Doctors are being told to stop prescribing most painkillers for chronic primary pain. Instead they may offer antidepressants. So if you are depressed because you have chronic pain then instead of possibly becoming addicted to opioids you may possibly become addicted to antidepressants. You will still have chronic pain but hey - guess what - you will happy about it!
Anyone think this advice has been dreamed up by someone who doesn't suffer chronic pain?
I don't do doctors. Only been once in the last 9 years, and that was injury related. I don't do medicines of any kind. Not even over-the-counter stuff. ALL drugs are bad for you!
My medical history is virtually nil. I had a hip replacement 10 years ago (big shock that, I can tell you!). I don't do doctors. I've never had any problems. Still don't. I don't do drugs of any kind. Not bad for a 72 year old. Still got a full head of hair and my own teeth. They're definitely mine cos I paid for 'em! Yours, mine, all our bodies were never intended to be infiltrated with drugs. People only go to the doctors because they THINK they're ill. It's all in the mind. I'll another treble whiskey please.
I take high strength cocodamol sporadically to manage acute flare-ups of chronic back pain. I have had this pain for more than 30 years and was diagnosed with a ruptured T2/T3. I tried really hard to get a disc replacement on the NHS (couldn't afford private) but it proved impossible and I eventually settled for a fusion - which hasn't worked.
I am quite prepared to try (and have tried) alternatives to pain killers but my worry is that these alternative treatments will not be as available or as effective. Is the NHS really going to recruit & train thousands of acupuncturists (now mainly only available privately) to provide a service to millions of pain sufferers on a regular basis?
At the surgery:
Me: Doc I need some pain killers for my back pain.
Doc: Sorry we don't prescribe those any more.
Me: Can I get to see an acupuncturist this afternoon then & at short notice when I need one in future?
Doc: No, it doesn't work like that. I can make a referral. You will get an appointment in probably 2 or 3 months. Why don't you take a walk - exercise is good.
So I do take a walk. I walk home, smoke a couple of reefers & drop half a bottle of vodka (much less harmful than cocodamol). At least the pain is gone for today.
Davebro says " I have had this pain for more than 30 years and was diagnosed with a ruptured T2/T3. "
I would guess, only a guess so I might be wrong, that this was the result of an accident? You can't prevent them. They happen all the time. Positive thinking promotes good health. Don't be ill or sick folks! Dem drugs is baaaaaaaaad for yoos!
Yeh but, no but, yeh but, no but... :o) Cramp isn't an illness. It's a nuisance. And I haven't taken anything for it or been to the doctors about it. I've had various suggestions about it over the years, the most common one being "go and see your doctor"! I still get cramp, as most people probably do. Just need to avoid the most deadly cramp, that being a heart attack. Cramp of the heart! Stay safe folks!
Yeh but, no but, yeh but, no but......