Re: Bad experience with addictive prescription

Western medical practices say, "If you can't medicate it, remove it." Twelve years ago, I broke my back and herniated 2 disks. My orthopedic surgeon offered me two choices: learn to cope with the pain; submit to major, invasive surgery. God bless that man, because he strongly suggested that I opt for the pain management (WITHOUT ACCEPTING DRUGS AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR COPING) saying that I would be no better after 2 years whether I had surgery or not. I never did opt for the surgery and had to learn a whole new way of doing things, even something so innocuous as picking up a pair of socks from the floor!

Now, so that readers might understand, I have a sister-in-law who is a codependent victim of domestic violence and abuse. In order to cope with her relationship, she has become horribly addicted to PRESCRIBED medications. At this writing, she is currently taking prescribed morphine, ostensibly to help her "cope" with back pain that she suffers from. She has already had disk surgery less than a year ago and, because of her enormous weight and lack of physical activity, has now herniated 2 more disks and is furious that she must "schedule" what she feels should be considered "emergency surgery!" Mind you, this woman has opted for (at last count) 5 major, intrusive surgeries in the past 19 months.

In addition, this woman "doctor-shops" when she runs out of medications. At one time, she was taking 2 different anti-depressants, Atavan, Valium (YES, I know, I know), Flexeril, Voltaren, and Oxycontin...all at the same time and prescribed by 3 different doctors. When she would begin to run out of Valium (because of insurance restrictions, you see), she would call her mother-in-law (husband's mother) and be given a couple dozen tabs to tie her over until the insurance would allow her prescribed refill. If her mother-in-law isn't available as a source, she will take a trip to the emergency room (they know her on a first-name basis, now) and settle for whatever they will deliver to her IV - usually Atavan or morphine, depending upon who's on duty when she rolls in. At one time, her abusive husband was complaining that she was suffering epileptic seizures as she would suddenly "pass out" in the middle of a sentence. He was adamant that she was suffering seizures and, after 4 hours of a sleep-study (she flipped out and refused to stay for the whole proceedure - she was missing doses of Valium and Flexeril, at that point!), it was determined that she was NOT suffering seizures, but needed rehab. She never went and her husband won't ALLOW HER to seek psychotherapy, holistic treatment, or any other "witch doctor" methods of treatment.

Prescribed medications are not safe, just because a physician has written a scrip! Most physicians have never (and, WOULD NEVER) ingest or inject the same medications that they prescribe for their patients! In fact, the more meds that a person takes, the more meds they "need" to counteract the numerous side effects! That means: a patient must continue making appointments, paying copays (or, full fees), and keeping that doctor's BMW payments on schedule! We, the patients, PAY our physicians' salaries and it is imperative to understand that some physicians are only in practice because of the money that is involved. DO THE MATH! One office sees an average of 2000 patients in a week - each visit pays 110 bucks.

God bless you on your journey to detoxify yourself of your prescribed medications! Please, post back and let us all know that you're okay!