Hi and welcome to Healing Well's chronic pain forum. I am very glad that you found us. It is always terrible to see someone new come along suffering with CP but the numbers seem to be increasing by the minute. It is amazing how many of us that are out there. I hope you will stay and become aquainted with everyone here. This is the best forum out there as far as I am concerned. We try to help each other out, offer up ideas and thoughts. There is so much compassion on this forum-no judgmental attitudes allowed. We get enough of that just by having CP. We do ask that all new member read the forum rules and abide by them. We also have a topic at the top called CP101 that is full of valuable information that applies to CP people, lots of good info there.
My old PM dr tried me on Methadone and I could not tolerate it like so many other medications. I can tell you it can be a very good pain reliever for many and inexpensive. However, with that being said, it should only be used as a last resort as far as I am concerned. There are many other medications out there that I would try, sometimes it takes combinations of meds, but I would sure try those before starting Methadone. You are started out on a low dose when starting the Methadone, it takes several weeks to build up in your system, the same with the increases. It has a half life that you have to always remember and keep in mind. It must be taken exactly as prescribed otherwise you run the risk of over dosing on it. Many drs will not offer BT meds when they put a patient on Methadone and that is not right. You should be given something for BT pain. If the dr knows what he doing with medications then he will know that. If he is not educated well in medications then you may be told no BT meds. Once starting it and being on it a while it can be very difficult to get off of and on to a different medications. One of our members has been on it several years and she is trying for the second time I believe to get off of it. I know her first attempt was not successful. You can do a quick search here at the forum and find a ton of info on Methadone, we have discussed it here a lot. Uniquely Me is the member I am speaking of that is on Methadone, perhaps she will see your post and offer up some info.
Again welcome aboard and we hope to see you posting.