.

advil
ice
heating pad

all of these things combined make life more pain free.  actually way better than while on opiates

[weaver71]

Luckily, you have been on a relatively low dose of methadone, so you shouldn't have as hard a time as many of our horror stories. A slow taper is best with methadone, it sounds like the hydros are not a major issue for you, as you take them very conservatively. A slow long taper is best, discuss that with your doctor. Amino acid shakes, EmergenC, multivitamin, and the above mentioned Cal/Mag/Zinc are what helped me most. These nutrients help with recovery time and some of the symptoms. How about your pain issues, do you feel you have dealt with them enough to go med free?

I want to point out opiate induced hyper algesia, pain that is actually caused by long term opiate use. Often people have less pain after a long enough time off all meds, myself included. I go to physical therapy, which helps my back, as well as makes me get out in public and practice my social skills again. I also joined a gym to swim on a regular bases, especially in winter when it is easy to stay inside and be a couch potato. The swimming is low gravity and loosens up my muscles, while putting less pressure on my vertebrae.

[Ejm7263]

Pain can't be as bad as this is:)

[Ejm7263]

It's all my decision. My doctor will give me all I want. Tired of living on my couch. Talking to no one.

[Ejm7263]

Methadone 10 mg every 12 hours. Hydrocodone 10/325 1 or 2 when needed. Take about 2 a week. Zanaflex 4-8 mg for sleep. Was also taking resteril 30 mg for sleep stopped a week ago. Have been off phenergan & Valium about 3 weeks. Stopped opana 3 months ago.

[gnarly_1]

Hi  well methadone has to be weened off slowly we cannot give taper plans on the forum it breaks the rules the key here is take it slow pick up a 3 in 1 vitamin calcium/magnesum/zinc it is only 6 bucks take 4 with breakfast and 4 with dinner is a few days you will notice your withdrawals are much more manageable let us know how much and how long you have been on it I will check back later.....Gnarly

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Welcome to our MH Forum and Family.  So glad that you have made the decision to get clean.

Can you please tell us how much methadone and how often you are using?  If you are using any other drugs we need to know what they are and how long on those too.  Once we get that information we can tell you what to expect, what you can have on hand to help with WD symptoms, etc.