Suboxone or Narcotic for pain management?

[foreverinpain365]

Hi, my name is John P user name foreverinpain365. Back in 2005 I was involved in a accident at work that changed my life forever. To make a long story short a man tripped me and I ended up being thrown off a platform and I struck the back side of a truck head first. For about fourteen months I walked around with my right hand contracted and pain from my hand all the way up to my neck. Headaches, lost of memory, and lower back pain. Finally, in Nov of 2006 after getting a lawyer I had to get four level fused in my neck. The surgery was performed by Dr. Delasotto a great Surgen. Anyway he was able to fix my neck and free the nerve that was being pinched by the accident.But, even through he did the best job for my head,neck and arm my back just continues to get worse. For five years I've been taking pain med just to be able to walk. So finally I got tired of trying to control the pain meds and the pain I finally had to ask the doctor to try Suboxone. The first question I asked was it able to handle chronic pain he assured me it could work for that kind of pain. Sorry to say it didn't work on chronic pain. So as much as I regret it I had to go back to the Duragesic patch/ with vicodin 10/500 for break through pain. The Suboxone what like a charm for withdraw no problem at all. Question is did I do the right thing ? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks foreverinpain 365.

[dutchessofdenim]

I completely disagree with the comments on this thread.  I have taken Buprenorphine - then Subutex once it was approved, for chronic arthritis brought on by Primary Adrenal Insufficiency for almost 10 years.  I was introduced to Bup. from a Pain Clinic that was studying it at the time. I had to take a short break from it during my Divorce because I could not afford it.  Yes, there was some withdrawal symptoms and the chronic pain returned - but only the chronic pain was unmanageable.  I currently take 10mg - 16mg daily.  I was on a much higher dose years ago because most doctors do not know how to properly administer Subutex.  I took it upon myself to slowly go down on my dosage until I found the right level.  Sometimes you have to do stuff for yourself. I have had lots of major dental work and the only other pain med I have taken is Motrin.  My pain was completely controlled with Subutex and Motrin. It is still expensive - but prior to being introduced to Buprenorphine -I was on 2 -80mg Oxycontin daily and I had developed a tolerance even at that high a dose so I was looking for something that did not have that problem.  Bup doesn't.  Buprenorphine has given me my life back after years of being on narcotic pain pills that required higher and higher dosages the longer I was on them.  I was originally prescribed 3 -8mg Subutex daily when it was 1st on the market, but I have been able to cut that dosage in half with no withdrawal and adequate pain relief. I take 4mg every morning and 4mg in the PM and occasionally 4mg if I am going to be up late. I have tried to take less if  I am running low and too cheap to refill my prescription - but then I experience break through pain.  Fortunately, the price for my Subutex has dropped from $500.00 month when I was on the injectible form - Buprenorphine, to $400.00 when Subutex was first out - and now it is down to about $175.00 month.  It takes away all of my pain.  I haven't had so much as a Tylenol #3 since I started this med. 10 years ago. I just hate that people assume that you are taking it for addiction problems because that is what all the press is about.  It has been approved as a pain med for many years -long before it was approved for treatment of addiction and withdrawal.  Even though it is only a Sched. 3 drug -the Govt has put all kinds of restrictions on it ever since it was approved for addiction and withdrawal. Before that, any doctor could prescribe it.  Now, doctors have to be specially licensed as do the pharmacies that dispense it. God help us from addicts who just want to get clean.

[foreverinpain365]

From foreverinpain365, Thanks, once again for your help guys. I know we're all in the same boat many of us where put there without asking for the ride. I know speaking for myself I didn't take any drugs at all until the age of 24 and do to getting hurt carry beef in a meat plant. Slip on a patch of ice a the forequarter of beef came down on top of my knee all 247 lbs of it. Needless to say, I went to the doctor he ask if I had ever taking anything I say no. Knowing me for a while he knew this to be the truth so he gave me some morphine for the pain and the rest of the story you guys know. Good talking to all of you and the best for you all on this Holiday. God Bless you, John P

[canadieniam]

Suboxone is not meant to be taken for a long term. There isn't anything wrong taking narcotics if needed. You are lucky that you have a doctor that isn't afraid to prescribe you them. I myself was in a bad car accident and suffer from chronic lower back pain and tried methodone on the suggestion of a doctor and also found that it didn't help with my pain management so like yourself I went back on my pain meds. Like yourself due to someone else neglect we now have to suffer in pain. No you didn't do the wrong thing if being on your pain meds allow you to live your life in less pain.