Hi,
I am new here and have read over many post and reply's and have already found some very useful! I have back problems in my lumbar back which hurts the worst,my thoracic spine curves, and my c-spine doesn't curve and I have 3 herniated disk in my neck as well.As if that wasn't enough I found out about 4 months ago I as well have fibromyalgia. Just to tell ya a little about my health problems.I go to a pain specialist every month.2 months ago they changed my meds due to the other not working and put me on opana ER. it works well the only issue I have with this medication is I am prescribed to take 2/20mg a day.On most days my pain is so bad that taking the 20mg in the morning when I wake up just isnt enough,I usually have to cut a pill in half to take 30mg.That helps my pain very well and is under very good control,only downfall is I run out several days before my next appointment,which leads to VERY VERY bad withdrawal symptoms.The worst I've ever had from a medication or seen from any drug on t.v.My dr. Told me that if the opana's didn't work then he was switching me to methadone. My question is has anyone out there taken both theseedications and could tell me the difference and which in your opinion works better? I have no problem with the opana except my dosage and goin thru the withdrawals that are so bad got me worried and I started reading up on it.It's not a pretty thing and is said to be a more powerful withdrawal then heroin or any narcotic out there and that it's very dangerous.If anyone has any insite on this please let me know,and if there is anyone that has taken both the methadone and opana could you please tell me your input on what works best for you and the differences in the 2 medications? Thank you so much!

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, welcome to a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Check with the following forums, there are a good numbers of fellow members to assist you:

Chronic Pain:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum10.html

Medications & Treatments:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html

Spinal Disorders & Back Pain
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

Welcome to NT!

You've certainly found the right place for great support and understanding. I'm so sorry you are battling these conditions.
Darlene has given you some good places to start, so please feel right at home. I hope you can begin to get some answers soon.

It's great to have you!

Caring,
Rae

I haven't taken both AT THE SAME TIME, but I've taken both. The Opana didn't work well for me --- I didn't get much pain relief at all from it. Right now I'm on Methadone, and it seems to work better. The only problem I'm having now is the dosage. At first, it was ok, but now after having been on it for so long, I need an increase and i've asked my doc for one, but he doesn't seem to want to do it. I'm also on the Fentanyl Patch.

I'm on only 10mg of Methadone 3 times a day, which is ridiculous! I'm on .75mcg of Fentanyl Patch, and even THAT needs increasing, but he just won't listen. The last several days I've been in agony -- don't know if I did something or what. But this pain is about to drive me nuts!

I wish you the best of luck. I hope your pain lessens -- or your doc adjusts your medication! God bless & please take care. Hugs, Lee