Study: Don't Avoid Opioids to Treat Back Pain

WMUR-TV ^ | March 14, 2003 | By Holly VanScoy

[capocchio]

Another poster is so inmtolerant that he won't even talk to s[pinal patients if they haven't comnsulted a choroiprator

I think I resemble that remark. My point is not to be intolerant to people's problems, but to be intolerant of those who won't even consider effective remedies because their insurance won't pay for it (see earlier posting).

Spinal manipulation will not work in many cases, but I suspect it does work in many cases where the patient won't consider it because they would have to pay for it themselves. That to me isn't being very smart, especially when considering the alternatives.

So what I'm intolerant of is those who are intolerant to spending their own money for better health.

[neverdem]

I described it quickly and too simply. Some D.O.s, aka osteopaths, enjoy doing manipulations and some don't. It is an alternate way of becoming a doc. They are more common in some parts of the country.

The coding for re-imbursement can become very complicated when an osteopath also treats other medical diagnoses in the same patient, and it's harder to train staff to do it properly. It also requires more time with the patient when your time is at a premium.

[k2blader]

I hope the situation with Rush opens a good and honest discussion in this country on how to help people in pain.

Bump to that.

Before this came out about Rush I didn't really stop to think about people in our nation suffering from pain due to chronic physical conditions, let alone prescription pain medications and their highly addictive qualities.

It's humbling and informative to read the experiences fellow FReepers have been posting.

[neverdem]

The standard of care for patients with chronic pain requiring opioid drugs around the clock is to give a sustained release compound, such as a Duragesic(Fentanyl) patch, OxyContin or MS Contin, for "prolonged" coverage, and a fast and short acting opiate for "break through pain" such as Percocet or MSIR(Morphine Sulfate Immediate Release) for short term exacerbations on an as needed basis, i.e. PRN. Please inquire about Duragesic and MS Contin with the VA.

[lepton]

When I was in my Biology stage, I was quite interested in brain biochemistry, and Endorphins and Enkephalins.

Conversely with the normal problem, I know at least one person who seems to have a natural over-production of endorphins. Among other things, they are amazingly resistant to pain (They fell and snapped their front teeth in half, exposing the nerves, and didn't notice it as being more than a bump).

While having a certain natural intelligence, they have problems with thoughts that go more than a few sentences and are considered mentally retarded (but have regularly outsmarted others since quite young). When they had the dental procedure to repair their front teeth, the dentist found that they basically could not sedate this person without lowering the heart and breathing to dangerous levels, so they blindfolded this person and talked to them to distract them during the procedure. When they administered the antidote to the opiates, the change in this persons behaviour was remarkable.

[lepton]

Then the poster says (after being called on the subject) declares she always talks to cats!!
But she has given the impression that med users say and do wierd things, not accurate information tho.

That was two different posters.

[Stu Cohen]

While having a certain natural intelligence, they have problems with thoughts that go more than a few sentences and are considered mentally retarded (but have regularly outsmarted others since quite young).

This is interesting. You've heard the saying "ignorance is bliss".

Many geniuses, and those we consider of very high IQ or artisitc ability are naturally dysphoric ... "tortured soles", so to speak. You've also heard the phrase "genius is the phase right before insanity".

Is is possibly that there could be a correlation between Mu system funtion, and perceived intelligence. It might make for an interesting study.

[SarahW]

I'm afraid you must have misunderstood the "cat talking" crack I made.

First, I'm not the person who said oxycodone resulted in cat raconteurs.

I said oxycodone left me "out of it" (and I can also add, didn't kill the pain - at once too much medicine and not enough) - drooly, groggy, sleepy, etc.

It was an attempt at humor to bring up how one could not use cat conversations as a test of oxycodones powers on me, since I talk to my felines even when unmedicated.

For the records sake, they generally do not have much to say, at least not in English, in return. :)

[aruanan]

I got off it that evening. The pain was less scary. Besides the oxycodone constipates you.

Fortunately, for some of us this never happens. My broken back was much relieved by Anexia-D, a synthetic codeine, and I had no other problems with anything--and that was over a period of several months.

[oreolady]

So sorry for the misunderstanding, my point just was the different comments here were not a reflection of reality, altho,some docs prescribe higher intial dosages, which was what probably made you sleepy and drowsy.


My great doc told me that the morphine (oxycontin just being one brand) dosages range from 15 mg's to 300 mgs!!!!!
He said if he gave me 30 mgs first off, it would kill me, repressing respiration, breathing. Altho severe pain stimulates respiration, therefore counters a small amount of the effect of morphine.
He "titrates" mg's, which means in narcotic terms, increasing dosages, small mgs a week per increase.
Most people do not know the large dosage range.
That's another reason the media is wrong on their criticism, no one has reported the dosage Rush is/was taking!!! They may have been the smallest 15 mg, sounds like to me, if he took 30 a day of any higher dosage, would not be alive.
The drug users that are seeking a "high" crumble the time-release ones to get the buzz at once. This also was not said about Rush, that he may have crumbled them.
The severe pain user gets absolutely NO high, or buzz, (much verifying research to back up) or any other feeling, quite a mystery why/how the med gets directed to the right place in the brain.
Strange also why I can get a headache, aside from my severe spinal pain, yet the med does nothing for relief, must take aspirin for that. Seems to be able to do only one thing at a time, LOL.