Opioids are widely prescribed as treatment for chronic pain. This video abstract summarizes a meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing opioid vs nonopioid drug treatment for chronic noncancer pain. Read the article: ja.ma/2S8S0fZ
They work for my fibromyalgia and spinal pain. They work very well. They work extremely better than all of the other drug and non-drug therapies I had tried for the first 12 years of my illness. Now that my dosage level has been involuntarily lowered by over 60% though, my ability to function is nil. I basically sit in a chair all day and wonder why this travesty had to be inflicted on me and my fellow chronic pain sufferers. No one should have to be in pain like this.
Well, to be honest, I kind of got lost with all the technical terms and percentages… but here is why I am taking a moment to even comment … I have broken Harrington rods in my back … this isn’t to promote my channel but to just give you a view of my pain problem…to me… and I am not a medical professional - but it seems that anyone who sees my xray would understand - I’m in pain! I’m not drug-seeking, I’m not a cry-baby…I just need relief…. And now - because of the opiate crisis I was removed from opiates…something that did not take away all of my pain but it allowed me to at least live about a 70% normal life … I never failed a urine test nor a medicine count … I am with my pain dr for 13 years and his nurse… I’ve been with her 15 years - I would think by now if they saw any mis-use of meds going on with me, they would have caught it! BUT the government says that my dr can’t make the decision on whether to give me a med that did help…I was put on another “safer” pain med 4 months ago - I have not been lower than a level 5 on the pain scale since the change…and most days … I am a 8… ☹ I don’t exaggerate my pain either - I have no reason too…. Anyway - here is a link to my back xrays…. can you believe - they don’t understand and believe … I am in severe pain? And yes - I have tried everything under the sun - from aqua therapy and acupuncture to a tens unit - and everythingggg in between… The only thing that really helped and was even near being affordable? An opiate ☹ AND trust me - the opiate I was on … did NOT make my pain worse….it was over 4 months ago when I was on that opiate - when I was able to get up and walk to the bathroom 10 steps away without literally dreading it ☹ I sure do hope something is done… and soon - for those of us with chronic pain … ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Fnd4YjeadoU.html
@Mark Olander I think, by safer, the doctor meant something that doesn't have such a narrow window of effectiveness. Things may be all hunky dory as long as you stick to your Rx'd dose. But, if you're having a particularly bad pain day and decide to take one extra, you could put yourself at risk of overdosing. OR he could have been referring to the danger that someone else may take some of your meds, with or without your knowledge, and OD. This is even more likely if a patient is on a very potent opiate like fentanyl or methadone. If one is on COAT they should be given a Rx for Narcan as well, just to be safe.
Kirsten Marie not sure if you were replying to me or not (sorry I’m kinda old lol so I’m not entirely sure how YT works...YET...) but I’m catching on 😜 If it was me you were asking about the government thing...when my pain doctor took me off the fentanyl patch he said there is a crackdown going on with opiates. He thinks sooner or later fentanyl may not even be available outside of a hospital setting. Every one thinks fentanyl is so strong. I actually have a pretty weak tolerance for pain medication. It doesn’t take much to take care of my pain. And I never ever felt “high “ on the fentanyl patch. I signed up for the medical marijuana card... I tried a few different types and flavors and brands...trust me I WAS high off the medical marijuana... PLEASE PLEASE don’t let my words and/or opinion dissuade anyone from trying the medical marijuana or anything else that didn’t work for me... I’ve heard from others that the medical marijuana gave them their life back... But for me...it did help my anxiety and it helped my appetite. But did nothing for the pain 😞 Plus the cost was a heck of a lot more than the insurance we pay out the wa-zoo for... I tried it for two months and it cost $240. the first month and $260.the second time...and I didn’t use it every day. Now I do think it may have been cheaper next time around because I bought a vape pen... and I believe that is re-fillable... Sorry if I’m sketchy or not entirely clear 😞 I’ve had some pretty severe seizures in the past few years and I don’t always explain things well... I just feel like true chronic pain patients need to speak up...no one could understand what it’s like to have pain every single day and no end in sight 😞 I’ve never felt so hopeless in regards to this pain as I have this past year...but I’ve also lied and said I’m fine when I’m far from fine... Plus like someone said above...there have been more suicides with chronic pain patients since the cutbacks on pain medication...that makes me so sad. I’ve been on some chronic pain message boards and I’ve read the stories where people took their own lives because they just can’t tolerate the pain anymore... I totally get that. If my perfect husband had not fought so hard to keep me alive...I’d probably think of it myself. I just couldn’t do that to him...
@@melovebono I'm just asking because I experience both sides of the issue... I'm a chronic pain patient and a medical student. I also used to be a pharmacy technician, so this issue is something I've dealt with on a daily basis. No, you wouldn't get high off the patches if you're using them correctly. They're designed to keep the level of fentanyl in the blood stream stable. It's when your levels are going up and down, reminiscent of a rollercoaster, that you experience a high. The immediate release preparations are so addictive because the entire dose hits the brain all at once. You don't get that with a fentanyl patch. It takes up to 17 hours to build up a reservoir under the skin and start circulating in the bloodstream. I'm not too sure what you're doctor was talking about. I doubt they'll take the patches off the market. It's not the patches that are hitting the streets, it's the stuff from China. I'm sure some patches get sold, but not on the same order of magnitude as the stuff manufactured in China. And there would be a huge backlash from families and patients. Yeah, the DEA is scrutinizing Rxs more closely now. But as long as you have a documented injury/illness and you're not taking obscene amounts, and following your COAT agreement, there shouldn't be an issue from the government's end or the doctor's. Insurance is another story. They've all started implementing dose limits from 90-120 mg of morphine or its equivalent. You need to get prior authorization to go above whatever arbitrary amount your insurance sets. Is your doctor from a dedicated pain clinic or just a general practitioner? In a perfect world, everyone who needs COAT would be followed by a pain specialist. Unfortunately, there aren't enough of them. About two years ago all the family/internal medicine doctors in my area were attempting to shuffle all the pain patients over to one of the few pain clinics and it was an absolute nightmare. Are you a candidate for any of the radiological interventions available?
