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Opiate Addiction & Joint Pain

Opiate addiction can be debilitating, but the withdrawal symptoms might just feel worse. Withdrawal from opiates is a two-stage process that involves depression, lots of pain, sickness and even insomnia. In many addicts, one of those symptoms is joint pain.

  1. Detox

    • Opiate addicts must detoxify, or rid their body of the drugs, before beginning rehabilitation. During detox, the first stage of withdrawals includes minor symptoms such as sweating, irritation, runny nose and aching muscles. The second stage involves more severe symptoms of vomiting, pain, diarrhea and depression.

    Duration

    • According to the National Institutes of Health, the first symptoms begin as soon as 12 hours of stopping drugs. The joint pain and other symptoms usually last a week or two, says Michael's House, an addiction treatment center in California.

    Chemical Treatment

    • Multiple detoxifications and relapses call for chemical treatment. Methadone is the most popular way to detox because it eases symptoms, including joint pain. However, a side effect of methadone is also joint pain. When methadone will not work, there are other drugs, like tramadol, for the pain, and different drugs for the nausea, vomiting and depression.

    Warning

    • Methadone, a synthetic opiate, can itself become addictive. Any relapse after detox is often fatal, because the user's tolerance for drugs is down. Thus, detox should be closely monitored and followed immediately by a rehabilitative program.

    Misconceptions

    • Opiates are not drugs that one can wean from. The detoxification process must take place to relieve the joint pain of withdrawal. Medications can ease these symptoms during detox.

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