Abuse of Opioids takes away from all the good it can do

I have at least 30 allergies to meds. Oxycodone 5 MG doesn't quite do it but on days when entire body is in a snit fit it helps. I had to beg pain management doc for them. He offered 120 for the year. I filled only 74 of that. I just wrote and asked for the 46 I haven't used since starting last April. If he doesn't do that then I will ask to have him give me a pain med off my allergy list and see if it works. Recently my PCP gave me a med on my bad reaction list and taking only 1/2 a tablet I ended up with laryngeal edema. That moved from bad reaction to anaphylaxis. Time will tell.

You are 100% right! What ticks me off is because other people can't or won't take personal responsibility, those of use in real pain have to jump through so many hoops to get some type of relief.
I lock my pain meds up because I still have teenagers in the house, not because I think they will take some, but because I would rather be safe than sorry.

It's not an opioid crisis for the people who are compliant. It's a DRUG crisis of any kind for people who look for these drugs only as a way to get high. What needs to be addressed is the underlying issue that feeds that need to begin with. I know a lot of people do a lot of different things in order to anesthetize. Just what kind of "pain" are they trying to kill? If they must talk to a therapist, psychiatrist in order to find an answer, then that is what should be done. We are not responsible for the people who illegally acquire these medications knowing there is a strong possibility it might be the last thing they do. People that do, make it harder for people that adhere to the specifications and orders set by their doctor. It's not fair and contrary to what's reported, it's not our problem. It's something they and their family need to deal with.

I take the same strength hydrocodone. I see my pain doctor every 2 months. He phones in 2 scripts. They fill one and put the other on file. When I need it refilled, I'll call. I always have to move my appt out by at least 2 weeks because I have too many pills left when it comes time for my next appt. I take 1 every 7 hours. I used to do every 6 hours and I tried the 7 and it seems to be working. There are a few instances where I'll have to take them every 4 hours for a couple days, depending on what I did to aggravate my back. I have been taking them for 20 years at least. They work just as well as they did in the beginning. Just because a script says take every so many hours doesn't mean you have to. I also do a urine test every time I go. It's not to look only for illegal drugs or medication you shouldn't be taking, it's to make sure the level of pain medication in your system reflects your usage. That way, they know whether you are selling them, using too many or taking them as prescribed. If I told my doctor I hurt so bad I had to take them every 4 hours the whole month and the level in my system didn't reflect that, he may just drop me as his patient because he would assume I was selling them and not taking them. Same if I said I take them every 6 hours but the amount in my system was too high for that, he'd know I was lying. By being compliant and truthful, people who really have a need for them don't need to worry.

Typical government trying to regulate. What happens with this particular endeavor, which was sold as War on Drugs, only punishes the people who are seeking legimate ways to treat their pain. A study showed that the folks obtaining the medication legally are less likely to abuse the medication. Meanwhile others are shooting up on the streets and littering the street with syringes.

Well put. Watching the numerous media stories about the "opiod crisis" is so upsetting. It's never about us, those in need. My internal medicine doctor and orthopedic surgeon both refuse to prescribe me anything for pain. My primary care physician argues with me about how well the hydrocodone help. He says they don't do anything for your pain after 2 weeks! Whatever studies came out to support the forces withdrawl of what I'm sure is millions of paties are bogus. Ibruprofin doesn't do it. Since I haven't been able to get anything for my failed TKR revision surgery, I cannot walk without crippling pain. My leg has began to atrophy. All we can do is hope. If I thought a protest would help here in rural Wyoming, I'd do it.

If only we had the power to change minds, but their minds are made up and there is really nothing we can do about it. Your dr.'s are not there for you are they? Their surgical intervention was a failure and now they refuse to give you relief from pain. Stop visiting their offices and paying them for nothing. At least you can save a little money if nothing else. Sometimes it is easier said than done but maybe there are measures you can take to help yourself. Do a lot of searching on the internet. You may find something. Even a nugget of information is better than "Take an Ibuprophen." Sometimes I use DMSO and it helps a bit. Maybe it will help you.
If your doc will give you 2 weeks worth of hydrocodone take it and try it out. If it works for you then at least you have that knowledge. Once you know it helps you can be the dr.'s biggest pain until he or she relents and prescribes another 2 weeks worth. If we don't keep advocating for ourselves we are forgotten.

Can you find a pain management doctor? I see pain management and rehabilitation doctor.

I have an upcoming appointment. I have hope! Thanks:)

I have been weaning off Fentanyl so that I can go back on hydrocodone. But most physicians don’t want to prescribe pain medication. I have multiple sclerosis (secondary progressive) with spine damage/pain, sever muscle spasms and in places where it causes other pain problems, like piriformis syndrome (piriformis muscle under the pelvic disturbs the sciatic nerve, in my case for both legs/feet. I take muscle relaxants, but I am suffer rigidity. It was my neurologist and physical medicine/rehabilitative physicians who started the opioids and introduced me to fentanyl. I have to come off it because Medicare D doesn’t approve of its use. I am at the mercy of my prescription company to get formulary exceptions to get fentanyl until I am off it. I am in pain every day mostly 5-8 on a scale 1-10. And i do get days when it is 10+. I have used Botox injections. My neurologist is not fond of baclofen pumps for relieving muscle spasms. I have paraspinal muscle spasms, in the hands, forearms and places you would never imagine. I tried Botox and too much weakens to the point you need PT or OT. I have had cortisone/nerve blocks. Plenty of yoga, PT/OT. With aging it gets harder. The opioid crisis is serious but for people who need pain medicine it is terrible situation. In my state you must see the the physician once a month to get your prescription which is faxed to my retail pharmacy. We make small talk each month. I paying to see a physician every month and periodically give a urinalysis for drug testing. I tried even marijuana approved for MS in my state, but one cannot guarantee the strength or type one will received at a dispensary. Neurologist is afraid it will effect cognitive skills, since my disease already impacts cognitive skills (memory) and personality. I have had this disease for almost 37 years and probably longer. That is when it was diagnosed. It is frustrating at times. I will continue massage therapy and maybe look into accupuncture which is not always covered by insurance, depending on facility, physician and number of sessions. I feel like a guinea pig trying various treatment plans and physicians. And i am the one who has to deal with pain.