Surgery for the recovering addict

[Emily813]

I have been in recovery for almost 18 months (May 21st). I am scheduled for surgery on 4/17 to repair a joint in my second toe on my right foot. I have been on Suboxone 24mg per day for over 1 year. I am really scared of the pain after surgery. Does anyone know what I could take that is NON-NARCOTIC that will not interact with the Suboxone that I take????

I have talked to my sponser and serveral other people in recovery. I do plan on attending more NA meetings during my initial recovery. I have struggled for years with pain pills (vicodin, xanax, percocets, oxy, and codine) and would like a safe alternative.

Any suggestions or advice would be great...

[wait2long]

well keep us posted Emily and good luck, i hope they straighten out your toe, and i think worried is right, you'll be fine without any narcotics, advil and ice hun...

[Emily813]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions!!!!!
The Surgeon has talked to me and said he would at the very least do IV sediation. He doesn't want me squiggling during the procedure because it could mess up the joint repair. My 2nd toe is sitting sideways and it has to be sitting straight. I really prefer to do ICE and ADVIL after the surgery because I really do not want to interrupt my Suboxone therapy. I have struggled for SO MANY YEARS and Suboxone combined with support group combined with the NA program is the only thing that has worked for me.

I believe in whatever works for you to stay clean, then do it.....

I think I will be going the Advil and Ice way and just hope I dont get into "pain problems". I have a low tolerance for pain. I do see my Sub-Dr the evening before my surgery.

I will definately post the evening of my surgery and update everyone.

I have just worked so hard on my recovery that I dont want to relaspe by taking narcotics. 18 months is really hard to come by........

[ILoveLukey]

I have been on Suboxone for 3 months. I became addicted to pain pills due to problems with my shoulder.  I finally got a bone scan and an MRI 2 weeks ago and was told I have a torn rotator cuff and probably should have surgery. I go to an "addiction psychologist" who has been prescribing the Subs to me. I asked him what will I do if I have to have surgery on my shoulder??????????  He said that if I have surgery, then take the pain pills they prescribe, as prescribed, for the length of time I need to, then he will put me back on the Suboxone and we will take up where we left off.

[worried878]

Suboxone is a drug for recovery and people that take it are considered in recovery as they have a plan....you do need to check and see what the extent of this surgery will be...for many procedures like this, they use local anesthesia, or numbing which should not affect your suboxone but ask your doctor and get ready for whatever need be...most of these type surgeries are done outpatient as they are not major...There is a good possibility that you may be able to do this without narcotics so that you do not have to interrupt your suboxone therapy....like wtl said...if you are going to need the narcotics your doctor will have to make provisions for it..i have not taken suboxone but work with many orthopedic patients but most of this surgeries of this nature do not stay overnight

[wait2long]

well that was a nice little "dig"... suboxone is accepted by some NA groups as RECOVERY...  so really that question is irrelevant...especially pertaining to THIS question...i think she knows she IS in recovery...

are you getting local anesthesia?  general anesthesia, probably not for a toe?  just make sure your sub doctor and your surgeon are aware of the fact that you are taking suboxone for treatment for your recovery...have them talk with each other for a good plan for you...its the best way.
as far as non-narcotic pain relievers i know neurontin/lyrica is ok, but i really am quite sure this wont help you with your toe, lol...the only things i take other than that with my suboxone is advil or tylenol, heating pad or bag of frozen peas...lol!  if i have a bad flare up i have tried to increase my sub dose, but it didnt help with the severe pain, i have tried it 3 or 4 times and got no more relief, so i wont bother with that again, at least i know, and i really dont think sub helps with severe pain or the type of pain you MAY or MAY NOT haver after surgery...advil actually worked better for that, so your really going to have to discuss this with both of your doctors to be safe hun...
i am sorry i have no answers for you, i do know that so far suboxone is pretty much safe with everything as long as its prescribed with your sub doctors approval, they pretty much know what you can or cant take...i have never heard of any interactions as of yet unless someone takes an opiate which DOES NOT GO OVER WELL AT ALL...
but good luck and i would be interested in what you get for an answer from your Dr's...

[poetrygirl1960]

Sunnyone - Being on suboxone is PART of her recovery.

Emily - Read my pm, there are things that can be done that don't require narcotics, and just ask the doctor you get your suboxone from, make him/her part of your surgery plan.
Congratulations on 18 months!

Good luck,
Lisa

[confused456]

I also am not familiar with it, but I am wishing you all the best.

[worried878]

I am not familiar with taking suboxone but have read lots about it on here...it does have some pain relieving qualities in it as well...a friend of mine just had a surgery very similar to that and also had bunyuns shaved off of each foot...she did not end up taking even half of her 30 lortabs that was prescribed and did well with ibuprohen, heat and ice...let your surgeon know and he will be sure that he prescribes something compatible with the suboxone for you