Posted on 10/05/2018 4:57:42 AM PDT by GailA
STREET JUNKIES DREAM BILL
“We’ve seen the rise of powerful synthetic drugs like fentanyl that have the potential to make an already terrible problem worse. Exposure to miniscule amounts can have deadly consequences for users as well as first responders. That’s why this bill takes a broad-spectrum approach to meet the opioid crisis head on.”
“The bill reauthorizes critical substance abuse prevention programs, expands access to treatment and provides law enforcement with tools to stop the trafficking of illicit substances.”
The bill certainly gives more attention to treatment of addiction – creating a grant program to comprehensive recovery centers that include housing and job training and would also increase access to “medication-assisted” treatment to help people with substance abuse disorders wean themselves.
But it is silent on the chronic pain issue and the patients who use opioids to manage their pain—again pointing out the lack of attention that elected officials are giving to the 100 million Americans who have chronic pain.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpainreport.com ...
I had a hip replacement in 2010. My doctor said I could have as much vicodin as I wanted for 30 days but after that no refills. The first and only fill was for 90 am I was glad to have them, never used the whole bottle. Low dose narcotics work much better than ibuprofen I don’t care what anyone says.
Never got addicted and stopped using after the first week. Threw the leftovers out after the expiry date.
There are many many many people who do not abuse pain meds, sounds like you’re one, or that are not addicted to these meds. There are many who are. They take the meds not to control pain, but because their body cannot live without the meds.
It’s a complicated issue. I’m not in any way saying these drugs should be stopped. I think that doctors should be careful in their prescribing.
I for one, deal with first line back and neck pain. When a patient fails my treatment, it’s because they need surgery, and surgery helps. And they’re relatively pain free. OTOH I know of many people where a back or neck fusion has made the quality of life worse.
I can only speak for my own experience. When I’m confronted with a patient with acute and chronic spine pain, I’ve had the best success with a McKenzie Clinic. I’ve used this approach for over 25 years, and I’ve been very pleased with the results.
How special is that judgement, perhaps you could explain to those people exactly how they are to survive without working? Who will clothe, feed and house their families?
I went to work for decades in chronic pain without the benefit of effective pain relief.......because I had to, and because my doctors told me there was nothing wrong. One actually said to me when I told him my pain was so severe I could hardly get out of bed that "It will go away in a week or two". Interestingly enough, with in a year of that awesome diagnosis when I couldn't work anymore due to the pain a DOCTOR actually listened sent me for an MRI and two major spinal surgeries,including having four cervical disks replaced, I still have good days of barely tolerable pain and periods of up two two weeks of intolerable pain. Tylenol is absolutely worthless to me and may many others, what I am allowed is Tramadol, the imitation Opiod which is one baby step above Tylenol.
I don't care if you are a doctor, if you haven't lived with long term severe chronic pain............you don't know jack.
Like I said, don’t see how a person is capable of working safely while having a medical condition that requires that much pain medicine. It tells me that the condition is serious and disabling.
Let me ask you this. I assume that you told your doctor that you needed a note that would allow you to go to work. EVen if he told you he didn’t think that was a good idea. And I assume too, that you are driving yourself to and from work.
So, what if your back pain problem was worked related, and your doctor asked you if you wanted to remain off work. Would you have stayed off work or would have continued to work, and taken the pain meds?
Things like walking, bending, sitting,climbing steps, riding in a car, lifting, carrying things, just to name a few of the physical debilities. Not to mention the long term psychological effects that can drain you of the will to live. Using the term "junkie" to label every person that takes opioids and truly suffers from chronic pain is shallow and misinformed.
Like I asked, is safety a concern for EVERY occupation? Sounds like ideology rather than research talking.
I assume too, that you are driving yourself to and from work.
You've not heard of public transportation?
Most company’s now have drug free workplace policies. They do this to get lower insurance rates. If a person is taking 4 Vicodin per day, it would mean that they’re either taking the tabs also while work, or they’re cramming down 4 tablets when they get home before bedtime.
Doesn’t matter if they’re a secretary or a laborer, they would not be in compliance.
I think it would be difficult to preclude someone from working for taking the occasional opioid once per day, maybe an extra one over the weekend, who doesn’t fill the RX 0f 30 every month. But I find that I am not going to pass a person for employment who is taking 3 to 4 opioids per day, to be able to work on most jobs, esp those that require any motor vehicles.
Like I asked, is safety a concern for EVERY occupation? Sounds like ideology rather than research talking.
Most company’s now have drug free workplace policies. They do this to get lower insurance rates. If a person is taking 4 Vicodin per day [...] Doesn’t matter if they’re a secretary or a laborer, they would not be in compliance.
It woul;dn't be practical (nor, perhaps, legal) for employers or their insurers to have a "drug free only for safety relevant positions" policy. That doesn't mean there aren't people capable of working safely while having a medical condition that requires that much pain medicine.
I deal in the real world. In the real world, there are many many many people taking opioids for chronic pain. They perform their jobs, they go home, crash on the couch or they go to Little League etc. Eventually, the house of cards comes down. The last to go is the job. They’ll show up for the job, even if their wife and kids have left etc.
I see these people before and then after treatment. It’s like night and day.
These are terrible drugs... terrible drugs.
BIG LIE, I HAVE A DEGENERATIVE SPINE, CAUSED BY NERVE BLOCKS, STEROID SHOTS, AND THE MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF PREDNISONE I HAD TO TAKE FOR HIVES BECAUSE OF DRUG REACTIONS, AND NEXIUM.
GASTRO PATIENTS CAN’T TAKE ANY FORM OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDS.
The last to go is the job. They’ll show up for the job, even if their wife and kids have left etc.
So either you're implying that wife and kids leaving makes them incapable of working safely ... or you've abandoned your blanket claim about people not being capable of working safely while having a medical condition that requires that much pain medicine.
I’ve taken Opioids on and off for a decade. But since the Gastropresis got so bad, they are highly restricted. Anti-Inflammatory drugs for OA damaged my GI tract. So it leaves Tylenol as the only daily med. I’m 70 with a completely degenerative spine, OA, OP, FMS, Enlarged Heart with small Mitral valve leak, Meniere’s, Neuropathy down legs/arms. Suspect Sjogren’s too. All 4 drain ducts are cauterized closed, tear film breaks in 3-5 seconds. I react to nearly every med they try. 14 FMS/Neuropathy med reactions. Only Valium works, and not all that great. But it doesn’t cause side effects that send me to the ER with stage 3 Hypertension and in Seizures from the Gastropresis.
I’m saying if you need 3 to 4 Vicodin per day to do your job, because of the pain you’re having, you’re not fit for work, and I wouldn’t pass you on a pre-employment physical. If you’re already working, would be hard for anyone to dismiss you or put you on medical, unless you display impairment.
You’re free to go to ten other doctors who will have no problem taking your money and passing you.
Funny, you will not get an FAA license or a DOT card if you’re taking that much pain medicine.
Do you realize how much pain medicine is in 300/10mg Vicodins?
If you have an accident, and it can be shown that you were impaired by your meds, a good defense attorney can move to reject your worker’s comp claim. This is the main reason employers get drug tests when people have injuries.
? Have you read the comments below the Linked Article ?
I’m on the 3rd Page.
If what you are doing works for the PT that you treat then great for them and you.
There are probably 10’s or 100’s of Thousands, possibly way more than that needing MORE than Tylenol and tramadol to make their lives better than they are now. At least tolerable if nothing else...
I’d try everything before I start taking large doses of pain killers. I’d go to the best therapists, and get the best advice. Look at Tiger Woods, I’m amazed at what he went through. Don’t think he could have done it while on opioids.
These drugs are a transition. There’s a big difference in my book between and occasional flare up of pain where you need the meds to just walk, compared to the maintenance doses of 3 to 4 per day.
Research is showing that the opioids cause an increase sensitivity to pain, so you have to naturally increase your dose.
If you or anyone thinks I’m advocating that you stop your pain meds, you’re wrong. I didn’t say that. I am one of those docs that help people get off these meds. The last thing you should do is to stop the meds.
I’m seeing a lot of denial in the comments to me today.
And when challenged as to whether this was the case for ALL occupations, you wandered off into the weeds of drug-free policies and family problems. If you're finally back, that challenge remains.
the flog playing idiot doesn’t matter to Me, I use the stupid little dimpled white ball as Skeet Targets.
I’m not denying squat, I’ve been as straight forward with you as I am with ALL My Docs and Anybody else for that matter.
These JACKA$$E$ that are making these laws up HAVE NO DAMNED CLUE WHAT they are doing !!!
they are too busy fighting over a SC Justice being seated and who’s going to make the most $$$$$$$ to STEAL FROM US, THE TAX PAYERS.
you can say/type/post whatever you want to or about Me. It’s obvious that you and I disagree and I WILL NEVER CHANGE MY OPINION OR FEELINGS ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
As far as “studies and research” goes they mean absolutely nothing to Me until they start using REAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE REAL PROBLEMS, NOT A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE SELECTED AT A MALL FOR A FOCUS GROUP/RIGGED STUDY AND TOSS IN PLACEBOS AND PRINT OUT A FEW HUNDRED PAGES OF B.S. AND CALL IT FACTS.
Maybe you should look in a mirror and rethink the “deniale” comment.
Goodbye.
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