What You Should Know About Opioids and Painkillers | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter | TED

Pain is your body's signal that something isn't right. To help manage it, doctors often prescribe powerful opioids -- but they're not always the best option and can quickly lead to addiction. Illuminating the fine line between substance use and abuse, Dr. Jen Gunter explains what opioids do to your perception of pain, the risks they pose and the questions to ask your doctor about them. (For more on how your body works, tune in to her podcast, Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, from the TED Audio Collective.)
Think you know how your body works? Think again! In this TED original series, Dr. Jen Gunter will share the truth about what's really going on inside you. For more, tune into her podcast, Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter: link.chtbl.com/BodyStuffYT
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#TED #health #pain

[@judithannem1340]

OTCs can also be dangerous. I have kidney disease and cannot take NSAIDS. I believe rest and sleep should be more stressed in this talk. Sometimes that works better than a lot of the pain pills available. What upsets me is those of us who have little choice are often UNDER medicated because of the opioid scares.

[@Allan-mf1he]

Its tough. In some countries codeine base painkillers are available OTC. I had a friend that had failed kidneys and its a hard life to go for dialysis 3 times a week. His kidney disease was caused by ibuprofen!

[@janegallup8114]

Stop just please stop with the lies!!! Chronic pain patients with incurable painful diseases have taken so much OTC meds many of us have stomach problems kidney problems. I've had eight back surgeries and two failed fusions along with other incurable painful diseases. I've been in pain management for 20 years. I was on the same dose of pain medication for 9 years and was at least functional. After the CDC 2016 guidelines I was force tapered to a level that I'm NO longer functional!! I'm in pain 24/7 along with the millions of other pain patients. HELP US WE ARE LITERALLY DYING!

[@Allan-mf1he]

@@janegallup8114 Have you tried methadone? Your case is not within the norm.

[@wandat46]

@@Allan-mf1he what makes his case not within the norm?

[@Allan-mf1he]

@@wandat46 His case?

[@kodyryba7676]

I believe the most important misconception is always overlooked for the patient suffering for real, doctor and specialsists scream addict when those of us who truly depend on that understanding

[@gumman12341]

It also shouldn’t be as hard as it is to get them to the people who Actually need them!!! My moms had 14 back surgeries. And many other surgeries. She can’t get anything to make her pain reduce. Doctors are too damn scared to give out and help

[@Sunshine_Suzie_Q]

It’s sad. The ones who truly need it have trouble getting proper pain relief bc doctors are too afraid to prescribe nowadays

[@Abba-dabba-doo]

Yeeeeep. I can be in 10/10 back pain--doctors don't seem to care. I'm expected to sit here for weeks in excruciating pain when nothing is helping.

[@mrjoehimself]

Beautifully well spoken, how lovely *joy* Thank you!

[@DraMeowLIFESTYLEGRUARIN]

Thanks for sharing

[@abhayanand9585]

I love Ted it's the special gift that I have ever get from online!

[@davidphillips9445]

I've been on opoids, nerve blockers and muscle relaxants for nearly 20 years. I tailor my opiod usage to my needs, and try to have days off where possible. I also use a variety of relaxation techniques. I use what you'd call Tylenol, but I never use NSAID's as they wreck my insides. I won't use the medications to protect the stomach (PPI's) as they cause other issues. Do I suffer withdrawal symptoms...yes Can I stop completely...yes (and have a number of times). There is no fix for my pain, and it is unrelenting.

[@lizmurphy3322]

After 4 hours of abdominal surgery as I was going back to my room my nurse offered me 2 - 1,000 mg. Tylenol. I just screamed get me your charge nurse! I have been closely with my PM doctor for 12 years! I got Morphine right away iv. I am 71 years old. I expect my pain level to be taken care of in the hospital! I did get orders for Morphine from my surgeon for my 4 day stay. I was very comfortable.

[@nunyabiddies]

That's insane.

[@wandat46]

Good for you. I would love to see that knucklehead doctor go through that pain with Tylenol.

[@WatsonBurkes-pg7dj]

.

[@donaldfrederick501]

Never took opioids thankfully but so tired of "Tylenol" suggestion... I'm like it didn't work the first 19 times a Dr recommended that, you think #20 will?

[@catanianolan4836]

This video is everything.

[@olivergroning6421]

Opioids might be 'most commonly prescribed' pain killers in the US, certainly not here in Switzerland. After a really bad cycling crash (broken collarbone, broken ribs, compressed back and lung) requiring surgery, I was released from the hospital with Optifen (Ibuprofen) and Tramal (Opioid) as pain killers. I was instructed to use the Tramal only in emergencies, if I couldn't sleep and the Optifen wouldn't do the job. If I needed to use it, I was told, that I could only use it for 10 days and then had to stop. So I was really reluctant to use it and took it only once, the pain (really bad back pain) went away really quick, but I had the feeling of falling into a coma. Then never touched it again and stuck with the Optifen. I understand why the physicians here are really, really reluctant to prescribe opioids as pain killers.

[@davidphillips9445]

I respect your right not to use opioids. What you call 'falling into a coma', I call, 'the codeine cushion'.

[@AKL764]

Ill take them from you and dispose of them properly

[@veptrix2776]

@@davidphillips9445 yeah. Love opiods. Unfortunately.

[@ChronicPainInTheAss]

They're definitely not commonly prescribed in the US anymore either. Since the 2016 CDC anti-opioid guideline was published, prescriptions for opioids have been cut by more than 65%.

[@veptrix2776]

@@ChronicPainInTheAss they're just straight up unnecessary in most cases

[@Azel247]

After my surgery, I was prescribed ketorolac, tylenol, and codeine. The least effective was the codeine because it just made me feel dizzy without removing the pain. Tylenol and anti-inflammatory meds work really well for me. Oh, and ice.

[@robin_birdie_]

that's because you had inflammatory. that's simple. try to beat migraine or severe tooth pain with the freakin paracetamol (tylenol) and we'll talk again after that )

[@brett4264]

I'd rather have all I want and eventually die of overdose. Too expensive and hard to get tho. So I live in pain.

[@ubayyd]

What kinda pain?

[@treehorn36]

Ever heard of Kratom? I hear it can has positive effects without being an opium derivative

[@krissipowell9358]

Bleeders cannot take Nsaids

[@circa1890]

Even doctors prescribe them too routinely. A friend of mine had foot surgery and said the worst part of the process was the withdrawal symptoms from opiods .. and she followed the doctors orders exactly. Ended up in a shower screaming for hours. Horrible times she went through. 😥

[@carterscustomrods]

How long was she on them?

[@circa1890]

@@carterscustomrods Two weeks post-surgery. (There was a study done a few years back that followed 36,177 surgical patients. Of those, 5.9 - 6.5% had persistent opiod use after their procedures.. no difference between major and minor surgeries. These were people who had no issues with opiods previously.. )

[@kahlernygard809]

​@@circa1890 ever consider that they developed chronic pain disease and are medicating themselves ? These studies that set out not to find the truth but to get a specific policy action (lowe opiates prescribing)

[@Sketch1994]

@@circa1890This fails to address that ~1-10% or even more of even the most minor surgeries like a wisdom tooth removal or a simple infection might result in chronic pain, necessitating their continued use. I refused even paracetamol on day 3 after a spinal fusion and aside from waking up from general anesthesia never had been given any opioids before. Didn't even think of them until 8 months later scar tissue entrapped some nerves and I was given 7 different NSAIDs with no effect over the course of 3 months. Then I was given a tiny tramadol script out of mercy, but it gave me a seizure on day 3...

[@nataliem4029]

I'd a really bad accident resulting in multiple orthopedic trauma including a broken back. I've been on all sorts of opiates. Now the ones the work the best to keep me independent and mobile are fentanyl patches. I ask my doctor to monitor this as I'm worried I'll not have anything that will work down the line.

[@kahlernygard809]

I'm happy you found something that works for you !!

[@theavengers.]

Learned opioid and and opiate

[@cryptotonic567]

Very interesting video! In the past i ve been treated for severe pain with oppioids.. After a month i got hooked and i ve realized how bad they are..

[@carsonhunt4642]

I’m quite surprised at the amount of ppl who never learned pain pills are addicting lol. I remember multiple programs in middle school telling how bad drugs are … guess some Places and or parents don’t know better! Scary world

[@cryptotonic567]

@@carsonhunt4642 Unfortunately, more awareness campaigns are needed in my state. The misinformation mixed with the interests of pharmaceutical companies that reward doctors who prescribe opiates even for a cold, is bringing back this plagur that was believed to have vanished..

[@wandat46]

That's why I've never taken strong pain meds for long. Soon as I start, I'm thinking of ways to taper my dosage. I don't want to become addicted.

[@br6768]

True ..I get better pain relief with Tylenol than opioids.. Like joint pain and headaches

[@sumaiyakhan9368]

I used to take 4tramadol n gabapentin tablets a day for backpain ...now my doctor is tapering off medicine.. thanks for this video

[@banehog]

Are you sure it's not *you* who is tapering off the medicine?

[@ApAcVideoWatcher]

This is a very humorous video. There's a nuance indeed. All of the other possibilities should, of course, be tried first if they have a chance of working. However, keeping someone in excruciating pain due to fear is both ignorant and should be against every doctor's code of ethics. It's the doctor's responsibility to have a plan and monitor, but that should be done on any medication. However, making it extraordinarily challenging for extreme chronic pain sufferers to get without very good insurance (insurance that will accept it) also isn't the answer. Nor is trying to terrify people via pseudo education clips. You cannot approach treatment from an addiction potential perspective or you fail before you ever begin. Yes, some people are more prone to non-physical addiction, but that is why everyone should be monitored. I took such medications for a very long time. They were the only thing that gave me any quality of life at all. The only times I went through withdrawals was when the insurance company would suddenly refuse to pay for my extremely expensive prescription that they knew was coming because it came at the same time every month. So what's more dangerous there? It's not the medication causing the danger in that situation. It's the jacked up system. When I found ways to help myself that were never suggested by any medical staff in any field, (and let's be clear, I and anyone who experience that kind of pain are always looking for ways to stop it. No one wants to live like that and if you think people do, you're someone who clearly doesn't understand pain.) my prescribing doctor helped me to safely step down without experiencing dangerous withdrawals. If you're wishing to discuss addiction, please separate it from those using the medications for pain control. Many medications do cause physical addictions other than opioids, but you don't see a war on them happening. Many are more dangerous. Separate your education and address people who are taking them for recreational use as you would someone taking them that way. Don't just assume people not doing so are going to suddenly start. Frankly, if you feel a high on any pain medication, you've been prescribed too high of a dose. I've never, in multiple decades of use, ever felt even a tiny buzz from the opioids or opiates I've been prescribed. Of course, I was never out of pain either. My point being that while there absolutely needs to be education done on this, I'm let down that TED is choosing to follow this particular direction. It doesn't work and it creates more problems than it solves. Please try to do better, because the people you're wishing to reach will simply ignore this. 🦋

[@joanbondira2201]

Thank you for this!

[@bloomnights]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@StarBoundFables]

Very interesting, thanks for the info, doc!

[@themanwnoname3454]

2022(G) “Respect and dignity.” Furthermore:

[@timolexmusic]

Coming from Switzerland I'm shocked to learn opioids would even be prescribed for smaller injuries in the US... Even Ibuprofen is considered a rather strong medication here!

[@joanbondira2201]

This approach seems very misguided to me The main reason we have doctors is to relieve suffering, and we have medications that do that. Often, the most effective and appropriate medication is an opioid.

[@antoniov368]

@@joanbondira2201 LOL

[@baddriver3580]

What's prescribed in Switzerland for moderate to severe pain? Tylenol for a kidney stone or migraine attack,ain't going to get it done!!! Better bring on some big gun meds ,, demerol, to dialauded !! A blocked kidney stone in a person needs relief!!

[@janpoole910]

@timolex music THAT 's a misconception! You can't find a doctor who will prescribe opioids!

[@Christmasday_25]

Why ?

[@dreamy_renders]

The best stress reliever and good sleep "pill" for me is the sounds of nature. Rain, crackling fireplace, mountain stream. Nature sounds work against anxiety and enhance nervous system function and human behavior I've started making natural sounds videos for every one, hope it will help someone😀

[@WatsonBurkes-pg7dj]

Acid hmm

[@selfelements8037]

1:06

[@Stevelangdon93]

Yes, yes, we’ve all seen dopesick Opioids don’t do much pain relieving for me, they just make it easier to ignore because you’re high. Naproxen is the real MVP

[@winser21]

Being on Oxycodone after my ACL surgery was frankly an unpleasant experience. I traded leg pain with the drug’s extremely lethargic effects on me. I must’ve thrown away like 100 pills prescribed to me. The seemingly haphazard manner doctors prescribe medication to their patients unfortunately loses them a lot of intellectual credibility in my book. Nobody is the end-all be-all authority on what drugs are right for your body.

[@fook-joby-den6172]

Physiological dependence isn’t equal to addiction.

[@richardhudak4571]

THIS LADY GOT IT WRONG I HAD THR SURGERY AND IM STILL IN CHRONIC PAIN MY PAIN MEDS HELP ME HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE IF SHE HAD MY PAIN SHE WOULD BE SAYING PAIN MEDS WORK SHES LIEING

[@djoecav]

I swear to God, NSAIDS and Opiates don't reduce my pain at all. I don't have chronic pain or anything like that, but when I do something like get a burn on a stove and take either I still feel all of the pain. I never got it checked out in childhood because my parents stopped listening and I haven't had it looked into as an adult because who cares lol.

[@muktigupta4507]

Missing your red leather jacket IDK why

[@ObsessionoftheMonth]

I refuse to accept opioid pain killers from doctors when I have had operations or hurt something. I have back pain and went to disney land the first 2 days I took a prescribed pain killer and it did nothing for my back. just made me feel stupid. the rest of the time I took ibuprofen and it worked a whole lot better. I could walk for 4 hours at a time with out much pain at all. when I had knee surgery they gave me pain killers and I never took them just ibuprofen or tylenol. The doctor was confused when I said I did not need them. He sent the prescription in anyways. he was also confused that I went back to work within a week. he said most people milk their injuries and take a month to go back to work. yes he said "milk" you aren't fooling your doctor on this.

[@homewall744]

Pain is personal and doctors don't know better what you feel. This is the same sort of language used towards women and black people who claim it's all in your mind or just be tougher.

[@keenarnia]

Lol

[@feralnerd5]

I was prescribed opioids after my appendectomy and they were unfortunately necessary for me to sleep. I hated them, though, and the next time I had surgery, I filled the prescription just in case but never ended up using them. Of course, it was a more minor surgery. My most recent surgery didn't require opioids at all and I was grateful for that. It's good to hear that next time I have a surgery that *does* require strong pain relief, I can just try Tylenol.

[@kahlernygard809]

Lmao that study that claims tylenol is equal or better than opiates is 100 percent garbage not based in reality.

[@Politesseo]

When this doctor says "to be clear..." she then does not follow through specifically as to how opioids "can paradoxically worsen pain…". What is she referring to in these lines when not in regard to the obvious issue of withdrawal complications? Rather ambiguous there at best. If she'd spent a bit more time objectively researching the subject perhaps she could have mentioned that even legitimate, fully compliant opioid use can also contribute to permanently diminished mental acuity, dementia. This problem being not just with the already at risk elderly due to a lifetime of exposure to all the other increasingly questionable things the public has been sold as "harmless" for decades- in what we eat, breath, drink, touch. Perhaps she also could have taken a moment to point out that in other "well designed studies" ALL of the antiflamitory or not, steroidal or not, RX or OTC types of drugs like aspirin, acetaminophen that she promotes as good alternatives, are now in fact considered not particularly safe. Is she unaware of the percentage of hospital admissions / ER visits they contribute to? Has she read any NIH reports on that subject? Her manner of addressing the public is frankly annoying- does she really feel it necessary to address us in a condescending tone as if we're all 12 year olds? Does she even believe legitimate long term chronic pain exists? She doesn't mention it at all. Does she have no personal pl experience with long term chronic pain, just "stubbing a toe"? Her read largely presents as trivializing, to ignoring real issues. Maybe she simply doesn't want to overly annoy the hugely profitable pharma (and other) manufacturers, industries and their lobbyists. A safer option just taking a poke at our non-lobbyist physician instead? Reasonable advice: read up on stats, surveys about Ted Talks and what other experts say about any Ted presented subject. While Ted certainly has been known to provide some good information, advice on some topics, it seems to have slipped as it's grown, now (not infrequently) presenting a marginal presentation apparently for the sake of a speaker's self promotional efforts- a speaker also desirous of getting the free (according to Ted Talks) "travel costs, excellent hotel accommodations as well as a 'covetable' pass to all five days of TED" - all paid for by Ted. Few would pass up those goodies and the potential networking opportunity, name exposure, no matter what their profession or how much money they already make (or what their actual competence is, if they can glad handedly, slip in). Reasonable advice: when it comes to "Ted Talks" - assume nothing. If a topic they raise interests you, appreciate it for just that much- then cross reference the information, see what more studied, specific to topic legitimate other sources say. Legitimate NOT being personal blogs, social media influencers, sponsored articles- or someone strutting around on a stage uncontested for a few minutes with a mini mic on their face. Assume nothing regarding any discernibly parroted, possibly outdated, little more than copied, rephrased and pasted old PSA pronouncements by a presenter who might just want the "gravitas" of their name repeated in Ted Talks as much as having any well meaning philanthropic intent. ALSO condescending here is attempting to inject us with a dose of paranoia in her stating "you don't know who's taking your pills". Addressing us now as what, a presumed dumb public? So apparently paranoia for our own good is good? And of course the speaker's free excellent accomodations provided by Ted Talks. By the way, regarding how a dumbed down public to any degree may have come about - now That would be a very interesting topic to present at length- that Ted Talks likely wouldn't touch. In these diminishingly contemporary times, perhaps God should first consider saving us from the questionable expertise of 21st century "experts", Then save us from ourselves. Taurus Cacas Parit Cynicos 2:01 2:01

[@hangminn9387]

な

[@emadkan3591]

🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@EnyawYorlig]

Where did 'opiates' go? And what are these 'opioids'?

[@Benoit-Pierre]

3:09 asking à specific med to a doctor is not the right thing to do. It's the right thing with pharmacist, not with doctor. Pharmacist sell you what you ask. The doctor is an engineer trained to find the best solution to a problem, you should not request a specific solution. And advising to do so on an educational channel is counter productive. For this single phrase, the video should be removed.

[@larushka1]

Well that was a waste of time TED. Not up to your usual standards.

[@sohigh-lights]

⬅️⬅️⬅️⬅️😂🤘

[@pav688]

Another anti-opioid Dr. Shocker!

[@cornelioabasolo6288]

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[@sankargandhi8345]

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[@russellmorrison1498]

Trading with an expert is the best strategy for newbies and busy investors who have little or no time to monitor trade

[@alexismiller5645]

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[@mrsadisa6593]

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[@j.svaraba9193]

🇰🇷대한민국 말로 알. 잘. 딱. 깔. 센. ( 알아서 잘~ 딱!! 깔끔하고, 센스있게. )

[@hangminn9387]

無mn amつつ

[@Allan-mf1he]

Naloxone should be in every household after this influx of fentanyl. Thanks for this warning.

[@banehog]

I think opiates are pretty cool. Why you gotta give them a bad rap?

[@stephenjames3377]

Your attitude AFFECTS your pain.

[@peggyharris3815]

That explanation is always warmly received 🤣

[@ElicBehexan]

My gastroenterologist wants me off my NSAID (diclofenac) and acetaminophen, which is part of the dose I take of hydrocodone, does nothing - I'd rather it wasn't in my hydrocodone but I don't have any choice. In fact, every time I have taken acetaminophen by itself it may have made my pain worse. Just so you know, it didn't help my father either. Now, I have inflammation. Part of my food sensitivities make my body have inflammation, a LOT of inflammation. I have a lot of pain as well, I have fibromyalgia. I do take hydrocodone and gabapentin, and I barely function at times with my medications. I am still not taking as much of a dose as I would be allowed because barely functioning is better in my mind than addiction. And I do know addiction. I became addicted to a phenobarbital in college after a car accident. It was prescribed and after I discovered I was addicted, I took my last pill before my last final of the semester and never want to go through that again. Happily, by being distracted by being home, made the withdrawal easy, a lot easier than having to shake through classes, as I had before I realized I was addicted. So, is there an anti-inflammatory medication that my gut doc would like?

[@Boobookittyfluff]

Look into doing a gut rebuild with a nutritionist. A combination of the supplement Intestimax and Vital Protiens collagen supplement 1-2 scoops each mixed with water or broth twice a day for 3 to 6 months did wonders for my leaky gut and food sensitivities. I started with 27 food sensitivities and ended up with only one after 6 months on a hypoallergenic diet while doing the rebuild protocol. Also DGL licorice root supplement increases healing of the stomach lining. It worked wonders for my bleeding stomach ulcer. You may want to see a Naturopath for healing from chronic health issues. They're actually really good at helping chronic digestive problems and nutrition therapy. Also Turmeric is a very good anti-inflammatory. All the above gave me a lot of relief. I hope you find the right help and healing soon.

[@antoniov368]

What about metamizole?

[@ElicBehexan]

@@antoniov368 thanks for the suggestion, but looking it up, it has corn starch, which I am acutely sensitive to.

[@ElicBehexan]

@@Boobookittyfluff I'll keep this in mind.

[@robin_birdie_]

you might be (or might not be ) doing something that aggravates these problems you have. and if any, you should be looking at your sleeping routing first (and primarily at the time of the day and regularity of you sleeping, as those things are most underestimated especially regarding the severe chronic maladies they can cause). I sincerely wish you much better health

[@karencarpenter5845]

What a load of actual crap opiates rules are racist and misogynistic and Not one person in a white lab coat or the government should be in charge of any person's entire life course. Opiates gave been working for over 4000 years. Any responsible adult with valid ID should be able to buy what they want or need and go on with their work or life. It is not a crime to be in pain whether emotional physical or spiritual.

[@danielj6899]

Despite the financial instability and recession all over the world,I'm so excited I've been making $53,000 from my 11,500 capital every 21days.

[@andrenobre7669]

I countlessly share my experience with co-workers at work, on how I made $13,650 from a deposit of $2,100 in 15 businessdays of trading

[@turbodan78]

What a loser! Haha. Stop trying to scam people with your fake comments 🤣

[@winser21]

Being on Oxycodone after my ACL surgery was frankly an unpleasant experience. I traded leg pain with the drug’s extremely lethargic effects on me. I must’ve thrown away like 100 pills prescribed to me. The seemingly haphazard manner doctors prescribe medication to their patients unfortunately loses them a lot of intellectual credibility in my book. No one person is the end-all be-all authority on what drugs are right for your body.

[@kahlernygard809]

You could have sold those and payed your rent lol 😆