PATIENTS WITH PAIN LEFT WITH ONE ALTERNATIVE

To the Editor:

I'm sure that doctors have a difficult time trying to decide what
course of action to take a patient in order to be able to return to a
normal life. Oxycontin was a miracle in my husband's life.

He has medical complications that prevent him from having knee
replacement or back surgery to correct a disc problem in the neck.
Both of these conditions cause excruciating pain and are disabling. He
took the medication as prescribed for over a year and felt much relief
unlike any other drug ever prescribed.

We did not realize that he was dependent on the medicine until he had
an unrelated trip to the hospital and was not given his normal dose.
He experienced withdrawal while in the hospital and was given other
drugs to ease the symptoms.

I do not think some people realize how miserable a person can be when
plagued with chronic pain. Some doctors choose to ignore it, and I
hope they realize that their patients are left with one legal choice
to relieve pain that is far more damaging, causing severe withdrawal
and even death - alcohol.

Eleanor Williams

Antioch 37013