Those of you who have experienced pain, especially gnawing, chronic pain, know that it affects your happiness, outlook and ability to function.
In the past couple of years, the treatment of chronic pain has undergone an earthshaking transformation as opioid addiction continues to claim — and ruin — lives.
Many primary care doctors no longer liberally prescribe opioid painkillers such as oxycodone, fentanyl and hydrocodone for back pain, migraines and other chronic conditions. Instead, they are increasingly turning to alternative medications and non-drug options such as acupuncture and physical therapy.
"Most primary care doctors are afraid to do pain management because of the opioid backlash," says Michael McClelland, a health care attorney in Rocklin, Calif., and former chief of enforcement for the state Department of Managed Health Care. "Either they don't prescribe anything, and the patient remains in pain, or they turn them over to pain management specialists so someone else is writing that prescription."
As a result, McClelland says, "people in genuine pain are going to find it more difficult to get medicine they may well need."
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http://www.salon.com/2017/04/16/in-pain-many-doctors-say-opioids-are-not-the-answer_partner/
