Looking for answers

I'm new to this forum and was hoping someone may be able to offer some direction.  I have been on Hydros for the past 4 years for chronic pain.  The pain gets much worse when the weather is cold and damp and the last 2 weeks has been nothing but cold weather and rain.  I've taken just about every test known to medical science and doctors are not able to give me any answers except the relief offerd from opiate pain relievers.

While I know I am addicted to them both physically and mentally I want off of them more than anything but just cant seem to make it past one day.  I've found a drug called "suboxone" and was wondering if anyone here has any experience with this.  I think I could handle the physical pain if I could just make it past the withdrawals.  I've been on anywhere from 20mgs a day to 40mgs a day.  Any direction would be appreciated.

[sandee1818]

Hi and welcome we are glad to have you here:)
The suboxone is used for pain control but that is not what it is intended for. I know you said you want to get off of the pain relief medications so it may be an option for you but keep in mind that when you do get past the detox your still going to be in pain and need to treat that pain to have any quality of life and be able to function.
Do not give up on finding the source of your pain, it is not always something that can be diagnosed but it is a good idea to keep trying.
I would try and focus on trying to find the source of the pain treating the pain the best you can. Addiction is hard to deal with when you have chronic pain and I sympathize with you. I know it is difficult to do but realize too that you have to treat the pain to be able live. it is no life living in constant pain day in day out.
have you seen a pain management doctor? There are alot of PM doctors that also specialize in addiction medicine too. This would be a great doctor for you as he can help you in both areas. Look in your area and see if you can find one.
PM doctors with addiction medicine as a specialty are a great as they can treat your pain and try and help you deal with the addiction too. PM doctors have more knowledge and can offer you more options than your PCP.
Please let us know how your doing and if there is any way we can help we will gladly do so:)

[discobiscuit]

I am currently seeing a painn mgmt doctor and really like him.  I'm trying to get off these things on my own but am beginning to realize they may be a permanent part of my life.  I have not mentioned to my doctor my desire to quit.  I've read several posts here that stated when the patient informed their doctor of wanting to quit the meds the doctors became somewhat nervous and cut them off right there.  I realize these stories are probably the extreme but Im trying to avoid anything like that.

[Tuckamore]

You're correct, the stories of abrupt withdrawal of opiates by PMP are the extreme. You might feel more comfortable approaching your PMP in a different way.

Instead of telling him you want to get off these meds you might want to ask him about reduction. When you say hydro's I assume you mean hydrocodone or a better know brand name, Vicodin. If you try first to reduce your dosage you will have a better idea of your pain level without them, at least that's one train of through. The other is that you will need to be without any opiates in your system for 3-4 weeks before your system resets itself and your actual pain level can be determined.

I agree with Sandee that you should search again for the reason that you are experiencing pain. I share her concern that you may still have pain and how will you treat it?  I do know that others have been successful in handling their pain with alternative options. I tried for years but my pain was too great to function without opiates. That doesn't mean that you can't do it. Your pain and how it reacts to alternative treatment may be far different from mine.    

On one trusted site I found this, "NOTE: SUBOXONE is not indicated for pain management. Patients with a clinical need for pain management should not be transferred to a SUBOXONE regimen, even if they are physically dependent on opioids."

As stated above Suboxone is not used for pain management purposes. It is used for addiction treatment. Only you know if you are truly addicted and have addictive behavior of if you are dependant on opiates to control your pain. There is a huge difference. Please don't confuse the two as often ppl do. If you feel you are addicted than I suggest that you do discuss this with your physician and take steps to remedy the situation. If however you are concerned because you require opiates to control your pain and function than that is another issue.

I may not have been very helpful to you. I just don't want you to confuse dependency with addiction. Please know that you are always welcome here but if you feel you are addicted and want off the opiates you may also want to post on the Substance Abuse Forum.  They have much more experience than those of us at the PM Forum have in that area. They are supportive and caring, they have been there.

What ever you decide please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. Best of luck to you in whatever decision you make. We are here to support you and offer suggestions from our personal experience.

Peace,
Tuck

[sandee1818]

I know it is hard to realize that you may have to take some type of pain relieving medication for the rest of your life but the alternative is living in constant pain.
I would try decreasing the medications you take instead of talking to your doctor at this point and time. When you see how you do on a lower dosage then you can decide to talk to your doctor about decreasing the dosage. this way if you can't handle the pain on a lower dose then you will not have raised questions in your doctors mind about your pain levels.
I am not saying you should lie to your doctor at all , just that you try on your own maybe doing w/o one pill a day and so forth to see how your pain levels go. Once you ask your doctor about lowering the levels he may question your need for more if and when the time comes that you may need an adjustment to increase your meds due to tolerance issues.
It is always best to be completely open and honest with your doctor. try and see how you do on a lower dose and then go from there. Have you discussed your addiction history with your doctor? I am not sure if you had told us this or not. If you rather not say then that's fine too. We just want to help you all we can:)

[Kimmer70]

I am a 39 year old female and have lived with chronic pain pretty much my entire life.  The fix for it was always "Here have some vicodin" which releived the pain but not cause.  I was referred to a reumatoligist who found that I have a type of arthritis but also fibromyligia (fibromyalgia).  With the chronic pain you are having I have to wonder if you do not have fibro also.  I would look up some information on that and talk to your PM about it.  I specifically told mine when referred (age 24) that I was no longer taking the pain medication and she was wonderful about finding other alternatives because there are other alternatives out there.  I take lyrica for the fibro and it is a godsent.  It is so nice to be able to walk without my legs giving out, and to lift my arms just to get dressed in the morning and to play with my 4 year old.  I do still keep vicodin on hand but have had the same perscription now since Dec 08.  It took a lot to find something that worked but let me tell you that there are so many other options out there now.  My ex is on suboxone for a drug addiction which he took the drugs because of the chronic back pain.  Being on that is no picinic either.  The withdrawls from that can sometimes be worse than from the actual pain meds themselves.  I too went through every test under the sun and they found nothing wrong with me also so finally going to a Dr that was willing to listen to me and get to the root of the problem instead of just covering it up with the pain meds was a releif in itself.  I really do know and understand the frustration you are experiencing but there is help out there.  I don't know the specifics of your chronic pain but check out the symptoms of fibromyalgia just to see if they fit your problems.  Good luck and keep your chin up because things will get better.