I?ve had back problems since 1999. Only in the last year I found out that everything from my T7 down is herniated.
I?ve received around 300 TPI?s and 30+ lumbar epidurals since 2014ish.
Been on every pain medication under the sun - was switched to Suboxone in 2009 because my dose of OxyContin was too high according to my doctor. It was working though.
Started at 16mg and noticed no difference in how I felt, but was urged to taper down to 4mg. This doctor wanted me off it in 6 months.
At the time, with the epidurals, my back was decent.
Then I went down to 2mg Suboxone and kinda lived like that for 7ish years with a new doc. Everything was decent.
Last year around July I stepped off a sidewalk wrong and my back went out. After 4 epidurals and many trigger point injections, I decided to see a pain management doctor.
He went by the book - first was physical therapy, next was Vicodin, which didn?t do anything but put me in withdrawal - so I quit those after 6 days and went back on Suboxone.
It was Feb 11th when he said he would like me to take Dilaudid for pain, but it wasn?t on my insurance formulary as a preferred medication.
That?s when he prescribed Morphine ER (Extended Release) 30mg x 2 daily. I told him Morphine didn?t work for me and caused constipation - he didn?t care.
Since I started the Morphine because I had no other options. I had withdrawal symptoms from the Suboxone for 40 days. Including freezing cold and dysphoria. It didn?t work at all.
So I called my pain doctor a few weeks before my appointment and stated the Morphine wasn?t doing anything. They told me not to worry, that they rarely get the correct dose right on the first try. Told me to bring my updated formulary in (which had the Dilaudid on it this time) and they?d adjust my meds.
So I go to my appointment - the NP walks in and says ?I see you?re still in pain, he?s not giving you anymore morphine.?
I told her about the formulary and what he had said during the previous visit about dilaudid. She didn?t seem to care and snatched the formulary off of me and left the room.
She comes back in and says ?He?s switching you to Levorphanol.? - I asked her what it was, she says ?It doesn?t matter, that?s what he?s putting you on.?
I say I?d like to research it before taking - she said to do whatever I wanted because that?s what I was getting.
She also mentioned the drug is $3000 per month. Yeah, $3000 per month.
So I looked it up - it?s a ridiculously potent drug with nasty side effects and horrible reviews. Basically methadones cousin. Full synthetic made in the 40?s.
Comes back in the room and hands me the script - I mention it can cause severe depression - she asks if I?m depressed, told her yes and she says ?it doesn?t matter then.?
I went home and looked the drug up - said I?m not taking this shit. Called the next day and asked if they?d keep me on the morphine. She said ?Doctor says take the Levorphanol or nothing.?
I terminated my contract and went to my Suboxone doc, basically so I didn?t have withdrawal while looking for a new pain doc. He suggested I try 8mg. I told him I?d try 4mg.
Had a few rough days of EXTREME panic. And I went to the hospital for it last week at 2am. Thought I was going to die.
I?m on 6mg a day. 2, 2 and 2.
Hoping the weirdness and drowsiness goes away.
Last week wasn?t too bad. I actually felt good. But I get scared at night when I have to take my Klonopin (.5) because I?m scared I?m going to go into a coma - I literally have no adverse effects when I take it, but my anxiety is making me think irrational thoughts. But this anxiety is different - feels real.
For the record, I?m on:
Celexa 40mg once a day
Klonopin .5mg twice a day
Suboxone 2mg three times a day
Multivitamin once a day
I can?t seem to shake the weirdness and anxiety. The Suboxone doesn?t really work for pain.
I just want to feel like myself again. I literally have nobody to talk to outside of my doctor who insists I?m in withdrawal and need 8mg Suboxone, which I?m uncomfortable taking. 6mg is my limit right now because it feels strong when I take it. Since it just takes the edge off, I?m comfortable with this dose.
I don?t and haven?t ever abused drugs. But my body has been through 4 med changes since December.
I don?t remember Suboxone feeling like this - it just, worked before.
Now I?m stuck. I can?t find a pain doctor.
The pain is driving me insane. I don?t know what to do.
My quality of life is gone. All I think about is my pain.
The Suboxone brought back my headaches and neck pain.
Thought about suicide because I have nowhere to turn. These doctors are cunts.
I don?t want to be selfish or cowardly. I can?t do this to my family. But being alive is no better in my eyes. I?m not really here.
Help.
I?ve received around 300 TPI?s and 30+ lumbar epidurals since 2014ish.
Been on every pain medication under the sun - was switched to Suboxone in 2009 because my dose of OxyContin was too high according to my doctor. It was working though.
Started at 16mg and noticed no difference in how I felt, but was urged to taper down to 4mg. This doctor wanted me off it in 6 months.
At the time, with the epidurals, my back was decent.
Then I went down to 2mg Suboxone and kinda lived like that for 7ish years with a new doc. Everything was decent.
Last year around July I stepped off a sidewalk wrong and my back went out. After 4 epidurals and many trigger point injections, I decided to see a pain management doctor.
He went by the book - first was physical therapy, next was Vicodin, which didn?t do anything but put me in withdrawal - so I quit those after 6 days and went back on Suboxone.
It was Feb 11th when he said he would like me to take Dilaudid for pain, but it wasn?t on my insurance formulary as a preferred medication.
That?s when he prescribed Morphine ER (Extended Release) 30mg x 2 daily. I told him Morphine didn?t work for me and caused constipation - he didn?t care.
Since I started the Morphine because I had no other options. I had withdrawal symptoms from the Suboxone for 40 days. Including freezing cold and dysphoria. It didn?t work at all.
So I called my pain doctor a few weeks before my appointment and stated the Morphine wasn?t doing anything. They told me not to worry, that they rarely get the correct dose right on the first try. Told me to bring my updated formulary in (which had the Dilaudid on it this time) and they?d adjust my meds.
So I go to my appointment - the NP walks in and says ?I see you?re still in pain, he?s not giving you anymore morphine.?
I told her about the formulary and what he had said during the previous visit about dilaudid. She didn?t seem to care and snatched the formulary off of me and left the room.
She comes back in and says ?He?s switching you to Levorphanol.? - I asked her what it was, she says ?It doesn?t matter, that?s what he?s putting you on.?
I say I?d like to research it before taking - she said to do whatever I wanted because that?s what I was getting.
She also mentioned the drug is $3000 per month. Yeah, $3000 per month.
So I looked it up - it?s a ridiculously potent drug with nasty side effects and horrible reviews. Basically methadones cousin. Full synthetic made in the 40?s.
Comes back in the room and hands me the script - I mention it can cause severe depression - she asks if I?m depressed, told her yes and she says ?it doesn?t matter then.?
I went home and looked the drug up - said I?m not taking this shit. Called the next day and asked if they?d keep me on the morphine. She said ?Doctor says take the Levorphanol or nothing.?
I terminated my contract and went to my Suboxone doc, basically so I didn?t have withdrawal while looking for a new pain doc. He suggested I try 8mg. I told him I?d try 4mg.
Had a few rough days of EXTREME panic. And I went to the hospital for it last week at 2am. Thought I was going to die.
I?m on 6mg a day. 2, 2 and 2.
Hoping the weirdness and drowsiness goes away.
Last week wasn?t too bad. I actually felt good. But I get scared at night when I have to take my Klonopin (.5) because I?m scared I?m going to go into a coma - I literally have no adverse effects when I take it, but my anxiety is making me think irrational thoughts. But this anxiety is different - feels real.
For the record, I?m on:
Celexa 40mg once a day
Klonopin .5mg twice a day
Suboxone 2mg three times a day
Multivitamin once a day
I can?t seem to shake the weirdness and anxiety. The Suboxone doesn?t really work for pain.
I just want to feel like myself again. I literally have nobody to talk to outside of my doctor who insists I?m in withdrawal and need 8mg Suboxone, which I?m uncomfortable taking. 6mg is my limit right now because it feels strong when I take it. Since it just takes the edge off, I?m comfortable with this dose.
I don?t and haven?t ever abused drugs. But my body has been through 4 med changes since December.
I don?t remember Suboxone feeling like this - it just, worked before.
Now I?m stuck. I can?t find a pain doctor.
The pain is driving me insane. I don?t know what to do.
My quality of life is gone. All I think about is my pain.
The Suboxone brought back my headaches and neck pain.
Thought about suicide because I have nowhere to turn. These doctors are cunts.
I don?t want to be selfish or cowardly. I can?t do this to my family. But being alive is no better in my eyes. I?m not really here.
Help.