New To Suboxone For Pain

As a brief background - I have very advanced Degenerative Disc Disease, along with bad arthritis/spurs/nerve damage - all in my neck. 5 of the 7 discs are in terrible shape - I've been told by several doctors that it is very advanced for my age (34). I've been through a great deal of pain management including massage therapy, physical therapy, chiropractors, injections and procedures on my neck. Not a whole lot has helped and I'm trying to avoid surgery.

For approximately 12 months the pain was managed by my pain management doctor on short acting oxycodone (30mg 3 times per day). Wasn't the best schedule, especially long term, to manage the pain.

So I made the decision to get off that dose schedule by switching to suboxone. Exactly 1 month ago I switched to suboxone, taking 10-12 mg a day the first week. I was ok (pain wise) the first week and ever since it quickly has advanced to being entirely unmanaged. I'm back in extreme pain all the time again, not sleeping well, etc.

To deal with this, my new pain mgt doctor suggested I increase the suboxone dose (from 8mg to 12/16 mg per day). I went up to 12mg for a few days and it didn't seem to relieve the pain at all. Not wanting to be on this drug long term, I tapered my dose down (again since the higher dose wasn't helping anyway). I'm down to 2-4mg per day (alternating days). In addition, I've tried ibuprofen, advil, tylenon...and have been prescribed diclofenac, tizanidine and clonidine. Nothing is helping me! I stopped everything except the suboxone and clondine (which I take to get some sleep/relief...only lasts for a few hours at night).

My question is - has anyone had success on suboxone for pain management long term? I've read for pain management - it's not a general practice to be on a high dose - which is why i've continued to taper my dose after it still gave no relief at 8, 10 or 12mg. Plus, being on suboxone I don't believe it's an option to take anything short acting for extreme pain (since non of the anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxors have helped). And I really am not too thrilled about taking suboxone long term for pain management due to the cost (my co-pay is significantly higher monthly compared to other things I've taken).

In my situation, I know of oxycontin and methadone as far as long acting pain medications (and I believe you can take things for the extreme pain on top of those). Are there other choices? (I did try nucynta in the beginning but I had terrible side effects to that medication). I'm not thrilled about the cost, but could I manage my pain on suboxone taking 16mg+ per day as my doctor has suggested? Should I entertain the idea of switching to another long acting medication like oxycontin (or other choices)? Any advice would be appreciated as its been about 3 weeks and anyone in extreme would understand that every day seems like a week...I havent slept more than 3 or 4 hours at a time in weeks...I can't concentrate. I have a full time responsible job and two little kids that I adore and everything is a mess right now because my pain is entirely unmanaged. I don't even know if I have to be off suboxone completely prior to switching something else. Please help!

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REPORT

You cannot combine other narcotics, such as Oxycontin or Methadone, with the Suboxone.

Suboxone actually contains 2 active ingredients, the narcotic Buprenorphine and Naloxone, which is used to neutralize other opiates, to prevent their abuse, while someone is under treatment with it for addiction.

So, if you want to be able to combine some other narcotic with it, you would need to switch to Subutex, since it doesn't contain the Naloxone.

Learn more Suboxone details here.

And yes, in that same respect, you'd have to stop taking it for a few days, before you'd be able to start a different medication.

Have you ever tried the Fentanyl patches? They are time released and it is a very potent narcotic.

Learn more Fentanyl details here.

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Please tell me the docs name i need a doc to write oxy 30s ive been on for 15 years and got off now need a doc in mass

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What are you asking? This makes no sense sorry. I eould love to help but are you askimg for a dr

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