Ok, so I am not particularly easy to deal with. I’ve got some far-flung medical quirks that stand in the way of a fairly pain free or low pain life. I have Haemophilia, so I can’t take NSAIDs! And because of the bleeding I can’t have joint injections, implants or other helpful things. I’ve got cardiac issues that block more. Then after 3 years of being a Guinean pig for off-label drug use I was told I was stuck with opiates for pain relief.
After several years of trial, error, titration and grief, my doctors settled on a dose that relieved 50-60% of the pain yet kept side effects to a minimum. I was able to function and work. Then my doctor retired. I spent nearly a year being told I needed to become a guinea pig again because my dose was too high. Then bureaucrats became involved and demanded my dose be lowered.
After a Ketamine infusion it was reduced by half. My pain levels began going up, I was unable to work, and life was going downhill. Oh, but I am above 100 MME. The dose is still too high. Then the pain doctor told me the higher my opiate dose the more pain I would have. No, doctor, with all due respect, when I was at a higher level the pain was reduced. Not according to what HE read... or was told to read.
Next week I am having another Ketamine infusion, and I am looking forward to a month or two of reduced pain. I also am aware the doctor is going to reduce my pain meds again.
I want to thank the bureaucrats and the ignorant pain specialists for telling me exactly how much I hurt, what will ease the pain, and, essentially how to just bully my way through it all. Because when the pain returns, and it always does, I will have precious few choices. I can begin drinking, I can turn to illegal drugs, or I can end my life.
And I do not drink, I have never abused drugs, and I am not going to begin now. So dear doctors and bureaucrats who have chosen to be all knowing (without having experienced it) adios.