The demonization of opiates is hurting people.

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28. Amen, Cali. I have post-herpetic neuralgia after 8 bouts of

Shingles down my right sciatic nerve over the last 15 years. My most recent bout was during Thanksgiving. I take a long lasting opiate every 8 hours for maintenance & quick acting suckers for breakthrough. I don't get the least bit stoned, have been on the same dosage for 8 years & work 40-50 hours a week. If not for these meds, I would be on SSD, curled up in the fetal position on my couch 24/7, sobbing. Or I would've checked myself out. As you well know, nerve pain is that bad. It shreds your soul. Luckily I have a clear diagnosis & a gutsy pain doctor--these days doctors who are willing to prescribe sufficient pain meds are getting harder & harder to find. I've tried all the anti-seizure drugs, most recently topamax, but the side effects are horrendous. Almost as bad as the pain. Elavil, lyrica, you name it. I've tried them all with disastrous results. I developed an anaphylactic allergy to aspirin/NSAIDS from taking too much advil, etc.

I get so mad at jackasses like Limbaugh & those idiots who died after chewing fentanyl patches who abuse pain meds because all they do is hurt people like you & me.

Thank you for the post, Cali. Take care.