Long term opiate use - problems?

Good question…press doctors/surgeons for answers !

@bigsy67vag Welcome to Mayo Connect, we can try to help you find answers to this question.
First, be sure your surgeon knows about your chronic pain and long-term morphine use. It may change their approach to both anesthesia and post-surgical pain management.
Second, make sure your pain management doctor is aware of your impending surgery. Changes in overall chronic pain level are common after surgery, and the two of you need a plan for handling it.
Third, and this could be hard, it would be helpful for the 2 docs to communicate before surgery to create an overall pain management plan.

Good luck with your surgery.

I can only share my personal experience in the hopes that it may give you some helpful info. Prior to my spinal fusion surgery in 2012, my ortho surgeon asked me to decrease my pain medication as much as possible prior to the surgery. He said it would help him/me control the pain after surgery. I can remember the shock when I told him the morning of surgery how much I had decreased my meds! You may want to discuss pain management with him before your surgery.

Have you had any success with this drug? Is your pump off? My pump has hydromorphone in it but has delivered exactly one day of good pain relief in THREE YEARS. Believe it or not.

The pain relief I had from that particular drug mix was very good. Unfortunately, the third pump was put in quickly due to hospital cost cuts and became infected. After a week or so of strong drugs they took the pump out. The infection cleared up but I was then told they would not pay for a replacement pump. Hence I am now on drugs (MST, Pregabalin, etc) with all the side effects of having it in my blood stream (the pump fed directly into my spine). I’ve managed to keep the morphine level the same since then although it’s difficult at times. I have five points of stenosis which I am told will not be treated.

@shoegal I have no surgery scheduled. I’ve been managing my pain for over twenty years and worked as a volunteer researcher in my Hospital pain management team alongside the Professor. Reducing my morphine intake is a long term aim of mine and I am doing it gradually.

@sueinmn thank you for your comments/suggestions. I worked as a volunteer researcher in my hospital pain management team and even published my own paper about intrathecal pumps.
We won an award from Bupa for having a multidisciplinary team involving a patient. I used to also answer questions from people awaiting a pump implant. I will take on board your advice - your right about the third one. It would be easier to get Putin and Valenski together.

Hello I have many years of opioid use and epileptic drug use for myodil induced adhesive arachnoiditis injected twice non aspiration in 1968. Last was hydromorphone delivered through Medtronic pump 12 years 3 pumps two failed which were hell and back . Now being tapered off hydromorphone as I was given perindopril for hypertension . The two drugs sent my adrenal glands and purpitury gland to sleep so now I suffer from secondary adrenal insufficiency. Where any kind of stress mental or physical can send you into adrenal crisis , I have had 37 so far so if you are fine at the moment please think about stopping opioids go for something safer even if it means putting up with a bit of pain . I was misdiagnosed for five years saying I had uncontrollable blood pressure. Take care

@grr78 thank you for your reply. I am considering giving morphine the push and attempting to wean myself off the drug. Much to think about at the moment.
Best wishes
Simon.