Tylenol Only.....After Major Surgery?

[SweetSue92]

Has anyone heard of this trend? It sounds nearly barbaric to me. I understand that 15 or so years ago this nation was in an opioid epidemic brought on by greedy pharma companies. By why does that mean patients have to suffer through post surgical pain IN THE HOSPITAL?

A decade ago, most people thought of Tylenol (acetaminophen) as a medicine for fever, malaise and minor aches and pains. Nobody imagined that it would become the go-to drug for treating moderate, let alone severe, postoperative pain.

But this is just what has happened. Thanks to pressure from lawmakers, government agencies and policymakers who inserted themselves into the patient-doctor relationship, patients became the victims of the never-ending war on drugs.

Now, doctors frequently offer only acetaminophen to treat painful conditions despite the drug’s inability to remedy them.

Tylenol After Surgery? Why the Feds Make Patients Suffer Needless Pain (USA Today)

 

[SweetSue92]

Has anyone heard of this trend? It sounds nearly barbaric to me. I understand that 15 or so years ago this nation was in an opioid epidemic brought on by greedy pharma companies. By why does that mean patients have to suffer through post surgical pain IN THE HOSPITAL?

A decade ago, most people thought of Tylenol (acetaminophen) as a medicine for fever, malaise and minor aches and pains. Nobody imagined that it would become the go-to drug for treating moderate, let alone severe, postoperative pain.

But this is just what has happened. Thanks to pressure from lawmakers, government agencies and policymakers who inserted themselves into the patient-doctor relationship, patients became the victims of the never-ending war on drugs.

Now, doctors frequently offer only acetaminophen to treat painful conditions despite the drug’s inability to remedy them.

Tylenol After Surgery? Why the Feds Make Patients Suffer Needless Pain (USA Today)

Wanted to add that this article says "high dose Tylenol" is given in IVs. Isn't acetaminophen highly toxic to the liver? What is going on

 

[MarathonMike]

More profits for J & J along with the usual payoffs.

 

[BackAgain]

Has anyone heard of this trend? It sounds nearly barbaric to me. I understand that 15 or so years ago this nation was in an opioid epidemic brought on by greedy pharma companies. By why does that mean patients have to suffer through post surgical pain IN THE HOSPITAL?

A decade ago, most people thought of Tylenol (acetaminophen) as a medicine for fever, malaise and minor aches and pains. Nobody imagined that it would become the go-to drug for treating moderate, let alone severe, postoperative pain.

But this is just what has happened. Thanks to pressure from lawmakers, government agencies and policymakers who inserted themselves into the patient-doctor relationship, patients became the victims of the never-ending war on drugs.

Now, doctors frequently offer only acetaminophen to treat painful conditions despite the drug’s inability to remedy them.

Tylenol After Surgery? Why the Feds Make Patients Suffer Needless Pain (USA Today)

Doctors and nurses have recently heard me note that — for me — Tylenol simply doesn’t work. And it doesn’t. But it is still their “go to” pain relief recommendation.

One of the medical personnel (this time, a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner) who was given to me for pain management associated with my ongoing cancer battle, offered a different pain med option. Guess what? The insurance company declined coverage. It isn’t a huge figure — so we simply paid it.

But I gather that the medical establishment (and insurance companies together) are trying to avoid liability for anything coming out of the opioid crisis.

 

[Rambunctious]

Tell them either they prescribe you a real pain killer or you will find it on the street...
This is like punishing the innocent for actions by drug addicts... its wrong....

 

[JustAnotherNut]

Wanted to add that this article says "high dose Tylenol" is given in IVs. Isn't acetaminophen highly toxic to the liver? What is going on

From my understanding, any liver damage is from long term or heavy use. Just as aspirin is for kidneys.

Over the counter Tylenol is more of a placebo than an effective drug......Tylenol 3 or 4 by RX or at the hospital work better

 

[sparky]

seriously.....gimme the good sh*t!......

 

[Blaster]

This is the result of Obama's war on opioids.

 

[SweetSue92]

Doctors and nurses have recently heard me note that — for me — Tylenol simply doesn’t work. And it doesn’t. But it is still their “go to” pain relief recommendation.

One of the medical personnel (this time, a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner) who was given to me for pain management associated with my ongoing cancer battle, offered a different pain med option. Guess what? The insurance company declined coverage. It isn’t a huge figure — so we simply paid it.

But I gather that the medical establishment (and insurance companies together) are trying to avoid liability for anything coming out of the opioid crisis.

I did not know you have cancer. I'm so sorry. And Tylenol for cancer pain is CRAZY. Glad you got what you needed!

 

[SweetSue92]

Tell them either they prescribe you a real pain killer or you will find it on the street...
This is like punishing the innocent for actions by drug addicts... its wrong....

I mean does Tylenol work for a mild headache, body aches with flu? Yes. Post surgical pain....like major surgery? CRAZY

 

[Blaster]

Tylenol isn't effective on severe pain.

 

[SweetSue92]

From my understanding, any liver damage is from long term or heavy use. Just as aspirin is for kidneys.

Over the counter Tylenol is more of a placebo than an effective drug......Tylenol 3 or 4 by RX or at the hospital work better

True on the liver toxicity. Still, if you're giving it by IV wouldn't you think it would be a bigger dose? I don't know but wow

 

[SweetSue92]

seriously.....gimme the good sh*t!......

I mean yeah. I have been hospitalized a couple of times for Crohn's years ago and got narcotic pain meds. I can't imagine Tylenol even beginning to touch that!

 

[Manonthestreet]

This has been coming for awhile. I had an op on my left hand and thumb yrs ago. Stayed the night and during it they did a pain test. First they gave me a liquid, for the the name. That was the best but ya knew that was Second was a pill that worked real well. Something I had taken before. Next was Tylenol 3:which did nothing. I called em after a week trying to get what I knew worked, basically they denied it because they were afraid I would become an addict. What a crock. Like to cut them open and see how they like being made to suffer

 

[sparky]

I mean yeah. I have been hospitalized a couple of times for Crohn's years ago and got narcotic pain meds. I can't imagine Tylenol even beginning to touch that!

when i was an emt, some of the folks i took to the ER were uhm......noisey..... , the staff usually found a way to make 'em happy

~S~

 

[Dekster]

Has anyone heard of this trend? It sounds nearly barbaric to me. I understand that 15 or so years ago this nation was in an opioid epidemic brought on by greedy pharma companies. By why does that mean patients have to suffer through post surgical pain IN THE HOSPITAL?

A decade ago, most people thought of Tylenol (acetaminophen) as a medicine for fever, malaise and minor aches and pains. Nobody imagined that it would become the go-to drug for treating moderate, let alone severe, postoperative pain.

But this is just what has happened. Thanks to pressure from lawmakers, government agencies and policymakers who inserted themselves into the patient-doctor relationship, patients became the victims of the never-ending war on drugs.

Now, doctors frequently offer only acetaminophen to treat painful conditions despite the drug’s inability to remedy them.

Tylenol After Surgery? Why the Feds Make Patients Suffer Needless Pain (USA Today)

Yes I have heard of it, though it used to be more of a third world thing. First I heard of it was an account of someone who went to Thailand for the full monty male to female gender reassignment surgery and that was all they were given. I have since seen it referenced in terms of medical tourism---make sure you can get the good pain meds as some hospitals only give tylenol and some won't administer anything instead writing you a prescription you have to arrange to have filled from an outside pharmacy and delivered to you in hospital.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Has anyone heard of this trend? It sounds nearly barbaric to me. I understand that 15 or so years ago this nation was in an opioid epidemic brought on by greedy pharma companies. By why does that mean patients have to suffer through post surgical pain IN THE HOSPITAL?

A decade ago, most people thought of Tylenol (acetaminophen) as a medicine for fever, malaise and minor aches and pains. Nobody imagined that it would become the go-to drug for treating moderate, let alone severe, postoperative pain.

But this is just what has happened. Thanks to pressure from lawmakers, government agencies and policymakers who inserted themselves into the patient-doctor relationship, patients became the victims of the never-ending war on drugs.

Now, doctors frequently offer only acetaminophen to treat painful conditions despite the drug’s inability to remedy them.

Tylenol After Surgery? Why the Feds Make Patients Suffer Needless Pain (USA Today)

.

The medical industrial complex is a ghoulish beast which will move the goalposts without notice, to suit whatever their agenda is. This is why I avoid them.

I had friends -- disabled Veterans -- who got booted out of whatever relief they were getting for their chronic pain because of that never ending war on drugs. A frightening number of them became heroin addicts and some simply quit and ended their own lives. It's heartbreaking to witness such suffering.


.

 

[JohnDB]

Because of genetics....

Some people have positive and expected pain reduction to acetaminophen and others to ibuprofen. Some people will react positively to both. But more positive effects will come from one or the other.

And it's genetics determining which one works better. Doubling up with both (you can do that) is as strong as you can get.....over the counter using naproxium sodium as the ibuprofen replacement.

Ketoprofen is better for inflammation and has some pain reducing properties too....but isn't much better than ibuprofen. It is much harder on digestive tracts though....so be careful.

Aspirin still works. Still is effective. Still can be hard on digestive tracts. Still can cause rye syndrome. But effective pain reducer especially topically used. (Crush aspirin and turn it into a paste and rub it on the affected area....it penetrates somehow into even joints and tissues beneath the skin.
You can do the same with ibuprofen. It works that way too. (I am NOT a doctor....I have zero idea how or why it works....I just know it does)

Holding an aspirin on a toothache tastes nasty but it also works wonders. (Just saying) Goody Powders also help with sore throats for this reason. (Topical applications are wonder working)

However,

When it comes to narcotics....
Doctors have become a LOT more hesitant to prescribe narcotics because of the prevalence of Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder is such that narcotic painkillers are instantly physically addictive in less than two weeks of use. Sometimes in less than one week.
I'm unsure if it's the same for other neuro divergent people. But it is a monkey on your back you don't want. Especially by otherwise perfectly functional people turned into "junkies" by having the bad luck of needing surgery and subsequent pain management.

But ultimately that's the root cause of the hesitation of prescription.

 

[JustAnotherNut]

True on the liver toxicity. Still, if you're giving it by IV wouldn't you think it would be a bigger dose? I don't know but wow

Bigger dose, like Tylenol 3 or 4??? IDK, maybe......but normal hospital stays are less than a week. I had meant long term to be multiple times daily for a year or more......that would be the OTC stuff cause DR's don't usually prescribe the T3 or 4 long term.

And if I remember correctly, there are different ingredients in the RX vs OTC.......not just the level of dose

 

[SweetSue92]

Because of genetics....

Some people have positive and expected pain reduction to acetaminophen and others to ibuprofen. Some people will react positively to both. But more positive effects will come from one or the other.

And it's genetics determining which one works better. Doubling up with both (you can do that) is as strong as you can get.....over the counter using naproxium sodium as the ibuprofen replacement.

Ketoprofen is better for inflammation and has some pain reducing properties too....but isn't much better than ibuprofen. It is much harder on digestive tracts though....so be careful.

Aspirin still works. Still is effective. Still can be hard on digestive tracts. Still can cause rye syndrome. But effective pain reducer especially topically used. (Crush aspirin and turn it into a paste and rub it on the affected area....it penetrates somehow into even joints and tissues beneath the skin.
You can do the same with ibuprofen. It works that way too. (I am NOT a doctor....I have zero idea how or why it works....I just know it does)

Holding an aspirin on a toothache tastes nasty but it also works wonders. (Just saying) Goody Powders also help with sore throats for this reason. (Topical applications are wonder working)

However,

When it comes to narcotics....
Doctors have become a LOT more hesitant to prescribe narcotics because of the prevalence of Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder is such that narcotic painkillers are instantly physically addictive in less than two weeks of use. Sometimes in less than one week.
I'm unsure if it's the same for other neuro divergent people. But it is a monkey on your back you don't want. Especially by otherwise perfectly functional people turned into "junkies" by having the bad luck of needing surgery and subsequent pain management.

But ultimately that's the root cause of the hesitation of prescription.

I have only recently learned the "magic" of taking one Tylenol and one ibuprofen for pain relief! So there is a lot of truth to this. FWIW, I'm not talking about meds to take at home. Only in hospital meds.