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Buprenorphine PAIN RELIEF FROM OSTEO-ARTHRITIS

Posted , 10 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Brcause I take warfarin am unable to treat the osteo-arthritis with anti-inflammatory medication. Until Buprenorphine was using Tramadol with only short term relief but many side effects. Since using BUPRENORPHINE 10 patches the relief from pain especially in hands and spine is almost unbelievable. My GP says there is very little use of these slow relief patches for whatever reason. I can only say I wish I had been using them years ago it would have been such a relief from severe pain. Because the drug releases a set amount over the week they are much more effective than short term Analgesics, which have to be taken in large doses and regularly. :D :P

0 likes, 23 replies

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  • spadeboy
    spadeboy

    Posted

    how do you find these in terms of feeling sleepy during the daytime? how do you find them in terms of night-time pain relief? do you wake up with a headache or anything?
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    You will almost certainly feel drowsy to begin with smile
  • spadeboy
    spadeboy

    Posted

    Are you sure about that? The point is my question is simply that I need something to fit nicely into my work schedule but to see me through the night. At the moment I wake up four or five times with pain. I take 4 co-codamol 30/500 in one dose and that neither touches the pain nor makes me drowsy - or anything else. DHC Continus at 120mg per dose does nothing but cause headaches and if taken at night ensures that I wake up feeling weird and sick. Diazepam is a waste of time. I can take up to 30 MG and feel nothing. Trazodone does make me feel worn out, like you would on a hot day with no air and thus I scrapped that. The last remaining choices for me is Butrans or Oxycontin. I dont much fancy Oxy as most people I know on it do sleep a lot, but then they do not work like I do. This is pretty much my last shot before we are forced to look at alternatives such as acupuncture or chiropractic methods. I am very much at my wits end really. NSAIDS are contraindicated. I take aspirin EC like M & Ms.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Since you are already taking Opioids you might be alright, even if it does make you drowsy it only lasts a few days / a week or so. It's good stuff smile
  • spadeboy
    spadeboy

    Posted

    That has given me the confidence to give it a try, thank you. I have also tried Nefopam but this has no effect whatsoever. my biggest concern was that others I know on meds like Oxycontin seem to sleep all day and night and this cannot happen for me. I appreciate this is not oxy but I would rather try and get it right first time. I have read lots of good stuff about it and I really do need the help as I wake up in agony most days. tramadol did help in doses of 100 mg but not for long. the controlled release form does nothing. I will post again when I have had the chance to try this. one more question - how sick does it make you? the notes suggest to take an anti-emetic for the first week or so but I am not sure how seriously to take this given that I already take opiates. any help would be appreciated.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Yeah it can make you nauseous, you may well be sick once or twice, I can only speak for sublingual doses of up to 8 mg a day ,, a patch delivers less so the nausea may be less (if any).smile
  • spadeboy
    spadeboy

    Posted

    sounds good. years back I was on Temgesic and that never did make me nauseous. cards on the table, years back I was a smack addict and spent 12 years on methadone without puking from it. the strongest relief my GP will go is Butrans as buprenorphine is used in addiction anyway and now I really do need the help. I am only 42 and the osteo pain is horrific, neck back and knees. seriously, at this point if you told me there was an operation where my head could be cut off and stitched on to a brand new body, I would be in the queue for it! I see the doc on Thursday morning so will update then. I am looking forward to it if it is as good as you say. I might actually sleep through the night for once in the last 4 years! thanks again.
    • kathryn52994
      kathryn52994 spadeboy

      Posted

      just got my second pack of 4 patches, had some initial issues with feeling spaced out when travelling in a very hot car, but doc said more likely due to blood pooling in feet and legs due to new blood pressure meds (amlodipine) making me feel faint as blood supply had gone to skin to cool me down, leaving the brain short!  Getting good pain relief and less side effects than the dreaded gabapentin which knocked me out,  also getting relief from TENS electric shock machine to help with back pain, also hot water bottle on spine/hip. Waiting to see pain clinic again for possible facet joint injections, and topping up relief with paracetamol and naproxen, as I can no longer tolerate tramadol, or codeine based stuff as they casue me either to hallucinate, fall asleep, or get heartrate pounding and headaches from hell, good luck and hang on in there! Chronic pain sucks, hydotherapy has been a real help in th epast if you can access it - local hospital currently has pool out of action, its more decrepit than me!  going to local swimming pool and floating helps back pain.

       

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Maybe your past dependency on Diamorphine partly explains your difficulty in achieving pain relief. I hope Buprenorphine works for you,, it's worked for very severe pain for me in the past smile
  • spadeboy
    spadeboy

    Posted

    yes, you are absolutely right. they gave me diazepam a while back. I got up to 25mg in a single dose and it did jack! I will keep you posted how this works for me. I really need some sleep and to spend some days at least partiallly free of pain.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Once you've had the hard stuff you may well wonder what all the fuss is about with the mickey mouse pills cheesygrin I'd say ask to be referred to the Pain Management Clinic but (since you have a history) it'd probably be pointless neutral
  • spadeboy
    spadeboy

    Posted

    I have been there before, it is useless. I have been off methadone since 2008 and not touched a drug since then. I just never imagined I would wind up with so many medical issues, not the least of which is osteo. The last time I went to the pain clinic, I walked out with diclofenac controlled release capsules, despite stating 3 times that I am unable to take them due to hyper acidity. it was almost funny.
  • spadeboy
    spadeboy

    Posted

    OK, so nearly a week into the treatment on BT 5. The first night was ace. I actually slept all the way through. Since then I have had a lot of breakthrough pain and definitely a stronger dose is needed. At one point I would have said BT 10 but I think it might just be a case of see how it goes now - literally just keep trying until it gets there. No nausea, no tiredness (apart from the first day - bearing in mind I started this at night on the Thursday so by the Friday morning I felt tired). I like that it is so easy to use and no side effects and I really want this to work. I don't fancy much else and it is even if I would get it. Buprenorphine is used in addicts anyway (although I never had it) and is considered safe to use but as to if I would get a stronger drug is another question. Will keep you posted next week after the docs.
  • oaponice
    oaponice

    Posted

    I have just been prescribed Bu Trans patches by my Dr, started me on 5mg and I have had an awful 6 days. Hardly any sleep at night and almost constant pain even before I try to do the slightest thing like getting dressed, not good when you live on your own. Have just spoken to her on the phone as she works just 3 days, wed - Fri and she has upped the dosage to 10mg and said I can top up with one tramadol added to the 2 paracetamol. Do hope they now work as the idea is good.

    I have Osteoarthritis having slipped disks over 20 years ago then came cervical spondulitis. Followe by Osteoparosis when I was taken off HRT and amost recently a crushed vertibrae. Have seen a specialist privately as there was no one available under the NHS locally and a major opperation is suggested but it'd a waiting game.

    Good luck to anyone in a similar position.

    sad

  • Sunny7
    Sunny7

    Posted

    I have been in severe pain in my hip and knee (now alleviated a lot) for about 2½ to 3 months. 4 weeks ago my GP put me on the lowest dose of Bu Trans patches which is 5mcg. He and a locum GP have both suggested I upped the dose by using 2 patches at the same time. However, given that I was feeling dodgy on the lower dose, I thought maybe I could cope with the pain to a point as it has diminished greatly with the use of the patch. Like a lot of people, I have had nausea, particularly noticeable on patch changeover days and the first week on it. My skin itches like crazy too. No evidence of any redness at the plaster site though. The worst thing for me was the palpitations and general edgy feelings I have had since using it. I am also taking an NSAID and topping up the pain with paracetamol.

    Today though I did not replace my patch as I can't get on with my life on these .. I have driven locally but certainly would not drive any longer distances as I have felt a bit lightheaded on them. In the 1st 2 weeks I could not have driven due to the pain so it has helped a lot I know. I am so scared though of getting the level of pain back as they don't know yet what is wrong with me and why the pain is so intense that I could not manage it. Due to being so frightened of the pain returning at that previous level,, I will probably end up putting a patch on tomorrow morning, although I hope I will be strong enough not to! I really do not want to be on them for any longer than I need to be. I am waiting for a scan appt to come through but it could be weeks more I have been advised. My hands are already aching from using the crutches and on the pain patch all my other general aches and pains were barely noticeable. Its a double edged sword though isn't it!? A catch 22 situation.

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