Doctors treating prescription drug abuse
Doctors say they are less likely to prescribe pain killers like Oxycodone and hydrocodone
http://www.news8000.com/health/doctors-treating-prescription-drug-abuse/30211166
from the article:
Now many physicians are turning to safer, less harmful alternatives.
“There are medications that don’t have addiction potential that can be very useful for pain management. As well as procedures, injections, physical therapy is very helpful for people. So there are a lot of things that can be done aside from using drugs,” said Gundersen Health System Doctor William Bucknam.
I guess this doctor presumes that everyone pain is the same level intensity… never changes.. and no one gets GI bleeds or cardiovascular from NSAIDs and everyone has the insurance coverage, time, and money for deductibles and copays for all those alternative “safer therapies” And spinal injections have never caused http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachnoiditis nor killed anyone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_Compounding_Center_meningitis_outbreak
Filed under: General Problems
From a different article: “Doctors say there are also many treatments that do not involve medication that can help manage pain, such as acupuncture, massage and physical therapy.”
Before I could have surgery, I was required to try all of these other treatments that doctors are now pushing. Of course, they’re expensive and not covered by insurance.
Before I was allowed to access opioid therapy, I was also required to try all other available treatments. Just for TMJ, in the beginning, I paid over $1,000 each for 7 different splint treatments, from 7 different dentists. (Treatments for TMJ are still not covered by insurance, even now.)
After surgery, I went through months of torturous physical therapy, before I couldn’t afford to go anymore. And I went back to physical therapy, again and again throughout the years, for however many months I could get coverage. Sure, it’s nice to be pampered, but I can do all my physical therapy at home, for free.
I tried acupuncture and biofeedback, too… Cortisone and botox injections. Large doses of anti-depressants and anti-inflammatories. I even tried hypnosis, and further tried to learn self-hypnosis. And wouldn’t it be nice if every American got a daily massage?
All these other treatments are ineffective for most chronic pain patients, besides being expensive. And if you’re still able to work, taking off for a doctor appointment every week does not look good. I remember using many lunch breaks and paid time off just so I could see a doctor…
I recall at least twice where the national news reported contaminated mediclyations being used for facet blocks and trigger point injections were used on patients causing serious illness and I think I do remember a few deaths. I personally have suffered through these injections to get a very short relief of about 2 weeks for a great deal of money. In fact the CMS and Medicaid regulations have tightly controlled limits as to the number of these injections you can undergo each year. I believe that C2 medications are the only relief possible for many injuries and illnesses at least within financially reasonably means. I would love for the medical industry to come out with a treatment for chronic pain that will last several months at a reasonable cost, but this is not likely.
The New England Compounding Center episode there was nearly 70 deaths and nearly 700 that ended up with long term health issues