I just began SUBOXONE in mid-December 2022 and they worked great. I had a work injury with a compressed sciatic nerve 8 years ago, , and got prescribed hydrocodone for 5 years. Took a long time to develop a dependence. The rehab that was handling my case just suddenly cut me off, with only one rehab referral which was a Stanford research project. I was super low on funds from having missed so much work in conjunction with a crappy workman's comp settlement. I contacted Stanford who denied my entry because all I had was some El Cheapo health insurance. I discovered PST and went about 3 years on that after the hydros..which the necessary quality PST ingredient was expensive and not always available. (incidentally, it was incredibly how perky and functional i am, aside from the dependency on PST)
A few times I tried stopping PST and went as far as 5 days/nights around the clock vomitting horribly. Could not hold down any food, so after 3 days the vomitting got even worse with the heaves. A few times i went to the ER and got a small dose of suboxone, but had severe chronic pain nonstop from my commpressed sciatic nerve, so i just returned to PST. I did not know about Coastal Primary Care in CA. eventually after several ER visits, they informed me about Coastal Primary.
Actually, before the third or so time i went to the ER and was given a week supply of suboxone, I on my own figured out how to stop my 8-year-long sciatic nerve pain. (incidentally, if you've never experienced that, it's just like an incredibly intense molar toothache in the center of the back of my left calf even though the pinched nerve is in the lower back. I was sent by the Rehab handling my WC case to a couple of physical therapists who told me that for sure they could get my pain to either totally stop or be at a very minor level. That NEVER happened. Half the time i was walking out of the PT's office after an appointment, i felt no better than when I walked in.....sometimes even worse. They had me doing tons of vigorous stretchs, legs lifts, low-level weights to keep muscles toned, etc.
After those many years with no progress AT ALL, plus the mental pain of concluding this pain would be with me FOR LIFE, chronic physical pain and chronic opiates, I just decinded to STOP ALL EXERCISING, including all the stuff PT had me doing. I spent massive amounts of time laying on a flat firm surface, which was my living room floor, on top of only an open sleeping bag. Sometimes i raised my legs, sometimes not. I stopped doing ANY deliberate exercice at all and even divided my grocery bags into 5 pounds or less. To my amazement, after 8 years of that perpetual, strong pain, the pain began to lift. Within about 6-8 months it faded until it pretty much COMPLETELY stopped. Right now it's virtually non-existent and just does not enter my mind...except for when i think of how i got started on the opiate path. BUTTTTTT....i was left with an opiate dependency. At the age of 67 i still had a 6-pack, which i do miss, but to be pain-free is soooo well worth it.
So back to my suboxone, it worked great for 5 full months and then the headaches began. Taking an OTC remedy made them even worse. I tried to completely wean myself off of subone and little by little took less and less until i was taking just a tiny amount. Then i totally stopped. But after a month, I'm still having withdrawal effects. I used to sleep wonderfully with suboxone. with NONE, it was 3 hours per night at most and it's crappy quality sleep;, i'm always low on energy and i get restless legs when i lay down and try to sleep or just lay down to relax while watching TV. MAINLY, i need to get back to work or else I'm literally going to be homeless and my life will go downhill from thero, so i don't see a way to ditch suboxone totally because i don't have the time to do so. I did not foresee the headches and i cannot see if i am just going to be forced to STOP suboxone no matter how i do so, because of the headaches or something else i cannot foresee. The good news is the withdrawal effects are minor compared to the hydros and PST. for example, i NEVER puke or am even nauseas.
I spoke with my doctor via Coastal Primary in Orange County CA and he had no suggestion that worked. So, i just today remembered bluelight.org and did an online search. I saw one piece on trying Benedryl an hour before taking subox. I'm only taking a little chip of suboxone and I can get enough sleep even though it's definitely not a "fully restorative rest"but it'll work for now...but I have the headaches.
I happy that my compressed sciatic nerve pain is gone and I've learned that I CAN totally get off of suboxone, but now, the problem is that I cannot afford the time it is going to take to do that. I can't predict how long it will take for my symptoms to go away which disrupt my ability to fully functon, so it looks like I may have to be staying on the little piece of suboxone that i had been using. To get to the point: I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TAKE OF FROM WORKING HOWEVER LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR THE HORRIBLE SLEEP AND RESTLESS LEGS TO STOP ENOUGH FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY HOLD A JOB. Considering that this is the USA and all of this began with a workman's comp case....THAT SUCKS!...but there is nothing i can do about that.
Although, I REALLY want to find a way to get rid of these headaches. Their chronic nature's effect on my daily mindset is even more wearing the their degree of intensity at any given moment.
To summarize: 1) I hope what worked for my sciatic nerve pain from my back injury may be helpful to someone else; 2) in CA the Coastal Primary appointment is $200 per month which is bearable considering the State of CA will pay for the suboxone prescription in case you did not know about that...they won't prescribe to a pharmacy out of state thoug; ANDDDDD..... 3) I REALLY HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ME WITH MY GETTING RID OF THESE HEADACHES SO I CAN COMPLETELY GET OFF THE SUBOXONE, which as I say, I've seen is do-able except for the headaches.
I KNOW I WROTE A LOT HERE, BUT I AM SEEKING HELP, SO RESPECT THE MISSION OF BLUELIGHT, AND I HOPE MY PERSONAL AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURES CAN BE HELPFUL TO SOMEONE ELSE TOO. So i respectfully request that you do not abbreviate this post...which is my first ever.
One more thing; the times I ended up going to a nearby ER because they were reducing my hydro per month presciption, until they just totally cut me off....the ER staff first didn't just inquire where i got the hydros ....even though i provided all details about a legit injury and legit Tx, they were very "snotty". Even though i have documentation and provided the names of both my treatment facility and DR.
I was happy to just today be finding out about the 'Support Don't Punish" growth. Hopefully society if finally getting more intelligent about how to deal with drugs and will back off of The War On Drugs which so obviously has not 'worked.'
