3 ms·

Are prescription opioids still being widely prescribed as a painkiller these days in the US?

by mathieubordere 5y ago

WesleyHale 5y ago
Anecdotal, but ~a week after my surgery 3 years ago I told my doctor I quit taking my pain meds 2 days post-op as I wasn't in pain anymore and don't like pills. I was initially given a 14 day supply. Upon hearing this he asked me if I needed more or would like a stronger variant. This was at a higher tier facility that works on professional athletes in the NFL and MLB.
- the_only_law 5y ago
  I got out of surgery last year after a deep cut following a fall. It was indeed painful as hell for some weeks afterwards, but I didn’t particularly ask for anything. I honestly just wanted to get out of the hospital and was annoyed they kept me overnight. But I walked out with a prescription for... guess what.
WarOnPrivacy 5y ago
Depends on the state. Many (if not most) have declared some sort of war on pain relief. In the worst, effective pain meds are all but impossible to get. My adult son was recently cycling and sent flying by a jeep. He's in tons of pain but none of the injuries are serious. The ER isn't willing to Rx anything stronger than ibuprofen. I recent had abdominal surgery. I had to beg just to get Tramadol. I've a friend with crippling arthritis, who'd responsibly taken opioids for years and was cut off after the state passed draconian anti-opioid laws. This is forcing him to consider actually risky drugs just so he can function at minimal levels. At some point we need to give a crap about the millions who've lost their quality of life due to anti-opioid hysteria. We are WAY past time to stop conflating typical Rx pain meds with blackmarket fentanyl. The bulk of the pill mill problem was tackled a decade ago. News reporting on opioid overdoses that infers Rxs are the major current driver is patently false.

3 ms·

Are prescription opioids still being widely prescribed as a painkiller these days in the US?

by mathieubordere 5y ago

Are prescription opioids still being widely prescribed as a painkiller these days in the US?

WesleyHale 5y ago
Anecdotal, but ~a week after my surgery 3 years ago I told my doctor I quit taking my pain meds 2 days post-op as I wasn't in pain anymore and don't like pills. I was initially given a 14 day supply. Upon hearing this he asked me if I needed more or would like a stronger variant. This was at a higher tier facility that works on professional athletes in the NFL and MLB.
- the_only_law 5y ago
  I got out of surgery last year after a deep cut following a fall. It was indeed painful as hell for some weeks afterwards, but I didn’t particularly ask for anything. I honestly just wanted to get out of the hospital and was annoyed they kept me overnight. But I walked out with a prescription for... guess what.
WarOnPrivacy 5y ago
Depends on the state. Many (if not most) have declared some sort of war on pain relief. In the worst, effective pain meds are all but impossible to get. My adult son was recently cycling and sent flying by a jeep. He's in tons of pain but none of the injuries are serious. The ER isn't willing to Rx anything stronger than ibuprofen. I recent had abdominal surgery. I had to beg just to get Tramadol. I've a friend with crippling arthritis, who'd responsibly taken opioids for years and was cut off after the state passed draconian anti-opioid laws. This is forcing him to consider actually risky drugs just so he can function at minimal levels. At some point we need to give a crap about the millions who've lost their quality of life due to anti-opioid hysteria. We are WAY past time to stop conflating typical Rx pain meds with blackmarket fentanyl. The bulk of the pill mill problem was tackled a decade ago. News reporting on opioid overdoses that infers Rxs are the major current driver is patently false.