3 ms·

I have chronic headache, caused by some kind of vascular dystonia (still can't be properly diagnosed). I would say, opioid-based painkillers is a terrible way t

I have chronic headache, caused by some kind of vascular dystonia (still can't be properly diagnosed). I would say, opioid-based painkillers is a terrible way to treat chronic pain on a long-term scale. Not to mention harm it cause to your liver (especially when medicine has Acetaminaphen as one of components), all opioids have tolerance - sooner or later it would stop helping you, until you bump into maximum daily dose. Also, all opioids have withdrawal effect. Imagine yourself flying from one country to another, there's no way you can bring any strong painkiller with you, unless you want to be accused of drug trafficking. You have to bring prescription with you, see a doc in other country and buy medicine, it may take up to week. All this time you're going to experience pain AND withdrawal effect. I would not say about others, but I sincerely hope that soon would be available medical marijuana without affecting cognitive abilities, allowing you work, drive etc.

bill_from_tampa 6y ago
The effectiveness of chronic opioids for pain is really patient and disease dependent. My SO has chronic abdominal and widespread somatic pain diagnosed with autoimmune small fiber polyneuropathy (by biopsy) and also chronic intermittent small bowel obstruction (diagnosed by gastrografin small bowel xray, thought due to peritoneal adhesions). Local surgeons refuse to try to lyse adhesions. But opiates have been helpful and remain helpful 8 years into the disease process. They are pretty much the only thing that helps (have tried pain psychology, acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy, several antidepressants, lyrica, gabapentin, celiac plexus block). So persons with chronic (apparently incurable) disease with pain that responds to opioids <should> have access to the medication that helps. Maybe only 1/100 or 1/500 persons with chronic pain caused by an underlying disease do have a good response to opioids, apparently that was not your experience -- but please don't deny others the benefit of a medication that is helpful because you found it unhelpful!

bill_from_tampa 6y ago

The effectiveness of chronic opioids for pain is really patient and disease dependent. My SO has chronic abdominal and widespread somatic pain diagnosed with autoimmune small fiber polyneuropathy (by biopsy) and also chronic intermittent small bowel obstruction (diagnosed by gastrografin small bowel xray, thought due to peritoneal adhesions). Local surgeons refuse to try to lyse adhesions. But opiates have been helpful and remain helpful 8 years into the disease process. They are pretty much the only thing that helps (have tried pain psychology, acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy, several antidepressants, lyrica, gabapentin, celiac plexus block). So persons with chronic (apparently incurable) disease with pain that responds to opioids <should> have access to the medication that helps. Maybe only 1/100 or 1/500 persons with chronic pain caused by an underlying disease do have a good response to opioids, apparently that was not your experience -- but please don't deny others the benefit of a medication that is helpful because you found it unhelpful!