OIH is a well-documented syndrome, but my doctors had missed the hallmark signs of it, which are changes in the location and characteristics of your pain, as well as little or no relief from pain when the dosage is increased.

I am now 63 years old and have a new life. I have some pain, but nothing that is not well controlled with little or no opioids.

I do not believe that all patients who take high doses of opioids experience hyperalgesia, nor does the literature support any such conclusion. My purpose is to caution anyone on high doses for an extended period. If it is not helping you or your pain is worse after increasing the dosage, you should be aware of this condition and its potential.

Overzealous lawmakers and over-reaching insurance companies who want to limit opioids due to the addiction crisis don’t have a clue. Limiting opioids is making it harder for pain patients who really need them. But my experience is also something that needs to be better understood and the condition of hyperalgesia needs to be more publicized.

Our tendency is to believe more pain medicine is better when our pain worsens. I have to wonder how many people are out there in tremendous pain being caused by the very medicine given them to abate it. I am afraid it is way too many.

I hope my story helps someone get a new life, without having to stumble onto it as I did.