@LucidSDreamr
Yeah.... I was born missing half a disc in my back so I understand that. It really sucks too because that increased pain only last for a couple of months after cessation and then it usually gets better. In my experience regularly taking opioids increases ones pain. I never understood this till I got clean for 2yrs. I realized I was in more pain on methadone but I first had to go through a period of hypersensitivity to get to the otherside. The no sleep is the worst part about stopping methadone it's so much worse than other opioids.
They didn't taper the methadone but they did give me a brief Ativan taper. Then it was gabapentin during the day and Seroquel at night. My hands shook so bad that I couldn't really do anything with dexterity for 2-3 mths. Then I basically had alcoholic wet brain and anxiety from the benzodiazapines for a little over a year.