HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

OxyContin Stigma

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/17/2010 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I'm new here and just posted a bit ago about having some upcoming medical tests for the back pain I've been having these last few months.

I felt the need to make an additional post about taking OxyContin for pain management. I was just started on it yesterday, and so far it seems to be pretty helpful. What I'm struggling with, however, is that I seem to have to "justify" being on it to everyone in my life (except my husband) - a lot of people seem to feel that my pain "couldn't possibly" be bad enough to warrant the treatment, that I'm "too young" to be on such a medication, and that it's just "such a bad drug." Maybe I'm just venting, but it almost seems like the people around me would rather see me be in pain than be taking OxyContin. I find this sort of invalidation just aggravates the whole situation.

I don't feel the need to convince anybody of anything, but I'm not really sure what to tell them, either. rolleyes

KiwiPi
Posted 11/17/2010 7:06 PM (GMT 0)

  

     Oh! This subject hits home for me in a bad way. Not so much now, as my spinal deformity is very obvious (my hip is rotated towards the rear and up into my ribs on the right hand side. My left upper torso / chest has an outward "hump"). Before that, I was told so many harsh things. The worse?? "If I was on all that medication I would pass out. You would think your would be a terminally ill patient with all the medicine you take." mad  

 

     Now it is a whole different ball game. Those very same people!!!! Now say, oh "I wish your pain was managed better." "Are you sure there isn't something I can do to help you." ... If only I had a tape recorder mad   Now, I just do not mention what I take. Sometimes here on the forum I will mention a medicine because it is in reference to what someone is asking about. Even then I still get random emails "no one should be on that high of a dose." "I doubt you take that much." "No way you can take those two types of meds obviously you are lying."

 

My Motto Is

     "My disabling chronic illness is more real than your imaginary medical expertise!"

 

     Sorry to go off on a tangent there. As you see this subject has effected me very deeply. Now I just ignore the comments or rude accusatory questions. I mean.. what's the point? They will figure it out eventually and remember what they said or did to me. Very little I can do until they have an epiphany.  

*hugg*
  dani

Posted 11/17/2010 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Kiwi I forgot to mention to you in my other post that I am glad that you are getting decent care for pain control, as you know from reading here that is a tough problem for many here.

I will only tell you this, the fewer people that know what medications you take the better. it is no ones business but yours and yours alone. Your husband is onboard and understands so let it stop there. One thing you will learn going down the road of CP is no one truly understands unless they suffer with CP. Pain is something no one can see and the average person just does not get it, nor can they wrap their brain around it. It is pointless in trying to make them understand and why waste that precious energy you need.But, above all, you don't have to justify anything to anyone!!!
Posted 11/17/2010 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
"My disabling chronic illness is more real than your imaginary medical expertise!"

I love this!
Posted 11/17/2010 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Dagger that is priceless, thank you for posting this.
Posted 11/18/2010 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
This sounds like rambling, but please bear with me...

I completely agree that it's no one's business; unfortunately, I've got a number of people around me who feel the need to "insert" themselves into my life and try and make my business their own. One of them is my therapist. I have Borderline Personality Disorder and am enrolled in a very intensive and comprehensive therapy program called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT involves a very high degree of accountability on the part of the client - I have to fill out a "diary card" every day that tracks just about every feeling and thought that I have, as well as what medications I take, prescription and over-the-counter. I have yet to see DBT support something like pain medication. I would like to not tell my therapist about it, but if she were to find out in some other way, she would probably assume I wasn't telling her because I had a "reason" not to - meaning that I was hiding it/using it illicitly.
Posted 11/18/2010 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiwipi

As the others have already said, it's no one's business but yours. In the case of your therapist I'm a little surprised that he/she would say anything because it's a prescribed med given to you for a reason. If they exspect openness on your part , maybe that's just what you should give them..tell he/she how your feeling about the opinions other have given you even if that includes your therapist's opinion.And I agree there are far to many people with an imaginary medical degrees. Hang in there and do what's best for you.

.Stingray
Posted 11/18/2010 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Stingray. I see her today and plan on doing just that. I don't have a problem letting her know about it, but if she gives me trouble over it, I won't hesitate to stand up for my own right to privacy about my medical care.
Posted 11/18/2010 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
If you must talk about then arm yourself with facts.

Facts like: My MEDICAL doctor feels this is the best course of treatment for me at this time.

There have been many, many studies done that all say the same thing. People who need pain medications rarely, if ever, become addicted. It is those who take pain medications when not needed, or take them in a way that is not prescribed that run the risk of addiction, and many of those who are addicted to pain killers are ones who were are addicted to other drugs like meth, cocaine, heroin, etc. They merely swapped addictions.

There is a big difference between dependence and addiction. If you don't know the difference then I suggest Google. (meant as a comeback to those who insist on being doctors)
Posted 11/18/2010 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
I do agree though that there is currently this huge stigma involving oxycontin thanks in no small part to all the media attention it has gotten recently because of the huge problems in Florida those so called pain clinics are causing.

A few years ago, not too long after the tv show House first aired, it was Vicodin that was the medication of choice for this stigma.

Truth be told though all pain medications are under a cloud to one point or another if prescribed for more than a single month. Just some more than others and how big that cloud is depends on what kind of attention it gets through the media.
Posted 11/18/2010 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
Tell them your pain is extremely debalitating and that it lowers your quality of life and you doubt they can even fathom the type of pain your having. You don't need to explain your self to others.
Posted 11/18/2010 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
The type of therapy I am involved in has this very warped notion that if a drug, prescription included, has the capability of altering your mood or energy level or anything else, then it is best left alone, regardless of potential benefit. I am not a person who gets a "high" from narcotic pain medication, and I understand that most people who take it legitimately take it for pain don't, but because of the craziness in the media, it seems pretty difficult to convince people of this. I have seen plenty of evidence of it on the internet, as well as right here, but I have also been met with the "if you read it on the internet, it's bull" argument. It seems there is no happy medium...
Posted 11/18/2010 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiwi, I was complaining to my GP about other peoples comments the other day and putting up with them. She just suggested thanking them for their comments and then just ignoring them, it really is none of their business. Obviously they have never suffered from chronic pain and they have got no idea what we go through just to get through our days.
Our thoughts are with you, people can be so hurtful or layer you with unnecessary guilt trips. Just remember we didn't ask for this pain, we shouldn't have to justify our treatment.
Thinking of you, golitho
Posted 11/19/2010 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Reading all these comments is really helping drill into my head that I don't have to constantly be explaining and justifying my course of treatment to others. That's a new one for me, mainly because of the therapy program I'm in for my Borderline Personality Disorder that I mentioned earlier. I've become pretty accustomed to feeling like I "have" to tell my therapist every little thing, but I'm planning on trying to take back some of that control. It feels good.

It's mainly just a vibe that I get, but there's definitely an undercurrent, with the people around me, that my pain just can't possibly be what it is (not as bad, not real, not serious, whatever). I'm sure many of you have experienced this on some level or another. My therapist even said something like, "What makes you think it's chronic?" Hmm, how about my doctors? Seems that until I get a diagnosis, she's not going to cut me much slack...

KiwiPi
Posted 11/20/2010 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Kiwi I can see why you feel as you do considering the therapy that you are undergoing. But, regardless the important thing for you to remember is you are entitled to quality life and if it means takes medication to give you that so be it. Many people take medication for various reasons in order to function, its not just limited to pain medication.Your therapist comment was really out of line, you have made him/her aware that you are seeking medical care, its not their place to be your judge or jury. Considering this attitude the therapist seems to have I would not discuss this aspect of my health with him/her. Best thing to say is if you have questions contact my dr. You don't need more undue stress.

You know there is always going to be people that question why someone has CP and needs to be on medication, but remember you don't have to justify anything to anyone. This is between you and your dr and no one else. People can be so quick to judge, but oh let something happen to them and its the end of the world. Take it with a grain of salt and blow them off, lol.

Have a good weekend.
Posted 11/21/2010 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
I come from a pretty stoic family, too, speaking of how others react to their own pain...I would imagine that contributes to their "assessment" of how I'm handling my situation. My dad was all frustrated this summer when he took a single dose of Flexeril or something for some ongoing back spasms he was having. My mom was just scheduled for some scans because of these headaches she's had all summer, but she won't take anything for them. I guess everybody deals with severe pain in their own way - I just happen to not see the sense in letting it ruin your life, which it has been starting to mine.

Kiwi
Posted 11/21/2010 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
I love Dani's motto!!!!

I'm going to have to change pain meds now that they've pulled darvocet. Previously, my doc had mentioned morphine as an option. Now my hubby is saying, "don't let her put you on morphine!" It's because we knew someone who had a bad back injury and was usually so drugged she couldn't function. It kind of bothers me that he thinks I shouldn't take it based on one person he knows. I'm sure he doesn't want a cranky wife who is in pain all the time!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply