So I'm past the two week mark. My mood swings are horrible, but it's not just because of the opiate withdrawal. Seeking help from the mental health professionals has helped me delve deeper into what the underlying issues are, and how they relate to the physical pain in my body.

Here is the short, candid version: Girl with borderline personality disorder, depression and anxiety gets into 2 major car accidents by the time she is 23. Both impact her neck and shoulders. After the last accident and a long road of doctors, PT, painkillers, nerve blocks, rhizotomies, it was decided by a new pain mgmt specialist that I had to start from scratch. Get all the painkillers etc out of my body. (I am still on a low dose of Valium and am staying there for a while before I attempt to taper it) See what my pain levels really are, where my mental state is... How the two go hand in hand. I should mention I take Celexa and have for years for depression.

ANYWAY... My question is this...how long will it take for the rebound pain that comes along with opiate withdrawal to go away? I am trying very hard to tough it out and use home remedies for some relief until the pain management specialist wants to see me. Being in a constant state of emotional distress does not help pain; it's proven... I guess I'm just asking for a little guidance. I'm all kinds of messed up, hurting physically, very lonely, and still very confused... I have a whole life to rebuild and it is so frightening.

My son is 50 days now opiate free. He was using to numb alot of emotions not legititmate pain. he is suffering now with rebuilding his life at a slow pace.he is hopefully in the process of getting to the source of his bad feelings that he needed to numb. Have you tried any non-narcotic pain medications? even advil or aleve?

Yes, I have tried advil and aleve, and sometimes I'm lucky enough to get a little bit of relief. But I'm talking about around the clock chronic pain. I'm sure the pain mgmt team will be able to offer more non narcotic treatments. I got hooked on painkillers I was taking for legit pain- it just so happened I discovered once coming off of them, that I had been numbing more than physical pain. Mostly I was just venting, and hoping someone could tell me how long the pain got worse before it got better. Reach- I know that you and I have similarities... When did the pain get better for you once stopping the opiates all together?

Whats making you think that the pain is going to get better? are doctors telling you that?

I also suffer from chronic pain...4 years into it...I tried going off my meds even for a day...within 24 hours I had the severe pain in the same places, so I know I still need to take them. Are you in the severe pain that you were when you first started taking meds? I would think that your pain would have come back to you long ago. No, your pain will not just go away, unless you had surgery to correct what was wrong. Pain does not just go away.

Hello Deconstructed

So sorry it took so long to respond.. I am hitting computers as I go along my here in Ohio. Tomorrow I will be going to Indiana for 2 days for a wedding... hope the inn has a computer...

Anyway, Sweetpea, my pain level was GREATLY lower near the en of the taper. The more I moved arounf and physically pushed to dissadate the lingering depression, the pain relief came in leaps and bounds.

I believe that you are suffering the pain of the brain and body looking for remnants and the depression is compounding it. The harder you can make yourself be physically, the less and less pain you will have because you will be forcing the depression to lift. I would easily guesstimate that by pushing yourself physically hard, the pain levels will drop noticably within two weeks and markedly within a month.

Besides my antidepressant hich I have long ben on, I am also taking 4 capsules, 1000 mg each, of Omega 3 fish oil daily and I believe that is helping me greatly with both pain and mood. It helps with "arthritis-y" pain and nerve damage pain quite a bit. Also, that Chromium and something stuff... 2 tabs a day of a quality brand is helping with pain. And magnesium! Wow.. when I adde that.. 2 tabs a day to my regiman, I feel even better physically AND emotionally. I have to do it faithfully each day or I would have more pain for sure. I am not even using aspirin of any kind anymore!

So, I think if you push yourself to your limits, 2 weeks will be a milestone for the pain and the depression and 4 weeks you will probably be posting that you are feeling much better.

I know, I know how hard this period is and how utterly frustrating it is, but I pray for lots of strength to encompass you from all sources and that you can bear with it.

Lots and lots of hugs and hope to get to post to you again real soon.

Peace
reach

I am in more pain than when I was on my meds- but my pain mgmt doc was adamant that we get a baseline level of pain WITHOUT meds. So, while I am not expecting to be pain free, I am wondering how much of the increased steady pain is rebound.

Reach,
I was reading over many of your posts last night... Feeling all of the emotions you describe so accurately... I feel like I'm making leaps and bounds some days- I get out for long walks, visit a friend, soak in the hot tub, keep as busy as my body will allow me... I am trying to push through, and honestly don't know WHAT my limits are. Laundry had me flared up pretty badly earlier in the week, and that's not exactly a huge task. It's so difficult sometimes to keep the depression at bay and keep active, but I am trying. I live for the moments when I can take a breath of fresh air, walk a little further, read a little more, and feel a sense of awe about the world.
I take the Omega fatty acids, but I will try the choline. The B suppliments seem to help my energy somewhat, and I'm drinking green tea for the antioxidant and energy properties.

So I will keep pushing through, and keep you posted. Enjoy the wedding, Reach.I hope you enjoy visiting my state, I will think of you as my guardian angel:) Hope that's ok.

Thank you for your replies, everyone... Anyone else who is in chronic pain but dealing with it opiate free???

Heya Deconstructed!

I had a wonderful time in Indiana at the wedding.. it was in Schereville (you know the place?). I went, in big part, to surprise the grrom (who grew up with my kids) and bride (who I met 6 years ago when we started working together). And guess who got the biggest surprise of all? ME!! 12-15 of the other kids who had all grown together and still remain tight also came to Indiana to join the wedding celebration. I was stunned, excited, and had one of the most fantastic days of my life.

One of the most fun, silly and happiest moments of the day came at the reception. Want to know if I am dealing with as much less pain now as I have told you??? Deconstructed, by a funny, happy turn of events, I danced a full JITTERBUG with the groom, who is a fantastic dancer in any mode. We danced solo in front of the entire gathering at the reception and I honestly kep pace with him. Now is THAT less pain or WHAT? Hahahahaha.. oh, it was wonderful, but I never want to see the video..never, ever! HAHAHAHA!

Yeah, my leg was hurting a bit afterwards, but nothing horrible. I sat down for ten minutes and then was up and dancing again with my hubby.

I know not everyday will be at all like that weddding day. Of course not.. I was pumped on adrenelin and full of excess energy from the Xanax withdrawal. But it did happen. And tonight I am feeling fine... just exhaustion, but we did drive from Schereville 5 and 1/2 hours back to Ohio and I have yet to sleep since waking at 8 AM this morning.

Gonna go try and chill now and get ready to go to bed.

Wishing you better days each and every day.
Wishing you one day like I had yesterday.
Wishing you hope.
reach

Reach,
I was reading over many of your posts last night... Feeling all of the emotions you describe so accurately... I feel like I'm making leaps and bounds some days- I get out for long walks, visit a friend, soak in the hot tub, keep as busy as my body will allow me... I am trying to push through, and honestly don't know WHAT my limits are. Laundry had me flared up pretty badly earlier in the week, and that's not exactly a huge task. It's so difficult sometimes to keep the depression at bay and keep active, but I am trying. I live for the moments when I can take a breath of fresh air, walk a little further, read a little more, and feel a sense of awe about the world.

Hi msdeconstructed, just wanted to take a moment and introduce myself...
I've been watching your posts and when I read the above quote I felt complelled to tell you how much I can indentify with everything your saying...and I think your doing a fabulous job. My laundry got SO bad one time, you couldn't see the floor in the laundry room. :) hee-hee
you know those feelings where you feel like your almost experiencing a spiritual awakening of sorts? that feeling becomes more frequent, everyday feels a little better than the last, there is light. Anyway, just wanted you toknow that today your story helped me. Thanks. Nice to meet cha!:)
jkm

Reach- I do know where Schereville is:) I used to drive past it back in the days I commuted to Chicago for work. So glad you had such a wonderful time at the wedding! It's funny, because I was just thinking last night that I missed going out and dancing with the girls... Something I haven't done in a loooong time.

JKM- It sent shivers down my spine to hear that I was helping YOU! And that feeling? This weekend, I experienced it numerous times, feeling like I was going to be just fine. Seeing the signs of spring; like watching my niece smelling the flowers, hearing lawnmowers, and feeling the sunshine warm on my face made me feel OK. Peaceful, even. I am finally realizing, in small doses, what life is all about. And it ain't self medicating. I'm not a person of 'faith' meaning, I don't really believe in God. But I can still feel my soul opening up,for those moments, like you describe jkm. Something pure and bigger than myself. And whatever it is, wherever it's coming from, it's a blessing.


A sweet family member came over this weekend and helped me organize my bedroom and clean the house. Even though it hurt my neck and I had to take breaks and use my icepack, it felt so GOOD to have all of the laundry folded, and the clothes off of the floor. Another weight off the shoulders for now:)

Grateful for clarity. In the good and bad moments.

JKM- It sent shivers down my spine to hear that I was helping YOU! And that feeling? This weekend, I experienced it numerous times, feeling like I was going to be just fine. Seeing the signs of spring; like watching my niece smelling the flowers, hearing lawnmowers, and feeling the sunshine warm on my face made me feel OK. Peaceful, even. I am finally realizing, in small doses, what life is all about. And it ain't self medicating. I'm not a person of 'faith' meaning, I don't really believe in God. But I can still feel my soul opening up,for those moments, like you describe jkm. Something pure and bigger than myself. And whatever it is, wherever it's coming from, it's a blessing.


Isn't that feeling really what life is all about?... for me it is.

OH!ps!... I went back and read a couple of your threads earlier today and it seems we have met before.;) seriously though...to know that there is someone else out there in this great big world that can describe my feelings so acurately is "spine tingling":)
Have a good night,
jkm