Oxycontin and diving?

[TSandM]

catherine, I'm sorry -- I think people in chronic pain who are on chronic narcotics are a little like people being narced. They think they're fine, but objective testing would show slowed reaction time and less efficient decision-making. Add a little nitrogen to that, and the results could be unfortunate. I would not sign anybody off for diving (or racing motorcycles, or anything where reaction time and decisiveness could make a life or death difference) who was taking narcotics, nor would I dive while taking them.

And I have back problems, too. So I've been the narcotics route (should have seen me getting grilled on my clarity of mind when I testified in an attempted murder case while taking codeine -- those attorneys can make the stuff sound like heavy dose heroin!)

 

[Cacia]

yea, I know you are right. For some reason, I have trouble doing what I know is right sometimes.

But I know you are aware of all those pain management centers popping up and the receptor site arguments, etc. Not mainstream, but "out there" especially in SoCal. Actually, I had a big wake-up because I could not get off the pain medicine and once I stopped, the pain after three days never returned...ever. ?? I regret not going off sooner..I was convinced I needed it. Pain just sucks.