What is your experience with buprenorphine for back pain?

@marisols how long have you been using the patch on the 20mcg dose? Do you incorporate exercise as part of your reg8me for pain control? I’ve been on 20mcg for going on 4 years, the 15mcg patch didn’t work after 2 weeks.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4675640/

I have been on it for about 3weeks now. Not done no exercises because I just had gall bladder removed and I am recuperating from surgery. How is it going for you? They gave me lyrics to take as well.

My surgery was in 1990 and now suffering with chronic pain, osteoporosis, peripheral neuropathy. After too many years on narcotics after morphine I begin with buprenorphine patch 15 mcg but after a short trial it was increased to 20mcg. Now going on 5 years and love it. My back will not improve only worsen over time so I exercise twice a day and walk 2 miles daily. Aside from the buprenorphine I’m using cannabis gummies and cannabis tincture for breakthrough pain instead of Percocet. Give yourself 2 months maybe longer since you’re recovering from GB surgery. Be careful of any GI slow down with buprenorphine, it may cause decreased GI motility so maintain fluid intake.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

Thanks Belle,

I take Suboxone orally, under my tongue. I am aware it has some pain relieving properties. I'm not familiar with the patch. I am glad to hear it gives you relief from chronic pain.

Just speaking about the tablets I use under my tongue, if I stop for 2 or 3 days (the half-life of Suboxone is very long), I go into horrible withdrawal. It only happened once, so I'm always careful to make sure I have some on hand.

And I take it to prevent opioid abuse. Other, stronger opiates like oxycodone have no affect on me. I've been sober for 14 plus years now. I'm on the lowest dose possible for me, but I'm resolved that I'll be on it for the rest of my life - and my PCP agrees.

Again, I'm glad you get relief using the patches, and thanks for adding to this discussion. I don't know if you would experience withdrawal if you stopped using it. But like me, why would you stop as long as there is a benefit? Your comment is very much appreciated, and I wish you the best.

Joe

Thanks for your reply jenatsky,

I know that the Suboxone I take would result in serious withdrawal symptoms within 2 to 3 days of my last dose. I've tried tapering, and am at a low dose now, but my PCP suggested staying on Suboxone permanently because the withdrawal is so severe. The only problem is that it renders other opiates used for post-op pain useless. But I've had four joints replaced and have done fine post-op.

I'm not sure if users of the patch would experience withdrawal if they stopped using it.

And I in no way intended to paint people who use bupe for pain as addicts. I am an addict/alcoholic (14 plus years sober), and Suboxone combines bupe with Naloxone to keep other opiates from providing a high.

Thanks again, and I'm glad the patch is giving you some relief from chronic pain.

Joe

Dear Joe,

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. As I'm saying a neurosurgeon for
possible back surgery, ear information is something I was considering. I
certainly don't want to start something that would cause me problems with
my surgery. Moreover, I had a total knee surgery and did well with the
medication they gave me for pain. If I need total knee surgery on my other
knee which is likely sometime in the future, I would not want to be having
a problem because I started buprophrine. Thank you for taking the time to
respond.

You're very welcome. I don't know how buprenorphine is used for pain, and where I do hear it is used, it's for long-term pain.

My suggestion would be to stay away from it and use any opiate pain meds you are given post-op. In the absence of buprenorphine, they should work well, and you won't need them for very long.

And to be clear, I take bupenorphine because I'm a recovering addict, and the bupe blocks the "high" from other opiates. Even so, I've gotten through knee replacements with a 2-3 day nerve block, and then diclofenac, a prescription NSAID, for pain.

So I think you're doing the right thing. I'm not familiar with the use of bupe to treat pain, so hopefully others can add something.

All the best to you!

Joe

My husband used Suboxone for chronic pain following two spinal fusions, and the medication helped with pain but made his dementia even worse. (He was so confused that he was unable to use his cell phone!) After he stopped using Suboxone, he immediated switched to buprenorphine patches so he did not experience withdrawl. The patches also helped with pain but they made him extremely itchy. He now uses buccal film which I place into his mouth, and the film lessens his pain.

George's Wife

Hiya I’m Dave. Recently diagnosed with stage IV metastatic bone cancer in my hips and spine. Met with the palliative care team and they put me on buprenorphine 5mcg
It’s only been two weeks but it’s helping quite a bit. I’ve reduced my intake of oxy to only those times when the pain gets the best of me. May have to up the dose down the road.