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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Heroin Mom, thanks for sharing and offering hope. Do you mind also sharing what chronic illnesses your DC had/has?[/quote]

Neither is very usual so I will be general.

One is a muscular-skeletal disorder that is known to be particular painful in its initial stage, but it took a long time to be diagnosed.  Doctors blew off DC's complaints of pain, suggesting it was all in the head.  This actually triggered the opiate use as DC, having a weird teenage brain, decided to DIY treatment from the street since doctors weren't giving any.

My take away from this is that any complaints of pain from teenagers need to be taken VERY seriously because it puts them at high risk of drug use.  This is typically not on the list of teen risk factors, but it should be.

Doctors should not blow off teen pain complaints, but rather immediately throw all nonmedical options at it to show the teen they take them seriously, even if the doctor thinks it is all psychosomatic.  PT, TENS, directions for use of NSAIDs, pain programs (big lack for teens though), whatever--these were all things actually denied to my teen.  I did win big trust points from DC because I was willing to keep pursuing a diagnosis even after the heroin use emerged, and eventually we got one.

The other is a GI disorder that can be quite incapacitating.  Treatment is tricky, but we have now found a combination of things that keep it pretty controlled.  Again, many more doctors.

Really tough.   Thank you for highlighting and educating me about pain and teens.  I hadn't thought about it from the perspective you outline.  Very helpful, thank you. 
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