The "Do You Really Know About Opioids? - Part II - My Personal Experience" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just got back from the gallery where I worked three hours this morning matting 17 black and white photographs of industrial machines that I plan to cut glass and frames for tomorrow.  Grabbed a plum from the fruit dish in the kitchen and two Tramadols from the medicine cabinet before settling in my recliner for "The Price Is Right."  Wasn't long before the pain in my back subsided and I could enjoy the plum.  My journey through pain with Tramadol began about six years ago when I was told I would need surgery to correct my back problems.  At the time I was taking Tylenol quite a few times a day and my family doctor told me I may be able to control my pain better with the next level of pain meds, thus the Tramadol.  When I finally had back surgery I was able to eliminate the Tramadol from my life without any trouble.  Then a few years later the pain returned and so did the daily doses of Tramadol.  

My bottle of Tramadol with the No Refills on the label.

I guess I should tell you that at no time was I told the risks of taking Tramadol which is an opioid pain medication that is used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.  It wasn't until TODAY that I realized it could be addictive.  Then again, I never asked.  I guess I just assumed that I was being given something for my pain that wouldn't hurt me.  Now, I said TODAY because I was reading a story in the morning newspaper and there was a story titled "Opioids a problem for all ages."  Right next to the article was a photograph of an 83 year-old man from Lancaster who had taken Tramadol for five years and had to endure frightening hallucinations until he finally stopped taking the drug.  The article told about a nurse in a senior living facility who told of senior citizens (I'll call them old people since I am now one them) who went to their doctors for a variety of aches and pains and the answer for all of the people was a pain pill; an opioid pain pill.  Therefore, there are many old people who now rely on opioids to get through the day.  They have become addicted to the drugs.  And it seems to be a staggering number of old people who have become dependent on opioids.  It no longer is just the teenage kid or 20 something who is getting hooked on drugs, but an entire generation of oldtimers who are suffering.  

The city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

And, last year in Lancaster, a county of about 500,000 citizens, nearly a quarter of the 117 opioid overdose deaths were people over 50 years old.  Drugs such as Vicodin, Oxycodone, Perocet and Morphine were abused and led to their deaths.  Just two years ago it was reported that nearly 3 million Americans over the age of 50 were abusing pain meds.  For those over 65, hospitalization for opioid abuse has grown five times what it was 20 years ago.  And, it is now reported that opioids really don't help with chronic pain which is what most old people seem to have.  Opioids are best suited for acute pain instead of chronic pain.  As for the 83 year-old fellow on Tramadol, he became so addicted that he had dreams that had him running for his life from people shooting at him or being trapped in a room where he couldn't get out.  He also dreamed he was responsible for the end of the world.  He was pretty sure he knew what was causing the bad dreams and frightening hallucinations that tricked him when he was awake: Tramadol.  He first began the drug five years ago and had his dose increased over that time from one 50 milligram pill per day to four pills per day.  It was needed to control his carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathy in his hand and feet, arthritis and cellulitus.  He never used more than prescribed, but his side effects were overwhelming.  He got a new doctor and decided to quit taking Tramadol; cold turkey.  He now controls the pain through physical therapy and has noticed a marked improvement in his health.  He can now taste the coffee that he drinks and smell the cream he uses on his legs.  The Tramadol had caused his lost of taste and smell and his dreams are no longer frightening.  Wow!  How many of you are on opioids and aren't aware of it?  I now know and will make sure I never overuse the Tramadol.  One good thing is my family doctor made sure I knew that it was a prescription that could not be refilled.  I'm hoping to have one more back surgery in the near future and won't need the Tramadol anymore.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.