If you worked in a pharmacy as long as I did, maybe you can relate to the nightmarish fear I've developed for prescription narcotics. For years, a checkout counter was the only thing that separated me for the zombie-like hordes of customers who would stumble their way to the pharmacy looking for pills of various shapes and sizes. Opiates like Vicodin and Codeine seemed to be the entry-level feed for these somnolent souls. Gradually, they turned to Fentanyl, Oxycontin and Morphine; more potent members of the opiate family. Most would take their vial of viability scram, others would fight tooth-and-nail to acquire their bottle of bliss.
So at this point, I have not entered the zombie state for fear of an opiate hunger, or better yet....a hunger for brains! My intake at this point has been limited to Naproxen (Alieve) and the occasional Tramadol (Ultram). Tramadol is a semi-synthetic opiate and an effective analgesic, but without the addiction potential as other opiates. Even then, it makes me feel weird, and causes severe insomnia.
But don't let me scare you off of drugs; I'm not trying to promote a DARE campaign within the knee replacement community. When prescribed accordingly within the appropriate clinical guidelines, opiate analgesics can provide significant pain relief. Be aware that on the therapeutic horizon though, there's a horde of lackluster zombies with a hunger not for brains but...druuuggggsss!
So at this point, I have not entered the zombie state for fear of an opiate hunger, or better yet....a hunger for brains! My intake at this point has been limited to Naproxen (Alieve) and the occasional Tramadol (Ultram). Tramadol is a semi-synthetic opiate and an effective analgesic, but without the addiction potential as other opiates. Even then, it makes me feel weird, and causes severe insomnia.
But don't let me scare you off of drugs; I'm not trying to promote a DARE campaign within the knee replacement community. When prescribed accordingly within the appropriate clinical guidelines, opiate analgesics can provide significant pain relief. Be aware that on the therapeutic horizon though, there's a horde of lackluster zombies with a hunger not for brains but...druuuggggsss!