migraine pain med addict - but this is no way to live!

[nerakiam]

i have been on opiods, staydol, oxy - - then the 75mg fentenol stopped working and i was labeled an adict.   i have been off the patch since april and off ritilan since june and xanax since may.  my migrains have been at the worst and increase in frequincy.  no doctor has given me a plan or what i can try.  i'm doing yoga, meditation, massage as alternitives... but it just does not touch this pain.

[JadedSweetheart]

Just to clarify.. Are you saying that you know you are or have been addicted to the meds, or are you saying that you have been labeled that way?  
I ask because it's true that even addicts can have CP.  It's also true that people with CP get labeled as addicts by the uneducated when we are really opiate tolerant and dependant on the medications.  Either way, we still both have withdrawls when the meds are suddenly stopped.  
Did the migraines get worse when you stopped taking the meds?  They could be a result of withdrawl, but normally wouldn't last this long from the pain meds if your last dose was in April.  I have heard of people having terrible withdrawls from Xanax and other benzo-meds.  I'm not sure about the ritalin.  
Have you been to a pain management doctor?  They should be able to treat you better than a PCP for chronic pain as they understand the difference between addiction and dependence.
I'm not sure how to reply to the poll as I don't quite know what you're asking.
I hope you find relief for your migraines soon.  There are a lot of "triggers" for migraines and it can be hard to identify and eliminate them.

[dontundertand]

I'm so sorry! It's sad that chronic pain patients are often judged and labeled by the medical community, family, friends, and the general population. It makes it that much harder to navigate through life no only dependant on medication to function, but then feeling rejected, judged, and scrutinized for the source of your ability to function. I would suggest you find another doctor. Some will treat you bad, even some pain docs (even though I don't understand why they get into that field if they are going to treat patients badly) but there ARE doctors out there that will help you. I don't have migranes so I don't know what to suggest. I wish I had a better answer for you. But don't give up, you are worth fighting for. Get your records. Look through them and find out why you are being labeled (if there is even a reason) and keep looking for someone that'll help you.

Good luck! Please feel free to keep us posted!