Re: Digest Number 1142

[Guest guest]

I didn't see Odette's post about what or how much she was taking, but all I

can say is many people in my Chronic pain group would do anything to trade

places. We are all different, and the medication should fit the

individual, but if a person in severe pain cannot get relief it is a crime

and a travesty of the medical profession! When a person has to resort to

suicide to end their unbearable pain, there is something seriously wrong

with the system. Speaking for myself, I was bedridden and in so much pain

I just wanted to give up. I wasn't suicidial, I just wanted to

disappear. I rejected the idea of narcotic pain killers because of fear of

addiction, but this is a lie, addiction is extremely rare in legitimate

pain patients, less than 1%. Yes, you will become *physically dependant*,

but that is very different from addiction! If you are taking almost any

medication long term you will become physically dependent, and that

includes blood pressure meds, cortisone, sleep aids, even coffee! It is a

matter of weaning gradually instead of stopping abruptly. When my pain

became so overwhelming that I had no life, I could not find a doctor to

treat my pain, or even to diagnose it. It was frustrating and humiliating

beyond belief! Just recently I found one after 6 years, and let me assure

you, I feel like I have been given a new lease on life. I do not feel

drugged or cloudy, only much less pain and the ability to get back into

life. We (my Dr, and I) are still experimenting with dosages and drugs,

but his goal (and mine of course) is to find the optimal balance between

pain relief and the fewest possible side effects. Narcotics have mostly

nuisance side effects such as nausea and sleepiness when you first start

taking them, but they subside in short order. In contrast, OTC drugs such

as tylenol and NSAID's kill 16,000 people a year from the liver, kidney and

stomach complications of these drugs. If Odette feels she is being over

medicated, she needs to have that discussion with her doctor for sure, but

also consider herself lucky that she has the option, so many of us cannot

find a doctor willing to help because they choose to be ignorant about

treating pain effectively.

Char

At 07:15 PM 1/19/02 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi Odette,

>I have just read your post and I would be very careful

>about taking all those different types of pain

>killers!!

>Why has he given you so many different types?

>I recentley went to see my own GP and being I have

>just moved to their practice, they were not happy

>about me taking Tramadol (ultram) because of the

>associated addiction to this drug. The only other drug

>I use is Quinine for muscular spasms at night.

>If you went there, I think the dr would have a heart

>attack.

>It sounds like this dr is happy to prescribe you

>anything to get you out of the door and you do need to

>find yourself a new Gp.

>Some of the tablets you are taking could really strip

>the lining of your stomache, if taken without food.

>Take care

>Hugs

>Trish