How to ask your doctor for opioid painkillers (why doctors are so stingy?)

#painkiller #opioids #chronicpain

Do doctors deny you pain meds? Learn the real reason why doctors are so stingy about pain medications and how you can get the treatment you deserve.

The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on communities across the United States. Opioid pain medications are highly addictive, and the misuse and abuse of these medications have led to a significant increase in overdose deaths. As a result, doctors are now much more hesitant to prescribe these medications, even for patients who are dealing with severe pain.

The risks of doctors prescribing opioid pain medications are significant. These medications are highly addictive and can lead to physical dependence, even when used as prescribed. In addition, they can have a range of side effects, including constipation, nausea, dizziness, and confusion. For patients who are at risk of addiction or who have a history of substance abuse, these risks are even greater.

Furthermore, other non-opioid pain medications are evidence-based and can be just as effective as opioid pain medications. These medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, and certain antidepressants and anticonvulsants. In many cases, these medications can be used in combination with other treatments, such as physical therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy, to provide effective pain relief.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines for doctors to follow when prescribing opioid pain medications. These guidelines recommend using the lowest effective dose of opioids for the shortest possible duration, and avoiding prescribing opioids for chronic pain whenever possible. The guidelines also recommend considering non-opioid treatments and using prescription drug monitoring programs to help prevent misuse and abuse of opioids.

If you are dealing with severe pain and are struggling to get your doctor to prescribe pain medications, there are ways to approach the conversation that can help to invoke curiosity and understanding. It is important to be honest about your pain and how it is affecting your daily life, but it is also important to acknowledge the risks of opioid pain medications and to express a willingness to try non-opioid alternatives.

It is also important to be aware of the risks of addiction personality when asking for pain medications. People who have a history of substance abuse, mental health issues, or other risk factors for addiction may be more vulnerable to the addictive properties of opioid pain medications. In some cases, it may be necessary to seek out alternative treatments or to work with a pain management specialist who can provide more targeted and personalized care.

In conclusion, doctors are hesitant to prescribe opioid pain medications due to the significant risks of addiction and other side effects, as well as the toll of the opioid epidemic on communities across the United States. There are other non-opioid pain medications that are evidence-based and can provide effective pain relief. The CDC has released guidelines for doctors to follow when prescribing opioid pain medications, including using the lowest effective dose of opioids for the shortest possible duration and considering non-opioid treatments. If you are struggling to get your doctor to prescribe pain medications, it is important to approach the conversation with honesty, understanding, and a willingness to try non-opioid alternatives. It is also important to be aware of the risks of addiction personality and to seek out alternative treatments or work with a pain management specialist as needed. With the right approach and the right care, it is possible to manage pain effectively and safely.

This video/speech/channel DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. Patients with medical concerns should contact their physician. If your concern is an emergency, immediately call 911. This information is not a recommendation for ANY THERAPY. Some substances referenced in this content may be illegal, and this content is not a recommendation for, or endorsement of, their use in any way.

[newmonengineering]

Personally I feel that the medical system is failing people whom actually have pain. They are no longer getting treated properly, they are suffering pain because the doctors refuse to prescribe pills that may have addiction. It's sad, we have tools to help yet we force them to suffer. I'm speaking for myself. I have a really messed up back and have had neck surgery and injections and radio ablation and yet I am destined to simply suffer because they are preventing me from a possible addiction. I swear I feel like a class action needs to fix this. If I am ok with the risks and know the side effects and decide that I will take a pill during the morning to start work, and another at night to sleep the doctors should do their jobs not condem me to miserable pain. You want to know what is depressing? Try being in pain all your life and being treated like a drug addict for asking for pain pills.

[darkmoongoddess]

My paraplegic uncle committed suicide in April 2021 after months of begging for some relief. His doctor accused him of being a drug seeker because he wasn't given enough to actually help him. That man never took pain meds until his 60s. He was 70 when he passed. The neglect his doctor showed is unforgivable & inexcusable. Period. Doctors, stop treating every single person in pain like they're drug addicts! Just stop. Not treating pain is literally killing your patients.

[samd]

My sister was on the ER floor blacking out from pain in between what was described as primal screams. Because the nurses and doctors thought she was drug seeking, they mocked her and left her there. She doesn’t drink, do drugs, nothing, she’s a principal of a school. She had severe ovarian torsion. There has to be a better way. Even if she was drug seeking, no one deserves to be treated like that. It’s very sad, I really feel for people with chronic pain conditions.

[meganluke]

No excuse for failing to provide appropriate pain relief ever!

[thewilltowalk]

Why should I be punished for the misdoings of others when I am a chronic pain patient who requires opiates despite being the “good” chronic pain patient??…I take my medications exactly as prescribed, have 2 spinal cord stimulators, I’ve tried all the alternatives, and am allergic to all nerve medications. If you have a heart condition, diabetes, etc. you aren’t judged for needing certain meds to survive. I have CRPS…nicknamed the Suicide Disease for the pain it causes…it causes your nerves to burn you alive. It turned me into a below knee amputee last year by burning off my foot/lower leg and has taken over most of my body. Opiates are the medication I need to survive each day, and I hate feeling judged because the only medication that keeps me alive is being demonized because of those who have misused it. You can’t judge the person using this pain management tool unless you are in their shoes…or shoe in my case. I believe that anyone judging a chronic pain patient for using opiates should be forced to live in their body for a week with nothing but over the counter meds and the “warm and fuzzy” alternatives like deep breathing and meditation. People do not “get it” until you live it #chronicpainkills

[MrsEyes]

Surely you didn't say take Tylenol 3 and do yoga and you'll be ok?
If you can't bend and twist your body due to excruciating pain, that's not going to be a solution for them.
The best solution is, give the opoids. Give adults what they need manage their lives. Trust that they have the life experiences and common sense to safely manage their pain. If a Dr sees they don't have sense enough to do it, then wean them off.
One thing I am certain of:
There is no quality of life when you're forced to live in pain 24/7. NONE.

[stormdancer]

I was on Norco for three years for chronic pain. I NEVER took more than prescribed, (never even took the total daily dose, I broke them in half). I never needed a script early, and never asked for anything stronger. I ALWAYS had medication left over at the end of the month. I only took them when I really needed it.
Then my doctor told me, after almost 3 years, that some study showed that narcotics do not work for my kind of pain (fibro), so she wasn't giving me any more. I told her, "But it's worked for 3 years." She said, "Well, the study shows different so no more."
How ignorant can you get?
Now, it's like pulling teeth to even get my doctor to acknowledge my pain exists, much less get it treated.

How they treat chronic pain patients is nothing short of state-sponsored long-term torture, and it's pure evil.

[robertahubert]

I have been on pain medications for 25 years now. Thank God i have a doctor who understands my pain.

[PatrickBateman]

Having oxycodone for my back has literally saved my life. I had back surgery exactly one year ago and this really helped, but being on oxycodone allows me to have a semi-regular life. Instead of being in bed all day with pain, I can go to the gym and do some weight training, do some activities with my family etc. It is wrong to make wide across-the-board decisions on narcotics and each person must be evaluated individually. Legislators negating narcotics accros-the-board are causing IMMENSE SUFFERING

[lisaclark]

Problem is, the rest of us in pain 24/7/365 for years has to pay for that choice the One person chose.

[hadassah]

It’s sickening when you realize there’s medication that will help you, but no one will help you. 😢

[Mirovanje]

As a former RN may I just say that while acetaminophen is great for reducing fevers and for mild pain, it is a not a substitute for stronger pain medication. Not even close. Also, because its effects are mild people often tend to take more than they really should, which can lead to liver damage over time. Of course opioids can be addictive, but they are highly effective. Since pain slows down the body's healing, eliminating pain actually allows the body to heal faster. Because patients depend on a physician to prescribe effective pain relief, it puts them in a vulnerable position, So, it's incredibly insulting to then be treated as a drug seeker/addict when they make a request for something stronger to relieve their pain. Dr. K makes some great points in this video but I have personally had enough post-op experiences to know that being stingy with opioids makes a patient suffer needlessly, extending both the pain and the healing.

[stevenspitzer]

So much for " every patient has a right to be pain-free".

[karyannfontaine]

In 2005, I had thoracic surgery. I was sent home where I was in agony. I was also on chemo. I could not move, eat, drink. The hospital said I had to go back to the hospital or not be given anything. My oncologist finally ordered morphine for a month. I did not become addicted. I am now 73, with osteoporosis, arthritis of the spine and neck, spred SI joint, broken pelvis in 2 places. My insurance Co sent me a letter saying I have been taking Tramadol over 80 days. I have been taking that for Bone Pain for 20 years. They cut me down last year and I use alcohol every day now because I do not have enough pain control. I have not taken street drugs yet, but I am thinking I may, just for a few good days. Why do the make Seniors suffer? The war on drugs is a war on people with severe pain.

[pjmacinnes]

I'm a former addiction counselor and I can assure you, those that need and would NOT abuse these medications suffer greatly because of the actions of those prone to addiction. They are NOT the same and should not be made to suffer. Untreated pain leads to extreme, desperate measures. Would having the death of a suicidal patient on your conscience be any different than the one addiction caused? Denying those who are desperately in need of relief is not the answer.

[LeahMarissa]

Any time I hear a doctor tell someone in pain to “mediate, yoga, chi, etc” BS,
I literally want to see them lose their license.
And I’m not a pain patient

[brianhoward]

I can *guarantee* the *same* doctors that refuse to properly prescribe pain medication for serious injuries would not refuse themselves or their family members that *very same* pain medication for the *very same* injuries. Sickening.

[makaylaforbes]

I laugh at my nurses every time they tell me I just need to be more active, I don't need pain meds, because pain won't be lethal. I laugh at them because how do they expect me to be as active as they want me to be if it hurts too much to walk?

[Kathy]

I've asked my doctors a couple times for pain meds .... they made me feel like a junkie . Now I'm embarrassed to ask.

[FrancieMoon]

My mom was in the hospital twice this winter in horrible pain and they let her lay in the hospital for days without giving her ANYTHING. I was outraged. They literally did NOTHING to help her.