Puppies Instead Of Percocet
Wednesday, 25 November, 2009 - 01:01 PM
Puppies Instead Of Percocet
One day your doctor may prescribe a trip to the animal shelter rather than the pharmacy after joint replacement surgery, according to a new study. Adults who receive pet therapy during recovery from total joint replacement operations need 50% less pain medication than those patients who don't get visits from four footed therapists. The side effects are much more pleasant, too, consisting chiefly of wet faces from dogs who can't hold their licker.
We get mired in the frequently distressing news about substance abuse, too, so it's nice to have an excuse to post puppy videos.
Happy holidays!
Comments
A bit delusional
Although the idea of therapies that reduce need for pain medication is well intentioned, the idea that medical professionals will completely eliminate the use of opioids for pain management couldn't be more out of touch with reality. I underwent a bankart repair with capsular shift on my shoulder last year. Although not a total replacement, it was still quite painful in the weeks following and moderate narcotic pain medicine allowed me to manage well. Oh, and while stuck around the house, I spent plenty of time around a friendly dog. I didn't use all the meds, only about 75% of what was given. While unconventional therapies may help some people, it doesn't necessarily mean that doctors should magically remove medications from their pharmacopoeia deemed unsavory by prohibitionists and government drug cops. Many respectable physicians have been ruined for giving medication within the scope of accepted practice. A patient in pain is not an addict or abuser.
Puppies for Pain Relief?
TYC says: I agree. It does seem a bit more than just delusional to suggest that a puppy provides greater relief than opiates with major surgery. That's exactly what I need after hip surgery...a dog jumping on me as I navigate around the house. Brilliant! Why didn't the AMA think of that? I would really like to take the drug warriors from between a doctor and a patient. Same goes for the law enforcement and political community as well. This drug war stuff goes to an extreme...just like the drug commercials on tv go to the other extreme. Time to stop the drug war madness and let doctors handle medicine.