Like so many other perjorative statements, this is completely incorrect, and in general, pretty ignorant. Doctors DO know how to treat pain. I am a board certified anesthesiologist, and believe me, I treat pain very, very well. There are two competing problems here, one is societal and one is patient oriented -- first things first...
As usual, society COMPLETELY uses the wrong word with all its miserable connotations do define a problem. People with chronic pain do not become ADDICTED to pain meds, the become tolerant of them. When properly administered, pain meds, specifically narcotic reduce the amount of pain felt. Over time it take more and more of the drug to achieve the same pain relief. This is TOLERANCE to the drug. As the patient becomes more tolerant, the dangerous effects of the drug are also better tolerated.
The prime concern with pain medications is a DANGEROUS decrease in respiration -- namely the patient stops breathing. In someone who is not exposed to pain meds on a regular basis, a high dose can be fatal. The same dose in a patient with chronic pain on pain meds for several years may not even provide a little relief.
Thus, as more drug is required, a patient is not ADDICTED. Addiction is when the drug is used improperly, typically for its "feel good" effects. (In other words, used to get stoned, not to relieve pain). If a patient has a medical reason to hurt, and is treated appropriately and takes the drug appropriately, they cannot become addicted. This brings us to the patient problem.
The vast majority of patients who illegally seek drugs are just that -- drug seekers. Instead of buying their fix on the corner, they try to fake their way through the medical establishment. I used to work in emergency rooms to make ends meet, and I would say 80% of patients who came in demanded a pain medicine of their choice, and often with the most ludicrous excuses -- they lost their perscription, they flushed their pills on accident, yada, yada, yada...One evening, I worked a case in an ER with an obvious drug seeker (story did not check out) and the next night worked in a different ER 150 miles away. Sure enough, same couple came in with the same complaints trying to get drugs.
THe bottom line is this -- doctors are forever in the bind that they addict patients, and have the DEA looking over their shoulder ever willing to come down on a doc who is legitimately treating pain.
For those in chronic pain, my suggestion: see a board certified pain specialist. The American Board of Anesthesiology certifies experts in the field of pain management. There are physicians who have gone through the 4 years of anesthesia residency and then have an additional year in pain training. These tireless physicians dedicate their lives each day to their field, and do a superb job of helping all who hurt.
But please do not use words that are incorrect, and I hope all who read this now understand the difference between addiction and tolerance. As usual, the MSM cannot accurately report on anything.
Thanks for listening to this rant...
I think you replied to the wrong person.
Great post.
Thanks,
Eaker
I agree with the rant, and will add that it doesn't help that the government doesn't help the situation.
Most people don't even realize how oxymoronic it is to call drugs like meth "narcotics".
I honestly don't know why people go through the trouble of doing this. They have to deal with the hassle of waiting to be seen, the cost of visiting a facility to get a prescription, and the cost of the medicine assuming they even get the prescription anyway. Instead of imposing their addiction/habit on the legitimate medical area, they only need to obtain seeds(which is very easy) and grow a certain type of flower. They could have a virtually endless supply of what makes them 'happy' right in their own garden, and they won't have to make it hard on everyone else. Most narcotics are derived from this flower that we often hear about being a problem in Afghanistan, and it will easily grow anywhere in the world.
Your words were very wise and perceptive. I absolutely agree with all you said!
You made so much semse that now I hate you.
Good post.
Perhaps you can educate me a little on this. I’ve never quite understood the “abuse” of pain meds. Having been in college in the 80’s I do understand what “getting high” means with regard to various recreational chemistry. ([ahem] Not that I did any of that myself).
Anyway... that was all many years ago. But a couple of years ago I had a health issue that required some surgery (at first without anesthetic which was, in a word, no fun) but ended up on a morphine IV for a couple of days that was... wonderful. When I was getting out of the hospital, the Dr gave me a script for Oxycontin, as he said I should expect some significant pain for a little while as I recovered.
Well, as it turned out, there was some pain but it wasn’t all that bad and I didn’t dive into the Oxycontin. But one day I figured “what the heck” and took some just to see what all the fuss was about.
I was really disappointed. Sure, the pain was taken care of, but there was ~nothing~ in terms of euphoria or any kind of a “high”. I took a fair dose, not a whole lot, but enough that I figure if there was anything to feel I’d have felt it. I ended up throwing out the rest of the script once the event was over.
I really don’t understand why anybody would bother to “abuse” this sort of thing. If you wanna get high, take something that gets you high. But it ain’t this.
Any help here?
Having said that, I absolutely hate drug seekers. They will totally remove any joy you will have in being a doctor. Nothing pisses me off more than being lied to by some lowlife who wants you to give him his "supply" that he then sells to his POS druggie pals.
Hang in there, buddy!
Rant, Hell! That’s the most concisely clear explanation for what really happens in these cases than anything else I’ve read.
Thanks for your inclusion of the depraved/dishonest behavior of the seekers.
Thanks, doc... Wish you were in my area to help me deal with MY pains when EVERYTHING hurts. But the rub is that the drug warriors want to put docs like you and like the one in the story away because someone, somewhere, might “abuse” a drug to get high... just like it was OK for government to get involved in such things, though I have YET to find the section of the Constitution which grants such authority.