Snurplebeans
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Posts: 10
ON, Canada
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I work at a detox....it's not a pretty place...and opiate withdrawals are the worst you see of the bunch. There are some exceptions for people coming in for alcohol....but usually they are either sick for 2 days and still able to function a great deal, or else they are just completely screwed, with seizures and all sorts of things. For some reason I see little in between; and the damage with alcohol more permanent and life threatening over all, but the most miserable and sick clients for the most part, that I see are people trying to come off of opiates, and it's extremely difficult. I had been prescribed opiate for years to deal with my back pain and problems with my muscles caused by a damaged spinal cord. I definitely saw a certain level of physical dependence at times, but nothing a couple days of feeling a little under the weather wouldn't get rid of - never a serious heavy detox was needed.
But I'll tell you why.....my headaches interrupted my opiate use.....it's because if I dared try and take opiates while I was getting the headaches (which I am still not entirely sure are cluster headaches but working on it), it would make them unbeliveably worse....just when you like think you're in the worst pain known to mankind....lol....I would be proven wrong..... Sometimes, though rare, like maybe once every 4 or 5 months, the opiates would appear to trigger the headaches too. It happened enough at one point (meaning headaches showed up as soon as the drugs kicked in several days in a row) that I am pretty sure it is the case that they triggered them. But again, not that often overall. However no way in hell do I dare take opiates WITH the headaches going on or any sign of them nearby....there is no mistaking, I would pay for it. Which is strange to me because they are supposed to KILL pain lol...
Anyway, point of all of this....if there is one thing that these vicious headaches were good for, it was keeping me off the drugs just enough to keep me out of a more serious addiction, which very easily could have happened and quickly considering how much tolerance I could get in a short time and how willing I was to keep popping the pills at times.
I know opiates, or at least many, are reported to increase intracranial pressure. For some sorts of headaches I can see why this would aggravate things. I am curious to learn why some people with cluster headaches, and migraines (because I know of a few people who can't take opiates with migraines either) find opiates do dull the pain, and others don't, and others find it makes them worse. Wish I had become a doctor or researcher of some kind sometimes lol
Anyway. I have a few different treatments on the go now that make a LOT more sense in actually physically adjusting/supporting the problem areas for my muscles/spine and no longer am prescribed any opiates. Headaches to date....still figuring things out, but for me, yup, opiates not an option there.
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