So, what is a doctor to do about the abuse of pain-killers? If doctors begin to act like police officers, then the doctor-patient relationship suffers. But doctors can keep an eye out for certain risk factors which may indica...
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Untitled Comment
beakerless
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 12:50 PMre: Untitled Comment
Betty Boop Too
Sunday, November 04, 2007 at 05:17 AMHi beakerless
I was wondering if you could explain to me what Loading means and I don't understand? I've been on Sustained relief meds for a few years now and I've never felt anything like I'm high or even a euphoric feeling at all.
I would consider my dosage to be moderately high, and I've never experienced anything that I would describe as a high or euphoria?
Does htis only happen to some people and not other or something?
I'm really careful with my meds and discarding any of my bottles too. We live in the country and have a burn pit out by the barn. My husband burns up all materials like that, that we don't want anyone to get ahold of.
Thanks Betty
replyre: re: Untitled Comment
beakerless
Sunday, November 04, 2007 at 11:43 AMThe high would come from regular narcotic pain meds not sustained release medications.
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Stopping the abuse...
jerry hesch
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 12:33 PMRegarding "Doctors must also make sure that those patients receiving narcotics for pain are actually benefiting from that treatment. If a patient is getting no pain relief, then continued use of the drug might only serve to create or maintain an addiction."
Alternately, the client might not be benefitting because the dosage is inadequate and by titrating the dosage in a responsible manner to include long acting opiate medication (when appropriate-of course) can be much more effective than short-acting opiate medication.
Regarding terminology, for persons who who have objectively identified pathology with attendant moderate to severe chronic pain, such that it interferes with their function, opiate medication can be very apropriate and these persons do NOT experience the euphoria that narcotic addicts do. The preferred terminology for people who are appropriate taking pain medication is "OPIATE MEDICATION" in contrast with the term "NARCOTICS". The former is an aproriate term with dignity, the latter is a term that implies street use, addiction, etc.
Having severe chronic pain requiring medication does not mean one should check in their dignity anytime they leave the house.
Fortunately there are many organizations who are active in this arena, one example www.emergingsolutionsinpain.org
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Response & Q to Stopping the Abuse of Prescribed Narcotics
Betty Guindon
Friday, November 02, 2007 at 02:05 AMHello Dr. Borigini:
Thank you for the article on Stopping the abuse of pain meds.
As a chronic Pain sufferer myself for the past 4 years, I can recall a time when I was undertreated for my pain, as the doctors were trying to work with me and find the dosage & medication that worked for me and helped bring my pain down to a semi-tolerable level. I was so frustrated and angry with every person that had ever abused the medications in the past. Abusers have made it so difficult for the actual patients in severe pain to after sometimes very long struggles in pain to finally find a physician that will help them to treat theri pain. the patient who struggle for long periods of out of control pain can very easily exibit what some doctors would call "Drug Seeking Behavior" When in reality, the patient is in severe pain and just seeking some type of relief out of desperation.
What advise would you give to a patient in desperation that has been flagged inocently for drug seeking behavior?
I've been very blessed and I worked very hard on establising a trusting and very good & honest relationship with both my physicians, but there are many patients out there suffering needlessly that have run into this situation and I'd like to help them so they can finally get some treatment.
And also, as a chronic pain patient myself. What can I do to help control the abuse of other patients with their medications?
I correspond with several pain patients and try to counsel them about the importance of following their doctors instructions for the medicaiton exactly how they are stated and to never change their dosage on their own, but some patients struggle so much, because they are so under treated and it's very hard not to take another tablet when they become desperate for relief.
I have my doctors e-mail address and can reach and get a response within hours, but other patients are not so fortunate.
Thank you
Betty
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Stop the abusers!
Libby
Friday, November 02, 2007 at 05:30 AMStopping the abusers, has led to keeping patience who have a dire need and tests to prove it,,from getting proper care.So where does the line get drawn?I do not have 1 minute that im not shaking from pain.Not able to eat.Or go out.walking is a task.And i continue to suffer because of the war on abusers that has affected treatment of chronic pain sufferers such as myself for 9 years.What can i do to get someone to listen to me.HELp ME?
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A former patient of Dr Borigini
californiagirl562
Saturday, November 03, 2007 at 10:00 PMHi Dr Borigini, Donna McCusker your patient from Caremore , Dr. Honigmans office. The ebay lady. Miss your friendly self. Doing well on FMS but my knee bothers me and I just had sx for breast cancer. Had a lumpectomy a month ago. All is well. I was looking for info on knees and found you. Will you ever come back or are you an internet doc now?
GREAT Doctor, listen to him
!
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GOOD IN/AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE NOT GOOD WHEN
outsider
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 12:52 AMNOT GOOD WHEN BAD MAKE IT WORSE FOR GOOD
AND GOOD GET? what for not being bad?
just trying to survive,
BAD docs,ABUSE their power both ways
my son a admitted drug seeker
admits he has no pain,admits he gets meds,because he hates life not high,
i ask him how can being sleepy mean being high??
he said life is so boreingand I say yes it is if you just lay arround.
well 2 weeks ago he went to the hospital for depression,in there he was discovered as a drug seeking dr hoping drug additct
well what did they do?
gave him geodone,haldol,methadone,klonapin,
and said they called pain management to JUST SHUT HIM UP
i visited him in hospital and HE WAS so high,
I cried and cried!
then,the nurse said to me,I wantto put him down
and then I said what! you better not,he could die! no moniters nothing,just go to bed and fallasleep!
she knew no asthma nothing
they had him on meds that give you extrapramydial side effects ,we cant tolerate that
.I coulsd go on about this,but they knew he was a drugh additc,they gave him drug rxs when he got out,no help getting anywhere,jobless,and so forth
he has a wife and baby
and ok now "
HE THEN WENT TO A PRIMARY DOC.
and she gave him,180 30 mg roxycodones,even though he said he was a drug addictc?
NO RELATIONSHIP with her at all!!
THIS IS WHAT IS SCREWING IT UP FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME AND YOU HERE ON THIS SITE>>
the *** docs that WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?i dont ge it
well that 180 pills were gone in 2 weeks!
my son is in my home in the guest room, sleeping,his wife and baby are in michigan with her mom untill dec 20th,and they come back to be with me and my hubby and daughter
My son will not live here.
I have to pay his car,HE hasnt paid his rent or anything since april,they will be evicted next month so they will live here and he must leave when they come back,he is looking into a 2 month in house church program at our church,thei is 500$,only,but he must work there and work a program and then after the 2 month it is another 8 out patient!
BUT HE BLAMES ME THAT I TAKE MY MEDS EXCT.I have to keep my purse with me at alltimes,and lock up the rest of the meds under key! I hate this,I hate the way i am treated yet you have docs doing what everthey want ?/it just does not HAVE A RING OF JUSTICe??what say anyone?
replyre: GOOD IN/AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE NOT GOOD WHEN
Libby
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 10:57 AMYou are so Right.I watch these kids go in and come out with medications i cannot get with a book of test results.Kids that sell them or abuse themm.Why arent these doctors recognizing this?My brother also is an abuser.He is 28.Lost 70 % of his teeth,Looks older than me.I am 41.He has stolen my medication too many times to count.I used to have to put it in one bottle and in my BRA so that he didnt steal them.But then he steals 3 checks from my checkbook and writes a series of checks to his fav,,,dealer signing my name to them!They will get it one way or the other.Its not your fault.He is doing this to himself .But at what point do you try to stop him???before someone kills him or he kills himself.my brother is a thoef,so he can support his habits.and threats have been made he will be shot if he steals from "" again.Its just a bad situation all the way around!email me anytime.I do understnad you and your son.Has anyone mentioned suboxone?Its used for drug withdraw.IF you can get him to admit the problem and want help its better than Methadone.
replyre: re: GOOD IN/AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE NOT GOOD WHEN
outsider
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 03:57 PMLibby,
I know all about suboxone
I would not want my son on that!
That is for withdrwal,and not for long time mantainace,for what i understand it to be!
he whips through withdrwal only to have to do it again!
He obstains,for say 3 weeks,2 months or what ever
and then!!! BAM he gets somweirdness,I am sure ,It is a mental ,self medicateing thing he is doing
because as soon as he cant deal with a situation,he is back on full force!!
I pray for him and right now he is not allowed to sleep over at my home and I have his wife and my grand daughter living with me.
He was suppose to go into a treatment program via church
UTURN for CHRIST?
but backed out
I cant make his choices for him
I on the other hand feel guilty for taking meds...
I have to,I know but he blames me if I want him not to why do I exct!
well,I am suffering day in and out with pain,now my back is so awfull i want to cry
I just saw a new doc yesterday and she said its not machanical
what should i do???
is it MS?
my eye pain in right eye only is awfull?
I have often like aphasia(words used wrong for other words)
or is that just stress on top of the other crapp??
WHO knows..
I hide my meds and pray
suffer and
waste my life
I am petrafyed of death now
trully to the point of dispare
after what they did to my dad!!!
I cant talk about that anymore...
It is to sad and like beating a dead bug!
linda
replyre: re: re: GOOD IN/AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE NOT GOOD WHEN
Melinda Johnson
Wednesday, February 06, 2008 at 11:43 AMHello Outside Artist,
I wanted to warn you about the U-Turn for Christ program. I strongly recommend you find a different treatment program for your son. My son recently went there (January 2008) after a long withdrawl from methadone and crank. He had been off of both for 6 weeks. He had to be hospitalized for the first half of the withdrawl. U-Turn for Christ does not address addiction or why the addict uses drugs in the first place. Instead they tell them they are not allowed to mention the words: drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Secondly there are NO counselors at all. Some of the people in charge are only 18 years old and are given the title of "overseer" pardon my frankness, wasn't that a term from the slave days? When the addict needs counseling they tell them to "Stick your head in your bible and spend some time with the Lord". This is a very strict discipline program. For example if you are one minute late getting on the bus for church, or if a man turns his head in church to look at a woman from the "Women's Ranch" he will be forced to dig a 5'x5' ditch (grave). They are only allowed to dig their ditches during their sleeping hours. This means they have to do hard physical labor all day, bible study at night, and then when everyone else goes to bed, they have to dig a 5'x5' ditch while they should be sleeping. The mud is as hard as clay. In addition to all of that, there is no heat at "The Ranch", showers are taken with cold water, and the mattresses on the bunk beds which are only about 8 inches apart from each other are so thin you can feel the springs on your body. This program is inhumane and demoralizing. They ask for a $1,000 donation but I'm not sure what the money is for... no heat, no hot water, everyone washes their clothes by hand in cold water and must hang dry or put them in an old fashioned dryer which not operated by electricty but by them turning in with their arm - a repititous cranking motion. Can you imagine? Additionally, all of the food is donated. They drink milk that is outdated by 7-10 days, and the croissants had mold on them. A lot of the men have diahrrea from the spoiled food. The "work" they do is hard physical labor, that's why they tell the men to be sure they bring their work boots. I do not recommend this program for anyone who has even the slightest amount of chronic pain. The physical work alone will be damaging enough. The goal of the program is to "humble their disciples".... And if you get sick when you are in the program, they refuse to take you to the doctor to get antibiotics, because according to them, "It will get in the way of the Lord's work". Try that Calvary Church out in Romoland, everyone is coughing, sneezing and sniffling - it's all of the men and women from the ranch. There are other programs out there that are not as demoralizing and inhumane as this program is. My prayers go out to everyone in this group that are struggling with chronic pain, addiction, or the stress and hardship of having a love one who is using.
replyre: re: re: re: GOOD IN/AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE NOT GOOD WHEN
linda
Wednesday, February 06, 2008 at 03:14 PMwell thanks and wholly kamalies!
He didnt go,and he is drug free for 2 months.
he and his wife live in my home and NEED to get out of it
I am in such pain.
and I will pass this info on to the Preacher of our church here in Old Bridge NJ
Pastor might respond and might not???
you are telling me the truth right!
How old was your son?
It sounds hellish,and not what GOD the GOD I know "
Jesus would not thinbk highly of that program!
Thanks so much for reading and shareing
Linda
replyre: re: re: re: re: GOOD IN/AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE NOT GOOD WHEN
Melinda Johnson
Monday, February 11, 2008 at 10:54 PMHi Linda,
Praise God! Drug free for two months, so is my son now. Is there a shelter in your area or a family recovery program? There are a few here in San Jose, CA. One is Christ based, but is nothing like U-Turn. My son has stabilized since he has been taking his medication. He takes Cymbalta for depression, which actually helps with his pain. And he takes Zyprexa for mood stabilization. The crystal meth put him in a psychosis and he thought we were filming a reality show in the house and in our cars. He thought the Feds were after him too. Meth is a horrible drug. He seems to think the Methadone contributed to his psychosis. I am not so sure. Methadone works for some people, but for others it seems to be a painful vortex. He sleeps a lot, but when he is awake he is very pleasant and does not complain of pain or drug cravings. We are working to get him into a dual-diagnosis treatment program, one that treats both the drug addiction and the mental health issues. I have had 14 years of struggling with him and this disease. I do have my own addiction to Ambien - only use it for sleep but am completely dependant and know I need to come off of it at some point. I'll get to it... Thank you for letting me share the U-Turn with Christ experience. I think it is only fair to tell people what they are really getting into. It's bad enough they are desparate and addicted to drugs. It is not fair to use Christ this way. I hope your son and his wife find a place to live. It's not fair to have to take care of people all of our lives, when is it our turn just to take care of ourselves? Maybe I should go back to Al-Anon... Take very good care and God Bless you.
replyre: re: re: re: re: re: GOOD IN/AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE NOT GOOD WHEN
lindal
Friday, February 15, 2008 at 02:32 PMI kicked my son,his wife out.
I take ambium, you get additcted to it?/what happens? I suffer pain,and sleep problems...as well
I take 7 medications and don t like it!
I dont like pain, I cant tolerate even a blood test,i have had many things done,and forget it..dont trust any docs any more..
one just said i had numbness and itcheyness allover!
DARNITTT!!
i never said that she said i had pain every where except the anterior surface of my left thigh to the volar surface of my left arm!!!
I BELIEVE THIS WAS SARCASUIM!
I also gave no consent to get payment from ins,or info to my doc!!
I self paid and she did it any way!! *****.. she is a bich that dr
she said she spent 1 hr with me
it was 35 min...
said I am very familliar with the exsact results of my MRI's
as far as I am concerned this MEANS war!
I have had it with pompus docs and there way of doing what the hell they want
what are we paying them for??
this was a Phasiatrist ,in a NJ Orthapedic Institute.....I went because she was recomened
I poured out my heart to her
I self paid $300.00 , for her to speak evil making fun of me....
she is in for the RIDE of her life!!said my spurling maneuver was neg!
she did not put pressure on my head while i leaned over with it
to my right side(pain is) then the straight reverse leg raise !!! she did not bend my knee and lift it!!! and roll my hips??I dont know about that...
states my pain if fybromyalgia to go to rumatologst!!! been there he said same thing
damit damit
why do I have all the things growing inside??
and why dont I have classic fybro points and why is my freaking stomach,and ribs and back hurt simotaniously??
it use to not do this..
why cant I breathe
why why hwy
*** holes!
sorry...I will wait on GOD...
he knows the facts
these docs are just full of tem selffs up to their heads
and FORget it if they dont know what ..they tell you it is not their feild,not just explain what the situation is
what are the things inside me
why do I get the tongue things ,under base of tounge?hard pain,seem to be stones?
WHY the heck can say
My toncils were infected,when I saw her i just finnished antibotics!!!
*** hole
sorry I have had it..I just got the letter yester day
and I am very very angry
I saw it in the primary care docs folder(file of me)
so I took it!When I called the doc days ago they said she had my file!
I said why
then I saw my primary doc she said she didnt know if that doc sent anything???
HUMMMM HUMMM"I dont understand what is happening but some one help!why lie about it??she knew I gave no consent!
linda screamming and yelling in pain and frustrated!
replyre: re: re: re: re: re: re: GOOD IN/AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE NOT GOOD WHEN
Libby
Friday, February 22, 2008 at 12:59 PMI hear you!!!! Ive had this done to me.All too often and i sit here in such pain i can hardl y type.Why do we have to go through this crap i do not know.And like you i am really really tired.But when you figure out what to do please let me knw.meanwhile i will retire back to my bed as i am shaking all over.write me anytime!
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I need Advice
cherie
Friday, December 21, 2007 at 08:04 PMDear Dr Borigina, i have Meralgia Paresthetica, my old Pain Mang. Dr put me on the new Drug Lyrica I have violent reaction to it , so now what can i take for this some days it is so unbearable i can't stand at all, i am overweight but am dropping the pds as fast as i can i lost 10 lbs in two weeks so far, But i need some relief, i am going in for Radio Frequency on my Back L4 L5 can't the Dr thats doing that also do L3 & L2 ? I know it is suppose to ease up but in some cases it doesnt and in my case i think it won't. Please advise Thanks Cherie
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I need Advice
cherie
Friday, December 21, 2007 at 08:05 PMDear Dr Borigina, i have Meralgia Paresthetica, my old Pain Mang. Dr put me on the new Drug Lyrica I have violent reaction to it , so now what can i take for this some days it is so unbearable i can't stand at all, i am overweight but am dropping the pds as fast as i can i lost 10 lbs in two weeks so far, But i need some relief, i am going in for Radio Frequency on my Back L4 L5 can't the Dr thats doing that also do L3 & L2 ? I know it is suppose to ease up but in some cases it doesnt and in my case i think it won't. Please advise Thanks Cherie
replyre: I need Advice
Libby
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 10:48 AMLyrica also causing me to gain weight.I have gained 30 pounds in a year.Ive complained to the dr.and to the company that makes it.Also wanted to ask you violent meaning fits of anger.Ive been having some issues with being HATEFUL as my family calls it.just was wondering.
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Abusing meds
Libby
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 10:45 AMI would love to see this stopped.I blame abusers for people like myself not being able to get the help we need.If doctors have test results and such and say pill counts drug testing with a patient it would help.Id would GLADLY go through this to get help.
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well WHY dont they actually get REAL records of the trials
outsider
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 04:58 PMWHY dont they get the records of the patient and what they actually did try
like the docs dont even have time for that?right
Ill take a large fry and Hold the mustard!
Fast Doctoring
is where they are making the BIG mistakes
and the Dammed if they do
Dammed if they dont syndrome..
reply
Personally I am very careful with my morphine prescription. I shred all the VA paperwork that comes with it and I scrape the label off the empty bottle rather than just blacking out the personal information before discarding it. I don't want anyone to know that there it is in this house because of the known abuse factors.
My doctor actually told me when he prescribed slow release morphine that he was afraid I wouldn't take it because of my distaste for the loading or high other narcotics induce. He was correct. I strongly dislike that feeling and the low that follows when the effects have worn off and the intense pain returns.
I welcome the industries modifications that will make these drugs less likely to be abused but I still think that the plight of those who live in chronic pain 24/7 needs to be recognized as a very real and immediate crisis.
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