I have been taking Oxycontin and Oxycodone for six years due to a fall from a ladder. I had to have two screws and a pin put in to get my right foot and ankle back together. Eventually the cartiledge wore out and now it is bone on bone. I am taking 80mg of Oxycontin daily and 15 mg of oxycodone daily. I do not abuse the drug. It is there for pain managemnent only. My problem is that I hate the stuff. I want to stop but as everyone knows the withdrawals are not fun. I keep hearing about suboxone. Is this a good drug to get me off the pain meds? Are doctors OK with prescribing this drug?
Hey there,
I thought I'd reply to you cause I saw no one has and I know how frustrating it is to post on here looking for answers and no one replies.
You said that you use the pills for pain management only...no abusing. So, you feel that you are dependent, not addicted? I began taking pain meds for chronic back pain. Now, after surgery, I am left with some nerve damage. My problem is that I am full blown addicted to the pills, but still have legitimate pain that interfers with my life. I started Suboxone 3 days ago in the hopes that it would help my addiction but also help with the pain. So far, it has really curbed the craving for the pills, but it hasn't helped with the pain. I am considering asking my dr about methadone......I am so serious about finding somethng that will stop my pill hunting and craving, but that keeps my pain in check.
You said that you hate the pills, but are you still in pain? If so, if you start on Suboxone, what are your plans for pain control?
A Sub doctor can be hard to find. Luckily, I found out that my pain management doctor does prescribe Sub. And, I felt that he is willing to work with me to find the best solution for me.
My problem is that I hate the stuff. I want to stop but as everyone knows the withdrawals are not fun. I keep hearing about suboxone. Is this a good drug to get me off the pain meds?
Hello msking1026,
If you don't mind me asking,why do you hate your pain meds?
There are non-narcotic meds available also,for consideration.
Please remember that individual results may vary,no matter what regimine of meds you take.
A doctor prescribes you certain meds because they feel that the side effects outweigh the possible risks.
I had gone to a pain mangement clinic and we tried different types of non-medication therapy, however, eventually they said that all that could be done was to treat my condition with pain medication. That is when I started down this road of opiates.
I have to say that I am physically dependent. Which is a fancy way of saying you are still addicted to the drugs. I have tried to stop a few times by reducing the dosages over time but the withdrawals were to painful.
If I stop the opiates I will still have pain and probably have to use a walker or cane to keep myself stable. But at this point I feel that I would rather deal with the pain than to stay on these for the rest of my life. I personally think they numb the emotional side of a person.
On the flip side I am afraid to ask my doctor for help getting off these drugs in the event that the pain is more than I can handle and want to resort back to the pain meds. My fear is my doc may not let me back on the meds.
What to do???
You said it is helping to reduce the craving for the meds. Is it enought o wean yourself off the meds? If so can you easily stop the suboxone or are you replacing one drug for another?
I was TERRIFIED to tell my PM doc that I am addicted to pills. I was so afraid he would never let me have them again if the Sub didn't control my pain. He was so kind. I honestly believe that he will help me if the Sub doesn't control my pain, which it isn't. I have been thinking about methadone, but that scares me.
Yes, it has calmed the cravings to almost nothing, but little pain relief. I know that I am trading one addiction for another, but at this point in my life, I have to accept that I have to take something for pain and to stop the pain pill cycle. Yes, I am addicted to pain pills, but I am still in pain and if I want to work, take care of my kids, and have any type of normal life, then I have to take something. I feel like right now, I am a "work in progress." LOL
I have been taking Oxycontin and Oxycodone for six years due to a fall from a ladder. I had to have two screws and a pin put in to get my right foot and ankle back together. Eventually the cartiledge wore out and now it is bone on bone. I am taking 80mg of Oxycontin daily and 15 mg of oxycodone daily. I do not abuse the drug. It is there for pain managemnent only. My problem is that I hate the stuff. I want to stop but as everyone knows the withdrawals are not fun. I keep hearing about suboxone. Is this a good drug to get me off the pain meds? Are doctors OK with prescribing this drug?
I know exactly what you mean by hating the stuff. It controlled my life for so long I don't remember what life was like before it..... how sad. I'm glad to hear you don't abuse it but IMHO it's only a matter of time before you do. Difference is, you are looking for an out early in the game so there might be hope for you.
By just coming here to the board shows you have greater strength than you give yourself credit for.
If you are in pain look for Methadone over Suboxone. Methadone has kept me free of pain for 8-12 hours daily. I love it. It works for me.
Corissa,
I read your last post that you are currently taking Methadone...?? That is something that I have been trying to get answered. I started Suboxone 3 days ago and while it is curbing the pill cravings, it isn't helping my pain relief. I have come to the conclusion that I need to take something that will stop these cravings for pain pills, but also help with my pain. I'm afraid the Sub isn't going to do it for me and I have been considering asking for methadone. What is your opinion on that?
Thanks for any input!
Angela
Hi. I just finished rehab for a 8 year pill addiction started due to medical problems similar to yours. I have learned to live with the chronic pain. From what I learned, suboxone is harder to come off of than narcotics. Seek the advice of a qualified addiction specialist. I have seen people detox from suboxone & it is horrible!! Here to talk anytime, jen
Hi. I just finished rehab for a 8 year pill addiction started due to medical problems similar to yours. I have learned to live with the chronic pain. From what I learned, suboxone is harder to come off of than narcotics. Seek the advice of a qualified addiction specialist. I have seen people detox from suboxone & it is horrible!! Here to talk anytime, jen
Detoxing from almost ANY narcotic is horrible... not just suboxone. And it also depends on the person, how long they have been an addict etc. To say suboxone detox is the worst is the same as saying a paper cut will have you bleed to death.
When I did the detox a 95lbs woman was there to sleep and eat...she detoxed no problems while here I was at 290lbs crying like a baby and shivering like I had an ice cube enema..
Thanks for the reply. You advised to 'Seek the help of an addiction specialist' Is that the only way? Does insurance cover this? I am willing to live with the pain.....
Hi... "Is it the only way?" well...after seeing & hearing what I have in the past 2 & 1/2 years in an intense recovery program, I would NEVER take suboxone or methadone for that matter. Thats my opinion. I would play it very safe & see if your ins would cover you seeing an addiction specialist. The last thing you need is another problem. FYI... A lot of these suboxone & methadone docs ae just in it for the $$$. Protect yourself! It's amazing what pain you can live with once you have the right support. I have bilateral hip dysplasia, spinal stinosis & interstitial cystitis... Take care, jen
Hi... "Is it the only way?" well...after seeing & hearing what I have in the past 2 & 1/2 years in an intense recovery program, I would NEVER take suboxone or methadone for that matter. Thats my opinion. I would play it very safe & see if your ins would cover you seeing an addiction specialist. The last thing you need is another problem. FYI... A lot of these suboxone & methadone docs ae just in it for the $$$. Protect yourself! It's amazing what pain you can live with once you have the right support. I have bilateral hip dysplasia, spinal stinosis & interstitial cystitis... Take care, jen
I have to agree with you where you stated a lot of the meth and sub docs are in it for the money. In fact, I would go one step further and say that the pharmacies that are in these facilities are in it for the money also. I take my script to my local pharmacy and every other week the pharmacist at this place asks me when I will allow him to fill it etc ect...
I tried living with the pain.... not worth it in my opinion. These meds were created to offer a better life and save many from street level narcotics. Yes, the government gets their hand in the tax jar of addicts but this board is not the place to discuss that topic.....
I also want to add this food for thought. In my case, the medical problems masked the fact that I was an alcoholic/drug addict. The narcotics for pain just made my pain worse and sent my world in a quick downward spiral! . I ended up having opiod induced seizures for years...long story. What I am getting at...is look into your family history to see if there is any alcoholism/drug addiction. If there is, dont worry, there is a solution! if not, there is a solution as well, but I would still seek the advice of an addiction specialist. best of luck! Jen
There is no history of addiction in my family (unless of course there are deep dark hidden secrets!) In my youth I was able to stop drugs anytime I wanted. I also quit smoking cold turkey (maybe I had addict tendencies). Anyhow, I am bummed that I have to see an addiction specialist to get off legally presribed (and not abused) medication.
I still don't see what people see as such a good high with these pills! Like I said earlier it just seems like they numb the emotional senses of a person (except when you are withdrawing then you get emotional as hell.)
I am going to see if my ins covers this area but still not sure what path I'll take.
So what have you decided to do? I thought I'd share my struggles and opinion with you.
You mentioned in a previous post that you are willing to live with the pain...in that case, I would suggest taking Suboxone. I took it for 5 days and I couldn't believe the way it totally blocked out all cravings and withdrawals! Taking a pain pill actually sounded repulsive to me! But, it didn't help with my pain, and I am not willing to live with the pain. So, I switched to methadone. So far, on Day 3, the pain relief is better, but I am having symptoms of withdrawal. I think my dose is too low.
Anyway, I was just wondering where you are with your "plan" and share with you how my "plan" has been going...in case it helps you in any way.
Hi. Yeah I am pretty much in the same boat as you,( legitmate use and I don't abuse them), except that I have gotten off Oxycontin 80mg using Suboxone given to me by a rehab doctor, in a rehab program, which is where you will probably have to go unless your doctor has the proper certification to prescribe Suboxone. First you should know that, there is a little bit of dependancy that builds up on Suboxone also, but its nothing compared to Oxycontin withdraw. If I could do it over again, I would. But my pain had other ideas and here I am, back on the darn things and I hate it.
I spent the month of August reducing my dosage until I finally took my last pill on September 1, 2011. I have now been drug free since then. I am still having withdrawals but primarily only at night. I am taking a ton of vitamins, exercising, and have changed my eating habits. Some of the vitamins are supposed to help me sleep but none seem to be working. It just seems when I try to relax and sleep my muscles begin twitching and I toss and turn. I am only getting about 2-3 hours of sleepbut it a small price to pay to get off these things. After reading everyone's posts I was not sure if I could do it without some sort of help. But here I am. Maybe it is part of my make-up because I always say that the desire to quit something has to be stronger than the desire to continue something. If you can reach that point in your mind you can quit anything.
I am now on day 14 drug free. Still having trouble sleeping and constant cotton mouth. Every once in a while I feel anxious and am drawn to take a pill but I resit and so far I have been sucessful. I do feel that the draw to take a pill seems to be waining a little bit. I am hoping by day 30 I can start to feel normal again and sleep through the night.
