I am 35 and have suffered from migraines for about 17 years. I have anywhere from 2 to about 15 per year, taking 1-4 loritab 10, per headache, & sleep for hours, not abusing. In Dec. 2001, a close family member died. I immediately saw a psychriast (sp?) and seeked grief counseling. I was prescribed 20 mg Celexia and .5 mg. xanax. I took the celexia for a few months and continued 3 xanax a day for about 6 mos. A good "friend" of mine, and pharmacist, visited me occasionally and could not believe how progressively worse my mental state had become. I had to take a leave of absence from my job, incredibly depressed and crying 24-7. He said to take 1/2 of a loritab 10 and stay awake and I would feel "good". A true statement. I began abusing loritab on & off in June/July 2002, for about 6 months, it then became daily taking about 12-15 per day, & not really getting high anymore. My "friend" said I was doing major liver damage because sometimes I would chase it with wine. He then hesitated in recomending oxycontin. He gave me a 40mg oc (cut up)that was awesome and it nearly lasted a week & I felt AWESOME all the time, slept like a baby, excelled at work and got a promotion.
As my tolerance built,I abused oc taking about 80 to 120mg (cut into 20 mg,chewed) a day for about 6 months. Running out of money and really wanting to stop, I started taking less and less, I had the usual withdrawls, anxiety, no sleep, diarrhea, & leg pain. All symptons would subside except leg pain. I stopped taking oc in Aug. 2004, but because of leg pain, began taking loritab 7.5 4-8 times a day. I thought maybe I was just prolonging the withdrawal symptoms. I stopped cold turkey on Dec. 13, again no sleep, no energy, anxiety, brief diarrhea and Severe Buring Leg Pain. On Dec. 15 was prescribed clonidine. This has helped all withdrawl symptoms except leg pain. I still feel very tired and unmotivated still not sleeping well, but gets better each day. I have read NUMEROUS articles and spoke to many treatment centers and my m.d. that prescribed the clonidine about the leg pain. None of which have heard of this as a withdrawl. It is NOT muscle cramping & does not appear to be bone pain. It is a severe deep & or buring pain usually in the calves of both legs,(occas. entire LEFT leg) OR sometimes severe burning in the thighs. The deep pain feels like someone hitting my feet with hammers. In addition to clonidine, I have taken aspirin, ibubrofen, hot tub, epson bath, stretched, gone on walks,(it's uncomfortable to walk, not toooo painful) drinking tons & tons of water, o.j., calcium and potassium supplements, tons of fruits (mostly banannas) and veggies ALL DAY, and NO relief of the leg pain, and NO pain any where else. So, with my abuse history listed above, IS THIS A WITHDRAWAL/SIDEAFFECT FROM OPIATE ABUSE OR IS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH MY LEGS??