12 yrs of chronic pain, 14 lumbar procedures, new Rx bad!

No, it's the CDC's old recommendation that cut all our opioids. As a result of doctors then abusing their prescription pads before 2016. What happened (federally) is the CDC published new "guide lines" regarding the issuing of painkillers, for doctors. Some US States started in earlier (saw it all coming) in 2015. That's what happened in Alaska, the very week I was first given a script for hydrocodone at a real pain management clinic, which is the only reason I got any help while they worked on my spine. The CDC has since learned the error of their ways, which was that their action in 2016 scared the living whatever out of all the doctors in the USA. Other nations did the same to their doctors, since then. On Nov 4, 2022, the CDC issued new guidelines because they recognized (after so many deaths by suicide and PM patients turning to illegal drugs) the error of their ways. Of course, they blamed the doctors for taking their "recommendation" as law. It never was law they said, they only issued "guidelines". Yeah, tell that to the graves of all those now gone. The true problem now lies in all the up and coming doctors who have been through medical schools since and beginning in 2016, who were so convinced (brainwashed) that just about everyone can adjust to live "in pain" as if there is no upper limit that can not be adjusted to. We just need to take a few BH classes, right? The rest of us are whiners. I've seen some of the studies done that supposedly prove their (too often just plain sadistic) handling of pain in patients. One's that they can't even read properly, which prove in fact the opposite. It is some of those studies which have caused the CDC to repent. It all came about because of the invention of time released opioids by one family owned pharmacological company. They lied, lied, and then lied some more. Telling the whole healthcare industry in the USA (prior to 2016) how non-addictive it was. See "Painkiller" a TV series (I believe is at Netflix) or The Crime of the Century that's on Hulu, right now. Both tell the story. The problem lies with our medical schools now. Most of the young doctors I've met, and some whole medical systems (Providence/Swedish in Seattle, WA) are still functioning off of the CDC's old 2016 garbage regarding opioids. Still, the truth is, it was the overreaction by almost every MD and DO in the USA to that 2016 set of CDC guidelines that ended up doing this to us. That same kneejerk response to the CDC 2016 "guidelines" also in large is part responsible for many of the deaths that resulted from people then already living on things like fentanyl patches under the supervision of their doctors, who got cut off, and ended up doing heroin, or other illegal drugs. Then dying of that, or just plain killing themselves out of a complete loss of hope in the humanity of our medical professions. The run amok negative peer pressure that so many doctors turned on each other, is also partly to blame. Not least of which was the health networks they worked in, and hospitals they were in staff with. Apparently, the healthcare industry forgot they have drugs for such corrosive paranoia in individuals. China cranking out new and more addictive designer opioids, everyday, and a open southern border to send them into the USA though, is helping no one's pain. The problem is that all our young doctors/providers, and their nurses/assistants, have now already been systematically brainwashed.

Does anyone know anything about the intracept procedure? I have severe arthritis in lumbar with pinched nerves. RFA’s didn’t work and steroids didn’t work either and after six procedures and 7000 dollars out of pocket and yes I have insurance I’m done with expensive bandaids!

You can switch to the Buprenorphine patch. Otherwise known as Butrans. It won’t destroy your teeth. And you’re better off without the Naloxone. You can then use short-acting opioids for break-through pain. You need to be under the care of a pain management doctor now in order to get those needs met. Your regular doctor can’t do it. Best of luck to you, and all of us who suffer with chronic pain.