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CAJUNLAWYER
Member
Yea but if I do that, I'm afraid Angus will get into them.
Now I know why there is an opiod epidemic
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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October 9, 2015 at about 1:30 AM I was bicycling home-woke up in the ambulance. Hit by a drunk. They took me to the local trauma center, kept me for observation, gave me a Percocet there and a prescription for it-which I did not bother getting filled. My leg was sore-should have been iced up, but they had other priorities, and I was sore from being smacked. My mother's family were Christian Scientists, so I grew up in a house where health problems were not talked about and there was no "running for Mother's Little Helper".
And my medical knowledge would fit in a thimble.
It does seem to be a repetition of the "Soldiers Disease" of the Civil War and pain management is probably the hardest part of medical treatment. Conversely when criminal gangs were importing drugs into "the 'hood" I don't recall the same uproar, and if we're going to make excuses for stupid and irresponsible behavior...
And my medical knowledge would fit in a thimble.
It does seem to be a repetition of the "Soldiers Disease" of the Civil War and pain management is probably the hardest part of medical treatment. Conversely when criminal gangs were importing drugs into "the 'hood" I don't recall the same uproar, and if we're going to make excuses for stupid and irresponsible behavior...
Word is, just from what I've been told by others of course, that they might
be worth more as barter goods than their cash value
be worth more as barter goods than their cash value
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Way back in 1980 or so, I got my right thumb squashed pretty good by a piece of machinery at work. In the hospital for a couple of weeks while they did reconstruction / skin grafts. I think they kept me and did so much because it was all on workman's comp.
When I checked out they gave me some pills from the hospital pharmacy, it was a huge bottle of Percodan. It was the biggest pill bottle I'd ever seen, but I don't remember the count. It was the size of a soda can.
I went home that morning and picked up the newspaper on the way in, sat down on the sofa and popped a couple of pills with a two-beer chaser. Fell asleep. I woke up eventually and looked out the window..and there was another newspaper in the driveway.
This is how I learned not to mix alcohol and painkillers.
When I checked out they gave me some pills from the hospital pharmacy, it was a huge bottle of Percodan. It was the biggest pill bottle I'd ever seen, but I don't remember the count. It was the size of a soda can.
I went home that morning and picked up the newspaper on the way in, sat down on the sofa and popped a couple of pills with a two-beer chaser. Fell asleep. I woke up eventually and looked out the window..and there was another newspaper in the driveway.
This is how I learned not to mix alcohol and painkillers.
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wetdog1911
Member
That's exactly what I get and it keeps thing manageable. Worked down to this from 150 10-325s/month 10 years ago. Finally gave up on eliminating the pain to just keeping it manageable.
Took about 1 1/2 years to work down from 50mg/day to 22.5mg/day.
Also keep them in a safe.
Rob
Wife had "out patient" surgery today. They prescribed OXY for her..she did not go with them. I had Knee tune up two years ago and I prescribed (2) PBR and an Aleve for myself...Still works great
Not too long ago (last year? or the year before?) my little ol' county in NC had the highest opioid death count FOR THE COUNTRY! I've been to more "Sudden Death" calls than I can count which were O.D.'s. The national discussions are on the "heroin" epidemic, or illicit fentanyl, but it often all starts with prescribed opioids. I've been to too many autopsies of kids and young adults that didn't have to die. Seen too many parents at their wits end. Just a shame. My Sheriff's Office hosts two pill drop boxes and I am the one who empties them. The medications are sent to an incinerator for destruction.
Heck, that can happen to me after just one 12 oz light beer.
Come to think of it, it happens to me without the beer too.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
While in Vietnam (half a century ago) I was hit in the head, right through my steel helmet and tore a chunk out of my scalp while fracturing my skull. 19 years old, bleeding like a hog being slaughtered, crying like a baby because I just knew I was going to die, they loaded me on a helicopter where the medic told me to relax because he had something I was going to like. Shot me up with morphine.
Most beautiful helicopter ride in history. Woke up two days later in Japan. Back for duty in 4 days, nothing more serious than a "greenstick" fracture and some tissue damage.
Fast forward to 1983, after an unsuccessful arthroscopic surgery for knee cartilage damage I had full surgery of the knee. They sent me home with Dilaudid (morphine) for pain and Demerol (to help me sleep). First night home I took my meds while watching the evening news. Woke up at close to noon the next day. I remember that my vision went completely tunnel, then closed to black just like a movie trailer.
Fast forward again to 2018. Orthopedic surgery of the left shoulder. They sent me home with morphine sulphate and oxycodone. Slept through the first night without pain meds, and if you can sleep through the night unmedicated you don't really need paid meds.
This year, in August, had surgery on my right wrist and elbow. Sent me home with Vicodin. Again, slept through the night without meds so I did not take any meds.
I have a lot of pills locked up in my safe and I continue to remind myself to take them into the VA Clinic next time I go and put them in the disposal box. There might be some "street value" there, but that **** scares me to death so I will never allow anyone to have it.
Most beautiful helicopter ride in history. Woke up two days later in Japan. Back for duty in 4 days, nothing more serious than a "greenstick" fracture and some tissue damage.
Fast forward to 1983, after an unsuccessful arthroscopic surgery for knee cartilage damage I had full surgery of the knee. They sent me home with Dilaudid (morphine) for pain and Demerol (to help me sleep). First night home I took my meds while watching the evening news. Woke up at close to noon the next day. I remember that my vision went completely tunnel, then closed to black just like a movie trailer.
Fast forward again to 2018. Orthopedic surgery of the left shoulder. They sent me home with morphine sulphate and oxycodone. Slept through the first night without pain meds, and if you can sleep through the night unmedicated you don't really need paid meds.
This year, in August, had surgery on my right wrist and elbow. Sent me home with Vicodin. Again, slept through the night without meds so I did not take any meds.
I have a lot of pills locked up in my safe and I continue to remind myself to take them into the VA Clinic next time I go and put them in the disposal box. There might be some "street value" there, but that **** scares me to death so I will never allow anyone to have it.
Tex1001
Member
Rusty, do you get a drug test every 30 days? I've had to for years.
I've been under a pain specialist's care for 12 years for my motorcycle injury from my LEO days. I too get 90 every 30 days.
In the last year the subtle harassment from my pharmacist has really ramped up. My doctor is sympathetic.
Nope. I haven't had a drug test since the Air Force's "Golden Flow" program.
vonn
US Veteran
Last December I was hit by something called Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, for two and one half months I was in so much pain I would have chewed my arm off if I could have. Sent me to the emergency room twice when I just couldn't stand it anymore. They made me wait 12 hours before they did anything and then gave a shot that was minimal relief. No one would give me anything stronger than aspirin because of the fear of opioids. I paid a heavy price because of drug abusers and the stupid responses to the problem. Yes they are dangerous but nothing else can give the relief they are capable of. I vote for letting the dopers do what they want but don't make others suffer unnecessarily.
20 years ago when I had knee surgery they gave me a bottle that looked like a generic bulk aspirin bottle. Last year when I had shoulder surgery I got 5 tablets. If I needed any more, back to the dr. I rarely took one, but the physical therapist told me to please take one about an hour before I came. On the first visit I found out why.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
My regular MD sent me to a pain specialist doctor. He took me off OxyContin.
Back in Dec 2013, I had partial knee replacement on both knees at the same time. The doctor gave me a prescription for 100 Vicodin and I might not have gotten it filled because I wasn't really in that much pain, but a nice young man showed up with a backpack full of pill bottles the next morning and was distributing them to the patients. He had a list of everyone in the ward that had knee replacement (I think the doc did four or five a day) and their electronic prescriptions on his ipad. He said it was a free service provided by the hospital and there was no obligation or extra money involved. Mrs tlawler was there waiting for me to get discharged and gladly accepted the pills on my behalf. All they did was make me sleep, which was good if I wanted to sleep, but when I fell asleep standing up and barely avoided face planting on the kitchen tile, I knew it was time to set them aside during the day. I would still take one before bed because they would knock me out pretty good and keep me from moving and tossing and turning which caused me to wake up in pain. I think I used 10 or 12 total before I started relying on 800mg naproxen which dulled the pain by reducing the inflammation. The Mrs. ended up finishing the bottle due to her various aches and pains over the course of several months, so I can't say she really abused them, just put them to use. Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to mention that prescription service that may seem so convenient. I wonder how many post-op patients end up addicted because of that convenience?
But, and per my post 8 above, I don't get why anyone would get addicted. Is it because, for some people without the pills, the pain, whatever its origin, is chronic? I.e, never goes away without the pills?
Re: Physical Therapist. Oh boy! I remember 1998. Recovering from 2/3 degree burns. Lady who led me through the PT routine was the gift of God. As they were getting stuff off my hand, she ask me ... "Do you want a hand or a claw?" About a year later, I was well on the way to having a hand. PTL. But, the pain pills, whatever it was they gave me I don't know. I just took them as ordered and was thankful. Doctor told me it wouldn't stop the pain but it'd "take the edge off." Coming off that stuff was kind of hard. Don't remember much of it.
Broke my left hand in March of this year. Was given Oxycontin. Took a week before the Doctor could do surgery and cast the hand. Pins sticking out were aggravating. Still have five of the pills. Guess I'll hold on to them. Never know if or when they might come in handy. Sincerely. bruce.
Broke my left hand in March of this year. Was given Oxycontin. Took a week before the Doctor could do surgery and cast the hand. Pins sticking out were aggravating. Still have five of the pills. Guess I'll hold on to them. Never know if or when they might come in handy. Sincerely. bruce.
That and a short half life. I think it's only 12 hours or so
sureshotbob
Member
Back in 2011 I had to have lower back surgery to repair 2 disk's . Ever sense then I have sciatic pain .
I've tried the shot's in the spine with no luck also tried Gabapentin with no luck. The only thing that help's is the Vicodin 5/325 if I take it when the pain first starts.
A script for 30 pill's last me 2-5 months. At the worst the most I've ever had to take was 2 pill's in 24 hour's any more than that I get sick and start throwing up.
Recently whenever I need to get a refill I must see my Doctor for a exam and sign off on a form that go's to the govt.
My Doctor knows I only take them when really needed .
I've tried the shot's in the spine with no luck also tried Gabapentin with no luck. The only thing that help's is the Vicodin 5/325 if I take it when the pain first starts.
A script for 30 pill's last me 2-5 months. At the worst the most I've ever had to take was 2 pill's in 24 hour's any more than that I get sick and start throwing up.
Recently whenever I need to get a refill I must see my Doctor for a exam and sign off on a form that go's to the govt.
My Doctor knows I only take them when really needed .
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But, and per my post 8 above, I don't get why anyone would get addicted. Is it because, for some people without the pills, the pain, whatever its origin, is chronic? I.e, never goes away without the pills?
Pain management is now part of my daily regimen. A little over 5 years ago I had several ice cream scoops of malignant flesh removed from my throat, neck, head and shoulder. The damage was severe and the pain is chronic.
At first I was taking 4 of the 10mg hydrocodones a day. I now take 3 7.5s a day. I tried backing down to 2 a day but I was miserable and became a bit snippy because of the pain and I hate being unpleasant to the people around me as it is not who I am.
I wish I had no need for any pain meds but I am grateful to have them. As others have said..they don't stop the pain but "take the edge off". They dull it enough for me to carry on with my day with a sense of normalcy.
Besides, I live with a nurse who insists on meting out my meds. I couldn't abuse them if I tried because she keeps count.
Bless her little heart.
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