Question
Sir:

  My brother-in-law suffers from chronic pain in his joints.  He has had L4-L5 fused; one knee and one hip replaced and needs one more knee and one more hip.  He is only 48.  His dependency on drugs has left him a shell of his former self.  He has become addicted to the pain meds and his weight has gone from 185 to 300+.  Although I do not know the exact drugs he is taking, one I saw had a label "for patients already taking opiates ONLY.? I also know he was using some lolly-pop drug that puts him into la la land for an hour or more.  His diet consists of mostly sugar (donuts and Coke) and supliments (fiber/vitamins, diarea/constipation help).  He falls asleep frequently (in the bath, on the couch, on the toilet, in the car!).  He tries to spend a lot of time in heated pools and baths to the point he appears heat exhausted.  It appears to me that, although his pain is real and severe, he is need of detoxification and a new regiment of pain management.  He has also sought help for depression from a psycho pharmacologist.  I do not believe that his different doctors know of each other and the medication he is prescribed.
  Does there exist centers/clinics that specialize in drug detoxification and new pain management techniques for patients in real pain?  He is highly intelligent (a lawyer) and expressed the belief that medication is the only way he can get relief.  My limited research has brought me to the belief t that chronic opiate users do not last long.  Where would one find help for someone in this condition?

Very respectfully,

Rick


Answer
Dear Rick,

Your brother-in-law has chosen a way of life that makes it difficult for someone like me to be of use.

I don't know about centers or clinics of the type you ask about.  My work is a new pain management technique, but it's a non-drug method and requires responsibility and initiate on the part of the clients.  If your brother-in-law had a different attitude and different health-related beliefs, I or someone else in my field could be of help.

You might check out my website for more information:  somatics.com -- but it's really up to your brother-in-law.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold