Untreated Pain Is More Toxic than Pain Meds
This article is used with permission from the new book, PAIN RELIEF in 4 Simple Steps by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD. If you’re interested in this topic and would like to see all the articles published so far, visit Healing from Chronic Pain, a Multipart Series.
Short and Simple Summary
- Most people can get pain-free without narcotics.
- When they can’t, being on safely controlled levels of narcotics with a pain specialist is much safer than being in chronic pain.
About 25 years ago, the U.S. government declared a war on pain. Unfortunately, it gave physicians no truly useful guidance on how to relieve pain effectively. So, physicians increasingly prescribed narcotics.
Now we have one-quarter of Americans suffering with chronic pain, and 17,000 overdose deaths each year from prescribed narcotics. About 5,000 of these are from people using them as directed by their physician. The rest are from diversion to street use or combining them with illegal opioids like fentanyl or heroin.
The government’s attempt to deal with the opioid issues, though well intentioned, resulted in marked problems for many people with chronic pain. Narcotic medications were being stopped abruptly, with people given no alternatives for pain relief.
This is not because physicians didn’t care. But rather because their medical licenses were being threatened if they prescribed them.
The government has eased back on this—a bit. But most physicians are still understandably too frightened to prescribe narcotics.
The Toxicity of Chronic Pain
Besides the cost in human suffering, untreated chronic pain can be deadly.
Let’s take a step back, and get some perspective on the real numbers:
- As noted, about 17,000 yearly deaths occur from prescribed narcotics, 5,000 of these being from prescribed narcotics used as directed and not combined with other illegal drugs. The biggest culprits are the fentanyl patch and OxyContin.
- For perspective, in a recent survey 6.7% of people with chronic pain note they have “thoughtfully reflect[ed] upon their suicide stories.”
- About 60 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.
This suggests that as many as 4 million additional Americans face the risk of suicide from unabated pain, to prevent 5,000 prescribed narcotic overdose deaths yearly.
Studies consistently show that individuals with chronic pain, particularly severe chronic pain, have a higher mortality rate (an increased risk of death by about 30%) than those without pain. With one-quarter of Americans suffering needlessly from chronic pain, ignoring readily available, safe, affordable, and effective treatments is a public health disaster.
The answer is not to ignore either the overdose deaths or the suffering of those with chronic pain. There is a third option that can effectively address both yet is being largely ignored.
Treat the root causes of pain. But I recognize that some people will need narcotics for their pain, and sometimes in quite high doses for certain kinds of pain. These people should get their needs met effectively and compassionately.
We need to stop treating people who are suffering from chronic pain like drug addicts. That is simply abusive. Instead, it’s time for common sense and kindness.
If You Do Decide or Need to Taper Off Narcotics
It helps to have a road map from someone who has been there. This can be found in the book Freedom from Opioids by Gay Lynn Freeman.
You don’t have to do this on your own!
You’re Invited! Dr. Teitelbaum is now personally answering questions in his new Facebook support group: Recovering from Fibromyalgia, CFS, and Long COVID. The group is also open to anyone dealing with chronic pain or related health challenges. Join the community, ask your questions, and connect with others!