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

Posted by rayjay535353 @rayjay535353, Sep 18, 2022

Hi, I'm Jaime- 68 year old male having chronic pain for 30 years.
I've had 14 sports related surgeries that began at age 18 and have just gone through 2 Posterior cervical decompression with multi level fusions during the past 18 months. I have been to numerous pain specialists, tried every supplement advertised, have every gadget that is offered online, and have had no less than 25 cortisone shots, knee replacement, epidurals etc. Throughout the 30 years, I have found that Opioids are the only thing that has allowed me a quality of life. Side effects? Show me a medication that doesn't have any. I had to be extremely disciplined to only take as prescribed. If a pain doctor doesn't offer opioids, they should find another profession. I take Hydrocodone 10/325 4 times a day max and less if not needed, Nobody seems to defend the use of opioids, but if you don't abuse it, it could be a life saver, not a killer

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@avalon11

When I was around 14-15 I had a spinal tap for the same problem and had my first shunt installed. Thanks, I did find out about ASAP recently but haven't had a chance to check it out.

Does you son/daughter have chronic pain? Or Scoliosis?

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Yes chronic pain, some scoliosis, uncontrollable nerve/ muscle twitching, not feeling hot or cold, etc also dx with cancer age 25
Had neuro physical therapy-to help with twitching
Has learned meditation which helps too.
Initially trigger point injections with toradol and steroids which took edge off pain but didn’t really last long
Meds, exercises, meditation has allowed them to obtain college degrees and works full time
Dr did not want to drain and shunt it and said not enough space to put in a stimulator for pain. Has regular MRIs to keep a watch on it
Asap conferences are great experts from all over give talks and you get the opportunity to meet other people your age that have same issues! Also it’s interesting how experts differ in their opinions, approach etc.
Hopefully some day they will find a cure



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@dmk


Yes chronic pain, some scoliosis, uncontrollable nerve/ muscle twitching, not feeling hot or cold, etc also dx with cancer age 25
Had neuro physical therapy-to help with twitching
Has learned meditation which helps too.
Initially trigger point injections with toradol and steroids which took edge off pain but didn’t really last long
Meds, exercises, meditation has allowed them to obtain college degrees and works full time
Dr did not want to drain and shunt it and said not enough space to put in a stimulator for pain. Has regular MRIs to keep a watch on it
Asap conferences are great experts from all over give talks and you get the opportunity to meet other people your age that have same issues! Also it’s interesting how experts differ in their opinions, approach etc.
Hopefully some day they will find a cure



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Actually just last year I got some non-hodgkins lymphoma in the right side of my hip and the femur bone that connects to my hip broke clean off. My medical team said that my case was unusual since I'm young and my bones are strong otherwise. It's a long story and I might talk more about in the cancer group sometime. I completed chemo and radiation just in January 2022.

So the question is, mere coincidence or not? Most doctors don't know if theirs a possible connection because not enough research.

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@avalon11

Actually just last year I got some non-hodgkins lymphoma in the right side of my hip and the femur bone that connects to my hip broke clean off. My medical team said that my case was unusual since I'm young and my bones are strong otherwise. It's a long story and I might talk more about in the cancer group sometime. I completed chemo and radiation just in January 2022.

So the question is, mere coincidence or not? Most doctors don't know if theirs a possible connection because not enough research.

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Wow yes that is so interesting lymphoma for my child too at age 25 wonder if there might be a connection. I am hoping with advances in stem cell research they might find help for a variety of conditions.
Are you cancer free now I hope

On Oct 31, 2022, at 10:11 PM, Mayo Clinic Connect wrote:



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@dmk

Wow yes that is so interesting lymphoma for my child too at age 25 wonder if there might be a connection. I am hoping with advances in stem cell research they might find help for a variety of conditions.
Are you cancer free now I hope

On Oct 31, 2022, at 10:11 PM, Mayo Clinic Connect wrote:



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Yes and I'm due for a bone scan in a couple of months, I haven't had any bone pain anywhere so I think it'll check out.

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@dmk


Yes chronic pain, some scoliosis, uncontrollable nerve/ muscle twitching, not feeling hot or cold, etc also dx with cancer age 25
Had neuro physical therapy-to help with twitching
Has learned meditation which helps too.
Initially trigger point injections with toradol and steroids which took edge off pain but didn’t really last long
Meds, exercises, meditation has allowed them to obtain college degrees and works full time
Dr did not want to drain and shunt it and said not enough space to put in a stimulator for pain. Has regular MRIs to keep a watch on it
Asap conferences are great experts from all over give talks and you get the opportunity to meet other people your age that have same issues! Also it’s interesting how experts differ in their opinions, approach etc.
Hopefully some day they will find a cure



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How effective is your stimulator?
How about location of generator ?Near buttocks or abdomen?
Everything stopped helping my nerve pain. I got so stiff dt decreased activity, I’m stiff as a board usually the worse is evenings & night. My intrathecal pain pump is being reduced 10% twice monthly to wean off Opiods, Baclofen, Bupivacaine, Clonidine all in unnecessary pain pump.
New pain management doctor told me to take Alpha Lipoic Acid/ OTC antioxidants. Shockingly the past four days have been remarkable. Driving after two years, new puppy has me everywhere like back yard, training, use of puppy door.
Evenings go back to hell, puppy screeching 😬 Research ALA as it could not hurt & safe, but research necessary for your own proof. Higher dose split twice daily per self research. It’s used for other ailments.
Good luck & Best Regards,
Nancy

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The same here, I barely have a life taking 10mg oxycodone 3-5 times a day now. After taking them for over 20 years, the pain relief effect seems to be less & less or the pain level is increasing. I've been in fear for the past 10 years that a Government knee jerk reaction to the obuse, will leave me without. I doubt I would survive without the drug.

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@pullent

The same here, I barely have a life taking 10mg oxycodone 3-5 times a day now. After taking them for over 20 years, the pain relief effect seems to be less & less or the pain level is increasing. I've been in fear for the past 10 years that a Government knee jerk reaction to the obuse, will leave me without. I doubt I would survive without the drug.

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No one can know another’s pain. While it’s true some side effects worsen over time, it’s our doctors that make that call. I was allergic to morphine, so was put on many synthetic drugs, nerve drugs, pain, all at the same time during my acute stage. At maximum dossge. Getting off them all took me over 5 years and terrible withdrawal side effects. The drugs were killing me, and I could feel it. Fought like hell for medical cannabis legalization. Ended up saving my life. Pain management also was a great tool.

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Becoming depend has been my fear since I started taking opioits over 20 years ago.
I should be taking more than I do, I just suffer.
Unless there is a miricle drug or procedure, I will be taking opiots for the duration anyway, I'm 70.
I posted something about this earlier, possibly my last hope.
I had an IV Infusion with EV-Pure last Wed., it is derived from Umbilical Cords from donated human tissue, to supposedly work with our Stem Cells to reguvinate / repair defects.
Out of pocket cost for me was $6900. I was informed that the Mayo Clinic has involvement.

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@pullent

The same here, I barely have a life taking 10mg oxycodone 3-5 times a day now. After taking them for over 20 years, the pain relief effect seems to be less & less or the pain level is increasing. I've been in fear for the past 10 years that a Government knee jerk reaction to the obuse, will leave me without. I doubt I would survive without the drug.

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I read on Forbes that the CDC is going to vote pretty soon on the possibility of relaxing the red tape for doctor's opioid prescribing limits, so I think theirs some hope.

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I was taking hydrocodone for over 10 years to help with the pain before. I was successful at my work and had a wife and a life. Since I can no longer find a doctor who is willing to prescribe. I am not working now. The pain and fatigue from the pain is too overwhelming. I am very sad, and my life quality is way down. I am struggling economically and socially.
When I was taking the hydrocodone, I was always aware that it was a narcotic and did not abuse it or take it willy Nilly. I never sold it or used it just to get some sort of high. I tried not to take it as much as possible. I knew the longer I took it the more I might have to take in the future to achieve the same amount of relief. When I had a few days off and, on the weekend, when I could relax at home, I would cut my dose way back and not take the hydrocodone as a way to keep my tolerance down.
Unfortunately, some people abused and misused the medication. Yes, some people died, however, most were complicating the medication with alcohol, and fentanyl or heroin and or all the above. Then our politicians who needed something to crow about got involved. Doctors became targets. And so those of us who were responsible with our medications are now suffering. There could have been a better way.

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