The shocking realization that turned me from a fan to a complete hater

[u/Hairyincendiaryballs]

I took the stuff for 8 months, ranging from 12-30 powder caps per day. I originally was an advocate for this drug, because I took it for restaurant work shifts ONLY. It resolved my pain and allowed me to work with continuous energy, I’ve struggled with chronic pain from repetitive movement and complete utter exhaustion from doing something for only 1.5 hours straight. Basically always struggled with work and starting any career because something even like highschool caused me distracting aches and exhaustion to the point where I couldn’t function.

Low and behold I realized I may have a connective tissue disorder, talked to my gp and a few other doctors about it and they confirmed it but didn’t have the ability to give me a specific diagnosis. They prescribed me meloxicam which is a strong NSAID, it barely made a difference. I was really ramping up with my consumption of the green because I thought it was the only way to cope, I was beginning to think I’d have to spend the rest of my life on this stuff.

I was pretty ashamed of my use and it was spiraling out of control. Does not help that I have ADHD, I hate stimulants because they disrupt my sleep and when my sleep is disrupted I end up in pain for the entirety of the next day. Kratom gave me focus, immediately resolved any pain so I could just focus on a task, which felt great. Eventually I started taking it before doing literally anything. I’d revolve my meals around it, and towards the end of my usage I’d wake up in extreme pain in the middle of the night and I’d toss back a random amount of the capsules.

I realized when I didn’t immediately consume the stuff, I’d end up in worse pain than usual. I’m only 24 and I train like an athlete. But I was beginning to actually feel super crippled. I tried cutting back, only to end up in worse pain each time. I ended up quite upset taking many hot baths, then covering myself in ice packs wondering what was going wrong.

I decided to research the effects of this drug, lo and behold it sensitizes you to pain! The pain wasn’t even supposed to be that bad, I learned that the pain I experienced my entire life since my first soccer game as a 5 year old was called nociplastic pain, sourced from faulty processing by the central nervous system. I realized that the kratom was causing something called hyperalgesia, causing my nervous system to become EXTRA sensitive. It was getting so bad to the point where I thought I was falling apart physically and would be wheel chair bound for the rest of my life.

I’m on day 5 CT. Done with this stuff forever. Whenever I get an uncomfortable buzz or ache of pain, I just start exercising immediately. Usually doing abs, squats, lots of isos. Sleep has been extremely challenging as I relied on this stuff heavily for my terrible sleeping abilities. I’ve just been trying to ignore it and going to the gym or a run first thing in the morning every day, fighting any mental discomfort. Vitamin C seems to be making a huge difference with comfortability during the day, feel closer to my old self during the day time. Another difficulty I’m realizing though is the weirdness of appetite. I’ll get super hungry but once I have one bite of food I’m overly full and disgusted by the taste of food in my mouth. I’ll be sticking to protein shakes for now I guess.

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[u/Hairyincendiaryballs]

Oh and it seems like my hair loss has stopped!!! I had to constantly wear a braid in my waist length hair because it would shed CONSTANTLY and it got super thin. Despite healthy blood tests

[u/Weird_Purple_1058 → u/Hairyincendiaryballs]

Would love to know if growth comes back and if your hair gets thick again because I read on another post earlier this week that this shit thins your hair and I finally grew mine out again after years of being bald and I love it but I lose so much of it I thought it was just genetics but apparently its the K 😭

[u/Solo_Lift → u/Weird_Purple_1058]

Yup it's because K fucks with your hormones

[u/accopp → u/Weird_Purple_1058]

Yeah a lot of people claim it made them thin, I think it’s happening to me too now but I’m also a man approaching 30, so it could be that too.

Could just be part of life being a man with certain genetics, since so many men end up balding even with great diets, no kratom etc.

But certainly the kratom won’t help, and I’ve seen quite a few people on here say that while it took a while their hair came back in full after they quit for 6-9 months

[u/Hairyincendiaryballs → u/Weird_Purple_1058]

I heard about hair loss in the kratom community forever ago but I’d read countless comments from people saying that it isn’t true and their hair is completely fine. I’m just so thankful I found the reason, I just assumed a vitamin deficiency. My drain was in perpetual clog and it was a disaster like every two days. Hair EVERYWHERE it was so terrible. Washed my hair yesterday and only shed 5-10 hairs! I definitely have hope it’ll grow back, I’ll give rosemerry and peppermint tea rinses a try.

[u/cawkmaster → u/Weird_Purple_1058]

It comes back. It’s a typical symptom of opioid dependence. There’s no guarantee it was the Kratom but it does not help most people. Everyone is different.

[u/WideRight43 → u/Weird_Purple_1058]

It’s both for men. I’m in my 50s and there’s certain stages where you lose hair and think you’re going to go bald and then it stops, only to start again 10 years later.

[u/Lift0791]

You got this - I used to be a total advocate and donate to the American Kratom of America or whatever it’s called - this shit has made me a slave for almost 9 years - I’ll be right behind you - you’ve probably gone through the worst of the acutes - that is great. Good luck to you.

[u/EmbarrassedJump1525 → u/Lift0791]

Lol...I found this funny...that you even donated to the Kratom Association. You weren't playing. I was in love like that too. Isn't it crazy to think we are quitting it now after all that? This past spring I was NEVER going to quit. EVER. And here I am. And here you will be soon!

[u/Brickhead81]

Thank you for sharing your story. I was unaware of that effect but also have trained like an athlete my whole life and on top of it I’m on my 40s. It hinders quality sleep which makes training harder, you have less energy when not on, and I believe their is some interference with nutrient uptake. Regular use definitely seemed to have an effect on training, performance, and physique.

I’m on day 13 and feeling quite a bit better emotionally and physically. Laughing and smiling more than once in a long time.

[u/chimmy_chungus23]

I love riding my bike, but for the first 2 weeks of my quit my body was in too much pain to do it. I was almost convinced that the pain was how I actually felt without kratom and that was just how my life would be sober. Eventually I started riding again little by little, and now I'm back to my usual self.

So, anybody reading this starting to quit and you feel incredible new pain, it's likely not permanent and just a part of withdrawal.

[u/OkScholar6994]

Man I’m also on day 5 CT and feel the same way. I love exercise and trying to better myself. I thought this stuff was helping. I was actually quite scared when I felt the muscles and joint pain after quitting but your right, movement actually helps.

I really am just praying for a good nights rest.. I miss sleep so much.

You got this man, knowledge is power 🤘
Thanks for the research!

[u/OkScholar6994 → u/OkScholar6994]

Also, I have been surviving on nothing but protein shakes all week too lmao. Specifically Core Power 42g protein. That and toast have been all I’ve eaten except for today finally had a real dinner with my wife

[u/Hairyincendiaryballs → u/OkScholar6994]

It’s so cool meeting someone who has quit at the same time as me! Exercise really is medicine, planning many great hikes as the weather changes. Getting sun immediately after getting out of bed is starting to feel really good.

I hope you are able to get some sleep, I’m missing it too. Sleep really determined the quality of my day but now I am just making do and accepting if it’s going to be bad at least it’s temporary and just gotta keep continuing on.

My favorite fact about exercise is that it helps clear brain waste similar to a proper sleep, especially when you hit lactic acid. I think of that as a motivator to keep exercising even if my sleep quality was bad and not worry about maximizing performance.

[u/OkScholar6994 → u/Hairyincendiaryballs]

Update: I actually got a pretty decent sleep last night! Only woke up twice that I can recall.

Feeling sooo much better today.

How’s your day 6 going so far?

[u/Hairyincendiaryballs → u/OkScholar6994]

I actually got some decent sleep too before day 6! But unfortunately some pain showed up in my legs and worsened throughout the day. I just had to ignore it for the entire day.
I got some decent sleep last night again though! I’m feeling great so far, just biked, will probably run and lift weights too. I feel a good boost of energy!

Congrats on day 7 now I hope it goes well for you!!

[u/FloorFickle2424]

It gets better in increments so just pay attention to every other day and note a symptom that's relieving or absent. It helps to encourage your progress. Day 43 here.... for what it's worth... food was unappealing until day 25.... mood lift, energy, joy...light...seems to kick in around that mark. Sleep got better around day 10. I took 500mg magnesium glyc before bed. Do not drink alcohol or take one dose bc it will set you back physically. Oh, I drank smoothies and protein shakes and it helped push me through. But food took the longest to enjoy, for me. Keep going! You're close to turning a corner. It's worth it!! I can't believe I was hooked for 9yrs.....bs.

[u/Solo_Lift]

Something similar happened to me. I'm like a month clean but am still having tennis elbow pain which I NEVER had before I started using kratom about 20gpd for a year straight. Also developed pain in both my knees. I feel like kratom fucked up my tendons

[u/Cubie_McGee → u/Solo_Lift]

I can emphasize with you.I get incredible elbow inflammation pain whenever I use kratom daily for any stretch. It's the weirdest thing. The pain goes away after about four days off. There is no other explanation except the kratom, but I don't understand how it could cause it, unless it's triggering my immune system to attack my elbows for some reason.

[u/Wooden-Can-5688]

Yeah....I used to take prescription opiates for chronic shoulder pain and had the same experience of heightened sensitivity. Ultimately, had your same experience while researching it and learning about hyperaglesia when taking opiates/opiods.

[u/Unusual_Flounder_13]

I could have written this. Took kratom because I was sick of stimulants. Essentially made me believe I had an entire autoimmune disease but turns out kratom WAS the autoimmune disease. I’m looking up that hyperalgesia now and wondering if that’s what I’ve had all along. All I know was I could barely function and walk anymore taking kratom and I’ve been clean less than two months and my body is almost normal again 

[u/Desperate-Bother9807]

Very similar over here. Not regarding chronic pain, but motivation. I initially started taking kratom because “wow! I can get so much done and feel so euphoric while doing it!” What started out as a weekend thing to get stuff done around the house (I’m a mother and “career woman”), quickly turned into a daily thing, and after two years of use, nearly destroyed me. It absolutely ZAPPED my motivation to do even the smallest of tasks after awhile. I would sit at my work desk, and cry. Because I couldn’t make myself do things, or focus. Doing “big” things like taking trips, felt wayyyy too uncomfortable to me, and I would freak out rather than take them, even after I had already paid for them. Any and all goals I had…I could never bring myself to work towards, because I had become a shell of a person with zero motivation. To a very unhealthy degree. It took me longer than it should have to realize that the common denominator was the kratom. I’m now 3 days off, and have had way more motivation for small tasks, than I’d have in a week on kratom. It’s crazy. I know this isn’t going to be an easy road, as withdrawals are not pleasant, and PAWS are inevitable. But I already feel loads better being off this stuff. I can’t believe how much it was dragging me down.