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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Pain When Diagnosed With Degenerative Disc Disease
Question: Hi, I have degenerated disk disease, radiculopathy. and the pain is constant. resulting in my loss of ability to function on most days. I was taking opiates for yrs and due to the Dr and new FDA reg in this state many people are losing there pain meds. Im at a loss to what to o an cant function. Is this really the fda or my XXXXXXX ins. Or is it just my dr. Im now looking online for anything to help the pain. looking for any suggestion ...
Brief Answer:
not really the FDA
Detailed Answer:
Narcotic use has attracted a lot of attention due to the large number of fatal overdoses.
Guidelines are saying to take people off of narcotics and put them on less effective drugs that are dangerous to particular populations with kidney or heart disease.
Specific offices that specialize in pain management have taken over much of the role of primary care (which is technically sorta kinda against the FDA LAWS which state the narcotics are through ones regular doctor).
Pain managenet centers. Possibly academic centers with hospitals and/or medical schools.
not really the FDA
Detailed Answer:
Narcotic use has attracted a lot of attention due to the large number of fatal overdoses.
Guidelines are saying to take people off of narcotics and put them on less effective drugs that are dangerous to particular populations with kidney or heart disease.
Specific offices that specialize in pain management have taken over much of the role of primary care (which is technically sorta kinda against the FDA LAWS which state the narcotics are through ones regular doctor).
Pain managenet centers. Possibly academic centers with hospitals and/or medical schools.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
If one hasn't overdosed in 10 yrs of using the same meds and as aging is causing more pain what purpose does this serve to the person that is just left to suffer in constant pain. Only to be given a med that has more side effects then the others put together. I doubt they were overdoses. More like vets committing suiside. I'm also a vet and I'm seeing this. It's not right. I know people of a person that has top notch insurance, so gets the best doc and the best meds. In this case the FDA looks the other way! I'm asking what I can do to lesson my pain now. You didn't respond to this..
Brief Answer:
They were overdoses
Detailed Answer:
and they were NOT stable for even months on the same dose let alone years. Obviously if someone is not changing their dose that goes against addiction being present and it's quite rare for a stable dose to suddenly be dangerous.
Ok, there are limits to what I can say about lessening your pain. First, I am not there, and second, narcotics are strong pain relief medicine and other choices would not be likely to be as effective. Surgery is not effective for pain. Joint injection is less of a procedure than surgery but also hasn't helped most of my patients.
If there are particular characteristics of the pain then particular medicines might be helpful. If there are signs of nerve irritation (tingling) then a nerve damper such as valproate, amitryptiline, lidocaine, or other nerve agents might be helpful.
If there are signs of inflammation, then steroids or other anti=inflammatories may be quite helpful.
Mostly, it's going to be narcotics as the most effective drugs.
They were overdoses
Detailed Answer:
and they were NOT stable for even months on the same dose let alone years. Obviously if someone is not changing their dose that goes against addiction being present and it's quite rare for a stable dose to suddenly be dangerous.
Ok, there are limits to what I can say about lessening your pain. First, I am not there, and second, narcotics are strong pain relief medicine and other choices would not be likely to be as effective. Surgery is not effective for pain. Joint injection is less of a procedure than surgery but also hasn't helped most of my patients.
If there are particular characteristics of the pain then particular medicines might be helpful. If there are signs of nerve irritation (tingling) then a nerve damper such as valproate, amitryptiline, lidocaine, or other nerve agents might be helpful.
If there are signs of inflammation, then steroids or other anti=inflammatories may be quite helpful.
Mostly, it's going to be narcotics as the most effective drugs.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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