pain relief

Is someone entitled to pain relief? They have severe pain and opiate is all that takes it away. The doctor does not want to give much and they spend some days in serious pain.

This person is not a drug user and does not drink alcohol. But some doctors are inferring they are faking it.

Hobgoblin11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058279949/pain-relief

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/irish_constitution_1/constitution_fundamental_rights.html

seems not

A doctor has obligations under hippocratic path to do no harm. If providing inappropriate medical treatment were considered to induce further harm, the doctor is obliged to withhold and try and find a less harmful alternative therapy. Eg, if a pain were neurogenic in origin (eg, from a trapped nerve) then opiates would not only be relatively ineffective but would induce dependency long term. More harm than good in that case. Whereas if doctor prescribed a nerve pain medication it might be less likely to induce dependence, yet the individual may still suffer side effects and not have their pain fully relieved, but the doctor has followed their oath to do their best without causing further harm.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120117268#Comment_120117268

I know the doctor has obligation to do no harm but the opiate is the only one that relieves it

Gen.Zhukov

There's not enough info given here. If as an example, a patient visits GP with say, knee pain. GP requests x-ray/mri etc. Results are examined and if the GP determines that the knee is indeed shot, then that's when pain relief is prescribed while awaiting further treatment. You can't just expect to rock up, say you have pain and expect to get strong pain killers.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120117717#Comment_120117717

I have a disease whereby I can have severe pain all the time.

My GP will not prescribe me anything more than paracetamol. The last time I visited to make a case for stronger medication (not opioid either), I was referred for a surgery clinic, the point of which I’m still not sure. They wouldn’t elaborate.

I also know someone who attended their doctor with appendicitis and was told it [severe abdominal pain] was due to vaping. Their appendix had perforated by the time they got to surgery after attending A&E themselves when it wouldn’t go away after the GP prescribed laxative medicine to help the pain that was constipation caused by as I said vaping.

GP’s in this country are a joke.

Gremlinertia

I'm with a pain clinic a long time and honestly, the understanding of pain and associated psychologies is still in it's infancy compared to say orthopaedics, so a GP can really only refer at best for further tests. I won't add to the horror stories as there are too many and it is easy to give up but just remember it's in the name General Practitioner, yes they have studied and know an immesnse amount but specialist care is required here from what i read in the OP

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120118043#Comment_120118043

Have to agree with Gremlinertia on this one.

Similar situation myself, ongoing and severe pain issue. Opioids are one of the tools used to manage the issue now. Important to note that those were only prescribed after review by a pain specialist and even that was subsequent to surgical and other specialists review.

The normal management of my condition involves high strength NSAID, but due to other medical issues those aren't a runner for me. Managing pain is complex and it involves more than just throwing drugs at it. The cause needs treatment as much as the symptom.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120117268#Comment_120117268

You do know that Doctors do not actually take the Hippocratic Oath, it is a mythical oath sworn to the Gods of healing.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120117717#Comment_120117717

It's an ongoing situation the doctor is very familiar with it. They didn't just "rock up"

The cannot take NSAID type medicine

Ben Bailey

It should be possible to have your GP refer you to a pain specialist.

A GP is not equipped with the specific skills, experience or diagnostic tech that specialists can utilise.

That said, GPs and ED medics are regularly asked to prescribe / administer opioids without further testing, and usually refuse.

As someone who has had renal colic several times, I can understand that being refused adequate pain relief is profoundly distressing, even if I can understand the doctors rationale.

Graces7

This is a battle I have had when eg moving house and a new GP. As in " I will prescribe paracetamol. I awill not prescribe opiates" .. WITHOUT taking a history, doing any assessement or even having my notes.

I learned as I was then moving location often, to store a few extra codeine to tide me over. The GPs seemed to have no idea that suddenly stopping was potentially dangerous so I learned to protect myself, and I then contacted the excellent GP I had had before . And he contacted the new GP.

Yes, this needs care BUT a blanket sudden barring without taking a history or offering a suitable effective alternative? Without adequate pain relief my disease is exacerbated.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120117268#Comment_120117268

a minor aside, but doctors don't actually take the hippocratic oath. there's no medical school in ireland which specifically requires it, and according to this article, it seems the RCSI is the only one which incorporates an oath of some description:

https://www.imt.ie/opinion/guest-posts/what-does-the-hippocratic-oath-mean-24-04-2009/