Suboxone Vs Strong Opiate For Chronic Pain

I broke my leg 2 years ago and now have a heel spur, arthritis on the top of my foot and a pinched nerve aka CRPS (Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome) in my ankle. I am hopefully getting a spinal cord stimulator surgically installed in a couple months. I truly don't know how much longer I can handle the pain. I take 16mg of Suboxone everyday, I want to ask my doctor if he can switch me to a strong opiate for the next couple months and then switch back to Suboxone but wean off in a week instead of long term maintenance. I know Suboxone helps with pain but surely an opiate will be stronger?

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Yeah it definitely would, I don’t think you can easily make the switch though. I know that when I withdrew from regular pain medication withdrawal was over in a few days, I mean it took a full week I suppose but after the third night I was significantly better. When I took Suboxone and then came off of it I slowly weaned down over six months, and it still took about a month to get through the withdrawals. So I guess my point is I don’t know how they would easily switch you I don’t know if you can go directly from taking Suboxone to taking pain medication, but yes actual pain medication would be stronger.

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Re: Optimistic (# 1)

I tried Suboxone for pain instead of opiate pain meds and I lasted about 2 weeks on suboxone before I found it very depressing. It did not work nearly as well as my previous normal pain med. It also took a very long time to get out of the system before normal meds were felt for pain relief. I was told it was the new super magic wonder med that was easy to come off... Don't believe it.

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Suboxone does contain an opiate, Buprenorphine, which is why it helps some people with pain, even though it is commonly used for addiction treatment.

Ref: Suboxone Information

However, if it isn't helping you, then it doesn't hurt to consult your doctor to see what your other options might be.

Are you on any other medications?

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Of course it will be. Opiates have been used for pain forever. Suboxone is a fairly new drug. I'm sure it has its place but definitely not long-term. For some reason drs want people to keep taking it even though it is very depressing, many suicides, plus forget ever getting pain relief from any other pain med. Even tobacco loses effect. Definitely no longer than 2 weeks as it is very hard to come off. Doctors will tell you how easy it is to come off. Lol, no way... it's not a wonder drug.

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