Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 52)

I'm trying to wean myself off the Fentanyl patch. I went from 75 micro-gms to 50 now I'm on 25. Having a problem and not sure it is related to the decrease in the med. It's been 20 days on the 25 micro-gm and I'm going crazy. I need to keep rocking, moving in any way b/c my body is very restless. Is this a symptom of withdrawal and what do I do? I cannot take it any more.

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Lol, at Lil, I got gas and drive through car wash 1st time since my my late summer injections $4.58. I couldn't believe it. Up $1. So much pain right now. Patch isn't working and this is a 3 dayer and not like a vacation 3 days. A fentynal 3 dayer is 3 warm nights and 4 beautiful days of "limited" pain. I couldn't figure out why I was alwAys short for 2 months. Then dic lol said 72 hours is 3 days. I suck at math 10 should last how long. Hi Angel I found an address and filled out the forms already.
Ttyl
Shannon

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Chell, that sounds like sciatica I have that. From discs pushing on your nerves. Only med to help that is GABApentin and now lyrica. It sucks, blurred vision is not a maybe side effect. It is it. Plus you feel like someone else's do do. I swear this omega XL is helping so much with imflimation pain. Good old Arnold really screwed up our w/c in 04. Most Ca w/C attys quit and went to personal injury after loosing the battle in Sacramento. I wanted to comment on something else but I forgot Oh, I too got kicked out for a few. Like I accidentally deleted the acct. there are lots of groups like ours and hard to find and get back in. But if your flat on your back armored with an iPhone it can be found again. Out group is the best! :) I miss the men lol most have stayed eventhough they made it through and off. Ty for not abandoning the rest of us that need to keep taking.

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How are you doing now? I can't stand to know that people that have chronic pain and are on strong opiates and there stupid doctor who shouldn't even have a medical degree does that to there patient!! Especially being on fentanyl!!

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Shannon, yep that's probably the problem. My L5-S1 nerve root has scar tissue on it, which causes it to rub on the bones plus the opening is smaller than it's supposed to be. That nerve was almost severed into before they removed the herniated disc off of it. It had been compressed for so long and so hard, that's why it has all the scar tissue and swelling. I had 2 days pain free....the day of my micrdiscectomy and the next day. Then the pain was back. It was so frustrating. My surgeon was a jerk. He pretty much just told me, 'You won't ever be any better, you will always be in pain, scar tissue doesn't heal, You will never work in Labor and Deliver again so get over it'. I had 2 young children at home, I lost my job.....it was crazy for a while. At the time I thought my life was over. It's amazing what we live through.

Hope everyone is getting some good rest. I'm at work watching my sweet baby girl sleep peacefully.

Hugs,
'chelle

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Jim this is far from easy as we have viable well documented MRI's with injuries, deseases and illness that case sucidal pain. They shouldn't leave us in this much pain when we basically have one ft in the grave. OMG, Kentucky? What is the madness in that? Population controll?
CHELL, I too have nerve and spinal cord Injurys. My nerves were in a backwards C. Now I have something much worse. Blood flow problems, and who knows what else from the surgery or injections. I just felt like I've been dying or wish I had since aug when it was full throttle. I know I should have called 911 but death was wanted much more. I guess I'm lucky I didn't have a heart attack or stroke? From restricted bloom flow. No wonder the 100mcg's did nothing. No circulation to the brain. So either July / aug injections this year or lingering from earlier this year and the dec one being dormant or my surgery last sept. I am lucky I have MRI's to hopefully pin down the culprit .
I hope you all are resting comfortly and a promising new week.
Shannon

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I tried working, school several times on both. I can't do anything without ending back under a knife. The epi's didn't help much either. Ya, I'm seriously ticked off to say the least.
Your Dr with the straight foward and horrible bedside manor probably escalated a feeling you've been TRYING to suppress or at least keep at bay. You may have mistaken his "whatever" sarcastic attitude personally when he was seeing eye to eye with you. It's happened to me a couple times. Glass is half full for now. I fired my atty in 1994. He was pissed and a huge W/C advocate. Even went to church or Jewish place lol as my doctor. I mistook his rudeness personally. Just something to always analyze.
Anyways, at least in not alone in this. Well I am, but this virtual crud helps. Sounds bad, sorry I know.blah ... I know
Hope your sleeping better than I.
Shannon

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Chelle, nerve damage does not go away as I have been told ,I had the fusion l5s1 10 years ago and it was because I fell and did not know was walking around with bone on bone for almost a year before my surgery. Fentanyl for over 9 years, and never without pain,, may I took myself off fentanyl in two months with seeing a acupuncture dr who helped take the leg pain away.. I still can't sit long or stand in one spot to long buti am trying to still do things that I enjoy so life isn't a complete downer for me.. The epidurals never really worked either so not sure what is my future. One day at a time. Trying to think positive. I try to ignore the pain but it gets old. Bed with temperpedic gives some relief and tv and my iPad are my comfort. This silly website is really the only people that trully understand what we feel unless they too have pain for years people just can't comprehend what it's like.

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Lilred4,
You hit it on the nose when you said that only people with chronic pain can understand each other. You could write a book and people would say that you're just being dramatic. No one could endure such things.

You would have to put them in our bodies for a month. Let them FEEL IT. That's what I'd like to do to Chelle's doctor.
Hugs,
Angel

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Hi Everyone!

First, let me apologize for not being in touch. During all this mess, I moved, had all kinds of issues with my internet company, went to another, and the list goes on. And, I could not remember my sign on and password to boot. Just a mess...
I did go back to the doctor and they did prescribe Fent and Perc for my pain. WITH A $100 co-pay. I told them that I can no longer afford their services and my reply was, I have three choices. 1.) Pay and keep taking the meds. 2.) Take different meds and go into a rehab clinic. 3.) Go to the hospital and get admitted for withdrawl. Funny thing, my oldest son said he was so worried about me that he thought I looked like I was going to have a heart attack. I was sweating and shaking, nauseated, just looked and felt bad. I thought I had it beat. I said since I have gone this long, I can keep going.. BUT! I didn't. The anxiety was so bad I was taking Xanax every hour. Only .25 but it was increasing constantly and that can be addicting as well. I only need Xanax rarely and just don't need another drug to depend on. After calling my physician's office and leaving a message that someone needs to call me back now or the next time you hear from me it will be through my attorney. 10 mins later, I get a call and said please come in right away.. Amazing,. You have to threaten a lawsuit. Anyway, long story short, I am back on the crap I wanted to get off. I am prescribed 100mcg Fentenyl every 48 hours but I am streching it as far as I can. So far, every three days I need to change the patch. I want to come off still but so worried about the pain coming back so severe again. It was a strong 8-9 by the time I went back on the patch. Now, I am 3-4 with an occasional break through when I over do it. I so badly, like the rest of you, want a normal life without meds and pain. I will do almost anything to achieve this. But for now, I will try to take less as much as possible, and it looks like I will need additional surgery on my back and neck so I guess I will wait a little longer.
But again, I am sorry for not being in touch with you all. I truly felt the love of the group on here and thank you all for being so supportive and for your advice. I won't be such a stranger and will pop in and out to say hi and comment when I can. I wish everyone here a pain free and wonderful day!
Love and hugs to you all....
-Gil

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And the funny thing.. I never needed a sign on.. Blonde AND Senior MOMENT!!! LOL

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Gil,
WELCOME HOME!!!!!

I also tried to lower my dosage of Fentanyl.

My husband finally asked me in frustration after watching me suffer withdrawal and pain
WHY?
I went back to my 75 and am guilt free.

This blog has wonderful people who really
GET IT!
Please, stay!
Hugs,
Angel

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Thanks Angel!

And you are right. People here do "get it". I have been on other sites and sometimes I feel like they are a bunch of junkies looking for information to tell their doctors so they can get meds. But thankfully, none of that here. At least none that I have come across.

I am here to stay!
Thanks again,
Gil

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I said it first out loud, Giiillllll :) you didn't abandon us too. Glad your back. Is nanny OK? It's been a while. It poured here last night and now I can't walk. Isn't that a trip? Pharm staff can't figure why it's so busy some days. I have to remind everyone ,it dropped into the 40's last night or froze or rained. I know... In in CALI think of me as a Sherpa I'm acclimated to warn but my illness's have me craving freezing Somedays. Ok, bye for now.
Angel? Did you see anything? I wish you had the disc

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Yeah, I am here in Central Florida but originally N.Y. We don't get much cold weather here thank God. But it does get cool and down right cold sometimes. But it storms like crazy in the summer. I can tell when we are getting one. And if there is a tropical system or hurricane around, I KNOW IT!!! When its cold here I suffer big time when the system rolls through! I usually hunker down in bed and STAY THERE until it passes. Meds don't help.. Nothing except a massage if I am lucky enough to have someone around to give me one. Hope you feel better

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Yippie! Finally got the 'Ok' from WC to go to my Fam Doc. Of course they have known since last week and just didn't call me.....argh! I have an appt set up on Nov 6th. Yep election day...I'll have to go vote first, because my appt is mid-day. I will be there forever. That's the only thing I hate about going to him. He has a form of Aspberger's....he is so smart, but he gets so involved with every patient that he is ALWAYS running behind. I love him though. He is always up on the newest treatments and meds...etc. I used to work with him yrs ago at the Hosp. He treats my boys now too.

Angel I am so with you....I think some of these Doc, WC workers, and definetely lawmakers need to walk a few days or maybe a month or two in Our shoes. I guarantee things like 'House Bill 1' would not exist if they did.

Just want everyone to know that the new law that hit Ky will probably be passed in In soon. It is all over the papers. My Fam Doc is getting prepared for it. He won't prescribe narcs long term anymore....he refers out to pain management doc. His office also has gone to emailing most prescriptions to your pharmacy instead of written scripts. Less chance of people altering them. He says it might even hit OH.

If you want to read it.....google ....House Bill 1 in KY. It causes docs to be able to have some kind of documented proof of patient's pain, and to be liable to reporting agency. My pain management doc said their was tons of paperwork to be filled out on each patient along with all the electronic checks that had to be done. The complaint of pain is not enough anymore....must have X-Ray, MRI, or some other test to back it up. If the DEA pulls that chart, your doc has to be able to show tangible evidence as to why he is prescribing you narcotics long term in order to keep his license. It simply makes the liability too high on these docs that want to help us.

Ok off my soap box. Angel I hope you are able to affect some change. I would definetely support it.I know my pain management doc fought this law tooth and nail. He pretty much is just going to do epidurals now.

Hope everyone is well.

Hugs,
'chelle

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Well Chelle,
Thank heavens! I hope your doc whom I thought you said was out of state, will get you pain relief.

I recently took someone's case to the CDC. Then I intend to take it to her state's medical review board or higher.
Have any of you had a lumbar fusion? Would you recommend it? My cousin- out of the blue- is flying to Vegas where a famous surgeon will fuse S1-L4.

Now Nana, don't make me have to call you!!
Check in so we know you are okay?

Gil, really glad to hear you!
Hugs all round,
Your Angel

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I had spine fusion l5s1 and would not recommend it unless there is no choice,, I still have pain cause they do take bone from the hip area I believe and get pain in that area all the time.. On top of that it puts more pressure on the upper discs ,which they are now saying I need more which I am not going to do. My cousin had the fusion in Vegas where she lives and now she is no better off than before .. Would not recommend fusion!

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Oh Fudge!
What do I do now!!
She flew out today.

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My ex husband had a cervical fusion done yrs ago. They took bone from his hip. He has done really well, but i think it is probably an easier surgery than a lower back fusion. Most people i have heard of having lower back fusions don't do well.

i hope your friend does better.

Hugs,
'chelle

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Wellllllllllll
SHE is my crazy cousin who somehow has it in her head that after she spends three weeks in a rehab center in Vegas, I am going to fly out or drive out and take her to their condo in Tucson where I will nurse her.

ME.

She is blood, I love her but I can barely help myself most days.

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