GizmodiGirl
Greenlighter
- Joined
- May 9, 2017
- Messages
- 13
This is my first post, so hopefully after reading the basic drug discussion guidelines I don't post anything that violates the rules.
I am a chronic pain patient. I am in my mid fifties, and was diagnosed with RA last year. I have had a number of spinal surgeries over the years, and have been seeing pain management physicians for years to control pain I live with on a daily basis. I have been put on prednisone off an on over the years, and was put on methotrexate for a short time. I had to stop taking methotrexate after my first week as it made me very sick. So I just stuck with Gabapentin, my Trazadone as needed, and I take my Naratriptan when I get severe migraines and then my pain medication (once every 6-8 hours). I have been going through a series of RFA treatments on my spine, can only do them once every 6 months. I have been on the pain medication, gosh, close to 6 years?
Anyway, I wanted to get off the pain medication. With everything that is happening regarding pain medication in the US and the issues I have had to deal with regarding my pharmacy, I am just tired of being anxiety ridden about trying to get my pain medication refilled. I had my pharmacy at one point say they had nothing in stock, I went through horrible withdrawal for a week, and eventually got my prescription filled, but ever since I have been in fear of having that happen to me again. Not only that my original pain management physician of 6 years (this was 2 years ago) dropped all her pain patients, and went into a different type of medical practice due to the changes in my state with regard to pain medication and patients. She said it wasn't worth staying in that field of medicine anymore. I had a hard time finding another pain management physician, but when I did, he was an hour away from where I live. So I have been with him for close to 2 years now. All of this has made me think seriously about getting off the pain meds.
So, I started weaning my dose down over a weeks time. I have been off the pain medication now for well over a week. However I have been really fatiqued, and my pain level went through the roof. I searched online to see if there was anything that could help me get through the withdrawals, or be an alternative to treating my pain. I came across information on Kratom here. I decided to give it a try, and bought a bottle of the stuff. I started out just taking 2 pills 600mg each of the green powder in capsule form, and I was pleasantly surprised that it got rid of my fatigue, and my pain level definitely came down! I thought wow, so I bought another bottle.
Now I am using it in the morning and at night, those are the two times I hurt the most, but I do still take my Gabapentin. Tonight however was the first time I started having some bad stomach cramping, gas and diarrhea. I just want to make sure that the Gabapentin isn't mixing badly with Kratom. I do sometimes get a headache when I take the Gabapentin and Kratom together, but not always. I tried to find some information online about possible drug interactions and such, but it is very limited.
I am also concerned after reading some threads on this site that using Kratom for an extended time could cause a type of physical dependence similar to the pain medications. Any suggestions, comments would be most helpful.
Thanks!
I am a chronic pain patient. I am in my mid fifties, and was diagnosed with RA last year. I have had a number of spinal surgeries over the years, and have been seeing pain management physicians for years to control pain I live with on a daily basis. I have been put on prednisone off an on over the years, and was put on methotrexate for a short time. I had to stop taking methotrexate after my first week as it made me very sick. So I just stuck with Gabapentin, my Trazadone as needed, and I take my Naratriptan when I get severe migraines and then my pain medication (once every 6-8 hours). I have been going through a series of RFA treatments on my spine, can only do them once every 6 months. I have been on the pain medication, gosh, close to 6 years?
Anyway, I wanted to get off the pain medication. With everything that is happening regarding pain medication in the US and the issues I have had to deal with regarding my pharmacy, I am just tired of being anxiety ridden about trying to get my pain medication refilled. I had my pharmacy at one point say they had nothing in stock, I went through horrible withdrawal for a week, and eventually got my prescription filled, but ever since I have been in fear of having that happen to me again. Not only that my original pain management physician of 6 years (this was 2 years ago) dropped all her pain patients, and went into a different type of medical practice due to the changes in my state with regard to pain medication and patients. She said it wasn't worth staying in that field of medicine anymore. I had a hard time finding another pain management physician, but when I did, he was an hour away from where I live. So I have been with him for close to 2 years now. All of this has made me think seriously about getting off the pain meds.
So, I started weaning my dose down over a weeks time. I have been off the pain medication now for well over a week. However I have been really fatiqued, and my pain level went through the roof. I searched online to see if there was anything that could help me get through the withdrawals, or be an alternative to treating my pain. I came across information on Kratom here. I decided to give it a try, and bought a bottle of the stuff. I started out just taking 2 pills 600mg each of the green powder in capsule form, and I was pleasantly surprised that it got rid of my fatigue, and my pain level definitely came down! I thought wow, so I bought another bottle.
Now I am using it in the morning and at night, those are the two times I hurt the most, but I do still take my Gabapentin. Tonight however was the first time I started having some bad stomach cramping, gas and diarrhea. I just want to make sure that the Gabapentin isn't mixing badly with Kratom. I do sometimes get a headache when I take the Gabapentin and Kratom together, but not always. I tried to find some information online about possible drug interactions and such, but it is very limited.
I am also concerned after reading some threads on this site that using Kratom for an extended time could cause a type of physical dependence similar to the pain medications. Any suggestions, comments would be most helpful.
Thanks!