@toddmpeterson Opiate withdrawal only occurs, for the most part anyways, when those receptors are deprived of the accustomed dosage. So the pump either failed to deliver the normal dosage at those times or the use of the bolus increased the withdrawal threshold. Or, perhaps it was something else-the body is so complicated. I had a Medtronic intrathecal pain pump removed after years of use. It dosed morphine and other non narcotics and was very effective without so many of those awful side effects-so overall it was a plus. The removal was problem free but the effects of not having any morphine in my system after all those years were devastating, although I was thankfully pain free. I did gradually (over many many, months) lower the morphine to the lowest dilution and flow the pump would deliver yet I still experienced terrible withdrawal. The pump delivered a dosage of morphine that simply was not feasible orally, so whatever oral narcotic that I took at the out set would not be sufficient to avoid withdrawal initially. Maybe your experience will be different, but keep that in mind. And yes it is totally miserable to be completely out of sorts both mentally and physically where absolutely no position or situation is even close to being comfortable.

@toddmpeterson
I'm so sorry you are going through this! Eight levels is significant! Do the say how long this will go on for you? I'm surprised they didn't offer butrans patches. Do you notice any improvement as time goes on? Are you experiencing any deterioration with the unfused vertebrae? It's not often I get to talk to anyone who can relate on so many levels.