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Monday, October 03, 2016

Managing pain with opioids: A doctor’s opinion



After nearly 20 years managing pain for my patients as an orthopedic surgeon, I recently found myself on the other side of the medical system. I was the patient in need of a major surgical procedure. It was an eye-opening experience to say the least, and I gained a new appreciation for how vulnerable a patient feels when it comes to pain management.

Opioids, such as Percocet and hydrocodone, are strong medications that play an important role in managing pain before and after surgery. Over the past 15 years, many factors have led to a dramatic increase in opiate prescriptions.

Orthopedic surgeons rank third after pain specialists and primary care doctors in the number of opioid prescriptions they issue. The increase in prescriptions has led to more patients who become dependent or addicted to these drugs.

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

This doctor's opinion goes nowhere to help.

Anonymous said...

Nobody cares the opionin of drs and lawyers.

Anonymous said...

If this idiot is trying to say that most pain including before and after surgery can be relieved by over the counter aspirin he isn't much of a physician. Make sure you don't use him as your orthopedics Doctor.

Anonymous said...

There are some new devices being developed for pain management that use electrical stimulation and that can be used INSTEAD of opioids.

Exciting stuff, and amazingly effective.

But, as one might expect, Big Pharma got wind of the research and went nuts. They've begun filing lawsuits and fervently lobbying for laws to prevent such devices from ever seeing the light of day.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Anonymous said...

I've been on hydrocodone about 5 years, and take less then what I actually could based on doctors orders. Some people just have addictive personalities.

Anonymous said...

Medical marijuana.

Anonymous said...

7:40
Myself also....ditto

Anonymous said...

Since when to orthopedic doctors start speaking on behalf of Pain Management specialists.

Let's see if a pain management specialists want to start speaking on the need for knee replacements and say whether they are needed or not?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
There are some new devices being developed for pain management that use electrical stimulation and that can be used INSTEAD of opioids.

Exciting stuff, and amazingly effective.

But, as one might expect, Big Pharma got wind of the research and went nuts. They've begun filing lawsuits and fervently lobbying for laws to prevent such devices from ever seeing the light of day.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

October 3, 2016 at 7:30 PM

I think you are referring to nerve stimulators. They are in use and some doctors push them because they are big bucks to them.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
I've been on hydrocodone about 5 years, and take less then what I actually could based on doctors orders. Some people just have addictive personalities.

October 3, 2016 at 7:40 PM

Then maybe you and 1129 don't need them.

Anonymous said...

8:41am
After 16 major surgeries, then maybe you should keep your ludicrous crap to yourself. What say you genius?
11:29pm