Prescription drug use

[therapist]

So, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee two days ago.
No big deal, meniscus repair and some arthritis clean out.
They gave me a big bottle of strong narcotics. I have not felt the need to take any. Mild discomfort but no serious pain.

I guess this is why the country has a terrible prescription drug addiction problem, that often leads to heroin use once the supply of pills dries up. Why couldn't they have just told me to take an over the counter pain reliever, and it the pain was intolerable I could have called the Doc's office for a script to be called in.

As a former therapist, I saw the terrible toll such addiction took on my clients and their families. Often it started with innocent use of prescribed drugs. As a nation, it seems our pain threshold has dropped tremendously. We seem to think any pain at all must be quickly relieved. I will be flushing these pills.

[CajunRider]

I had a similar issue...

Broken collar bone... hospital gave me 25 pills of hard-core pain meds.  I took about 3 over a week's time.

One week later, I had surgery on that collar bone.  Hospital gave me another 30 pills of hard-core pain meds.  Since I was in la-la land from surgery, I was unable to explain this to the wife and she filled the second prescription.  I didn't even know she had done that until a few weeks later. 

After surgery, I took about 5 more of the first prescription during the first week, none after that.  That left me with 17 (give or take) left-over pills, plus an unopened bottle of 30. 

My doctor was amazed that I had taken less than 20% of what was prescribed to me.  He was telling me that I "needed" to take them to avoid discomfort.    

The way I see it... sh*t happens and discomfort is sometimes just a part of life.  I'll take pain meds when pain becomes unbearable... not because I'm a little uncomfortable. 

[..]

So, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee two days ago.
No big deal, meniscus repair and some arthritis clean out.
They gave me a big bottle of strong narcotics. I have not felt the need to take any. Mild discomfort but no serious pain.

I guess this is why the country has a terrible prescription drug addiction problem, that often leads to heroin use once the supply of pills dries up. Why couldn't they have just told me to take an over the counter pain reliever, and it the pain was intolerable I could have called the Doc's office for a script to be called in.

As a former therapist, I saw the terrible toll such addiction took on my clients and their families. Often it started with innocent use of prescribed drugs. As a nation, it seems our pain threshold has dropped tremendously. We seem to think any pain at all must be quickly relieved. I will be flushing these pills.

Please don't be silly enough to flush them.

Take them back and the pharmacy will dispose of sensibly.

[Wizzard]

Personally I never use them either. The pain of the constipation that they cause is worse than the pain of whatever you got them for.

[Jess Tolbirt]

50 bucs a pill out on the street...lots of tanks of gas there

[Jess Tolbirt]

o hell now i get it!!!! therapist!!! not the *******

[Jess from VA]

I've had them from my dentist (who I think is much more of a torturer than regular doctors).  I've used a few (root canals, oral surgery), always a half pill.  I keep what's left around because I have a couple aging disks in my low back and once or twice a year, another half can really take the edge off (and help me sleep).  If they get old, they don't get dangerous, only weak.  I don't get addicted, and the fact so many do is a reminder not to.

I don't plan to hurt my back, it just happens.  If you are not afraid of addiction or temptation, why not keep them around in case you hurt yourself?  You paid for them.  Course I live alone and no one else is going to eat them.

[Willow]

I have a tendency to stay away from pills and I can stand a fair amount of physical pain.  During one recovery period my orthopedic surgeon told me I needed to take some of the pain pills to facilitate the reduction of inflammation so that my body could heal.  I believed what he told me and I took some of them but still stayed well below the allowable number.

[da prez]

I have had both of my shoulders replaced. By the third day after  the  surgery ,  I stopped taking  them .  I have a high tolerance  for pain.There was just no reason   to continue  with the meds. The pain   was not that  bad. I barely  take asprin . I  do not pop pills just  to do it. Why do more damage  to my wore out body. My doctor  agrees with me and gives me a prescription  just in case  I should need it. The hospital  gives me enough  to get by on.

                       da.prez

[Bighead]

Therapist, working in the field myself I can tell you exactly why. People in this country expect to be 100% pain free no discomfort at all.  (Can you say pansies) Also the reason they give them to you is as of sometime back in 2013 the FDA made it to where they can't be called in over the phone one now has to have a written RX for Narcotic pain meds. I had SX myself back in June ( The Dr that I work for did it) he asked what I wanted for pain control and I told him maybe 10 Norco 5/325. Well he didn't listen wrote me a RX for 30 Norco 10/325 I took one the night of my SX before I went to bed just in case but didn't need to. I still have 29 of those left.

[hubcapsc]

I didn't take nearly all the ones they gave me for my kidney stone, but I
sure did need the ones I took 

I wonder, with all the addicted people out there, if we should be advertising
our stashes  ...

There used to be a lot of miserable people out there - pain meds were too
hard to get. Now they're too easy. I bet it goes back to "too hard" instead
of going to the place it needs to be... 

-Mike

[fudgie]

Rx drug use is down in our county. Heroin is up tremendously. Not because rx is harder to get but because its a lot cheaper. Why pay $50 for a pill when you can get heroin for $5 a point. 

Since I started in EMS 18 yrs ago heroin never went away. Maybe a od once every 2 yrs. We had 3 heroin od in a week and a half. Saved them all (Narcan) as they were a min away from respiratory arrest.

Our medics gave more narcan in 2015 then 3 other counties together doubled.

The good thing about Indiana is there is a data base where you can look up a person and see when and who gave them narcs.

[Jess from VA]

It may be $50 on the street, but it's my experience that pain pills are about the cheapest prescription you can find.  This assumes you have a prescription.

[fudgie]

It may be $50 on the street, but it's my experience that pain pills are about the cheapest prescription you can find.  This assumes you have a prescription.

hence the lure of it.

[scooperhsd]

I avoid narcotics as much as possible. - Heck I avoid prescription pain drugs as much as possible.

But I have a hard time moving in the morning without my Aleve - especially my back from sleeping. Anything else OTC is just candy,,,

[John Schmidt]

I have some leftovers, mostly for hip pain. Get some catches in the back from time to time, due to an injury as a kid playing football and made worse from an accident in the USAF. There are times the hip pain is so intense I either stay put all day or take a piece of one pill for some relief, takes the edge off just enough so I can function during the day. I've never taken a full pill, simply too strong and I don't like the feeling of not being in control. Usually the small dose pills I cut in half, the larger ones I cut in quarters. And, as mentioned....they really stop you up, and that gets painful after a day or two.

The old hip is getting pretty rough lately, radiates from the joint down to the groin in front and seems to pull on the muscles at the top of the inside of the thigh. And to add to it.....it messes up my knee from all the funky walking.

[therapist]

So, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee two days ago.
No big deal, meniscus repair and some arthritis clean out.
They gave me a big bottle of strong narcotics. I have not felt the need to take any. Mild discomfort but no serious pain.

I guess this is why the country has a terrible prescription drug addiction problem, that often leads to heroin use once the supply of pills dries up. Why couldn't they have just told me to take an over the counter pain reliever, and it the pain was intolerable I could have called the Doc's office for a script to be called in.

As a former therapist, I saw the terrible toll such addiction took on my clients and their families. Often it started with innocent use of prescribed drugs. As a nation, it seems our pain threshold has dropped tremendously. We seem to think any pain at all must be quickly relieved. I will be flushing these pills.

Please don't be silly enough to flush them.   
Reply-I have a septic tank, they are not going into a city water system. And quit calling me silly. 

Take them back and the pharmacy will dispose of sensibly.

[therapist]

I've had them from my dentist (who I think is much more of a torturer than regular doctors).  I've used a few (root canals, oral surgery), always a half pill.  I keep what's left around because I have a couple aging disks in my low back and once or twice a year, another half can really take the edge off (and help me sleep).  If they get old, they don't get dangerous, only weak.  I don't get addicted, and the fact so many do is a reminder not to.

I don't plan to hurt my back, it just happens.  If you are not afraid of addiction or temptation, why not keep them around in case you hurt yourself?  You paid for them.  Course I live alone and no one else is going to eat them.

Times I took them in the past, the side effects were always worse than the pain.

[Robert]

While the pain medication is bad especially out on the street, does anyone have any idea how many normal products have been taken off the market or restricted because of people wanting to get high? Suboxone one of the drugs used to get people off drugs easily acquired on the street and cheap.

I am almost to the point of saying lets make it less restrictive to get drugs but warn people. So that taking them it becomes personal responsibility. If you take them then get on with it and hopefully get it out of your system and stay straight before you die. Guns, helmets, life has alot of choices that should be made with consequences and personal responsibility in mind. You cannot protect people from themselves all the time.

If you go through some of the halfway houses you it will make you think before you want to take them.

[..]

So, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee two days ago.
No big deal, meniscus repair and some arthritis clean out.
They gave me a big bottle of strong narcotics. I have not felt the need to take any. Mild discomfort but no serious pain.

I guess this is why the country has a terrible prescription drug addiction problem, that often leads to heroin use once the supply of pills dries up. Why couldn't they have just told me to take an over the counter pain reliever, and it the pain was intolerable I could have called the Doc's office for a script to be called in.

As a former therapist, I saw the terrible toll such addiction took on my clients and their families. Often it started with innocent use of prescribed drugs. As a nation, it seems our pain threshold has dropped tremendously. We seem to think any pain at all must be quickly relieved. I will be flushing these pills.

Please don't be silly enough to flush them.   
Reply-I have a septic tank, they are not going into a city water system. And quit calling me silly. 

Take them back and the pharmacy will dispose of sensibly.

Really? The septic tank is better? Sheesh.

http://www.spanishfork.org/dept/pubsafety/police/pdf/drug_disposal.pdf

http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Effect_of_Drugs_on_Septic_Tanks.php

And more if one could be bothered to look before leaping 

[solo1]

I believe that the docs over prescribe.  A couple of years ago I went to the ER for possible diverticulitis.

At 3AM I wasn't thinking too well and I obediently gulped down two pills that the doc wanted me to take, and that the PA didn't explain to me what they were..  I had already told him that I wasn't in much pain.  

I needed a WHEELCHAIR to get home.  A good thing that Mark was there.  The pills were Vicidin.  My sense of balance was completely destroyed, I was nauseous, and felt like hell.  That SOB didn't give a damn (IMHO) how falling can affect a 86 year old senior.

I just got rid of about 20 Vicidin (no i didn't flush them).  Even my family doctor over prescribes.

If i were to be 100% free of pain at my age, I would be taking narcos like candy.  I settle for Excedrin to take off the edge.  Doctors must think that we all are a bunch of wimps.

[therapist]

So, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee two days ago.
No big deal, meniscus repair and some arthritis clean out.
They gave me a big bottle of strong narcotics. I have not felt the need to take any. Mild discomfort but no serious pain.

I guess this is why the country has a terrible prescription drug addiction problem, that often leads to heroin use once the supply of pills dries up. Why couldn't they have just told me to take an over the counter pain reliever, and it the pain was intolerable I could have called the Doc's office for a script to be called in.

As a former therapist, I saw the terrible toll such addiction took on my clients and their families. Often it started with innocent use of prescribed drugs. As a nation, it seems our pain threshold has dropped tremendously. We seem to think any pain at all must be quickly relieved. I will be flushing these pills.

Please don't be silly enough to flush them.   
Reply-I have a septic tank, they are not going into a city water system. And quit calling me silly. 

Take them back and the pharmacy will dispose of sensibly.

Really? The septic tank is better? Sheesh.

http://www.spanishfork.org/dept/pubsafety/police/pdf/drug_disposal.pdf

http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Effect_of_Drugs_on_Septic_Tanks.php

And more if one could be bothered to look before leaping 

I didn't flush them. Thanks for the septic info.

[Bighead]

Wayne that is because 85% of the people that go to the Dr just want a pill to fix a problem not really fix the problem. I have had patients 6 months after surgery ask for pain medication the reason they are asking is they are addicted to them. IMHO pain clinics are a big problem as far as this is concerned.

[..]

So, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee two days ago.
No big deal, meniscus repair and some arthritis clean out.
They gave me a big bottle of strong narcotics. I have not felt the need to take any. Mild discomfort but no serious pain.

I guess this is why the country has a terrible prescription drug addiction problem, that often leads to heroin use once the supply of pills dries up. Why couldn't they have just told me to take an over the counter pain reliever, and it the pain was intolerable I could have called the Doc's office for a script to be called in.

As a former therapist, I saw the terrible toll such addiction took on my clients and their families. Often it started with innocent use of prescribed drugs. As a nation, it seems our pain threshold has dropped tremendously. We seem to think any pain at all must be quickly relieved. I will be flushing these pills.

Please don't be silly enough to flush them.   
Reply-I have a septic tank, they are not going into a city water system. And quit calling me silly. 

Take them back and the pharmacy will dispose of sensibly.

Really? The septic tank is better? Sheesh.

http://www.spanishfork.org/dept/pubsafety/police/pdf/drug_disposal.pdf

http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Effect_of_Drugs_on_Septic_Tanks.php

And more if one could be bothered to look before leaping 

I didn't flush them. Thanks for the septic info.

Just trying to save the planet one small step at a time.

[DirtyDan]

oh the planet is going to be fine, we on the other hand.......

George Carlin .... shake us off like a bad case of fleas

dan

[..]

oh the planet is going to be fine, we on the other hand.......

George Carlin .... shake us off like a bad case of fleas

dan

 

[Willow]

Just trying to save the planet one small step at a time.

If you take the pills they're going into the sewer in your piss anyway.  The term silly comes to mind but it was already used in this discussion.

[..]

Just trying to save the planet one small step at a time.

If you take the pills they're going into the sewer in your piss anyway.  The term silly comes to mind but it was already used in this discussion.

I didn't want to get into a pissing match with anyone hence my reliance upon information I find posted on the internet by experts.

[Paxton]

"So, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee two days ago..." 

I hope you'll recover quickly. 

[Chrisj CMA]

When I have in the hospital for my little finger booboo the nurse gave me detailed instructions on how to take the percocet so I could have NO pain.  I told her I didn't mind a little pain and if it got too bad then I would think about the strong pills.  She said that was a bad idea and she didn't want me to have any pain.  I still have most of the 60 pills and they keep asking me if I want more at every DR visit

[97valk]

Drugs are Great, they keep me functional only. Not dopy just functional. I take a lot of pain meds and I am thankful for all of them. Screw pain, take the drugs. Just my 2 cents.

[MP]

Had jaw surgery.  Cut lower jaw, and had it slid out.

When I woke up, first thing nurse said, "Here, take this for the pain that will come".  So, I did.

Never felt much pain at all.  That was the ONLY pain med I took, and I am sure I would have been OK if I had not taken it.  Over the next 3 days, EVERY time a nurse or Dr. checked on me, they were pushing me to take pain meds, so that it would not hurt.  They could not believe I was not in terrible pain.  I really wasn't.  Maybe a little discomfort, but no "pain".

If I had been in pain, I would have taken the pills right away!  But, they were really pushing me to take the pills.

[Hooter]

  I've had 3 done on my rt knee and never took a thing. One time they took my knee cap out and put it back. That was during Vicodin days. Now the weapon of choice for most anything seems to be Norco. I had 3 prescriptions of that when I had my last 2 kidney stones. I told them I didn't want it but it was waiting for me at the pharmacy. Never took any of it and dumped it. One of my friends said jokingly that I should have sold it at street value. Uh, NO!
     It becomes concerning when they (doctors) try to band aid a problem with a pill instead of fixing it all together. Pushing pills for anyone with a little owie seems to be out of control.     Giving everyone pain killers and muscle relaxers is an issue.

[..]

47,000 die every year from abuse or accidental over use of illegal and pain killers.

Where's the outrage from the left?

Shouldn't they be banned and confiscated?

[Bighead]

  I've had 3 done on my rt knee and never took a thing. One time they took my knee cap out and put it back. That was during Vicodin days. Now the weapon of choice for most anything seems to be Norco. I had 3 prescriptions of that when I had my last 2 kidney stones. I told them I didn't want it but it was waiting for me at the pharmacy. Never took any of it and dumped it. One of my friends said jokingly that I should have sold it at street value. Uh, NO!
     It becomes concerning when they (doctors) try to band aid a problem with a pill instead of fixing it all together. Pushing pills for anyone with a little owie seems to be out of control.     Giving everyone pain killers and muscle relaxers is an issue.

Just for the record Vicodin-Lortab-Norco are all the same drug from different manufacturers the difference is the amount of Tylenol in them. The Narcotic is the same Hydrocodone. Percocet would be Oxycodone.

[Daddie O]

Better to have the pain meds and not need them, than need them and not have them.  Having the pills and not needing them didn't turn all you uber-tough guys that had body parts replaced and were pain free into raging heroin addicts did it?

[Skinhead]

I love pain meds, so if you have some you don't want send them my way.  I'm not in any way addicted to them.  Last ones I had was for my appendicitis back before I bought my valkyries, but if I ever had severe pain I would like to have some on hand just in case.

[MP]

Better to have the pain meds and not need them, than need them and not have them.  Having the pills and not needing them didn't turn all you uber-tough guys that had body parts replaced and were pain free into raging heroin addicts did it?

And why would pain meds, that we did not use at all, turn us into heroin addicts?  Liberal thought processes continue to amaze and baffle me.

[DirtyDan]

Better to have the pain meds and not need them, than need them and not have them.  Having the pills and not needing them didn't turn all you uber-tough guys that had body parts replaced and were pain free into raging heroin addicts did it?

And why would pain meds, that we did not use at all, turn us into heroin addicts?  Liberal thought processes continue to amaze and baffle me.

from someone who has....um ''experimented"

opium based pain meds are DRAMATICLY more addictive than other drugs..... big time

ive seen good people right and left get brought down by them

it becomes PHYSICLY addictive as opposed to  psychologically habit forming

apples and cinder blocks like Valkyries and Harleys

dan

[therapist]

"So, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee two days ago..." 

I hope you'll recover quickly. 

. Thanks, buddy. Doing fine for an old fossil.