This link shows USA Causes of Death by Age. While they say drug overdoses are killing so many, it is very low on the list. in the 15-24 age group, suicide, homicide, poisonings and car accidents are number one. More people die from diseases related to obesity and smoking than anything else. I think they should focus more on those issues than on opiates. Just my opinion. Take a look when you have time. You can also look at the statistics by state, age, race, gender, etc.
http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/usa-cause-of-death-by-age-and-gender
The reduction of narcos to “chronic” pain patients is not a government issue which is what is missing in ALL of these discussions. The “rules” are developed by each state’s practice committees which then are made into “law” Its the docs themselve policing their profession.
The big issue is that narcotics have been misused in the US for years (this is essentially only a US issue) and primarily is “consumer driven” its not at all unlike the over use of antibiotics. you go to your doc with a cold and walk out happy with a Zpac because he has done something even the the Xpac will do nothing for your cold and is likely to cause different problems (Cdiff for example is a problem that never existed previously)
Now this is going to go over like a lead balloon but the fact is (and there is volumes of research to back it) FMS (and other chronic pain diseases) is a huge problem in the US more so than anywhere else in the world because (again because of “consumer drive”) it is consistently mistreated making pain control the issue as opposed to disease control.
FMS is indeed the brain scrambling nerve signals which result in the perception of pain. The problem is that Narcos work by scrambling the same brain centers. The words run over each other which is why I use the term “Narcos” Pleasure pain energy etc are all a function of the expression and regulation of opioid receptors in sensory neurons and the interactions of these receptors with endogenous and exogenous opioid ligands. Opiod in this case has nothing to do with drugs.
The net result is when Narcos are introduced to the equation the pain actually gets WORSE and the disease gets WORSE. The bodies opiod sensors get so fouled up that they cease to function properly. It can take years to straighten them out after someone finally removes the narcos and starts to work on the disease itself
Practice committees know this and are FINALLY responding. The problem is it is confused with the other stuff going on. The intent of practice rule is not to reduce the availability of pain meds for acute or cancer pain where they do make difference but rather to make sure everything else is treated properly rather than sending patients out the door with a handful of pain pills and be told “good luck” For example here the new state guidline in washignton which now have the effect of "law:https://wsma.org/wcm/Education_and_Events/Clinical/Opioid_Clinical_Guidance/wcm/EducationandEvents/Clinical/Opioid_Clinical_Guidance.aspx?hkey=c80ec20e-d9b2-490b-8f4f-9960d4f7df97
Keep in mind while you can rationalize the number of deaths caused by Narcos can manipulated to seem like its not an issue, these deaths are 100% preventable in every case and those figures don’t include the millions of folks who’s live are pretty much in the dumpster because of the misuse of narcos and don’t die. They also don’t show a couple of other things. The US leadsd the world in these problems and the third leading cause of death in the US unlike ANYWHERE in the world is medical errors and medication errors on top of that list.
If you read through these boards just as “information” you will find those using narcos as a part of their regular treatment (as opposed to an occasional flare) are almost without exception dealing the worst with their disease.
TJ
Hi Deb, It is SO GOOD to hear that you are getting relief from acupuncture and a chiropractor. Getting both in the same place is a plus! Thank you for sharing the information on depression. It is definitely worth considering a therapist who understands FM. For me, it is important to keep in mind on those really horrible days that they will pass and better ones will come, and once in a while, I even have a great one!
Hi. I’m just now reading your post and I’m glad that I’m not the only one that this is happening to. As far as pain meds go, I only take tramadol. When my last prescription ran out last month I was told by my doc that I would need to come into the office and sign a “pain contract” for medication. I was thinking really? For tramadol? Geez. At any rate, not only did I have to sign a contract, I also had to get a urine drug screen! Doc said that was because I also take ativan and gabapentin - which now gabapentin is being sold on the street! I also have to be seen every 3 months for med checks. Friends, I’m worried for all of us who need our meds and may soon not be able to get them, or get reduced doses or quantities. I live in VA and we do have a prescription monitoring program here. I understand there’s an opioid crisis, however don’t punish everyone else! The people who are abusing the medications and street drugs are going to get them anyway illegally. That leaves the rest of us who don’t abuse medications out in the cold!
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hi - you are the first person i’ve heard say you cant stand the weight of covers. That is ME also. i have sheet to lay on, a lightweight summer cotton blanket to cover with an a very lightweight quilt over that. I cannot turn over with that much weight. Knowing that, I often start out half out, half under so that when i get cold in the night, I am able to work the two VERY lightweight blankets over my shoulder and back. Hang in there. There MUST be relief somewhere, carolyn