LymeNet Flash: Methadone used to control Pain???

This is topic Methadone used to control Pain??? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Sleepy (Member # 4656) on :

After a year, I'm still having problems with agonising face/ear/parotid pain. Waiting for a CT scan, but the ENT said he would only do a CT scan of my sinuses, not my ears, or parotids as he thinks it is TMJ. My sinuses aren't bothering me. aghhhhhh

I don't think it's TMJ as it doesn't present like TMJ.

This pain is paralysing it is so bad. I am now on morphine, gabapentin (for nerve pain) and clonazepam (for the spasming)

Regardless of all that, MY LLMD told me that he sometimes uses Methadone to treat cancer patients, migrane patients, nerve pain and patients who are in chronic severe pain (such as me).

Has anyone ever tried it? I was thinking if it takes the pain away without the horrible side effects of morphine, I'd be first in line.

Is it something you have to take all the time like abx or can it just be taken when the pain becomes intolerable?

I've never even heard of methadone being treated for pain, but sure enough, I looked it up on the web and there it was!

Any input would be appreciated as I am seriously ready to ask for a nerve block - in fact I went in and asked for it this week because I can't stand the pain anymore. When I saw my doc, she just gave me more morphine and added the other 2 drugs and told me to wait for the CT scan (which is prudent - before the nerve block thing).

Tks for your help.

Sleepy.

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

Hi sleepy,

My doc hasn't put me on methadone, but has mentioned it. So far I am doing OK on oxycontin, using hydrocodone for breakthrough pain.

From what I understand, the opiates all require different detox pathways, so it pays to try different ones till you find what gives the most relief with the least side effects.

As far as how to take methadone, I don't know on that one. With oxycontin I have to take it all the time, because it is too slow acting to take only when the pain comes on bad.

Hydrocodone (the active ingredient in Vicodin) is much faster acting, so I only take that when things are bad. I used to only use the hydrocodone, but finally gave in when I realized I really did have CHRONIC pain.

I now have much better coverage. Hope this helps. Mine is mostly head pain now too, so I understand what it is like.

------------------
Sonoma County Lyme Support
[email protected]

Posted by aklnwlf (Member # 5960) on :

I was on Methadone for a few months and it seemed to help a little.

I'm back on low doses of Hydrocodone, Zanaflex and Elavil which I take in the evenings only.

Sometimes if my headaches are severe I have to take an extra dose during the day and use an icepack.

One thing I added was Lysine which seems to help my neck pain. I take 500mg a day.

Methadone didn't work for me because I didn't take it every day. When my pain doc discovered this he switched me to the above mentioned regimen.

I'd try it and see how it works for your severe chronic pain. Hopefully it will help.

Posted by Sleepy (Member # 4656) on :

Hey! Thank you both of you for this great information.

I'll print this off and take to my LLMD when he comes here next week.

aklnwlf, did you have any side effects to the methadone?
I think, I would like to try something I don't have to remember to take too. That can be tricky for me.

Tks again!
Sleepy!

Posted by Robert is king (Member # 5171) on :

I've been using methadone for severe chronic pain for a few months. For me it works better than any of the other opiates. It seems to have an effect on neuropathic pain that the other opiates do not have. The effects of it can be felt for up to 24 hours, but it's more effective to take it 3 to 4 times per day.

The only real side effect that I've had from it is constipation. It's irritating but it can be dealt with. I hope that you can find relief from the pain soon. I've lived with chronic pain for years and things have been immensely better since starting the methadone.