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FloriTexan

(838 posts)

17. In some cases the alternative drugs are worse...

Thu Oct 2, 2014, 03:21 PM

Oct 2014

I have pretty chronic knee pain and need two new knees but am too young for them (per my doctor). I have issues taking large and continual dosages of NSAIDS as they cause much stomach pain. I've recently had a flare up in one of my knees and my doctors and I are going to begin using Supartz (a gel cushion) injected into the knee but the red tape and insurance approvals take several weeks. In the meantime, a cortisone shot helped for about a week and the anti-inflamatory they gave me (Voltaran 75 mg) kept me comotose, gave me severe nightmares and blurred vision. Not to mention perpetual belching. When I called the ortho to tell them about my reactions they treated me like an addict and said that I would just have to take 1000 mg of tylenol as that was the ingredient in hydrocodone that they were really prescribing for pain. What?!

I asked if I could come in for an appointment to discuss it or get another cortisone shot, as I was unable to drive and walk any real distance. They said take tylenol. So I called my regular family doctor and went to him for a visit where he prescribed the same drug but in a newer, lower dosage without the side effects. Unfortunately, I just found out its going to cost me upwards of $200 because it is a Tier 3 drug. I would kill for a $5 20 or 10 day supply of hydrocodone right now. Just to get me through to the gel injections.

Sorry for the rant, been dealing with this all day.

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Heroin deaths double after painkiller crackdown [View all] OhioChick Oct 2014 OP

These docs have handed out pain pills like candy for lots of years Horse with no Name Oct 2014 #1

I was a long term recipient. ChairmanAgnostic Oct 2014 #3

Pain medicine terrifies me Horse with no Name Oct 2014 #10

No, the only thing it has done is raise ballyhoo Oct 2014 #24

For some of us, it's the only answer... freebrew Oct 2014 #28

As someone who has lived with Worried senior Oct 2014 #30

You're so right catbyte Oct 2014 #78

Well it has begun Worried senior Oct 2014 #91

I'm so sorry you are going through this. It may be impossible, but is there a pain clinic in your catbyte Oct 2014 #92

Thanks Worried senior Oct 2014 #93

Yes, everything you are saying is true. Agony Oct 2014 #37

thankyou LiberalLovinLug Oct 2014 #45

People who are not living with pain won't understand. NutmegYankee Oct 2014 #47

Has nothing to do with morals...I was talking about addicted patients Horse with no Name Oct 2014 #49

Seems to me that enlightenment Oct 2014 #62

I didn't start this thread Horse with no Name Oct 2014 #63

I suspect that had you enlightenment Oct 2014 #65

Yep. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are less effective and much more damaging. hunter Oct 2014 #68

Opiates work for me... freebrew Oct 2014 #75

Popping NSAIDS caused my body to rebel & I developed an anaphylatic reaction to them. catbyte Oct 2014 #81

Yes, some are going to suffer....... mrmpa Oct 2014 #44

"Yes some are going to suffer..." catbyte Oct 2014 #79

I hear you. SpankMe Oct 2014 #13

For many people, opiates don't work shanti Oct 2014 #64

and for me they're pretty effective cali Oct 2014 #74

Chronic pain patients irisblue Oct 2014 #33

Increase also perhaps due to fighting a decade of war in heroin capital of the world. DLnyc Oct 2014 #2

Yep libodem Oct 2014 #19

I have seen no reports of troops addicted to heroin in Afghanistan. former9thward Oct 2014 #42

Interesting DLnyc Oct 2014 #58

Afghan is similar to Vietnam only with respect it is a hopeless losing war. former9thward Oct 2014 #60

Dark Side of the Boom wave_maker Oct 2014 #48

In States With Medical Marijuana, Painkiller Deaths Drop by 25% tridim Oct 2014 #4

Roll on legalisation Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #43

The new law makes you have to choose between pain meds and marijuana Nictuku Oct 2014 #77

Weird that they are singling out the "painkiller crackdown" Dopers_Greed Oct 2014 #5

It is a rather circular argument. 99th_Monkey Oct 2014 #9

"The increase in heroin use is due in part to cracking down on the prescription painkillers" Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2014 #6

" I just pictured Rush bent over..." < I can't finish the rest of the post. jtuck004 Oct 2014 #8

Yes, it's not the spoon and the candle, it's the bend. Shrike47 Oct 2014 #31

Did you ever see that video where the guy is texting and walks around the corner to find a moose jtuck004 Oct 2014 #36

The bear! that was a crazy video! Marrah_G Oct 2014 #38

Here's the bear. I think I've seen a moose video too. hunter Oct 2014 #76

That's the one I was thinking of. Thank you. n/t jtuck004 Oct 2014 #85

As a side-effect, those of us with legit chronic pain are struggling. Akoto Oct 2014 #7

Unfortunately, the perception of providers trying to find other solutions to pain Aristus Oct 2014 #18

A friend of mine with chronic pain got it under control with antidepressants and marijuana Dopers_Greed Oct 2014 #20

My job is made a lot easier by the fact that marijuana is now legally available over-the-counter Aristus Oct 2014 #23

I am lucky that my pain in nerve pain Marrah_G Oct 2014 #39

Re: Unfortunately Akoto Oct 2014 #41

My PA is a wonderful person UglyGreed Oct 2014 #57

Thank you. Aristus Oct 2014 #59

You're welcome UglyGreed Oct 2014 #61

A little off topic UglyGreed Oct 2014 #66

Ooh, that is so right! Delphinus Oct 2014 #80

You're Welcome :) n/t UglyGreed Oct 2014 #84

I am sorry for your pain Horse with no Name Oct 2014 #50

I don't know where you live, but here most GPs refuse to prescribe narcotic pain meds. catbyte Oct 2014 #82

The law of unintended consequences is both cold and certain. Psephos Oct 2014 #11

In this case it would be to follow the recomendation of Timothy Leary... Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2014 #14

Look at this answer by the CDC whoseits... jtuck004 Oct 2014 #12

US neurologists warn against long-term opioid use for non-cancer pain postulater Oct 2014 #15

Wow UglyGreed Oct 2014 #53

I'll bet more than half of all alcohol users taking alcohol for three months... hunter Oct 2014 #83

It will only get worse now Scairp Oct 2014 #16

Whenever the government tries to solve a problem they always ballyhoo Oct 2014 #25

In some cases the alternative drugs are worse... FloriTexan Oct 2014 #17

Don't be sorry UglyGreed Oct 2014 #56

Bad docs put good docs on the spot, and junkies screw chronic-pain patients, to be blunt. ColesCountyDem Oct 2014 #21

'cause the WOD is such a rational approach to drug abuse. nt. Warren Stupidity Oct 2014 #22

Less than 4% of prescription opiate users become addicts. Xithras Oct 2014 #26

That is exactly what it is. I'll find out more when ballyhoo Oct 2014 #27

I agree wholeheartedly. Addiction versus Dependency is little understood. Akoto Oct 2014 #46

probably going to increase even further with hydrocodone being rescheduled to CII frylock Oct 2014 #29

I have a chronic pain condition and use 1 5 mg hydrocodone per day, on average. You'd think it Shrike47 Oct 2014 #32

someone we know had surgery demigoddess Oct 2014 #34

What did you UglyGreed Oct 2014 #67

I've been watching doctors be wrong about demigoddess Oct 2014 #69

So are you UglyGreed Oct 2014 #70

I have a 40 some year old daughter who demigoddess Oct 2014 #72

since UglyGreed Oct 2014 #73

Is that what will fredamae Oct 2014 #35

Gee whiz, what a fucking surprise Warpy Oct 2014 #40

i take norco 10-325 -- 2 a day. i break DesertFlower Oct 2014 #51

This is fucking idiocy, seriously, addiction and dependency are public health issues... Humanist_Activist Oct 2014 #52

Yeah evil pills UglyGreed Oct 2014 #54

does everyone think this is ALL 'imported' heroin? Sunlei Oct 2014 #55

Many people who become addicted to heroin are living a normal life?????? UglyGreed Oct 2014 #71

You would be surprised.... Red State Rebel Oct 2014 #86

I was just surprised UglyGreed Oct 2014 #87

is your daughter OK now? Skittles Oct 2014 #95

Steve Earle Doctor_J Oct 2014 #88

Just like UglyGreed Oct 2014 #89

True, Steve's been married 7-8 times Doctor_J Oct 2014 #90

Fucking legalize weed already. Ampersand Unicode Oct 2014 #94

I Hope People Realize Methadone Centers Saves Lives While Heroin Continues To Kill... Corey_Baker08 Oct 2014 #96