Transitioning from High Dose Opiates to Suboxone for Chronic Pain

Suboxone was developed to treat Opiate Use Disorder (OUD) with a formulation in either a pill or an oral buccal film. It was never meant to treat chronic pain. They developed buprenorphine in a patch formulation that can provide 24/7 pain relief in varying doses I believe from 7mcg - 20mcg per hour depending on your needs. I started on the patch at 15mcg but after a week it was increased to 20mcg which I’ve been o for over 4 years. And now that for Medicare patients our out of pocket has been ruled to $2000 so this drug is now cheap compared to prior co-pay. Unless you’ve got a problem with OUD try the patch for more long acting relief. Here is a primer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4675640/

I was on high dose
Narcotics for years and was put on Suboxone, no withdrawal from opiates. Suboxone also took care of my pain

Just 3 months ago I did that frightening transition! I have so many problems now with my lower back, but never have gotten the courage for surgery. At 70, I don’t plan on getting under the knife. My spine and nerve pain specialist pressured me into getting another ablation because instead of working on a different medication and physical therapy plan, they try every month to lower the milligrams in the Percocet and morphine sulphate which I’ve already done, at that time they cut my dosage back to 4-7.5 milligrams a day and 2 15 milligrams of morphine sulfate. I have 2 bulging discs, a severe and 10 year case of spinal stenosis, my s1 joint has moved 40% more last years mri, a hereditary disease that is very serious of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, then there’s the bone spurs in 5 of my cervical C - disc’s. Every month I have to make an appointment that lasts less than 10 minutes and they spend it calculating the milligrams of opiates I’m taking suggesting cutting back. I agreed to the ablation and a new physician was doing the procedure. They are painful but the physician who did it before was amazing plus he was there for the 6 years when I joined the practice. He quit and moved to Oregon last year. The clinic never the same. Cut to real juice of my story……. The entire procedure was a nightmare. He hurt me so bad I started to cry and he raised his and said “ just settle down or you will cause this to go very badly”. I said you are hurting me and I can’t help my reaction. Feom that day last August 16th, my pain level is 100% increased. 2 week follow up with PA begging for an new MEI, something is terribly wrong I can barely or sleep more than an a time. She wouldn’t do it and referred me to a surgeon, saying that he would prefer to order his own test on me. I walked out that day, only 2 days of medication left and would not call in a refill until I came back to give a urine sample. 6 years never a tainted sample from me, I just donated one 2 months before. I had enough of the merry go round the kept me on. Realizing that they had to regard for health or respect as a human. I called my primary care physician and told him I scared to death of hitting that withdrawal hour so got me an appointment in 2 days. They do not take chronic pain patients. Plus they limit the dosage for patients and understand why. He said to me, “I’ll prescribe you the same medication and dosage but only for 3 months. But if it were me I’d do this….. explaining the suboxone and said his wife switched finally and was so happy with her results. Pain levels dropped, she became her old self before the accident happened that broke her back. She no felt depressed, became productive again that she went back and completed her master degree. The craving were gone and she no longer counted the minutes for next Vicodin! I was now beginning full withdrawal and I said I let’s give it a try After 11 years in his practice I completely trust him with my life. I’m so grateful I did. My pain level increased but that’s because something happened that day in August and mri along with 4 different X-rays proved it.
I don’t what my future holds anymore without the surgery but I will never go back to the pain management scam. Sadly there are very very few physicians who are qualified in this field and willing to work as a pill supplier with mandatory guidelines from the corporate heads that have taken over the business and the bottom line is all that matters. It’s so scary when doctors are controlled by ceos who look at healthcare like McDonald’s corporate head. I’ve seen and heard their comments and frustration that they either quit and leave healthcare or relocate their talent to other states who still try to operate with the physicians code “First, Do No Harm”.
Go for it sweetie! The withdrawal on day one hasn’t begun to affect you yet. I picked up my first prescription on the first day with my Percocet and within 30 minutes I felt great. Don’t be scared. I hope your doctor cares about as much as mine does for me and my ability to function physically but most importantly…..emotionally. I joined tonight because of your message. I couldn’t walk away without sharing my story if it will help you in anyway. These days I pray the good lord takes me before the healthcare system completely blows apart when I’m 75 and need compassionate support and the medical care I deserve as a human being. We our pets with more compassion and empathy not to let them suffer. I hope I made a little sense, my hands are so arthritic sometimes and texting does me in. God bless and I’m here if you need someone to support you through the life we live full of chronic pain that gets worse every week of our life. Very few understand this, and so many believe we are drug addicts faking our pain.

Jude