Hello all!

I'm sure many of you have talked about this issue before, but being new here I am looking for input.

My doctor has decided to stop the spinal injections since they didn't enough to warrant a continuation of them. We talked about the tens unit thing they implant into your spine, and I am considering this, though hesitant.

In the meantime, my doctor has started me on 2.5 mg of methadone daily. While I have done a lot of reading on this, and understand that in low doses it can work wonders for chronic pain - I also have some concerns:

1: The stigma of Methadone - having many friends and family who constantly ask what the next step is in my condition, what is the Pain Doc doing - what meds, etc and so on - I am hesitant to say anything about Methadone. Too many people have a bad connotation with it (I was one of them, and I have worked in the Drug and Alcohol Addiction field for over 20 years!). I even told my husband if he EVER says the word "methadone" to ANYONE I would personally kill him and bury him in our pond. How have you folks handled this?

2: The stuff makes my brain feel like oatmeal. I wouldn't trust myself to order take out food from the Chinese restaurant at this point. Does this go away?

3: I have read, and been told by my GP doctor, that Methadone is one nasty drug to be on. It has many physical side effects, and detoxing off this stuff is worse than heroin. I am wondering if this is true at such small doses, rather than the 30-60mg they give Heroin addicts. Any thoughts?

I am counting my blessings to have this forum, and all you wonderful people, to discuss this with.

Thanks all!

Pix