[herniatedone]

Hi all,

As I've read countless times on these boards, I'm one of many who are currently struggling with dependence on Fentanyl patch.

Abbreviated background:
I had back surgery for a herniated disc (microdiscectomy) in May/June, 2007...in fact, the first surgery failed, I was reoperated on just a week later, and that surgery resulted in a staph infection, for which I had to have surgery yet again! I was doing pretty well until I had the bright idea of playing tennis in October (cleared by the doctor and my physical therapist), which began a spiral of events leading to my current problems.

I reherniated the disc yet again, and in December went on Norco. My tolerance rapidly grew to the point where I was taking 12 (10/325) at a time, once per day. My doctor's growing anxiety over the potential damage to my liver had me put on a Duragesic patch, beginning in January, 2008, along with the Norco, and Lyrica, to boot. I ended up having a fusion at L5-S1 at the end of March (have been on disability leave from work since March 1.

With my tolerance as high as it is, the Roxy they'd given me when I was released from the hospital, along with the 100 mcg Duragesic and 12 Norco (again once per day, and certainly against medical advice) led me to the pain clinic. There, the pain doc put me on Opana (not ER) 10 mg x 2, 3x daily, plus increased the Duragesic to 150 mcg. The problem was that my system was so screwed up I felt like I was in constant WD, chills, diarrhea, heavy sweats, depression, etc...thus, I said enough is enough!

I went back to the pain clinic for my first follow-up a week or so ago, and the pain doc wanted to keep me on the same doses, but I refused. In fact, the week leading up to this visit, I'd voluntarily cut my Duragesic back down to 100 mcg. I told the doc my intention was to wean off the Duragesic from here on out, so he reluctantly wrote me a script for 75 mcg, which I began today.

Well, now I get the chills, diarrhea, sweats, depression, low energy, anxiety (for which I take Zoloft - 200 mg and Clonezapam), lots of warm baths, etc. Yet I'm not functioning well. I'm still on disability, and while I'm virtually pain free (FINALLY), I'm downright scared of the symptoms of WD, and feel like I wouldn't function well enough to stay in good standing in my job.

I feel like I'm caught in a cycle. My therapist wants me to return to work ASAP to help me psychologically, but I have a hard time even cleaning my room! My personal relationships are all suffering, to some degree, as I've become withdrawn from my closest friends. I've explained to them what's going on, and they're sympathetic, so at least no long-term damage is being done there.

How does one break this horrible cycle? I can't just quit the Duragesic cold turkey, but how long does it take to wean down to nothing? I don't mind keeping the Opana on hand, as I'm able to take it or leave it, but quite frankly don't know I even need that anymore, at least for pain.

I'm sharing this hoping to not only get advice, but also because I know a lot of you have had WDs that affected your physical well-being in such a way that it became debilitating on a number of other levels. Thus, please feel free to share or advise as you can.

Thanks tons!

Rob