A group of researchers recently looked at medical conditions that were diagnosed when patients were children–and how that impacted their likelihood of being prescribed opioids later on in life. They found that people who were diagnosed with cerebral palsy or spina bifida as children were five times more likely to be prescribed opioids later on than others were.
Opioids can be quite effective at treating pain at times, but they also come with some major complications. Opioids are highly addictive and can be fatal if they are misused. Unfortunately, some segments of the population are placed at a greater risk because they are overprescribed. While awareness of this issue has certainly increased over the last decade or so, studies like this show that there’s still a long way to go when it comes to the safe us of this type of medication.
This research comes out of the University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine. They published their findings in the journal, Heliyon. Hopefully, this research and other projects in the same vein can help those that are struggling with chronic pain avoid complications when they are treated, but still see their symptoms be treated effectively.
There are alternatives to opioids out there. However, each person is different and each situation is different. Your doctor may believe that opioids are the best path to help you or a loved one in a specific situation. As a medical professional, they also need to be aware of your wishes and goals. If there are concerns about opioids–or any other course of action that might be prescribed to you or a family member–it’s okay to have a conversation with your medical team. They should know your concerns and be open to a dialogue about what the best course of action might be.
The same goes with other aspects of life, too. If you have concerns about the care that you or a loved one are receiving, talking about it with your team is one of the best ways to help you get closer to achieving your goals. These conversations can be hard, especially if they involve making major changes. But when everyone is able to communicate freely, the person receiving help is a lot more likely to get the best help possible.
We’re here to talk if you’d like. Our trained professionals would be happy to work alongside you as you look for the right team for your family.
We might not become part of your care team, and that’s okay. We realize that we can’t serve every single family out there. In fact, it’s not right for us to try as the services that we offer won’t be ideal for every single situation. But we can help get the conversation started regardless of what happens. If you would like to know more about what’s available, please get in touch. One of our caregivers would be happy to get you pointed in the right direction so that your loved ones can meet their goals as they age.
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