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Originally posted via Mayo Clinic News Center
Ken Start is an optimistic, energetic husband, father and grandfather with a job and family he loves. It's a life Ken's fought for, but one he almost sacrificed to opioid addiction. For 15 years, Ken was addicted to prescription pain medication, an addiction that was finally broken with the help of Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehabilitation Program and Addiction Services.
Not long ago, Ken Start began a speech to a roomful of physicians by saying, "I am your worst nightmare, the guy you do not want in your waiting room."
Ken said the words jokingly, but behind the remark was a painful truth. For 15 years, Ken struggled against a crippling opioid addiction that developed after he received prescription pain relievers for spinal injuries from a car accident. Through the years, Ken lied to and manipulated his family, friends and physicians to feed his addiction.
But in 2004, Ken's life changed course when he arrived at Mayo Clinic. Distraught and near suicidal, Ken's trip to Mayo was a last-ditch effort to save himself and the life he'd built with his family. At Mayo Clinic, Ken met W. Michael Hooten, M.D., in Pain Medicine. "The morning Dr. Hooten walked in, that's the day my life changed," Ken said.
Continue reading via the Mayo Clinic News Center
Helpful Links:
- Learn more about Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehabilitation Center
- Connect with others via Addiction and Recovery
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@mtmred12 do you still encounter pain following your fusion?
@jenatsky after following the excruciating nerve pain prior to the surgery. I do not call this pain. I call it major discomfort. I barely get by with ibuprofen, Tylenol and Aleve. It helps take the edge off but it's still quite uncomfortable
If the OTC drugs keep you comfortable great. I’ve found that extra strength Tylenol does help me with minor acute back pain. Fortunately or unfortunately I cannot take ENSAIDs for inflammation and I try to depend on an anti-inflammatory diet and turmeric 500mg 3x daily. My main pain control for my chronic pain is buprenorphine patch.
I have a question regarding supplements. The directions on the bottle indicate three capsules per day. Is it okay to take one at breakfast one at lunch and one at supper? Or must you take all three at the same time. Taking all three at the same time upset my stomach even though I take them with food.
@lgumerman Have you had an endoscopy by chance? I have had a lot of problems with stomach pain. It appears much of it is coming from severe acid reflux. GERD. I didn’t know I had acid reflux due to not having symptoms one associates with it. The meds for GERD has helped alot.