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VA Secretary Praises Departments Model Path to Ending opioid addiction

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  • Moderator

The secretary's report is worse than "lipstick on a pig".  I was never offered ANY of these so called "alternative therapies" he mentions, (chiropractic or otherwise).  Instead, I was informed by my doctor no more pain meds.  

Fortunately, I have a high tolerance for pain, and, have had a total knee replacement which greatly reduced the pain.  

Just last week, I asked my doc for an "alternative" pain therapy..cbd oil, which is known to help with pain.  No dice.  I get cbd oil on the outside..its legal..but not permitted by VA for "unknown" reasons.  I know the reasons, and explain it below.  No, its not marijuana, and no, it has no "get high" THC.  Its a derivative of hemp oil, and is available at many of my local health food stores.  

     This all goes back to the "war" going on between pharmaceutical companies and herbalist therapies.  The problem is, a plant (herb) is not patentable, so drug companies dont spend millions on research on, for example,  St. John's Wort (an herb known to help with depression issues) because anyone can grow or sell St. Johns Wort.  

     Poweful and wealthy drug companies fund medical schools and teach doctors "the evils of treating with plants  and herbs" and the zillions of benefits of treating with pills sold by the major drug companies, regardless of truth.  

     CBD oil is one such plant derivative, good for many things.  Its actually an adaptogenic herb.  

     Note, the first one is "pain relief":

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits

Edited by broncovet
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  • Content Curator/HadIt.com Elder

@broncovet I agree. Last year, I had to ask my VA primary care doc about the alternative therapies. She didn't know anything about it and referred me to neurology. I talked with them and they referred me to the pain clinic. The VA didn't have a specialist in alternative therapies, so they referred me to a non-VA chiropractor which is where I got the acupuncture.

I was looking forward to the prospect of real CBD oil (not the ineffective stuff you can buy in stores), but after having my heart attack, I am keeping an eye on the situation. I saw T-bird's articles about the VA and marijuana research, but I anticipate they will want to spend 10 or 20 years researching.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Vync quoted

''When I had my heart attack earlier this month, I was given fentanyl during two procedures and a bunch of either morphine or norco during recovery.'' ''No urge to take more.''

Be careful if your on the FENTANYL PATCH 100MD  that is one dangerous Drug my friend. check with your cardiologist about it. 

It is very easy to OD on it.  along with the rest of your medications   ect,,,ect,,,

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  • Moderator

The VA has, in my opinion offered me "ONE" alternative therapy to opiods:

1.  "Suck it up soldier, you dont need any pain meds".  I was not referred to ANY of  The alternate's to opiods offered  in the article.  Not one.   

   This does not help the epidemic, it fuels it.  Heroin (an alternative to doctor prescribed opiods) is widely availabe on the streets and they turn to that.  And, I understand its cheap, too.  (No I dont use it).  

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  • Lead Moderator

I also have not see all these other alternative doctors.  Are they hiding in the farthest parts of the hospital where no one can find them?  Maybe the basement?!?!

I will say I talked to my doctor about taking a drug that has no habit forming relationship to it.  The problem is it takes 3-4 weeks to take effect, so your body has to get loaded with enough of this to block the pain receptors in my body.  Other problem is I can't just stop taking it now and It would take that amount of weeks to tapper off.  She did offer me controlled doses of opioids to get past the bad days.  I save those for surgery days.  

Anyways all I see is doctors guessing at how to fix these issues with soldiers and they are throwing pasta at the wall to see what sticks.

Also what is up with the new person at the hospital greeting everyone???  I assume this is their answer to help curb suicide?  She would make sure to make contact and really ask you how you are doing and how she could help.  Just strange as had never see a person there like this in 6 years.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

'Also what is up with the new person at the hospital greeting everyone???  I assume this is their answer to help curb suicide?  She would make sure to make contact and really ask you how you are doing and how she could help.  Just strange as had never see a person there like this in 6 years'

There's an old 96 year old War War II  Veteran that meets you at my VAMC EVERY MORNING FROM 5:00AM to 10:00A.M. he is in his old WAR WAR II UNIFORM with his medals pin on.

 he has been greeting Veterans there as long as I been going there  from 1999..he is a pleasure to talk with  he can tell some  fantastic WWII Stories  he is very hearing Impaired. but he sure gets his stories across... he sets in his mobilized wheel chair every Morning 5 days a week   rain or shine   freezing weather at the main entrance to the Hospital  he is there.

Edited by Buck52
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