Working out / bodybuilding after long term IV opiate use?

[pornstache]

So after a few years of daily IV opiate use I finally ran out of veins and got sick of all the bullshit that goes along with a daily needle habit, I have since switched back to the recommended ROA and am taking my script as intended while trying to start to taper down. I was lucky to not have any serious complications (that I know of) as a result of my use, other than not having many veins left. I always filtered with a 0.1 or 0.2 micron filter btw. I never hit my neck, deep in the groin, in the dick, eyes, or any arteries or other crazy junkie spots, but there are no usable superficial veins left in my hands, feet, arms or legs that are visible at the surface. Near the end of my IV period I was hitting the finger veins in the dark with the help of a flashlight pressed flush against my skin, and as a result I was having my hands fall asleep when I was in bed and I would constantly wake up to numb arms and hands, luckily that has gone away since I stopped IVing. The only outward signs that remain are mild blotchy red areas on the tops of my feet due to poor circulation.

All this was due to an injury so I have been pretty lazy and overweight for years, just sitting around eating shit food and doing opiates for the pain I am in, so that might have something to do with the poor circulation. I am slowly losing weight and have dropped about 10% of my weight thus far. My heart rate has improved markedly over the last few months since I have began working out. I used to work out all the time before my accident, so I remember how I used to feel and honestly I can't say I notice much of a difference, except maybe weakness in my triceps a bit. I am going to the gym 4 or 5 days a week and walk/run at least 2 miles every time. My maxes are shit of course but I don't really notice a huge problem with completing sets due to hypoxia, even when I do calves.

I have read a thread on here that says that lifting weights helps re-grow the smaller new veins, but my question is: will bodybuilding be more difficult now that I have shitty circulation? Will I have more trouble building muscle over a normal person with normal veins? Have any of you successfully gotten back in shape after a long period of IV opiate abuse?

I have utfse but not seen any results specifically about this topic, everything I get is about steroids; any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[David Wooderson]

I consistently worked out when I used, even when I took rx's as prescribed and always thought I was getting decent gains.

It wasn't until I detoxed for good and started working out properly (diet,sleep) that I started getting very good gains.

I got stayed clean in early recovery through this site and, like you was interested in lifting again and like you was in SD allot lurking.

I got out of detox weighing my lowest I was normally around 180 and when I was discharged I was 140. I am now 230 with no gut. I take no supplements, just lots of good healthy food.

Those guys know their stuff, I read those guys talking more guys out of using steroids and after reading their posts I came to the conclusion that there is no sense in starting them unless I somehow became a pro athlete and there's no sense in starting them when I am still making great gains. I'm about as big as I want to be and now I'm just maintaining.

I had a botched surgery and it took many years for the nerve damage to fix itself, but I think I might have sped that up by exercising the injured area sensibly over time.

Best move I ever made was telling myself even though I was in major pain, that I couldn't take any opiates. I kept telling myself that and am clean today and much better for it.

I was never an IV user, but in the long run it you will be fine, best of luck man!

 

[NeighborMike]

I went through something similar myself
I cant really confirm how the anatomy works related to growing of new veins and stuff but I know I do have smaller veins in areas where I had larger ones now that im back into lifting and getting in good shape. I wouldnt say that its an harder or anything like that I dont really experience anything out of the ordinary that would tell me working out is harder or my difficult, i dont notice anything that would relate to me having problems due to poor blood flow either

 

[pornstache]

I've seen some things, diabetes for example, where people lose limbs due to poor circulation, or so I've heard. There's surprisingly little information online about this, I guess most ex-junkies just don't give a shit, and doctors have better things to publish papers on.

Thanks to both of you for the replies; would love to hear from others.

 

[NeighborMike]

I've seen some things, diabetes for example, where people lose limbs due to poor circulation, or so I've heard. There's surprisingly little information online about this, I guess most ex-junkies just don't give a shit, and doctors have better things to publish papers on.

Thanks to both of you for the replies; would love to hear from others.

Thats true but keep in mind diabetes is something far different then having blown veins from IV abuse

 

[GrymReefer]

Unfortunately you presented a rather simple question, but the answer is arguably difficult to answer with one statement.

Your body will constantly adapt throughout it's lifetime to external stimuli in order to better accompany it's number one goal, sustain biological necessities. When you begin weight training in any type of format regardless if you are an individual practicing HIT style or just working the body as many do with the ideology to "keep the rust off", your body will respond and adapt. Now the magnitude of the response and subsequent adaptations are influenced by a myriad of factors. One of those adaptations is called angiogenesis which is the formation of new blood vessels. Capillarization also occurs and along with angiogenic growth, this is increasing your body's abilities to facilitate the movement of nutrients into your skeletomuscular system.

Now, due to your previous drug use that involved predominantly favoring the route of intravenous introduction, will this create a predisposition for growth to occur? IMO, it shouldn't cause some substantial delay in anabolism. Will you experience an inherent difficulty due to the accumulation of scar tissue in areas that are constantly subjected to stretching.. (region around your median cubital/basilica veins) Yes very much so. Especially when doing bicep curls or a variation don't be surprised to initially feel some discomfort on the eccentric portion of the lift. As long as you maintain consistency it should subside. Don't expect in a few years to just become overrun with a plethora of newly developed vascular features, but as time rolls on and your hardwork and discipline is maintained, you will eventually be rewarded.


The main goal about bodybuilding is just maintaining consistency and never half-ass your work in the gym. Also, I wouldn't hesitate to start your own personal endeavors into researching the importance of nutrition.