is anyone watching this cnn presents: pain medication

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Emos

Golden Member
Oct 27, 2000
1,989
0
0
This country's war on drugs is cruel and unusual punishment for folks who lived a life of hard work and injury. Prescribe real meds that take care of pain, and go to jail. Doctors know it, they're afraid and will not help people.

QFT. My general practitioner has a sign posted in her office that she will no longer prescribe pain medication. This witch hunt against "junkies" is taking a terrible toll in the medical community, both for practitioners and their patients.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
QFT. My general practitioner has a sign posted in her office that she will no longer prescribe pain medication. This witch hunt against "junkies" is taking a terrible toll in the medical community, both for practitioners and their patients.

i have read some really bad stories about some of the shit that happens in florida. Some places are out of control with limiting pain meds.

oh yeah the Feds want to limit the amount you can take too. the amount was something like 1-2 pills a day for a small period. i will see if i can find the article.
 

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
Good lord. I also don't see why you would even go to a pain management clinic just for vicodin.... When I was going through my back issues my GP was writing me a crap ton of them for basically the entire process even though I was seeing numerous other specialists. I always thought pain management was just for the really strong stuff that normal doctors aren't comfortable writing and/or managing.

Normally a pain management clinic is for patients that require around the clock opioid treatment, and usually you are giving something you take once, or twice a day like OxyContin, Morphine ER, Fentanyl patch's, and then an instant release for break through pain, that would be your hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl pops, etc.

So if you go to the ER for a broken leg at midnight you can't take any pain meds they give you until the pain management clinic answers the phone and oks it??? Really? Have we really gotten that bad?

Depends on where you are. My doctor tells us to go to the ER if we are having pain that the medications aren't stopping. Of course the ER doesn't work with them, so they treat you like a scumbag, and usually don't give you anything that helps anyway. This is what leads to people lying to ER's, and leaving out the part about their pmd.
 

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
i have read some really bad stories about some of the shit that happens in florida. Some places are out of control with limiting pain meds.

oh yeah the Feds want to limit the amount you can take too. the amount was something like 1-2 pills a day for a small period. i will see if i can find the article.

They also reevaluated the APAP content for Hydro/Oxycodone, and are expected to lower the daily allowed dose to 2000mg APAP a day, which means that anyone on five or more perday is going to get cut down to four is they are getting the normal 5/7.5/10/500
 

BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
13,986
3,340
146
Legalizing weed will fix a lot of these problems. I've seen people who are on several perscription meds taken several times a day, with so many side effects they can barely leave the house, move to marijuana and be able to function at a fairly normal level. It helps army veterans the most who ironically tend to be the most scared of it. My girlfriend has shown 80 year old women on chemo how to use marijuana and they are terrified that it is going to somehow turn them into a flesh eating zombie. Meanwhile people have no issue popping whatever deadly painkillers and drug cocktails doctors hand out to them despite the horrifying side effects.
 

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
Meanwhile people have no issue popping whatever deadly painkillers.

:rolleyes:

The only thing that makes any of them "deadly" are when they are abused, opioid/opiates are actually fairly gentle on the system. Most of the problems come from the addictive/dependence that develops, and the other drugs added, like APAP. When talking about street versions like heroin, the unknown variables like strength and the cuts are what make it more dangerous. Measured pharmaceutical versions are like any other lab opiate.
 
Last edited:

Brovane

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2001
6,360
2,567
136
nope. to see a doctor the first thing you do is sign the contract. You have to select 1 pharmacy that ALL medicaction goes through. you agree to not doctor shop, you will call if you go to the ER so they can ok any pain meds. Any pain meds are done ONLY through the Pain clinic etc etc.

i have heard of stories of people trying to change pain doctors because of situations like mine. When they do they are now "doctor shopping" and are banned from ANY pain clinic. Since some areas have it the only way to get high levels of pain maids is through the pain clinic it can fuck you up.

Interesting. About this time last year my wife and I fired at the time her current Pain Management doctor/Clinic and went to a different clinic closer to or home. We found a doctor that we are more comfortable with and works with us better than the old clinic we where going to. In CA the forms just say you will only have one pain management DR/Clinic at a time. So I guess score one for CA. That is crazy in your state you cannot switch.
 

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
Interesting. About this time last year my wife and I fired at the time her current Pain Management doctor/Clinic and went to a different clinic closer to or home. We found a doctor that we are more comfortable with and works with us better than the old clinic we where going to. In CA the forms just say you will only have one pain management DR/Clinic at a time. So I guess score one for CA. That is crazy in your state you cannot switch.

Yea, it is pretty crazy, I thought mine was ridiculous.

It's no wonder that such a high volume of prescription drugs get diverted, and the fed/state are scratching their heads wondering why. Hell, it's easier to get them off the street than it is to get them even if you have legitimate need.
 

quest55720

Golden Member
Nov 3, 2004
1,339
0
0
It is just not pain meds. I have been jumping though hoops for months now trying to get treatment for low growth hormone. It is just test after test and MRIs ect because the doctor is scared of the FDA. I am looking at many more months of tests the doctor basically told me diagnosing low growth hormone will only happen if he eliminates everything else.

On pain meds my wife is jumping through hoops for hers. She has a messed up knee that she won't get fixed till January. It is an ordeal to get a refill even though she has a MRI showing a badly torn Meniscus and other damage.
 

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
I am not sure how hydrocodone works at higher dosages but if a larger dose would help but you are concerned about the APAP you should look up "cold water extraction". Relatively quick and easy.

I missed that earlier, naughty boy lol. There is supposed to be a high dose extended release hydrocodone that from what I read is passed trails, and awaiting approval.
 

BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
13,986
3,340
146
:rolleyes:

The only thing that makes any of them "deadly" are when they are abused, opioid/opiates are actually fairly gentle on the system. Most of the problems come from the addictive/dependence that develops, and the other drugs added, like APAP. When talking about street versions like heroin, the unknown variables like strength and the cuts are what make it more dangerous. Measured pharmaceutical versions are like any other lab opiate.
You make the rolleyes emoticon like I'm some idiot and say that opiode/opiate drugs are gentle. Yet you then say they are addictive and have brutal side effects when mixed with other drugs. Well guess what, there are a lot of people on drug cocktails with an opiod chaser.

I've found recently that people on these forums constantly disagree with me and then refute my points with things so stupid they seem to be arguing for me. I feel like the people here are getting dumber. Maybe i'm just getting older and surlier.
 

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
You make the rolleyes emoticon like I'm some idiot and say that opiode/opiate drugs are gentle. Yet you then say they are addictive and have brutal side effects when mixed with other drugs. Well guess what, there are a lot of people on drug cocktails with an opiod chaser.

I've found recently that people on these forums constantly disagree with me and then refute my points with things so stupid they seem to be arguing for me. I feel like the people here are getting dumber. Maybe i'm just getting older and surlier.

Reading comprehension is not your strong suit, imagine that. Seriously you need to go back to third grade, or lay off the weed, because none of that is what I said.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
Last year when I had a kidney stone I went to the doctor and she wanted me to wait until all the test results were back before giving me anything for the pain. It wasn't until I threw up from the pain while walking to have blood drawn that she relented. I know that there are problems with people seeking drugs just to get high, but it's rediculous when people who are legitimately suffering can't get pain killers.
My dad had tooth pain and the same thing happened to him. The war on drugs is bullshit.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Legalizing weed will fix a lot of these problems. I've seen people who are on several perscription meds taken several times a day, with so many side effects they can barely leave the house, move to marijuana and be able to function at a fairly normal level. It helps army veterans the most who ironically tend to be the most scared of it. My girlfriend has shown 80 year old women on chemo how to use marijuana and they are terrified that it is going to somehow turn them into a flesh eating zombie. Meanwhile people have no issue popping whatever deadly painkillers and drug cocktails doctors hand out to them despite the horrifying side effects.

you are 100% right on this. the side effects of pain meds/other meds are insane. Yet MJ does work in some cases and the side effects (well deadly now that hostess is done) are nothing.

there are 2 reasons i don't do it. A) i know NOBODY (well that i know of) that does it b) i live in a farming area and try to avoid town.

the legality of it is dropping on my list..
 

davmat787

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2010
5,512
24
76
ok what pain medication does not have nasty side effects?

Pharmaceutical grade opiates IN AND OF ITSELF is actually very gentle on your body, and has a relatively low half life. The biggest problem is usually constipation, as the opiate numbs the digestive system. This is easily remedied with some senna.

Acetaminophen is much harder on your body, namely the liver, than opiates. But your body will digest and metabolize opiates quite safely, assuming the dosage is not too high. If it is, your respiratory system can slow down.

The nastiest side effect would be the possible addiction. Not many people know this, but those who are in true chronic pain are less likely to get addicted. Those who are relatively healthy and abuse these drugs and get high because their dopamine and seratonin levels are normal. When they take opiates recreationally, their dopamine and seratonin levels get jacked up, hence the word "high".

If you are in true chronic pain, your dopamine and seratonin levels are very low as a result. Taking opiates might return them to normal levels, and thus they are not as likely to get high and addicted.
 
Last edited:

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
ok what pain medication does not have nasty side effects?

Pretty much any opiate/opioid. It is usually their combination with other drugs, like Dave mentioned APAP, to reduce their abuse that cause more damage than the opiate.

davmat787 said:
The biggest problem is usually constipation, as the opiate numbs the digestive system.

Actually the mechanism, without looking it up see if I remember, is that it smooths the longitudinal muscle in the colon which keeps waste in longer to extract more water, which is why as almost no one knows, Imodium AD, or the active ingredient Loperamide, is an opiate, just one designed to not cross the blood brain barrier.