How opioids are best used for pain management

From our free online course, “The Opioid Crisis in America”:

A variety of experts discuss the ways in which opioids can be used to treat specific pain under specific conditions. Experts include a pharmacist, psychiatrist, and emergency department physician.


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[caredfor]

People who don’t have chronic pain don’t understand the destruction it causes.

[harrysolas]

Opiods allow people who are in pain to live a normal life. Instead of curled up in bed wishing to die, they can get up, make their own meals or order food. Workers who would apply for disability might be able to extend their work career by two or three years, increasing productivity for US companies. Of course, a doctor must always approve a prescription. Laws presently state that a doctor must approve a prescription each month. This minimizes the chance of negative side effects and increases the lifespan of the sick and the elderly. Thank you for standing up to the barrage of negative propaganda in this country.

[andrewmowen]

I live in PA and I've been in chronic/acute pain throughout my whole body. I've tried all the non narcotic pain relievers and they have done little to no pain relief from them. The doctors I have don't want to prescribe me opiates b/c they have a negative opinions about them. I was once on opiates and they worked really well but the opioid "epidemic" took my pills away. I hope one day I can find a doctor that will work with me in Pennsylvania to get rid of my pain. I don't think I should have to suffer b/c a large group of people just want to get high. I just want to be able to live my life which I can not do in all this pain. I'm 36 and can barely get out of bed b/c of all the pain. Really sucks when you get thrown into a label of being a junkie when you just want to relieve the pain you are in. Its sad to see so many people going to the street to try to get relief and taking the chance that they might die putting god knows what into your body. I find a lot of doctors who are just scared they might go to jail if they give out narcotic medicine. I feel a lot of these doctors don't care about the patients anymore.

[gaylea.griffin]

What’s truly sad is chronic pain patients who have been on opioids for many years are getting tapered or cut. So let’s make seniors detox and sit on the couch and just wait to die.

[Laura-piht]

Ive been in severe pain for my failed back surgery. It's not getting better. These saved my life and give me life so I can live just a little.

[MAGA]

Why are doctors always saying “talk to your doctor about getting off opioids” when, if one is suffering extreme pain, like neuropathy, that will never go away only worsen, and only relief for QOL is the opioid, why would they stop. Properly managed usage helps many. And we shouldn’t be punished because the system itself cannot manage abusers.

[CycleDoc]

This video was made 6 years ago...I would love to hear these contributors comment on the CURRENT (2023) state of pain management now that the destruction these CDC "guidelines" and the MANDATORY restrictions imposed by states have caused is now complete. As an MD being persecuted by my state board for managing less than 30 patients with chronic pain medications, I would really like to hear from these people, especially the last speaker. Should I just tell my patients to treat their pain with street drugs? Is that what you want? Because that is what is causing the current opioid overdose crisis.

[betsyroberts]

I have been treated for chronic pain for many years by pain specialists at pain management clinics with a combination of treatments: nerve blocks, trigger point injections, spinal nerve ablation procedures, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and pharmaceutical medication - for neuropathic, musculoskeletal as well as posttraumatic pain from injuries and several serious medical conditions.

I take the narcotics agreement as well as my pain treatments very seriously; an example being in 25 years I have never had a dirty drug screen. I also use only 1 pharmacy, go to my appointments, follow my doctor's advice, etc. The result: after being pretty much housebound for years, I got my life back.

At the age of 63 I'm living a really happy life thanks to my doctors, my medical treatment, and my medication. Saying I got my life back isn't really accurate....I have a better life now.

Anyone needing treatment for chronic pain should ask their primary care provider for a referral to a pain specialist.

[martinmaz]

Doctors are sadists! How can they not treat chronic pain patients!

[pamelamolina]

Undertreating pain leads to self medicating and suicide

[cindylee]

Cancer survivor here. I had major surgery where they went through my low back. 7 in incision. Peeled back my muscle and removed a tumor from iliac crest bone. Then used bone cement to reconstruct it. I was sent home with 5mg of hydrocodone #20. I wished I was dead for at least a week. That's 24/7. It was excruciating.

[douglaserickson]

This new era of sophistication. Gotta call bullshit on that!

[sjgsfg]

Instead of opioids my Doctor prescribed naproxen sodium 2x A day 500mg for 20+ years and now my kidneys are in stage 4 failure. Doctors can save a person from n dying and do amazing things but after a Traumatic injury almost getting a leg or arm ripped off a broken back or neck. They can keep you from dying but then they do not take into consideration the long term health issues you have and need lifetime support for.

[casaugustine]

This Doctor has no idea what it’s like to have medical conditions that surgery, physical therapy, injections and other medication does not help with chronic pain. Opioids were the last choice but they work.

Shame on you Doc, you have no idea what it’s like to have a medical condition that greatly reduces quality of life due to constant chronic pain.

[damonhammond]

I had a traumatic spine injury.. I’m 25 and have perment nerve damage through out my legs and have paralysis In my legs. I’m in pain . I can’t live with this. I need help with pain but drs are afraid to prescribe opioids.

[Raw_Roots]

My chronic pain doesn't last 2 to 3 days..

[zakarestoffle]

I've been on pain meds and then had gotten off them for a bit but my pain in my back came back to me at 15 years old if it were not for the Dr I have now who is just the best and he really has good bedside manners and also being on pain killers is not a bad thing cause face it if you need it you need it I know cause I've been on basically every pain killer out there and finally landed on hydromorphone 4 mgs 4 times a day and it has been helping but thank you for making this video

[harrysolas]

Thank you for indicating how necessary opiods can be.

[jojomedic]

You can’t really deduce that in five days the outcome will be the same if that is your lifeline to sleep. If you give me someone who has not slept in five days they are going to be knocking on death’s door, whereas if the pain was addressed especially low back pain they will at least be able to sleep for roughly 4 hours a day and in five days that outcome would truly be different.

[rknoxmusic]

It really should be up to the patient whether they want to take the risk of addiction or not imo. Sometimes all other options have been explored and it should be the PATIENTS CHOICE. They are the ones experiencing severe pain and desperately need help 💔