What I learned through my recent surgery is that once you’re out of the hospital, doctors won’t really treat pain. I was told to take two extra-strength Tylenol four times a day, when finally I said, “Why am I destroying my liver for something that doesn’t even work?” Oh no, my surgeon told me. It was “synergistic” with the other drugs. It was part of their special pain modality.
I don’t think anyone should be in charge of prescribing for serious pain who hasn’t gone through it themselves. The fact is, opioids work. Doctors should of course be careful with them, but I have no history of abuse and no risk factors. I was taking a minimal dose in the hospital.
And then they sent me home with ten pills. It’s really hard doing physical therapy and bending things that don’t want to bend when you’re in severe pain. (Mind you, I have a very high pain threshold. If I say it hurts, it hurts.)
But the pendulum has swung all the way from handing pills out like candy, to pinching them out as if they were grains of gold. Crazy.
More Than 1 In 5 Americans Experience Chronic Pain. Here’s What To Knowhttps://t.co/1IbZMnoPEs
— Timothy McBride (@mcbridetd) February 25, 2024
When I was in the rehab hospital they did hand them out like candy. I was really glad that I didn’t have any pain because there were going to be enough challenges learning how to live after the stroke without an opioid addiction on top of them.
Even though I never had any pain there and took zero medication for pain, they sent me home with two bottles of Vicodin and a script for a refill.
I mostly gave them away to friends who needed them and couldn’t get access to them (this was pre ACA) and kept a small stash of them for tooth pain.
They do work. When there is enough pain to keep me from sleeping, one of those knocks it back enough to let me sleep so whatever is wrong can heal.