Suboxone for Chronic Pain instead of Opioids???

[fiveyears]

Just met with my PM doctor today to discuss my medication situation and my desire to get off opioids, which I have been on for five years.  Currently on Roxi and Norco as well as using Voltaren Gel on my upper back/shoulder and an electronic muscle stimulatior.  Has anyone else used Suboxone for chronic pain as well as the withdrawl effects?  I'm trying to figure out the chances of having it actually keep my pain in check before I jump into it.  My doubts and concerns are explained below.

I just got over the flu and have had a lot of trouble keeping the opioids down.  I figured it was as good a time as any to try Suboxone but I just learned that it is an 'all or nothing' medication, meaning that I can't go on it for a week or so and then immediately go back to Norco if doesn't keep the pain in check.  If it were only a matter of the pain, I would be very willing to attempt it but the problem is that I'm in the middle of a long-term physical therapy regimen that jacks my pain way up for the short-term.  If I am unable to keep doing the PT, I risk losing all the progress I have made over the past four months.

I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and can share their opinions.  Thank you for your help.

FYI - Severe L5/S1 spinal disc and right shoulder injury.

[PainLifer]

I wouldn't dare take suboxone. If you need something narcotic for break through pain, or god forbid you have an accident or a heart attack where you can't speak and you're given a narcotic, suboxone will put you in an extremely painful withdrawal. It may be fine for drug addicts who think methadone is a life long ball and chain ( I tend to agree) but for those of us who are pain patients, I would stay away from it like the plague. It's cruel. Period. But aren't a lot of people and things when it comes to those suffering with chronic pain?

[Redbluffer]

I just have to agree with everyone, sub is one drug that I would never even consider when it comes to pain. Ive heard of some people that it has helped, but for every one of those people theres 20 others who it has tortured. Like Mt. said if you plan on being on opiates the rest of your life then maybe, big maybe, but I would say that methadone is ten times better for pain than suboxone. Other countries that use buprenorphine for pain alot of times its Buprenex injections, but I have heard of some who say that subutex/suboxone has helped them. My own opinion is to stick with whatever your doing now, especially the PT, nothing helps like excercise in the long run, NOTHING. Even the constant supply of opiates that are supposed to help eventually deminish alot of our pain threshold, so please do your research before considering this any further. Hope all goes well, I know how chronic pain can beat you up, but the opiates will do the same in the end. Best of luck to you, take care.

[mtgoat911]

the only way i would suggest sub to someone is if i knew that they were planning on living the rest of their lives on some sort of pain meds
are you planning on doing this? or do you wish to get clean one day?
it is easier to kick the drugs you are on know, then the sub
pain pills no matter what type will always quit working, eventually you will need a new drug or higher dose
sub and mehtaodne are basically the only drugs that are stronger then you are taking now
but looking at the whole picture, whats going to happen when these quit working
i wish you the best of luck, i live with an illness and used these drugs for a long time, they would turn on me every time
now i just deal with the pain the best i can

[ochooked]

I was on Sub and it was totally a living he!! to come off of.  I hope before you go on Sub that you will check out the Health Pages (upper right hand side of this sheet) and look for a post titled "Members Experiences Coming off of Suboxone"  -- it was put together by the moderator of this site and contains quite a few testimonials of those who used Sub.  It is extremely addictive and with the exception of Methadone, it one of the hardest drugs to kick.  I spent almost two months of horrible W/D's to get off of it.  Also, the pain relief it offers, like Eagle said, is almost nill.  I do wish you all the best ---  Let the buyer beware when it comes to Sub.

[mammasisk]

hey iam currently on subutex and loritabs and they work together for pain and to keep me from wanting to abuse them and it works i couldnt take the loritabs and i would always abuse them so i tried both and m doing fine i hope this helps ps. subutex does not help with pain i promise

[steveo30]

you,yourself said you wanted off the opiates.the withdrawal from suboxone is 10 times worse than getting off the norco.go to the bottom right side of this page and click on suboxone/subutex part 1 this will give you alot of info.it also has a 21 day taper plan if thats what you need.as far as your pain that shouldn't be a problem while on suboxone

[liscamdave]

Just be careful. Sub is a partial opiate antagonist. So its still highly addictive. If on it long term, the w.d can be worst then from what you are on now. And when I say long enough, I mean a few weeks. Be careful of this drug. Talk with your dr about it. Odds are, like my dr, he will tell you you cannot become addicted to the sub, but he is wrong, wrong, wrong....

If you need help or advice. Just ask. In my opinion, all the sub does is not get you high. Its still feeding the body and mind its fill of opiates. That is why w.d is by-passed. But if you are abusing your pain meds, then its also a good substitute...

Good luck..

Lisa

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

What do you know? One of mine is L5 / S1 also - and two more spread out...... I tried sub for pain and they may as well have been a Pez Dispensor ------  I got it as Temgesic a few years back.....it has been used by the European community for a while in that manner.  Just didnt work for me.  Keep getting input and I hope that they do work for you if you decide to go that route.