As of now we have no confirmation that Percocet or any other drug played a part in Prince's early death. But I would not be surprised to learn they did. How else does an otherwise 'healthy middle-aged man' just die? Nor would I be surprised to learn that Prince lived with pain for years and pushed himself to perform, giving off the appearance he was healthy and vital. That's what people with chronic pain do -- PRETEND to be healthy. After all, THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!!
Chronic pain is a problem nobody wants to discuss. How do we live with constant pain? How do we work with constant pain? How do we live up to other expectations when the pain will not go away? Why is pain aging an entire generation before its time and stealing its future?
Some days, when the pain is too bad, I go back to bed --after ice, heat, massage, sauna, hot shower, meditation, and a three Advils have done nothing to alleviate my pain. I don't like things like oxy or percocet. They don't take away my pain anyway and only make me sleepy and dizzy, and make my stomach hurt.
And besides, I have no idea what long-term harm such powerful drugs create on the human body when you need to have pain relief 24 hours a day for years. But from the sheer number of overdoses from prescription drugs, it's not hard to see that pills are not the answer. They are not providing long-term pain relief -- unless you consider early death long-term relief.
We need to figure out better ways to stay healthy in this modern world (other than masking pain with pills). And we need to speak about our pain so people, even celebrities, know it's okay to slow down and take care of ourselves when we are in pain.
Otherwise we are going to keep losing people (not just celebrities), who should be living vital, full lives, but instead are fading away too soon.
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