The War on Opioids Comes Home

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“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.”

— Eckhart Tolle

I ran across this quote recently. And, as quotes about living our lives often do, it struck me where I live.

Here’s why. I’d gone to my doctor (my primary care provider) for an annual checkup the day before I saw the quote. This was an important appointment. My rheumatologist had informed me a few weeks earlier that she would no longer prescribe opioid analgesics (with the exception of Tramadol) for pain caused by myrheumatoid disease.

Read the rest at RheumatoidArthritis.net.

9 thoughts on “The War on Opioids Comes Home”

  2. So sorry to hear this Wren – what a nightmare. One of the scary things (apart from the whole opioid situation of course) is your doctor’s complete lack of understanding of what you’re actually going through, have been going through all these years and will continue to go through.

    Good luck with the pain clinic referral!

    Hugs from across the pond.

    xx

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  3. Holy crap! OMG!! It’s a bloody disgrace! I’m so sorry you have to go through this. I very much hope that you can find a decent pain management specialist who will treat you with respect and give you the meds that you need to live your life.

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  4. Wren – so sorry to read this. I’ve had RD for 20 years, never abused meds, but they have allowed me to keep some semblance of a “normal” life. I can still work and participate in most of life’s activities with only mild pain. Unfortunately I fear that your experience is going to become one that most of us will run up against as well. I sure hope that somehow we can be heard.

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  5. I think this is a very scary time for people with chronic pain. People who legitimately need the medication to live,work and have a fulfilling life. I understand the addiction problem but there has to be some middle ground and some understanding that a chronic disease that produces pain needs pain management that might include opioids. I was recently given a muscle relaxer instead of a pain med after a dental procedure. I guess the dentist thought that at least the muscle relaxer would put me to sleep even if it didn’t do anything for the pain. I will say that utilizing a pain management doc isn’t a terrible thing. I saw one a few years ago when I was trying to avoid having a spinal fusion done. The biggest problem is they are so busy that getting an appointment is a test of patience.
    Good luck Wren. I hope your rheumatologist reconsiders. I am afraid this is just going to get worse. Punished for other peoples sins ugh.

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  6. Wren you know my thoughts, but I am so very sorry you are being subjected to such inhumane and cruel treatment. That a civilised society somehow feels it’s better to leave people in pain than put them at the tiny risk of becoming addicted to opioids (<5%) is such skewed that it boggles the mind. I know it's an oft used cry but we really wouldn't do this to animals. It scares me that this way of thinking will eventually make its way to the UK, where at the moment my GP knows me and is happy to prescribe me opioids for severe pain. Like you I don't over use, I'm sensible and to be honest probably take them less than I should. Huge hugs my lovely, I pray the pain clinic becomes a sensible option for you xxx

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  7. All I can do is send comforting hugs and positive vibes to you, and hope the pain clinic will find a way to reduce the pain of RD. How awful for those that have never abused and always followed medical directions. It has always been a mystery to me how anyone outside of the medical field has the right to dictate what a patient should and should not take.Here’s hoping for a permanent solution for managing your pain. X.

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