Advice on pain meds needed, please.

Hello everyone,
I've been on a Fentanyl patch for 4 years now. My pain management clinic just closed. My primary care doc said she would take over med management but that she would be weaning me off the meds.
Have any of you weaned off narcotics? How did it go?
My doc said that being on pain meds actually makes the pain worse. I've had breakthrough pain over the last week and it feels just as bad as I remember the pain was before the Fentanyl patch. I take oxycodone 10mg for break though pain but that's not even touching it anymore. I'm wondering if the patch isn't working any longer and I'm experiencing the same pain I would feel if I were off the pain meds.
I have sciatica, fibromyalgia, plantar fascitis, osteoarthritis, bulging discs, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for listening!!
Susieq

Susieq,
I am sorry that you are dealing with this issue. Yes, I have been weaned off of medications before and it was unpleasant but when it's doctor supervised, you'll get through. Your body may just have simply gotten used to the patch. Perhaps weaning off will be a good thing and then they can start you on something that may work better. Sometimes it's trial and error. I have to say that there are many doctors who feel being in pain and taking narcotics causes pain. I've had rebound or breakthrough pain as well but as long as I am on something that helps a bit, I'm good. If I take nothing at all, the pain is so debilitating that I wouldn't be able to function. Talk with your doctor and let him/her know your concerns. Is there another pain clinic in your area that you can go to? It seems odd that the doctor would close the practice without making sure his patients are taken care of. I wish you all the best. Sending you gentle {{{Hugs}}} and prayers that your doctor can help you find some pain relief.🌻🙏🏻

Thank you, always. Yes they're is another pain management clinic but they don't do narcotics. After you weaned off the narcotics did you stay off of them?

Look into using Kratom for help with weaning off and staying off the pain medication. Google the American Kratom Association it can be very helpful to those coming off pain medication and for pain management. It saved my life÷

Wow, ker, my sister just found kratom information. Are u on pain medicine? Or just the kratom?

I had kratom when my doc decided I was faking pain, and then my da found meds that kill the pain, but don't make me as spacey. At the time when i took it though, I was less spacey with it than without it

It might be where you are placing your patch. I have found that there has to be some meat under the patch and not over bone. I use the space between my spine and shoulder blade and just rotate left or right side.

Hopefully your dr will give you something for the pain, I know some will not. If not I'd find another pain clinic to get into....Good luck.

With your pain issues and no other pain clinic to take over your meds, and your pcp doesn't want you on them? I'd find another pcp if you can. If you aren't to far from another city or town, but I'd check to see if there is any there. Did you get your records from the last clinic? You will need them.

susieq719....
I have been weaned off meds. I've also just stopped taking narcotics. I have a bone disease that the only cure is joint replacement. There are periods where narcotics are a must! I used to take 80mg oxy 3x a day and 4-6 10mg perks
Or 80mg morphine 3x daily and 15mg oxycodone for break through. My reality YES narcotics make pain worse when used long term.
Another way it harms my body is the pain that it does hide, (cause that's what narcotics do mask pain)
So I became super woman, hurting my body more by not being able to truly listen to my body needing a break. My second surgery, after being on these meds for 18 months I stopped them cold turkey. Without my drs permission. I stayed off all pain meds except Tylenol for 30 days. Now I take a narc muscle relaxer n gabapinten. I love my regimen now. Its faithful. Coming off narcotics is painful in itself withdrawals were ugly. But we can't die from opiate withdrawal.... I'll be praying for you... Something that helped my withdrawal was monsters. I disliked them b4 and now but I loved them the 9-10 days I was sick from withdrawal. And bengay mentol rub. Hope this helps... 😉

You can also ask your cop for a topicle gel called Voltaren gel 1% it's for joint/muscle pain. Its just like rubbing Motrin 800 right into your affected area.it is prescription tho.

Susie, Hi there, I'm actually new to the site, and have appreciated everyone's warm welcoming. I do work for a family practice as well as suffer from a lot of chronic conditions myself. Personally, I have taken myself off of Opana because I didn't want to be on it and only want something for flare ups. The doctors need to hear you. Make sure you get a copy of your records; you may get charged for them. Call your insurance company for another pan management practice / clinic & explain what happened to the other dr/ group, they should help you. You can also reach out to your local hospital for assistance with the same. For my flare ups, right now I have Tramadol & flexeril, though my tolerance is so high they don't work.

In Massachusetts, they are trying to get anyone on state insurance off narcotics after 14 days. They refuse to allow narcotics for chronic pain because they feel it causes more pain. I have never felt that I experienced this as I feel relief from my pain when I take my pain pills even after 15 years. I have had med changes but they still work. They have added other things that have helped like Cymbalta too. Best wishes

That seems to be the general consensus lately on pain meds. I have breakthrough pain but only have heightened pain when I don't take them. I don't know why these "scientists" think these things when the chronic pain patients are telling them they are wrong based on their own experiences. I mean really, who would know better than those of us who live it every day?!? It's all a mystery to me. {{{Hugs}}} and prayers to all.💕🙏🏻🌻

Susieq718, I can't take most narcotic drugs so I'm not on any pain med except tramadol, which I take PRN. I also take a muscle relaxer PRN. But for daily pain I have Tylenol Arthritis & voltaren gel. After being dx with Sjogrens this year I was put on Plaquenil, and it has helped with a lot of pain. My daily avg pain went from a7-8 to a 3-4. But due to my intolerance & allergies to meds I try to go a long time before taking the Tramadol. My pcp recently started me on a low dose of gabapentin for neuropathies.

I hope and pray you can find either a new PCP or pain clinic to help you with your pain. I had cymbalta withdrawals a year ago and they were awful, but so we're the adverse reactions the cymbalta caused. (((Hugs))) & prayers for you! 🙏🌼

Thank u all for your replies. I'm really scared for 2 reasons. 1. I just got over 6 days of unbearable pain and insomnia from the pain and I'm afraid that if I go off the pain meds, that intense pain will come back. It was like the pain patch and oxys didn't touch it. And 2. What if I agree to get off the pain meds then realize that the pain is too much to take and want to go back on my patch. Will my dr. Allow me to do that or will she say "too bad".

That's something you should really talk tyour Dr. About susieq718, tell them your thoughts and fears and feelings on what you mentioned here with your meds. I'm sure that your Dr. Will work with you. ☺ Good luck to you, keep us posted on how it goes.

Thanks irish!!

You are very welcome susieq718, most Dr.s who deal with pain and pain meds are really good about working with you. ☺

Susieq, definitely talk to your doctor about all your concerns; they will not stop the pain mess completely, you have to be weaned off of them. Healing hugs & prayers for you.

Update: i found a compassionate pain man. Doc. Thank u all for replying. I had an injection that could last up to 4 months and felt incredible for 2 and a half weeks. Am in US, maine and there is legislation limiting the amount the doc can give of opiates. So now pain has come right back. Am thinking of going off all opiates and trying med. Marijuana....but i.need to be able to function mentally so questioning it. Nothing other than opiates even touched my pain so far. Thank u for your thoughts and prayers!💖