January 24 2017 workshop report - managing pain
Treating pain in elderly patients requires doctors to consider many factors. Dr. Charles Reznikoff, assistant professor at the University and a physician at the Hennepin County Medical Center, said that before prescribing strong drugs such as opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl) or medical marijuana (cannabis), doctors must consider how organs such as kidneys and liver could be affected, especially if they are already weakened. If using opioids, older adults are less likely than young men to become addicted, but they are more vulnerable to overdosing resulting in death, especially when they are already taking other kinds of medicines. The most serious side effect of marijuana for the elderly, however, is dizziness and the possibility of falling. For the 18 percent of Minnesota marijuana patients over age 65, very few other bad effects have been reported. In any case, patients need to actively manage their own pain and report all side effects to their doctor.
Biological, psychological, and sociological factors all play a part in causing pain.When we are happy, pain bothers us less than when we are worried and upset. Different cultures also experience pain differently. Backaches and headaches are the most common pains reported by Americans.
Comments and questions raised by participants were: (1) Males and females generally are not treated differently regarding the amount of medication they are prescribed. Dr. Reznikoff responded that this may often be true, but children are always treated differently. (2) One way to differentiate would be for doctors to use genetics to tailor medicines to each individual. (3) Do pharmaceutical companies have too much influence on our health? Dr. Reznikoff responded that the University hospital and clinics no longer allow pharmaceutical representatives to make sales calls, but these profit-based companies have also provided benefits to patients we would not otherwise have had.
Dr. Reznikov advised that if we cannot change our pain, deciding to accept it may actually help us feel better.
--Pat Tollefson, UMRA member
January 24 Workshop: opioids, marijuana for managing pain?
Tue, January 24 2017, 1:30pm
Campus Club ABC
UMRA presents a workshop for understanding and discussing some of the controversial substances used for pain management—opioids and medical marijuana.
This workshop will be led by Dr. Charles Reznikoff, assistant professor, University of Minnesota and HCMC physician. who specializes in pain management and addiction. He also serves as a consultant with state government on medical cannabis/opioids; he co-authored an opioid guideline with the Institute for Clinical Systems and Improvement.
As we age, a variety of common and uncommon pain problems arise. Joint pain in the shoulders, knees, legs, or feet appear. Such common pains are mostly dealt with by an aspirin, ibuprofen, or similar compound. Some people ignore pain and are able to continue with regular daily activities, but often with great difficulty.
For some, however, the pain experienced is definitely not common. Sometimes a remedy calls for a knee or hip replacement, rotator cuff /shoulder replacement, etc. But severe pain is common after surgical procedures and with many illnesses. We need to be aware that, in recent years, medical pain management has included substances that have been found to be addictive.
Controversial pharmaceutical remedies—opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl)—though helpful, can be addictive, and overdose can be fatal. The Minnesota Legislature has recently approved of “medical” marijuana for several ailments and has recently added intractable pain and post-traumatic stress disorder to the original nine conditions approved for use in the 2014 law.
Dr. Reznikoff will lead an informal discussion on the pros and cons of managing pain with opiods and marijuana. If you have had experience with either—pro or con—please join our discussion and help yourself and others understand these drugs that are sometimes prescribed for treatment of pain. The workshop begins at 1:30 p.m. in Campus Club ABC. You need not have attended the luncheon to participate in this workshop. Everyone is welcome.
Upcoming Events
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