Opiates: Methadone Detox Facts

Question: I need to have surgery again, but have 4 years clean from opiates, any suggestions?

(Posted by: Army Wife and Mom on 2010-07-10 14:30:37)

I was in a terrible car accident and had to have a metal plate, 7 screws and 3 pins put in my foot. The Hardware has been removed. It left my foot looking a bit deformed, the only way to fix this is to have another surgery. The surgey would definately require heavy duty pain killers, and I'm a recovering opiate addict. I'm scared to take anything because I know how easily i can become Addicted again, and when the pills run out I will suffer withdrawl. I can't decide whether to just deal with a painful deformed foot or have the surgey. Please no rude answers, this Addiction is life or death to a junkie like me. the bone healed curving upward...have 4 inch scar running up my foot as well.

Posted by: Carrie on 2010-07-10, 14:49:08

Let your doctor know that you were once addicted to pain meds and they will give you something that isn't a narcotic but will help with the pain or if they have to give you a narcotic they will know when to stop giving them to you. My step daughter had a c section and was at the time in drug rehab and they gave her something that helped her. even after she was released she was taking something that was not addictive. Just tell your doctor ahead of time. and don't be embarrassed. Too many people these days are abusing medication that you will definately be helped if you ask. If you do need them for the pain and have to have them. then you remember today and how clean and good your life is and that should make you want back off them as soon as your pain is gone. I'm an x crack head and after quitting it was so hard but now a days it don't effect me however I am on narcotics now but I found something that may be working better than meds so I'm winging myself off of them. Today I've done with out 90 % of my normal intake and I am making you my hero today because if you can do it and go threw surgery I can make it without and bite the bullett threw these damn with drawls. Thanks Angel.

Posted by: Douglas B on 2010-07-10, 14:53:47

Sorry to hear about the accident and your problem. I am trying to figure out what might be wrong with your foot that it would look deformed other than the muscles might have healed kind of different? The reason for the interest is that muscles can be released and I'm wondering if it might help your foot or not. If it is about what is in the muscles this might do it. Wrap your hands around a muscle or press into the area where the problem is and hold pressure on it for 30 seconds. Most muscles will release at that time. If you can move the muscle, extend it some way it would be helpful as well. Hope this may have helped you out some.

Posted by: Barb Zimmerman on 2010-07-10, 14:56:24

I've had 6 surgeries in 4 yrs so I know where you're coming from as far as pain is concerned. There are synthetic opiates such as Tramadol that you can use. I'm not sure if this would 'trigger' you or not... Also, believe it or not, ibuprofen works wonders on inflamation so I'm guessing that it would also help you after surgery. Also if you have nerve pain from your surgery you can also try gabapentin, it worked wonders on me when my back needed surgery and it hurt from my a** down to my foot. It is an anticonvulsant but as many other things, it has more than one use. In my opinion, when you are on opiates after surgery, it is usually oxycodone and you only get it for a short time....the rest is up to you I guess...do you abuse the drugs or do you use them only when absolutely necessary? I'm sure that addiction is a hard thing to beat and is a life-long issue but you need to make a decision that is right for you....Good luck, my friend.