Posts Tagged ‘pain management’
Why People Do Not Dispose of Unused Opioids
Many people clearly want to hold onto their unused medications. This is not new. However, the problem may worsen because, more than ever, patients who are in pain fear that they will not be able to get the medication they need.
Read MoreThe Opioid Risk Tool Has Been Inappropriately Weaponized
A history of experiencing preadolescent sexual abuse does not mean a person will necessarily develop an OUD. It is only a risk factor. It does not determine the outcome of using opioids, although it may partially indicate the level of monitoring, support, and education that would be appropriate.
Read MoreThe Age of Pain Management: From Cryo Chambers to Yoga
This is an article by Nancy Eugenie. I offer it with the author’s permission for informational purposes. The author and I have no financial involvement. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE HER OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT MY VIEW OR MEDICAL ADVICE. Coping With Pain One of the most difficult things about living with…
Read MoreOregon’s Proposal to Deny Access to Prescription Opioids Is Dangerous
Here is the email I sent to The Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) and its subcommittee, Value-based Benefits Subcommittee (VbBS), at the suggestion of a recent National Pain Report article: I am writing in regards to the Oregon Health Plan’s proposal to limit access to opioids for people in chronic pain. Certainly, opioid abuse…
Read MoreUnhelpful Numbers Create Misleading Political Statements
“Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics” Benjamin Disraeli reportedly said that there are three types of lies: “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” He may have been right. The Washington Post recently published an article titled, “Companies shipped 1.6 billion opioids to Missouri from 2012 to 2017, report says.” The story references a report released by Senator Claire…
Read MoreOpioid Lawsuits Threaten Lives of Pain Sufferers
Implications for People With Chronic Pain Several lawsuits have been filed against several opioid manufacturers, distributors, and physicians for participating in what was allegedly a scheme to cause incalculable harm for profit. I am one of the physicians named as an alleged “conspirator.” The opioid lawsuits are far more than legal matters that involve the…
Read MoreWhy Is Chronic Lyme Disease Controversial?
Novelist Amy Tan’s Experience With Lyme Disease On her web site, bestselling novelist Amy Tan shares her belief that she has late-stage neuroborreliosis, or Lyme disease. She suspected she might have Lyme disease because of her mysterious symptoms that included migrating aches and neuropathy, a racing heart, hallucinations, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty talking,…
Read MoreUnintended Consequences of Limiting Prescribed Opioids
Arbitrarily Reducing Opioids Payers, legislators, and healthcare systems are implementing limits on how many pills may be dispensed to people with pain in an effort to curb the opioid crisis. CVS announced this past September they would limit the number of pills new patients with acute pain can obtain to a seven-day supply. Last July,…
Read MoreWhat Is a Human Life Worth?
This article first appeared in the 11/29/2017 edition of The Hill. President’s Council of Economic Advisers Calculate the Value of a Human Life President Trump has declared the opioid crisis to be a national health emergency and appears to be developing the rationale for funding interventions to combat the program. The first step is to…
Read MoreDigital Pills and Other Medical Adherence Technology
The Future of Medicine The future of medicine may have arrived, and it has its benefits — but it might also create an Orwellian, Big Brother culture. All medical developments are meant to solve a problem. It is estimated that as often as 80% of the time, patients fail to use medication as directed for…
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