I think I might know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s a burning, sharp sensation? Certainly this could be a number of things but start to pay attention to whether you are feeling it when you haven’t taken the opioids in a while. I think it may be a physical withdrawal symptom. Now before I continue, let me preface this by saying I am only suggesting this bc your inquiry is EXACTLY how I would describe my initial experiences with physical withdrawal from pain medication. Prior to this, I was naive and didn’t even consider that the medication designed to relieve my pain might have become the reason for why I was feeling pain. But since you are on this site and eluded to this, it sounds like you have already considered this very well could be the case. If not, fantastic! Cross it off your list. But if so then I suggest you take my advice very seriously.
Okay now that we got that out of the way:
Here’s my 2 cents. Well I’ll give you 3 cents bc I know this won’t be too short
But it may be a game changer so read through.
Withdrawal presents itself in a number of different ways. Lower back pain, hunger pains, restlessness, etc.
But for some, me included, it caused this really sharp pain in my stomach. Not always tho. In fact, it had never happened this way until months into me recognizing I was seeking pain meds and feeling like shit when I didn’t get them.
But then this symptom started playing a role. It was impossible to ignore. It tended to be most evident at night and would wake me up out of my sleep. The more I tried to ease it, the more it seemed to grow. Starting like a hunger pain and progressing to a burning, sharp pain.
In fact, one time it grew into the most immense pain I’ve ever felt. It was truly unbearable. I was writhing in pain bc at the time, I didn’t know how to manage it. And the ER couldn’t fix it bc they were trying to diagnose it as a stomach problem. I even told them that I had become addicted to pain meds. They might have given me meds right there but I didn’t want that. I wanted a solution for when I didn’t have pain meds. But nothing they gave me worked.
It was so bad I broke down that day and admitted the addiction to everyone and was taken to a detox unit that day. It was a HUGE relief bc the weight of the whole experience was finally over. Now I was working towards a solution and given proper help. This is where the symptom was finally diagnosed correctly. It was explained to me and I was taught how to manage it.
In a nutshell, it was withdrawal exasperated by anxiety. First I’d go into withdrawal. Then, knowing I didn’t have the ability to get meds anytime soon, I would subconsciously become anxious. I’d take Tylenol PM to help me get back to sleep. This likely made things worse bc of the APAP. So, the pain would get worse. Which would cause me to grow more anxious. The anxiety was like gasoline on a fire. I had no idea that a phantom stomach pain manifested by Opioid withdrawal could trigger anxiety that would magnify the pain exponentially. I never had anxiety in the past but they were right.
No more Tylenol PM. Just started buying the “PM” part, which is available in the sleep aid area OTC for much less money. Changed to Advil for pain (doesn’t mess with your stomach like ibuprofen or APAP)
And got on a non-benzo anti-anxiety med (Clonidine). Was taught breathing techniques to combat anxiety and to help me sleep. Clonidine is WONDERFUL for sleeping too.
So, If it comes only when you have been without your meds for a period of time and nothing except opioids or other narcotics are able to significantly relieve this feeling, then you should consider it being withdrawal.
In emergency situations take Anti-anxiety medication. It will almost IMMEDIATELY fix the problem. But Benzos are not your long term solution and if you have enough Opioids still in your system, the Benzos could cause you to go into cardiac arrhythmia. Even if they haven’t before. This time they could.
Ask your doc for a script for Clonidine when you tell him you think your pain meds are making you sick when you stop taking them. Yes they likely will get you off the pain meds. But ultimately, your life is at a pivotal moment. If this does turn out to be the issue, then you NEED to address your physical addiction to the pain medication with your doctor. If you don’t, Mark my words, you will regret it. Ask for help. Tell important people in your life who will hold you accountable to not taking them anymore. You will surprise yourself with how you will begin to make excuses for taking more anyway. If you don’t address this full on right now then prepare to watch your life crash in slow motion. Seriously. Good luck
