small fiber neuropathy

what kind of experience pointed to more pain through opiate meds?  I'm curious and suspect perhaps the same syndrome with my situation but really am not sure as I do get relief too.???~!!!!

over a five year period i progressed from using Tylenol with Codeine #3 to using morphene all the while the pain was getting worse which is why my dr continued increasing the dose and strength of the pain meds. it got to the point that I could not walk or stand because the pain was so bad. i ended up in the hospital an went through all the tests for neuropathy, bone damage and arthritis and there was no indication that any these conditions had dramatically gotten worse compared to the same tests done about 3 years before. The doctors said that saw no reason why the pain was so extreme. then i had a visit from a doctor of pharmacology and he explained to me that the opidoid meds were the cause of the extreme pain i was experiencing. his recommendation was to stop taking them and go with the Klomlpin  and Indomethacin.  That happened 8 months ago an my pain level is now considerably less than it was then. 

This really gives me pause as I have been wondering about a phenomenon called hypoanalegia related to (over)use of opiates.  How the H did you get off all the meds?  Where did you find a pharmacology doc?  I have been looking on and off for years for a way to at least try secession of these meds.  The prospect of withdrawal on top of the pain the meds seem to help is so awful that I just stop this pursuit.  Those of us who have suffered chronic pain syndrome over a number of years can easily lapse into despair.  Do you have any answers to the questions I posed?  Also, how are the two meds you're currently taking classified?

what I meant was hypoanalgesia (there no way to edit, unfortunately)

to answer your question of how i got off the meds. there was the drs way, which was to slowly taker off and would have taken he said 3-4 months. i tried that for 2 weeks and it really..really....really sucked. 

the way i did it was straight cold turkey. I knew it was going to be bad and it was! l have had a few withdrawls form opiates in past and knew what was going to happen. you cannot be told what it's going to be like, you have to experiance it. past experiences prepared and helped me through it. i also had a very helpful an knowledgeable mental health professional that helped me prepare for andwork my way  through this. lt's very important to have this kind of backup.

I was admitted to a very large teaching hospital and the hospital has just about any specialist you can think of. so being in the the hospital with an unusual problem, you will find that it draws out a specialist that you would have a hard time finding on your own. 

klonopin/ clonazepam is a anxiety med that i use off label for pain. it takes the edge of the pain and helps me sleep at night. seems that at night time the pain isthe worst. getting a good night sleep is real challenging . so anything that helps to get a good nights is good. 

indomethacin is an anti-inflammatory drug that i take for arttitis and it will also help me get some sleep. 

I havetaken the edge off the pain with these two meds so that i can function. the pain is still there, just hidden a little. you need to manage your pain and not let it manage you. 

1thanks for the excellent info and thoughtful response.  Do you mean you withdrew IN the hospital?  Regardless, how long did it take you to feel ok again as far as the withdrawl business?  May I ask where you live?  How did you get hospital care?  Why? Finally, yes I know about the nighttime pain.  Without decent sleep everything is more challenging. 

to answer your question of how i got off the meds. there was the drs way, which was to slowly taker off and would have taken he said 3-4 months. i tried that for 2 weeks and it really..really....really sucked. 

the way i did it was straight cold turkey. I knew it was going to be bad and it was! l have had a few withdrawls form opiates in past and knew what was going to happen. you cannot be told what it's going to be like, you have to experiance it. past experiences prepared and helped me through it. i also had a very helpful an knowledgeable mental health professional that helped me prepare for andwork my way  through this. lt's very important to have this kind of backup.

I was admitted to a very large teaching hospital and the hospital has just about any specialist you can think of. so being in the the hospital with an unusual problem, you will find that it draws out a specialist that you would have a hard time finding on your own. 

klonopin/ clonazepam is a anxiety med that i use off label for pain. it takes the edge of the pain and helps me sleep at night. seems that at night time the pain isthe worst. getting a good night sleep is real challenging . so anything that helps to get a good nights is good. 

indomethacin is an anti-inflammatory drug that i take for arttitis and it will also help me get some sleep. 

I havetaken the edge off the pain with these two meds so that i can function. the pain is still there, just hidden a little. you need to manage your pain and not let it manage you. 

no not in the hospital. it took about 5 months before i started feeling just ok.

the withdrawal period lasted about 3 weeks. 

no not in the hospital. it took about 5 months before i started feeling just ok.

the withdrawal period lasted about 3 weeks. AND IT WAS WORTH IT

 

i live in northern new england. i went into the hospital because the pain was so bad that i could not stand or walk. when to the emergency room at the hospital and they wouldn't let me leave because of this.

What was happening between the 3 weeks of withdrawal and the 5 months before you started feeling ok? I'm glad to hear it was worth it though.   I just can't imagine toughing it out throug withdrawal.  Really.  And forget about the weaning plan.  That's just plain impossible.  What to do.