El Magnifico Loco
Dryer sheet wannabe
There is definitely a protocol that must be gone through before a proper doctor will get to opioids. Physical therapy is the first step. The second step is back injections (cortisones) that should only be done under fluoroscopes in series of three a month apart. (Medicare won't pay for three in 90 days.) Often it's the third injection that does the patient so much pain relief. Nerve ablation is often the next step. Then it may be time for surgery. Last resort is doing bone grafts/fusions.
My wife has been under pain management clinics for 17 years, and she's been taking controlled medicines for all these years. She's one of the success stories--living a normal life and staying in society. So many people with bad backs, arthritis, etc. are either invalids or just stay at home people. Proper pain management keeps patients out of nursing homes and hospitals.
CBD oil has been a Godsend for my wife. She's off 1/3 of her pain mads, and she's also off Klonipan. She is much calmer, too. She needs two foot fusions, but lidocaine lotion and Volteran gel on top of CBD oil has really dulled her pain and allowed better walking.
I have NO experience with CBD oil, but have heard of its benefits. One person with whom I spoke told me she got off all of her anti anxiety and pain meds, and just takes CBD oil. She says she feels like a normal person now. It's great to hear your wife seems to have had the same results.