The blanket comment of "most people are harmed by long term opioid use, and don't get much benefit" is true though.
Your experiences support the point I'm making though: if it's working, and if the dose is maintained at a low level, opioids are better than nothing.
But that involves people agreeing a plan before hand, and continuing checks. (See the links I've already posted elsewhere in this thread).
Luckily the Daily Mail have no influence on healthcare. Your use of opioids is supported by RCA, and NICE.
AFAIK, The only 'checks' in place for me is that I can't request repeat prescriptions more often than my subscription, just the same as for any other medication.
> Luckily the Daily Mail have no influence on healthcare. Your use of opioids is supported by RCA, and NICE.
I wish it were so. The RCA and NICE are in turn supported by the government, and unfortunately many politicians pander to the ignorant outcries of Daily Mail influenced voters.
I don't think it's helpful to make a blanket statement like that. There is no one size fits all where pain and analgesics are concerned, and genetics play a large role in what works and what you can even tolerate due to side effects. Opioids of course should not be the first choice, but they should be an option.
I've been living with chronic pain for years now, and have been maintaining the same opioid dose - they bring their own issues, but they make a huge difference to my quality of life. Anecdotally, through support groups, I know several others in the same situation.
There is something of mini war on opioids going on here in the UK, spurred by what's happening in the US and stoked by hate rags like the Daily Mail. People who successfully manage long-term pain using opioids should not be shamed and treated like drug addicts.