14th March 2008
[QUOTE=Shoreline;3486310]
Nerve pain is the least responsive to opiates and yet your getting total relief.
I'm sorry, but I have to strongly disagree with this. The body cannot distinguish between different types of pain. As you probably know, certain drugs (like Actiq) are only approved for cancer pain, but many Docs use them for off-label pain. However, because the drug is expensive, many insurance companies use it as an "out" to not pay for it. Many PM Docs will use the argument and cite many recent research studies where the body cannot distinguish different types of pain...i.e This is cancer pain, therefore it's stronger. Pain is rated on a scale of 1-10, regardless of it's source. If the Actiq works for a particular patient, it should be allowed even though it's not cancer. After all, the FDA permits off label med use.
My PM doc is an anesthesiologist, and because we are near DC, he sees many Gulf War & Iraq soldiers....He told me once that he treats some soldiers for severe arm or leg pain even though they don't have a leg or arm, because of the nerve damage leading to the site. Nerve pain is one of the most complex type of pain to treat because there are many different levels of nerve damage. Either the meds treat the pain or they don't.
Hope this helps.
Ex
Nerve pain is the least responsive to opiates and yet your getting total relief.
I'm sorry, but I have to strongly disagree with this. The body cannot distinguish between different types of pain. As you probably know, certain drugs (like Actiq) are only approved for cancer pain, but many Docs use them for off-label pain. However, because the drug is expensive, many insurance companies use it as an "out" to not pay for it. Many PM Docs will use the argument and cite many recent research studies where the body cannot distinguish different types of pain...i.e This is cancer pain, therefore it's stronger. Pain is rated on a scale of 1-10, regardless of it's source. If the Actiq works for a particular patient, it should be allowed even though it's not cancer. After all, the FDA permits off label med use.
My PM doc is an anesthesiologist, and because we are near DC, he sees many Gulf War & Iraq soldiers....He told me once that he treats some soldiers for severe arm or leg pain even though they don't have a leg or arm, because of the nerve damage leading to the site. Nerve pain is one of the most complex type of pain to treat because there are many different levels of nerve damage. Either the meds treat the pain or they don't.
Hope this helps.
Ex