Hospitals and ambulance services across the country are experiencing an unprecedented shortage in painkiller medications, and patients are starting to feel the pinch. A combination of recalls, distribution problems and increased governmental attention on opiates have all contributed to this emerging crisis, and things are only going to get worse before they get better.
Painkillers are Common and Necessary
Painkillers have gotten a bad rap over the past few years as millions of people have abused them or used them recreationally. However, millions of patients every month rely on them for legitimate reasons as well. Have a cracked tooth? Chances are that you would normally be given a painkiller to subdue that debilitating throb until you can get in to see the dentist. Did you break an arm? You’ll probably be given morphine in the ambulance or as soon as you get to the emergency room. These are just two of dozens of examples of how painkillers are an integral part of patient care, and patients are going to be the ones who suffer the most as this shortage filters its way through the healthcare system.
Rationing Taking Place
Things are getting so bad that some hospitals have been forced to ration supplies and only make them available to trauma and surgery patients. If things continue as they are, there’s a good chance that people in post-op or who are recovering from painful, serious injuries, won’t be able to get more than an ibuprofen to manage their pain during their weeks-long recovery.
This is bad news for everyone, and all of us should brace ourselves for the possibility that hospitals may not be able to treat pain along with our illnesses and injuries. This will undoubtedly make going through a medical emergency more teeth-gritting, but it will also make it more difficult for doctors and nurses to administer care.
Why? Because patients are easier to care for when they’re calm, relaxed and not feeling their pain. This allows doctors to treat them without interruption, and it also reduces the chances of aggravating an injury or causing another one because patients don’t struggle as much when their pain is dulled.
Imagine SHTF
The other reason to be alarmed is that if there is a disaster or SHTF situation, and hospitals become flooded with a sudden influx of patients, supplies of medication, including painkillers will quickly disappear. Consequently, people may end up suffering in agony while they wait to get treated, and they will also suffer long after being released as well.
While it’s unlikely that we will go back to the days where people had to get drunk before surgery in order to dull their pain. However, we may find ourselves biting down on a belt or piece of wood during treatment, or being held down by a few strong nurses, in order to keep us from thrashing about. Without painkillers, what other options are available?
This is an excellent illustration of how supplies of things that we take for granted can easily be disrupted, and there are few alternatives to fall back on when this happens. Keep in mind that this is occurring in normal, everyday life, and it’s easy to imagine what kind of impact this could have during a survival situation. How could you manage a painful injury, surgery or illness if you can’t get medical help or medicine? How can you prepare beforehand in order to provide yourself with a fall-back option?
We often don’t think of pain management until we are in a painful situation. However, it may be worth thinking about it now, because there’s a chance that we won’t be able to access that medicine when it’s needed the most. Are you prepared for that possibility?
