10 years ago
3
Who Is Responsible for the Pain-Pill Epidemic?
When I started working as a medical resident, in 2004, I heard from a patient I had inherited from a graduating resident. The patient had an appointment scheduled in a couple weeks. “But I need your help now,” he said.
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This really is a huge problem in this country. After a 2005 motorcycle wreck I was on Vicodin 24 hours a day for more than 6 weeks. When the doctors took me off the pain pills I had to turn to marijuana and alcohol to be able to sleep. I was glad for the drugs while I was in severe pain, but getting off of them afterward was one of the hardest periods of my life.
I have never had the misfortune to have to use these types of drugs, what was the hardest part about finally kicking your habit of going to sleep on these things?
Actually falling asleep. Narcotics knock you out in high dosages, so you get used to taking a nap after every dose. Then, when you aren't taking them, your body has trouble triggering sleep. I would have to either have a few drinks or smoke some weed to get drowsy enough to sleep. Once I was over the initial withdrawal period I was able to resume natural sleep cycles. I also started using various herbal products to help with the chronic aches and the remaining inflammation, I believe these helped as well.