The study called "Relationship between Opioid Treatment and Rate of Healing in Chronic Wounds," published in Wound Repair and Regeneration, the data suggests a that opioid exposure is strongly correlated with reduced likelihood of healing in patients with chronic wounds. Opioid dose was found to be significantly associated with total wound surface area of the 450 subjects enrolled in the WE-HEAL biorepository.
Shanmugam said [emphasis added]:
Pain After Car Accidents?Opioid analgestics are commonly prescribed to patients with chronic wounds, but until now, little to no research had been done to determine the relationship between opioid treatment and wound healing.
It seems that exposing patients to opioids may impact ultimate wound outcome...
In an unrelated study presented to the public in the same week - researchers found that accident victims do better without opioid prescriptions. The study found that for treating persistent pain after a car crash, prescription opioid painkillers such as oxycodone (Oxycontin) are no more effective than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like ibuprofen, acetemetophin, aspirin.
Lead author Dr. Francesca Beaudoin aptly said:
She continues on a sad note, "Now that opioids are under fire, it's forcing us to ask: 'What is the best treatment, who is it best for and under what conditions?'" They ultimately found that the risk of persistent pain was about the same whether patients took opioids like Oxycontin or Percocet or NSAIDs such as Advil or Motrin. But the study published in the journal Pain found that those who were initially prescribed opioids, were 17.5 percent more likely to still be taking the drugs six weeks later.You'd think there would be a wealth of studies comparing our 'go-to' pain meds, but there just aren't.
Recently, the American Osteopathic Association announced that the DEA's potential ban on kratom would stifle scientific attempts to study the potential opioid alternative.
Did you know?
OTC NSAIDS come with their own set of dangers and side effects and can even be fatal. Strangely, OTC pain killers dull emotions and prevent processing of new information. Also, no one really knows how they work. Yet, people are reporting that natural substances like turmeric, ginger, white willow bark and kratom are helping them reduce pain and steer clear of addiction.
Both of these studies and the little-known side effects of OTCs give rise to the idea that no one seems to be running medications through real tests before they are introduced on the market. Still, the fact that wound patients heal faster without them and accident victims can find similar relief with OTC pain relievers (without addiction or overdosing) is a bright spot on the current opioid epidemic.
After shoulder replacement surgery and prostate issues, it became apparent to me that medical marijuana worked a lot better than the usual opioid post-op meds. No side effects, much more efficient than you would think. It's illegal so that Big Pharma can make big bucks off their chemical concoctions. NSAIDs, like ibuprofen etc. are damaging to the liver. Science appears to be unable to improve on Mother Nature.