Sins Of The Father

[digitS']

433 pain pills for every man, woman and child

It's over a 6 year period. I checked the bottle for my wife's pain meds (which she never took in January) and it is one every 6 hours, so 4/day. An editor who is bit of an alarmist, but still!

You may remember me talking several years ago about my barber. She had fallen on icy steps and broken her arm. But, it wasn't her arm that put her back in the hospital for a second time. No, it was from taking the pain meds as prescribed. They shut down her digestive system.

American Medical Association: "The United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that allow direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. Advertising dollars spent by drug makers have increased by 30 percent in the last two years to $4.5 billion, according to the market research firm Kantar Media."

digitS'

 

[catjac1975]

I had a severe disk injury in around 2004.I used the terrible pain killers. I must say I needed it. You have never felt pain until you have had nerve pain. Childbirth did not even come close. They caused a blockage and I ended up with emergency surgery. Try healing from a back injury while healing from a 8 inch incision.They gave me morphine in the hospital and I kept telling everyone I thought my back pain was healed. What a surprise 4 hours after I got home from the hospital and the morphine had worn off. My back was not injured enough for surgery which of course now I am grateful that I did not have to go through that. I was out of work for 2 months. I have a healthy fear of opiates and was surprised when I went to a PT doctor that he was in no hurry to sit me off of them. I am fortunate that I never felt whatever addicts feel that makes them think they are so wonderful. Took a year of swimming, PT, chiropractor, and acupuncture to get things right.

 

[digitS']

You have never felt pain until you have had nerve pain. Childbirth did not even come close.

Don't tell me that, @catjac1975 !

Okay, I'm just not gonna believe it ... howsomeever, the back nerve pain goes on and on and on. Sometimes, there is a lightening bolt that must take out some nerves but just the dull, continuous cramping can destroy nerve cells, as I understand it. Treatment is important.

Steve

 

[sumi]

No, it was from taking the pain meds as prescribed. They shut down her digestive system.

A few years ago I got given over the counter pain medicine for my sinus headaches. I read the instructions which said to take 2 pills 3x a day…. Codeine. I was as high as a kite after the first dose. Honestly it would've been more helpful if they told me not to drink an energy drink before or after taking one of those pills. That was my second "trip" lol

 

[journey11]

I had a severe disk injury in around 2004.I used the terrible pain killers. I must say I needed it. You have never felt pain until you have had nerve pain. Childbirth did not even come close. They caused a blockage and I ended up with emergency surgery. Try healing from a back injury while healing from a 8 inch incision.They gave me morphine in the hospital and I kept telling everyone I thought my back pain was healed. What a surprise 4 hours after I got home from the hospital and the morphine had worn off. My back was not injured enough for surgery which of course now I am grateful that I did not have to go through that. I was out of work for 2 months. I have a healthy fear of opiates and was surprised when I went to a PT doctor that he was in no hurry to sit me off of them. I am fortunate that I never felt whatever addicts feel that makes them think they are so wonderful. Took a year of swimming, PT, chiropractor, and acupuncture to get things right.

I had read a similar article not long ago, @digitS' , but yours has more graphs and stats. Absolutely despicable, the profit they make off of ruining lives. That is my neck of the woods. I knew many people who did oxy and hydrocodones in high school. They'd crush them and snort them. I was given a prescription for Tylenol 3's after I had a C-section with Savannah. She was transported to Columbus, OH for her heart problem and I had a horrible time trying to get it filled up there (would have taken the time to do it back home had I known.) Then I didn't think they did much for the pain really, but of course I was running around like a crazy person back and forth to the hospital instead of resting at home. I suppose they have to be crushed so they go straight to the brain to make people high. A lot of family doctors now state upfront that they won't treat people for back injuries to avoid it altogether.

 

[digitS']

One of my back events left me on the couch for 3 weeks. I couldn't climb the stairs to get to our 2nd floor bedrooms .

I was uncertain if I could make a doctor appointment because I was having so much pain with sitting. Of course, I wasn't the driver. Leaving the office, I had sat so long that I wasn't able to walk to the car without help. I came away with a prescription for Tylenol 3.

No, it didn't make a lot of difference and it was April and I had to do my taxes! I absolutely knew that I couldn't think clearly enuf to complete the forms and had to get off of the Tylenol 3. Great stuff. It made me stupid!

Really, aspirin and every anti-inflammatory I tried lessened the back pain. Unfortunately, my stomach decided that it would help by replacing the diminished back pain with stomach aches! The cause was confirmed a couple of times by the gastroenterologist, and I had to get off the anti-inflammatories.

Steve

 

[Nyboy]

My nephew goes to a clinic, there is a sign in waiting room no painkillers prescribed if you need please go to ER

 

[digitS']

Wow.

I don't know if that should be the solution. I trust doctors. Sort of. Even with professionals who are smart and, supposed to be compassionate, there needs to be oversight by .... somebody.

Take responsibility, not just as individuals but as a group. Do the best we can. Condemn the failings, try to find ways to forgive those who fail ...

The final prescription for me was Naproxen. Been around for 40 years. It's sold over the counter everywhere. Another helpful anti-inflammatory but also another no-go ... I still rub oil of wintergreen on sometimes. I counted hauling building supplies out of Lowe's and from pickup to garage as 30 minutes of exercise, yesterday .

Steve