The title of this link is frustrating and misleading. The article clarifies a bit, but I take issue with Ars linking to the specific study with text stating the methodology is the gold standard. That doesn’t mean the conclusion will hold up to scrutiny, or that “extremity pain” is a meaningful dimension. The type of injury (eg. compound fractures, sprains, etc.) could be more meaningful than where the injury is. There’s no control for injury location.
Also, the CDC guidelines state that opioids are recommended when other treatments fail (regardless of the underlying condition). That key facet was excluded from this article. Ugh.
Apologies, this is a bit of a rant. I have a very painful chronic neurological condition that often requires powerful opioid pain medication to get out of bed (and not commit suicide). Please keep in mind that there are legitimate use cases for opioids. I don’t like them, but combined with biofeedback, PT, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, I’m able to survive until my condition gets better (if it does).
We all understand that opioids should be avoided when possible. Addiction is horrific. I don’t think anybody is arguing that. But please help stop making life exponentially harder for people with legitimate problems that effectively require opioid medications as part of a treatment plan. We have it tough enough already.
The only way out of the current situation is to develop drugs that are at least as effective as opioids, but not addictive (and ideally not psychoactive). I’ve tried everything (yes, an NSAID + acetaminophen, and even intrathecal Ziconotide), but we just aren’t there yet. I hope we get there soon, because I’m sick of the mental cloudiness and health risks of opioids. I want my life back, and I’m sick of fighting just to maintain an acceptable level of pain management.
I was about ready to chime in the same thing. I've been on opiods for six years (not by simple choice). I'm also on a literal 15 other medicines. I take around 30+ pills a day I've had multiple back surguries. I've got on average 3 doctor visits a month (those co-pays add up fast!)... for six years. And this all started in my prime... at 25 years old where I went from starting a Ph.D program... to fighting with every ounce of my strength and mental fortitude to keep from being homeless.
I'm not sitting around, popping pills to get high. And, you can't magically get addicted to opoids if you never take increasing doses (read: follow the prescription). The longer you take them, the high rapidly goes away (drug addicts "chase" it by increasing doses) while the pain relief stays usable for a _much much_ longer period.
After six years, I've gone down on dosages slowly. The relief works fine. And I get zero high. It's like taking a Tylenol for me except it actually helps my pain.
Meanwhile, for 6 to 9 months when I lost my insurance I was stuck with over the counter medicine. I destroyed my gastrointestinal tract and almost my kidneys, just trying to take enough medicine to not commit suicide from the pain.
Are opoids being over perscribed? Yes. duh.
Does treating anyone who takes opoids into an addict, help anyone? NO.
People need to get off their high horses (ha, pun.) and realize pills are pills. You can argue for reduced perscriptions but the second you start villifing actual patients by telling them "you're pain isn't real. just take some Tylenol" you're now apart of the problem. You're not stopping a single person from getting high. You're just helping oppress people who are already so !@$!@ed up that they barely have the energy to keep going, let alone defend themselves from the public's armchair warrior researched lynching.
I've moved plenty of times. I've seen literally dozens of doctors. And almost every single one of them agreed with my diagnosis that I should be on this medicine. What makes you think reading a bloody internet magazine article about a single study makes you think you know better than the doctors who are trying to save my life?
So while yes, I think most people here are more reluctant to be as judgey--and I thank you for it--there are still plenty of people abusing sources to make their soap box point. They think opiods are automatically evil. They're not. They're the "right tool for the right job." end of story. And just because one research study says they're not useful for specific scenario, doesn't mean all scenarios are some secret conspiracy to get healthy people high.
I don't "want" to be an ANY of these medicines. Every single one is a potential liability. I have to keep them with me when I go places. I have to keep them safe from thieves (!!!) at home. I have to monitor how many each I take a day. At 25 years old, I had two 7 day pill counters just a 85 year old man. We don't _want_ to be on these medicines and deal with their side-effects upon side-effects. We're taking them because we have to and the other option is to simply roll over and die.
So forgive me if I sound emotional, when literally one of the tools that keep me alive, is being threatened by both conservative and democrats looking to grandstand to their constituents while nobody actually does anything to stop the abuser.
You can't imagine what it's like when you see someones face (nurse, doctor, police officer) completely change and withdraw the second they find out you're on an opoid. It's unreal. The entire room "goes cold." I dare you to try telling someone that. They stop talking to you and talk _at_ you. I've literally had a cop lie on a police report when he found out I take a medicine that I'm 100% legally prescribed. I've had receptionists not forward my calls to the doctor. I've had people scout out and follow me home.
All because I chose to put a pill in my mouth that a doctor told me to.
I could write an entire book on this stuff by now. I've considered building a YouTube channel about it. As a scientist, I can tell you, it's like walking into another world.
I have a very good friend with a similar story about long term back problems. He was on oxycontin for literally 10 years along with other medications. Multiple back surgeries.
Then when his prescribing doctor got arrested, he ended up detoxing involuntarily at first, and then voluntarily, and he found that he didn't have any pain after he managed to make it through withdrawal.
I honestly think a lot of people with chronic pain that they're treating with opiates are actually treating withdrawal with opiates.
There are medications being developed for conditions like yours. Nav blockers that work only on specifically nociceptor circuits. I have high hope for targeted compounds like this, it would improve the lives of millions.
Also, the CDC guidelines state that opioids are recommended when other treatments fail (regardless of the underlying condition). That key facet was excluded from this article. Ugh.
Apologies, this is a bit of a rant. I have a very painful chronic neurological condition that often requires powerful opioid pain medication to get out of bed (and not commit suicide). Please keep in mind that there are legitimate use cases for opioids. I don’t like them, but combined with biofeedback, PT, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, I’m able to survive until my condition gets better (if it does).
We all understand that opioids should be avoided when possible. Addiction is horrific. I don’t think anybody is arguing that. But please help stop making life exponentially harder for people with legitimate problems that effectively require opioid medications as part of a treatment plan. We have it tough enough already.
The only way out of the current situation is to develop drugs that are at least as effective as opioids, but not addictive (and ideally not psychoactive). I’ve tried everything (yes, an NSAID + acetaminophen, and even intrathecal Ziconotide), but we just aren’t there yet. I hope we get there soon, because I’m sick of the mental cloudiness and health risks of opioids. I want my life back, and I’m sick of fighting just to maintain an acceptable level of pain management.