How are Buprenorphine working for my chronic pain?

Want to explain what my experience with Buprenorphine Patches has been. I have had full body chronic pain for decades. Managed the pain with Norco, mostly 10mcg’s a day, except for after surgeries, on and off since 2000. I went cold turkey last September to go back to work. Was injured on the job, through no fault of my own, and had to stop working. My insurance then refused to give me any more Norco. They recommended several different medicines for chronic pain which I refused because of the potential for horrible side effects. I spent the last four months in daily severe pain. They finally recommended Buprenorphine. The “film” and “pills” dissolve in your mouth and a side effect was that they could “rot” (for a better word) your teeth out. I refused them but tried the patches which don’t have that side effect.

My first prescription was for a 5mcg patch for one week. It did absolutely nothing. My next prescription was for 10mcg, 4 patches to be used over four weeks. I used it for one week and it did absolutely nothing. I became severely depressed with constant, mostly severe full body pain, because I had been without any pain medicine for almost 8 months. Pretty much, I gave up hope.

I have a weekly phone appointment with my prescribing doctor for him to check on me. Thankfully, instead of having to wait an unbearable four weeks, he had me apply a second patch so that I now had 20 mcg. By evening, I felt a bit of relief. I am now on my fourth day of 20mcg and no longer severely depressed, without hope.

I am on worker’s comp for the injuries sustained at work to both shoulders and both hands. The injuries have not healed in several months, which makes me fearful that I may have a tear on at least one side of my shoulder.

I am a very self-aware “type” person. With much thought, I have decided I don’t want to take more mcg’s than needed to only take the edge off the pain. It would only mask the injuries, making it likely that I could cause more damage. The left side hurts more than the right. That probably means it is more damaged. I have decided to wear my arm sling, as much as possible, on the left side to stop me from going overboard with my normal activities. I am a very active person and there will be no one to take care of me. My whole life, I have tended to go overboard. Now that I am old, my new “moto” is: JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING, DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD.

Most of the people on this site have horrible debilitating injuries and diseases. Much worse than me. But, if pain relief is what you are seeking, you might talk to your care team about Buprenorphine Patches. I am hopeful that the patches will be better than Norco because they last for an entire week at a time. Aside from making sure I properly put them on, I see no downside for me. (I put them on my upper arm but there are instructions for placement and showering.) I look forward to putting them on and going about my life, not having to obsess about my pain!

You need to talk to your doctor to find out if this is an option for you. Good luck.