Methadone withdrawal and RLS

[Elliott06]

Hi, I'm on day 29 of methadone withdrawal and for the most part feel all right, except for my legs and arms are driving me insane!  I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement and reassurance this will go away. I mean is it normal to still have rls this long into withdrawal?!  Help!

[weaver71]

Keep moving, keep hydrated, and keep being the best you there is. It takes awhile for the shape of a masterpiece to show it's face through the stone. Keep chippin away, just take away everything that isn't you and the form will become more obvious.

[Elliott06]

Day 31- So My legs felt better last night. I feel like the Hylands and wrapping my legs is helping. Still feeling sluggish though. Hopefully the rls will lay off soon. Trying to stay strong but it's like mental torture.

[gnarly_1]

hi those headackes are real mind benders try som exsedrin pm it will help that and a cool washcloth on your head and eyes in a dark quit room keep posting for support...........Gnarly.............................

[weaver71]

You have a much more concept of "kicking" opiates. Glad you are don't better today.

[Elliott06]

Day 30 and I feel a little better than I did yesterday. I took the a Hylands Stuff last night and I didn't take sleeping pills and my legs def. felt better, it didn't go away completely but not as intense. Energy wise I feel much better than yesterday. I'm going to try the compression socks today and see how that is. But anyway, reading all of your comments yesterday really helped me feel not alone in this. Thank you so much for all the tips and kind words. I'm determined to kick this. I've come this far and I'm not going back.

[dirtydirk]

RLS is the worse  esp when u get it in your arms its almost like a electric shock therapy u get at the chiropractor except u cant turn it off!!!  Hot showers and stretching works also if u have a heating pad itll be your new best friend!!!  congrats on your good time  keep it up!!!

[Elliott06]

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into the protein shake stuff tomorrow. I figured with me being at a pretty low dose withdrawals wouldn't be so bad or long and for the most part they weren't just this past week or so my energy level has crashed and getting headaches. I can endure most of the symptoms but this rls crap needs to disappear. I don't know much more I can tolerate.

[gnarly_1]

Hi well you sound good for 29 days the restless legs plagued me also the highlands helped but did not take it all away one thing that helped was a bath as hot as you can stand it even if it is only for 5 or 10 min  then jum into bed and wrap a blanket around both legs as tight as you can kinda like swaddling a baby the 2 big thins withdrawing from methadone are the energy crash and the lack of sleep I always recamend  ''whey protein shake mix  you can pick up a 2lb can for 15 bucks it has the amino acids for the brain and the protein for energy drink 2 a day keep posting for support you where on a low dose in a perfect world you will feel better in 30 to 60 days  now I was on 150mg for almost 7yrs so it took me a good 90 days to feel better it is different for everybody try not to get discouraged you can do this time is your best friend the farther along you get the better you will feel good luck and God bless..............Gnarly

[Ldytaz]

I have been taking the hylands like I said twice at night 2-3 under tongue.I think it is helping..Hope u get some relief.

[weaver71]

The Thomas Recipe linked at the bottom of this page is a good resource. I found Amino Acid shakes, EmergenC, GOOD multivitamin, and EmergenC powdered electrolyte drink helped the most. I had restless arms, legs, face, I really squirmed coming off at a high dose. My arms felt like Pythons trying to escape and my legs where trying to kick the snakes out of the bed. I slept alone awhile, once I actually slept. At the peak, I started Cal/Mag/Zinc 400%FDA in the morning and again in the evening. Epsom salts definitely help too. Just wanted to share a few other ideas.

[VICourageous]

Yes those socks work good!!! After you take a Hot Bath with the Salt try laying under a Heating Blanket. I was way up on my Dones for 12 years and finally got myself down to 30mg and jumped..Had to also detox from the adderral I added to my dones to make them stretch out and get a BIG O BUZZ.(snorting plus It was very dumb!!!). Took the Benzo at night..SO it is hard for me to put 2 x 2 together on which drug (or maybe all of them) why it took me 10days for the detox to start, and it took months & months for me to physically come around..The mental waves came & went for a Year..BUT now this is just me..I am no spring chic and I hit a very weak stage were I could not hardly even walk..Exercise and Diet is a big key here. I did exercise at first when the Anxiety was on the Moon! NOW the good thing was I did not get the RLS this time around..I had gone to church 7 days later and did some praying holding hands with the Preacher..I prayed that I would not get this because that was my worst fear. God must of answered. They tried to give me trazadone and I said NO..The I took the Seraquil for only one night..Guess What?? My legs started to do that kicking and stretchy thing..(RLS) for only a hour or two at the most..SO from there on out I did all natural..BUT I did get the Clonindine (BP Med) after 22 or more days of NO Sleep..I am stubborn and did not want to do any drugs. This one I took for a month and it did help with sleep & anxiety even through it was so short lived.(the Sleep). I also took a non-additive med that they use for anxiety for a month too..It is called Buspar..NOT the Wellburtin..The Buspar is so weak but within time it did help a bit. The best thing I have been doing for a Year & a Half is just my Vit/Min.
Sorry this is so long but I want you to succeed..We all will be here for you all the way through the Detox..BUT that is done and gone in no time..It is working on staying clean that takes the cake..
Bless

[motye51]

There as ugly as **** but they did work. They werw long, went to my thighs and really, really tight! Allowed me to get some sleep!

[Elliott06]

I'll try anything at this point.

[motye51]

I know this is gonna sound stupid but I swear to you it gave me relief! When my legs werw at there worst my husband went and bought me those tight diabetic socks, like compression socks. I put them in before going to bed and they gave me relief!!!

[Elliott06]

Thank you all for your encouragement! Today has been one of those days the depression hits really hard and I just want to give in. I am really proud of myself and know it would be dumb to give in at this point. I'm just soooo over the rls. I have read tons of other forums and found that maybe my sleeping pills I have been taking might be making the rls worse so I'm going to try and not take any tonight and see how if goes. I bought some hylands today as well.

[Elliott06]

Thank you! I quit cold turkey from 30mg.  Which I was on for a year at a clinic but took for a few years before that.  

[Ldytaz]

Welcome,Im on day 10 and had rls before my pain med and methadone program.It is really bad most of the time.Since jumping last week,I have been dancing all over the bed.Kicked my Hubby out twice,now when it gets bad I move out to couch for awhile.I started taking Hylands for restless legs.It is a couple bucks at walmart.The last 2 nights have been better.I start it about 6 then again at 10.There is the thomas recipe at bottm of page that has done wonders for me..I got the flu from my Son and today has been hard.Try it.As others say their will be lots of ppl on tonight that can help u..day 29 wow,Be very proud of yourself!!!!

[weaver71]

And yes, 30-60-90 days do seem to be a consistent thing with methadone. We are all at different places on those landmarks, but they appear to be a landmark for the individual.

[weaver71]

I was concerned about the same thing. I thought I might have used myself up while feeling no pain. I found that my nervious system was shot, not to mention my brain and body. It felt like I kept getting these false signals, like I need to move my legs or my back hurt. There was no cause, so I knew it was permenant damage or detox. It took a very long time, but regular exercise and eating good has helped me fully recover. I was on a lot of methadone, so it took a real long time. It is so worth it now. I don't feel like I'm starting over all the time, I actually see progress in my life. So you will have issues like this arise, each resolved issue is actually movement forward, not just something to get you by til the next fix. Hang in there, keep moving and you will do great.

[Dryan8313]

P.s. Been told that 30-60-90 day markers are where you'll see the most improvement!!!
Yes it takes awhile but you've already come so far and you sound like you're doing great!! It WILL get better!!

[Dryan8313]

Yes, totally normal for methadone w/d.
Did you jump cold turkey or taper? How long were you on and what milligrams (it makes a difference from what I hear)
There are a ton of people on here that can give you some great tips and suggestions to ease the body aches in your arms and legs. I know one thing that's always suggested is hot baths w epson salt.
How's your sleep and energy? Those are usually the biggest complaints at the stage you're at.
Hopefully gnarly, weaver, jennelle, Or Vic can comment more since I think theyve all done this successfully!
I'm still doing a taper (currently at 12mg) so I'm not even close to where you're at yet but I've been researching the he11 out of it :)
By the way... Congratulations on 29 days!!! That's amazing!! This is the hardest thing to come off of IMO and you're so close to being w/d FREE!!! Can't wait til I can say I'm at 29 days :))))