I have been on numerous pain med, Methadone, Dilaudid, Fentynal Patches... to name a few. I am going back to my Doctor in a few days (Wednesday) so I hope someone can answer my question, Thanks.
Does anyone use Suboxone for back pain management?
Question posted by MARIJO48867 on 1 Aug 2009
Last updated on 7 August 2021 by Ssb31607
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
6 Answers
Ssb31607
7 Aug 2021
Methadone is the last thing I would take. I took it for 10 years for back pain after the lower dose meds no longer touched the pain. It is very hard to come off of!! It gets in your soul ! It is the hardest thing I have ever tried to kick in my life! I truly though of taking my life because the withdrawal are endless suffering! Please think about it and do your research first!!
Bunky789
22 July 2010
I hope this helps. I have been on all the above referenced medications. I have a very lg. Cyst on my brain along with severe degenerative disk disease. I am not a drug addict though I felt like one. Suboxone was kind of an experiment because the other drugs were not working as well or were giving me lots of side effects. I am living proof that suboxone works for pain management. It can make you a liitle tired but the benefits outweigh the side effects. My doctor makes sure that the insurance company and the pharmacist know that I am being prescribed this for PAIN not drug addiction. It has been a god send for me and I hope it helps you. I know in the UK this is common practice to use this medication but in the US very few doctors are giving it a try.
I went from taking high doses of oxycodone and percocet, along with muscle relaxants, anti nausea meds and sleeping meds along with pain patches. I now only take suboxone (as needed) and ambien occassionally. Good luck!
subzero58
13 Oct 2011
my doctor can now write for pain on my prescriptions. I have no problems with getting . IT took me a year just to convince my drugs.com family that it does work for pain. my main reason for staying on it is i have not built a tolerance to it because of the lack of euphoria in it. for breakthrough pain i use motrin 800 and thats it. it has saved my life as well as giving me one back. thanks to my d.c family for all the help and support .subzero 58
itsjustashotaway
2 Aug 2009
Yes You can use suboxone for pain but you need to supplement it with other drugs.I have disc problems and I take Suboxone, Ultram And Lyrica. This Combo works well for pain.Also Try adding 1 Benadryl and an Advil Liqua Gel and you will feel a Euphoria thats better than Morphine or Oxycodone. Best part is that you can function as a normal person whilke taking these medications.
MARIJO48867
2 Aug 2009
Thanks for your post. I am already taking Lyrica and Ultram, but I am trying to stay away for the Euphoria as I was addicted to street drugs over 20 years ago. They say once and addict always an addict so I guess I'm still an addict. To insure that I do not abuse my prescription meds like Methadone, I have someone else dispense them to me. And yes, my Dr.s are all aware of my past. Thanks though for taking the time to post.
Juliusandme
13 Aug 2009
In short, yes, suboxone can be used for pain management, but you might have to combine it with Aleve or something else (non-narcotic) to get your pain to where it is manageable. After this, try getting cortizone shots or something non evasive that will controll your pain.
I, too have back troubles from s1 all the way up to L4-5(torn disks, bulging disks even herniated disks. In addition both my SI joints are toast! At first the doc put me on Percocets, but once he found that my usage of them went higher as my body got used to them, he switched me to Fentanyl 75 patches. That was the worst mistake of my life to go on the patches! Talk about a drug that is dangerous. Now instead of taking 3 percocet 5's per day, I was on narcotics 24/7, and my body continued to get used to the meds until I decided that I would be on them no more! I had gone from a sane, in shape mother and wife to someone who withdrew from friends, family and activities.
In one short year Fentanyl had claimed my life and I was obsessed about what time I could put on my next patch. Nothing like I was on the percocet.
This is when I reached out for help and got on suboxone. For me this was the easiest pathway to be drug free. My doctor warned me that the longer I stayed on the suboxone the harder it would be to get off, but the sub kept me sane so I could find a doctor that could help me with my back pain. I now get bilateral SI (sacro-illiac) injections every 6 months or so - this doesn't take all my pain away, but keeps it relatively in check with some aleve added in for the really bad days.
Last week , after almost a year on suboxone, I began the hard process of going off the sub for good. I was down to 1mg per day for a while, till I leveled out and then went to.5 mil for 6 days and now I haven't been on any subs for 6 days. The withdrawls were hell, but not anything as bad as what it would have been coming off the fentanyl. I will say that hot baths helped emencely when the going got real rough. You need to sweat it out of you as well as drink lots of water. Take lots of vitimin C and try to keep occupied. As I said, today is day six and although I can tell that the sub is still in my system, I have taken a turn for the better. The worst are the panic attacks so my doc perscribed klonipin for the duration of my detox.
If you are ready to get off completely, and you are truly serious, the first 5 days are the worst, but it does get much better after that. Hang in there, get help for your back that doesn't involve surgery if you can. And then look at titrating down the subs till .5 mil at least. Also take it easy on yourself! You are not the only one struggling, don't feel sorry for yourself. Empower your mind to do what is right for your body. I believe in all of you who are going through this journey. Warmest wishes for your good health.
Chris
itsmetoo2
2 Aug 2009
You might ask your doctor about Subutex as I know people who use that for pain.
You mentioned you were given Suboxone maybe your doc is trying to get you off of your other drugs before starting anything else,
Take Care
MARIJO48867
2 Aug 2009
I was never given Suboxone. Have never taken it. Let me tell you the whole story. My Dr. was entraped my an undercover police group called Magnet along with 4 other Dr.'s in our small town. My Dr. also runs a free clinic at the church he attends 2 Saturdays a month on his own time to help those with no insurance. Well, an undercover police women came to the free clinic under a fake name and said that she was in pain and was given a prescription for Vicodin. She came back once more, but she also visited the his office which I go to. She finally told him that she was addicted to them and he tried numerous times to get her into rehab, but of course she didn't because all of it was a lie. The last time she tried to get some he told her no. He is now going to court.
When all this went down, I was taking Methodone 10 mg 4 x's a day and Lyrica and I could most days live a normal life. The hospital he is affiliated with ask him not to write anymore prescription for methadone so I went throug withdrawels, and went to the ER twice. He finally prescribed me Vicodin but that barely takes the edge off the pain. I know have Medicare because I am on disability so I can go back to the pain clinic in a month or so (the have a 1 month out schedule at this time)
I asked about Suboxone because I read about it, and I an appointment with my Dr. this Wednesday. Maybe he will again write me for methadone since they now know the person who caused his arrest, but I wanted to have some other medicine I could ask him to try in case he said no. He is not trying to get me off pain meds because he knows I am truely in pain. Thanks. I will look for more information on Subtex.
Robert_325
1 Aug 2009
I agree with Dave. If you're going to be on pain meds forever methadone is the best way to go. It's healthier for you than fentanyl and oxycontins and all that.
I see buprenorphine help some people with pain. But if methadone didn't work then suboxone won't either like Dave said.
If you want to get off the pain meds and thenre-evaluate your pain level when your physical dependence to RX opiates isn't so high suboxone would be the preferred route for you in my opinion. But you have to decide that one.
Most people find their pain is more manageable after getting clean. Even if you find you still need opiates for life you would be on a much lesser dose and it wouldn't be affected by a drug dependence.
A link will follow explaining on what I base my suboxone suggestions. Check it out.
Let us know how we can help. God bless. :)
mpvt
1 Aug 2009
Suboxone (buprenorphine) is not usually used as a pain killer. Suboxone is used to keep opiate addicts from withdrawls and allows them to get their lives back in order. I f methadone didn't help then suboxone definately won't either. I would go back on a stable dose of methadone if this is a chronic pain problem. Good luck...
MARIJO48867
2 Aug 2009
Mehtadone did work well for me. Let me tell you the whole story. My Dr. was entraped my an undercover police group called Magnet along with 4 other Dr.'s in our small town. My Dr. also runs a free clinic at the church he attends 2 Saturdays a month on his own time to help those with no insurance. Well, an undercover police women came to the free clinic under a fake name and said that she was in pain and was given a prescription for Vicodin. She came back once more, but she also visited the his office which I go to. She finally told him that she was addicted to them and he tried numerous times to get her into rehab, but of course she didn't because all of it was a lie. The last time she tried to get some he told her no. He is now going to court.
When all this went down, I was taking Methodone 10 mg 4 x's a day and Lyrica and I could most days live a normal life. The hospital he is affiliated with ask him not to write anymore prescription for methadone so I went throug withdrawels, and went to the ER twice. He finally prescribed me Vicodin, but that barely takes the edge off the pain. I know have Medicare because I am on disability so I can go back to the pain clinic in a month or so (the have a 1 month out schedule at this time)
I asked about Suboxone because I read about it, and I have a appointment with my Dr. this Wednesday. Maybe he will again write me for methadone since they now know the person who caused his arrest, but I wanted to have some other medicines I could ask him to try in case he said no. He is not trying to get me off pain meds because he knows I am truely in pain. Thanks. I will look information on Subtex and another post said it was good for pain in combination with Ultram (which I am now taking) and Lyrica.
mynameistaken
11 April 2011
i've been on suboxone for 7 years. relapsed twice within that time. it helps with withdrawels but it really doesn't do much for pain. my mother is prescribed to methadone and a lower mg oxycontin. she was on morphine a few years back. before that she took oxy 80s. eventually she adjusts to the meds and they don't work as well. goodluck with that.
mirkitty1976
25 May 2011
i have had 8 back surgeries 7 in the past 4 years. I have tried everything for pain relief from oxi and morphine , injections , a stimulator etc... I was taking up to 15 pills of norco 10/325mg a day just to get some pain relief. I recently ended up in the hospital with CHF and a blood pressure of 201/158 at the age of 34. My blood pressure was a direct result of pain not being controlled. While in the CCU the dr put me on Suboxone to manage my pain and it was a life saver. I have been on it for the past month and only have to take it in the morning once and it usually lasts almost 2 full days. The major issue I have found with this med besides the horrible taste (which I will be glad to deal with instead of chronic pain) is finding a Dr that can prescribe it. The Dr in the hospital is not the best dr and his office isn't really concerned with patients and my primary Dr didnt take the continuing education to write this medication. It seems like a lot of Psyc.
Dr's can write it. Someone else to add to my wonderful list of Dr's ... Hope that helps... I am sure everyone is different but this med has defiantly taken away my pain and has been a true life saver.
FRod19
26 Oct 2011
I ruptured a disc in my low back and bulged the one above it. So I have been on a pharmacy of meds. for the past three years as well as getting injections in a number of different areas. With no real relief and now loss of sleep my Dr. has set up a apt to start the suboxone I am just worried about the pain. I have never gotten a high from any of my meds. and I am confused looking into this medicine as to why he thinks this will work. I am only in my late 20's so they do not recommend surgery do to the risk of needing a second one latter. Is this going to be something I can take long term?
Related topics
Further information
- Suboxone uses and safety info
- Suboxone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Suboxone (detailed)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.