3 ms·

One naive question, since I have no contact to anyone taking opioids: what is it that people get from the drug? For what is it used for exactly? If it’s regula

by baxtr 3y ago

One naive question, since I have no contact to anyone taking opioids: what is it that people get from the drug? For what is it used for exactly? If it’s regular pain, then why not “simply” prescribe Aspirin or Ibuprofen instead?

badpun 3y ago
Aspirin or Ibupofren have their limits.
- herbst 3y ago
  That's where opiads (and other substances come in) just not before you hit those limits.
carlmr 3y ago
Ibuprofen is basically the German strategy. It's not super strong, but everything else is only for extreme pain. Get your wisdom teeth pulled? Ibuprofen. Broke some bones? Ibuprofen. Burn victim? Maybe some opiates. The strategy works. Better to have some pain, than to get hooked on opiates.
- hef19898 3y ago
  You do get opiods after surgery so, if you want. Only for limited periods of time so.
  - wil421 3y ago
    Same experience but I’m in the US.
- overstay8930 3y ago
  German doctors will unironically tell people to drink tea and go on a walk to treat mental illnesses.
  - carlmr 3y ago
    Yep, I would say this is one of the worse parts of the German medical system. Many medical professionals don't take mental health that seriously.
bloopernova 3y ago
I was in a serious road accident decades ago. I have been in pain ever since. This pain is not lessened by over the counter painkillers. Plus over the counter painkillers are harmful to take in large doses over a long term. My nerves are damaged by something in my back. (it hasn't been determined what, just that the damage occurs) I am in a debilitating amount of pain. So I take an opioid several times a day. Before the opioid crisis I was taking 10mg morphine twice a day. Now I take Suboxone, I'm in more pain but not a paralyzing amount. To your question about what it's like: strong opioids bring a euphoric numb lightness. If you're in a vulnerable place in your life where you are not well supported and don't experience much joy, then that euphoria can be overwhelming. You might want to feel that again ASAP because compared to being in pain, depressed, anxious, you felt pretty good for a while.
- undersuit 3y ago
  I hope you're doing well as you can. I injured my back many years ago and I was worried about developing a habit. Surgery and PT have got me back to 95% though I occasionally use medical marijuana as a crutch for bad days. I count myself lucky, not everyone can deal with their symptoms with exercise and light medication.
  - bloopernova 3y ago
    I am doing OK, thank you. I have some useful exercises, like the piriformis stretch, that help me manage the pain level. Plus I am thankful to be able to walk my dog for 2 to 4 miles in one go, several times a week, so my physical fitness isn't completely in the toilet :)
- baxtr 3y ago
  Thanks so much for sharing. I’m sorry to hear about your injury. The “euphoric numb lightness” was what I was looking for.
fragmede 3y ago
the way I've heard it described, faced with the ills of the world, heroin/opiate users just wanna crawl back into the womb. methamphetamine/stimulant users want to fix the world/their world.
- TillE 3y ago
  There are tons of occasional recreational oxy users, and at that level the effect is basically a pure euphoria, blissful happiness. Ironically addiction risk is also low if your usage pattern is 1-2 times per month, much much lower than someone who has been prescribed a small daily dose.
- copx 3y ago
  ..and benzodiazepine users just don't want to care anymore.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
lemmox 3y ago
Many years ago my wife fell down the stairs and suffered, what turned out to be, a broken fragment of bone that poked into a nerve. It took quite awhile to diagnose it because <medicine is hard>. Along that journey to diagnosis she was almost bedridden, and in excruciating pain, most of the time with with physio, chiropractors, muscle treatments, nerve pain meds, etc, all failing to help her function. The opioids she was prescribed made it so she could function. She was high, "dreamy" (for lack of a better word), reported still feeling the pain, but could function. The day after the neurosurgeon performed her spine surgery she voluntarily stopped the opioids and finished her healing from the procedure with ibuprofen. She never looked back and described never feeling an urge to take the meds again. I wish I could say that this experience gave us some great insight into the complexity of opioids but it didn't. In her case they did their job until she didn't need them anymore and that was that. I don't read anything more into it then that.

by baxtr 3y ago

badpun 3y ago

Aspirin or Ibupofren have their limits.

herbst 3y ago
That's where opiads (and other substances come in) just not before you hit those limits.

carlmr 3y ago

Ibuprofen is basically the German strategy. It's not super strong, but everything else is only for extreme pain. Get your wisdom teeth pulled? Ibuprofen. Broke some bones? Ibuprofen. Burn victim? Maybe some opiates. The strategy works. Better to have some pain, than to get hooked on opiates.

hef19898 3y ago
You do get opiods after surgery so, if you want. Only for limited periods of time so.
- wil421 3y ago
  Same experience but I’m in the US.
overstay8930 3y ago
German doctors will unironically tell people to drink tea and go on a walk to treat mental illnesses.
- carlmr 3y ago
  Yep, I would say this is one of the worse parts of the German medical system. Many medical professionals don't take mental health that seriously.

bloopernova 3y ago

I was in a serious road accident decades ago. I have been in pain ever since. This pain is not lessened by over the counter painkillers. Plus over the counter painkillers are harmful to take in large doses over a long term. My nerves are damaged by something in my back. (it hasn't been determined what, just that the damage occurs) I am in a debilitating amount of pain. So I take an opioid several times a day. Before the opioid crisis I was taking 10mg morphine twice a day. Now I take Suboxone, I'm in more pain but not a paralyzing amount. To your question about what it's like: strong opioids bring a euphoric numb lightness. If you're in a vulnerable place in your life where you are not well supported and don't experience much joy, then that euphoria can be overwhelming. You might want to feel that again ASAP because compared to being in pain, depressed, anxious, you felt pretty good for a while.

undersuit 3y ago
I hope you're doing well as you can. I injured my back many years ago and I was worried about developing a habit. Surgery and PT have got me back to 95% though I occasionally use medical marijuana as a crutch for bad days. I count myself lucky, not everyone can deal with their symptoms with exercise and light medication.
- bloopernova 3y ago
  I am doing OK, thank you. I have some useful exercises, like the piriformis stretch, that help me manage the pain level. Plus I am thankful to be able to walk my dog for 2 to 4 miles in one go, several times a week, so my physical fitness isn't completely in the toilet :)
baxtr 3y ago
Thanks so much for sharing. I’m sorry to hear about your injury. The “euphoric numb lightness” was what I was looking for.

fragmede 3y ago

the way I've heard it described, faced with the ills of the world, heroin/opiate users just wanna crawl back into the womb. methamphetamine/stimulant users want to fix the world/their world.

TillE 3y ago
There are tons of occasional recreational oxy users, and at that level the effect is basically a pure euphoria, blissful happiness. Ironically addiction risk is also low if your usage pattern is 1-2 times per month, much much lower than someone who has been prescribed a small daily dose.
copx 3y ago
..and benzodiazepine users just don't want to care anymore.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

lemmox 3y ago

Many years ago my wife fell down the stairs and suffered, what turned out to be, a broken fragment of bone that poked into a nerve. It took quite awhile to diagnose it because <medicine is hard>. Along that journey to diagnosis she was almost bedridden, and in excruciating pain, most of the time with with physio, chiropractors, muscle treatments, nerve pain meds, etc, all failing to help her function. The opioids she was prescribed made it so she could function. She was high, "dreamy" (for lack of a better word), reported still feeling the pain, but could function. The day after the neurosurgeon performed her spine surgery she voluntarily stopped the opioids and finished her healing from the procedure with ibuprofen. She never looked back and described never feeling an urge to take the meds again. I wish I could say that this experience gave us some great insight into the complexity of opioids but it didn't. In her case they did their job until she didn't need them anymore and that was that. I don't read anything more into it then that.