What is your experience with buprenorphine for back pain?

Holy cow!!! Sorry for the novella written here! I’ll work on being more concise and to the point! 🤦‍♀️🙇‍♀️

@dave56pa
Hey, Dave!

Thanks for posting! I’m so sorry to hear about the reoccurrence of the cancer! But I am glad to hear that the meds are working well for you! I’m assuming they are being sensitive to your pain levels and being proactive to stay on top of it…😶
If they’re not, let me know and I’ll figure out a way to kick some butt to ensure that they’re taking good care of you!
My dad had multiple myeloma and his spine had fractured in several places so he, too, was dealing with severe bone pain. But his doctor was dribbling out pain meds to him like they were his private stash of gold or something…what a jerk!
I didn’t know then what I know now or I would have never let that happen. So I get a bit (more like a lot!) riled up if I suspect that someone, who is in real need of pain relief, is getting jerked around and not treated right. So I’m serious about my offer! I can make lots of irritating phone calls from here. And if need be, I can pop on a flight and give ‘em hell in person!!! What the heck! I’m retired, not that much going on here…and that would be far more useful than organizing my closet or some such nonsense, right?!?! 😉😁
Take care, my friend! And be sure to stick up for yourself!
Please let me know if there is anything you need or anything I can do for you, okay?!
God bless you and I pray that He blesses your sleep tonight so that it’s peaceful and sweet! Rest easy in our Loving Fathers arms, Dave…and wake up tomorrow feeling refreshed, known and loved!!
Kindest regards,

Melanie

@2boymom Thanks for your support The first issue in ‘23 was just 3 lung nodules which they hit with radiation and all was well til this past July Then my Pet/Ct blew up. I’m so pissed that I wasn’t followed more frequently This bone cancer is painful Thank God the Palliative Team is there to help me thru it I see them every 3 weeks during my chemo treatments They recommended I go to a local dispensary for xtra help with nite time pain so I sleep thru the night The cbn actually helps as well Anyways I’m due for a Pet/Ct 10/20 to see if the treatment is working and to plan out the next concoction of cancer killers they’re gonna try How’s your dad doing or is he resting peacefully with our Father?

Hello, again!
Wow, I’d be pretty pissed about the lack of follow up as well!! And I’m quite surprised they were so lax… I thought the follow up protocol was fairly stringent and sort of a no-brainer at this stage of cancer treatment?! But, then again, I’m blonde…what do I know?! 🤷‍♀️

I’m so glad the cbd is helping with both the sleep and the pain! I’d be interested in hearing how it works with the dispensary you use! I had read quite a bit about the benefits of cbd, for pain and overall health, but when I was searching here (Seattle area), the dispensaries were VERY focused on levels of THC and had nothing really keying in on benefits for chronic pain. It was like they had the attitude, “Hey, if you get high enough, you just won’t care about the pain! Or care that you’re just sitting on your butt getting high all day!” 😳🙄
Yikes!!! Not really where I was at, you know?! But that was fairly soon after they legalized here in Washington, so maybe I should check around again…maybe it’s better now. (A girl can hope!)

But seriously, I didn’t like smoking pot way back in the day when it was supposed to be fun… it’s likely my attitude towards that hasn’t changed much. Smoke pot, eat a bunch of junk food and then go to sleep. Not my idea of a good time! If I’m doing something illegal (as it was back then), I dang well should be having some serious fun while I’m at it!!! 🤦‍♀️🤪

Thanks for asking g about my dad…that was very thoughtful! He went to be pain free forever about 20 years ago and I believe he’s rejoicing with the angels in front of God’s throne even now! I still miss him! But I also still get flashes of guilt every now and then, when I realize that I could have and should have pushed harder to be part of the team making decisions about his care. I can still see his face…watching the clock for when he could get his next pain pill…trying to suck it up, be brave, be the good little patient…and it simultaneously breaks my heart and makes me want to break that doctors face all over again!
Several [failed, naturally] spine reconstructions and 20+ years of pain and opioids have been an education on everything wrong with our healthcare system. So when I have to opportunity to go to bat for someone in the middle of that kind of fight, I’m all in and want to help!

So are you working with Mayo docs where you are? I took my ex to the Rochester clinic when he had prostate cancer and the Dr told him he may live out life in a diaper…..😱🤯😠
(Even a cheating ex doesn’t deserve that, right?!)
I made him go to Mayo and went with him for his surgery & initial recovery, and I was pretty impressed with the efficiency of how it was run, and even more with the kindness and dedication of so many of the drs and staff working there.
Okay, here I go again, blathering on and on…sorry!

Since I’m SURE you have more to do than read my ramblings, I’ll let you go. But think about what you might need and if I can help! Do you have people around you for support? (Inquiring minds…and all that!) 😂🤣😂🤣

Take care!
Melanie

I have been on a 2 mg Buprenorphine pill that you let dissolve under your tongue. It has helped considerably with my chronic low back pain. It does not give you a high. The only side effect that I have experienced is "Sweating" . I will break out in a sweat for no reason. Because I want to get off opioid medications I am looking for alternatives. I tried an "Ablation" with no luck. Now my neurosurgeon has recommended I try "Spinal Cord Stimulation". Has anyone tried this for chronic low back pain?

@hjandrew1970 your husbands reaction to the patch is normal for initial use. I experienced the same local skin irritation with initial use too. I recommend using a good skin lotion on the area after removal. I use Cera Ve skin moisturizer and I only use on my upper outer arm’s for the patch now. I had tried using other parts of my body initially but the redness was too irritating. I get a little itching now and then but typically only after lifting weights when I’m stretching my muscles more. Good luck

@donrae65 you might try the patch first before going the invasive route. The patch supplies 24/7 relief and the dose can be increased more easily with less symptom occurrence. You realize the reason your neuro wants you to do the implanted stimulator is the money in their pocket. It’s a money maker for them and you must return each month for a refill of drugs so it’s an ongoing money feed for them. Did you know that buprenorphine is a narcotic but works on different brain receptors that classical narcotic drugs?
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4675640/

@jenatsky Thank you for your input. I have pretty much decided not to do the implanted stimulator after hearing all the stories of failure from people. What is the patch you are talking about? No one has mentioned that to me. Even though the buprenorphine works well, I need to get off of it. It is causing serious sweating which has gotten worse over time. Its now an everyday occurance.

I’ve been using the patch for about 4 years with great success. Don’t be discouraged if the first patch you are prescribed doesn’t work. Same thing happened to me and after 2 weeks the doctor increased it. I went from 15mcg per patch to 20mcg per patch and I change it every 7 days. The patches come in a box 4 patches or one box a month. I had been taking 10mg morphine sulfate pills 4x a day. I hope it provides benefit for you and here are a few sites to help make you more knowledgeable and to share with your doctor.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4675640/;
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/should-you-take-pills-or-use-patches-for-pain-relief;
https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/buprenorphine-transdermal-patch-an-overview-for-use-in-chronic-pain;

HiYa it’s Dave from Pa: I’m currently on the 15 buprenorphine prescribed by my Palliative Care Team. I have stage IV mNSCLC that keeps spreading. It’s done wonders in keeping my pain level manageable and is way less harmful than other opioids. My advice is to keep educating yourself about the patch.