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OPINION: I Take Drugs For Chronic Pain, But I'm No Addict Barbara J. McKee Dec. 16th. 2003 Thanks a lot, Rush. Same to you, Ozzy. Oh, and I can't leave out Jerry Lewis. All of these celebrities and many others have publicly admitted to abusing prescription painkillers. I "thank" them in anger, because they have brought more pressure on physicians across the country to scrutinize which pain medications they prescribe and how much. Many think this is a good thing - and, in some situations, it is. But for those of us who rely on these medications to live with some semblance of normalcy, it is a nightmare. Many do not understand the purpose of long-term use of prescription painkillers and therefore immediately label long- term users as "drug addicts." This sweeping term has an enormous effect on people who suffer from chronic pain disorders - and not in a good way. For many years, I have struggled with extreme, chronic pain. Since the age of 15, I have lived with searing pain, a daily reminder of how my body is not normal. I was placed on opiate-based analgesics and weekly physical therapy to reduce my pain. Eventually, I succeeded in eliminating prescription drug therapy and learned to rely on over-the- counter pain relievers. But that was 26 years ago, and I'm back on daily prescription medication. It was not an easy choice. Several severe injuries to my shoulders and neck forced me back into prescription drugs to control a pain that didn't want to be controlled. I could have had surgery on my two herniated cervical discs, but that would have left me a quadriplegic. My pain would be gone, but my life would be one of total dependence on personal care assistants or institutionalization in a nursing home. I finally found a doctor who understood why I chose the life of what some would call a drug addict. I wanted to stay independent and employed and live in my own home. Prescription painkillers have afforded me all this. But I do not consider myself a drug addict. I made a choice that was best for me, and I have no regrets. What many physicians and laypersons do not understand is the purpose of opiate drug therapy for those who suffer from chronic pain. I don't get high from my medications. Just as diabetics don't get "a rush" from their daily doses of insulin, my medication is soaked up like a sponge, stabilizing and equalizing my brain to make it think my pain is gone. I still require a personal care assistant when I want to go to school or engage in other activities outside my home. But I don't have the excruciating pain that used to force me to stay in bed, sometimes for several days or weeks. I'm not saying that doctors should give painkillers to every patient who suffers from pain. For example, I question the use of Oxycontin for a toothache. I had a friend who had a root canal and was prescribed Oxycontin. He was unaware of its strength and effect and slept for 14 hours after his first dose. Oxycontin is an opiate meant for chronic, not acute, pain. Its effects last 12 hours or more. The dentist should have prescribed good old Tylenol No. 3, as they used to. I can't blame the doctors because they really do want to give their patients the best possible care. The pharmaceutical companies are telling the physicians how great these drugs are and how safe they are for most people. Doctors rely on the drug company representatives to tell them about the effects and benefits of new medications. But the drug reps don't always tell about the negative effects on ordinary people. The blame rests with the drug companies. The drug Neurontin is a case in point. In the beginning, this drug was created to treat epilepsy. Suddenly, it was being prescribed for bipolar disorder, acute pain relief, Parkinson's and numerous other illnesses. The drug had little to no effect on these diseases, and last year the drug company manufacturing Neurontin was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It's time to demand the drug companies to be accountable for their representations of powerful drugs to the medical field. If more doctors prescribed medications such as Tylenol No. No. 3 instead of Oxycontin, you would see less abuse of addictive drugs. But chronic pain patients have suffered enough. Let's put the pressure where it belongs. McKee, who gets around in a wheelchair, is an Albuquerque writer, poet, performer and producer. SOURCE: The Albuquerque Tribune, NM http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/opinions03/121603_opinions_mckee.shtml * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn