While I understand what you are saying about people abusing these medications I think you need to understand why they are prescribed (instead of an anti-inflammatory med like motrin/ibuprofen).
The truth is, I could probably get by with just the Avinza (which does not give you a high at all - unless of course you break it open and eat it straight) and Aleve. But I am not allowed to take them until I have a successful fusion proven by an MRI.
Even with avoiding anti-inflammatories I still have a non-union eight months later. Top it off, I will be going in for a C5-C7 ACDF revision in about a month.
Just as a side note, if you have never experienced blinding nerve pain from a ruptured disc you couldn't possibly understand the need to for these types of meds. From a patient standpoint it blows to hear that pharmacists are associating "junkie" with anyone who uses these meds regularly.
In my case, I work with a pain management group. I have tried several different meds to find the right combo for my level of pain and the way the meds processes in my body. The only combo that works for me is Vicodin, Soma (yes, I have constant severe muscle spasms), Neurontin, and Avinza. I do still have breakthrough pain and I use Dilaudid as a rescue med. This keeps me from running to the ER with non-stop vomitting and tremors only to get a shot of Dilaudid and Zofran.
Does this make me a junkie? Or an abuser? I am well aware I am dependent on my meds and once this whole situation is taken care of I plan to detox. But I am not a seeker and I sure as heck am not raiding peoples medicine cabinets. I guess I can thank my doctors for that since they give me exactly what I need, no more no less.
