Share your stories of how chronic opioid use changed your life in a positive or negative way. PROMPT is doing this for patients specifically because of the July 25 2012, Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP) petition to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) which requests significant label changes for prescription opioids that could prevent honest non-cancer opioid-requiring patients to live in agony. The full PROP proposal to the FDA is available HERE. Our PROMPT response to that proposal is HERE. Please note the blog policy when submitting comments.
Summary: PROP’s proposal, if approved, would limit opioid therapy to non-cancer patients beyond 12 weeks, a maximum daily dose of oral morphine 100mg (or its equivalent in another opioid narcotic), and the diagnosis must be for severe pain only (compared to current FDA approved labeling of moderate to severe pain). PROMPT believes that many legitimate patients fall outside of these parameters and would suffer as a result!
History & Background: Over the course of many years, numerous pain patients nationwide have contacted me seeking advice on what to do, often in a panicked state because their long-term physician caregiver was relocating or retiring. As you might imagine, it frequently involved opioids. To be clear, some of them probably didn’t belong on opioids, some were on the incorrect opioids, others perhaps were drug-seeking, but many seemed to be legitimate patients that honestly were completely dysfunctional without long term chronic opioids. Some couldn’t receive non-opioid analgesics because of certain chronic medical disorders that made non-opioid analgesics far more dangerous than opioids.
Professionals for Rational Opioid Monitoring & PharmacoTherapy (PROMPT) is a multidisciplinary group comprised of many pain clinicians nationwide. PROMPT members include healthcare providers that have direct patient care responsibilities specific to pain management. PROMPT has serious concerns about the safety of chronic opioid use; we are therefore in favor of mitigating these risks by encouraging careful and reasonable patient monitoring to maximize patient care and public safety. We advocate for clinician education, proactive risk stratification, and appropriate therapeutic monitoring.
We would like you to tell your story here by making a comment on this blog. Please feel free to use an anonymous name (or not) in the spirit of confidentiality, as this site is public. We encourage patients also to comment on the FDA U.S. government site, where they are accepting public commentary. The URL link is: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2012-P-0818-0001.
Also, see related Blog Posts below:
Label Changes for Opioids, For or Against
We Intend to be PROMPT with a Challenge to PROP FDA Letter
Visit our new In the News page with links to updates.
Florida pain patients, please be sure to view Living with Pain: Patients Fight Back in Florida, September 2, 2012.
THE FLOODGATES ARE OPEN! You may comment below…
please humor all of us who got addictedand tell me why in the hell the states are getting all this money and we will have to wait. Did the state get addicted? No they did not. Will they properly use the money? Are youkidding me? Have you noticed our government cares only about themselves not us that have to take suboxin or methadone. They dont pay 20 plus a day for that shit now do they. Once they get the cash I am going to apply for the state to pay for my meds it is only fair if they want the cash make them use it ight not give each other a beer and high five
The sad thing is the stigma still exist even amongst the patients who are leaving comments. I have a rare form of cancer and had to have a radical surgery where most of my mandible was removed using a reciprocating saw and implants were placed onto my mandible… Which if you don’t know medically it’s arguably the strongest largest singular bone in your body next to the femur that is only in the equation because it holds your body weight. Excuse my grammatical errors and typos because I am using accessibility features because I am disabled. But post-op before given any of the prescribed medication I was supposed to have… As per my Surgeons instructions. I had “substance abuse” in my room! Forcing me to SPEAK (which is really bad when you have part of your TMJ removed and implants in your mandible! With sutures both inside and out!) trying to take everything from me! Wasn’t even 4 hours out of surgery! In that time the swelling and oozing got so bad. That they ended up having no choice but to give me my prescribed medicine AND the nurse on staff said I was an abuser! I actually recorded her (and she said I could not do that.. you CAN legally) saying that she was purposely skipping giving me my medication?!? Simply because of her own personal bias and the fact that she was “so busy” (not joking either) instead of just giving me patient services… Who I begged for! Or a new nurse like they’re legally responsible to do… So I made a complaint both to the administrator and the board of nurses. In Johns Hopkins Weinberg building mind you! So insurers that have never met me, pharmacists with no actual medical background who’ve never actually seen the patient, and nurses who are “just too busy” and think that it’s okay to try to lighten their load by labeling the patient an “abuser” or “seeking medication” mainly because covid time restrictions allow them to bypass the patient… ESPECIALLY on things like EVEN INFORMED CONSENT! In case you didn’t know. Though regulations have been lifted these practices are still prevalent and they are mixed with the new laws and regulations that were put in place in the first couple months of 2022! I deal with all this because I was a victim in 2007 of the overprescribing and subsequently had no choice BECAUSE no program was available then and buprenorphine was almost impossible to get… To admit myself into a detox and a 30-day rehab. That I graduated in 2010 with flying colors! I was even one of the main participants that helped naltrexone now known as vivitrol get onto the market! So I have 12 documented years of being completely clean and seeking only alternatives for my cancer! At least this time unlike 12 years ago (well prior to 12 years ago actually) I had to do radiation and chemo! NOW this time I have a radical surgery and my healing is impeded and the doctors and the staff have no problem looking me in the face telling me they ARE PROFILING ME! They are discriminating against me! All while I have a 24 in incision wound swelling that is blocking my airway and oozing… I’m severely anemic and I already lost close to 51 ounces of blood during surgery (about half of the blood in the entire human body which is only about 10 pints if you’re not anemic with a low blood cell count already) and all of my tests are coming back with massive red flags. Why? Because it is not being taken care of properly. Most of the time the problem is not the doctor the doctor is prescribing and caring for the patient correctly it’s this new checks and balances system that allows non-medical and NOT doctors to override the actual medical professionals with PhDs and call doctors irresponsible and patients abusers! Not dependent! Not tolerant! But ABUSERS which literally is defined as someone who misuses or takes more than prescribed or has drug seeking behavior that continues despite the consequences! Most of us do not fall under that category and the wording is so harmful that yes prescribing has gone down but overdose deaths have skyrocketed! Really here is how bad this problem is I quite literally have a bottle that was prescribed to me of acetaminophen that me being someone who especially with not being able to eat or drink is almost under 100 lb and they expect me to take over 4,000 mg acetaminophen a day! If I take that amount of acetaminophen I will die there is no way to reverse the toxicity from acetaminophen that is the only REAL irreversible guaranteed way to die! Acute liver failure and acetaminophen toxicity kills about 500 people a year! And that is only what’s reported. How is that better? And I’m not even going to get into the health risks and issues related to over-prescribing NSAIDs as well! It’s extremely concerning to be treated like I’m less than or not human. It discourages me from continuing my treatment for my cancer because I do not want to be tortured labeled and harmed! I would rather take my chances with the cancer and let it kill me. Because at least that way I don’t have all this added pain, panic, guilt, and anxiety… Impeding my healing. And that’s the sad reality we end up not trusting doctors. The people we are supposed to depend on for our care. This system is dismal and abhorrent at best the only thing they are doing is forcing there to be more people (honestly they can get money from the federal government for putting patients) on medicated assistant treatment like Suboxone or methadone which are completely non-regulated by doctors! None at all! If you look at it Suboxone is dispensed in the same manner as methadone there are only a few doctors in each state and most of them at this point do not accept new patients that are actually allowed to prescribe buprenorphine! This is in 2022 this is a real thing! So forcing you onto a poorly regulated medication where the pseudo doctors can somehow someway end up giving you things like I almost died from serotonin syndrome! Because they mixed Suboxone which I was using as an alternative because it took almost five years before I could get my surgery and I refused to do just opiates for 5 years! But my pain did need to be controlled because mine actually kept me from being able to eat… Which as a person who already had a qualifying disability completely debilitated me for my job which I subsequently lost…?!? NOW I am on an unpaid short term disability without FMLA because I was illegally discriminated against and didn’t have the money to go after it… This mix of covid regulations and being worried about losing their license when honestly they’re putting themselves in more danger of losing their license completely because there are protections for human error and misdiagnosis… But if you violate the patient’s rights and you violate our civil rights and you violate the ADA as a medical professional you stand to lose more! You stand to lose in civil litigation…. You stand to lose your license completely and everything that you worked for by profiling and violating the patient’s rights…. Especially if you can prove that medically you were mislabeled which is extremely easy. Most people don’t know though it is a lot of work on your end in order to have people held accountable. Because remember you’re protected just as much as they are and if you use the right wording and you bring the laws up they have a tendency to change their minds. At least with acute pain I don’t know so much when it comes to chronic pain over time but when it comes to post-op healing it is 100% illegal to discriminate against profile and harm your patient! But just like negligence and delayed diagnosis you have to do the work. Because sadly nobody is going to protect you and medical professionals are too worried about themselves to worry about patient care. I wish this was not the case but it is. PEOPLE ARE DYING Because they can’t not go to work… They can’t be completely debilitated… There are ways to discern the difference between someone who is a substance abuser and someone who is in real medical need! But that would be too tough instead they have this little piece of paper that allows them to decide everyone is an abuser and everyone should pay for way too much naloxone I’m really tired of paying for something that I have to figure out how to get rid of responsibly and again the only reason they force it on you with every single prescription which is completely irresponsible is because they get more money from the state that way in 2022 the reason you can’t pay out of pocket for anything scheduled 2 or above IS there is now a blanket state coverage that gets used for every individual so if they decide you need prior authorization or you can’t have your medication you can’t bypass insurance! Because it can only go through electronically they will automatically accept your prescription and the law states that if you have a problem with the actual pharmacist they are not only supposed to refer you to another pharmacist but allow you to transfer your prescription instead they are holding it hostage because they know that right now it’s almost impossible to get through to the people who regulate them! But there is a board for everything there is a board of pharmacist, a board of nurses, a board of physicians and the medication and prescribing is something that you can actually go ahead and contact the FDA who was probably flagging you directly just like the DEA and if you find a civil rights lawyer and the ACLU is pretty good if you can pay for that beforehand things will work out a lot faster. The most of us like me after paying $60,000 for my surgery have a hard time retaining a lawyer… And they know it. But I have a camera on me 24/7 and I will record you and we will eventually go to court because the statute of limitations or medical negligence or malpractice is a lot longer and yes if you were impeding my ability to heal after surgery that is 100% medical negligence and yes you can put it on people who do not have a PhD but are involved with your medical treatment. They stand to lose their license quicker for imposing these sanctions on people irresponsibly it’s just people don’t know how to go after it. Make sure you keep your wording right too because if you called it malpractice they will not take you seriously because there are protections and very clear legal wording when it comes to malpractice and misdiagnosis. But being negligent encompasses the whole lot of them. I know that’s what I’m going for as soon as I’m healed enough as soon as the courts are open and not backlogged… I am definitely pursuing mine. I refuse to stay a victim for over 3/4 of the 38 years I’ve been on this Earth by the people that I have no choice but to depend on for my care. We can’t choose. It’s definitely not like it’s supposed to be. Even though we have a right to do so… Patients have the undeniable right to say “I do not want this person on my medical team”! So if your personal biases get in the way of my care? Then obviously I must not be the only person being abused… So YES, I will be coming after your license and YES I’m going to use things like the internet to find other victims to go with me. The more you know guys… The more you know.
It now appears that this has started in my country (Britain)
In late November 2021, I received a letter from my doctors practice, containing a questionnaire which is for all patients who they are prescribing opioids to for pain relief.
The blurb described how over the past 10 – 15 years, research has proven that opioids are no good at easing chronic pain for more than 4 months and that my practice is in the process of contacting such patients to talk about the alternatives. A few days later I received a phone call from one of their receptionists notifying me that a doctor would be telephoning me at a later date to go over this very important subject.
Well that date has been and gone, and the consultation didn’t go well.
The doctor who telephoned must be new at my local practice which means she has taken over from the world’s worst doctor in human history. Good riddance to you, Dr R!!!
Anyway this new doctor who sounded like a 13 year old schoolgirl started the appointment by referring me by someone else’s name. Not very professional! Once that was sorted, she started going on to tell me about this research which, by the way I cannot find online. As soon as I was given the opportunity to speak, I asked her if the real reason for this is because of the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown which forced my useless government into giving my country’s NHS extra funding. It supposedly hit the UK’s economy too but since the government was able to give huge tax rebates to the wealthy, I think not. So now my government has gone back into money saving mode. They do it all of the time over here, but unlike the fable outlaw Robin Hood, they prefer to take from the poor instead of the rich.)
Oh no, that’s not the case this unknown doctor quickly replied. But instead of sticking to the reason she started with, she continued with an alternative version. Now it’s all about my county’s coroner instructing all GP practices to stop prescribing liquid Morphine because of the increased fatalities due to overdosing. Perhaps alcohol was also a factor but that won’t be banned because it’s a cash cow for all governments to tax.
Even though a doctor at my practice first prescribed liquid Morphine Sulfate for my extreme pain over 12 years ago, with the blessing from a pain management consultant who by the way told me that Morphine is the best drug they can prescribe outside of a hospital, now they have removed it from my medicine list before she had even telephoned me which negates the hole point of this particular telephone call. However, this is not the first time I’ve had a change of drugs without prior consultation.
Of course that was when I lost my patience with her. I told her that she doesn’t even know me, and that she totally failed to show any common decency courtesy by visiting me at home in which she could have introduced herself and get to know me for the very first time. Instead, a telephone consultation is all I’m worth to them for this important issue. I asked her if she was at work or telephoning me from her home but she failed to answer. I guess it was from her home because the practice has a better quality telephone system.
I don’t know how doctors operate in the US, but here in Britain, if a patient is housebound like I’ve been for 7 years, they are suppose to visit their patient at home for such important matters.
However, since Covid became a thing within the human psyche, all General Practitioners now seem to be hibernating. Last year I was told by a neighbour that only one doctor is ever on duty at any given time of the day at my local practice and that the public can no longer walk into the building to book an appointment to see their GP. Instead they have to telephone in and accept a telephone consultation. And believe me, if any of you have ever had to wait for two or more hours just for the privilege of listening to two messages by the same doctor, one of which is telling you they are now operating within government Covid guidelines. Now they are only accepting a small number of walk in patients per month, and depending upon the severity of their health problem, they really should be telephoning the emergency services instead. Early this year they finally had a second landline installed which I thought would reduce the time we have to wait, but oh no, that would be common sense and that practice doesn’t operate with much common sense. The second line was installed so that all of their staff could quickly contact them rather than having to wait such a long time like the rest of us plebs! It’s enough to tip any sane person over the edge.
I’ve put up with a lot of crap from this particular practice over the past 21 years since my favourite doctor retired in 1999. He was the principle doctor then and ran a tight, but fair ship. Such a wonderful gentleman too. I truly miss you Dr Mc. Now that place has gone to the dogs.
Well enough is enough. I’m done with them.
Totally disabled veteran since 2015 and to say our political system that means you FDA has failed EVERY AMERICAN that know has to live 24/7 in pain & for some of us that is mental anguish EVERY SECOND SINCE OPIAD SUPPOSED PERFECT GUIDELINES to CONTROL DRUG ADDICTION DRUG OVERDOSE was decided by people who probably have NEVER had to suffer in pain to the point of BUY STREET DRUGS to just taking that last resort that could have been prevented by NOT RUSHING TO PUT FULL STOP TO AMERICANS who know will have to pick their next strategy for either Acquiring the medication ILLEGALLY or getting just enough to stop the pain but without proper pain Managment direction could be the LAST bought of PAIN they ever experience and YES I WOULD BLAME those POWERS that gave them ONLY ONE WAY OUT!
That is not SAVING LIVES that is giving AMERICANS IN PAIN ONLY ONE WAY OUT OF CONSTANT PAIN!
That any body or entity to decided THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT EVERY AMERICANS LIFE SAVING POLICIES, REGULATIONS or what I call GOVERNMENT CONTROL should be is just delusional because your not EVERY AMERICANS INDIVIDUAL PAIN!
So exactly what did my military brothers & sisters from the beginning of the colonies until know fight for! You say freedom I call manipulating the system to suit what YOU DECIDE is best for ME!
What any GOV fails to understand if a person wants to stop the pain or even decide on that finally dose to stop the suffering THEY WILL ACHIEVE IT! No I am not saying I am going to hurt myself or others that’s another misconception policy makers THINK with years and years of BOOK LEARNING COLLEGE no one NO ONE knows you better than you!
When we ask for HELP you decide on a plan of attack and then decide for that person instead of just asking WHAT DO YOU FEEL WILL GIVE YOU A QUALITY OF LIFE TO GROW, ENJOY, PROSPER MENTALLY PHYSICALLY & EMOTIONALLY! Weather they decide on pain Managment from therapy or medication it’s OUR DECISION! All we need from our Mental health professionals Pain Managment doctors therapists is give us what we need to continue a LIFE of respect dignity A life without being labelled DRUG ADDICTS, CRACK HEADS, JUNKIE, PILL POPER, LOSER, CRIMINAL or you just want to get HIGH! I am NOT you but you are NOT ME so quit presuming you know what’s BEST for anybody but yourself!
Also what about EVER POLITICIAN who took opiate pharmaceutical companies so called DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS! Will any give back supposed “DRUG MONEY!” Sorry all I heard was CRICKET CRICKET…
For the individuals(FDA Senate congress)who either feel or think they know our individual PAIN & SUFFERING have NEVER walked breathed or felt our debilitating excruciating pain of a multitude of diseases injuries genetic illnesses that the doctors who have had the same if not MORE than a board of people who do NOT have to decide to let those souls continue to suffer or take a chance of losing their license because one person out of 100 DECIDED to prescribe for themselves how much of a controlled substance they FEEL they should be taking. Then labelled all AMERICANS as FUTURE NARCOTIC ABUSERS that follows with TOTALLY restricting everyone’s medication believing your saving lives but is complete opposite YOU ARE KILLING THEM!
That being at one time I was in perfect health worked out 5 or more days a week ate healthy no smoking no alcohol or drugs but like ever HUMAN on this planet we get older our jobs injuries or diseases have deteriorated us to a nonexistent life that cannot be controlled without assistance from opiates that’s just a FACT no medical professional can deny but if they do their being sponsored or paid by to say it!
I have since 2013 been physically disabled through Veterans Administration from two rotary cuff repairs of both shoulders three back surgeries with final being fusion of L4/5 that did not help so am know delegated Walker and cane until I leave this life.
So after third back surgery the doctor prescribed me Roxies never took anything in military but Ibuprofen so was not prepared for two years of back surgeries and pain medication that most doctors told me should have been changed or weened off 4-6 weeks after surgery but doctors Gotta make that money for those pharmaceutical companies too! Though those actions two years later requested my pain medication but it was NOT THE DOCTOR who was not brave enough to say NO left it to his nurse. I though Ok I will make appointments with civilian pain Managment in Oklahoma but the next day I started going through with drawls and because I never took pain medication consistently for two years had to be drove by my husband after three days of sweats shakes nausea that was debilitating were I could not walk on my own to VA hospital. My spouse stated I kept coming in and out of consciousness & by the time we got to hospital they had 4 medical personnel take me out of vehicle.
Told the nurse about doctor deciding to stop my medication I was going thru withdrawals. That supposedly was the mistake that had the nurse and ER doctor labelling me opiate addiction and after that was denied any pain Managment prescriptions.
They had me come in to VA PM were they stated I would be good with some kind of book that showed how breathing and mental thinking would stop the pain. Needless to say that is we’re I am at know.
I go no we’re I do nothing but either lay in recliner try nor to move to much and sleep or watch endless tv. I have no life after giving it to my country who when needed was there but apparently it does not work giving human beings relief from pain we can just think it away!
Finally, my last resort was apply to get pain stimulator into my back and though great if this works no more medication and can get back to world of the living. Well what I did NOT know was to be approved the patient has to be EVALUATED by a pain Managment therapist and you can guess what happened DENIED! The PMT stated I needed to DEAL with childhood traumas! I called the therapist my issues have both passed away and any closer is over but my PAIN IS HERE KNOW UNTIL I DIE! Did nothing change the the diagnosis.
So here we are a BLOGG FULL OF PAIN SUFFERING EMOTIONAL HELL that these policies have labelled us before we could even defend ourselves!
Pray so hard for every soul in this blog and WORLD who will continue to suffer until the GOVERMENT let’s EDUCATED DOCTORS WITHOUT PERSONNEL BIAS DO WHAT THEIR YEARS AND YEARS OF EXAMING TESTING MEDICATION OR SURGERY FOR HEALING WHAT SOME OF US ONLY HAVE YEARS NOT DECADES FOR THEM TO MENTALLY CATCH UP TO US THE ONES IN PAIN!
God Bless & thank you all for your patience during my rant for PAIN MANAGMENT JUST FOR ALL!
Sad part of it all we are wasting time talking about opioid’s on a chat blog to strangers. Give me my 30 milligram’s of opiate for the day and i wont be sitting here in pain trying to think about typing .,,When i could be out taking on the world.
Nope! Too close to the threshold ! What if you need surgery one day? ,…um…I had surgeries ….and I’d rather deal with less controlled post surgical pain that is self limiting than every day in agony “just in case. ” Furthermore , it wouldn’t take much more and far from respiratory distress levels post-surgery. What do I know though ? Just had another pointless one that was pushed on me so I can go on being gaslit about how it should have worked .
I take morphine capsules . I used to be on Fentynal patches prescribed to me by GP following a serious back accident ….. unfortunately I was basically left to rot on theese as appointments were postponed due to Doctor on holiday or not there ….. this went on for 2 years by that time I was well and truly addicted to the patches ….. I tried 7 years to get off them ….. eventually I got off the patches and put on Zomorph thsts a morphine medication ….. but the transfer was horrible and extremely painful ….. the years of Fentynal patches has effected my teeth , hair , skin , And I’m still in pain even with medication …… When I try to reduce I carnt as pain is unbearable ……….. I was Never told by the GP of the addiction of this drug …… And I was left on it for years unsupervised …… I now have hardly any teeth left and suffer hair thinning and loss …… Also my bowls were destroyed and I now have a colostomy bag ….. All down to the Fentynal patches and morphine caps .
Ty so much for being so brave and shareing your story godbless you
I’m 82. I have to take care of my son who is supposed to be helping me He had back surgery shots etc. He’s getting worse. He has to sleep on the floor most of the time. Completely useless! So far doctors just want to give him shots. I can’t stand watching him in so much pain. I feel helpless The government only take care of street people an don’t care about unfortunate who worked all there life an lost everything because no one can help. Pain management is a joke. Flossed Mom.
It’s so unfair that the percentage of people who have abused thier meds make it practically impossible for the ones that really need it. Especially when u have never once failed a p test or a used your prescriptions ever and still you suffer. All the meds they have me on make me soooo tired and they have me on a.bupenorphine patch which i figured out is equivalent too about a 1/2 a me of percocet an hour which is 360mg a month, but they took my prescription for.30 5mg percocets and my 50 5mg ramadol away that I made last a year???! Never mind the fact that the patches are over 3x as much monthly if not more for insurance companies….. No wonder.the country is in such debt. Start yanking hairs if thats what you need?! I’ll pass. Don’t make the ones that follow the doctors orders suffer.because of those thatdon’t..
I hope you find some pain relief and ty for fighting for our country I had a left leg amputation and I broke my tail bone in 5 places 3 years ago I know pain I can’t even walk to kitchen and back to living room without having to sit down and I agree with you the politicians that decided to limit opiates have probably NEVER experienced a day of pain in their life’s I hope you get some relief god bless
I went to my Dr. on May 3, 2022 to he wrote all my prescriptions i received a phone call from the pharmacy first saying they need to talk to the dr. than they called me to tell me my dr. can not write me my pain medicaiton because he is underinvestigation i live in chronic pain from my head to my toes everyday of my life. I dont know were to turn besides the street how can i just go off of them without getting sick and how will i live i called the senators in ma. and every other higher power that i could to get my dr license back. I dont want to die of a overdose because there pushing us to buy from a street vender what do we do we are stuck. This is making me sick I have lost 12 pounds in 12 days because i cant handle the stress from this. Please someone help us that are truly in chronic painl.
You can ask your primary care doctor for lofexidine or clonidine. These drugs lesson or reverse withdrawal symptoms.
Come on mate, be a little more honest, these medications do very little to help severe withdrawals- clonidine just lowers blood pressure and have had this handed to myself as though it were the cure-all for withdrawals- I can say emphatically that it doesn’t… Doctors tell each other it does, they ignore patients complaining about feeling faint, Lethargic and unwell & still getting the cold sweats. So no, clonidine is worse than paracetamol for withdrawals
Hey, I hope this morning finds you doing better than usual. Ya, this whole thing is a bunch of BS that the government has no business getting involved in.
Their so worried about people getting addicted to their medication or trying something else, yet they have Methadone Clinics, I’ve had people tell me how to get into those so you can get your highs a couple few times a day. The government also gives out clean kits.
Clean needles and a clean glass pipe
for smoking crack!
WTF?! People like us just want to have a chance at
having a decent day, everyday. The majority of us don’t get “high” from taking pain medication. Sorry Chincha, I read your post and wanted to say hello
and that it sucks to
live with chronic pain that will never get better. People don’t understand that. You are welcome to get ahold of me if you’d like. I can certainly understand where you are coming from. Best of luck,
Helen Kiser
(On fb, cat picture)
I am speechless AGAIN! I too was on opioids. When I moved to Florida 4 years ago, my “New” primary took “special” care of me. I was for 20 or more years taking 1 5 mil Valium at nite to sleep. I had rotary cuff surgery and back surgery s1 to l5. The doctor cut the sac of the nerve, sewed it up. I thought the pain would never end. I had been taking pain pills a couple of years. My husband had back surgery in the 90’s. Prescribed hydros. Lots and lots. He just kept filling the scripts Incase he needed them. At any rate, our daughter and her friends all started the “opiate” for fun game. We never knew how addictive they were or how dangerous. We had to start hiding, using safes. Nothing worked. Fast forward to Florida. Primary said it was “Very” dangerous for me to take the 5 mil Valium and opiate together. I took 1-3 hydros a day and some days none. I never abused the drug. I switched to tramadol. It was not a “controlled substance “ at that time. Is now. My daughter stole out of our locked car and had a grand mal seizure. She did it again this year and had another one. We took every pill we had and threw them away. Also, tramadol is very mild. But it’s not just a “pain” pill. It was not a good fix for me and caused gait issues, speech. My primary I told everything. I’m very very honest, it to a fault. I now when speaking with doctors I’m less revealing about things. So after taking me off Valium, I started insomnia. For 2 years. My doctor WOLD T GIVE ME ANYTHING THO I. C RIED AND BEGGED. Nodda. The last time I saw him I wore sunglasses from crying to walk out of the room. As we entered the hall full of people, he said “I think what you need is a phychiatrist, here’s a list of providers!” Meanwhile, he prescribes lorazapen to my husband who was taking opioids when he prescribed them for his panic attacks. Of course I took his but was so scared that finally I could sleep but what if he dies. He’s 9 years older. Why should I even have to worry about that. Meanwhile, the doctor knew I was going thru he’ll with my daughter with addiction and a new. Autistic grandson to boot! So I change primary’s, but same practice. Same rules. Atleast she was a woman. He treated me like a 64 year old dumb blonde! My husband would go to most visits with me. Chauvinism isn’t the subject here, so I’ll close that up! So I get a “zoom” therapist. I trued every technique known for insomnia. Growing more afraid. Then someone said try medicinal marijuana. Of course! The new non -pharmaceutical miracle! I say BULLSH T! IsId to my primary, “I’ve been told to try thc.” She looked right at me and said “that sounds like a option”. These doctors are not practicing by the oaths they take. They simply ARE NOT! So, I start the whole pot process. I’m 65- 66 t next month. I smoked pot a little back in the day, but it never was my thing. Paranoid was all I got. I started out slow. Did Everything the “medical pot people told me to do! Imagine, half of them are stoned giving out this info! At first the pot was so strong I was careful. As time went by, I felt less effect. But at times, only when I used the vapes, I couldn’t walk. To get up and cross the room I could t make my legs do what they were supposed to do. It was scary. But once I got in bed, I was high, it the pot would not get me to sleep. So the “medicinal doctor” put me on RS Oil. I would sleep but awake about 4 hrs and retake. Then he called. I told him about the walking. He gave me some lame excuse then told me he wanted me to take it 4-5 times a day! I did 2 times and I decided enuff. It’s like hash. Do not let them tell u different. I’ve done my research! This is another horror of our times. Anything goes! The guy that first came up with the oil, was a pothead just trying to get weed legalized. No telling how much money he makes now! Thc is addicting. It’s not covered under ur insurance. To keep ur card updated is over 200 a year. D your doctors “medicinal doctor’s “ name is on all ur scripts. Do they get money from the sales? It’s all about money. I finally got a phychiatrist “zoom” to prescribe me 1 mil of colonsapen a nite. THANK YOU GOD! I stopped all thc this past week. I’ve had 2 self injuries to myself since starting thc. Pummeled my face black and blue. I have many life stressors that probably has had an impact on doing that, it because I have never done this before, I know thc was a factor. You can get phychosis from it. It’s documented!!!!!!! I now take no opiates. I broke my elbow a year and a half ago and was prescribed oxycodone. I have a handful of pain pills hidden at a neighbors Incase we need one. I have severe neuropathy in both feet from the cut on my nerve. I have 2 herniated disc’s with a pinched nerve in my back. In my neck I have a hernia toon and pinched nerve which just gave me 3 was of pretty severe pain. Man, first consult, then come back. Then he scheduled a nerve block. When I got home I saw it was scheduled for 2weeks out. I could not use my arm at all. The pain was atleast an 7. I always say a lower number, but I now know, just say 10. I literally said about a 4 one time (at pain clinic) and she ended up literally getting me to say 6 for the records! What’s wrong with this world I called crying and what a miracle, he had a cancellation and I got in 4 days later. I do childcare for my 35 lb Autistic grandangel! He knew that I had to function. That’s some of my story. It as for you, my America hero, I apologize for what Our Country has done to you and so many others like you. There’s no punishment sufficient for this Crime against you. Don’t give up. God bless you.
Hi, it’s Aug 2022 but your comment really sat with me. I am what I call a legacy pain patient. My pain will worsen and has not disappointed in that area. My pain is like this…I read a story (local) of a tree faller who decided to finish a job over a weekend to catch up. Alone but he knew his job well. Saturday after noon the tree he was cutting cracked, spit and crushed his leg. They pain had him in and out of conciousness. By Sunday morn 5am he couldn’t stand it and took a pocket knife and cut his own leg off. For people like us we can totally get that. I wanted to severe my spine so many times…I would and still do beg for an epidural like a woman in labor gets. They look at me with horror on their faces. Well, I wanted to tell you their are large groups fighting for us and I do what I can. I really hope things have improved for you. And a sincere thank you for your service. You are not alone
How do I remove my name from ER drug seeker list? I have acute porphyria and it takes massive amounts of opiates to control the pain when in an attack. I have a letter from The American Porphyria Foundation backing up the need for me to receive opiates immediately without waiting for laboratory or other results if I come in to the ER with porphyria symptoms. However, a physician who was not even my doctor put me on the list because she said she did not believe the lab work – despite my having a letter from the APF confirming that according to my labwork I do have porphyria. This is a mess. Please help me.
Late, Is this a private list with your doctor or some other sort of list?
I have been living with. Systemic Lupus since I was nine. I have managed to not get addicted to any painkillers or muscle relaxers. If I am in severe pain I go to ER. Sometimes trying to get an IV pain killer is like pulling teeth. I get so tired of it.
Report this doctor to the State Licensing Board, Medicare/Medicaid for falsifying medical records. You have a right to challenge inaccurate medical records.
Please tell me hoe to do this??? A dr broke my neck all “7” vertebrae’s when he was only supposed to be clearing out polyps. He took a hammer & a chisel to my skull and didn’t protect my neck when he had my skull dangling off of the operating table . I’ve had “5” I think fusions, done over 6 years now but still have post pain and I’ve taken myself off of all other strong strong psin meds all except for the 20 mil oxycofone as needed approx 3 a day. Well I had a terrible asthma attack about two years ago now and my little bitty town has a nurse that thinks she’s a doctor, the little hospital allows her to write in a patients chart just as if she’s a dr !!! She wrote awful awful things, I accidentally fell and she called me a drama Queen and said she wouldn’t help me at all until I got myself up abd on the bed! The other nurse held my hand while I kept saying I’m dying and she said everyone says thst . I passed out, fainted , they called a crash team, I guess that’s what they call them and began transferring me to another hospital 45 miles away – one that’s better equipped for heart attacks . I got a copy of my records 7 days later after I’m released from the other hospital. It’s unbelievable what the nurse wrote in my chart . Ami g other things shes called me junkie. She knows NOTHING about my injury… NOTHING! It’s none of her business ! And now every where I go thst chart follows me ! I will never get that terrible name calling , cheap insults, jealous attacks … and I don’t even know this woman’s first name! I’ve called thst hospital and they have told me they can’t do anything my chart (?????) … really ??? Is that true ?? And … I actually believe she’s still working there in thst ER. And I will go 45 miles away to the other hospital just to not ever have to look at her agsin . My problem right now… I have to believe she’s done this to others … there’s nothing to tell me she has any better nursing skills with anyone else. Please tell me how I can feel empowered ?
This one brought me to tears. Get a lawyer. Get every single record NOW!!!!!! I’m sorry. God bless.
I hope you get this. I carry inherited porphyria. I just came across your post while trying to look up information on hydrocodone. I get different pain in different parts of my back, neck, can extend to my thighs, sometimes w/out my having done anything that should bring it on. Twice, though several years apart, I have woken in early morning hours, in pain, to the point of it increasing and having to be taken to the ER, barely able to walk-I was aided. Always a “muscular-skeletal” issue, with their seemingly to be confused. I also have heard porphyria can give you insomnia. Well, I would be a testament, if so. But the types of pains I get can get bad to chronic. Hydrocodone works best for me, and I want docs to stop trying to give me something that I try and find does not work for me, like certain muscle meds with effects I do not like, and trying to pass off one as similar to hydrocodone, but better, when it is also considered an opiate, – just because they are either having the scare of losing their license hung over their heads, like now, or trying to push another new drug for the pharmaceutical companies. If you saw my files, you would see that I am so responsible with hydrocodone, not even coming close to anyone that they could even dream might be having a problem with it. It works with me, and I thank God for it when I need it. Last time a doctor helping in my doc’s office wanted to try me on Tramedol, so fine, I did.–Big mistake, I tried it a few times, did not like the way it made me feel sometimes nauseous, edgy, and like I couldn’t get myself off my duff to do things I wanted to get done. My doctor wouldn’t at first write me Rx for hydrocodone, because this other doctor had given me a supply for 90 days, and said she’d be in trouble if she did. I had problems on and off until they figured that supply should be run out. Thing is, I took that bottle of Tramedol back to her office on a visit, tried to give them back to show her what I’d taken, that they do not set right or work for me as well, telling her to take them back. Nope, Stuck till their time supposedly ran out. Now, this muscle scrip a neuorsurgeon spinal specialist wrote out for me is again, giving me a lot of refills—for something that doesn’t do the trick. I’m wondering if when I do run out of my hydrocodone, if they are going to use the ol’ “you have a lot of refills for the other. I only take hydro when needed, and it doesn’t make me feel sick, or funny, weird or any of that. I’m functional and don’t feel like I’m being laid back or whatever else. My mother had a cross between two of the porphyrias.
I had a spinal fusion and 3 Harrington rods placed in my lower lumbar at age 15 1/2-horrible, horrible pain everytime I woke up from a morhpine shot in the thigh, making me vomit, then get giggly, ceiling spinning, going out like a light bulb. -for two weeks in hospital. six months body cast, followed by 3 months torso hard cast w/velcro straps. Thought I’d die, literally, the nite in hospital-after two weeks, they stopped the morphine. I have known for years no, that I probably did not need what they did to me, for the $$$’s, for the type scoliosis I had. But beside the point now I guess. They told my Mom I would have problems with my back when I got older then, and it didn’t straighten up a damned thing. Boy, have I had on and off bad aches and pains since I have gotten older.
I do not want anything stronger than hydrocodone, I’m not interested, and hope it always works when I need it, like it has been. I want doctors to stop playing games with patients who they damned well know are not abusing or misusing an opioid, especially something as low IMO, as hydrocodone. Personally, I don’t see people getting “addicted” to it anyway. I don’t know if it means anything, but a doctor when I lived in the PNW did tests and MRIs on me (I’ve also had them done since) he said he was prescribing me hydrocodone…when I looked at him funny and said usually a patient might request that, not other way around, he said, “What? I’m not worried about you. You do not have an addictive personality. ” Now, I don’t know that that means anything, but if true, then my relationship with hydrocodone and how often I need it, and take it, how long a prescription lasts me, are a testament to that, and I’m your poster girl for someone who has been having to use it, and is not addicted, or even near.-and no, it doesn’t make me feel odd, laid back, funny, weird or….whatever some say why they can’t take it.
I would file a formal complaint with your states medical board. Dr. Licensing board. The hospital too. FIRST GET the records that shows it from the hospital. Don’t call ahead just go to records dept at the hospital. File complaints every month and reach out to a local legal aid/ malpractice attorney some have free consultations. I’m sorry that happened to you. Also, ask E.R. Dr next time (if u ever decide to go again) if they are a member of PROP. If yes wait for another Dr. Or try a different E.R. call ahead and if u can bring someone. Reach out to Advocacy groups in the U.S. they are life changing. Hope this helps you somehow. Sincerely, Tracy
Go and request those medical records from the ER. Then call your state medical boards and request the paper work to file a complaint against that ER physician who labeled you. I reccomend you join the Doctor Patient Forum on Facebook, The Doctor Patient Forum 1 on Tiktok. They can provide you information to have that removed from your medical records. So much that is in our medical records is incorrect. I’m sorry this happened to you.
i was researching about autoimmune diseases(Multiple Sclerosis to be specific) and current health tech to help curb/manage it and i found this website ww w. kykuyuhealthclinic. com It made a tremendous difference for me I had improved walking balance, muscle strength and improved vision, always thankful for nature that helps in managing these terrible diseases.
It was 100% the Govt demanded Dr.’s to flood pain meds to the public…It was the Govt.’s way of giving pain meds such as Oxycotin n Fyntenol very strong to public.Those are the 2 people was mixing with other stuff and dying not Hydrocodone.Thr Govt’s way of taking control of our medical.They caused this so called war on drugs .Then want to monitor everyone .Refuse pain meds to people whom have severe pain can’t live without pain.Whts worse????? The addict or Govt u also gave the insurance comp the right to pay what they want n that’s not much
.Like mental patients can’t get the meds they need or wht the psychiatrist psychiatrist order a nurse practitioner can change n have no mental health training or degree period .It’s all our. Govt trying to control everyone
Hi my name is gracie & yes its so true it’s the government trying to control everything about is including our pain medication. But it’s also because of the misuse of people who really don’t need this medications.the reason I know how this people being prescribed opids. Don’t need them but they some how convinced the pain management doctor they need them. But only to turn around to sell them .that really makes me so angry, because of people like that. The real patients suffering with chronic pain.continue to suffer, & sometimes they become addicted to street drugs because they can’t find a doctor to give them the only medication that works for them.so instead they basically take there lives by not giving them the only medication that works & helps them be active responsible people working people. Instead they stop there meds or put them on a controlled amount that’s only going to make them suffer most of the time, instead of monitor the patient drug screening. U A every month @ random. Either before or after they fill there script but there’s ways to make sure there really using there medication & check there levels & make sure there’s no drugs in there system, I’m going to be honest I have a hip replacement ×3:due for another & knee replacement that went wrong & went under went under manipulation under Anastasia & things went wrong ended up with a rod from my hip to my ankle & stiff leg it won’t bend & any more surgery, I’ll lose my leg.have had many back surgeries head & scull fracture ear torn off. & neuropathy pain & pelvic prolapse & feet surgeries. Lost all 9f my large intestines I can go on.but it’s too much.any way the only med I can take that helps my daily life so I can work attend to my family & my son who is autistic work in my yard clean my house help people who are in need.so instead they stop my meds & after 4 years of trying to find a doctor that can help me keep living & doing what I need to do to take care of my family & my special needs child ,they just stop my meds & try so many different medications. Only to let me suffer! Omg if someone reads this & can help me find the right doctor please please help me.i want & need to be able to stay alive & healty instead of always in pain & depressed sorry thus is not the correct reply to u .I apologize. G
well the people that get them and turn around and sell them are actually helping out the peoole that 100 percent need them but couldnt get them because although they are in Excruciating pain they were unable to convince the doctor of that pain like the person that didnt need them convinced the doc because the doctor whom isnt experiencing the pain for themselves wont write anything strong and helpfull to the people that need it due to fear of losing there license to sell drugs so just like the street dealers the doctors pick and choose who they sell to only to benefit themselves or keep themselves safe. the government controls all Pharmaceuticals and they know when they take away meds from patients that are now physically dependent those patients will turn to the streets which is also controlled by the government all the Fentanyl and heroin on the streets comes from them and they benefit two ways because all of the crime it causes it keeps prisons going and filled up which also profits the government good dipping their fingers in everything if they really wanted to begone with fentanyl and heroin they would make pain meds easily accessed as alcohol if someone’s in pain and wants to medicate why shouldn’t they be allowed to just like with this marijuana just about every state is making it legal now and the only thing that held it back was the government trying to figure out how to tax it a few States made marijuana legal medicinally and boom the government seen how much revenue pot made them and all the taxes they gained from it and all the jobs it created for those states and so now they are open to make it legal federally now meaning banks can now get involved and it doesnt just have to be cash deals so if feds would just treat opiate pain meds the same and allow adults to choose there own meds to take weather its to get high or to get out of pain they will profit from the sales and people will be out of the streets no longer dying from Fentanyl overdoses because the doctor wouldn’t give them any type of pain meds and they were forced to go to the street just to keep themselves from feeling ill. now im not saying doctors wouldnt be needed at all they would still need to tell the patient there options of meds and educate them on what they can take and shouldnt take together and it should ultimatly be up to the patient to say hey i want to try this med or hey this medicine here works great for me or if they dont know what to trt then thats when the doc should say how about you tey this. but my point is if im in pain and i go to the doctor and i have already tried many different types of opiate pain meds throughout my years so i already know how im affected difcerently by certain meds well based on my pain level i decide i want some oxy 30 instant relief a2 or 3 of them every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain i should be able to get a mo th supply and i would need to see the doc again in a month or i could already have reschedueled refills based on my illness or pain source but it should always be my own decision as to what i take i mean they act like eveyone in the workd will overdose im sure there will be a few people to do so but those people that die. did it to themselves and now the government wo t need to worry about there social security or feeding them im prison cause thats where they was headed anyway if they was just abusing the pills. why cant the government look at it like they made what they could off of the deadbeats before they killed themselves. there is a fine line between people that need meds and peoe that dont but either or both want them and the government shouldnt contr any substance with whatever excuse they use about it. seriously what if any and all drugs was perfectly legal and so eady to access think of how little the crime rate would be god forbid that happens then what would the government use as leverage to maintain control i mean they coukd make so much money just selling oxycodone 30s to anybody that feels they might need them they sell alcohol and its killed more people then anything. As a matter of fact everything bad that ever happened to me in my life is due to alcohol nothing bad came from opiate abuse other than feeling sick when I didn’t have it because it’s so hard to get nowadays well not nowadays have been clean for 10 years but when I was in active addiction I just had a hip replacement done at the age of 35 I walked around for a whole year on a cane with a collapsed femoral head cuz I couldn’t get a doctor to do the surgery nor could I get anybody to write me any pain meds so I was forced to go to a methadone clinic and I took 250 mg of methadone a day for almost a whole year before I had my surgery that’s the only thing that kind of helped but it kept me from going to the streets and it helps with the pain so but I was in lots of pain until my surgery I woke up the next day from surgery ready to walk I didn’t need any pain meds at that point because I was so used to being in pain so I didn’t ask for pain meds however he did give me a prescription of something very small like hydrocodone fives and told me that was all he was going to give me and I said that’s fine I don’t need him anyways I continue to take my Methadone for a few more weeks and then I switched over to Suboxone for a few weeks and we myself off of that and then now I’m clean again but if it was my choice I would have rather had some sort of strong fast-acting opiate to take whatever I wanted to and I would have paid for it to the government instead of up the street if the government would just take all this power away from the doctors and put it in the patient’s hands it would be a lot better world to live in my rants over
Hi, I have a question for you,,what do I do now after 7yrs with the same PM dr I was told that bcuz I failed a U.A twice that he could only treat me with non opioid treatments,,ok yes I failed the UAs bcuz he wouldn’t listen to me ,I’ve been on the same breakthrough pain meds for 7yrs, I kept telling him they weren’t strong enough nemore,but he wouldn’t listen ,,t even after bk surgery an hip surgery I wasn’t allowed to take even 1 extra ,,well this year I couldn’t take the pain nemore so I took an extra 1 or 2 daily ,of course I ran out ,an started to go into withdrawl ,a friend offered me a Suboxone to stop the withdrawl, an it did ,but did nothing for my pain,,idk they stayed in your urine that long ,an so I failed 2 U.As ,,I received a letter telling me he couldn’t treat me with opioids nemore but would b happy to treat me with MORE injections,Gabpentin an Zanaflex,,,o an he also had me on 1 30mg oxyctin ER,, an said it would last 24hrs!!!! Iam in sooo much pain right idk wat to do,,I can’t take it much longer,,
What do I tell a new pain dr when or if I get one? An is there new here that will help me until I do???
My advice is to seek out a board certified pain specialist and be completely honest. I’m not supporting what happened to you, but in the current environment, it’s important to recognize that liability is a serious risk for medical providers.
Why do they change your monthly maintenance dates so often. They miscounted 31 day months, constantly issue 1-3 days early (to confuse things) then suddenly course correct 5months later, leaving you 2-3 days without, sick and anxious wondering who did what wrong. Its 100% my fault they say, even though I have all dates to prove otherwise. You cant argue back (or you’re a drug seeker). They can torture you at will and you’re totally helpless when the 70year old nurse makes a mistake. After 20 years on a regularly small dose (less then 100mg still and currently in chemo). Its still insane to then to allow a pickup 1-2 days early when its convenient. Insurance wont approve 48hrs early, I dont get why I have to rush off early in the AM on the day of, or go to a chemo lab without it. Just furious they can never keep the dates straight of all their patients!
I suggest that you request a 28 days supply to be written from you doctor moving forward, and then you may avoid this hassle.
What if they tell you were not going to get into trouble by breaking the law ??? Been off and on hydrocodone in one form or another till a pain dr prescribed contain 1998 at 80 mg a day till he retired and I went with the another clinic who got marketed then after taking this for all these years and building a tolerance got cut from 170mg a day to 60 mg a day (went through hell again like the morphine back in the 70s after major crippling accident and on morphine drip for about 1 and 1/2 years .. ) true withdraw!! And again after they took 2/3rds fo my contain away and will not increase it but offered injections of cortisone in back of neck. I don,t think that will work and I already been the human pincushion in73
I have very low tolerance to pain. And living in SJ. Iam suffering the dose is like baby aspirin compared to the pain
Don,t want to be on this med but, that’s the strongest med I can find. I,m not a junkie but am tired of suffering then told chose between assisted suicide or very low dose barely reduces my pain.
HEIP ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD HELP
CAN’T LIVE INDEPENTLY UNLESS I HAVE MEDS .. NO MORE DRINK MAKES ME STUPID AND DONT MIX.. AGAIN ANY SUGESSIONS IS APPRECIATED GREATLY..
After going through many years of 30 days,31 or the knowledge that the drug store would be closed half a day on Sat.and all of Sunday, I was in a constant worry mode.Noone knows the withdrawal sickness unless you’ve been through it.I finally devised a plan,of asking my m.d. for a 28 day supply which so gratefully took care of the problem. Getting a 28 day supply,it’s always will.fall on a day that was available and I didn’t have to worry every time about will.it fall on a day,that the drugstore would be closed.I also changed pharmacies,because it closed.It all worked.Thank you,Wanda…
My wife and I live in fla. we are both on month to month scripts of subutex. We are now running in to the situation where both of us Will be out for a couple if day. Before we can refil I’m in my seventies and this medication has given me the best life I ever had. Will a Florida Dr be able to give us 28 day refills upon our request? Thankyou so much for the information.
John, Subutex is refillable. Most pharmacies will allow a refill two days early.
Hi thanks i would comment but I am in so much pain I cant move my neck to type .So i give in to the Chinese’s and Mexican cartel for a blast of fentanyl death,because a doctor is scared to prescribe a 10 milligram pill that really is no stronger than fake Tylenol or aspirin. I do not no how long opiates have been around but something tells me that if it keeps America moving forward then it must not be bad ,because the people that need these opiates are the proud people that built America. I think they say God Bless after that speech. Thank You Very Much.
Unless your insurance regularly denies less than 30 days. Workers comp does. After it makes it to the pharmacy, they have to wait for the do not fill. Insurance auto denies less than 30. The benefit of this is that it keeps it from falling on the weekend when workers comp case managers for my state don’t work. Then a call or email has to be made to them to get it approved so withdrawal doesn’t occur bc day of fill is day it runs out. Every month. I also had 28 day fills and somehow got scheduled 35 days out. I pay attention now. There’s no easy answer but I get ops frustration about how they count the minutes down on your end and make it super difficult to get it on time with insurance but aren’t accountable when they mess up (which makes people want to save extra meds but it breaks the contract )
I was on 60 mg per day of Methadone. Because ALL doctors decided to label me a drug add. Instead of looking for my spinal pain I was terminated from 60 mg to 0 mg based on a nurses decision. It was later discovered that I have at least two pinched nerves in my neck and have had a Crushed vertebra in the Lumbar that everybody overlooked. When everybody was labeled with the Opioid Epidemic, I was labeled without verification and forced into Crippling Pain 24/7. Since this was done by the nurse in pain management at the Columbia VA medical center in Columbia, Mo. I was told to keep my mouth shut and deal with it. I have since started to receive 15 mg per day and still accused of abusing meds without even one failed drug test?I have also started surgeries in the St Louis VA. Some abused Opioids, but others are suffering for no reason at all except our doctors over do it when covering any possibility of a mistake. They make mistakes in this decision? So people NEED the painkillers and have never abused one pill. The system has decided to punish us all for a few problems? The system needs help!
Tucson va after a decade of medicine for chronic pain, two spine surgeries and a lamenectomy. I am 79 years old,and have been reduced to a non functioning being.
YER F***n right! I Have not only crushed L3 L4 L5 S1 and fibro thingy but a horrible pain syndrome. It started when my leg was cut off near the mid shin area…left me an inch shorter on m y right side which screwed up my back, long-term. I was stopped by some idiot doctor Woz in Rochester said “U don’t need these…HA! I needed fentanyl patches every three days3.(100mcg)along with three time daily Oxytocin (Long lasting) with 10 mg oxycodone for break thru pain…HA! no more any f***kn thing now…Bed bed ridden for 3 years now or they stick me on a chair staring at TV. I was a teacher for 6-8 year old’s at the community place of greater rochester with teaching a high school diploma for older students …no more. I was fine and doing this since 1978…
And America is a Free Country? They won’t be satisfied unless they see us living with pain, but why must we?
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Because if we weren’t constantly living with pain, they wouldn’t be able to control the Population.
America’s War on Drugs:
“Incarcerating/Imprisoning Americans … One Citizen At A Time.”
That’s all you will get and from people that have not have this problem they will all be on the side saying you are wrong. A few Doctors understand and do what they can but laws tie them up and in order to continue helping they must do things they don’t like but that’s what allows them to continue to help those then do.I feel your pain and know it’s real, One day this will be behind us and no one will be able to decide our lives until then we are ruled by whatever laws or guidelines they come up with , Or go to another country and do street drugs
My daughters be leave strangers in stead of myself. A girl didn’t like my driving so she followed me to my daughter and called thr coos brecause I swerved a couple of time. So my daughters beloved in. And never hag a truthful conversation. Thr policeman that come said you just fine(meaning me. Now she not talking to be or allowing him to see what do I do
I would try to go to a different facility.
If you got stare Meficare or Medicaid, you could go to a hospital of your choice without bringing your old records for comparison. Usually with old records the new doctor will try to follow suit with the old doctor’s decisions. Start with a clean slate.
Oh Jason… bless your HEART! I cannot imagine what it must be like to be you – I was imagining sitting in the pharmacy…being, essentially, BULLIED for being MISTAKEN AS a drug a addict <- yet another population shamed and ergo ushered closer to death by opiate stigma. Sir, I don’t know what or how much of it you are on: I DO NOT NEED nor do I want to know in order to offer the best and only help I could think to offer as a NOT QUALIFIED TO HAND OUT MY TWO CENTS AS ADVICE RUN O THE MILL AVERAGE PERSON…bc your story poked a hole in my heart and I’m bleeding out and MUST DO SOMETHING to save MY life now: (FYI I do have..oh gosh…let’s say several years experience in the general arena of meds and doctors me pharmacies and opiates and treatments and alternatives and helping others and group therapies, etc…no TRUE alternative meds like..I don’t know…lickin toads or sweat tents…ANYWHO: in my NOT PROFESSIONAL but educated opinion, you sound like one of the FFEEWWW legitimate patients who really are in desperate need of SOME kind of actionable advice amidst the occasional sympathy sentiment <-an act of generosity equivalent to a fleeting 1 mg of whatever you’re on I’m guessing..so I wonder, have you talked to your doctor about either Suboxone, Subutex, or Methadone? These are opiate agonists aka μ (sounds like “meuw”) opiate(s) that attach to the same receptors in your brain as the opiates you currently take. IDEALLY you’d take the Suboxone/Subutex (<-the former is a strip (that contains nolaxone and is for those considered “at risk” [to shoot up], the latter a tablet less the Nolaxone [some are allergic to it, others don’t want nor need it but it CAN actually provide MORE pain relief for some] and is dissolved under the tongue – that I think is simply magic bc it has a ceiling of 32 mgs [as in 33mgs…shoot…1 MILLION mgs. Has NO ADDITIONAL EFFECT as the receptors are all already plugged up which means NO MORE RIDING THE ROLLER COASTER OF OH CRAP IM SO SICK IM DYING FROM ACUTE WITHDRAWALS due to my current opiate half-life of ten minutes (<-it’s probably more than that but it may as well be ten mins) lasting up to a whopping 36(!) hr(s). Half life, AND HEALS THE DAMAGE DONE to the neurotransmitters by ‘normal’ opiates <-yeah, sadly they’re not brain-friendly meds] Methadone on the other hand does NOT have a ceiling….and lemme tell ya, I’m NOT A FAN (I’ll spare you my opinion here). Oh sure it beats ANY OTHER OPTIONS (BUT the Subutex IMO is far superior for a number of reasons) bc it too has a long (~24 hr.) half life….It is the fact that these opiate agonists DO last SO long in the system that make them not only the best alternatives you’ve got, but EVENTUALLY & unfortunately inevitably will become your ONLY options..because the way you describe you are being treated by pretty much everyone in your personal get-your-meds-chain is the FIRST SIGN there’s already been talk of taking the meds away from you altogether… It’s positively HANOUS that really real-life in-need in-pain-day in and out cancer patients like yourself suddenly became numbers to nearly all opiate-prescribing doctors who really do got to work in fear of license loss every day…because if just ONE of their patients kicks the bucket due to overdose or distribution or WHATEVER, you name it, because the government sends them memos like sometimes twice weekly reminding them if they don’t take x number of patients OFF opiates by x date, they’re probably gonna go to jail and lose their license at best. I have put you on my prayer list, Jason…& I also pray my 30 mins spent typing helps if not you, SOMEone out there…even if only a teensy bit. Bless your heart.
I’ve had the exact same problem. Whenever I’m having good days I save back pills. It’s not enough to cover several days but it will be a few pills a day instead of none.
I also try to save a few pills for my chronic lower back pain and osteoarthritis because my pain clinic only allows me 3 Percocet/acetaminophen per day. I’ve signed the pain contract, but it seems that some days my pain is worse, and some days I’m okay. It helps to save meds for the really bad pain days.
Same here thank you very much for your story very close to it
Omg…i am 54 yrs old female with skeletal abnormalities, disk disease, and osteoarthritis to name a few. My latest ‘Pain Management’ Dr has quit me, stating that he did not feel i was safely using my meds, and accused me of doing PCP finding dextro in my UA (Nyquil). Now the only pain management treatments that have been tried without disastrous effects is 15 mg morphine 3 times a day. He accused me of ditching 2 appts. It was one. He accused me of getting into an accident on medication, it was not my fault. And he accused me of being combatant with his staff, i explained that 1 time i got loud mainly cuz i was outside and loud to me. I was not yelling.
15 years i take 15 mgs 3 times a day of morphine for massive pain because Drs are scared they wont satisfy the constraints of the DEA. This is blatent refusal to do their job.
if you had stage four terminal cancer since 2016 and you know what’s worse than the cancer trying to keep my pain meds going! you sadistic doctors and nurses that are against it they do everything they can to put glitches in the system so we suffer..sadistic people is what they are.
I live with a hereditary disease called Ehelers Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility type. Its a rare genetic disorder (not so rare now that more, and more doctors are hearing about it, I see more and more people not being misdiagnosed with something else, like fibro). Basically your body creates faulty collagen, and you ligaments stretch out, and dont stretch back properly. People with this disease are normally very flexible, and just like I was, extremely athletic growing up. Until they hit about the age of 16-20 i hear most of the time. Mine onset really bad when I was 14, and quickly went from a point that I didnt even notice something was wrong to me, to a point that I couldnt stand to move. Most of the joints in my body dislocate extemely easily, I can actually dislocate them all myself, and when I do its, its not really that painful, when I dont intend it though, its normally because its dislocating in the wrong direction, and not straight out. Just standing up, putting my shoes on, picking up a plate of food, everything can dislocate on me, extremely painfully I might add. My knees can actually dislocate once Im already in a standing position, I go to take a step, and my knee goes out completely sideways on me. When people see it happen, a lot of them think Ive broken it somehow with the step, till I get through screaming or growling through the pain, and snap it back in place, which doesnt stop the pain, just keeps it from getting worse. It normally persists for the next several hours, and doing this a few times a day.
This isnt even close to the worst problem though, as my entire body is riddled with excruciatingly painful muscle spasms. I have 2 specific ones a million times worse then the rest. One under my right scapula, and one on top of my right shoulder, the one under my scapula pushes it out about 5-6 inches above my back, the one on top of my right shoulder swells up to about 4-5 times its size in an instant. Comes up my neck, and can slam me in the neck, and jaw, repeatedly. Its like someone throwing bullet punches at my neck and jaw, and under my right scapula, which can actually completely knock my breath out. I get what ive heard called spinal migranes all the time now, because over the 12 years this has been happening, my neck has taken basically to many punches to count, it became to many to count in the first month of this, let alone 12 years. When all of this first started we learned quickly that there wasnt a cure for this. Ive tried everything, botox injections, prolotherapy, physical therapy, ive been to every kind of doctor that deals with any kind of upper body, hereditary, chronic pain problems, and everything in between. Im tired… I cant take this anymore. My disability is finally coming through, Ill finally have insurance for the first time in 2 years, and honestly… I feel like the insurance is pointless at this point… my tollerance to anything raises very quickly, and I have a very very high matabolism, so back when this started there werent all these regulations there are now, and after about 2 years I was being prescribed a hefty amount, but it was the correct amount, it didnt make me nod out, it didnt make me very high at all, but it actually managed my pain. When the spasms start, the only thing I can do is put an extreme amount of pressure on the spasm itself, which hurts… ungodly bad… I think over the years its caused damage to the nerves in the area, and hurts even worse than it should, which was severe to begin with. Now my mind litterally snaps… I cant mentally take a level of pain like that. I dont think anyone could… I honestly would rather have my arm ripped off… I feel like it would hurt less at this point, and at least the nub would eventually heal and hurt less… this will only get worse with age, and Im only 26 now, and already ready for a bullet to end this misery Ill never be free of… so once I put the pressure on them, they eventually make a loud popping sound, and it hurts the worst at this point, but then they relax, and stop spasming. The pain only dulls a bit though, and this is when I require the pain meds, because without them the pain itself causes the spasms to come right back, instantly, sometimes only like 30 seconds to a minute after they stopped to begin with. If I have a decent strength pain medication to take at this time, it stops, completely, the pain never completely goes away, it lightens, but I can actually lower it a bit, and stop the spasms. Ive tries medical marijuana, and it doesnt help the same, it helps very little, and isnt worth the money in my opinion. I try to go to it seems like any pain clinic now adays, and Im always “to young” to have these problems, they see the spasms, they see the pain, but dont care, all of that proof has to be lies becuase Im TO YOUNG to be having these issues, its not possible for me to have these issues at my age, I should be able to run out and play football, or do this, or do that. That I used to do when I 13 and under, but have been deprived of, and left alone, in a bed, or sitting on the couch, hurting beyond any belief I had that I could even hurt that bad. Its either that, or its more and more trying to figure out what the problem is. Ive… told you what the problem is. Ive tried everything, until more research is done (which there isnt much at all for this disease at the moment), im screwed, from every direction, and they still want to say I need a surgury, or some bullshit that will NOT do anything. Ive actually had doctors offer surgeries to me that were beyond stupid, they would only make EVERYTHING worse, one would have actually torn my muscle in two when I woke up from the surgery, and the first time those spasms jerked it, it would have ripped. Theres apparently a cure for everything out there though, and they expect you to find it, and to get off the pain medication. The one that makes me the most angry though, has to be when doctors look at me, and say “opiates arent the way to treat pain, all they are is a BANDAID”. Well…. YEAH, EXACTLY, but when you have an untreatable, excruciatingly painful, debilitating disease, that there is NOTHING ELSE they can do for… then theres nothing left but to bainaid up what bandaidable, there isnt anything else I can do, dont put a little button bandaid on a massive gouge, theres no point at all in that other than to keep me from going into withdraws. Just let me live my life in a tiny bit more of comfort, while I live like an 80 year old man, broken, beaten, alone with no friends until the day that my spasms breaks my neck and either paralyzes me, or outright kills me, or if Im lucky enough that never happens, the until something else kills me, hopefully old age, though I dont know I want to live that long with this. Im already having to accept that this is what my life will be for the rest of it, and have been struggling to accept that sense I was 14. This is already insane, its already breaking me, please doctors, this country, politicians, anyone who will listen… please help me, stop making this worse on me… cuz if this keeps up, I wont live much longer, and not cuz the opiates killed me, not cuz of any disease or external force, but because Ive been drivin to it myself as a means of escape, when I cant find anyone willing to help me just survive.
You may need a different muscle relaxant for the spasms and a skeletal muscle relaxant for your joints. Problem is benzos and SMR’s often potentiate opiates. I hope you get the treatment you need, You have my sympathy!
If you can get them to rite you some. Somas they will help your spine & the muscle spasms I have bad problems just like you I had a spine infection & they had gave me every muscle relaxer & pain meds of all kinds it wasn’t helping but. Maybe 2to3 hours so I caused them out & tothem to shove it up their as to give me something normal like a. Percot or lortab with the morphine they gave me 2 mg. then upped my morphine to 4 mg every 3 hours got as little relief then I begged that doc for Soma he finally wrote me 3 350mg with the neutron & perks and it helped to were i could come home to my new born son but can’t get no one to help. since. I left. UK hospital if I could just get the Soma to help the pain ID be happy. I had to learn to walk again and I can’t walk far the hospital ducked me up trying to twist a crick out of my neck & shoulders and they promised they was going to to me or try to twist me now I’m ducked for life have to lay a lot can’t tilt my neck forward & they want to put a rod from my neck threw my whole spine well I’ve put it off since 2015 but I’m so numb. now & its getting worse were they trapped my.nerves but I’m afraid to. Have it done but I’m at the point were I have no choice
And I don’t know a frikking doctor that will give you Soma! Yet it is an amazing drug.
I had heard the FDA pulled Soma
Because of adverse reactions. Was the best muscle relaxant.
Flexibility is stronger/longer lasting & it doesn’t make me feel funny
Not pulled, but unless a patient has been on it prior to it being considered a controlled med… Drs won’t prescribe anymore! :/ wish we could remove Government & go back to days when Drs could be Drs!
Yes thank you very much for the makers of opioids if it wasn’t for opioids I went there but do the work around my house and doing the chores I need to do each and every day thank you very much now with freaking Lyrica I can only get maybe 30 45 minutes to an hour a day a day now instead of the opioid was helping with my pain and suffering and back surgery and all now the doctors here in the USA are scared scared to give out opioids because of the US government mandating them to not do the proper things godspeed the all try to deal with just the best way you can is what they’re saying in the comment
As with every one of you on here, we all have a story to tell. I’ve been in chronic pain for way to long. The first time I remember being struck down with a vibrating electrifying pain up and down my spine was when I was 13 years old. I’m now 59 years old. I do not know how this started but to let you know this chronic bone and nerve pain has yet to cease. I have severe psoriasis eczema and contact dermatitis I have copd from mold inhalation. I have DVT. None of which brought me to using prescribed norco and umpteen types of nsaids plus tylonol which with the dosage they give doesn’t nearly cover the pain level I have through out the day. . I noticed that after my last child was born I experienced pain that made me literally pass out. Waking up to my body in a vibrating pain. Fat forward twenty years working in the convenience stores stocking groceries adding to the pain. Then in my recent last 10 plus years where there is a water droplet my feet found them. No I did look where I was going. It was the department store neglect. Three in numbers that did not think to clean up a spill or to put wet floor signs out after loading a ice machine with bags of ice. On a newly waxed floor nor did they put a rug under the machine to collect the droplets. I know I don’t have cast iron bones that I’m told its all nerve pain on my bottom. I have a knot the size of a pecan on my tailbone. I did one lidocaine injection to see if I would be a candidate for the shot that includes a form of cortisteroid or something equivalent to that. Being a dvt patient since 2010 I do believe I may develop a blood clot. As with any procedure or surgery I end up on blood thinners. The same steroid they use I’ve been using since I was 15 years old. If it didn’t cover the area then. Which was given for other reasons but it took the pain away. Low doses of this steroid helped a lot. I have reactions to Salumedrual kenolog there are only two I can use that works for me to give relief for all three of my chronic diseases plus from these falls that some how play a part in my pain. I’m on my way to being 60 years old I know there is nothing any doctor can do to cure what ells me. Use all your new methods on the younger generation of people who have no prior elements that can endure the outcome. As those with chronic pain of a disease that won’t be cured please let us live our life out with dignity and respect that we have to live in our body every day. You do not know what we go through on a daily basis. The challenges we go through. The hoops we jump through. Some of us are so scarred by our elements or end up with some sort of mental illness because we are told we are wanting these meds for other reasons than what they are prescribed for. I truly think they need to do something for us. I have to get ready to go for a injection I am fearing for my life. Or I would continue. Thank you for letting me vent.
I am 62 since 2013 3 cars besides mine me in middle side car pushed me into another oncoming lane 2 guys pushed me out of streets thnk u never knew thier names my neck arm,back knees hurt,spasm. B/P elevate dangerously high when I’m pain 2019 rearended while sitting thier isn’t enuff $ treated like criminal all ask me most personal questions now psychologist everytime I drive tense more pain but I have 2 call Dr.s office 3dys them again dates keep changing 31 day mths dosage dosen’t really stop all pain but i try 2 lay down fight the depression feelings of anger,abuse just asking not 4 addiction but 2 live without nausea,headaches,anger I’m a human being didnt ask 4 PAIN✋
Damn im also in constant pain and the reason I keep getting hooked on heroine and fentynal and getting habits that are hard to beat, but like you I ask myself all the time wtf I didnto deserve this life and yet it will only ever get worse never better, I’ve experienced the same issue with the age thing, being to young for this shit, im 43 and still don’t have my disability but im working on it, for now im done dealing with any doctors shit or opinions im prescribing my own pain medication sad it has to come to this right? I ask people who don’t understand what would you do if you accidentally put your hand on a hot burner? You would remove it right? Exactly go figure this is exactly what im doing with my pain and im sorry I refuse to stop
Kelley
Do you mind sending me a message via email? I am suffering so bad. have no life! There seems nothing left for me! I can barely walk up/ down the stairs! My spine is fked, my entire body is wrecked with degenerative diseases!
Maybe you could give me some pointers.? > Shegirlie2004@yahoo.com
Thankyou very much!!
PLEASE SEE MY POST? I Pray It will help you???? I am bleeding out for you ALL :(:(:(
Hi Kelley – don’t kick all your doctors to the curb just yet. I’m hoping you have at least ONE dr you really trust or have a good relationship with? Because that dr is the key to help you receive your disability payments. My family dr has been by my side through all the horrendous pain I have suffered, the knee replacements, which one has been a nightmare since 2018, I have to see Infectious Disease Drs for this knee; a plastic surgeon has completely mutilated my left leg AND my right leg as he cut out muscle and tissue from my good leg. It’s still an on-going nightmare. I have spinal stenosis, spondelosisthesis, degenerative disc disease, Inflammatory osteoarthritis, my feet are deformed from arthritis and hurt bad, my hands have developed arthritis recently. You need to ask the dr you trust the most to please write a letter for you, describing the pain you’re in and that you need pain medication so that you can function on a daily basis. I hope this helps you, and please know you’re in my prayers. ~ Jeni
Andrew. Oh my. I’ve just been watching the cursor blink … please ck my post to Jason above. I’m putting you on my prayer list now – and I’m going to have to stop reading after your post as I cannot see through my tears. Bless you… may you find your reason for being here – because you CLEARLY were NOT made for the lone purpose of walking the Earth in pain. Oh no. You have a job to do…your life has meaning and purpose… I imagine you on a Tedex stage, teaching others through your struggle that whatever they’re facing in their own life ain’t S*** and to suck it up… praying now.. all my love
Im so sorry and i understand you completely i just got l5s1 fusion at 34. But pain started bad at 22 . I have cervical stenosis too. .i played every sport hard and competitively until 17 18 no injuries
.genetic pain more likely so many stories of i have about people caring only about the narcotics.not the people
I suffered in chronic Intractable Pain from a job related Accident that placed me on Permanent SSD and as a result I Have an intramedullary rod in my Right Lower leg, and Several Herniated or Injured disc’s in my lower back, resulting in spinal stenosis and sciatica in my left leg, Tendonitis in my right arm and the list goes on! When this first transpired in 2008 I was Placed on Opioids (Methadone) for treatment for Chronic Intractable Pain until Apprx 2015 when this “Opioid Crises” kicked in to high gear, Being treated with Methadone in concert with Epidural injections and Physical therapy Granted me to live a Somewhat normal life for a time, until I missed ONE appointment with my pain management Dr Because my mother was Diagnosed and hospitalized for Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer and upon my return visit he refused to see me Leaving me High and dry and in Severe Pain Everyday, Not to mention the withdrawal symptoms!!! I went from 120 mg’s of Methadone a day to “0” Forcing me to try and find another Pain management Dr ( in n.j. ) Good luck with that!!!! I found a few Wich placed me on 30 mg’s of Methadone a day which didn’t do nothing for my pain , it only kept me from getting ill!!! After bouncing from Dr to Dr in search of another compassionate Dr that would help me in my situation, I Could not for the life of me find ONE!!! , Everytime I call for an appointment they pull up my records and see my past pain meds and before Even allowing the Dr to see me , They tell me over the phone, ( we do not prescribe opiates!!!) This lead me with No choice but to find a Suboxone Dr in my area that prescribed me Suboxone for Almost 4 years 8/2 – 2 x a day unt I found out that he was charging me $100 a month to see him and he was in my Network of Coverage! This caused me to Leave him abruptly and file a grievance, But now as of 10/09/20 I am trying to find a replacement for him in Network and cannot for the life of me find One, Lest I pay an exorbitant amount of money to an addiction Specialist and for what? It does Nothing for my pain!!! And I’m suffering, Having to take care of Two people in my family as a Caregiver , One being my mother, who is Battling stage 4 Metastatic Breast cancer and the second being my uncle who is suffering from Heart Failure and Diabetes, while I can barely get out of bed in the morning and take care of myself!!! This is a Ludicrous scenario to say the least, Especially with the Fact that the Dr that dropped me flat after seeing him for five years of treatment with not ONE single Negative urine for Any Nefarious Substances!!! Why is this the case , The People who Truly need Opiates to manage there pain and are using them as Directed without any negative urines or Disciplinary problems are Suffering unneedingly!!! This situation must be rectified Because it’s causing people as myself to find Alternative sources to manage our Pain, It’s making Normal patients that are good people, Nefarious Substance seekers , Because they cannot receive the Proper care from a licensed physician as they previously were!!! This is making the Problem worse, causing people to seek meds to Grant them relief from Nefarious sources that are not FDA licensed!!! Please Stop this Madness so the millions of people as myself can get much needed relief. Now it’s to the point where one cannot even get a Suboxone Dr to write them a script for Addiction withdrawal caused from this Disastrous decision made by the powers that be. What does an Honest Person suffering from chronic Intractable Pain do to do to get treatment, Get Stage 4 cancer? Or something worse? This madness MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY!!!!
.
I read your letter I feel so bad for you I really do. I don’t know if you said where you are from but most cities have methadone clinics. You may have to lie and say you’re on something else and they’ll put you on methadone. Here they start you out on 40mg. Then up 10 a day until you get to 120. After that you can see your counselor and he/she will let you go higher. You may have to lie and say that you are on oxycodone or heroin but they’ll put you on methadone. I know this is kind of wrong I guess but I feel for you. I’m sorrry it’s like this for you
Good advice, considering the current insanity surrounding the prescribing of narcotic pain control medication. It is a travesty, that honest and forthcoming pain sufferers must fabricate stories of addiction in order to have their pain treated… sadly, this is what we’ve come to.
Completely understand. Am a senior 70 year old widow. Due to some people who freely chose to abuse pain medication,it caused my physicians I went to for 30 + years not to prescribe the loritab 10 mg. Tablets which helped me have a somewhat normal life.Have had joint replacements,& back surgeries. Very sad that responsibile people that never abused prescriptions have to suffer for those that have?!!!Now I see on the news those who used this medication to get high & some have overdosed due to their abuse are suing the large companies?Living in servers pain,crippling pain.
It’s a travesty that so many of us have to live in pain everyday because of others negligence and irresponsibility.
Peter; I hear you and can relate to this situation myself. Without going into all of the whither to’s and why for’s I’ll just state that I am post level 5 TLIF spinal fusion multiple surgeries and also suffer from fully and well diagnosed degenerative spine, bone and joint disease. I live 24/7/365 with moderate to severe chronic intractable pain issues. I have been dealing with this sort of issue for the past 20 years, and though I have been off and on opioid therapy the entire time and have dealt with physical dependence to opioids I can say vociferously that I am not a drug addict.
And nor has drug addiction ever been a problem for me . Yet in late 2016 my Dr. Left her practice abruptly and I found myself plunged into the “fol de rol” of trying to find another Dr. And much like yourself “high and dry” and faced with limited options which were as follows.
#1 do nothing and deal with abrupt withdrawal syndrome along with chronic intractable pain.
#2 switch to Suboxone through an addiction clinic even though I am not an addict.
#3 self medicate through the black market or attempt to produce my own opioid medications. Or
#4 end my own life.
I chose #2 and now find myself branded “addict” and have yet to find a Dr. Who will prescribe anything other than Suboxone which doesn’t work very well for chronic intractable pain though is better than nothing at all.
I agree that we deserve better more comprehensive treatment on an individualized basis.
The paradigm that anyone and everyone who has been on classic opioid therapy is arbitrarily a drug addict is utter bullshit!
This madness should have never happened and needs to end.
AMEN!
Your story touched my heart…I voluntarily went off opiates after my Dr gladly prescribed for years. I am 49 yearsold…usedto be avid runner howeverInow suffered from psoriaticarthritis, degenerativedisease, chronicfatigue….thelistgoeson. it was my choice to voluntarily stop opiates I wasconcernedabout the longtermeffects. . Well unfortunately suboxone makes me deathly ill…I must have an allergy to it. I need to find out my options as the healthcare system seems to set us up to fail…and I will live in pain before I beg for monthly prescriptions and be made out to be a drug addict. (I don’t drink alcohol because it’s ruined many of my family lives…and have never seen a street drug. However I understand why these helpless people in pain…their pain medication literally taken away because our media sometimes provides false information regarding opioids.
The truth is the opiate epidemic has been going on for years….never going to stop illegal drugs activity:( I plan on trying Medical marijuana and hope will not need opiate treatment. Sorry but I feel some of these drs have way more control over our health * comfort. I’m not blaming the doctor’s I’m blaming the politics involved and if I don’t get the help I need I plan on going further with a state of Minnesota to get the answers I need maybe someone has already aware of this through the Attorney General thanks for listening and I feel all of your pain take care okay and just remember we’re not druggies we just need a higher amount of pain medication because our bodies have a tolerance to it we’re human, and entitled to feel better!!!
I Now understand why people in chronic pain go to the streets for drug relief because you try to do the right thing and all you do isI Now understand why people in chronic pain go to the streets for drug relief because you try to do the right thing and all you do is get cut off medication that helps you function every day. Quick question,
What if Drs did this to diabetes patients? They are denying our rights…I have a pain contract with my Dr…never abuse them? Thanks for listening to me vent. Rant over. God bless you all!!!
Stacey, your case reminded me somewhat of my own. Actually I see a piece of me in all the stories I’ve read so far.. As I write this now I am in very bad pain,, waiting for rx to be filled (I guess I am “lucky” in that regard) I was perfectly healthy, working two jobs- both physical, which I loved), and a single parent. I am a Christian, I will put that out there right now. In 2011 I had a work related accident (lifting one too many heavy cases above my head). Excruciating, pain the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt in my upper right scapula. Long story short, the very large company that I worked for for 8 loyal years Republic National Beverage Company decided to fight me on a claim and they actually won. Said I already had the problem…uh, no. I had so much proof but didn’t matter, it’s all a friggen game. Have u heard the saying “they’re all in bed together”? Anyway, no doc in Az would give me pain meds until I went to may and found a woman doc who would. Let me back up, In the6months I had nothing for pain I LITERALLY was looking for places in the house when my husband (got married same month I got hurt) went to work…looking for places I could hang myself. Somehow God stopped me, bc my husband would say later that he was so scared every day that he would find me dead when he came home from work.. He even came home at lunchtime to check.on.me. That’s how serious this whole thing is. And it just continues. We moved to Colorado I went to a neurosurgeon, had 5 spinal hellish fusions and other….. lamenectomies, etc in 6 yrs- 2 cervical, 1 anterior, 1 posterior. And 3 lumbar. Last one in 2019. I’m in too much pain to wtite it all but have had more surgeries as well. Diagnosis is degenerative disc disease among many others, now I have severe rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Had 2 foot surgeries on 5th metatarsal bc now bones so weak from steroids. Oh ya, also have severe adrenal insufficiency.. My whole family knew my nature as an active vibrant (ppl literally used to call me “smiley”. Hi smiley! Ya that makes me cry. Fast forward 10 yrs later, right now I am lying in bed, even tho I woke up hours ago. I keep trying to see if I can do it, and go back in bed. Pain is an unbearable thing. I’ve never in the last 10 years not had a day without it. I’ve not had a night of sleep. My fitbit can’t even register my sleep bc u have to have at least 90 min straight. I got up in middle of the night w a soaked neck area on my niteshirt. This weight I have gained just makes things worse all around. I’ve never been heavy but when I feel like this I just want a treat….bc I “deserve” it. Lol. I believe if someone would have told me at the beginning, that I would have this pain for the next ten yrs plus, I would have really not gone forward. And I will end w this: I actually AM prescribed opiates. It’s not enough tho and they keep wanting to lower it to be under the specified OK LIMIT. Or they say another surgery, I said I do not want any more. I still have same scapula pain, and even more others. My whole body hurts bc of what I believe misdiagnosis has lead to. I am so sorry for you all. You’ll be in my prayers. In all honesty, I believe this has nothing to do with what they claim…opioid crisis. I believe it’s so political we may never know. Anyway, I feel so akin to you all. We are after all family bc we are the only ones who understand eachother. One last thing, be very careful about the methadone thing, only bc once u say you’re an addict, it can never be erased, your entire life…for surgeries, etc. Again, thanks for reading MY rant.
Oh I SO AGREE ! I’ve been through 3 doctors in the last 3 years they keep shutting down ! I’ve been a dialysis patient with severe back problems and I can’t even sit in a chair for more then 10 min without wanting to cry ! So I go to my new doctor and he just berates me the entire time about how I don’t need that medicine I couldn’t even sit in the chair I had to get up and go lay down on his exam table … I was so shocked by the way he treated me and in so much pain I couldn’t and didn’t even know what to say to him ! All I said is you don’t know me , you know nothing about me ! I just met you . I let him give me a steroid shot in my back today and hoping it takes effect soon . My back is not my only pain I’ve got huge kidneys from PKD and my liver . And bad bone pain and both arms are so messed up with nerve pain from getting a dialysis graft in my left arm that only worked for 6 weeks then my right arm is really bad with nerve pain in my hand it locks up , I’m dropping stuff all the time and it’s very painful. I see both sides of the opiate issue I do but doctors were BLINDLY WRITING SCRIPTS for anything and everything! My 18 yr old son had went to dentist was easy procedure he did not complain or ask for any meds and they sent him home with a script for Percocet like 20 of them !!! F That !!!!! I called that dentist right away because I have an addicted daughter and I know exactly what could of happened to him if he got a taste for it like she did ! She went through hell she is finally ok , thank God . She’s a beautiful girl and she got whatever she wanted from anyone ( doctors )
My situation is actual PAIN doctors need to open their eyes do the tests why would you give hard drugs to 18 & 20 yr olds who are perfectly healthy ? They did this shit ! Now they wanna turn around a take meds away from REAL pain patients??? I’m bed bound I can’t even sit in a damn regular chair for 10 min without wanting to scream for Heavens sake ! OPEN YOUR EYES ! Let doctors be the doctors and government stop pushing shit then after you make your money take it away and say it’s bad ! You never seen this shit 20 -30 years ago !!! I’m very angry about it ALL. And in pain
God bless you all I know pain and wish we never met ! Jesus please help us all
I was injured at 16 years old by a doctor’s botched (and completely unnecessary) epidural steroid injection. I believe that my dura was punctured during the procedure, as I felt the most intense, lightning bolt of pain through my entire body, and that’s definitely not supposed to happen. She injected at that point, so i fear that she ended up doing a subarachnal instead epidural injection.
Both the trauma to my spinal cord, as well as the injection of the non sterile steroids (that are also all off brand) near such a fragile area, contributed to the disease I now suffer from, Adhesive Arachnoiditis. It’s now 22 years later, and I’ve been in severe, constant, intractable pain every day since. I have also been treated absolutely terribly more than I’ve been treated with kindness and compassion… even though it was a doctor who put me there in the first place.
When I was 17, one of my doctors told me that I would probably have my condition for the rest of my life. I went home, and swallowed a bottle of pills. How was I going to survive this if doctors wanted so badly for me to be the enemy? I was in terrible pain every second of every day. I just needed help I just needed compassion, and most of all, I just needed relief. Without these things, adhesive arachnoiditis steals your will and/or want, to live.
They call the pain from AA “cancer level pain without the sweet release of death”. The description sounds dramatic, but it is unfortunately pretty accurate. It also causes other extremely painful conditions. The only way I’m able to get out of bed in the morning, or function throughout the day, is opiate pain medication. Years ago when I was weaned off after being on high dose fentanyl patches, I turned to alcohol to numb the pain, and became an alcoholic. I don’t even like alcohol, and I very rarely drink now. Usually just special occasions.
I don’t understand why it would make sense to force taper or withdraw medication that is helping someone to actually be able to live a (very very semi) normal life? Much less, a life that was stolen by an overzealous, inexperienced doctor in the first place. How is that fair that they can injure me, cause an incurable, excruciatingly painful condition, and then take away the only thing giving me even the smallest bit of quality of life??
They say they’re trying to “save us” from the opiate crisis, but for severe, long-time pain patients, what they’re really doing is giving us a different kind of death sentence. Albeit, one that they at least they won’t have to feel as guilty about. It’s pretty clear that they’re not trying to save us, they’re trying, once again, to save themselves. I’ve seen the absolute ugliest side of the medical community. These people take an oath to “do no harm”. They’re supposed to be looking out for our best interests. It’s heartbreaking and pretty terrifying when you realize that you’ve only ever been a statistic to them, ultimately, they’re looking out for their bottom lines first… hence the epidemic of anesthesiologists’ injection mills, and all of the others who get injured by them Just like me, every single day.
They’re hurting us, and then abandoning us, and it’s so infuriating and unfair. Please, please think about people like me. I want to be able to play with my 4 year old son. We just want to live. But we can’t live like that.
Well I have been misdiagnosed for most of my life and then one day my Dr ( PCP) back before they were labeled as such told me due to his inability to rid me of my chronic pain that had him injecting me pretty regular with the combo drugs of Staydohl/Phenergan that it was time for me to visit a Pain Mgmt Dr something until that day I had never heard of.
On my 1st visit this Dr in Houston TX sent me for my 1st ever MRI and then had me back to discuss the test.
And just prior to this talk, I had went on to tell him all my life since I was 5 yrs old and began having terrible horrific headache pain that always resulted on my vomiting. And during these headaches if I was in school or driving, I had to drive myself home and suffer it out alone. And many Dr’s made me believe that these headaches were migraine in nature but the meds for that type of headache only made me sicker and that my pain was all in my head.
He looked me in the eyes and said its in your head alright but not in the manner that you have been treated. So, this was to be day one of my awakening to my spine disease( beginning w/ cervical) this occured in 2001. And here I am 20 yrs later and I could literally write a novel on my lifetime in pain.
And over the past 4 years I have begun to have other major areas. But, what I do not understand is the Hospitals that I no longer go to even in an emergency because I am forever labeled as a “Drug Seaker” so now I have made the statement over and over to my family and my Dr’s that if I am bleeding out or coding, under zero circumstances do I want to be sent to a Hospital I would rather be dumped on the side of some random road. They get angry when I say this but when you can not recall even five minutes or less where by you were pain free then you would understand. And when my medicare insurance co has discontinued certain meds and they ask me over the phone if they can do anything else, my answer is always yes, you can send me the bullet to stop all if this.
Hey Anna,
Mike here, I to Have arachnids but from the dye they used back in the 70’s for Mylograms after having 4 or 5 of them Now My nerves in my low back are all stuck together and always killing me . I did have good luck with the Implanted spinal stimulator, seems to help! For the arach. when there is no cure and it is like a bad tooth ache in your legs. Mine is comp and My Dr is always warning me that they can cut me off at any time for My meds, and they always give me a hard time refiling them. I get a little worried. I know I’m addicted But they do help! I should take more But don’t want to go down that road and My Dr. won’t prescribe any more due to the pressure of the opiate epidemic, I severely Know about the epidemic Loosing My only son to it back in 2017 . he was a plumber with a union here, was so laid off after the recession scratched his way thru it till it was over By starting his own business. He hurt his knee sometime tore a cartilage thing was swollen up like a balloon all the time, and needed carpel tunnel surgery on his left hand, went o his Dr. she prescribed opioids, and His business just started to take off, He was so busy he had to cancel his knee surgery, so she said it must not be hurting him that bad,and stopped prescribing him opioids. He went thru a couple helpers and found one close to him. He must have been in a lot of pain and this kid said her take this?? what ever this was? Now he was living with a girl, a real Peach…NOT… she was an alcoholic, so misery loves company they went to a wedding he drank she was sloshed he had to drive home, she couldn’t! why he didn’t call me or his mom ??? he crashed and got a DWI. Now he’s picking this kid up and dropping him off at Nite, gets stopped by a unmarked cop, ( we find out later that this kids uncle is the biggest drug dealer In our area) The cop asks why are you at this house every morning and nite? My son says the kid works for him and has no car. so this cop tells my son that if he spy’s on this kid and his family and gets in tight with them and testifies against them he will make the DWI go away! So we don’t have any idea about any of this, 1 week later he’s gone.. when they did the autopsy on My son they find he’s got Fentanyl In him and that’s what killed him! we think this family found out and what ever this kid was giving my son for pain changed. to get rid of him! the cops can’t prove any thing so he’s just gone.. so I know this is a serious problem more so than most people. But for the people Like us who Take what were prescribed and don’t abuse follow all the rules have been made to take far less that we were taking are getting railroaded!! Now Like you when I was taking a dose that I was on, enabled me to function and have a somewhat normal life, which when you have had 6 low back operations, 4 neck surgeries, 7 operations on My knee’s and about 12 other including cancer, Is hard.. But I’m above ground and walking! if I had a choice, and wasn’t how I am,wouldn’t go any where near that crap! we get included in all the addicts sucks!! Hopefully one day some company will come up with a pill we can take when were in pain, and not until it flares up again! hey dose your feet feel like there burnt? Boy mine do.
Thanx for reading and lets hope some politician,or a CDC big shot hurts himself and has to go thru what we are. then the laws or rules will change. best of luck to ya.. Hugg’s, Mike
I’m in extreme pain and my doctor prescribed gabapentin. I was increasing the dosage, but when I reached 1,000 mg three times a day, my doctor became alarmed and told me not to exceed that. I am still in lots of pain and need to get my gabapentin from a Mexican pharmacy, and I have been increasing the dosage anyway. Every time I increase, the pain is almost gone for two days, then it returns and I increase again. I am up to 2,500 mg four times a day and continue to increase. There is nothing else I can do since my doctor refuses to prescribe narcotics. I am left to wonder if the real reason for promoting gabapentin is because it is made in Israel, and they’d rather have the world severely addicted to their man made chemical medications while staying in pain than allowing us to take god’s medication that truly helps with the pain and doesn’t cause an increase in dosage nearly as often.
Gin, I assure you this has nothing to do with Israel or promoting gabapentin. Since you had such a great benefit, I’d discuss with your doctor to switch you to pregabalin (Lyrica). It works the same way, but is more potent, binds tighter to the site of action where it works in nerves, and the absorption from stomach is far more predictable compared to gabapentin.
yes,it is more potent as I was on Lyrica for years until my Medicare Insurance told me that this medication would no longer be covered so I had to go to takinb Gabapentin and it is no where near as helpful and my Dr will not even consider any other medication. Instead to this day I remain a human guinea pig….
Your doctor needs to file an appeal to the insurance company for Lyrica.
What type of pain are you experiencing? Gabapentin or lyrica are medications used for a vast array of reasons some off label. Not to much is known about long term usage of those chemicals they work by reducing calcium influx within nerves by binding to specialized receptors that narrow calcium channels. What are you suffering from? That med may not be the best tool
Hi. Gin
I read your post and feel horrible for you, As I am a pain patient as well. There is nobody that could possibly understand unless you are in the same place. I am in that place… We have just moved from One State to another and the doctor that’s taken care of me since my accident, Will o longer prescribed medication and I have a huge fear I’ll be running into the same roadblocks you have… I’m not exactly sure what I’ll do because without it, I can bedridden not that.i cM get around very well anyways…
I can’t go back to the ER days where they give you meds but they keep you until the relief you had for a few hours is worn off…. I’m extremely worried for myself but I’m Happy to Know you at least have a way to get the meds you need even if you do Have to go to Mexico…. I’ve no clue how to do that.
Anyway I think it’s wrong with established patients that do not abuse meds but take it the way Dr prescribed it. Something must be done about this.
I’ll keep you in my prayers and hope you find relief. Chronic pain is nothing to wish upon your worst of enemies
I wish you well and Many blessings
Thank you for sharing this post and I really appreciate your efforts on writing this.
Does and is there Doctors who stand up for whatever they believe in anymore? Man I’m sorry but I’m going to shoot all Doctors the truth. Now there are still some doctors out there who still have to write up opioids for people who have to have them. But really there’s a lot more who’s afraid to give there patient what they really need. Take a stand doctors and you will win. Don’t write out prescriptions that you no is a waist of your time and sure doesn’t help the patient. If they need Norco and or any other drugs? Then feel free to treat them for whatever reason you no would help them. Please let the president no that you are doctors who are not here to write prescriptions that doesn’t work for your patience. But the ones you no that does work. And I will assure you that you doctors will win. Please just give it a try. I have a broken kneck and a bruzed bone in my back and my right knee is gone and needs replaced. And a lot of other health issues. So I can’t even get a sleeping pill form my doctor who wrote them out before. Doctors are now acting like they are doing you a great big favor for writing me or you a Norco,or any opioids, when it’s only there jobs to treat you the best of there ability! I’m grateful to be alive and still walking. But to just start sleeping again would be another blessing from God. Thanks to all of you doctors who reads this message! And I truly love most doctors who are all around good people! But now like I have been reading in here, there is a lot of doctors who are not being the doctors they could be able to make a decision to either quit, or maybe try being real doctor again! Let’s go doctors and get the job done The way you no what really works then start using it. Thanks. Clinton. Send the message send the message please send the comment or the message
Dr Greene
Thank you for your reply
As you can see it’s the middle of the night. And I’m not sleeping because of my pain condition. I’ve tried everything
Steroid shots ,,accupunture , 2 Stimulators etc… The meds my Dr gave me works well but still have horrible breakthrough pain and I don’t sleep Much.. I like so many others are at the Mercy of doctors who ARE under alot of pressure from the government , federal and State.
I’ve seen other patients that Are nodding off ETC. Clearly not taking as prescribed. My question to you sir is
How do you explain yourself to a new phsician without them understanding like yourself that your not some drug addict you just need your pain relieved because without it you have no life. With the med’s you can at least participate in your Family life although limited your at least enjoying being around people. Whenever your in constant pain being Around anyone or going anywhere is completely out of the question….
Thank you for replying and would be eternally greatful for any advice or recomendations you May have.
Thank you
Hi D. Greene…
I apologize, since I am from Idaho, but up until a few years back, I was able to work functionally, and live a fairly normal life. I was on a higher pain and gabapetin standard than I am allowed now, roughly half. Since the cut backs, and transfer to a pain clinic (who allows me 10 mg every 6 hrs, or else they kick me out), I can work a week a month (average). My depression increases every month, I wish I could go back to my plan of spending a year and a half in pain, but medicated, so I could take time off for surgery. But now, that is never going to happen, due to the recent mandates. So, besides handing my business, and everything I hold dear over to those without pain, do you have advice? Or just proceed? I feel the government has only given me those options, besides being 25% miserable all the time… I have a couple hemorrhaged discs, osteoarthritis, and bone spurs. Pain control used to keep me functional until the new mandates.
Hey, doc. I was wondering if it is even possible to be addicted to 20 mgs of Norco a day. I have had chronic pain for 8 years now. I had an extensive DVT and Saddle PE. I suffer from some chronic blood clots in the vein behind my knee. For a long time, I was on 7 Norco tens a day. I then detoxed and some how made it two whole months taking a bunch of Tylenol. Then I became more active and the pain hit hard. I also have loss of strength in my DVT leg. It is not strong enough to climb stairs and if I go onto the floor, and then get back up just once, my pain level goes really high for a few days. It took me 5 years before my leg had the strength for me to be able to get down on my knees and then bac up without assistance. But climbing stairs or walking too far, or too fast, or driving causes pain. Sitting in an office chair without my leg elevated all day on an ottoman causes the same amount of pain as physical activity, it just takes a bit longer.
Any how, I detoxed again and only made it for 3 days this time and after doing some chores around the house, the leg got really bad. I fought for 12 hours and then finally took 7.5 mgs of Vicodin and I am finally feeling relief. It is a night and day difference for me. The pain is still there, but turned way down. My current pain doc is giving me a hard time because she usually deals with patients who can be helped. She keeps sending me back to the same vascular surgeons requesting letters that they cannot help me. That is why I am trying to got off pain meds again. I tried Marijuana and it worked good, took all the pain away. But it left me high for over 24 hours and I cannot live like that. I need to be able to function. I feel like it’s not even worth it to fight the docs and the pharmacists for such a small amount of meds, but without them I am absolutely miserable. Even just laying in bed all day isn’t enough to prevent the pain. For a while, they had me on methadone and it world well, but I did not take it regularly because I do not want to become dependent on that particular med. I have some 30 mgs of slow release OXY, and if I wake 1, I am pain free for 13 hours, and need no pain relief to sleep. Again, I do not want to get dependent on those, and current doc will not prescribe anything like that. Could my use of the Vicodin’s, up to 20 mgs a day be an addiction? Sometimes I use 7.5 twice a day, sometimes once day (some days are better and I can manage the pain with leg elevation) and on days when I do chores, shopping, or work part time, I uses 20 mgs. Any advice would be appreciated.
I’m disabled and been taking opiate medicine for my chronic arthritis pain. It has been prescribed by a State University medical doctor for years. After the new opiate prescription law was passed in my state due to the opiate epidemic, my doctor suddenly told me I should be taking ibuprofen instead of an opiate. I told him no, that if drug users want to overdose and kill themselves, that’s their business, it had nothing to with me. After he pushed further, I told him hell no, if it ain’t broken don’t fix it, and that if he changed my medicine without my consent, I would sue the university, the state, and him personally (without going into detail suffice to say I know my way around the courts). After that conversation I never heard anymore about changing it and my prescriptions continued as they always were. I think a lot in my favor had to do with the fact that there is a chronic pain exception in the opiate prescription limitation law, and I was “grandfathered” in for years, and that the doctor did not want any problems, not rock the boat if you will. But if I was seeing a private doctor instead of a State university one there is no doubt in my mind that I would have been dismissed from the practice as a patient, and I would have sued the private doctor as well. I don’t care. I’m considered indigent so I wouldn’t have to pay a penny in filing fees nor court costs and my disability income is untouchable, so is my house which is considered a homestead which makes me judgment proof. And I have plenty of time on my hands to spend years in court if I want to. And worse comes to worse, I would buy marijuana from the street and smoke it for the pain. These doctors are just under a lot of pressure from the politicians to limit opiate medications and they don’t want any problems. They don’t want their license to practice medicine jeopardized, and most important, don’t want to lose their $325,000 a year salaries and the nice lifestyle it buys. I understand that. That’s more important to them than anything, including the patient. But too bad. I look after my own best interests, not theirs.
I am living thru the same circumstances. Reducing my medication has reduced my quality of life. Just having chronic pain and being on disability leaves me in bed with pillows supporting my neck and back everyday. I left an abusive husband and live alone with no family or friends in the area. I can’t move back to WA state because the cold increases the pain. I live in East Texas and when the storms go thru it increases the pain. I had 3 back surgeries in 2013 and couldn’t go back to work. I used to regulate medical facilities and now I’m a victim of these so called pain specialists. I am 57 and as medications are decreased, so is my life expectancy. They don’t care.
Dear Tawnia,
I could have written your message:
Right down to leaving the abusive husband, being isolated/lacking support, multiple spine surgeries, weather affecting pain, on permanent disability, at the mercy of arrogant pain specialists who not only refuse to prescribe the 350mg of opiates I require in order to have a quality of life – so I’m stuck in bed – but their entire focus is strictly numbers:
they could care LESS about the lives, relationships and well being of people desperate for pain relief.
Please contact me if you’d like to text/chat – support/understanding and sharing information – (and an open invitation to anyone else who’s interested)
I live just North of San Francisco.
Email: MarinwoodResident (at) Gmail dot com.
What the DEA does not understand is that every pain patient is different. Some require more meds, some require less. I can get by on 20 mgs of Norco as long as I pace myself. It’s kind of like playing chess. I am very lucky for now, but if more blood clots hit my already battered leg, or my good leg, the pain is going to increase exponentially. I do not envy you guys with back problems. I only have chronic pain, swelling, and cramping in my right leg due to chronic blood clots that never dissolved. Thus I have very bad circulation. Kind of like House MD, but his clots were in the arteries. I feel less than human having to go in every month for 4 vicodins a day. I don’t mind being monitored, or taking drug tests, I have nothing to hide, but the darn doc keeps on sending me to the same vascular specialist asking them what they can do, and they keep telling here only thing to help me is pain management and compression socks. It causes me a great deal of stress ad anxiety being told over and over again nothing can help. I really wish they would at least issue some sort of government card to chronic pain patients who have verified physical ailments and effectively exempt us and our doctors from the new regulations. Chronic pain patients do not usually overdose on their meds unless it is intentional. I never even knew what pin medicine was before 2012. I never needed it or cared about it. Now I am dependent on it and hate it. I hope you can find a better doc, but it is hard.
I wish I could be that tough! I get so intimidated. I go to my PMD and I know exactly what I’m going to say. I don’t like to complain too much so I just try to make it short and sweet by telling him I’m not getting relief throughout the day I’m in a lot of pain. But no increase. He says I’m on a high dose already. I’m way under the MME. and I was way over it for 10 years. Then weaned down on my own quite a bit.. I don’t want to bore you with the details but I was takin off my narcotics a year ago from my Rheumatologist (she got nervous) and been to 3 different pain docs since. The first one was to get off opioids by going on Subutex. That didn’t work. So I moved to a different PMD that was a joke! Then decided to go back to a Dr. I started out with before recommending I see a Rheumatologist. He finally put me back on the only drug that ever worked for me. Oxycontin ER but I’m on the very lowest there is twice a day. Because its suppose to work for 12 hours. (Joke) I always needed to take it every 8 hours and it worked. I want to be on a low dose but not that low. I need relief during the day. I can’t function enough to get my house work done like I want.
In 2012 In the winter i got out of the car to go into work and as to shutting the door my lunch box went flying and i landed on my back and head slept in the office at work for 8hrs then they decided to take me to the er, I get there and they said u have blood that filled the inner back of ur skull and ur spine is swallon I got a dr and they started me on vicoden for 3 yrs then they stopped given it to me.. I went to my dr again they did not care and then threw out the yrs they looked and still look at me as a addic which im not i get bad migraines and back pain i got shots for 7 yrs and they just made it worse and they said that i will have to live with the back and head aces and they dont help u at all which is sad.. My legs get weak i cant lift things and walking makes it bad my legs go numb and they wont do surgery but said that my bones are d iterating fast and down the road maybe they will do something well 5 yrs later they still havent done nothing
All that happened to me was a simple fall off the back of my semi-truck. Turned out I have a blood clotting disorder and a sprained ankle turned into an extensive DVT, chronic clots, and chronic pain. Only tool 5 seconds to turn me from a normie to a chronic pain patient.
I have been in pain for about 20 years now due to a head on collision and being involved in a accident where the car flipped over off the road 3 times. I believe that I have been given a run around and lied to all my life which has made me out to look and become a somewhat criminal. I can’t even walk into my local hospital or local dr office without being looked at like I’m some piece of shit worthless human that shouldn’t exist. This is all due to my community protecting an ex police officer/my ex probation officer along with another ex employee that which I somehow had been involved with the two as a lover/ victim a toy for their pleasure. If these people cared ever hows come I don’t feel that way? I try not to discriminate towards anyone but what I been through and continue suffering makes me sick to the death bed. My whole past has been lies and I been set up to keep my mouth shut plead guilty regardless and that’s not working for me personally! I am ignored and find no hope for my future with where I am. I know what my body needs for comfort and relief but for some damn reason I feel that I shouldn’t exist if this is all I have to look forward to with my life and I have a son to. My community has let me down, my ex girlfriends are all fake I been used as a pet! I know I need pain medication and attention if anyone expects me to be apart of this world with everyone else. I’m 36 years old and I shouldn’t feel this way!
I have been in constant pain for over 40 years starting when I was 12 years old. Taking Oipoid pain meds, morphine & hydrocodone I was able to lead somewhat of a normal life. Working full time with lots of overtime up to 1500 hours a year. That all changed in 2016 when I got the letter form my family doctor dropping me from his serivce because he would no longer write scripts for my pain meds. I was bounced from pain clinic to pain clinic being subjected to over 30 injections to my back. Nothing helped. Finally a pain clinic would write me a.script for my meds. After about 8 months I was told that I was on a higher dosage of pain meds than the federal government recommended. I had to get a meditronics pain pump put in my stomach or I would no longer get and pain medicine starting 1/1/2018. Well battling with the pain pump, many many many trips to the doctor I ended up losing my job and was put on disability. It makes me mad that my doctor and I had a plan with the oral meds and they worked for me. In 40 + years of getting oral pain meds I never went back for more before it was time for a refill. I took them as prescribed and never had an issue, I actually lead a normal life married with a family and a damn good paying job. All lost now. I lay around in bed most of the time now because the pain is so intense and the only relief I get it laying down. I have a hard time walking and getting in and out of a vehicle. If I try to have a normal life, do things with my family like attend a party, just sitting in a wooden chair 3 hours puts me back down in bed 1-2 days again to I feel half way decent. If I live like I’m 90 years old. Get up eat sit in recliner, eat lay in bed, eat go to bed for the day I feel pretty good. Pain is like a 4, where it’s there but doesn’t bother me. Any type of activity, walking, riding in a vehicle, sitting or standing too long causes the pain to get to a 9-10 and my lower body locks up and I can’t move.
I don’t want to sound like a whiner but when I was on oral meds I had a Wonder life, family and career. Now I sit or lay around daily with the highlight of the day is watching TV.
I’m trying to figure out if people who have good ins through their large corporate business are the ones who are the ones getting to be prescribed oxycodones/oxy Cotin’s/ lidocaine pain patches ? The dr in the ER told me ****** do you have ins… I said yes I do …. he said oh what is it as he looked to see I had Aetna and with that he said … ***** YOU have the GOLDEN TICKET! Now I e been on them for 5 years after a ENT dr let my head dangle off of the operating table while he took a hammer and chisel to my left eyebrow because he saw at the last minute a minute non cancerous tumor and he didn’t protect my neck as he hit my skull, eyebrow w the hammer and chisel broke smashed my neck in “7” places . I have 6 fusions and a steel plate in there right now but NOW a cyst is growing on my c1and c2, and the cyst is pressing into my spine and brain. If I go thru another operation the dr said she wants to pull my muscles apart at the top of my spine and put two screws in it which will then cause me to not be able to move my skull at all … I’ll be a freak show. Who decides besides my doctor what my needs are for my pain? I’m a excellent patient don’t go in early don’t give him any grief & keep him in the loop of what I’m contemplating re the surgery of which did I mention , I’m scared the crap of ??? DOCTORS BURY THEIR PATIENTS. No I did not sue him… he made me sign something that said I wouldn’t a week out if surgery all doped up NOT KNOWING what he had done to me. He has a numerologist at his church that he referred me to and HE kept the MRI crushed bones Xrays a secret until two years were up and after every 30 days getting 8 shots four on each side of my neck JUST SO I COUKD GET A PAIN MED FROM HIM FOR ANOTHER 30 days … after two years… the magic #, he said ***** I wouldn’t be doing this to my sister… it’s time I send you on to a neck surgeon in Dallas that helped my Pastor. I read all of yalls stories and feel terrible for you all. Things just aren’t our fault and the government sees us as a “herd “!
I can relate to your situation and can tell you I had a cyst that affected my sciatic nerve. I went to Tampa at Laser Spine Institute and they made a small incision and fixed that pain. It was same day surgery. In and out. Now I had other problems with my back and they couldn’t fix the thoracic pain, but they did fix the cyst. You may want to check them out for your problem.
I had a similar experience with a neck surgeon in Dallas. I wish you could say who it was.
Does the name sound similar to the Speaker of the House?
I’m so sorry you’re going through all this. Your Dr. should lose his license!!! I think they forget they took the oath to “do no harm”!!!
So many different types of harm they do by not acting like a decent human being. Will keep you in thoughts and prayers. So many people are hurting. ☘️Mary
You can bring legal action 2 years from when you were AWARE of the alleged malpractice . At least that’s what I understand from my research.
Only in the state of Texas.
I know exactly how you feel!! Exactly!! I was on pain meds since 09. Since this racket on pain meds i was done so dirty by a drs office. Had a drs office employee who lied on me to droo me. This is a cruel world!! I live in constant 24/7 burning pain!!! My back kills me. I’ve used physical therapy and tens units and nothing works. This mind and body crap is rediculous!! How can i sit still in chair and lusten to hogwash for 50 mins when i burn so bad i feel like a burning fire pit!! A dr told me today after 14 year’s i don’t need pain meds i need a psychiatrist cause I’m severely depressed.
Which was hog wash when i was on pain meds. I tried phychriatrist and it was a waste of time.
I was so miserable i lost my husband of 10 year’s cause he was sick of the bs the drs put me through. He saw me cry saw me hurt 24/7. I couldn’t go anywhere or enjoy life.
I could do a few things to getting groceries to driving to the dr or very light shopping or cleaning up my house it took me doing little things each day i could now my life is watching the TV 24/7 alone 24/7 nobody wants to be around someone who cries 24/7.
My own husband didn’t and my family doesn’t and no friends!! This is no life and this is why suicide is up cause drs don’t believe their patients!! Patients are in pain and dealing with this unnecessary. Some family believes I’m crazy need to be locked up and my mother says she can’t be around me cause all i do is cry!! A pain dr said he was doing what’s best for me. I don’t like wishing bad on people but i hope this dr gets a dose of his own crazy minded logic. I’m poor but if i can i can get a credit card and buy a plane ticket I’ll find a dr to give e something for pain for the airplane ride to be evaluated by a compassionate dr. This brain washing crap they try to force severe pain patients is brain damaging it self !! This PM dr needs to realize that he’s the one who is brain damaged.
I hope God will let him feel my pain level and tell me he made a mistake and he’d help me. Does miracles really happen?
Hey if you email me I can give you some advise, but I won’t post it for god who knows to read.. Your post really touched my heart….
Atowndeathsquad. AT gee mail.
Com
I know how you are feeling, I am 26 years old had my two wisdom teeth pilled. When I got home I had to change the gauze pad it felt soaked, I took it out and the blood shot out of my mouth and nose it was all over the place. My parents took me to the ER they thought I got beat-up my face was a mess and he hit a main blood vessel in my mouth. The pain never went away, it was always there and still is, four months later I could not move from the bed. I was a mess I was burning all over, not like a sunburn but like someone poured gasoline all over me, even my insides were burning like I was in a fire but no one could put it out. I got tested for everything out there all my test came back negative, I knew it wasn’t in my head like some of these doctors think. Been to over 65 doctors they all said its in your mind, except for three doctors, they said I have a illness that the dentist created it is horrible monster nothing helps. They will not put me on pain meds they told me to go get medical pot, but I don’t feel it. I been suffering like an animal for so long all I pray for is for God to free me from the hell.. It is called RSD/CRIPS and it is the worst thing out there besides cancer, the pain is brutal and never stops I cannot explain all it does to you. I cannot have no one touch me at times because I burn and hurt so bad. My own mother use to cry and beg God to take me home, why are you making her suffer like this. It is called the suicide illness by doctors themselfs but they rather see people kill them selfs or little infants have a world full of pain. My heart breaks for anyone suffering with pain and there’s not a blessed thing you can do about it I worked so hard in school I wanted to be a musician a session’s player. I gone and force myself to go to Berklee School of music but I only got through a couple of months. It took me dreams away, my life, away, a just don’t want to live in this hell for the rest of my life and you don’t die. It is in every organ in my body cannot control anything, cannot swallow without feeling like I am going to die. I just want to tell you anyone can get it, it is caused by trauma, if you stub your toe, if you fall, if you get a bad blood drawn from ER’s and nurses that just don’t treat you like your human anymore. I feel like a dirty animal because my eyes water and burn & I my vision gets blurry and my eyelids closes by them self’s. My nose is always running or I can’t breath, this illness attacks the skin, hair, fingernails, your whole body I wake up at times because you get so much saliva it just runs down my on me & I am soaking wet, then you sweat I walk outside without a coat just for the burning to end. You always know when it is coming you feel like your in a meat freezer and you get gooseflesh, no control over your body temperture, And to top everything off I lost my mother last week, I tried so hard to help her, we had her in hospice at home, I had to give her medication every four hours but I stay up all night or sometimes I just pass out from the pain. I miss her with all I am, she was the only one who knew what I was going through. I had a miracle about 3 years before this I gone to my town’s pool. Got bite on both ankles they were huge flies. I gone into the water and as soon as I hit the water I was frozen my lips were blue. So I gone home took a shower, and went to bed early, when I woke up my chest & feet were on fire. I tried to get up and I could not move my legs, I screamed I cannot walk anymore. So into a wheelchair for five long years, same thing all my tests came back negative, they put me into a good hospital had the best team of doctors who made me feel like a person the tests were painful but I was not going to live like this, I was put into pain clinic right away it help at that time, but still could not walk. I had to go into the hospital I caught a bad infection in my lungs, and my roommate was a chaplin who’s daughter had cancer. She had me praying the Rosaries every day and sometimes they had me on strong stuff I couldn’t get the words out but I said them inside. One night my friend came in to see me & he was crying I said what is wrong, he looked at me straight in my eyes & said I was dying I had some strange illness, The doctor came in and told me the same thing, I IV bags were getting bigger they gave me morphine every hour. I begged for them to stop because it was burning my stomach out. I shut my curtains around the bed, & I just started praying to God & the Blessed Mother, I said this was my hell on earth and I cannot wait to leave here. I just ask God please take me fast. All of a sudden I will never forget this I saw a bright light & felt someone rub my right arm but I didn’t want them to stop. I feel asleep really peacefully next day I got up to use the bathroom but I felt different. I got off the bed didn’t need that chair anymore & I walked like nothing happened to me the pain was gone,. My room mate said you see you had a miracle and in that same day her daughter died off cancer, I cried she was such a beautiful girl. I had four more years of feeling normal got my teeth worked on and ended back with the same illness but it was ten million times worst. I get breaks once in a while maybe for 3 days, but when my mom was dying God gave me the power to do things for her, she always took care of me. One day she needed medication & I cannot drive anymore, and no one would get them for her I haven’t walk like this in 14 years. I walked 10 miles to the pharmacy and back and it was 100 degrees out. Truthfully I almost didn’t make it I pass out it actually pulls me across the floor and my head always gets it and I broke my wrist to. I just wanted to tell you about my time in hell and no one can help me only God, but since my mom passed I want to leave this world and go to Paradise no more pain or no more sadness. I also lost my dad he had eight open heart surguries, a major stroke, and died of cancer, about a year after that my brother who was five years older then me & we were so close. It was the night before Thanksgiving and his car was being fixed, he ran to get the bus & this man hit him head on and said he didn’t feel nothing if you hit a animal you feel something, My parents took him to court sued him but it did not bring my beautiful brother back, I layed on his bed for months never smiled or laughed, I didn’t want to eat I wonder how I survive between what happened and my illness I am inmortal & my mom use to tell me that God has a purpose for me when I go to heaven, but why all the suffering here. I don’t understand life anymore because I don’t have a life, everything was taken away from me. Even my mom, I am the only one left I never felt so alone & scared. The second night I kept going out in the living room because the hospital bed was there. And when I looked into the bed it look like she was still there, I never saw anything like this she had Dementia she didn’t even know what was going on. And everytime time she looked at me she would say you look so much like my daughter. But when she wanted something she didn’t forget my name, it just got worst and worst her body felt like a board, she could not close her mouth it just stay open all the time, The night when she died she was like ice, she tried to say something to me but couldn’t. I went into my room around 10: 21 and she passed at 10: 27 they didn’t come get her until the morning, but mom I prayed so hard to God to take her home and he did. Now I wait for my turn but it is not going to come I will be in this agony & hell forever. I am sorry I wrote a history I just need to vent, and my heart breaks for anyone suffering day after day with pain that you would do anything to stop it. My heart is with all of us fighting so hard, but I don’t want to live anymore I just cannot stand the torment anymore and this agony & if I had a way out I would do it. My prayers are with you and may God give you relief and a miracle they are true ..
My prayers are with you Sherry I got treated the same way as you are, it’s all in my mind that was all I heard. If it was in my mind I could work it out of there. These doctors don’t know how many people take there lives because you live in a world of agony and no one even knows what your talking about, Could I ask you a personal question did anyone ever tell you that you have the most painful illness in medical science. When I heard you say you burn on fire 24/7 and the pain never lets go of you. Did they say to you that you have RSD/CRIPS look it up because it sounds like what I have they have videos of people, children, and everybody says the same thing as I do please let me close my eyes tonight & never open them again. This is hell on earth and when you feel like if you want to hurt yourself that is serious. I use to sleep with a knife under my pillow and shut my door in case I got the nerve to really do it and I almost did it twice. But if there is hell here, I don’t want to live in real hell, there are miracles but we cannot tell God what to do with me it seems when I cannot stand it anymore & I yell at him and say how could you let your children suffer like animals that just have nothing to live for. It’s hard for me to tell you to keep the faith when I cannot do it at times, but I had a real miracle I will never forget the peacefulness I did not want to go back, but I guess I have to suffer it out until something goes. If you ever need anyone to talk to I would be happy to talk. I had so many friends and they all left me because I could not do what they could anymore. And what really topped everything off is losing my mom, I use to make her promise me if you die don’t leave me here alone here because I could not handle it. I would just freak out and do something to myself, I just don’t to be like this anymore and I don’t understand what God could have in store for me. But if you ever need someone to vent with I would really be happy I just feel good when I give someone a little hope.
Yes . They want to do more surgery, risk my life even further to put in a pain pump!!! I have 18 level fusion in spine & neck. I was doing OK on oral meds until 2016. This is a genocide of chronic pain patients and very Hitler regime we are now entering. . Why legal constitution isn’t being pursued aggressively is beyond me. It is more important to keep drug addicts from overdosing and parents mislabeled their anger.
I have degenerative disc disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Both are very sever and cause me sever pain, but I have found an alternative to the prescription drugs. I take Kratom and I have been taking it for over a year. Yes the FDA has tried federally to get it banned. That did not work. Now they are going state by state. They are doing this because of big pharmacies are backing them. they don’t want you to use it because it will relief your pain. I take a dose in the morning, then one at lunch and the one in the evening. I generally have some with me for break through pain as well. I use it in the powdered form. you can also get in capsule form. Look you can buy a kilo of it for just under $90.00 and that will last most people two to three months. If you believe the stories that the FDA has put out there about the two people that died while taking Kratom, you should find the full story and see that they were both taking and believed to have overdosed on opioids and had taken Kratom as well. Now if you are looking to get high from Kratom you can but you would have to ingest more than a normal dose and than each time take more to reach that same level. There are several different strains available. Each gives you a different level of pain relief and alertness, focus and some other side effects (all good though). So this is just an option that most doctors can’t tell you about because it occurs naturally in nature, just like weed.
I would like more information on Kratom.as to where I may obtain some, Thank You, I’m also living with Chronic Pain daily
I am from Canada and here too it’s gone mad. I feel so bad for lot’s of you who have been suffering since you were in your teens. I will be 54 in March 2021 and my ordeal started in October of 2007. I had 5 days of extreme high fever and I was never the same after.
I have been suffering with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis degenerative spine desease, dics desease, fusion neck bones, ankylosing spondylitis fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, my new thing now is very high blood blood pressure ( nose bleeds, headaches, blurred vision) anyway my doctor that I had for over 20 years sent me to many specialist. I was told that by a neurosurgeon at 45 years old that body was used like a 87 years old. I was on oxycontin since 2008 and having a normal life finally. The maximum I took daily was 225 mg of oxycontin for about 3 months. I got very depressed I broke 2 bones so no exercises. I push myself all the time to do dance and exercise even through the pain because it helps me mentally.
Afterwards I went back down to 160 – 180 mg daily sling with naproxen twice a day and duloxetine ( cymbalta) and of course for the stomach pantaloc.
December 2019 my doctor announced me that he will be retired in December 2020 He was in too much pain himself with his syatic nerves. He tried on his side to find me a doctor along with 2 other patients of his that were in pain all the time to find someone to prescribe us our painkillers. He fought with other doctors on our behalf. Myself I tried no one wanted me. I went to one that left me crying. He was sitting down and when I gave him the list of medications he push himself away from me and threw my prescription at me ( like he was gonna catch a desease) called me a drug addict and told me I was gonna die. He made me feel like a disgusting lady in the street. I never was so humiliated in my life. Anyway the whole year looking and asking both our ways did not work. He gave me a 1 year prescription before leaving and he was very sad. Along with my pharmacist I have been weaning myself off since last February and by this spring over 1 year I should be cleaned as I am downtown 35 mg daily BUT… MY LIFE HAS GONE BACK to misery and pain. I will try weed since we have stores here and now legal after I am clean. I don’t want to feel high or buzzed
All I know is if the weed doesn’t help afterwards I dont want to live that old like this. I know why doctors are afraid and back in the 80’s my doctor explained that the government said don’t let your customers with chronic pain suffer and give them opioids and now its tought luck. Crazy right.
Iv’e been on 10 mg percocet for 7 years & also been taking 2mg xanax 1 during day & 1 late at night so i can sleep. Now my doctor said it’s a bad mix. I take as precribed. 3 19mg percocet 3 times a day. So it’s give uo xanax, cause i have insommnia. Or give up 10mg percocet for pain. My pain doctor doesn’t write my xanax. I”m 58 & never took more than i should. I have adhd, a lot of anxiety, & xanax wrks. So does percocet 10mg/325. Why can’t i continue?
Because some psychopaths think they’re managers of society, and not part of society themselves. They view you and all of us as datapoints. They don’t relate to your pain or experience in life because they view you as one ant among many swarming over a discarded snikers bar.
same reasons Psychedelic are banned!
In 1999, I had a severe work fall injury, which pulverized my elbow and fractured and broke over 100 bones in my body. After emergency surgery and a year of multiple surgeries and phys. therapy and ultimate surgery with Mayo, rebuilding the elbow, and surgeries for multiple ankle and knees as well as nerve damage injuries, from a 2-story fall landing on a staircase, (and splitting 3- 2×8″ steps), I was brought to a meeting of my medical team of my internist, orthopedic surgeon, neurologist and physical therapist, telling me they had reached the end of the road as there was nothing left that they could do to mitigate damage and the resulting pain. They advised me that all they could do from this point was to try to make me comfortable, and I should understand that due to the nature and extent of my injuries, some would heal on their own but many would not and as I aged (I was 54 at the time) I would likely develop arthritis in bones and joints. They offered ‘hope’ that in the years to come, a non-narcotic regimen could be found to allay pain issues. In the interim, I was put on a regimen of Neurontin (gabapentin) and Oxycontin. It took only 2-3 weeks before I could not tolerate the ‘drive’ that this medication caused, if I missed a dose by even one hour, so I dumped them in the toilet, and told my PCP I needed a revised regimen. He changed it to hydrocodone/gabapentin, which turned out not to be sufficient to assuage the pain conditions and it was changed again to Oxycodone/gabapentin, (10-325 x 9/day) I remained on this regimen that worked to relieve pain so I could return to work, of a restricted type, which I did until after about 4 years, the bitter cold of Wisconsin winters, was more than could be tolerated. I retired early and moved to Arizona. Unfortunately, because I moved out of state, I lost my medical insurance, and had to go from clinic to clinic, that issued a maximum of Hydro 5-500, which did not help the problem. I applied for early Social Security / Medicare at 62 and found a new PCP, who got my medical records from WI, and restored my initial regimen. So with the slight lapse of time between WI and AZ, I have been on this regimen for 20 years, and it had worked satisfactorily, although my initial team’s predictions came true and my body is now riddled with arthritis, adding additional pain above and beyond the initial fall damage pain. This lasted about 7 years. About 3 years ago, my then PCP sent out letters to his patients that due to the ‘outrageous’ govt paperwork involved with opioid prescriptions, he will no longer write for pain medication, and gave patients 60 days to find pain control elsewhere, as he was changing his practice to ‘weight control’ only. It turned out, I found a PCP that accepted my med records, and agreed to write as I had been on for 17 years. This lasted about a year, before he told me that due to network and peer pressure, he had to start ‘weaning’ me off my meds, and tried to get me into pain management services, almost all of which are fancified ‘rehab centers’, with weekly visits (at my expense) and weekly urine tests (also at my expense) and if they were to write for my meds at all, it would be weekly, not monthly, yet another expense, for lower quantities. I declined these services. Going back to my PCP, who had lowered my med Qty to 262 tabs per month. I could handle this, and stayed with this until December of 2019, when my PCP told me he was leaving the network he was with, and moving to another, and if I elected to follow him, he would restore my original 270 qty, and at my advanced age, he saw no reason not to continue it indefinitely. I was elated. A great weight lifted! So I did, and my first Rx was in fact filled at 270. Here it comes… When this was nearing the end of the 30 days qty, I leave a message on the patient portal, for a refill reminder, which was the norm, only this time my request was answered by a phone call from his assistant, that “John is not filling you Rx anymore”. When I asked why, and reminded her of his promise of a month prior, she just said she did not know the details, just that there was some new ‘regulation’ that will not allow him to write. I contacted my insurance carrier and asked them to step in, which resulted in a 7-day refill only, and they were told that all of his patients were notified a month earlier of the intent to stop opioid Rx. This was an outright lie, as is the ‘regulation’ they would never give me a copy of (because it does not exist). I contacted Medicare, who parroted my insurance carrier, in that they had heard of no such ‘regulation’, and if such had been issued, Medicare would be among the first to be notified, likely even before it was implemented, it does not exist. Subsequently, I ran out of my medication and within two days I went into full blown withdrawals, due to non-weaning off the meds. I was violently ill, with projectile vomiting and diarrhea, and 1-2 hours sleep per night, for the first 5 days, the latter 2 lasting nearly a month. It was the worst hell I had ever gone through, and I was praying for Covid-19 to strike and kill me, PLEASE! The first week, I could eat nothing for about 6 days, after which I could manage a small bowl of oatmeal as my daily meal, for the next 2 weeks. A nurse friend gave me an appetite stimulant, which did allow me to eat 3 light meals a day, so I could muster the strength to bear the PAIN, which is now back with a vengeance. So, with severe lower back and spine, cervical spine, and destroyed rotator cuff arthritis in all, per MRIs and X-rays, I am set back 20 years, with the now added arthritis. My hand joints are not working well, so I am assuming they too have arthritis. I have requested a new referral from my PCP, for a pain management service, in hopes they will locate my original medical records from the injury in WI, and return me to my original regimen, and let me die without pain. In the interim, I am 75, and ‘walk’ like I am 95, have trouble getting up from the couch, or out of bed in the morning. All of this because of the typical knee-jerk reaction of the US Govt, to just paint us all with the same broad brush used to punish legitimate patients for the illegal fentanyl from China and Mexico, that is killing off junkies and pill addicts. Of course any person with common sense will realize that this will just increase the demand for the illegal drugs that started all of this nonsense! In over 20 years, I have never exceeded the prescribed dosage, and although I may have been ‘dependent’ on it for the pain control, I have never abused it, nor was I ‘addicted’ to it. I don’t know why I am writing this here, as nothing I have done to date, including solicitation of malpractice attorneys, and queries to CDC, FDA and DEA, has resulted in any relief whatsoever, and actually all of these inquiries were ignored completely. At this point, living in So. AZ, the border is close, and most pharmacies across the border will sell their most potent legal pain killer, Tramadol, without prescription, which is lightweight for me, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick! So my PCP is making me a criminal and blaming the Govt. (I assume there is some law against this, “and frankly, my dear…”).
I don’t know what if anything Pain Dr. plans to do with all these comments, many of which are very similar to my own, But here is hoping, that perhaps whoever issued whatever new ‘guideline’ providers are calling ‘regulations’, they will review it and advise providers accordingly. Thank you for your time.
Reading your story mad me cry. My father is 72 years old and in the exact same situation. His long term pain doctor who was one of the few really knowledgeable about adhesive Arachnoiditis was killed suddenly in a motorcycle accident. The doctor who replaced him immediately started cutting his medicine that he had lived on successfully for 10 years. As of next month, he has been told that it will be cut to a quarter of the original dose. He was diagnosed with AA in 1982, so you can imagine how bad the pain is already, much like yours. I refuse to accept that my father will have to live in agony for the rest of his life without without fighting. I have recently started writing letters to everyone I can think of including Florida Governor DeSantis, Congressman Rutherford (Jacksonville), Senator Rick Scott up to President Trump. As of today, I have reached out to every local news station in the Northeast Florida area in hopes to get some light shed on the severe chronic pain patients that have “slipped through the cracks” due to recent opioid laws. I hope to get a feature picked up. I am thinking about the possibility of seeing an attorney to see what can be done in that front. I plan to keep fighting until a can get my dad some relief.
Pease we need a lawyer I have been sick since I was 29 years old im now 52 ive had 17 surgerys for crohns disease and its been awful I have suffered at the hands of these guidelines. Ive never overdosed never bought street drugs but recently ive been getting cut again I have no life now I cant do anything I used to do even shopping at walmart I just dont leave my house. I only have 5ft of small intestine left and half my large left. Im in constant pain diahrea joints swellimg no appetite weigjt loss. Having my pain meds helped me so much with all of that. I was able to go out do some shopping cook clean now im just so tired and worn out from pain. Please someone help the truly sick we have done nothing wrong!!! God please help us we need you so much rkght now. I just dont know how much more i can take. Im being cut again next month.
I feel the same way, i have no energy. It’s an effort to do anything. Who is changing these ruled. It’s not fair that people that take advantage of precriptions or get from the streets. And decent people need pain meds & xanax for insommnia.
I 1st Am Sorry For Your Suffering due to & by the Hands if the Politicians and Now Scared Dr’s. I too am a Severe Pain Suffer. I was At a Red Light on a 55mph Highway and was Rear Ended by a Big Truck with a Front Steel Push Bar, a F550 the witness said, it launched my 95 Buick Park Avenue 1/2 a mile, as well as ripped the drivers seat from the frame of the car an I ended up in the back seat upside down looking out the rear Window. The truck never stopped, it was likely doing 70mph+ the witness an police said. I was only 18 years of age months away from 19. Long story short, they never found the driver, I was in shock and felt “OK”. So after EMS looked me Over, said to monitor myself next 48rs. The next morning I awoke, Could Not Move, pain was a 10/10. EMS & MRI showed ruptured/herniated discs in L1,L2,L3 & L4. I was explained that I would develop Degenerative Disc Disease as well as my left upper Shoulder Blade Rotator Cuff was Torn, an My left Knee Buckled from the impact and was also in bad shape. I was told I was not a candidate for surgery due to my age and needed to take Opiate Medications for many decades unit I would be a candidate for surgery, (this was my 4th 2nd Opinion.) So they started me with Fentanyl Duragesic Patches afar 2 years I was on 2 100mcg patches at once, then a year later 3 at once, as well as Vicoden H.P & Oxycontin. I always took as ordered as well, but got sick and tired of living that way, I wanted to NOT Need to Take These Medications to keep from getting deathly Ill with withdraw. So after a decade I decided to go to a Rehab Facility and was sent home after 30 days, still in full blown withdrawal, as hey went able to “get me a 21 day extension” so I was back to being home and someone mentioned Methadone as a option, so I said, Joe, you’ve done/tried EVERYTHING, why not, an tried a clinic, after 90 days my dose was holding and helped Tremendously with my pain a 4 it had made it manageable. So I kept at it and as long as you pass your Random Drug lab Screens from your Random drug testing you will earn take home privileges, currently I’m at a month take-home. My dose is Co sidereal High at just over 250mgs a day. But I don’t get drowsy, I can function, I have pain, but it works for me better then all the patches & pills ever did. So I hope you consider it as an option. It’s been about 25 years since the accident, and 10 years since I’ve taken any Opiates, some will argue just to do it saying Methadone is an Opiate, maybe technically that’s True. Not important to me. It’s a Synthetic Opiate that was created out of Necessity by Hitler’s Chemists during WW||. I would explore you to try it an see how it works for your pain. As its been about 10 years on for me an nothing negative you’ll hear is true! I am so grateful for it, an the last 10 years I’m able to function as best I can. I hope there will be a much different type of surgery avail I the future for me to Consider. Until then I will continue to Dose with the Methadone and Pick up my Months Supply until then. I Trust what’s worked for me, I also Know of other chronic pain sufferers whom have went this route and can’t explain that they have some qualities of Life they now have that they thought would never be achieved an had given up on. I’ll end with saying that no Medication is a 100% fix all for everyone’s chronic Pain. But if your having a hard time, or struggling to get help this may be your BEST OPTION! Give it a chance, it could give your life back. To all the Chronic Pai Sufferers, It’s A Real Damn Shame that we don’t have control of what we put into our body, period! Let alone to deal with Chronic Pain. To have Everyone So Scared to Write A Prescription for A Documented Case of Severe Chronic Pain. As for all the Dr’s out there, You need to remember the Oath You Swore Under to Di No Harm To Your Patient’s! Your Hippocratic Oath has Fallen by the wayside as well as some of your Moral Duties as Dr’s who Took that Hippocratic Oat to do no Harm. Well, not writing the Correct amount of Pain Medication for Chronic pain sufferers is absolutely not in your Patient’s Best Interest, nor is it not Doing Harm to them. I hope that things change for the better and Dr’s start Doing what’s Morally Correct and remember why you became Dr.s, to Help the Ill and To Not Allow The Needy Go without their Pain Medication because of the DEA!
I have just been reduced to the 90 mme that the CDC established as a guideline after my Doctor of 25 yrs retired. I have spinal cord damage from having had 6 spinal fusions due to metal breakage and non fusion for scoliosis from age 14-36. I now live in extreme chronic pain. I also have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. The 90 mme that I have been reduced to is not covering my pain. Also when the temperature drops and we have thunderstorms, I get into extreme pain. I need help for pain control. I live in Atlanta, GA.
I am living thru the same circumstances. Reducing my medication has reduced my quality of life. Just having chronic pain and being on disability leaves me in bed with pillows supporting my neck and back everyday. I left an abusive husband and live alone with no family or friends in the area. I can’t move back to WA state because the cold increases the pain. I live in East Texas and when the storms go thru it increases the pain. I had 3 back surgeries in 2013 and couldn’t go back to work. I used to regulate medical facilities and now I’m a victim of these so called pain specialists. I am 57 and as medications are decreased, so is my life expectancy. They don’t care.
Who do we need to call, to address all these issues??
Don’t discount the harm drs do. When a dr is faced with their life or yours they chose theirs. The false labeling of patients to mitigate dr liability when forced to drop sick, ill and old patients is epidemic and its the kiss of death to a patient. Stroking out to death or causing suicide is still like murder no matter what the reason. The dr lobby is more powerful than they would have you think. In fact the drs played a large role in advocating for control of opiates in the beginning because they were not making money with people bypassing them strait to the sears catalog or pharmacy. Just falla the dalla back far enough. The truth hurts too.
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 5 years ago. I have stiffness, swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome, and intense pain. I was put on methotrexate and folic acid, I still suffer from stiffness and pain, but now they are saying I haven’t got it. I have osteoarthritis too. I don’t understand this so i look up online for Herbal treatment and a page redirected. me to Akanni Herbal Centre (www. akanniherbalcentre .com ). Few months into the treatment, I made a significant recovery. . After I completed the recommended herbal treatment plan, almost all my symptoms were gone
This is the most well-written will said piece of information that you have a hundred percent correct he forgot about one part though and that’s the DEA and FDA they’re the ones that have doctors scared. You’re absolutely correct about doctors have more power than they lead on to believe every patient is different every circumstance is different they can easily explain or justify why any patient needs the pain medicine they need it’s not illegal for our doctor to prescribe the medicine someone needs I mean it’s their job for God sake!
I have are you near distant sciatica it’s been going on for eight years I found a pain management to help some with facet block epidural and nerve blockers as well as painkillers Percocet I joined a union four years later in which I could choose my job out of a hireing hall in which I drove a yard hustler after several random test and when I started I explained my disability and I passed the physical and driving training now there’s a epidemic I’m not safe to work with no proof that I did anything wrong but have a disability now I’m looked at like well we know what that’s like and I search the web for proof that I can take.my meds and go to the treatments which sucks but help relieve the pressure for a short time how do we prove we’re not worthless and Dangerous when doing as prescribed as needed how do I keep my livelihood with pain and no help I’m proud of the work I did for 4 years now I’m lower then whale poo I guess they heard use up and get rid of broken people when is this info
Although I am not currently using opioid meds, my 84 year old mother is…for good reason. She fell 3 years ago and broke four bones on her left side (ankle, hip, shoulder, wrist). Her rehab has been very long. During this time, access to opioid pain meds has become more difficult to access. The federal government has COMPLETELY overreacted to the opioid issue driven by high profile abuse by recreational users and resulting deaths. The class of citizens that are ACTUALLY in need of pain relief for chronic pain are completely ignored and negatively impacted. If a board certified physician feels their patient requires an opioid pain killer and has provided care for the patient, why should the government be allowed to further regulate? This is ridiculous. Patients in legitimate need of pain relief and now finding it difficult to impossible to access the proper medication. This has to stop.
I agree. I suffer in sever discomfort and pain and I have to live with it. I can hardly move. I can’t accomplish anything. I loved my career that I did for 25 years I had major brain surgerys and suffer with major chronic fatigue and severe fibromyalgia. I can’t believe I’m suffering so badly.
So what did you do about it or did you ??? Because I need to know what to do myself. ??? I’m so sorry about your condition love… I will pray for you. I hope that you get the help you need because you are one of the ones who do
i can Tammy, your are residing in the wrong country.
I have chronic pain Multiple sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, to much to list. The pain is screaming pain my spine hurts neck down, mainly sciatica both sides, upper buttock nerve pain is so bad. I stay in severe pain 24/7 even on pain meds. My hospital records speak for themselves and so does my blood pressure. I’m so upset because of the judgement I get by the medical field. I lay down all day except when I get n my wheelchair to go potty or go to the Dr. and finally got approved for physical therapy for the right hip I broke last year my left leg is affected by M.S., the reason I fell and broke my right hip, I don’t like being stigmatized, I am. I understand the problems with the opioid epidemic. I know I couldn’t function at all in so much pain. The pain Dr. has been good to me understanding. Suggest a spinal cord stimulator. I don’t want one. I’ve done my research on them, plus I don’t want another surgical procedure. Last time I had a colonoscopy, we told the nurse I couldn’t do the preparation cause of very slow transit, I was looking at having to get a Illostomy, bag to poop. But the nurse said about the colonoscopy that they would do the best they could to still come in. I did, they put air in and I woke up in a bunch of yuk I was laying in, a few day’s later my intestines came out my butt, I freaked out, I had gut’s hanging out. Had to cut me open from my bellybutton to my c-section(2) and cut through stomach mussels, had to have my Sigmoid colon then some, taken out. I committed suicide but kept alive by a machine. No it was “not” by taking to many opioid’s. I was so tired of the pain! Then broke my hip. I can not deal with the pain. Now the pain clinic has me able to deal with the pain, takes the edge off. After my long time Dr. retired. I am again treated like a freaking addic. This opioid abuse of others made me, one that needs pain relief fall through the cracks.
My effort is to dispel the big lie perpetuated through the country.
1. opioid epidemic started in 1909.
2. Recent overdose deaths are not related to doctors or patients. The evidence is the proof. Scientists have reviewed the chemicals found in the dead overdoses in this country and found on 1.7% of those that died from and overdose had a prescription for an opioid.
In layman terms 98% of overdoses are from street drugs or drugs obtained from diversion.
The leading cause is heroin and fentanyl. So please leave the doctors and patients alone.
3. The DEA and government is losing the drug war because they want to. This is an inside job. The drugs are poring in from outside the country. You can drive down the street of any bad area and just ask someone standing around for drugs and they will deliver them to you car. The drive through is alive and well. In these areas the police will not even drive down the streets because they will get shot.
4. Our wonderful police would rather run to a doctors office and arrest doctors because the Doctor does not have a gun. Then accuse the good hearted doctor of pill mill etc without any evidence. Just the fact that the doctor wrote prescriptions for medications and non doctors think the dose is to high or whatever. That decision should be left up to the doctor and the patient. Sadly our political country has already judged the doctor as pill mill and the patient as a drug addict.
This has got to change, but what do we do? The media is against pain. The government is against pain. Look I am against pain, I do not believe patients should suffer in pain. Seems everybody here is on the other side of pain. We all want pain treated and controlled based on the Doctor patient relationship and that should never be questioned or judged by anybody other than the patient ( did not mean to exclude God my father who is the real judge)
Hi I’m a chronic arthritis Nerve patient medical problems since a young teen now 48, pain has destroyed most of my life and I hang dearly onto what I do have.
I work very hard to do everything I should to help myself to help the condition as it is very very easy to give up, as most patients know without money regular therapy’s are now unaffordable, alternatives to opioids CBD is unaffordable (thank you government). So what is it ? ?please please tell me what is it that we are suppose to take or do when they say yes you suffer permanent chronic pain no it’s going no where no I can not help you access therapies at a affordable rate that I could do regularly to actually find out if they helped. But yes they want to eliminate the only medications that actually hits nerve pain, Tell us are Diabetics or any medicated dependent patient when they have been diagnosed and medication prescribed does a dr after years start to push the patient to cut back cut out medication.
Yes for more than ten years Drs have been prescribing for bone ache inflammation and nerve pain, yes you have done and doing everything to help yourself so you have come so far actually proud I’m not punching holes in walls when my nerve pain would be out of control and mentally could not cope i don’t sleep all day and roll around on a hard floors stretching and bashing my arms and head trying to concentrate on normal pain trying to block out nerve pain searching for relief all night, no longer excessive visits to hospital so locked up in pain that needed a day of morphine. My medications are all at the lowest dosage not possible without breaking down tablets to reduce anymore.
And still I go to my Dr and she will say it would be good to get that down !
Every visit I feel I need to plead my case revisiting every detail of my week the basic pathetic reminder that my existence is to manage pain and try my dam hardest not to let it get to me that the way we are treated like we are seeking drugs.. do we actually deserve that on top of what we are permanently going through, We go through years of specialists pain management facilities therapy we work hard to keep weight down exercise eat well, never ever drink, try not to eat anything that is a trigger for pain even if it’s your birthday or Christmas, basically fight HARD against what is so easy to give in to and end up back at your worst.
How !?? Is it the pressure of this is off loaded on to the patient is it our fault that Research has not found anymore answers to chronic nerve pain fibromyalgia patients suffer a lot of other complications than the nerve pain addressing pain is one of the many things.
Do you think the government should consider the 1.7 % May have really really wanted to check out, sadly find a chronic nerve pain patient that hasn’t been at that stage, it can take many years finding drs medications saying goodbye to your former self accepting and stop chasing a fix to your condition, it’s not an injury that’s going to heal over a few months is Diabetes? No but you can work very hard to achieve a better quality of life for yourself and whom around you.
DO the government crack down on drs prescribing anti-depressants ?
almost taking the better of 5 years to find a antidepressant that did not work against me I’ve had a good glimpse of how easy it can swallow up a person how many have taken their lives whilst on antidepressants, do they do the numbers and
start cutting back patients dosages and make them feel
ASHAMED that they require the medication.
What scares me is the mentality of a lot people without medical problems, making decisions for those that do,
Sitting in the drs waiting room I overhear two women discussing the sad loss of Robin Williams, not how terribly sad it was that his condition got the better of him, no one says to the other .. how selfish it was .. how ungrateful for his talent as a performer.. and a disgusting thing to do to his family,
I cried through my whole dr appointment no not for robin Williams – yes very very sad, no for the two women from the waiting room. people do not see past the exterior !
We patients are not responsible for what addicts want or got caught up doing, I know they don’t wake up one day and say I want to become an addict and ruin my life,
But as a chronic pain patient I did not wish for this and as the same as any other disease or medical complaint that requires the intervention of medication the position a chronic pain patient is put in is incredibly cruel and humiliating that increases your stress an anxiety resulting in more pain and frustration and depressed thoughts of how one looks forward when constantly there are threats of taking away the one thing that keeps you going.
Fact.. if the only treatment opioid medication was taken from the chemist shelves tomorrow I am pretty certain that the number of patients with chronic pain issues would decrease no not get better no sign out, we patients that have a hold on our condition are not abusing the medication we are scared stiff if returning to a life that we fear.
I’m another chronic pain patient experiencing all the thinngs you talked about reach out to me I found a solution to a few things that you said and it’s them helped me bring a little light to the rest of the arreas I struggle with just gotta find something that will bend for me it was a compassionate Dr who didn’t just wanna just throw in the towel treatig my pain because it was a very diff case with doses that scare many but it helps with that to start with an anathesiaologist someone who deals with high doses of strong drugs and is comfortable using them when appropriate
I’ve been a chronic pain patient since 2001, so I’ve been in the “arena” for a long time. All the education and belief’s prior to this fake opioid epidemic was that addiction was a disease, and only those with that disease would become an addict when taking the same substance as someone who didn’t have the disease.
Then back 2015/16, I noticed a growing number of commercials geared toward this “opioid epidemic and every one of these commercials were for a drug rehab center. Also, they have always used the vague term “opioid” which includes different substances other than just pain medication, yet were always insinuating that pill mills were to blame and too many people were on pain medication-yadayadayada. Then, the politicians started stoking up the hysteria and announced gravely how they were going to solve” the opioid epidemic”–all despite what all research up to that point indicated that less than 20% of chronic pain patients developed addictions. I believe that all this madness was started in order to make alot of people alot of money…like rehab centers which have an underwhelming success rate of something ridiculous like 2%, yet, to date continue to grow larger and larger. We need to start a class action suit and hold these bastards accountable.
I agree I have servers back pain ! I get epidural injections and tramadol is a joke does not help .now with the virus 19 can’t even get epidural was counting down the days only 8 days to go then the call it’s gonna be almost 3mths now before the shots what the hell can we do no pain meds no epidural I’m 57 raising grand kids in misery pain everyday it’s just wrong I need help I can’t sit or lay or hardly walk ! I hate fuckin junkies the destroyed my life !Before I was on peracet never had problems always took as prescribed. Most people that do become dependent on pain pills abuse them !why should a 57 year old grandmother raising grandchildren suffer everyday !!ashamed to say but if something doesn’t give soon I’m gonna research heroine for pain then that a bigger problem .That or suicide then what happens to my babies any ideas??
I agree 100%!! you sound just like you took the words right out of my mouth!! the problem lies with street drug dealers, trying to cut heroine with fentanyl, they are buying on the black market, to make it better, and because of their drug ignorance, they think fentanyl and CARfentanil are the same thing… THEY COULDNT BE MORE WRONG!! so then they cut their heroine w that stuff, and there you go… OD patients, dying in the streets.
people who ACTUALLY have prescribed pain meds, rarely OD. we dont over take them because we know that we only get 1 prescription a month, and if we over take them, or sell them, that means we SUFFER. Lobbyists & DEA get involved, and then we have to suffer anyway.
i have Adhesive Arachnoiditis because a 14yo mentally ill kid stabbed me in my back when i was 13 yo, and the knife went ‘almost’ completely thru my spinal cord. Paralysis does not mean you dont feel anything.. it just means you only feel the worst pain imaginable! i have lost a leg, due to a spider bite on one of my paralyzed feet, i have scoliosis, broke my hip and femur & have large metal rods, and i live in constant pain. Tramadol is a joke, and doesnt do anything, but if i even ask for that, i get looked at, and treated as if i was an addict, searching for drugs, instead of someone trying to LIVE.. not exist. i was doing fine, for many years, then my doctor went out of network, and now, i cant find another pain mgmt doctor to take me. i have always been outspoken against suicide, but in the last 2 years, i have considered it, more times than i will admit. my 1st cousin was seriously hurt in active duty. he lost his pain mgmt, and turned to the streets, in sheer desperation. he died from heroine cut w carfentanil. someone who cares, needs to step in and change the rules/laws, and stop real pain ‘patients’ from suffering.
i used to be an very active mother, grandmother, crafter, and wife. now, i just lay around, and complain. this is not life.
I too am in severe chronic pain. Most of my pain comes from my CRPS diagnosis after a nerve was severed during a simple surgical on my shoulder. I can’t tell you what to do of course and I too turned it down for a long time, but I just wanted to share with you what a difference the spinal cord stimulator made for me. It changed my life. Grant you I still am in pain but its tolerable. I’m still not active or out enjoying life really but it has helped me be a little more like my old self and helps me find a little joy in every day. I was blessed with a very good doctor. I hope you have found some relief and will pray for your situation
I am very sorry to hear about your mother, I hope she isgetting better. But I agree with you 100%, I don’t feel the government should regulate the opioids when it’s manley the socialites are the ones overdosing. They took mine away from me and I hurt all the time. I took lortab for 16 yrs along with xanex, now they say well you cannot have it because you miht over dose. REALLY REALLY after 16 yrs of taking them. They are surely crazy.
There does still need to be access for pain medications though.
We must pray to the Lord to intervene on the cruelness of these policies that hurt people who suffer from pain. I am at the end of my rope. NOBODY will help me. No physicians that is and I suffer terribly from pain with a cancer diagnosis. Why? Do the people making these policies stop and think that they may have an illness or accident and may have to suffer themselves as a result of these policies. Local hospitals are trying to get surgeons to not prescribe pain management for surgery patients. Can you imagine having open heart surgery and not having pain treated. True story: I was working as a medical professional at a small hospice. The hospice doctor was starting end stage bone cancer and other patients on tylenol, even though they were on hospice for pain relief because they were dying. All of those policy makers should have heard what I heard that will never leave me. Dying patients screaming in pain for days with screams so loud neighbors down the street threatened to call the newspaper against our hospice. The doc said it was the new opioid rules which are very strict in Tennessee and got off the hook. I know the issue is real because I no longer have the ability to work full-time and I was in a job which helped the needy in my community. When I sleep, my husband and kids say I scream out in pain frequently. I have been to two pain doctors that even agreed to see me. One accused me of lying and the other would not take my case for fear I would be a long term patient and he would get in trouble writing scripts for more than a month or two. Come on people, this is about Medicare and Medicaid money. People in pain will go to the doctor to get pain meds. Nobody cares about us. Prayer is all we have. One last thing I keep wondering is why aren’t these FDA members and legislators afraid they will be sick. We are all going to die. Do they want to die in Pain? Why?
I do not see where to comment, so am replying. I demand to know why this is allowed. Why can the United States get away with it citing that we have no Federal laws and instead have State laws? The U.S. is one of the 181 countries that signed the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs drafted in 1961. We signed it in 1989 and our status is current as of 2019. It applies to pain patients whether it is interpreted as torture or denial of adequate pain care. I call it torture because that is my experience. Being confined to bed in agony for over 7 years save for the doctor, hospital and pharmacy is torture. A disease with no cure that can be controlled with opioids, Adequate dosing as recommended for my condition by specialists as the accepted medical protocol is denied. We have $56 billion worth of heroin entering the U.S via Mexico alone every year. Denying opioids to people in pain is obscene & certainty does not curtail illegal drugs. Quite the opposite. Overdoses have increased by rates up to 400%. We all know there is no “opioid crisis” involving prescription opioids. That was in the 90’s. Pill mills & doctor shopping are a thing of the past. Most of us know it was written into ObamaCare. We were set to be an experiment, as were our doctors. We were not informed because we would not have agreed. That too is spelled out. We are too expensive. It is better for society as a whole. 0.2-6% of prescription opiod users for any length of time at any doseage is fact. The profile of one who became an addict is a 14 year old male who stole prescriptions from a family member. This is & always has been politics. The public has been sold a bill of goods by those who have financial gain. We have ruined bodies, ruined lives & are committing suicide. We are subject to not only physical suffering. The U.S. agreed that at states have a legal obligation to respond to credible allegations of serious ill-treatment, must take steps to stop the abuse and investigate and, if necessary, prosecute the perpetrators.. This is obligation applies to cases where state authorities receive complaints from patients who are unable to get access to pain treatment, or the authorities have other reasonable grounds to believe a patient is suffering ill-treatment due to lack of access to pain treatment. Given how severe and extended the suffering is that many patients with cancer and other severe chronic pain face, the large numbers of people affected each year and the fact that this pain can be treated easily with inexpensive and safe medications, Morphine, specifically, which by the way, we provide to 3rd world countries while denying our own citizens. Failure of governments to take reasonable measures to ensure accessibility of pain treatment, which leaves millions of people to suffer needlessly from severe and often prolonged pain is a clear human rights violation. When the failure of states to take these positive steps or to refrain from interfering with healthcare services condemn large number of patients to unnecessary suffering from pain, they will not only fall foul of the right to health but may also violate the positive obligation under the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment. A key duty under the right to health is the obligation to respect which requires countries to refrain from interfering directly or indirectly with the enjoyment of the right to health. The effects are many, They are emotional, depression, anger, loss of family & friends, divorces, children removed from the home, loss of interest in things we can no longer do. Loss of sleep. The list goes on & on. If illegal immigrants were subjected to what we are, there would be public outcry. If suspected terrorists were subjected to what we are there would be public outcry. Now we have the highly invasive A****** Medical A/K/A N**x*** stripping our rights to medical privacy using an algorithm. Why bother with medical school? All we need are computers, robots & prescription dispensing vending machines. State courts have ruled that our medical information had already been seen by 3rd parties, so we have no reasonable expectation of privacy. No more than a utility worker reading our electric meters. This data mining company is free to sell or auction our sensitive medical information to the highest bidder. I have watched this scenario unfold since it began. The only thing I could not figure out was why American pharmacuticals agreed to make generics. They were from China for the most part. This too was stopped under Obama. They were fine. We did not start to hear complaint upon complaint as far as different brands of generics not being effective until American pharmaceuticals made them Those with a U.S. Pharmaceutical stamp, were only distributors. Then the supply was slashed 3 times under Obama. Trump now plans on another 1/3rd cut. Now I know why-bio similar drugs. They will soon be trotted out as a great, new affordable way for all. In most cases they are not what your doctor prescribed & not what your prescription bottle says. They are not either the biologic or therapeutic equal. “Stakeholders” are fighting to stop the 5 additional numbers on the NDC because you would be able to look up what you received. Despite the fact that I named Obama, I was only stating what is known to be factual. It is a bi-partisan issue. We must not turn this into political theater. We need to unite, not divide. He who controls the media controls the mind. The first way to control a population is to control their access to health care. Done and checked. Germany would not tolerate it when Hitler first wanted to eliminate the chronically & mentally ill. Have we learned nothing? This “opiod hysteria” MUST STOP! I see far too many of us giving up. A group least able to fight has been attacked for profit and financial gain. I for one am physically unable to protest, march, get media attention. Even I can do something such as making protest signs with names, photos, name of person & disease of known suicides due to inadequate pain care. What is not a fatal disease will kill me none the less. A human body is not designed to live in bed for years. We all can do something. Hundreds of thousands protest in the streets for every perceived injustice. We sign petitions that likely end up in the nearest trash can. We politely ask permission for 7 white coats to hold protest signs outside the White House. Please, please help us. Our government is using every trick in the book to avoid sanctioning. Our government is killing us!
To follow up, I neglected to add an important point. Doctors have been victims throughout this. They were repeatedly raided, files seized and threatened by DEA agents. Caring doctors doing no wrong. We must not ever lay blame on them. They worked very hard to get to where they are. When faced with a choice of facing drug trafficking charges that carry a 25 year prison term or retiring/changing specialties, what choice did they have? I have also read many a sad story written by a doctor who had to tell a long time, usually elderly patient that he could no longer help him with a heavy heart knowing his patient would have nowhere to turn. It is unethical to abandon a patient in this manner, but doctors had no choice and were victims just as we were and are. There is not one single solitary pain medicine doctor left in my state. Every last one was run off by a rogue DEA. Suicides by physicians are also climbing in the U.S. There are plenty who care and fight for us with pen and paper. I applaud them all. A great injustice was done to them. I hate to see pain patients blame “greedy doctors” That is simply not true. I take exception to Dr. K***** who has never treated a pain patient, as he is a Phychiatrist , calls all pain pills “heroin pills:, owns the P*****X H**** chain of rehab centers, is buying up more, has been a key figure in the “opiod hysteria” & collects in excess of $560,000.00/year to date & rising by being an expert witness in lawsuits against Pharmaceutical companies for creating addicts, laughing his way to the bank.
True pain patients never was part of the opioid crisis, doctors were afraid for their license ,there never was a law that said the pain managements doctors must cut back on the dosage they gave their patients, Part of the problem was Jeff Sessions, Christ Christy, and Yes Donald Trump, after being on opiates for over twenty years with no red flags I never overdosed, you are going to have a number of folks will seek out any drugs and will die ,but do blame us well documented chronic pain patients for the illicit drug trade, its all about the (MONEY)..
This should never be turned into political theater. This occurred before Trump was considered as a Presidential candidate. This occurred under the Obama administration. To me, that is neither here or there. We must fight together, no matter our political leanings. Whether Trump or Clinton were President makes no difference, what so ever. We need to share information & know what the facts are. Start by reading “The Violation Of A Nation” which gives you links to the language written into ObamaCare that clearly spells out that the chronically ill are too expensive and must be eliminated. It gets better, as we were/are Guinea pigs as were/are doctors without consent or knowledge. Next came Appriss Narxcare in which lawsuits were thrown out as we no longer have any rights to expect privacy in our medical care. Our most private information is for sale to the highest bidder and not only opioids. Prescriptions are denied without doctors being privy to know why. http://uploads.documents.cimpress.io/v1/uploads/c7c18e1c-2c3d-4ffd-b251-2ddba53a2d8b~110/original?tenant=vbu-digital
Got that right! Everything in this country is about money! It’s sickening!!!
Your so right on everything.. I’ve been in bed 16 years now living with incurable diseases that will kill me , I was born with a genetic mutation factor that caused me to be sick in my mother’s womb . I’ve been sick all my life But the nightmare happened to me overnight with a rare neuro muscle disease that is worse than Ms, Cancer and aids combined . It alone has caused severe suffering so bad that I think of taking my life all the time . My whole body is destroyed from different diseases , my organs are shutting down slowly , it’s brought more diseases and cancer , heart condition, to anything u can think of . I got sick at 32 . I was on pain meds for chronic pain I mean high amounts plus 2 other opioids . As well as Xanax since I was 7 years old and I’ve went into a coma and almost died over my drs cutting me off my Xanax . Xanax has ruined my body as well . And has destroyed my whole nervous system, motor function if I don’t have it I’ll die . And in order to function I half to have it over drs . Cause I’m like someone that’s literally retarded and sits and rocks back and forth and my muscles jerk and move and I can’t control them , I can’t even think it’s messed up my brain too . All at the same time in 2016 they shift down my pain dr for no reason , my Phychtirist stopped writing my Xanax . I’m living in complete hell and my muscles are wasting away over my muscle autoimmune diseases .. and down to 74 pounds in bed . The government knows how severe and debilitating my diseases are but yet they let you lay and suffer and not even able to go anywhere or do nothing . I can’t take care of myself. I go months without bathing. I don’t have my mom now to take care of me I had to find her dead and my dads sick and old . I got 2 sisters but they don’t take care of me they really don’t care . I’m tired of living and I’m barley hanging on . I’m lucky if I eat something once a day . I’m not able to cook . I suffer to bad . When I had my pain meds I was at least able to do things that I can’t do at all . I had my weight on me . I looked good . My skin at 48 sags like a 80 year old . Where I have no muscle mass . And drs in my state no nothing about my disease . The government just wa nets up to all die . Population control. Well since they want that then let drs write meds what does it matter to them . But they just abandon us when there’s no opioid epidemic in Wv it’s Meth epidemic in Wv . All we are is a number to them . If we were in the elite ppl that are famous or politics ect they can get any help they want . But regular ppl they want us all to die ..
Im here for you. You are not alone. Please email me. I would really appreciate it ❤️
I fell last week because I have developed vertigo with my migraines. An xray and ultrasound revealed that I have something called “floating rib syndrome.” I received a steroid injection and a morphine injection. I need to know if this is protacol . My concern is that I come from a family of addicts and I am worried.
Its seems that the innocent has to suffer,If people burn their homes, they get their homes paid for the people that don’t burn their houses have to pay for the ones that got the insurance money,Same way with car insurance, the good people have to pay for the folks that made bad choices, The chronic pain patients pay for the people that is doctor shopping and in the drug trade so sad ,but true.
Hang in there Debbie. I have osteoarthritis throughout my whole body and I’ve broken my back in the same 3 vertebra 3 times already, anyhow I have had the same issue drs are scared to write scripts anymore. I’ve always been high tolerant to opiates so my dr. Suggested a pain pump. If you’ve never heard of it do yourself a favor and look up medtronics or Flowonics interthiecal pump. They usually use morphine but I now have su fyntynal because like I said I have a high tolerance. The battery life last about 7 yrs. I’m on my 2nd pump, I currently have the flowonix primera 2. I would reccomend it to anyone who is battling chronic pain it’s a life changer.
I absolutely agree. I am in almost the same boat as you are. I’m so sorry you have to go through it to . The minute that law went through my pcp took me off my meds 1 1/2 years ago. Sent me to be put on subutex it dont help the pain they say it for chronic pain . I cant do hardly anything I used to be able to. My life is like this when the pain gets so bad I get one warning than I black out I wake up in the ambulance which is idling in my yard I told them .what happened it’s the pain they monitored me than. placed me back in my house . They took my Medicaid away my emergency response system my aides that used to help.me .all I have is Medicare and it dont pay for shit and trump is gonna cut our social security as soon as he is re elected he said . I have a cane but now I can barely walk I’m hunched over I’m up almost all night in tears and sometimes crying because I cant control it they put me on adavan to control the anxiety attacks from the pain . I cant do nearly as much as I used to I have fibro herniated disks in my back and neck destructive PSORACTIC arthritis which has eaten half my left clavicle they say its osteomyelitis just the non contagious kind I have neuropathy borderline diabetic the arthritis has I
Made itself at home in all my joints my disks in my back my neck arms and legs my lower back i scream sometimes I just cant take it I’m constantly on my heating pads to try and help but nothing helps I take one more fall and crack my head more i might just forget whom everybody is . It’s scary when it gets that bad
My son found me in the driveway and was so upset at the way the ambulance treated me the dr said i need to come off the subutex and go back on pain meds I’ve been to 5 pain mgt places all said no and pcp used to do my meds wont now at all due to the law she said they have tied her hands behind her back and when I have to go to er I’ve passed out right in the waiting room they can not do anything for me because of the subutex and I’m allergic to alot of meds sulfers NSAIDs penc and the list goes on even ibuprofen and codeine its rough I dont know what to do but my quality of life really sucks . And now that I’m on the subutex I’m labled as a druggy when I’m not . Any help would be appreciated
All I can say is that I concur! I am a former OR nurse that had been reduced to a prisoner of my bed, bc Sarcoidosis Disease has destroyed my entire body. I am in constant pain, and even with 24 hr doses of morphine, my pain become absolutely unbearable, and so have to scream out in agony. The thought of no morphine to buffer my pain would be no different than a torture technique to get rid of the sick and weak minded. They know that if someone is tortured or suffers long and hard enough, they will accept death as a solution to their unbearable pain and suffering. It is s wicked world that we live in, and it’s worse than any psychological thriller that Hollywood could create! God help us all!!
I am truly sorry for you .These politicians are looking for popularity.Most of them,not all, can give two cents about the pain we’re in.Because If they need pain meds,they have no problem getting them!
I agree 100% with Molly Bean! I have been confined to my bed for 5 1/2 years, loss of self esteem, crying everyday, cannot sleep because of the severity of pain I suffer; all because my employer caused all the injuries to my spine, hips, back fracture. La Posada Retirement in Green Valley, Az was negligent caused Medical Malpractice as their Physical Therapist claimed the only way to relieve my muscle spasming and sciatic nerve pain was trial of their new mechanical traction machine. I was unaware of such machine; La Posada falsified the medical records, after fact I find out the physician never ordered script to apply traction to my spine. Physical Therapist used the machine incorrectly not by Company standards-medical procedures. I felt snaps, popping, breaks, excruciating pain screaming out crying because I had no feeling from my neck down, total numbness, loud ringing in my ears, severe pain in my head. I screamed to them “Oh my God I am paralyzed”. At this point the therapists are running around confused yelling to one another, “call 911″,”Hurry call the ambulance”. They both questioned each other did I set and pull to 25, I think I did! I now suffer excruciating pain; with a T-12 back fracture, 4 herniated and blown disc’s, misalignment of both hips, neck pain, neuropathy, radiculopathy, severe burning pain of both feet, and a hernia of my female abdomen organs. I have gone and been through so much, as my employer’s Vice President phoned my primary care doctor while I was in the exam room; VP was yelling, cursed, and made my physician cry. My physician stated I must seek another physician. Pain Management, denied my insurance, a new physician of (ICA) refused medications; claiming I was lazy and I did not want to work. Thereafter, seeking other 1,2,3, physicians 3rd physician (ICA) ordered MRI w/o contrast Dr. S. F. Diagnosis spinal cord damage, severe disc, hip, nerve, tremor damages, prescribed medications and orders seek primary care physician. Primary care physician sends me to Pain Management. Pain doctor prescribes pain medications after 5 months, my doctor relocates out of state. I received a call from my pharmacy, pharmacist suggest I call the doctor as she did not submit the monthly ordered script to be filled monthly. I phoned pain management, I was informed a message would be submitted to the doctor. I never received a call back after 2-days. I decided to call pain management again and the girl that answered the call began arguing, yelling at me, telling me it was up to her if she felt like checking on the situation, she then said, I do not want to here about your pain suffering, as far as I’m concerned there is absolutely nothing wrong with you and she hung up on me! I began crying, loosing all faith, just the thought knowing I can no longer work, decorate homes, design jewelry, get out of bed to take on the normal life I once had, I have no self esteem. This pain I suffer robs you of life whereas, I have fear to move, touch anything. The next day I phoned into pain management again, and the same girl answered the call advised me I was discharged, I asked her if I can speak to my doctor she said “No”, I asked if I can get my medical records she said “No”, I asked if I can get all the notifications, calls to prove all my attempts to fill my script and she said “No”!!! I’ve communicated with my primary care doctor to notify him of the on going suffering he suggested I go into pain management and speak to them, because it sounds as if that girl had a bad day. I can’t even get out of bed! I have been suffering, crying, unable to sleep with all this pain. I can’t believe our system neglecting someones rights to law suit attempts, as I’ve been denied in every court, fault of employer’s medical malpractice, denied with disability, denied medications, denied appointments
Denied medical records, denied to speak to your own doctor. I’ve called the mayor, board of supervisors, and plenty more, I just get avoided, excuses, and run-arounds
What is up with our government, our system they have “No” heart, please listen to the people of suffering pain, it is no fault of mine, I did not ask for the spinal damages
I agree with molly! I owned my own tree trimming business…owned 2 homes..paid my taxes..then one day on May 6 2002 ..my rope where I tie in my harness not only broke. But the branch I was standing on look fine from the outside..however as I stepped on this branch it was rotting inside! So my harness the branch caused me to fall 41ft to the ground! My discs were not just broken the t- levels were the paralyzing ones, a famous dr…spine surgeon DrPalumbo, he practiced in Allentown Pa then went on to New York! He dissidents my discs were smashed to the point where he told my fiancé that these discs were like sand in a sandbox! All my ribs were broken two oh which stabbed into both my lungs which collapsed, ‘broken arms legs pelvis fingers and worst of all my spine! Less than one inch upwards of this discs would’ve meant instant death. Most people spend 4 to 6 months in hospital recovery…I was in for one year one week and one month., a very long and painful recovery I hesitate to use that word cuz I’ll never recover! Multiple drs and spinal cord injury drs told me I’d be in unrelenting severe hot stabbing pain for the rest of my life! I have hundreds upon hundreds of bone shards in the jelly that is on both sides of my spine still in there, the dr said he can’t remove hundreds and hundreds of these cuz one slip..one pin prick slip will either kill me or cuz me to be a quadriplegic…from my chin down! Would need a feeding tube, not to mention I lost my whole very active live..I now live in bed and a wheelchair, I’m now 64 yrs oldMY BONES are very brittle and in in excruciating pain 24/7. Thanks to Jesus..I found a very sympathetic dr and a expert on spinal cord injuries who told me and my girl that I’d be spending my life in Pain! I was given enough over the yrs to at least live this miserable shell of a live inlesser pain! So now come the feds cdc and dea..trying to cut my pain meds until I’m off completely. If that happens where do I go? To the streets to buy meds which will undoubtedly kill me..I don’t want to do that! I have serious pain issues, dr told me as bad as or in some cases more than cancer patients? So what now. I will not live the rest of my sr Igor live in a bed…in a nursing home AND be in constant pain! I won’t live like that! Whar about people like us…btprain issues cuz of splitting my head open….thalamus neurion pain which is devasting! I won’t live like that! Im better off dead! So what do I do…where do I go???
Truly heartless money hungry states officials that will pocket money from the settlements and could give a damn about use seniors that have been on high doses for over 20 years and our pain grows daily with our aging body and now our meds have been cut in half even though having more major ortho surgeries and more disabling artiritis with the low does i get know i basically have enough medication to get from my bed to the couch and watch my life pass in front of me since my low dosage do not allow me to do any activities like i did when i was on my dosage that they cut in half after 20 years. I pray everyday that the state officials that are pushing this to sue the pharm manufactures to line their pockets and cut our pain treatment I pray everyday that them and there loved ones in their life suffer a disabling lifelong painful injury and they get to suffer and their loved ones get to suffer and lose the quality of life they had before like we have to suffer and they remember THEY did this to them and i pray they suffer in pain daily and truly see that their are patience that this medication gave them a life and they now have taking away. May God let them suffer as they have made us!
it is truly heartbreaking.The idiots that are giving all of the statistics are mixing illegal drugs like heroin with prescription drugs to make it out to be a lot worse than it is.Don’t get me wrong,They did need to tighten the rains a little,but they got stupid about it because certain politicians figured out how to make a lot of $$$ off of the pharmaceutical companies.Greed is destroying our country!
What you said is so true. The federal government runs and owns the housing industry, They own and run the banks and now they want to run our life and ruin our health care system. I feel as though I have ben abandoned by the health care system and the doctors that look at me knowing I full well need something for pain and walk out of the room are too numerous to mention. Don’t want socialized medicine? We already got it. When doctors are prevented form doing their job and are having to cater to the demands of our corrupt FDA and DEA something is very wrong here. They are wanting the older people to die off and are hastening up the process. We are just a statistic to our federal government. We have worked all our lives, paid our taxes, raised our children and have contributed to the economy of this nation but since we no longer have anything to contribute then why help us? How can anyone be retired when they hurt so bad they cannot go anywhere? This is all about money. The states have sold yours and my rights off to gain money from the pharmaceutical industry the same way they sold your rights out in the cigarette fiasco a few years back. Why tell the doctors anything about your health when they cannot do anything to help us with pain. Why tell them you hurt. They cannot and will not do anything. Recently my back went completely out. I have no feeling on my entire left side and am having to use a walker to get around. I am hurting with this like no other pain in my lifetime and to see a patient hurting and do nothing is just as bad as manslaughter in my opinion. They put me on steroids and muscle relaxants but I cannot take muscle relaxants because I have a hereditary autoimmune disease and microscopic colitis in which this muscle relaxants are tearing my stomach apart. So now I have to suffer with severe continual diarrhea to get feeling back in my left side.? Our health care community has let us who are chronic pain patients down terribly. Trump steps up to the microphone and says they are taking away opoids but then says we are working on something to take their place? Golly Gee – do you think that maybe they should have found something before they took away the pain meds. Now the chronic pain patient is the only one who is suffering. The drug dealers are still out there dealing drugs and making more money now because the chronic pain patient has to get pain pills from someone so they are bought illegally to keep from suffering needlessly. So the drug dealers are all still out there dealing while the one made to suffer is the chronic pain patient. Go after the right people and eve me alone. I am a grown adult and do not need to be monitored by anyone. I was on a huge dose of pain medication but when I found out this was happening about the pain meds I stopped taking them. I was on pain pills and fentanyl [patches and I just stopped taking them, I never had withdrawals. IO just stopped taking them. /all these detox centers are a sham run mostly by our federal government to gain more money from us who are already suffering and they seem to think we will check into rehab and dry out???? From what???? Maybe some parents should have kept little Johnny or little Susie away from the medicine cabinet and not let them get mama and daddy’s pills and we would not be where we are. Maybe they should get these high and mighty doctors off the TV sets telling everyone how they will die with too much pain meds in their system and they need to check into rehab. Maybe the doctors themselves should band together and tell the corrupt FDA and the DEA that they will no longer treat their patients like they are being forced to currently do now by the ridiculous laws from the FDA and the DEA. That being said I know no less than 50 people working at the two agencies who are currently try taking pain meds themselves yet they are working on tasing more laws to prevent the chronic pain patient from getting help? Personally I give up. I was on the same amount of benzodiazepines for 19 years and use those before bd and it I get stressed but now my doctor is also cutting thees off too? I do not choose to live my life in this kind of pain. Living in pain like this is not worth living. No one will listen and no one cares. I hurt so bad that I cannot leave the house. I cannot walk, stand, sit or sleep. The only thing left is spending my days in bed. This is what I am being forced to do at this time in my life when I should be enjoying my life. I am no drug addict. I am a chronic pain person who needs help but there is none to be found. When our federal government backs doctors into corners and tells them what they can and cannot do and the doctors take it then something is very wrong with our health care. The doctors are just sitting there and doing nothing while their patients need answers and the doctors hv none to give us. Our government wants us dead because we would then be off their books and off their health care system and that is the whole thing here. We die. They gain from our loss and it is passed on down to the next person . It is all about socialized medicine and going rid of the unhealthy people like socialism. Trump just signed on board to socialism when he made that announcement and that is unforgivable in my opinion. Only thing left for mw now is to wait to die and that is what I am currently doing. It is better than the pain I am now suffering with no one to help me and nothing will be changing in the near future. So our feds get another one to bite the dust and life goes on. I will die unforgiving to our federal government to what they have done to the chronic pain patient who truly needs help and had their back turned on by our own country. All this is political BS.
im tina been diabled long .they dont want to treat with meds and now going to have steriod put in back he tells me when pops back o by the way we found turmor in your and will freeze it he was ass hole when i i treated with lyiria and percoet did better now im been stuck in my house 2 ys
I wss hurt bad on the job bs k messed up docyors tried all types if medication .They left my mind messed up ,dream like.and still there was some pain but not as bad..Then a older doctor gave me morphine , it helped a lot ..I didn’t want to die anymore. This medication is God natural way to help people in sever pain. T he medication dud not leave me in a daze , I could think clearly again. We the people need to fight! doctors spend years in school studying medications..Let the Educated Doctors do their work! Government stay out
of Doctors business .It Not morphine that’s the problem it helps AGAIN IT HELPS PEOPLE IN SEVER PAIN..LEAVE MEDICATIONS TO THE DOCTORS EDUCATED IT THIS MATTER. MORPHINE IS NOT A BAD DRUG ! PEOPLE HURTING SO BAD IT IS CRUEL INHUMAN TO STOP PRESCRIBING THIS MEDICATION ! UP TO 20 MG 5 X A DAY AND I CAN THINK CLEARLY, WENT TO UNIVERSITY WITH A “B” AVERAGE ON MORPHINE AND MANAGE LIKE LIKE OTHERS..IT A HECK OF A LOT BETTER THAN LIVING A LIFE IN A PAINFUL LIVING HELL. .GOVERNMENT YOU NEED TO RETHINK,TO RETHINK THIS YOUR WRONG.YOY NEED TO GO AFTER THE BIG MONEY THAT’S GIVING THE PEOPLE ALL THIS NEW CANCER , THEY GET OFF WITH A HAND SLAP AND VICTIMS LIVE IN AGONIZING PAIN WISHING FOR .YOUR DEATH YOUR WRONG ABOUT THIS MR. GOVERMENT.LET DOCTOR’S DECIDE WHO’S TO GET MORPHINE AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS. THEY ARE THE LORDS EARTH ANGELS.
The politicians figured out away to make money from the so called prescription medication crisis.They are not going to stay out of it.Did’nt you get the memo?The politicians know more about you than your own doctor does.
The government and dea are evil. The so called drug war will not ever get no better it will get worse because they are the ones that bring the drugs and put them on the streets then follow who buys them then have there evil cops jail the addicts and buyers. They win twice. That’s why they have doctors deny the right to pain relief, so it forces people in pain to buy from them there drugs they put on the street and then jail people. They care nothing for human life, only there own and greedy evil ones like them selves. There prohibition is fake lies they make up so they can benefit off of human beings suffering. A way there evil will stop is if people join and front them and protest . If there is no protest with not enough voices nothing will change until they distroy the whole human race. Which they are going to anyhow. Because they are evil monsters. They don’t want no troops pulled out of Afghanistan/Iraq because they are guarding the poppy plantations they stole. Ever since we went there the poppy fields are thriving and the heroin is pouring into the USA. It’s obvious there drug war is all lies. They are the devil pure evil monsters. And doctors should be ashamed of themselves for helping them by denying pain patients the god given right to pain medication and not standing up for what is right and the path they took, which is to do no harm or hurt patients. There oath is hypocritical Whether they realize it or not they are helping torture there own loved ones. If they or there loved ones get hurt, sick or old well now they all have to suffer also or go buy on the street from the dea and be jailed. They are all evil for the inhumane torture and suffering they have caused pain patients they are evil tortureing monsters. How dare anyone deny another human being the right to pain relief. They are all pure evil torturers.
I don’t know if posting my story here now will help or not but I’m hoping it does. Because this needs to be heard very loud and very clear and in as many places as possible. I would not be here if not for pain medication. My pain is so bad that I go into delirious rages when it gets really bad yet AGAIN and I can’t get away from it yet AGAIN and I don’t want to go through it yet AGAIN and I beg everyone and everything around me to HELP ME because I’m NOT OK when I am in THIS much pain. The amount of rage that builds when you know exactly what you are in for because it happens so often and it’s more than you can handle…you just have no idea until you are put in that place. Do you really expect someone to keep on living in that kind of condition? I get 15mg of percocet a day…that’s it! And it’s been the same dose for 2 years. I have to cut it up to take small amounts throughout the day to take the edge off my pain. Apparently 3 bulging discs in my neck and at least 1 in my low back, along with sacroiliitis and problems with my SI Joints being overly mobile, bone spurs, calcifications and cysts are not enough prove that I’m a worthy enough human being to deserve the absolute mercy and compassion to be given enough pain medication to allow me to have any kind of quality of life at all. Apparently the fact that NSAIDS are not recommended for those who have had the gastric sleeve surgery as I have nor that my own genetics show I have a higher risk of intestinal bleeding with NSAID use, nor that my own mother has had bouts with intestinal bleeding that have landed her in the hospital on multiple occasions along with her nearly losing her life (they had such a hard time stopping the bleeding at one point that she was losing blood faster than they could put it back into her) are seen as good enough reasons for me to refuse to take any more of them (even though they barely even touch my pain and leave me horribly bloated with abdominal pain) and give doctors the right to label me as nothing but a drug seeker. Apparently my hypersensitivity to pain, which I have had since I was a child, cannot be proven well enough to be considered at all, even though again, my genetics show that I have the gene associated with being more sensitive to pain. So instead I am seen as a whiner and complainer. Cymbalta, Lyrica, Gabapentin and even low dose Naltrexone caused some pretty scary side effects without giving pain relief, but even though I broke out in a body wide rash and hives after taking Gabapentin, I seem to be shocking my doctors when I refuse to try them again and they can’t understand what is wrong with me, so I’m labelled with anxiety. Yeah ok, I guess when you have a bad experience and you’re faced with the same circumstances that caused it, you might have a bit of anxiety. So I guess the fact that I get more relief from Percocet than anything else I’ve ever tried (and I’ve been through all the injections, chiropractic care, physical therapy, massages, acupuncture etc) without any horrible side effects (minor constipation is easily controlled with magnesium) makes me a drug seeker. Isn’t anyone who seeks relief from medication then a drug seeker then? Take the medication away that is the only thing keeping me from jumping off a cliff, and you take away the only thing keeping me back from it. This is not a dramatization or someone trying to get attention. This is someone trying to stay alive…someone who wants to be here to live the rest of her life and grow old with her husband. This is someone who has been pushed so far past her limits that the fact that she is even still here is pretty dang amazing. This is someone who can’t understand why she is forced to suffer so much pain when she has nothing but love for others in her heart, who always tries to do the right thing, who would change the world for the better in a heartbeat if given the chance. This is someone who deserves a little compassion and care… because without it, she will break into so many pieces that she will never be whole again. And she has enough people who love her, that her pain will spread to all of those that will miss the someone she used to be when she was able to smile.
I Had my thyroid removed due to cancer. The. Incision was almost the was whole length of the front of my neck.
Mind you I had two c-section’s and with doc’s clearing the baby and myself
I was discharged a day and a half early. Meaning i was no wimp when it came to pain. This was 16 years ago. I did get pain meds that’s time though. After my thyroid cancer surgery no pain meds prescribe on the sane day surgery discharge. The next day (Friday) I was in so much pain I couldn’t not even lift myself off the couch or bed without excruciating pain. I called the surgeon the following day to tell Humberto I needed pain medicine. I didn’t not hear back from him until Monday. I no longer needed them but suffered severely with 5 kids to take care of. If you’re a woman you will get dismissed many times as anxiety or menopause, if you have Kids forget it. I have/had so many medical issue.
Cancer
Hypothyroidism
Fibromyalgia
Epstein Barr chronic
Vitamin d deficiency like nonexistent
Possibly ms or Lupas or another autoimmune
Actinetic keratosis/ pre or current skin cancer, not all biopsied multiple leisions.
Partial tear rotator
Arthritis (bad)
Neck disks out some back disk too.
Not one pain killer yet my husband has spinal stenosis that’s it got pain meds from the doctor on first visit and works behind a desk just like me
5/31/19
I have spinal stenosis,anklosing spondlysis,osteo arthritis,Placed on Fentanyl Patch 50mcg for severe pain,inability to walk, I use a walker most days, On good ones, My cane.Now I am bed ridden for one month since my PCP tapered my drug amt to half its life time. I have been taking since 2204. He suggests it will work for me because he has to abide, What about my quality of life one the line he is treading??? I am scared because he now is taking me to another quarter amt down, How can I live. I am on full disability for two years after working 18 years with this pain, I know how to deal with pain, however when a drug is used to improve that life and assist how is it better when I have no energy. I am racked with pain. I want to turn to alcohol which I cannot tolerate because I also have IBS which the Fentanyl was a godsend. Why? How can I help myself and others on this panel fight for our rights to live as normal as we are allowed to at someones elses gavel????
Your lucky , you got Pain meds from the beginning. . I have a Lower Spinal Cord Nerve Damage, that’s Degenerative. From a car accident 3yrs ago, someone ran full speed into the back of me , while I was stopped at an Stop Light. And now I’m deal with that, kidney stones and Fibermyalga in my upper shoulder region . Both sides, all the way up to the back of my head. , and the servere migraines every 2-3days. Asoon as the migraine goes away, it’s starts back up again. .
The only thing the Doctors will give me is Muslce Relaxers and Lidocaine Patches. . And now doctors have me on Dulexotine. Which really Clouds my thoughts & thinking. And a lot of times I miss Speak what I’m trying to say. And that makes my wife & I, . Argue alot. . Becuz she doesn’t think that medication does that to my thinking.. . And Dulexotine makes me really sleep ALL the time. . As soon as I sit down, I start falling asleep. . And it’s not helping my marriage but all the meds are making it worse. . . I just want some Pain Meds, to help with improving my quality of life. . I want to do things with my wife , with my grandsons. . . I’m just asking for a little bit of quality, and pain meds help. . But they won’t prescribe them. . . I’m doing the best I can and more. . Sometimes, I suck it up and try to be Happy on the outside. . When my inside are in Intense pain every day, every hour, every second. . .
And yes, I told my doctor all this. I’ve been thru 6 doctors already with 2 full MRI scans, ultraSounds and I lost count of All the CAT scans. . . Still No help. . . I need some to talk to. . I don’t what to do. . It’s taking a Very Large Toll on my wife. . And I feel like All this was just dumped on her, all of a sudden. . . rye.5056863177. . U can text me anytime. . If anyone wants to just text & chat. If you feel alone. . I’m here. . I’m always here. . Thanks 4reading.
Helol I have had Rhuemtiod arthities for 15 years I have been on humera and perkacets for 15 together I was doing vary well no pain at all but little till some one stole my prescription I went through the depression and withdraw after that and of course my doctor couldn’t refill my prescription for 30 days but with in the 30 days of my prescription being stolen from me my back shoulders blades and upper shoulder blades started to hurt I told my rheumatologist that my shoulder blades and upper shoulders started to hurt and this remember was in the 30 days of my opioids being stolen so any way I started to hurt in my back shoulder blades and upper back shoulders and this was the first time in 15 years I had been without a opioid in my system since someone stole them from me but anyway when I told my rheumatologist that my shoulder blades and my upper shoulders started to hurt me right after my prescription was stolen I was dignoed with firbomylaigai so who ever stole my prescription put me in a bad spot by making me go into withdraw and depression and withdraw witch a month later cause me to get fibromyalgia and I was able to get back on my meds 30 days later when I was able to refill them but boom they were stolen and two weeks later I had feibomylagia just because of that I was able to get back on my prescription 30 days when it was time to refill them but now I have fibromyalgia just because they were stolen from me and I had to go throught depression and stress and withdraw for 30 days and ended up with fibromyalgia two later and I’m back on my prescription but now they don’t work right no more do to the fact that now I firbo so what icam trying to say is that I got fibromyalgia from my perkacets being stolen from within two weeks time and now thstbi was able to get back on them 30 days later they don’t work no more because of fibromyalgia that i didn’t have to begin with at all till my prescription was stolen from me and that caused to get fibromyalgia
2 times someone stole your pain pills?? I had a similiar theft but not all my pain meds were stolen but just enough that i knew something was wrong and then i got a call from my sister in law friend who told me that my sister in law was handing out the opiate I was on like candy to her girl friends and wanted them all to take the Methadone tablets at the same time to get high! This friend knew i was the only person she knew that took Methadone for pain and i took the least amount daily even though I was on a heavy dose back then but I did not like having to dependant on meds as I suffered Cluster Headaches that I had been seen by some well known cluster headache specialist on the eastern coast but the surgery was not a option to severe my facial nerves so pain doctor put me on Methadone as my Oxycodone dose had gotten out of hand and never really worked for me, but Methadone was a great pain reliever without the side effects that narcotics usually give patients. I was so angry that I told my husband ” I am sick of these addicts , what is going on with this country and the prescription abuse??” So i went off Methadone probably taking about 80mg to 100mg day cold turkey flushed the bottle down the toilet and luckily never had withdrawals . 1 time someone stole from me pain meds would be the last and doctors are not going to fill opiates for you if this keeps happeneing and as far as Fibro the cause of being without pain meds !! I hardly believe that would happen as Fibro is given for patients as a diagnosis I would be rather insulted to labeled as because thye will give that to a patient who complains of pain . I wonder if your doctor thinks you are abusing your meds to get high as you are showing drug seeking behavior. This type of behavior hurts patients with real chronic pain issues as doctors and nurses have to have good assessment skills in the speciality of pain as there are way to many abusers out there saying someone stole my pills? I hope you contacted the police and offer a blood drug tests to show no opiates in your system. There are ways that doctors can weed out the abusers but not all do. And the pill mill and GREEEDY money hungry doctors , pill mill owners are another isssue in the war on opiates, and lastly patients families suing opiate dru makers esp Oxycodone makers for millions because thier son or daughter died!! GIVE mE A BREAK !! These parents should of raised there children better or gave them more tough love and not bending to the manipulation of these kids who want something for nothing and have not a bit respect for themselves let alone human kind. Be glad they are dead as 1 less thieve causing decent people heartache. This country is no longer a Democracy as our govt has there hands and noses in all phases of our lives including medical diagnosis and who should be treated for pain. There needs to be Palliative care for chronic pain patients and even hospice if they just want pain relief but no cure .
Who the hell do you think you are? YOU REALLY THINK THAT ITS THE PARENTS FAULT,LET 1ST START BY SAYING YOUR A DAMN LIE IF YOU WAS ON 100MG IF METHADONE A DAY AND YOU JUST SAID I QUIT AND FLUSHED THEM.ID WOULD OF HAD TO SEE THAT AND YOU SAID YOU HAD NO WITHDRAWALS THAT A FLAT OUT LIE LADY.IDK HOW LONG YOU WAS ON THEM BUT LET ME TELL YOU I WAS ON 180MG FOR 10 YEARS AT A CLINIC THEN FINALLY FOUND A GOOD PAIN DOCTOR WHO PUT ME ON 60MG TWICE A DAY AND THEY WORKED JUST FINE.THEN HE LEFT SO I WENT THOU WITHDRAWALS AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE.THE PAIN ON TOP OF WITHDRAWING WAS A NITE MARE THE SHITS NO ENERGY DEPRESSION CEYING SPELLS AND THE THROWING UP PLUS NOT ABLE TO EAT DRY HEAVES AND THIS DIDNT JUST LAST A WEEK OR TWO WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MONTHS. SO YOU CAN LIE TO SOMEONE ELSE. AS FAR AS THE PARENTS BEING RESPONSIBLE LADY YOUR CRAZY AS HELL DO YOU REALLY THINK ANY PARENT WANTS THEIR CHILDREN ON AND KIND 9F DRUG?I HAVE 2 WONDERFUL SMART SONS AND I THANK GOD EVERYDAY THAT THEY SEEN HOW MEDICINE TORE MY LIFE APART AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM WOULD TOUCH AND DRUG AND YES IM A PARENT THAT WOULD BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR BOTH OF THEM. HAVE YOU DONE ANY KIND OF RESEARCH ON ADDICTION? IM GUESSING NOT OR YOU WOULDN’T OF POSTES SUCH A STUPIED ass response. And who do you think you are God to even question the man who says his Medicine was stolen twice didn’t you say your own Medicine was stolen well it happens just be glad it only happened to you once.Do you REALLY think anyone wants to wake up and that be the first thing they reach for is Medicine in order to even get out of bed well it’s not some people REALLY have that much PAIN and yes there’s those who don’t have pain but are addicted to medication they can’t help themselves and with people like you degrading them damn sure doesn’t help.So I beg you to do some research on ADDICTION and PAIN Medicine before you post anything else.
Oh are you a doctor? I didn’t think so,how can you say that that man didn’t get crap fibromyalgia?And I think you may need to pick up a Bible and read it and ask for some forgiveness how dare you say one less Thief?I’ll be praying for you and your family cuz you need the lord in your live and if you happen to attend church your going to the wrong one
I am 36 years old and have been on methadone for 11 years for pain. My doctor is retiring in 2 months. I’m scared I won’t find another doctor. I know it’s going to be hard. I’m not sure how to even go about it as my pcp says he can’t refer me to another pcp only pain management which is in another county. Far drive… I have seen this pcp and this pcp alone since I was 3 years old. Any suggestions on how to go about finding a new doctor? My current pcp has lowered me from 80mg a day to 50 over the last 6 months since he knew about the retirement. It’s been fine and I can stay on 50 a day. No other pcp will except me in this same clinic. He told me that the other doctors were paid incentives and bonuses to NOT PRESCRIBE narcotics! Is that even legal? If so it shouldn’t be. That’s like saying make your patient suffer just to make more money. I couldn’t believe that was even true. I have less respect for those doctors and the ppl that created this. In this economy ppl wouldn’t turn that down. That was also given to take ppl off their meds. My doctor said he didn’t care about that extra money and didn’t take one single narcotic patient off their meds. He said all his patients were stable and that would be inhumane and unfair to choose. Thank God I had a compassionate doctor. Anyway any tips would be great!
Sounds like you have it all figured out.
Cathy,
To call someone’s child a thief and say they should be glad they’re dead Is reprehensible. I hope you don’t have children because your parenting skills are deplorable and not up to par.
IF you were ever on methadone, as you claim, you would’ve gone through withdrawals so severe that death would’ve been a relief.
Also, it’s not greedy doctors causing all of this opioid hysteria, they’re victims in this political nonsense as many patients are.
Try researching this subject a little bit before getting into a public discussion about it, if you can comprehend what you’re reading that is.
You have to make a police report and and gave to Doctor!! You have right s 1984
A police report proves that you files a police report – nothing else.
I have RA. OA had a back fusion, ankle fusion. Bilateral knee caps removed. Shoulder rebuilt rotator cuff and grafts. Going to have a shoulder replacement. All with no analgesics. I quit breathing on the Demerol, morphine group and get and acute lower belly pain on all else. Except tylenol. ice packs. Were my relief and loud Russian classical music. It can be done. Tough tho’
Dear Rylan, I am on generic Cymbalta/Duluxetine also for pain relief and major depression due to chronic pain. This drug makes me super sleepy and confused and fuzzy so you can show this to your wife! You are not to blame for misspeaking one bit! I just moved from Illinois to Pennsylvania and the pain Docs here in Erie so far will not prescribe pain meds! I’m lucky I have extra Percocet but my fentanyl patch which gives me a good quality of life is out in three days. The PROP proposal is nuts! I am going to write to the FDA against this. I feel bad for you and hope you are eventually able to get the pain meds you need! You can email me anytime and if I’m up I will respond! Good luck, Marybeth K.
God blees Ryan .H may things improve for u brother…much love Mr.Lynn
Rylan, just read your blog and identify with your pain. I don’t think you gave your age. I am a 75 year old woman
With similar sounding issues. I would list them all but this site would cut me off! Just know that I’ve lived with chronic pain since roughly voting age. I didn’t know I had double scoliosis until a man backed his car into me knocking me under it. My boyfriend insisted that I be tested immediately. That’s when I found out I have this hideous spine, either from birth or childhood. On that day I had no idea what lay ahead for me. At 59 I had required fusion surgery. After, the surgeon said he would have had a logical cause to have performed the surgery from skull to below coccyx
It is a dreadful recovery— five months. At that time he prescribed morphine. It is a minimum dose but I’ve never asked for more. Each of my doctors agreed with the validity of this drug, no one has questioned it. But now, with this administration cracking down I don’t know what lies ahead.. I’ve been with my primary care doctor for 31 years and an already grieving that he will retire in two years. So, who knows what his replacement will do re morphine. It has never made me feel high so I can’t identify with those who do have that reaction, Ie addiction. Also, I have Arthritis, stenosis, spondylitis and fibromyalgia. There’s more but enough said. Recently, a fracture entered the panoply and it has ramped up every spinal condition many times over. I may have brought some of this on myself as I’m a type A person who has pushed myself all my life. A teacher was my first career, then raising two children with my then husband but I did the child rearing. Called to ordained ministry,I got a MDiv Degree cum laude
I worked too hard and health declined, pain increased, had two sinus surgeries- the second was to save my life, cancer etc etc. I loved pastoral ministry ( Presbyterian USA) but had to give it up. But I chaplained for hospice and started my own counseling practice which included supporting those dealing with breast cancer. In summers I assisted the pastor of my local church in our Oregon summer home. I’ve underwritten a great jazz festival in Newport Oregon. During my life I’ve volunteered for many charities. Etc etc. I might not be in this painful state had I slowed down but I never knew how and I wouldn’t change any of it. I will pray for you—?that you find relief and joy that is hiding under all that suffering. Not empty words. I really will. When I get down, as I am now dealing with this fracture and on seventh bout of CDiff.. if you don’t know it, look it up. It now surpasses MRSA as number one global killer. It helps many in our situation (s) to keep a journal. Share your pain and mental suffering with it. You’ll find yourself finding some joy and gratitude you didn’t know were in you all the time, giving you strength for each new day.
If my server isn’t down, you’ll get this. Just knowing someone is out there who’s been through it all and cares.
May life begin to feel worth getting up in the morning! Blessings, Rev.
And they wonder why some people turn to the streets. Call me crazy but I’d rather have them stand in line for percocet 4x a day then give them safe injection sites and the ability to get stoned out of their mind, and pass out on the
sIdewalks with the needles, still stuck in their arm. Will it stop the high seekers? NO!!!! Nothing will, except them. It will help the millions of people suffering in pain again after years of managed pain and better quality of life. It’s certainly better than what they are doing now! Going to make the heroin problem worse. Watch and see. Guarantee it.
I agree 100 percent! And the sad thing is that they know it!!!
Good for you. Admire you. God bless. I do silversmithing as hobby. Disabled from 1993 with multiple surgeries (orthopedic) and post polio syndrome. (You get weaker and weaker). I take no pain medication Cannot.
I can relate to your story. I have had the same primary care doctor for over 15 years. I have been on hydrocodone and Valium for longer than that and have never had any problems with my pain as long as I took my medicine. I have degenerative disc disease with arthritis of the spine from a serious injury since 1979. I also had sciatica from the spine injury which is now eliminated due to they pain medication. It doesn’t take away all the pain but it makes life tolerable. The valium, usually for anxiety or muscle relaxant, has helped in conjunction with the hydrocodone. I also have been diagnosed with arthritis in one knee and in one hand. My doctor monitors me once a year and has me sign a contract stating that I will not do any of the following:
Sell the pills
Taking meds prescribed
Do not loan or give them to a friend
Do not discard unless I give them to him if I decide to stop taking them which I would never do the first place. I hope you feel better and get a doctor who will help you. God bless you
I don’t think our pain is being considered. They’re only focusing on people with drug problems. I started having problems in 2008, after an auto accident. The first diagnosis was chronic spasms & fibromyalgia. I ‘ve had 2 bottles of hydrocodone & about 3 to 4 bottles of Tramadol,this was several years ago. When the doctors tried to prescribe stronger meds, I declined. I have osteoarthritis in my neck, back, knees & hands, cervical/ lumbar degenerative disc disease, cervical bulging disc, stenosis, narrowing of the spine, cervical radiculopathy, carpal tunnel in hands to elbow, small fiber neuropathy, myofascial pain syndrome, Connective tissue disease/Lupus, Sjogrens autoimmune disease, Raynaud’s disease, bone spurs in neck, cervical rib, hypercalmia, hyper parathyroid disease supposedly Complex regional pain syndrome, hiatal hernia cervicalgia, dry eyes, burning face & mouth from Sjogrens, cervicogenic headaches, etc, etc. Just had a full body NM scan. I’m in pain everyday, burning, numb, ache and needle sticks. My rheumatologist offered me tramadol. All test for inflammation were elevated. The rheumy has 53 condirions listed in my records, all proven, except CRPS. My autoimmune diseases are active. & verypainful. The patients that need pain medications aren’t getting them & suffering. Now that I can’t take the pain anymore, I’m getting the run around, so disappointing. They should treat every case different. Good luck everyone!
I’m 33 years old and have been on Percocet for 5 years and my pain has been stable. I was borderline suicidal before I was started on the pain medicine because living constant pain and unable to work or live life and take care of your kids is a depressing ordeal. I’m definitely not the suicidal type! I have bilateral pars defect, spondolysthesis and severe forarminal narrowing. I’m a nurse and have been for over 10 years. I have never abused my pain meds and never asked for a dose increase. I even got steroidal spinal injections that I had to pay 300$ a pop for on my own free will just to attempt to get some relief and I’m petrified of needles it was very traumatizing but I thought the benefit vs risk would be worth it. If you’re in enough pain u will do whatever it takes this I know. Now 5 years later my doctor is telling me that because I’m under 45 and don’t have cancer I can all of a sudden not have my pain medicine. I feel for all the cancer patients truly but I may not have cancer but I still have chronic pain everyday even with the pain medicine but it does make it at least manageable. I’m a single mom and I depend on my medicine to get me through and be able to support my kids. I had thought about surgery prior to getting started on the medicine but my doctor told me I was entirely too young that I would continue to have to have surgery over and over and at this point I was married and could have had the surgery with support. Now I’m a single mom with no help being taken off the only thing helping me be able to live a semi normal life and be able to function. I can’t be out of work for surgery!! My quality of life is going to be awful to the point I’m sure my kids would probably be better off with my insurance money. I honestly believe by doing this they r gonna see a increase in Suicides. Why are we being punished because of these idiots wanting to get high and overdosing. If u have proven problems on your scans then u should be able to have your medicine!! My doctor keeps telling me that I’m 33 and opioid dependent in this past year and before she completely understood my pain and now I feel like she’s talking junk to me like I’m a dope head saying that oh your pain isn’t that bad and the medicine makes you think it’s worse. Well it damn sure was that bad before I was ever started on the pill but what do I know I guess they just started me on them for no reason from the beginning. She has changed to the point that she has no compassion at all since these laws changed. Yeah I just woke up one day and said I wanna get hooked on pills…. I mean come on! I became scared when she said she was doing a GDR and she’s like see u wouldn’t be like that if u weren’t opioid dependent! Ok well after 5 years of taking them I’m sure I am but I’m scared for my quality of my life and my kids. I just wanna be able to work!! I guess I’m gonna have to become a alcoholic now because there is no way I can live in constant pain with no relief. This world is becoming so sad to the point where people that actually need meds can’t get them. Please someone do something!! I just hope one day the ones that are passing these laws find themselves in our shoes.
I’m also sure we will see a increase in people getting on disability because my issues are covered under disability but when I have my pain medicine I can work!! Don’t they see what they are doing!!! Well I’m sure now the disability laws and covered diagnosis will Change also.
I feel you girl! There should be a law to protect us too not just the doctors! We all need to stand up against this! We all need to go to the board or whomever it is! They should not get paid to forget our pain as well, so unfair!
We should not be cut off by our doctors if we have been on pain meds for so long! This is what we need laws set in place to protect us against this!
I see a new doctor today actually so I’m praying it goes well.
Surely there is a doctor out there that will accept you and will continue to write them. Don’t give up hope keep your head up! Good luck and God bless! I will give an update after my appt.
Bless your heart
I too have a lot of your same diagnoses…with
The most recent being Lupus…& now our home has been “diagnosed ” a mold infested
Living quarters. 🙁
I thank God everyday that I have a nurse practitioner/GP that LISTENS to me & truly believe my pain….. not a day goes by that I worry that it will be taken away from me.
I never want to Resort to drinking as beer has gluten in it and all it does is make me tired that opiates help me keep going for the day and get things done. I pray that you get
The help that you deserve!
TAKE CARE! Stacey
I survived stage 4 cancer RADIATION & CHEMO I used to seat in the waiting room for my name to be called and I would listen to others talking about nerve damage that they never had before cancer I used to think to myself what are these people talking about well after my testament where over with I know now what they where talking about because I had to see a bone & joint Dr. and to make a long story short after 3 failed back surgery and all kinds of infections that Dr came in and sat down and told me he was sorry but he can’t fix me and can’t see me anymore so I asked what are where to I go from here he sent me to a pain mgt Dr and for the first time after I told him all my pain is on my left butt bone for the first time a Dr didn’t laugh at me he just told me I’m not the first person to come in with the pain you are having and me and my Dr talk about everything just the other day I told him I don’t understand why do they want to take something away from me that helps me get around everyday and like I told him people are out there right now taking there own life’s because they can’t deal with there pain and right now I feel the same way but I’m to big of a coward to do it I’m sorry I live in Louisiana and by law they don’t or not aloud to let people that are in poison suffer in fact they are talking about putting A/c on deaf row but people like myself have no choice but to live with it are do like so many others take your own life and if you go to the ER there is a good chance of you getting laughed at you go in there with butt pain and see what happens I was fighting mad because a ER DOCTOR LAUGHING AT YOU when I find nothing funny about it now I’m begging for help I’m 60yo and I have had like 30 surgery’s in my life and like I told my dr. I don’t or need anything to get me high I just can’t deal with this pain I am begging is there any one out there that maybe they can help me or talk to me before it’s to late because I’m just about to the point of giving up on my life I have a beautiful daughter and granddaughter that are the love of my life thank y’all so much for listening I pray that y’all are very blessed and maybe just maybe our lord Jesus Christ will come riding in before to much longer thank you and may god bless you
I totally agree with you,I also have quite a few things that you do and I suffer daily all I ask for is a lil bit stronger pain medication than tramadol it doesn’t do anything but I can’t get anything stronger I’m only 41 yrs old and waited tables for a living and boy if I’d known the toll it was taking on my body I would have changed professions yes ago.Im from Texas and the laws here are horrible. Your right they’re not worried about the ppl that really need PAIN Medicine just about ADDICTION or the addict’s. I WILL SAY THIS NO ONE WISHES TO BE ADDICTED TO ANY KIND OF DRUG ITS IN OUR MAKEUP SOME OF US HAVE TO HAVE MEDICINE TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE I DON’T HAVE GRANDBABIES YET BUT MY OLDEST SON IS 24 SO ITS GETTING CLOSE FOR THAT PART OF MY LIFE AND BEG PRAY TO GOD DAILY TO TAKE THE PAIN AWAY AND LET ME ENJOY MY LIFE WITH MY FAMILY AND I KNOW THAT HE WILL ANSWER MY PRAYERS WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT,I KNOW WE’RE NO SUPPOSE TO QUESTION HIM BUT ITS VERY HARD AT TIMES.ILL KEEP YOU ALL IN MY PRAYERS.GOD BLESS YOU ALL…
Well me and my wife set here reading all of these reply’s and find our selves in the same boat
sinking when they cut our morphine so low we want to die and quit living in PAIN.
We were very active sex and outgoing fishing hunting.
All we Can look for now is PAIN
We Are 65 and 70 years old
How will it end Like Hitler as our gov.
Bring back Vicodin as a schedule III opiate for pain patients.
Give Pain Doctors and Neurologists the ability to prescribe Vicodin for those who cannot get out of bed without an opiate painkiller.
I cannot vote for this administration again, because you took away my doctor’s ability to do his job, because you allowed the CDC guidelines to override the FDA. I want to vote for you again, but if another candidate promised pain patients the personal relationship with a doctor willing to do his or her job, given the ability to prescribe opiates without the fear of losing his license, I would have to vote for that candidate.
I am glad to see that many people are being helped by medical marijuana, but I do not want to live my life out of touch with reality.
I used to take opiates when it was legal for my doctor to prescribe them, and I was active in law. I was able to raise a smart child and musician who is now looking at schools to earn his Doctorate. I did not abuse my pain medication. I took it as prescribed.
These new SNRIs drastically change my personality. I don’t recognize myself at times because they cause ups and downs that are drastic and embarrassing. Lyrica can even cause brain lesions. Please allow us to be treated fairly instead of killed off slowly.
I honestly believe that the opiate crisis began when sites began popping up on the internet in the 90’s. An addict could get 120 Oxycodone sent to them for $99 overnight. Think of how easy it became to have those opiates sent to your door, then order again and again from different sites, to get more even sooner. Sometimes I shudder when I do the arithmetic. I believe Obama’s administration got many of those awful sites shut down, so people went on the dark web. Then you came along as our President and called out the opiate crisis. Now nobody can get pills online, but they are killing themselves with Heroin. Kind doctors who have practiced for decades have gone to jail or lost their license.
Through all of this, I am here, being told I am a model patient…. Of course I am. I am in pain, so I show up for my appointments, I pay hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars in medical bills, I never refill a medication early; you see, even if I wanted to, there is a database linked to all of the pharmacies in the country which will alert the pharmacist that it is too soon to fill by law. Thirdly, there is my insurance, which will not let me fill a medication too soon: this sets off an alarm to the pharmacist, should we miss the first two safeguards (the first one being ME). You really do have current and future patients covered from any fraudulent activity, so why not allow the doctors to prescribe a 48 year old woman the only medicine that allowed her to have a life, freeing her from pain?
People who abuse drugs are abusing themselves. That’s a tragedy. I pray science can figure it out. When I was 22, I was hit by a drunk driver. My spine has never been the same. I was so young… newly married and our son was on the way. I swore by the time I was fifty I would have a titanium spine. Well, I guess I’m not the best soothsayer in the land.
I sure wish my letter would make a difference for Vicodin as a schedule III drug. As long as you have been sent to a neurologist, pain specialist, or specialist for your particular injury, then have your primary doctor prescribe it, knowing there are safeguards in place that will not let anyone fill it any earlier than 28 days.
Since my doctor has been prescribing medical marijuana, I have walked in and could smell skunky weed on people. I would be horrified, and my family would be mortified if I went around town with them, smelling like a total loser. I just want to stay in my right mind and be that good and organized patient I know I can remain. I have gone through a miserable ten years, without adequate pain relief. I am stuck in my home, and the pain makes me cry, scream, and pray like I’m in a foxhole. Every day. I want to be useful in any small way. Every human wants a job to do. Please allow my doctor to prescribe me Vicodin again, so I can walk without crying out. I am begging to just allow me another shot at life. I’m so great with people. I am too young to be put away on the shelf. I don’t want to talk about getting angry or sad about it, because I believe in prayer. Either God will heal me, or He will get me the medicine I need. Thank you
There are no doctors currently who will prescribe marijuana. Marijuana at current time is illegal on the federal level. I personally asked my pain management doctor about this and he said he would lose his license if he prescribed marijuana, as would any other mainstream doctor currently in practice. . Even though mj is legal in my state, it is illegal at the federal level. Until that changes, no regular pain management doc or internist or any other mainstream doc will “prescribe” it. I then asked him who does prescribe medical marijuana? He said only doctors who have either already lost their licenses and are practicing outside the bounds of what is considered normal medical practice or someone who is working for a shady medical marijuana certification program that basically sells the medical card to a patient (it’s legal to do this, but it’s still not something that mainstream doctors are involved in due to MJ being federally illegal). So, it’s important that people realize this who may be thinking about getting a medical mj card. You will need to look outside your regular doctor’s office for these cards. And then you will have to pay up, similar to getting a license, and also it has to be renewed every year. And of course, none of this is covered by any medical insurance, so pain patients are being ripped off badly in dispensaries, being charged upwards of $50 or more dollars for 10 edible gummies and so on and so forth. And most of it either doesn’t work or zonks people out or is inconsistent and overhyped as it how much it actually targets severe pain. On top of that, all the pain patients now chasing CBD oil and getting ripped off again and again. Going thru all this nonsense when a reliable prescription for opiates is covered by insurance and is usually not expensive. And it WORKS reliably for most pain patients for years and years with zero adverse problems. This entire situation MUST END and end NOW!
The other side of the opioid crisis
I am a chronic pain sufferer and have been on pain management, since 2014. I have a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering, and attended a Masters Degree program for Teaching. I was a public school teacher for 10 years. I worked in a public High School and a public Junior High School (Middle School). I broke up a fight between two young men in the Middle School, and from that point on I have had medical issues that will be with me for the rest of my life. I have had two (2) back surgeries with complications/neurological issues and I am disabled. I need additional surgeries, but I am trying to put off future surgery, because of past complications from the surgeries and neurological damage. I have cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy, chronic bilateral low back pain with bilateral sciatica, brachial neuritis or radiculitis, cervicalgia, degenerative disc disease (lumbar), low back pain, lumbar radiculitis, lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy, cervical spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis of spine/knees/hands, displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc, displacement of cervical intervertebral disc, osteoarthritis, migraines, and on top of those issues, fibromyalgia, heart murmur, palpitations (heart), hypothyroid.
I have been stable on the Fentanyl patches and Percocet for approximately (4) four years, and recently (April 2019) my pain management doctor cut my Fentanyl medication in half, due to fear of reprisal from government retaliation (due the guidelines being lowered for opioids.) I was not given a choice to stay on my current dose. I was told that I had to lower my medication or leave the practice. I was told by my pain management physician that they received a blanket letter from the CDC saying that all their patients have to be under 90 MME restriction. I was informed by my doctor that they will keep cutting my doses in half until I am eventually down to approximately 60/75 MME. I am very vigilant with locking up my medication so that no one else has access to it. My pain management doctor drug tests me almost every time I walk into the doctors office (I go to pain management every 4 weeks), and the my drug tests are correct with what is prescribed. In the past I have tried a plethora of things, physical therapy, injections, NSAIDS (allergic to-hives), different medications, etc. and nothing has helped the pain. I do not want to be on medication, this is not how I planned to live my life, but this is what I was dealt, and it helps me get through the day. The medication does not take the pain away, it only takes the edge off so that I can function a little.
During the past (4) four years, I have been able to get out of bed, shower, cook dinner most nights, (I feel a healthy diet of fresh vegetables, and home cooked meals control what goes into my body), simple cleaning tasks, walk around my yard and talk to my neighbors, shop for food, drive short distances to my doctors/grocery stores, visit with my immediate family, take care of my husband who has dementia. I could do the little things in life that normal people take for granted. Since the drop of my Fentanyl (in half) my quality of life has changed drastically. This current dose is inadequate for my pain. I have this burning/knawing pain in my spine that is restless/uncontrollable, and on and off stabbing/throbbing chronic pain in my extremities from the arthritis. When I try to use my hands, like covering myself with a blanket, I get an uncontrollable pain in my hands. When I walk my knees and spine pain are unbearable. I can not sleep, I might get two (2) hours at best since the drop in my medication, due to the pain keeping me awake. I am currently bed bound/chair bound and crying most of the day. I do not go any where, or do anything, because the pain is tremendous and it is unbearable and makes me cry. I do not cook, I do not visit with anyone, due the pain. I truly wish that you could walk a few days in my body and feel the pain that I am in, and what I have to live with, the burning/knawing/constant pain in my spine, and pain of arthritis in my arms, hands, feet, and knees. My quality of life and function has decreased drastically.
The quoted statics about illegal drug abusers, I am not one of those statics. I am only trying to improve the quality and function of my life, and I was doing that until now. Quoting statics does not help my quality of life, we are not all round pegs going into a round holes, some of us are square pegs. The laws have to be changed, so that doctors and each individual can decide by looking at their individual health situation. My Health conditions were not even considered by anyone before my medications were dropped. Even pharmacists are making decisions on my medications, and do not have copies of my MRI, or medical records.
We (Chronic Pain Patients) really need everyone’s help (we don’t feel good and can’t fight for ourselves). We need help to restore the doctor-patient relationship.
The opioid crisis should be divided into two (2) groups, one being heroin/illegal fentanyl and the other is chronic pain management patients controlled by their doctor. The chronic pain management patients should not be penalized by people who abuse street drugs. The doctors should be allowed to make that decision patient by patient without the government interfering. The real problem is not with chronic pain patients, but with the illegal drugs that are causing deaths. Please take a look at the strictest states and see their death toll has only risen. You are hurting the people who truly need the prescriptions to function, because of the people who abuse street drugs. The guidelines are changing for political reasons to show that the government is containing the epidemic and not helping the chronic pain patients that are truly and most vulnerable and in need. Please help me. This is a plea for sanity.
im in the same boat.reading your story made me cry hysterically because its my story and thousands others .the only choices are illegal drugs,suicide.they dont give a damm about us.i pray for you as well as everyone else who is in this because of greedy doctors who started this with their phony pai clinics and we are being punished for it.god bless you
Wow, ten years ago, you were me. I have been dealing with the same list of issues since 2001. Finally submitted to L5-s1 fusion in 2009 which failed and hardware replaced with larger titanium rods and screws and include a plate in front it the spine in 2010. This also failed but now I have additional nerve damage in my abdomen and lower back. It feels like I have a constant current running from my low back down both legs to feet. In addition, I now have crps in both legs so they are burning and on fire without Prednisone which I can no longer take. I have gone online and researched everything and thank God I found DMSO and NAC which really help my Crps. Unfortunately, without bathing in it 5 times a day, I can’t easily treat my back with it. Now my pain docs who I have been seeing since 2001 have decided I need to have my oxy cut down to 90 mme. Each month, my doc drops it by 2 pills which is nice and slow but now I don’t have anything for flare-ups and since I am reducing my meds my Norm has gone from 3 or 4 to 6 or 7 on a daily basis and every time I get up, my pain increased to the point where my limit is now less than 5 minutes. The amount of stuff you can do in 5 minutes is nothing! I can’t clean, I can’t cook, I haven’t worked for years so obviously can’t do that but simple things like checking my email or watering my deck plants is impossible. My doctors are so scared if losing their licenses and getting arrested that they will not go against the recommendation even though these recommendations are for new and not existing chronic pain manegment. We are all looked at as just a bunch of opioid losers and it makes no difference what our quality of life is. It doesn’t seem to make much difference if suicide rates are up, or if heroin and fetnayl street use is up. All that matters now is that legal users of “opioids” have to be reduced so we can look like a nation that has controlled our drug problems. How ridiculous that street drugs are being ignored now because it is so much easier to bust doctors and patients. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck. You may want to try an otc supplement called PEA . It seems to be helping me. It takes about 5 weeks to get the right amount in your system but it seems to definitely be helping. I also tried CBD oil which has no THC but that didn’t work for me as well as for others. It’s also very expensive. It did help my sleep the first couple of nights but that was it for me. Really hope you hang on and hopefully this is a temporary F***up that will be fixed soon. Best Wishes we
I truly feel for you. I have a medical condition that is called the suicide disease. That is named this because most suffers end up taking there own lives because they aren’t able to take the pain. In the first sentence of the definition state that it produces the most painful sensation known to medical science. When I first got diagnosed after 5 long unrealistically painful random episodes in my mouth area. I had at this point spent about 25k having root canals and Apeco root canals wisdom teeth removed. Every sinus scan known. I hooked up with a Neurosurgeon that is the cutting edge of treatment and diagnosing TRIJIMENIAL nuerolga I believe that is the spelling.i was finally put on radiation gamma knife treatment and put on methadone for 13 yrs. I never had done any drug period in my life. So I never took more than I was prescribed I never failed drug tests. I don’t drink smoke or anything illicit at all. I got a letter that my doctor would no longer see me because he didn’t see any titrations happening with my case over the treatment times. Well I would guess not because I asked for 10 yrs please can we start titrations now to get me off these. He laughed at me as he said then why would you need me anymore this is how we make money. Chuckle chuckle. I wanted to go rap his mother when I read his release letter to me in the mail. Not to my face or during a visit in the mail.
KO, I’m so sorry you suffer. PLEASE START TAKING MAGNESIUM. Try a minimum of 600-800 MG Day ( I take about 1,000). It won’t come close to curing all your pain but many of the symptoms you noted can be a result of magnesium deficiency. There’s only a trace amount in multiple vitamins and it’s farmed Our of our food. It will also help with constipation from opioids.
LOOK UP MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS. ( which include, A-Fib, heart problems, sleep problems, Anxiety, Memory loss MAG L-THREONATE on line only, Fatigue, Migraines, Headaches, Raises good cholesterol/lowers bad and doesn’t destroy like statins, RELIEVES THOSE CHARLIE HORSES AND MUSCLE CRAMPS too. Lowers BP and natural food cholesterol/Insulin processor.
I take about 200 mg of
Magnesium Oxide or Citrate for bowel regularity. Can get those at your local grocery store.
Magnesium Glycinate or Glyconate or Taurate are excellent forms that do NOT have the laxative effect.
Magnesium L-Threonate crosses the blood/brain barrier directly. Developed at MIT by a researcher who Reversed Memory Loss in lab animals plus helps all the above…except not a laxative.
60% in our bones. 30% in muscle/tendon. 9% soft tissue and brain/nervous system. Only about 1% in blood and .33% in blood serum used for Blood tests.
Your pain doctor will be thrilled!
I also “ feel your pain” about the real people in Pain vs the drug-pleasure/profiteers from selling there meds dilemma. The DEA makes it really difficult for regular doctors and medical providers ( even optometrists, dentists, GP who can prescribe opioids ) to manage acute pain for patients. It takes an extra 5-10 minutes just to check a central data base Before prescribing or they get in trouble by state boards too. Then the Pharmacist has to check a patients opioid/Benzo history again.
PS. Don’t do a finger stick blood test that can easily test Negative for opioids at your screenings. I think 1) It just doesn’t measure accurately and 2) they can’t charge BIG Bucks for all the drug panels on the Pee test. If you test negative then they will make you return in one month or kick you out of the pain management clinic. Then you’ll be trying to buy some off a malingerer and that’s the other half that cause the chaos in the first place.
God loves you. Keep your sense of humor. Seriously, LOOK UP MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS.
Hello I have seen both sides.
I have occipital neuralgia, Dystonia among other things, i have had 2 crainiotomies to “fix” Growing masses in my left frontal sinus cavity and back of head. I have had severe pain for the last 15 yrs. I can tell you that i have tried every non-prescription medication and “labrat idea” doctors came up with. (3)pain management, (1)Personal Physician, (3) ENTs, (6) Neurologist, (1)Brain Surgeon, (3) physical Therapist, (4) psychiatrists all in the first.2 years of my living nightmare. I can tell you magnesium didn’t help me at all but it did help me gain unwanted. weight. I tried exercises but they made me feel more pain, I’ve done and tried almost everything and I’m so tired. I’m 56yrs old and so tired of fighting severe pain 24/7 I cry to God ” Please fix me or kill me”
The other side is ugly top.. My brother died from heroine OD. Why can’t this be fixed? The drug dealers are making too much $$ if they busted & executed the dealers that crap would stop fast. If drug companies would be held accountable for every pill, mg,, mcg and cut the prices then that should help. .most addicts are selfmedicating? Why??Addicts need treatment and punishment. If they can be saved and their minds aren’t total mush let them work in a mental hospital or the morgue cleaning the dead bodies of OD. Victims. Make them watch a counselor interact wIth the child, mother, father, brother or sister of an OD victim.
Brutal, to cast such a nasty brow toward someone “the addict” who is only a few steps ahead of you, managing. (deep sympathy for your brother) but think about it…. why would a petty drug dealer who hustles for every drug deal….kill all his paying clients????? It wasn’t him, it is the beast we all need to unite and destroy, not each other.
Ask yourself….did the addict take your meds? No, the big good ole boys at the top of our pyramid did.
The addict has a disability just like you.
We hurt, just like you,
we cry from deep within, just like you
we feel alone, just like you
We are judged by how media has portrayed us, just like you
We cry out to God, just like you
They tell me I’m an addict because I ask doctors to manage 4 herniated discs.
They snatched my pain control, then put me on a drug that classifies me as an addict.
Am I an addict for needing pain meds??? no, but they need a voice too, just like you.
Amen, please update your story as my wife is in the same situation thank you Brian in Tennessee,brianlineberry10@gmail.com
Amen to you. I am in the same situation. My pain management doctor cut my opioids and half also. I don’t understand why we’re getting put in with people that are abusing medication and dying from it this is how I survive with my medication just like you. I feel like I’m not living anymore because I can’t do the stuff I was doing which of the opioids helped me to do and maintain my home and my lifestyle. it’s just like when you’re at work when somebody abuses a good thing everybody gets punished for it. Thank you for writing such a beautiful article I feel for you
Very powerful statement. You took the words right out of my mouth. How many suicides, I wonder, will it take to wake up the medical community? I only take Tramadol, basically the aspirin of the opioid world, and they are going to take that away from me. I have severe Fibromyalgia (unbearable, even with the meds), and arthritis in my neck and lower spine. I also have multiple disc issues – and they are pressing against nerves in my back. The pain is agonizing even with the Tramadol. I cannot imagine how much more pain I will experience with NOTHING for pain. I’ve been treated like a drug addict, accused of abusing drugs (for no reason), and essentially dismissed as a patient because I have chronic pain. I just wonder how many people will have to die because they simply cannot live anymore in agonizing pain, before someone stops the insanity.
You are right there will be more suicides because people will not be able to get their pain meds. I take percocets for my pain. I have scoleosis of the spine causing me to have constant siatic pain. Some days I can hardly walk at all the pain is so bad. Its not fair that we that take our meds like we are suppose to and not abuse them that we have to suffer because of drug addicts. The drugs addicts will try anything to get their high on and will die anyway because they will come in contact with the wrong drug one day. I’m on disability with my condition. It’s not fair to us to have to suffer because of drug addicts. I have to do random testing to make sure that I’m taking my meds properly and I’ve passed every test. It’s just not fair. The percocets give me quality of life and helps manage my pain. When I don’t take them I cannot function period. I want be able to do anything. The government has gone to SHIT. We no longer are a free country and its going to get worse people. These are the end times like the Bible says. The government is going to control us. Already happening. God bless you all we gonna need it.
Ko,
I am going to show one of my doctors the last couple paragraphs of your story cuz it’s like i wrote those paragraphs myself! My horrible life is almost identical to yours!
Are you in AZ.? I am in Tucson and now, after another decreased dosage, i am going to call an attorney who handles disability cases. Maybe lawyers can help us, since our basic civil rights to buy medicine that we need has been taken away from us! Any ideas, email me.
I am a 77year old lady from California, in the sixties I had a breakdown of panic attacks and major depression after many different meds we found Elavil which worked and it’s been my rock for all these years never abused and have been on to just, maintain.. Now without warning the, med was taken off my med list and have refused to give me anymore I’ve filed complaints with Kaiser and, they will not budge..Really a 77:year old person to suddenly stop??? The none caring Dr. Advised to start taking effxlor instead and that just stopping elavil cold turkey no problem…are they crazy so uncaring..This has so upset me at my age where to turn, I find out Kaiser has decided to stop pain meds unless you have cancer,,
HORRIFIC MEDICAL CARE….
You are not alone my name is Anthony D J Rocco get the routing me on Facebook I live in New York it probably comes up under current to New York I am forming a citizens against in humane modern treatment for elderly people with chronic pain issues we have been taking these for thousands of years they do not put out the statistics of who is had committed suicide I have been one of them that almost has there is a plague and emotional plague in this country where politicians want to make themselves look good to get rid of all opiates I would like to see those politicians have our ailments and then make the same decisions I need a shoulder replacement I had a faulty hip replacement so I can’t walk with my shoulders and I am in so much pain I contemplate suicide I know hundreds of other just of my friends now that I’ve either became large scale alcoholics or obviously we go to the black market to treat our pain I am in the beginning of making someone something into and I would appreciate your support a regulatory body that if you’re 50 or over and you have what everybody in the history Since before the Roman empire that is 3000 years ago were afforded compassion from pain relief if you are 50 or older and you have a condition that will never end till you’re done I already know over 10 people that have committed suicide because of the pain look at my website I’m trying as hard as I can I would appreciate anybody helping me out
Try joining forces http://face-facts.org/atip/ 1 of the best researched Pain Advocacy groups out there. Many doctors, PhD’s are on board. Richard “Red” Lawhern is 1 of the strongest advocates we Pain Patients have. He’s written over 70 papers speaks before Congress, and is addressing the grievous wrongs of the VA.
Another 1 you can Google is Roger Chriss, he himself is a EDS patient. He picks their lies apart. CATO CDC Researchers State Overdose Death Rates From Prescription Opioids Are Inaccurately High | Cato @ Liberty https://www.cato.org/blog/cdc-researchers-state-overdose-death-rates-prescription-opioids-are-inaccurately-high
I deal with two incurable rare painful diseases, which are not fatal in and of themselves, plus a host of other painful conditions involving weight-bearing bones- so I’ve fallen several times. I had a quality of life and was able to do water exercises with the aid of oxycontin. I had been on the same dose for 17 yrs, never abused it, then the Doctor cut my dose to more than half and intends to taper me totally off. He keeps telling us how he is afraid to loose his license for prescribing opioids as over 70 doctors in Colorado thus far have had done to them. So I’m left in severe intractable pain 24/7 back to a life of bed rest or a chair despite the high risk of DVT, stroke, hypertension, and heart attack [due to immobility & family history] having to rely upon my 70 yr old husband, who has health issues himself. My doctor told my husband to not even bother taking me to the hospital when the pain is so out of control, because they cannot/will not do anything for me. I pray for a quick death rather than a stroke which would leave me in even more of a vegetable.
This is ridiculous. The professionals are going about this all wrong. I am a 38yo female with six herniated spinal discs in my cervical and lumbar spine. I also have Spinal Stenosis secondary scoliosis and plenty of sciatica and peripheral nephropathy to boot. I lived in NYC for several years and was under the care of Beth Israel’s Spinal Center as well as their pain and palliative care clinic. They responsibly prescribed me an opiate painkiller by the name of “Nucynta” (a CII) as well as gabapentin, and other non-controlled medications to manage my daily pain. Suddenly I had to move back to Indiana and absolutely no prescribing practitioner within two hours radius of Indianapolis. The team of Spinal specialists agreed that I needed to be on a stronger pain medication than OTC NSAIDs. I had been thrown into instant withdrawal after leaving Beth Israel and had been taking several hundred mg’s of ibuprofen to help with the pain which left me with two bleeding peptic ulcers, GERD and Gastritis. My physicians were even cautious to prescribe gabapentin to me saying that it runs the risk of addiction. GABAPENTIN??? SERIOUSLY?? So, my message to the physicians who are SOLELY responsible for this drug epidemic which is killing thousands, is that the blame is squarely placed on the irresponsible providers who have caused immense pain, suffering and a low quality of life for individuals who actually REQUIRE these opiate medications to live a quality life! You yanked the rug from beneath our feet and are actively NEGLECTING patients who require opiate intervention to live a quality of life. Shame on you all. Now the population who were abusing these painkillers are dying from drugs thousands of times more deadly and powerful and the problem has steadily been getting worse as all of you practitioners cease caring for the pain and suffering of your patients! You all screwed up by overprescribing opiate medications in the first place to gain profit from the drug companies and your greed has resulted in a deadly epidemic that only continues to worsen exponentially. Carfentanyl, Suphentanyl… where are these drugs coming from? Point is… if there is a demand, there will be a supply… in either a legal or illegal fashion. To hell with all of you cowardly Physicians.
This is ridiculous. The professionals are going about this all wrong. I am a 38yo female with six herniated spinal discs in my cervical and lumbar spine. I also have Spinal Stenosis secondary scoliosis and plenty of sciatica and peripheral nephropathy to boot. I lived in NYC for several years and was under the care of Beth Israel’s Spinal Center as well as their pain and palliative care clinic. They responsibly prescribed me an opiate painkiller by the name of “Nucynta” (a CII) as well as gabapentin, and other non-controlled medications to manage my daily pain. Suddenly I had to move back to Indiana and absolutely no prescribing practitioner within two hours radius of Indianapolis. The team of Spinal specialists agreed that I needed to be on a stronger pain medication than OTC NSAIDs. I had been thrown into instant withdrawal after leaving Beth Israel and had been taking several hundred mg’s of ibuprofen to help with the pain which left me with two bleeding peptic ulcers, GERD and Gastritis. My physicians were even cautious to prescribe gabapentin to me saying that it runs the risk of addiction. GABAPENTIN??? SERIOUSLY?? So, my message to the physicians who are SOLELY responsible for this drug epidemic which is killing thousands, is that the blame is squarely placed on the irresponsible providers who have caused immense pain, suffering and a low quality of life for individuals who actually REQUIRE these opiate medications to live a quality life! You yanked the rug from beneath our feet and are actively NEGLECTING patients who require opiate intervention to live a quality of life. Shame on you all. Now the population who were abusing these painkillers are dying from drugs thousands of times more deadly and powerful and the problem has steadily been getting worse as all of you practitioners cease caring for the pain and suffering of your patients! You all screwed up by overprescribing opiate medications in the first place to gain profit from the drug companies and your greed has resulted in a deadly epidemic that only continues to worsen exponentially. Carfentanyl, Suphentanyl… where are these drugs coming from? Point is… if there will be a supply the demand will be met in a legal or illegal fashion. Congratulations western medicine, you never cease to amaze and disgust me.
I’m a 34 year old man and i’ve been dealing with pain most of my life. When I was 21 I was assaulted while working as a pizza boy and had my orbital (eye socket) fractured, cheek bone and sinus cavity crushed and had to have a titanium eye socket as well as titanium plates (several screws of which are in the roots of my teeth for support) to rebuild my cheek bone/sinus cavity. When I was 23 I had two accidents, one fairly major. The first one was when I was riding my motorcycle and someone pulled out in front of me and i laid it down…it fractured my pelvis and had road rash all over my body. This was the least major of the two. The second I was on my way to work and was t-boned by a drunk driver. I was in a miata and they were in a huge suv like a tahoe. I was crushed in between the driver side and passenger side doors. It destroyed my left shoulder which i had to have anchors put in to hold together. It messed up my left wrist and i have a titanium pin in it now. It dislocated my scapula and tore the lower muscle connecting to it…nothing can be done for it. It messed up vertebrae in my neck and broke two vertebrae in my lower back: L4/L5. I also now have pretty bad nerve damage in my lower body and legs which cause pretty significant pain. I also now have Degenerative Disc and Joint disease in my lower back and neck and degenerative joint disease in both shoulders. I go to a pain management doctor for all of this and i am extremely lucky to have a compassionate and caring doctor. Most doctors would be dismissive of me because of both my age and the fact i look ten years younger than i am…which is very upsetting..just because i’m a younger guy doesn’t make my pain any less meaningful than someone who is 80. I take 40mg of instant release oxycodone (roxicet) a day and 30mg of time release for a total of 70mg a day and the doctor has wanted to change my instant release to hydromorphone 4mg tabs 4x a day but i’ve been afraid to accept it even though it probably would work better because i don’t know what the future holds with the “war on opiates”. Before i got my medicine I would just stay in bed because moving around could be torture at times. I hate to say it but i was contemplating suicide on a daily basis because I just don’t see how i can live with that sort of pain for the rest of my life, especially knowing it will only get worse as i get older. My medicine keeps me comfortable enough to be able to get up and enjoy life. I no longer think about suicide due to having something to take that edge off. It doesn’t make me pain free but it does lower my pain from a 8-9 to around a 5 on the pain scale, and that is enough for pain not be the main focus of my life anymore. I worry about being forcibly taken off my medication in the future due to the severe stigma associated with opiates these days. I want to state that i don’t nor have i ever had a problem with opiate addiction and my doctor drug tests me every time i go and sends it off to get exact levels of it in my system. I’ve been going for years and never once have i had anything wrong with my tests. If my medicine was taken away especially after getting to see a glimmer of hope of not living in agonizing pain daily without anything to take the edge off…..i don’t know if i could live that way…don’t think i would want to. Not trying to be morbid…but i would have three options…get medication illegally (which isn’t an option..i don’t break the law), just live with horrible..ever increasing pain (this is a HELL NO…i am not strong enough to bear this emotionally), or end my life. I just wanted to tell my story…hopefully it might help someone not feel alone. I pray that they look at the science and data associated with most pain patients and not the few that abuse or sell their medications (call me a dick, but i think they should be shot). Thank you for reading my story.
I totally . I have had a back surgery and knee replacement and i need stronger meds. I got 7 at a time ,big deal . I’m 77, what I’m going to get addicted.nHow stupid is that. My pain is so bad from a fall at Wallmart and I also have syatic nerve damage down my fight leg. This is rediculous that people especially at my age may get addicted. I’ve never had an addictive personality so why can’t it be person to person, who can get certain drugs. My life is so filled with pain it’s hard to do anything
Replying to Joshua with similar experience. I live in a part of the country that jumped all over that band wagon of blaming the patient for the medication. I lost the entire containment of my abdomen from chest to groin to flesh eating bacteria from a bad surgeon who left my bowel nicked and leaking for a week. It had to be removed, dug out of my ribs, and I was left with my organs exposed. Over the past ten to 15 years I have been in a condition at the worst where my organs were laying in my lap in a thin, transparent failing skin graft to the post “terminal” decision to help by dissecting me from my spine forward and around to enclose the organs. I’m enclosed now but basically it hurts to digest, stand, shower.. I can’t stand more than 20 seconds w/o excruciating pain. I went on an odyssey of 5 pain units in my tri-state area. I am allergic to all but methadone. When my use of 160 mg daily was the high – my pain unit manufactured non compliance issues of missing appts (which I could not have done and still gotten my pain med!) and sent a letter to tell me w/o allowing any response from me. Over time the units shoved me away as a “high end user” and was told openly the practice didn’t want the liability or scrutiny as well as the hype over what was a necessary dose continuing until I received 30mg per day. This left me bed bound and waiting to die. After the insane dissection surgery I was in hospital for two weeks. I nearly lost my mind because the dose of pain mgt there was as if I hadn’t been on opiates for ten years. So a shot of 1mg 3 times a day left me in screaming agony. I had a doctor sit down in my room and say – You are a drug addict. I said “F YOU and don’t ever come here again!” That went well when having to return to ER for aid during “recovery” and being treated with compassion until this doctor got on the phone. Then I was unceremoniously told to go home and see my doctor that week. It was humiliating and the horror of all night wrenching, shaking, sweating hot and cold until you wish you would die haunted all the nights it didn’t happen. My quality of life is non existent. I am intelligent and couldn’t stand to be bored or inactive. I have to lay on my bed with Oxygen to aid my breathing since my lungs descended into my abdomen while I was left to allow my organs to stretch out of my body onto my lap. Once I was closed the pressure on my lungs led to a near death hypoxic state in the intensive care unit. When I accused the nurses of trying to steal my baby and give it to the doctor (my body looked pregnant to me when I woke with all that packed on top of me like a stuffed suitcase!) they began to realize I wasn’t able to expel C02 completely. Dear God – the horrors we have endured , yes? And then we are vilified and of course I have a bottle I save for the day when my right to compassionate care is removed. I could buy a legal gun and I have considered that as well – to make certain I have the last word on how long I will suffer and how much degradation I can tolerate – the gun is for ME alone – as a ultimate palliative care. Psychological damage to my family is the main reason I didn’t give in to this post dissection/resection. This happened between the age of 42 and 54 for the last surgery. I’m 57 now. I have learned to accept my loss and hold on just distracting myself with TV, crocheting (sounds so ridiculous!) and I have had to be in a nursing home from time to time. Life is not what I had hoped but I love many people and try to be compassionate and positive towards them and myself. I needed to know I had the right to end my suffering if it was intolerable. I discussed it with my friends and family – even considering the legal means of going to a state for the last six months of life where it is legal to choose this option. If you are making it and have a good quality of life by having pain intervention – please hang on. When the government decides to be our doctor and decides levels of medication are allowed – share your story with the news. Call your local representative and tell them your story. I am much relieved by the use of marajuana legally for chronic pain management. Even for the anxiety of the pain we suffer, it is a valid use. Far better than being pushed to extreme choices. Thanks to all who express these very human and pertinent feelings with our chronic pain.
God Bless You! Stay with us! We need people like you!!!
I am so very sorry for all your pain, and none of the cause was your fault, and for all the other poor people’s stories . I have a herniated disc , touching a nerve, and I feel that is debilitating, and you have so much more. I have started low dose morphine every four hours. Plus 2 codeine at night, I’m very aware not to take more than prescribed, but I feel my pain is not helped. How scary to interfere with much desperate needed medication, that you all need. My thoughts are with you all. Please let miracle healing ,happen.
Thank you very much Lynda. . . I will Pray you get better. . . You will be in my Prayers. Rye.
This is total bullshit, and I’m just supposed to swallow this like a submissive bitch. OK, I was hit by a radical driver as a pedestrian in October 1977…sustained both legs broken in a few places, and fractured pelvis, lower back and a cracked skull. I was only 17 when it happened, so I was actually in pretty good shape after initial surgery on my legs. In 1985, I had to get a meniscectomy on my left knee. The doctor Rxed me Percodan. Surgery after surgery after surgery they prescribed my more Percs…then OxyContin…up to 300 mg per day in fact…no problem. I’d get them from most doctors easily…unless I actually was lucky enough to have a family doctor up in northern Ontario Canada. Well, my doctor from 2001 till 2016 recently dumped me like a leper…gave me a marijuana prescription for Tweed, then cut me off cold turkey. She makes up some ridiculous reason about me allegedly dabbling in “fraudulent Fentanyl”, involving my pharmacy and the North Bay Police…both of which have no clue about it. Now, no doctor will prescribe me a Percodan to save my life. It’s either methadone or buprenorphine…take your pick. I can’t take methadone or buprenorphine due to the bad side effects. I seriously don’t think I’ll ever feel normal again…doctors make me sick now. You know, if I have to crawl to the clinic/pharmacy everyday, at least give me something I can function on. WTF? They were apparently wrong all these years…they blame it on Purdue agents and their bullshit propaganda…and now they expect me to trust them with their new theory? Um, nope. Heroin addicts are getting pharmaceutical grade heroin prescribed to them, but a chronic pain patient can’t get 4 Percs a day? That is poor.
I’m glad you get to walk ,in 1980 I was a young mom of three. First vacation in a motel with a pool. Long story short 8 months in Rancho los amigos, spinal cord injury live in guest, with a diagnosis of an incomplete quadriplegic, couldn’t walk or write my name or take a shit on my own
By the way in 1980 I was 30rs old, and away from my babys. Now I’m 68 years old and living with pain most of the time due to doctors mess ups . I have to use a Walker and a scooter to get around. there’s been very nice doctors but for the most part I’ve lived in way too much agony .
But they aren’t done with us yet. I’ve been fortunate for the past 9 years, I have been in the care of a solo physician and pain management ,things were good until 2 years ago when he started making hints about getting off my meds. Several weeks ago we found out he was not licensed to write perscription i need with codes needed to get my meds filled. So now I’m out in rain thanks to our president and insurance, yes your a senior your part of the cleaning.
Doctors are so afraid of their own shadows that they will lose their licenses or go to jail for treating chronic pain patients but as long as they have us jump through their hoops it should. Here’s what I think they are doing, I think with all this exaggerated shit on the news they want to use us seniors and people of other ages who need pain meds. We do all they ask of us like good little patients and they decide to throw the baby out with the bath water. Coming for us is such an easy target, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel meanwhile they get a pat on the back for acting like DEA Agents and how easy it is for them to just leave destruction of people’s lives in the wake of that bullshit, and it’s just lazy, the DEA needs to worry about people who are selling pills that have Fentilyn in them and the Senior citizens are so desperate for pain relief they end up dying from these illegal street drugs and THAT is why the statistics show so many deaths, especially in recent years. One by one they are losing patients and will find themselves without many patients because most of us are going to switch to holistics like marijuana which is legal in my state along with other states. Lazy asses would rather cause harm to seniors because they don’t really want to get rid of illegal drugs as this gives them job security. I think its about time to cut them off, we don’t work for them, they don’t pay us we pay them, they aren’t Gods, people tend to act like kids with these doctors and it’s pathetic.
Your right on spot IMHO.I was given a word of knowledge the other day as it came to me and im like click! You know,the light bulb thingy that cartoons show? Here it is (THEY get the news to rev up the reporting of when an over dose occurs,and then they get a spokes-person(not just one- but several are recruited in which they rant congress some to govenor’s some mayors,some start facebooking anti opiod this n that UNTIL…. FINALLY in the still of the night a small new law is passed to oh,make it juuuuuust a weeee bit harder to prescribe them….Well, what most dont realize is pharmacys are leaned on more even ,(and you just thought that pharmacist was being an a hole)nope PRESSURE..LOOK the DEA has 24/7 to get this done and its all a plan…..WELL in the end they will win the game because they will produce desperate people like the commenter said before me and guess what? You will see news on how opiod deaths have tripled percentage wise and its the truth but what they fail to say is 90% of these incurred increases are due to regular folks who were cut off the system and for sure ive known good people cut off by the doctor telling them after 9 years now,their urine test did not jive….So these folks most inadvertently get a relative who is street wise to he them out because it not even the chrojic pain now ,uts the damn with-drawals and if they are anything like most honest folks will refuse to be labeled a junky only to be sent to some bull shit rehab hospital only to be given a psudo AA book and told they have to go to meetings the rest of their miserable life and listen to chronic nicoteen coffee swigin real addicts talk about their day…SOMETHING IN THEM SAY’S BIG BROTHER WORKING THE FIELD AND USING AA AS THEIR JUSTIFICATION PIECE…IN THE END~There will be deaths due to this taking of fentanal ~ but ask ourselves have we really looked at the true picture or are we only looking at a picture sketched by the DEA and painted by those in government -either willingly or by subversion such as black mail to give it color and legitimacy?Is this really a way of keeping one on the job or is it really needed? I wonder if those deaths mite of been prevented if only the bull scrap wasnt piled so deep on those honest folks who not only have served in the service but also have been honest tax paying citizen’s.PERSONALLY,I HAVE NO STAKE EITHER WAY IN THIS AS IM NOT ON OPIOD’S BUT I HAVE FRIENDS AND RELATIVE’S BEING AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THESE BULL SCRAP CHANGES AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS….GOD FORBID THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE SHOULD NEED THEM LIKE THESE GOOD PEOPLE DO BUT THEN AGAIN- MAYBE THATS JUST WHAT NEED’S TO HAPPEN!
Absolutely.
I am a SSDI disabled RN due to doctors in Maine unwilling to work with Narcolepsy research specialist at Stanford Narcolepsy Research in CA due to not wanting to admit their incompetence in treating a disabling sleep disorder which left untreated can lead to multiple auto accidents, embarrassing sleep attacks in public and then the Cataplexic attacks and falling down suddenly. I have a rare genetic type that is severe with my sleep studies all showing 0.5min to 1 min to sleep without the REM. I also passed this to my son.
But that is not my only medical issues i also had multiple surgeries in Maine: Cervical discotomy 3 disc replaced with cadevar disc and then SURPRISE my complaints of months choking and the difficult intubation they had found a mass in my Epiglottis whcih was later removed.athen I had R. axilla visible hard lump with a discharge from my R. nipple that changed yellow to green but when i addressed this to my NP in Maine she practically told me not to bother her unless I saw blood! I finally had the axilla lump removed and they sent me to a Trauma surgeon? the surgeon also agreed to rule out MRSA on the long standing non healing lesions on my scalp that bled and scabbed for over a year and that was misdiagnosed as Psoraisis! so any way she did a 4 inch incision and attempts to gather lymph for pathology failed as all lymph “feel apart” so no tissue sent but i did get a nice cording in my R axila which still causes deep achy pain and then the R. shoulder felt like something loose but my complaints went to deaf ears so about 2 yrs later we moved to Florida and I saw a Orthopedic surgeon which he diagnosed a Detached shoulder, I had surgery ( Bankart Repair,SLAP2, Extensive debredment and 4 dissolvable rods. I was to go home that day but had a Catacholamine attack and was kept overnight for observation. The Orthopedic doc called my husband and said “your wife must of suffered for well over a year as her R. shoulder was totally detached for a long time. I want to add I have also developed widespread full body worsening mottled skin with my face turning a sickly pasty white at times and temperates at 68 degree turn the tips of my toes and fingers white and i have chronic achy deep pain on the R upper extremity down the hand and chest wall with my mottled skin worsening and the worse thing is not 1 doctor will skin biopsy to see if i have a small vessel disease and yes i have requested this by 2 Dermatologist but i am just told ” it will not do you any good” I also developed deep lesions on my buttock cheek last year that were blue blackish blue color around one of the lesions which i thought it was necrotizing as i did have a lesion biopsied in FL on my scalp that was “necrotizing follicultis” and was hurried out of the office by the doctor. The lesion took over 4 months to heal . I lost my faith in the medical community and feel doctors are too judgemental, lazy as no doctor should allow any patient to suffer as they take a oath to “do no harm” well in my case I have been harmed by neglect and ignorance as these doctors want to shuffle me off to someone else to figure out what is going on with me. I have been sent to shrinks only to be told ” you are not a hypochrondiac Cathy you have some serious medical issues that the doctors are not addtessing. Yes I know that but i have given up as i can not find a decent med professional and now my Morphine was cut in 1/2 due to the addicts in our country. Look any RN and MD knows that DOCUMENTATION is the key to avoiding being thrown upon by the state boards or legal action. Narcotics require extra documentation by the medical pros and it just comes down to lazy, thye do not care, there view is unwarrented with pain as I have heard so many RN’s unwilling to give Morphine injections to dying patients for “FEAR ADDICTION” this is the truth , What are my views on pain meds . I believe no one needs to suffer and doctors and nurses have assessment skills to perform these skills with pain patients. I could easily tell addicts from pain patinets while at my pain management doctors. I really see not hope for us . I have requested Hospice as I can barly get out of bed but i do not have Cancer.but have been sent to Mayo . Moffits, UFShands and multiple Oncologist as i am suspect of MGUS which i feel is wrong diagnosis. I also was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder from my Quebec parents and had Oneome genetic tests but still UNDIAGNOSED . Last year I went to eye doctor as my vision was blurry and was diagnosed “Scarred Cornea” and ? do not know how i got this but yes asked by doctors as if i would know how i got this. also Fatty Infiltrated Liver no alcohol , 63 yr old with 4 inch height loss, one marrow changes i have been on Medicare since 2010 and see it as a death sentence . My quality life poor and i only hope for a early death to put me and my family out of my misery as life is not enjoyable as i not able to finsh a project like cooking a meal. I have weakness, fatique and last 1 yr daily dripping sweats that come about during day and for no reason ( Oh yes I have a L clavicle lump visible and hard thye said it must be a pathaolocal fractures ? it is not painful whcih is good. . Sorry for my confusing letter as my physical pain has affected my brain with what my husband calls “spagetti head”
Hello Sister,
I was surprised to see another chronic pain patient who also has Narcolepsy with Cataplexy. I am so sorry to hear of everything else you are going through. Having Narcolepsy, while trying to recieve treatment for pain is hard enough and God willing everything works out for you and your family.
I am 32 years old I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy at the age of 21 after the MSLT. I first was treated with Adderall for the EDS and Klonopin I assume for the sleep paralysis, anxiety, and to provide a balance with the stimulant. In my teenage years I had lower back pain and my right foot turns out to the right which causes constant swelling to this day from the way I walk. About 5-6 years ago I was diagnosed with Disc Bulging and Right Lateral Disc Herniation in my L4-L5 and Severe Spinal Stenosis. I also have a history of extreme stomach pain since I was a child in which sometimes I think I’m dying, especially when my chest will hurt too and it feels like I have pleurisy from my shoulders down to my pelvis. Every stomach doctor always concludes it’s anxiety.
For the bulging and herniated discs and spinal stenosis, my pain doctor prescribes me Norco 10mg twice a day, Lyrica, and Baclofen. Usually the opiate he gives me is Tylenol 4 w/ Codeine 60mg/Tylenol 300mg (Qty. 150 a month 4-6 times a day). I didn’t expect much from Codeine, but suprisingly that much codeine converts to a decent amount of Morphine in the body. However, whenever I complain about my tolerance he goes back to the Norco and last month said we will rotate every 3months. I told him 20mg hydrocodon if anything feels weaker. I am not a stranger to opiates from all the bones I broke from skateboarding when I was young and I use to see a rheumatologist who had me on similar meds but stronger doses including Percocets. I assume my narcolepsy meds scare them.
The meds used to treat Narcolepsy these days are Xyrem twice a night and during the day a stimulant, a stimulant like Provigil or Nuvigil. Xyrem (Sodium Oxybuterate aka GHB) is really a schedule 1 substance, illegal in all 50 states, but if you have type 1 Narcolepsy it’s schedule 3 because it helps control Cataplexy attacks during the day since we can’t get a normal sleep at night or grow muscle tone in our sleep like a regular person. It works like a strong sedative and growth hormone. it is shipped overnight once a month from a special pharmacy by the FDA. The same doctor specially licensed for Xyrem also had me on Nuvgil. I told him many times Nugil it made me sick and later found out it counteracts my opiate medication and puts me into opiate withdrawal. I had to go from taking stimulants that worked everyday to keep me awake, to nothing because he didn’t take me serious enough to read which enzymes nuvigil effects. I told this issue to my new Psychiatrist who treats my anxiety (my regular doctor dumped me on her after 11 years of prescribing me Klonopin he’s worriedsince i’m prescribed opiates by the pain doc he referred me to). She was quite aware of this and switched me to Focalin 20mg XR in a.m. with 10 mg IR up to 2 times in the afternoon. Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate) is a cleaner feeling, and way more potent version of Ritalin. The same way Dexidrine is to Adderall (I hate all D-amphetamines). Also, because she was aware of my stomach pains she switched me off Klonopin 0.5mg 3X a day to Valium 5mg 3X a day and said maybe the muscle relaxing effects could help my stomach and back.
Basically, for the first time in over a decade my Narcolepsy and Cataplexy are balanced. I feel confident enough to try and have a normal life and maybe even a social one again. The only problem is the pain in my back and I would be willing to quit some of these meds if he could just prescribe me a medication that lasted longer. I feel a disgrace since Narcolepsy is treated with some of the most abused pharmaceuticals in the world. If you or anyone can think of a pain medicine that a doctor may feel more open to prescribing that’s new or some not used much anymore that could help more than norco or high dose codeine. I recieve no benefit from baclofen or lyrica and they are a waste. In college I was prescribed Talwin once, but don’t remember how much it helped. Also, I would really like to try Tapentadol which I read is supposed to be like a stronger Tramadol and comes in a time release. Otherwise one medication I have been prescribed before for migraines, but overall helped my body for pain was Fiorinal which is Fioricet with codeine. If anybody has found success with a new pain medication like Tapentadol or similar please let me know. Also, Cathy I wish you the best of luck.
There is another word that comes to my mind
Genocide
.
I feel for you. I’m not going to go over all my injuries but have you or will they install an internal morphine pump for you? Not sure if it would help your injuries being I’m not a dr. But I have friends that have had amazing success from the pumps. It delivers.01 ml in a 24hr period guy went from 100mg MS Contin daily and always in agonizing pain to being able to walk almost normal.
Don’t get me wrong he still has a rough day occasionally but one rough day in about every 3-6 months is way better than seeing him to point of contemplating ending it is amazing. Not that that’s ever the answer just trying to help. Anyway here in USA pain management docs are saying eventually pumps will be only therapy for chronic pain sufferers.
Be sending prayers up for ya
The opioid legislation goes beyond pumps and credibility of patients needs. They go in and change prescriptions for PTSD and TBI related conditions which effects anxiety levels and muscle spasms. I have been told what to take without a care to whether the new drug will not effect breathing while on opioids. So if my heart is racing or obscures my vision by changing over to this other deal, then it’s ok. I don’t know who prescribes the medicine nor will the RNs tell me….all going against a patients rights. At least when we had rights. The tizanipidine I was given caused me great uncoordination and effected my perception. I wish I had figured that out before getting stuck with a busted up femur that I don’t feel will ever heal right. Thanks for the ride by these self righteous blokes that haven’t needed the assist of medication to get through particularly painful days and improve a quality of life for many. Frankly, I don’t get the lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies. When the patients were in pain they were relieved, without being told to try and abuse the meds, it won’t hurt. Like so many good programs, we hold these to a standard of stupidity. A plan has not been developed the will help out when the terms can’t be met with a little common sense. Well, I’m the one who didn’t figure the relationship between my lack of coordination and another switch up in my prescriptions by strangers who don’t know or care about my medical history because they are too busy following rules atop more rules and relishing the power of this new institution breathing down our necks under false pretense. Alright, that’s quite enough from me, no matter that I had my first good pain free week, way titrations down on the heels of an ablation process for LB pain, that was before the breakage. The real problem aside from reactions to the drug changes, was the dangerously pervasive sleep deprivation that started with the mucking around with my prescriptions which were taken and given responsibly before the dang program. Fie
I feel with you guys i’m 70 years old all the bones in my back broke years ago the only way to keep me alive was to put me on 300 MCG of Fentanyl Patches I was in a wheel chair for a long time then I couldn’t take it anymore no one was home all day everyone working I said to myself I can’t take this i’m either going to walk or I will die it’s just the way I felt I tried walking in the kitchen between the sink and the island I went back and forth finally I did it I had to use a cane but it was better than not walking at all to make a long story short I kept at it for a long time i’ve had botch up surgeries I have pain and I can’t even sleep at night the pain is excruciating I went to pain management for a long time I even got my patches reduced to 100 mcg but that was years ago but I was managing pretty good on 100mcg so I go to pain mgt. last week and they tell me they are taking me off Fentanyl patches 25 mcg at a time I am in so much pain you can’t imagine i’m afraid this is going to kill me is there something we can do? please someone help me.
Frances, I’m not a doctor, nor any medically related field/profession ~ I was an Army MI Officer & after a misjudged parachute fall, my body took out one whole side of a pine tree ~ “snap, snap, snap…all the way til I impacted with the ground. 6-major spinal fusions later & in pain for just over 20-YEARS (I ‘was’ on Fentanyl patches 125 mcg’s), so I have only a partial understanding of your HELL! You have my utmost sympathies…
After all my years of pain & opioids I know one thing, don’ Give Up!!!!! An old adage seems appropriate here: “The Sqeeky Gog Gets The Oil.” Make yourself Heard & felt – camp-Out with those DAMNED SPINELESS Doctor’s Office/s – MAKE THEM RUE The Day they even contemplated weening you off your ‘Life Preserver!’
Additionally, I’ll add some groups/research below to guide you somewhat….
“The Alliance for the Treatment of Intractable Pain”
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Richard A. Lawhern, a prominent advocate on behalf of chronic pain patients and co-founder of
“The Alliance for the Treatment of Intractable Pain”
PATIENTS MOBILIZE, SAY THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO WAIT
For their part, pain patients say the suffering they are enduring– with so many falling into withdrawal, incapacitation and suicidal thoughts– has created an urgency that cannot wait for the wheels of government bureaucracy to turn in the right direction.
And so they have been mobilizing, in person and online, to do everything from lending one another moral support and sharing information, to planning campaigns to draw attention to their plight and chip away at misunderstandings about chronic pain and prescription painkillers.
Lauren Deluca, for instance, decided to form her organization, the Chronic Illness Advocacy & Awareness Group (CIAAG), last year after going through her own experience of undertreated severe pain and feeling frustrated when she turned to government agencies and healthcare providers for help.
Too many flawed approaches and policies targeting pain patients, she said, “will take many years to undo, but we can’t wait years.”
Deluca, a former commercial insurance agent, said that among her priorities is working toward legislation that would exempt chronic pain patients from restrictive opioid policies. CIAAG has a website as well as programs that teach pain patients how to reach out to policymakers in their area, access data on a particular topic and make a presentation to further their cause. Deluca said that she aims to give pain patients who feel marginialized a sense of hope and empowerment.
“I myself was a healthy 36-year-old professional embarking on starting a family and in a blink of an eye my life was destroyed due to a denial of care,” Deluca said. “It’s not just about pain; it’s about quality of life. Now we are teaching doctors to ignore pain, which not only leaves the patient suffering but likely will lead to many not getting diagnosed, therefore not only will they not receive pain medications they will not even receive basic care.”
The Steward Center for Palliative Care is a nationally recognized model which sets the “gold standard” for excellence in the provision of palliative services in our community.
Palliative Care (pronounced pah-lee-uh-tive), or Progressive Care, is specialized care for the treatment of symptoms caused from life-limiting or chronic illnesses such as CHF, COPD, HIV, cancer, kidney disease, dementia, or others. Some symptoms which can be managed include pain, agitation, anxiety, shortness of breath, depression, nausea, or loss of appetite.
Our palliative care physician and nurse practitioners don’t replace the primary care physician or any specialist who is managing a patient’s care. Instead, they work alongside the managing physician to provide a “continuum of care” to more aggressively treat symptoms and provide comfort – thereby improving the patient’s quality of life. Think of the palliative care physician as the symptom management specialist while the disease or cancer is still being aggressively treated.
By implementing palliative care (progressive illness management), the patient and their family gain not only a relationship with a new and focused approach to symptom management, but also gain a team of experts who help find all kinds of resources, while providing emotional, spiritual, and caregiver support. This more complete healthcare model is proven to decrease visits to the ER and to reduce hospital readmissions.
Out-patient clinics are housed in the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion. As well, we see patients throughout St. Joseph’s and Candler hospitals, and Landmark Hospital. The team consists of board certified physicians, nurse practitioners, chaplaincy, a Masters Level Licensed Clinical Social Worker certified in Hospice and Palliative Care, and the support and resources available through the Edel Caregiver Institute. Our services allow patients to have complex and lengthy conversations that other physicians may be unable to provide within the time constraints of a normal office visit. Ultimately, palliative care is a win-win for physicians, patients and their caregivers!
Please reach us during business hours at 912.354.8014 for assistance or more information. Providers can fax referrals and medical records to Fax: 912.298.0306.
Click here to read an article outlining the history and vision of our palliative care program. This article appeared in the July, 2012 NHPCO Newsline publication.
Check out this helpful and informative link about palliative care: http://www.getpalliativecare.org
Here’s some info about WHY doctor’s are wrong in interpreting the CDC Opioids “Suggestion/s”… refer to:
https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2019/4/24/cdc-opioid-guideline-should-not-be-used-to-taper-patients
CDC: Opioid Guideline Should Not Be Used to Taper Patients
April 24, 2019
By Pat Anson, PNN Editor
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken its first concrete step to address the widespread misuse and misapplication of its opioid prescribing guideline.
In an impassionate commentary published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the guideline’s authors say the agency does not support abrupt tapering or discontinuation of opioid medication, and that the guideline’s recommendation that daily doses be limited to no more than 90 MME (morphine milligram equivalent) should only be applied to patients who are starting opioid therapy.
“Unfortunately, some policies and practices purportedly derived from the guideline have in fact been inconsistent with, and often go beyond, its recommendations,” wrote Deborah Dowell, MD, Tamara Haegerich, PhD, and Roger Chou, MD. “A consensus panel has highlighted these inconsistencies, which include inflexible application of recommended dosage and duration thresholds and policies that encourage hard limits and abrupt tapering of drug dosages, resulting in sudden opioid discontinuation or dismissal of patients from a physician’s practice.”
The co-authors also noted that the guideline “does not address or suggest discontinuation of opioids already prescribed at higher dosages,” nor does it seek to deny opioids to patients with cancer, sickle cell disease or recovering from surgical procedures.
Notably, the three co-authors took no responsibility for themselves or the CDC for the “inflexible application” and other fallout from the guideline.
The CDC’s clarification was cheered by patient advocates, who have been calling on the agency to address the suicides, patient abandonment and other unintended consequences of the guideline for over three years.
“The statement from the CDC is a long-awaited, robust clarification that has come at a critical time. They clearly defined that its Guideline cannot and should not be invoked to justify the forced reduction or denial of opioid pain medication to patients who use opioids to manage their long-term pain,” said Andrea Anderson, a patient advocate with the Alliance for the Treatment of Intractable Pain (ATIP).“
Thank you for your reply, I can not even get Palliative care in Marion County,FL as this county is so ?? But Pinellas County and other FL counties offer nonmalignant palliative care as the pain is bad enough but the other symptoms are just compounding my ability to function, those daytime episodes saturating sweats and I noticed my face gets that white death mask when I sweat like I am shocky, and doctors have seen this and i have been sent to ER but unable to tolerate the wait after waiting a hour so i end up leaving as my anxiety, tachy etc,,
I really see no hope for myself as I am seeing pain management but he does what he wants to get you down to 90/mg day. I have tried to get a advocate thru medicare to help me but Medicare only tells me to report these doctors which but I refuse as my care is bad enough can you imagine what would become of me if I did that. I like the idea of the intrathecal Morphine but not all doctors feel nonmalignant chronic disease pain is deserving like Cancer patients.
I want to add I a bad facial skin rash reaction, that resembled Stevens Johnson Syndrome the 2nd day while on Bactrim DS that a Mayo Hem/Onc Rx’d. I called his office 2 times and no one called me back!! I had to take care of this myself which took about a month to heal as the blisters caused a mess once the redness and burning subsided and then a yr later i developed lesions on buttocks that were deep and the skin on lower lesion blackish those took 4 months to heal and that time i was well enough to go to doctor but “Keep it clean and Bactacin” I do not understand why I am treated like i am because there is nothing in my background that would warrant being being neglected and allowed to suffer. I must be living in the most judgemental cities . I am hoping to find Teleheath palliative care and /Or Hospice.
The truth, the real truth, the” Federal Government” doesn’t care. That’s it. We’ve lost complete touch with them as “One nation”. They are the communist and the same government we left the U.K. and landed on Plymouth rock.
No matter, their children are dead to them anyway and that’s how much they don’t care.
Doctors and health care professionals are no longer in control. Their Professioanl liability Insurances won’t insure them if they don’t follow Standard of Care which is Now dictated by Big Insurance and Big Pharma which buys our senators votes. Then when something goes awry, the DEA and FDA jump in there and PUNISH THE ONLY PEOPLE THEY CAN GOVERN ( Patients and doctors)…NOT THE RUSSIAN MAFIA or S. American or Chinese drug cartels selling recreational crap. Unless a doctor works in a “ Pain Management clinic “ it’s imposible to prescribe for long term care. The DEA now dictates a mid-practitioner can only prescribe for 72 hours and no more than 5 pills per day at that. Plus, they have to Look up Each Patient ( for drug use history) before prescribing a narcotic or benzo. It takes an extra 5 to 10 minutes for each patient thanks to Government. Then, all DEA licensed doctors get a report occasionally showing their Prescribing history and whether a patient filled an Rx WITHOUT BEING RESEARCHED FIRST. Then, they also report this information to doctors State licensing boards. Also, Your Pharmacist has to turn around and Look up the Same data. Woe to those in pain. If you’re a Doctor in pain…you get dogged incessantly as you can’t prescribe narcotic for thyself nor family.
These government people who are not doctors or nurses come down on this “crisis” and are lead by their noses by lobby groups or the all mighty dollar…they get the best of care I’m sure they never had to wait over 6 months , and counting, for a lousy MRI alll while suffering from sciatica down entire right leg and foot AND a pinched nerve at their Roght shoulder blade that shoots pain and numbness /lighting bolt feeling in your right hand. This has limited my range of motion, ability to work again as a nurse and has put me in a dark depression. THE ONLY WAY I CAN FUNTION IS WITH MY NORCO until someone ok’sa MRI , epidural and after that wares off , back surgery THAT RARELY WORKS. As u may surmise I am a RN who has given 30+ years to helping others. I am too young to not work. My father taught me to not take hand outs so now I find something that helps and some government non health experienced jack hole is gonna tell doctors, who are specialist in pain management how to prescribe. Are you F omg kidding me. Why don’t you worry about impinging Socialist crap or how Jews are being treated once agin in Paris and stay out of my doctors prescription drawer. You all don’t have any idea how the DEPLORABLES live and work and keep this country great. So SHUT IT.
So right you are these people that want to restrict our pain medicine have never done a hard days work in their life, I worked for fifty years doing back-breaking work in shipyards I have had three back surgeries and I have severe scoliosis and they want to take my Norco away, I’m almost seventy-four years old and I say it’s none of the damn bureaucrats business what I take its between me and my Dr.
No one will truly understand the desperation for pain relief if your relying on people to tell their stories to support it. I can’t distract myself from the pain long enough to actually sit here and type out my story. I’m already taking 50mme/day and double it would do nothing in the long run. I don’t want to take anything. I’m f-ing sick and tired of going to the doctor every month trying procedure and shot after shot, hardware in, hardware out, simulator trials and in the end being treated like a drug seeker with back to back urine test because I didn’t show enough opiods in my urine? Chiropractors, acupuncture, message therapy, hypnotherapy, every youtube video exercise, supplements, vitamins, diets, foam pads, rollers, office chairs, binary beats, meditation, meditation, CBD, cannabis, fox mountain flower extracts. When is it social acceptable to give up? I’m not sad, I’m not depressed. Dealing with pain for over 10 years I’ve already been up and down every emotional roller coaster ride, on and off every medication doctors are comfortable prescribing. All I ask when I see each doctor is if you can’t help me, send me to someone who can, I don’t care if it’s a shaman in Africa! They are to prideful and think they are the best choice yet I can’t help that someone out there could look at the many MRI or xrays and say “Oh, there’s the problem” and fix it. I’m a car guy, I used to be able to fix anything, but if I couldn’t figure it out, I knew many other specialty shops that did those kind of jobs. I’m not a medical guy, all I can do is google and yelp specialists and book appointments and pay for disappointments. There is no additive you can dump in your engine to fix a valve seal, only slow it down until it can be replaced. Opiods will never fix whatever my problem is, I know that! I just want them to help live my life long enough until someone fixes it or until my Daughters get married and move out and then I have no more reason to be here. That’s all I have the patience to type as I’m to tense and uncomfortable to focus any longer and need to lie back down. I have a full-full time job most of it in a home office but can only sit for short periods before I feel like I have to start throwing stuff against the wall because pain is keeping me from concentrating. There are only 2 types of suicidal people, ones with chemical imbalance and the soldier lying in the ditch of combat with guts hanging out and no hope of survival. I used to worry about how to maintain effective relief from pain medication for the rest of my life given all the risk factors and tolerance buildup, but now I know I’ll never reach retirement age, I don’t want to. I’m still several years from my Daughters getting married and that alone causes so much stress and anxiety to deal with this pain that much longer. I crave for the day of eternal sleep and feeling nothing at all. I’ve purposely found reasons not believe in god and afterlife because if I truly believed in afterlife or reincarnation, it would be to tempting to just hit the reset button today. Anyone reading this that thinks I need a hotline number or shrink can go fuck themselves. I need a car mechanic mentality doctor that will spend more than 5 minutes actually researching my case and medical history and fixing the problem, not treating me like a rehab patient just because the shots he gave me didn’t help and I’m asking not to change my medication. What kills me the most is that I know my problem can be fixed, it’s not even a matter of technology, it’s a matter of finding a doctor who will get off his ass and do his f-ing job instead of doing the same routine procedures for every aliment someone may have. If the medical industry was like the automotive industry I would check myself into a hospital and demand I stay there until someone fixes it. If the government wants to create policy for preventing deaths be that opioid OD or suicide, though the latter doesn’t cause as much fuss, they should put requirements of fixing patients, not this give and take medication and procedures that give kickbacks to the doctor or free golf trips for every punch card or tally sheet they fill out.
I have no idea how I ended up on this page or why I’m wasting my time writing this, looks like the last post on this page was several years ago.
The sad thing is that I actually love my life, I’m gifted, talented and smart. I can fix anything that doesn’t have a heartbeat, I play guitar and wrote music no one will ever hear but me and I’m okay with that. I’m not okay with the fact that everything has been systematically taken away from me one pain signal at a time. No more dirt bike, no more working on cars, no more wood-working, no more playing drums, no more playing guitar, no more long drives on the back roads, no more shoveling my neighbors sidewalk or growing a garden. No more playing Xbox with my Daughter, no more music editing. I can still hear music and see my kids play. I can still throw something against the wall but never will, that is my sanity test, as long as I can fight that urge to do so. I can still laugh, I can still cry. But I can’t keep googling the internet trying to find an answer. I can’t go through medical school just to figure out my problems. I can’t force anyone else to do so either.
well, there’s your problem, not believing in God.He can heal and accomplish all things, if you believe. God is love!
God gave us these diseases, many from birth. Did god decide my uncle should rape my birth mother and impregnate her so that my genes would have defects. Quit gaslighting someone who is suffering. Im sure god frowns upon that.
Wow you are just like my daughter, she took me to every healer of God, I’m still paralyzed, I tried everything I was told to believe harder, I tried that to, nope nothing. I came to the conclusion God lives within us. no one else and if you’re strong it’s because it was installed in us long ago. Meaning use your own strength, you developed it. I believe in God but i dont depend on him to solve my wants.
Why are you reading or visitin this site since God us so great. Why don’t you ask God for more money so you could open up a practice of free Christian Counseling to all people that do or do not have insurance. People pay a lot of money for insurance that will not cover counseling unless it is a PHD. Why don’t you open a place that helps people that is close to me since your God will heal?
Don’t let the god fanatic bother you! And I understand what you are saying about waiting until your daughter is grown up and doesn’t need you anymore, I used to think like that too but my kids both grew up and went to college and they still need me so I’m stuck with the pain! And if there was a god it’s one cruel mf! I don’t know if it will help but I’ve been using topical pain creams and even though they need to be reapplied frequently they help some. You can get anything from diclofenac sodium from your local drug store to ketamine at your compounding pharmacy. I’m sure somewhere near you is a compounding pharmacy that can get you started on something that the nanny government isn’t having conniptions about. It’s too bad that the human body is much more intricate and difficult to treat and understand than the automobile and that House no matter how flawed he was is just a TV show character! I have a rare autoimmune disorder that most doctors I’ve seen needed me to spell it for them! So I get the frustration. It took years and years and years and tests after test to figure it out and then they were unable to do anything to make it better! I get the agony of not being able to do what you want to do, what you loved to do or even what you hated to do! Sadly that feeling will go away for the most part and you’ll accept the nothingness of your new life and wonder if all of the pain is worth it but you have children who didn’t ask to come into life and then have you kill yourself because that screws your kids up! And that my friend is why I’m sitting here in pain and typing to you. I don’t know if you can’t get the pain medication you need anymore but if that’s the case then I have 2 things to advise you about before you decide to leave your children fatherless 1. If you live close to Mexico I’ve been told that you can legally buy prescriptions and bring them across the border and that includes opioids and 2. If you use heroin ingest it and your liver breaks it down into morphine, making it no more addictive than anything else. So that’s the end of my advice I hope something helps you!
Hey this is abt the question abt Mexico doing the drugs lol
Your suggestion is why so many deaths are opioid related . government has forced people with both diagnosed pain as well as addicted side effect.to seek street drugs
Which kills most not the pills. Street drugs have always varied in purity one batch will be 100% next 10 .and now with tremendiously consentrated fyantanol from China VA Mexico cartels. And there no way to properly tell and dose.result od and death
And some are deliberate subsides. So until
The hyperlies about the drug and sane management it will continue same with subsides VA cut vets with war wounds off first spiked subsides.and sadilyi think the VA deep state wants that result.universal healthcare will too.btw the current state of pain clinics are legalized theft and extortion
No better than pill Mills in too many cases.
you are so right about pain clinics. The one I go to is a shot mill. They refuse to prescribe pain meds of any sort unless the patient agrees to shots. It is a form of medical blackmail. “do the shots, or else!”. Most should be shut down. They are getting rich off these “modalities” as they call them. The minute you refuse any more shots (and most of these shots DO NOT WORK!), they dismiss you as a patient. I would say this is the way 3/4 of the so-called pain management clinics function today. Theft, corruption, and lies!
There should be laws aagainst any doctor putting a patient on Opiods without explaining the addiction and the need to keep increasing amount because your tolerance level gets used to the drug.
I wasn’t explained any
Thing except that i needed to switch from Loratab because of the Tylonal injested by taking 6 10/350mg per day.
After 14 years I was up to taking 18p mg per day prescribed by my doctor on a daily basis.
I stopped taking Opiods cold turkey and one year later im still having some mild withdrawal.
I yawn about 30 times a day and I sneeze 4 to 6 times. In a row about 3 rimwa daily.
I wonder when all these withdrawal symptoms will go away???
I fight through massive pain daily but can’t find any other drug that will help my pain level.
I’ve tried everything except methadone
, and buphenorfine. (Spelling ) I don’t want to go from one addictive drug to another. So I love with major pain daily. I am thinking of going back to oxycodone at a lowel since I’ve been off for ove year now.
I completely agree with you. True addiction in chronic pain patients is rare (addiction being a psychological pathology where one loses control to a substance, behavior, etc and cannot stop using it despite overwhelmingly negative consequences on one’s life). Dependence and tolerance are adjustment the human nervous system naturally makes to its environment–chemical, social, etc. Doctors absolutely need to discuss these issues with patients before prescribing opioids as a matter of informed consent, including a plan to slowly (and it needs to be a LOT slower than the CDC recommendations of 10 percent per week, which will leave anyone in agony. Two percent per week is more like it, and very much reduces or even in some cases eliminates it entirely; especially if some mitigating medications are utilized; such as clonidine. The medications can be a lifesaver, but the downsides absolutely need to be a part of any discussion before embarking on treatment. I would have been on them anyway most likely because of my condition, but I certainly wasn’t prepared for the utter contempt that would be heaped upon me by the medical community and society at large; some in my family, just be cause I’m in agony and have the audacity to ask for help. This is often so much worse than the physical pain; leaves me feeling so isolated and wishing that I had cancer so this could end one way or another. It makes me angry and frustrated that friends with everything in the world to live for ended up burying their twelve year old after her battle with brain cancer, and now her aunt has stage 4 breast cancer and five children under the age of nine. It’s awful. I wonder every day why I couldn’t take their place. I don’t mean to sound selfish and I know it’s not all about me. But the pain and the judgement can just destroy you.
Last time I compared pharmacology training :
MD : 18 hrs grad college
Dentist : 27 hrs
Optometrist : 32 hrs
Pharmacologists of course, are the drug experts.
( Most MD’s..except pharmacologists, learn about drugs primarily from their drug rep leaving samples..and we all know about the oxy and even viagra pushing).
I still think MD’s should stick to diagnosing and let a patients Pharmacist review the patient medical history and do the Prescribing
Bobby Have you tried the Pain patches like 75mcg.They should help you with your pain just give it a chance.
Same here Juststrumming. I have concluded the government with the DEA is attempting to find out how many people they can kill. They will start with the old and sick. When this is successful, the next target will be the very young. Call it abortion after birth. Then kill everyone else through denial of medical care under one government policy. I do not blame the doctor’ who do not want to spend the rest of their lives in jail for prescribing needed pain medications. But WTH ! At least listen and give a proper diagnosis. No one just wants to be bedridden for years and years..
I hear Ya man, seems like Your telling My story, with exception of the ability of fixing cars,…I worked for an airline and traveled the world, never had a day at work I didn’t appreciate, used to be the guy who had all the friends, too many, if thats possible, was the guy that made people laugh, went from always being busy, now it’s the docs or bloodwork, have two major diseases. One which is destroying the nerves in My spine affecting entire back, hands, feet, calves, neck, now pelvis and especially My thighs, some days. Even with meds cant stand up, a 20 minute car ride is debilitating, and NO ONE in My family understands, I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING, instead of being the life of the party, people dont even call, and with new laws, they’ve reduced My meds, to a point where I can possibly do minimal tasks, but rest of day, I FEEL LIKE THE PAIN IS GOING TO LITERALLY DRIVE ME INSANE, I want to go back to work, I need to, I never thought I’d miss yardwork and chores. I still try to put on a face that doesn’t truly show how My body feels and is going through, it just frustrates Me that people, except persons like Yourself understand, I am at a 10 outta 10 right now. I JUST WISH THE PEOPLE WE PUT INTO OFFICE READ THESE FORUMS, I only read Yours, and will read more. Just know I get it man, tired or surgeries, appts. & all the B.S. , I am blessed to live on a lake appt, and I see all that us good, big naturist, I dont think I will be able to walk out the door and cast My line, but I do believe in God, I wouldn’t be here otherwise, to all out there We need to let each other know We get it, and let’s figure out how to make them get it and fix US and fix the SYSTEM! May We all get a good nts sleep without waking up from pain. Take care folks.
I’m so sorry. But reading your post has helped me so much understand the pain my son feels on a day to day basis. He is also on opioids and has struggled terribly with his crohns since he was 11. I wish you some pain free days and don’t give up hope
I feel every word… I wish I got some relief without being looked at in the same way. I have number 9 pain in my back. They are now going to do a double fusion but stopped giving me pain meds due to this bs epidemic. I call it that cause that’s what it is. We, the real patients and chronic sufferers are the ones that have to suffer cause doctors want to save face because of a bs crisis??? Well, I never took the drugs they say I.e. fentynal, herrion, etc. my dose was a low dose and I never had a problem with any medication. Matter of fact, I turned down super potent meds.
Your anger is well deserved my friend. You have all the rights in the world to feel as you do! You are not suffering alone as there are millions being treated the same as you. My mother lived in constant pain even on the large amount of pain meds. Although with them she could st least walk and get some quality of life. She’s gone now and I miss her but am so relieved she is no longer in pain. Now I at 48 have pinched nerve with radial nerve and I’ve done the ibuprofen, physical therapy, gabapentin and Dr wants steroid shots in my neck. I’m so afraid I will eventually turn into my mother. My pain is bad but tolerable at this point so I’m not comparing my life or pain to yours. I think your will to live for daughters weddings is quite admirable but must be difficult for you each day dealing with so much pain, frustration, hurt, disappointment and more. The medical field has been such a let down. If all the doctors in the United States stood up for their patients then the bloody DEA would have to listen. But doctors are scared little greedy trolls (most not all) and have no business being in that profession. I’m seeing many news stories however and the FDA just came out with a Big deal statement in favor of chronic pain patients. So seeing some shift. I just encourage you and pray for strength for you each day. Praying for relief and comfort for you. Just reaching out as one human to another and giving some love. Be well my friend.
Hi strumming, I do believe in God, but I totally get why you’re trying to talk yourself out of everything. Your story touched my heart and truly my soul. I know why you wrote so much even though it won’t change the outcome of anything, even though the last person to write was 7 years ago. But you got reply’s! Maybe not anything that helped you or that you wanted to hear, or even that changes anything. But undeniably, your words landed in sight of other’s who cared enough to take the time to respond. I share many of your experiences. One thing I do know is you are not alone.
So why am I taking the time to reply to you? First off, you deserve reply’s. You deserve more then written words of frustration never to be read by another human. And to tell you what my take is on what you’ve shared. I also just get so very tired of the pain. I feel comrades with you. Although I am not connected in any way with the commenter above called “Old fed up RN”, I too am a nurse. I’ve seen both sides if the NFC. There AREA some good Doctor’s. But done many apathetic ones. I was 38 when I was beaten and permanently disabled courtesy of an extremely psychotic 6’7″ 280 pound patient, and ironically, it was a dr. I was trying to protect.
That was 30 years ago. And here I still am. Nothing had changed except more rounds of trials of everything you’ve gone through, yet again & again under my belt.
Again, why am I really responding. To tell you that you are such a smart diversified man-I assume you’re a guy,who has been through it all,and has so many talented gifts that your seemingly. Unrecognized talent needs to be shown to the world. You are not only extremely smart but extremely articulate. Have you ever considered testifying in front of Congress? It would be a great thing to do. But if you haven’t the time or fortitude to do something like this, especially with children, then Write a book man!! You and your girls will profit financially, and you will help other’s to realize they are not alone.. You may think you don’t have the time. But guess what? You packed a whole lot if info about yourself, and helpful insight into the life of other’s like us, who are misunderstood, and just plain sick and tired of the hypocritical facade called the medical profession. And don’t get me started on the pharmaceutical companies who are in the back picket of many ‘Doctor’s, politician’s and the FDC. Sometimes I’m not sure if ANY of them care beyond the almighty buck.
So, why would I think you might be able to fit in writing a book? Because I know how achingly lonely snd painful, both physically and emotionally the wee hours of the mining can be to those who walk in our shoes. Think about it.
WOW You said my pain-dealing experience and.feelings.morr respectfully than I could. I do not know if marijuana ca n
help this level of pain. Have u tried it?
So sorry that you are facing a life of pain without meds. As we age it only gets worse.
My husband suffered a severe back injury several years ago. As he aged, the back pain became worse and his physician prescribed hydrocodone for him. The Hydrocodone worked well, but for some reason it did not show up in his urine test. The so-called doctor cut him off and sent him a letter stating she would no longer be his health care provider. Naturally, the pain became so intense I would up taking him to the ER a week or so later. There he was examined and received the diagnosis of 4th stage liver cancer. He passed away about 3 weeks later. I am wondering if the hydrocodone did not show up in his urine because of the liver dysfunction. I think it might have been prudent for the doctor to have run some kidney and liver tests on him, as she had done so previously and it had showed a “slight” liver dysfunction.
Barbara,
Depending on dose, hydrocodone generally will not show positive for “opiates” on an immunoassay urine screen, and if it did, there would be reason to suspect a patient was taking an opiate that what was not prescribed (i.e. morphine or codeine). Liver disease had nothing to do this this. And for the record, assuming he was taking hydrocodone combined with acetaminophen (which is the most common dosage form), he should not have been using acetaminophen. In fact, it is curious whether cause of death was actually the liver disease, or if acetaminophen was the immediate cause of death due to a poorly functioning liver.
My doctor has been great despite all of the pressure the state medical board has been putting on him, he’s been reducing my opioids but slowly so I don’t get overwhelmed by the severe pain that I have but now I have received a letter from the state medical board and they’re demanding that I give them access to my medical records because they feel that because he has been a good doctor and compassionate and given me enough opioids to allow me to get out of bed and have a little bit of a life that he must have been over prescribing! So it’s not bad enough that they are harassing doctors who happen to have a patient die while on opioids (mind you his patients are all older, I’ll and in pain! And suicide wouldn’t be unheard of) but then they want to harrass the people whose lives they’re destroying! I don’t have a problem with addiction nor do I have any problems with withdrawals and like,most people who are in pain and receiving this medication it’s been the only alternative. I have tried everything else and most of the other options have caused a multitude of health problems from my intestines being riddled with ulcers and drugs like antidepressants causing suicide ideation or just making me into a bawling mess or making me gain so much weight that I couldn’t breathe let alone move! Then I started using the bogeyman fentanyl and I woke up for the first time in 15 years and I was not in pain! I have no side effects and I didn’t have to continue to increase my dose as a matter of fact I was actually starting to reduce it because I was able to get up and exercise and started losing weight and just getting into the water at the pool reduced my pain. But now thanks to the good people at PROP lying about the horrors of opioids and how they are so addictive and horrible I’m back to laying in my bed in pain most of the time. I don’t have any intention of killing myself or living with out a life I do plan on going to Mexico and seeing a nice doctor and getting my pain medication from them or if that fails then using heroin and Not injecting it allows the liver to turn it into morphine and it is still prescribed in Europe so it can’t be that bad! Definitely not worse than suicide!
So many people have told their life stories! I feel this wont be read or even matter. but here goes, I was living a pretty happy life, although in pain. I managed it. Now because of all the government BS and the feet on the throats of all of the Drs. I have had No care of any kind. I spend all my time in bed. I think about dying far more more than anyone knows. The pain is unbearable. My life sucks. I am 54 years old. I have many things that need preventative care, but don’t want to be treated as a drug seeker or “whatever” the latest word is. I have records dating back to the 60’s explaining why I have osteo etc. problems. Wish I could find a compassionate Dr. to help me. Before I simply give up. I used to be the happiest person. Now I am disabled and sad.
I agree, no one cares about anything but money. The government gets involved because they or the powers that be have their hands in the pot. I didn’t even realize for a long time that my pain killers were something addicting. I had terrible back problems, and suddenly my meds were being taken away, that’s when I looked into things and found out heroin was in the same class of drug, so I asked a friend for help. I then entered into a 12 year battle with heroin addiction. I am now totally opioid dependent, and luckily I go to a methadone clinic and run a business. Other people I know are dead, and never could turn it around. I keep the fact that I go to a methadone clinic hidden because it carries a stigma. It’s ridiculous that the medical community gets people hooked then treats them like addicts. It’s so unfair what they have done to so many people, I understand it’s called a medical practice for a reason, but if something is working for someone and you know it’s dangerous to get them off it then why are you doing it? Once you’ve addicted someone, you should continue to give car that works for them instead of taking said care away and telling them THEY’RE the ones with a problem.
So I guess you kicked H just now taking Methadone only? Yes I’m another VICTIM with Dr Nash here in Houston TX he dropped all of his patients just like a hot potatoe suffering BIG time and im scared b cause my blood pressure goes way up chest hurts etc blood pressure like over 200 walking like a time bomb….This freakn doctor will Not see me nor others because they see all the meds they were gvn to me which at times it really didn’t help just mask pain maybe 1 he or 2 hrs. My surgeon screwed me over have all this metal inside. Don’t know what to do?
How can you keep drug use hidden from Meth clinic. I get takehomes, 14 at a time. I give a urine EVERY other Fri. If I show a narcotic I better have an impacted tooth, or oral surgery or cancer. My Blood pressure was so high they got scared and gave me xanax. NO WAY. You aint taking it. Did you tell your doctor yer on meth? No? Well we need to call him or bring back a letter saying he has been told. Ive known this Doctor for 20 yrs. He has been family doc. I have never asked him for paiin meds, he gave me some xanax and they made him feel like a criminal for doing it. (THE VA Meth) So now whats the point. All the doctors I see make you fill out a sworn statement saying you arent “on” anything anywhere else. Id rather get some heroin.
You’re doctors are correct. You are putting yourself in danger, and creating a liability for your physician that is prescribing Xanax.
From the time of Galen and Hippocrates – From the days of the plagues of old – and in the times of our forefathers. Mankind has suffered with pain. The wounded had to suffer to be healed and would have preferred to die because IF they managed to survive having the mace removed from their chest along with the large broken blade of the enemies sword, he then had the agony of having the chirgeon seal the bloody wound, (so he wouldn’t bleed to death) by pouring scalding hot oil over it. If he survived the pain, and the burn, and later the painful adhesions of the scar tissue pulling and pinching him for the rest of his life, He was lucky.
Mankind has longed for a way to end their pain, and to heal their children with mercy, with peace,
with love and with kindness. To find a medicine that would truly HEAL and SOOTHE and that would FINALLY – Dry the Endless tears of the suffering of Humankind. They had LONGED for some sort of Miraculous and Intelligent Cure for Pain and Suffering.
Science and Diligent Work, Years of Study, Passionate and Diligent Testing and Clinical Trials, Years of perseverance & triumph and some defeat, much debate, and despair, death and the defiance of death, and FINALLY – Effective ANSWERS!!!
Mankind – From the late 18th century to the present began to find effective ways to ease the pain of the suffering of the sick, the wounded, the dying.
From the Mid 19th century, and the use of anesthesia, Mankind was able to perfect the process
after much trial and error, and at last, the art of surgery could be don in a merciful fashion and
Humanity was – able to be healed. with mercy.
More years pass, Our pain medications can ease suffering SAFELY. (If people were not stupidly trying to abuse drugs, or kill themselves with them. Or if those w/out Virtue trying to send signals to the world to show the virtue that they DO NOT HAVE by saying, “LOK AT HOW GOOD I AM! I want to Take Bad Drugs From People and Punish the Addicts who abuse drugs!” Because They do NOT have or know pain.
We FINNALLY have Safe & effective ways to ease suffering, & Anyone who needs to use these tools of Mercy MUST be Labeled: An Addict, Must be Punished and branded unworthy, & Dangerous. The must Suffer and be Castigated.
Why? So The Virtue Signaling ones may ‘Feel Good & Superior!
So the people who bought into the Marijuana stock can reap in the money as they make Pot leagal and our nation becomes Doped up & Stupid Potheads, while people with Pain wish they were DEAD?
While Physicians reel in disgust because they cannot care for their patients?
While Children, and Grandmothers, Mothers and Fathers, Teenagers and Veterans and so many others suffer with pain that is so easily healed?
WHEN WILL THE LAWMAKERS WAKE UP AND SEE THESE LAWS MUST BE
REPEALED?
The majority of pain patients are not addicted. I was on opioids for years, lost insurance and quit cold turkey. Yes withdrawal from dependance was rough and Ive been in horrible pain since, but I never considered heroin. Ive also been prescribed them a few times short term and been fine, taking them as prescribed and ending when done.
I am sorry you got addicted and actually agree with you, those that are addicted are better off on pills than heroin, but the majority of pain patients are not addicted.
I legit have not left my apartment in 6 months, not even to check the mail, take out trash, Take my toddler to the park. My poor husband had to do those things and shopping because my anxiety and agoraphobia is so bad. Xanax or even klonapin would relieve this and I could have a life worth living, but no. I can’t have it because it’s addictive. Who cares if it’s addictive and you need it everyday as long as your able to be a productive member of society. And honest I don’t care if someone is abusing it, they have a right of the persuit of happiness. They know it could kill them. As long as they Are not committing crimes, I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s totally insane how the doctors are doing patients now.
I know what your going thru! I am a pain Management patient for 15 years, a model patient they said, I was took off methdone and norco due to Dr letting long term patients, I wasn’t let go by them, just took off my pain meds completely! I got severely sick, had to go to hospital ER, they said it’s severe withdraw, because you were abruptly stopped, they got me stable an re leased me me couple hours later, bill was $10,230. 00!!! Went for follow up with my pm dr, he said it’s complications from your hsysterectomy you had 17 years s ago, not the opiate WD, YOUR KIDDING ME! Anyway I continued in severe withdraw and I was suicidal, I called a suboxen clinic and got a week before my second introduction appt, already had my assessment appt. My pain Dr that had been so compassionate and kind for 15 yrs, then all laws changed he changed. I had no problem coming off my medications but not took off abruptly, no weening off two 15 yr usage, it was inhumane!!!! Then be told that I shouldnt be sick from it, that it was complications from a hysterectomy surgery I had 17 years ago! That I should of felt like bad flu for a week them I would be good as new. I have never missed a dose, never ever took anything that wasn’t prescribed yo me, I was so sick I broke that rule in a week of withdrawal! It was either that or I was committing suicide!! Already had my gun out ready yo do it, the sickness was so bad!!! Just wanted to end the WD! So I called suboxen clinic going to see Dr in morning, I never been on suboxen but I took some from a friend to get me to my appt, cause I would of killed myself! Now I’m worried that I may not be excepted in clinic, o don’t know all the rules, never been to one, they told me on my first assessment appt, that they understand that people will do what they have to , to get thru until there induction Dr appt, but St time of my assessment I hadn’t ever used suboxen before an told them that, but now I had to use it and worried that it might hinder me getting in clinic, this is a long road, an have suffered badly, all because I put myself in a drs hands who said nothing they could do for my back or neck and would have to be on pain medication rest of my life! I totally trusted their opinion and now look!!! I pray to God I’m excepted in clinic tomorrow, for 18 month treatment, if so I’ll be tapered off slowly from suboxen, they said it will be done slowly so want experience what I’m going thru now, how it should of been done with my pain Dr!!!!! I’m praying for everyone who is suffering from impact of the opiate laws. God bless!
Bless your heart, I was in the same situation when I was your age, I am now 59 and found pain management, and oh what a life changer that was!! my pain was pretty much controlled, I got out of bed, started going places again, now the Federal government has decided for us how much medication we can and cannot have, so now I’m not pain controlled at all, I was cut in half of what I was on and it doesn’t even touch my pain, so back to the dark place is what I am so afraid of. You can go to pain management honey and get help, they will help you!!! I felt so bad for you when I read this because I was there, but you can go get help if you have insurance that would really help, God Bless you. Kelley Eubanks
Please hang in there you will find a doctor. I am 32 I flew 100 ft. Out a window of a van 15yrs ago. I had a lump grow in my neck 3 years ago. I was ok living after accident couldn’t walk for 2 years i was told id never walk again. I was givin 250 percocet a months this was in 2006. I had surgery on my neck doctor did not look at my MRI image. ” I Know Right!” Soumds like stuff out of a movie. I found a great doctor and years ago i was put back on meds. My first visit I was given meds and even after the newvlaw get them through my medicaid. If you have records you eventually will get your meds. Don’t hurt your self please.
Where do you reside? I live in tn and there is few docs here that will help you..im sorry ur in so much pain
Have u tried a pain clinic? Its very difficult for a dr to understand ur severe pain unless she/he has suffered from it. Some clinics are good & some are bad. If u can’t find a regular dr to work with giving u pain meds, this might be ur next option. If u go to one & don’t like it try another. However, U don’t want to fall in precevied dr shopping. So unless they ask if u have been to another clinic I would leave it out. To much misconception & paranoia in the market place. Good luck!!
I sure can empathize with you! I have end stage (grade D) COPD/emphysema with 27% lung volume as well as a slow growing tumor that can’t be removed by wedge section due to my over all poor health and cachexia (loss of muscle and weight) weighing only 78lbs. I used to weigh 114lbs at 5’3 1/2 inches tall but over the years I became sicker and sicker. Aside from the copd, lung tumor and cachexia I also am suffering (really suffering) from secondary progressive Multiple sclerosis, epilepsy that complicates everything and very difficult to control with medications and even worse they start randomly and don’t stop, I end up in ER then intimated on a breathing machine twice now in past 2 years, scarring my lungs further and get that much worse after I recover and go home. I also have early onset osteoporosis now for 7 years, have had 2 compression fractures in my spine and terrible hip pain for months. I’m confined to a wheel chair for past few years and on 24/7 oxygen since 2015. I don’t leave my home anymore. I have limited hours of a health aide that comes 3 hrs twice a week for 3rd year now that Medicaid will only cover those few hours a week so my husband can’t work anymore and is my primary care taker (well supposed to be but doesn’t seem to want to help me much this past year as I believe I’ve become a burden to him even for a glass of water. I have to get around my house sometimes pulling my body with my arms across the floor to reach the toilet before I wet my pants. He fights with me a lot yelling at me and forgetting how frail I have become, emotionally as well as physically. When he’s angry and doesn’t seem to take much, he refuses help to me. This is making my life to live that much more difficult than it already is. I find I’m now just alone, depressed, tired, in pain and anxiety building because of it all) I don’t have family to care for me as they live too far away, and one sister that is 7 miles from me doesn’t seem to be interested in helping me yet knows my husband treats me bad. She doesn’t visit much because she doesn’t like him. Another reason she said was because she is too busy. I’m only 47 years old and yet I barely can get much help with anything. My kids are grown with one married with my first grandchild I’ve only seen 4-5 times and she’s a year and a half old. I have one son in college and the other son is mildly autistic and a senior in high school. I’m a believer in God, a devout follower and pray day and night that He just gets this life over with for me to end the physical and emotional trauma I can’t control or stop. I used to be strong, a very positive person, wife and active mother raising my kids the best I can. I was always dedicated (still am in encouraging them) but can’t do much for them financially as I have only my SSI to live on just barely paying bills and copays on my 16 prescriptions. I have a good doctor and he has been really trying to help me. He watched my diseases progress each time I saw him, from a smiling “how are you doing Dr xxxxxx, to nothing but a shell of pain. Last September he told me I should start hospice services soon. He prescribed liquid morphine for my pain and meloxicam for my rheumatoid arthritis that hurts so very bad. I was terrified to take morphine knowing when ever you hear that word first thoughts are addiction or possibly dying not knowing how my little body will handle. It took a lot of coaxing from the nursevtelling me it will be ok, the doctor gave it for a reason, it would help with not just pain but also exasperation’s as well as my appetite and anxiety. It was a small dose of 2.5ml every 6 hrs but the prescription was for only 10 days, and the nurse said to call and ask for refills when it was almost gone. I started taking it a week later scared to death of it but trusted the nurse. It really helped me more than just with pain as she said, for the first time I wasn’t feeling as bad as I had been emotionally or physically. I had less anxiety and could breathe more evenly. All was fine for about 3 weeks then it started to wear off in 3-4 hrs so my dr raised the dosage to 5ml every 6 hrs. Again I was ok for about 2 weeks then it started to wear off again too fast. Then he changed it to 5ml every four hours which helped a lot better. By December I was doing well. Like everyone I felt excitement of Christmas this year not dealing with so much pain and able to relax more. My family members came for a short visit just before Christmas and left to go back home. As usual I called my dr for a regular refill and out of no where, Medicaid needed prior authorization. Then refused to help with cost. Suddenly I was completely out of morphine, just a dead stop a week before Christmas too. I went into terrible withdrawal after 2 doses missed in one single day, nightmares, sweating but cold, my son and husband said I was hard to wake at times other times hard to fall asleep. I hurt worse than I ever have in my whole body. I cried a lot. Then Christmas Eve my husband decided he was leaving for the holidays! In 2 hrs he packed up and left me and my sons! I didn’t know what to do! I couldn’t believe it. What a time to just leave me. I continued going through horrible withdrawal and pain. My husband never called to check on me that day he left nor on Christmas or the day after. By early Thursday morning (4am) my son slept on the floor next to my bed when I had a severe seizure. He didn’t really know what to do expect call his dad through his aunt who decided it wasn’t important enough to tell him unity 12 hours later that his son called him. I almost died that morning. Lucky my son knew cpr and stayed by my side. He wanted to call 911 but I had already made my wishes to that months ago not to do that anymore. (I was worn out from going into the hospital, being in CCU on ventilators breathing for me) causing my lungs worse damage. The first time this happened I was given too much Ativan to stop my seizures and it not only stopped the seizures finally it also stopped my breathing and movement! I remember it all! I couldn’t move, talk or breathe. It was horrible suffering. I had pulmonary arrest that led to a mild heart attack. I remember the tool they used to for emergency intubation tubes going in the wrong way from panic of the doctor not realizing it, then the tube placements wrong filling my stomach with oxygen and still couldn’t move or say help! He finally noticed it was wrong and said to the team around him we are losing her get her to CT scan to get this right. That’s the last I remember until days later waking on the ventilator) why would I want to keep going through this suffering again and again coming out of it worse health in my lungs than before? So I signed a POST paper to no rescucitations or ventilators pertaining to seizures. This is why my son did not call 911. He went through so much stress fear and crying thinking I would die with out dad here. I almost did. Praise the Lord I survived. When dad finally answered my son, he still didn’t seem to care but came home anyway later. The next morning I had severe chest pain that woke me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe at the same time. I tried to call out for my son but I couldn’t. My husband walked in then and saw I was in pain. He just sat me up and gave me water. The pain continued but got lighter through the rest of the that day. That night I got a terrible sudden left sided headache and felt strange. I passed out in minutes. My husband thought I had just fell asleep but by morning I was unable to speak or move my right side. My fave was droopy and I was really disoriented. 2 days I couldn’t speak until finally I was able to slur some and speak slowly. My doctor was on vacation at the time out of town so my son couldn’t contact him, no on call doctor either. (Sigh ;-( ) I never did get full usage or feeling back in my right side since then but I’m able to speak but have problems with stuttering and unable to explain things well, my brain feels like I can’t always say or explain what I’m thinking and things sometimes come out of order or certain words I’ve forgotren replacing them with similar sounding words that have different meaning to what I’m trying to say. When the dr did get back he saw me rt away and believes I had a TIA type of stroke but I believe it to be s full stroke that may have been brought on by the stress of my marriage, husband leaving but even more, the withdrawal from the morphine bringing on my seizures again. I hadn’t had any since starting the morphine a few months before, that in itself coupled with my anti seizure meds (Kepra and low dose clonazepam) helped keep then under control all that time. So my husband decided to skip the one of our utility payments to buy the morphine for me. I started to do better again but was very fearful if I now ran out of the morphine what might happen and all the pain that came with it so I only took half doses scattered which still caused me anxiety and pain between holding off doses to make it last. When it was time for another refill my dr had no problem to write another script for it but again I was denied by Medicaid. So again here comes withdrawal and all the pain! My elderly dad decided to pay for this 12 day supply. He doesn’t have much money but my son told him how I was suffering so out of empathy he bought it. Now I’m nearing the end of that bottle too with 4 days left taking it all wrong in small amounts, spread out to try and save it longer. I can’t take this suffering any longer…my family feels I’m too young to enter hospice so I haven’t done it but because of that I can’t get end of life care or comfort. I am suffering in every way, scared daily my sins or husband will find me dead. I have no fear in dying or going to Heaven, I know I’m good spiritually but knowing my kids still need me I can’t give up. But this is the first time I’m wondering if I’m more of a burden now than anything else. It’s too much already with all my health conditions combined to go through such agony to try and get the only medication that finally helped me to enjoy my kids rest and be with less pain no ER or ambulance calls. What use am I now but a burden. I am alone most of the time or sleeping too long or not st all, various days. To think I feared taking morphine months ago because I thought it would stop my breathing…now is killing me going through withdrawal and too much stress losing more weight when I just started to gain a little. I’m no use to anyone anymore. I can’t even think straight…my husband barely sees me though he’s here in the house ignoring me a lot. He doesn’t check on me much anymore. My sons do between college classes and the other after school visiting my room a bit. Everyone is so busy…why am I still here…is it wrong to want to let go and if I do will God understand? I can’t keep suffering like I am. I’ve always been soft spoken and smiley and in just past 2 weeks I’m starting to lose my temper easy, getting tearful, can’t control my feelings or pain. My husband finds it easy to argue with me and even more ditch me when I need him the most. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Even if my husband isn’t very nice or doesn’t love me anymore I can forgive him. God forgives everyone. I want to go to be with the Lord so bad before i get worse. I don’t want to lose Him (God too, or my salvation, place in Heaven) because I am just starting to hold resentment and bitterness, frustration that a system of medical field would give me a medication that made me feel better in so many ways, that I was able to cut some meds out and lower others while on morphine…now I’m a shell of s person just sitting or laying here every day wondering what more can I do. I feel like I’m going to truly lose it and break down far worse than I ever have, or lose my mind ;-(( I cant even type anymore, it’s too much. If anyone is out there going through all this I may not know u but I can pray for you too! I DO understand the pain and wondering if dying is the best thing I can do for everyone’s sake, not just my own. It would be very easy to just take triple doses of my meds I do take to end others burden as well as my own. Please God help me!
Just for the sake of saying so, even though I want to give up under all my circumstances and suffering I wanted to say after much reflection that I WILL NOT harm myself purposefully. I just want to express my desperation, feelings of helplessness, pain uncontrolled and anxiety to which I have been left in. I have contacted a very good friend who will be moving to my state where I live in order to help me through this time in my life. We had been very close a few years ago but do to my illnesses I didn’t want to bother her. Again after reading all I had written on this forum I realize I need a lot of support I wasn’t getting. I’m happy inside to know my dear friend still cares very much for me to want to help me cope, help me get better relief care and be my power of attorney as well. Praise the Lord I won’t be alone in my little world of pain on earth. He has surely answered a great portion of my prayers and had given me a boost in my spiritual strengths. I know I will continue to hurt but I know I have Him and my dear friend. May God be with you all out there that suffer as well and bring you home when HE IS READY. We are still alive and may hurt but we WILL stay strong in all our circumstances if we trust Him and allow Him to do so. There is a reason and cause for everything and a reason God created us. There IS a reason we are STILL here!
Hi Sandy,
Bless your heart! I hear you crying out for help and God is with us all! I was hit by a car on my bicycle September 2nd 2018 (hit and run) the results were a severely dislocated left elbow, slight concussion, road rash..etc. When “this person” hit me it through me 50 ft flailing through the air and hit the sidewalk at quite an impact. I was taken to the hospital, which is maybe a quarter mile and they ran me right into the ER. What a awesome team of dr’s I HAD! They were very diligent and forthcoming in keeping me up to speed about any and all procedures. I was very comfortable with there bedside manner. With that I had several follow up and in the interim going to see a “new’ pain management clinic. The first visit to pain management was a JOKE! They gave me a back brace, steroidal creme and ibu’s on steroids! That was just the first of four more visits and it was the same thing each time, wanting to put me on everything (including injections) but the narcs. The cease of opiates has nothing to do with the people or persons taking them as prescribed, its “our government” not being able to control all of the opiates coming through our border! Those are not prescribed or controlled! What does that possibly have to do with the folks that are “playing by the rules?” There are people that are in chronic pain that are at the “jumpimg off point” and our healthcare system and dr’s do not care let alone fight for us! The dr’s take or took a hypocritical oath upon obtaining there doctorate and it sure is working its magic! So much for having compassion for the patient or the needs of the person.Its about meeting there quota or not! The dr’s get to pick and chose who has the most pain based on urine samples just to appease our gov’t (DEA) officials. How many pain pills do the folks in gov’t choke down on a daily bases? Do they get urinalysis? HE*L NO! They have money and pull!! Sickening!! Hang in there my beautiful friends, nothing lasts forever!
Hi Keri & Sandy. Thank you both for your input, for taking time to hear about others stories, for your compassion, your understanding and kindness. I’m so very sorry what you’ve both been through and I agree with all you said. Seems no one really understands unless they have been there themselves. Some offer alternative measures to those who can’t afford any of them. Some people are on Medicaid in which they don’t pay for anything alternative, like acupuncture. That is ludicrous to even tell someone to do when they can’t even leave their house or wheel chairs! It’s crazy when you can barely move at all to do “alternative” things. Sounds like the famous quote “let them eat cake” garbage. I am truly starting to believe this country is trying to euthanize humans while suggesting the dumbest of things. Yes maybe taking a 2 mile walk every day would help those who not only can’t walk but can’t even push their own wheel chairs! There’s a lot of people that don’t care about the ones that suffer because they haven’t suffered themselves in such a way. How easy to offer advice (from way up there in the government, to pharmacies, to some doctors) what is wrong with our society that humans don’t matter! Animals get better treatment! There is no real PROOF that drug addicts have slowed down in over dosing getting their drugs ILLEGALLY to begin with. No one that really truly needs pain medication to survive a little longer is selling it! They NEED it themselves. It’s easy to find out if someone was through pain management anyway if that were the case. There are more pharmacists out there that dispense it that are most likely to sell it on the street than a person that is taking a low dose, controlled by their physician with great monitoring! Second to that, a doctor can do the same thing, write out prescriptions to family members with false reasons of need, or friends or “Fake patients” that they can easily get it for themselves. Even compared to pain medications sold on the street. Where does everyone think it comes from most likely?! Are people this blind?! I live in a small town/city that there IS a doctor that is hooked on pain medications and an alcoholic that was discovered in 1994, never served jail time but was told he couldn’t write prescriptions anymore for pain medications until he goes to a drug rehab ordered by a physician panel who found him guilty. That doctor never complied in over 8 years! No one checked to see if he stopped until numerous complaints from his own patients saying he was acting strange from joking to angry fits. It took 8 years of complaints piling up until that doctor was addressed AGAIN! Why was he even allowed to practice as a medical doctor in the first place! Isn’t this a manhole crime? He was served a with papers a second time to go to the board of physicians finally again to just not show up! A degree allows people to do this? I think anyone abusing any drugs should get charged criminally, doesn’t everyone else? So now those that are in last stages of life, in chronic pain, never abused a thing are the ones that suffer because of people like this? Street drugs are so rampant, that will never stop. It’s done secretly as there is so much more to lose for them, not that there shouldn’t be but it should apply to EVERYONE. That’s like stealing all prefects from a department store a person works at, told just to “stop it” and continue doing it until the store closes and they go do it somewhere else? I can definitely say this again: those that need pain medications that ARE always regulated to a patient and watched carefully won’t be selling something they need, neither will a starving person sell the last day of crumbs for a shiny bike. This is going to end up killing more innocent people so fast that have an opportunity to have relief from small amounts of pain medications to have visitors, just enough to take the edge off to share a bit more time with their children, grandchildren, spouses, friends, and other family to have a bit more quality to their lives to be able to. Otherwise with out even some relief it will cause enough pain a person doesn’t get a choice to have anyone at all to see them in such pain. Kids especially! They suffer to see their parent or sibling suffer in pain and most decent parents that care about that won’t have a choice but to not allow any visiting seeing them this way. To be in this kind of pain there is no quality, nor control of that undue stress caused by the pain, that isolates a person to the point they kill them selves in another way! Who does the government seem to show more compassion for then I ask? A patient and their families or those that make a choice to get high with uncontrolled over doses they will always find to buy on the black market anyway or crooked pharmacists or crooked doctors? There’s no rational thinking to this at all. Nor justice or humanity. May God help all those suffering because of a broken society who doesn’t care either way, looks the other way and especially the government that leads them! Looks like everyone loses except those with degrees to abuse, big wallets who can afford to pay off the law and judicial system, and the government authority to throw around to pretend they are making progress. Just sickening.
Triple dose won’t do anything if u been on this medicine a long time.,u said it would be easy ya ok,I could take a whole prescription and would just go to my pain. So I don’t think it will be that easy,if it was you probably would of done it ,wish u the best of luck, hang in there,we all knows how it feels
I’m so sorry. Good luck in finding a compassionate doctor. Try some alternative methods (acupuncture, massag, yoga, meditation, tai chi) while trying to find a doctor.
I’ve sat here reading all of these blogs this morning about issues that we all share. There truly is an epidemic in this country but I’m not talking about the opioid epidemic. It seems as though I am part of a club that is not a fun Club to be a part of. I had a car accident in 2001 on my way to work. The accident itself didn’t seem that bad, but it literally set off a bomb in my spine. I had some pre-existing home injuries from the 80s and this accident just took it to a whole new level. My head felt way too heavy for my neck to support it. My right arm was numb all the way down to the fingers. When I say numb, I don’t mean I couldn’t feel it. The numbness was all the way to the Bone. It felt like a deep intense pain in my bone but my skin did not seem to have much feeling. I also started having lower back pain and numbness and my right leg , and weakness in both legs This started my primary sending me to a Pain Management Group. In the early 2000s. I went from doctors who told me there was nothing wrong with my me, to others who put me on fentanyl patches, pain meds and antidepressants and many other types of medication that caused me to gain a lot of weight, fall asleep in the middle of dinner out with my husband or worsen my pain. I had to quit my job and ended up in bed depressed and suicidal or nearly two years. I had dealt with migraines since I was in my 20s and as horrible as they were, I worked a full-time job, raised two children and managed to put supper on my table five nights a week. Then I would collapse with a rag on my eyes and a dark room , take some medicine and fall asleep. My head aches sometimes lasted for days and even weeks. However, when you cannot lift your head because it feels too heavy , and your legs feel like they weigh a hundred pounds each, it makes getting out of bed very difficult and Performing daily activities even worse. The Pain Management Group I was at finally after taking me off all my medicines because they thought I was drug seeking ordered an MRI. I think it was their way to prove I was lying and nothing was wrong with my neck. The MRI was refused by my insurance company. So, the doctor said they would appeal the decision. Meanwhile, I’m still in bed. I could no longer make dinners for my family. I could no longer do laundry or go to the store. People began to look at me as a lazy POS. The Depression was awful. I felt like my entire family would be better off without me. My relationship with my husband suffered as did my relationship with my boys. The second MRI request was also denied. And I just gave up at that point. I had decided to take my life, but I also had to kill my pet. She Stood Beside Me every moment of every day and would not allow anyone else to get near me or her. Her instincts to protect me we’re so strong and I knew that no one else could handle her if something happened to me. So, I started trying to figure away to take the life of a pet I loved without causing her distress or harm. Sounds crazy right? Anyway, when you are clinically depressed you do not think clearly. I was so afraid that I would kill my dog and not go through with the suicide that it became a thought process that just filled my mind everyday. Finally, I got pissed off. The whole thing was absurd. I have worked my whole life and tried to do right by my family and everyone I came across and here I was laying flat on my back in excruciating pain in both my neck and lumbar area and all I wanted was a damn MRI. I called my insurance company and told them they had three options. 1.) I would go to an Imaging Center and have my MRI. 2.) I was going to an emergency room and wait until I doctor would take me in and do a test no matter how long it took. Or, 3.) I was going to kill myself and have my husband request an autopsy to show what was wrong with me, and then sue everyone involved. We know our own bodies. We know when something is a small injury that you’ve done by lifting something or if it is worse everyday never goes away and increases overtime. I was number one at my company and my profession. I had only been on my job for 1 year but in that year I beat out every other person who did the same work that I did. I was not a deadbeat. My mother taught us to pick yourself up dust yourself off and kick yourself in the butt to do what was necessary. I tried this but this time it did not work. My insurance company pulled my file and I found out that after two years of going to the pain management doctor and having been at my primary previously with the same problems the insurance company recommended I apply ice and Heat for 2 weeks and take anti-inflammatories. The second time my doctor requested the MRI, he sent in the same clinicals with a new cover sheet. In other words, he let them think I was new to his practice coming in complaining of neck and back pain. So it really wasn’t my insurance company’s fault. My first thought was, what do elderly people do if they run across this situation? People who are not assertive and speak up for themselves? After I gave my insurance company the three alternatives, she told me to have my primary request an MRI and it would be approved immediately. I never went back to that Pain Management Group. After my MRI, I received a call from my primary stating that I had three crushed vertebrae in my neck and it was pressing on my spinal cord. I needed surgery immediately. I had a cervical fusion by a wonderful doctor. Followed by physical therapy. I have full range of motion in my neck and no more arm pain or heavy head. Amazingly, I also have no more migraines. Then it was time for my lumbar problem. A different doctor closer to home, an orthopedist did a lumbar Fusion, L4-5, S1. No physical therapy following surgery. The reason I am writing this blog is because like a lot of U I still have horrible lower back, tailbone, buttocks and leg pain. I have such weakness in my legs and horrible chronic pain every single day. The new pain management doctor I went to had me on 100mg Time released morphine three times a day. 6-30 mg. Of roxicodone per day. I also was on Soma for muscle spasms. After several years of living like this I decided I wanted to come down on the medicines to see what was real pain, and what was my body calling for more pain medicine.. With the doctors help I was able to come down to 60 mg of the time released and four times a day on the 30mg Roxicodone. Then about a year-and-a-half ago, I came down even further. By the time this past January rolled around, I was completely off the time released morphine, the muscle relaxers, all of the antidepressants and any other medicines except 3 – 30 mgs of roxicodone per day. January, my prescription by the doctor was reduced to 4- 15 mgs of roxicodone four times per day. I was lucky in that at my request I had reduced my meds to where I did not go through horrible withdrawals as I’ve done in the past. They are no fun and especially when you’re hurting. My problem is that although I am only taking the equivalent of one less 30 mg tablet per day, it has taken away my ability to function everyday as I could before. In the 15 years that I have been on opioids consistently, I have never doctor shopped, never requested an early refill, and never failed a urine test. 3 – 30 mg oxycodones did not take away my pain but it did enable me to be able to function as a person, a wife, mother and grandmother. In the past, I able to set aside one or two and sometimes more per month so that I had extras if an emergency came up. When I got my new 15 mg 4 times a day prescription, it just so happened to be a month where my Pharmacy did not get in their order. This is because each Pharmacy is only allowed so much of each opioid per month. Sometimes, the manufacturers don’t have enough to send to everyone because of the new guidelines. Whatever the cause, I was fortunate to have the extras I had put away. But, now I’ve used all but three. In the past I would take one 30 mg in the morning, one at lunch and the last of the day around 5. As I said, it did not take away all my pain but took the edge off so I could function. With the new prescription I have tried 1- 15 m in the morning and another at 12. By 10 I’m in so much pain that I cannot wait for 12 to get here. Then another at 3 and finally another at 5. You all know what happens when you let the pain get ahead of you. Well, this seems to be the problem. The 15 mg just doesn’t cut the pain. So, I tried taking two in the morning which is equivalent to one 30mg. That leaves 15 hours left in the day and two 15 mg pills. I have never had to worry about running out of my medicine early in the month because what I had did the job for the most part. Now, I find that I’m taking one extra here and there to help with the pain and I am so afraid that when the end of the month comes, I’m going to be short I have been on the 15 mg for 2 months now. I believe if it were just getting used to the lower dose I would be there by now. For the past two months I have not had but a couple of good days. I have not been able to clean my house or shop as I could in the past. Not to mention my relationship with my husband and my children and grandchildren. I have missed out on occasions that I will never be able to get back. Watching your grandchildren grow up and enjoy life should be something that we are all able to do. Especially, if the medicine is out there that helps us to do that. I am not wanting more than what I feel like I’m entitled to. I had to quit my job and filed for Social Security. Of course I was denied at first and so I got an attorney. Fortunately for me during my worst times I had kept a journal and wrote down exactly how I felt physically and emotionally. You feel like people around you have no respect for you. You still like they either pity you or think you’re making it all up so you don’t have to work. The doctors treat us like we are all out to get high. Everyone reading this knows that if you have been on opioids for chronic pain for any length of time that you feel nothing even coming close to being high. I feel no different taking a regular Tylenol then I do when I take my 30 mg oxycodone. The only difference is the oxycodone does help with the pain. The Tylenol and ibuprofens of this world do more to harm our liver and stomachs than our opioids ever have. I was able to get my marijuana card and was so excited that it was going to be the answer to all my problems. In the 70s, I had smoked pot and had enjoyed it. I could see how it would help with the pain and take your mind off your problems. Unfortunately, I have not found the right strain or delivery method that has been effective. I believe the ones I was given which are in a vapor form are too strong. The only one I found so far was a 50/50 combination of THC and CBD. All the others either made me sick to my stomach, severely sick or gave me a horrible horrible headache. In any case, I have to lay down and cover my eyes after smoking it just to keep from getting ill. That is definitely not functioning. I did get some CBD topical, which I’ve had my husband rub on my lower back. If I get to it immediately before the pain gets too bad and lay on a heating pad directly on my back then sometimes it helps. I have heard that CBD oil under the tongue works, but the dispensary I went to did not have it at the time. I’ve heard the gummies are good for pain but are also strong. Since my dose was lowered, I’ve gone to an acupuncturist, a massage therapist for pelvic floor issues and also a counselor for my mind. The acupuncture did not help. The massage therapy feels wonderful but the effects are short-term. My massage therapist told me my tailbone seemed crooked and it appeared I had muscles and ligaments all in a knot on the right side of my buttocks. All of my pain is right sided. Something has to change in regards to the new opioid problem. And I’m not talkin about the problem of people overdosing on them but the problem of people needing them and being denied care. The AMA states that each patient has the right to have their pain addressed and taken care of by The Physician treating them. Years ago I looked up patients rights in the AMA journals. What is going on today is definitely in contrast to what is supposedly our rights. I have read numerous accounts of people committing suicide because of chronic pain after having their medications lowered or taken away. I have read reports from doctors who have lost patience to suicide and felt helpless in helping them. The Physicians Creed is “Do no harm”, but they are being forced to harm us everyday by not treating our pain effectively. I am harmed! You guys are harmed! I feel bad for the good doctor who are forced into this against their better judgment. I would like to string up the doctors who abused their power in order to make money by writing prescriptions to people who they knew we’re going to sell the drugs. I know a young man who accidentally killed himself by taking what he thought was Roxicodone bought on the Street that turned out to be something else entirely cut with fentanyl. If we as patients get our prescriptions from reputable doctors and they are filled by reputable pharmacist, there should not be problems with overdosing. there’s always going to be a handful of people who have said screwed up their lives that they’re looking for the coward’s way out. Handguns, knives, over the counter medicines and many other means disposing of oneself are out there. I don’t know how this all got so screwed up for whom is responsible but I wonder how many more good people who lives with chronic pain are going to feel like they have no other options. It is a real shame the situation we find ourselves in. my thoughts and prayers go out to all of you you deal with this daily and also to your family’s who also deal with this daily. I pray that a solution this town before it is too late for many.
Kimberly,
Please don’t give up!! Keep searching for that doctor who cares, because they are out there. I amm not sure if this is against the rules, or not, but what state do you live in? Surely, there are people on here who know of a doctor near you, who can help. Please reach out to all of us who care, and together, we can help you! You are cared about, I know that without a doubt. Let us help!!!!
It’s a NIGHTMARE! I was taken off pain meds after ~10 yrs of near relief and functionality. I’ve suffered for 20+ years with fibromyalgia and etc … Pain management doctors are a joke. Mine tapered me off years of various meds so fast, one right after another (starting at Christmas/New Year, no less) I almost died, went insane, hurt somebody. After I was nearly off everything, he offered me suboxone, I wanted to bust his fat nose. Withdrawals are no joke, and this is beyond the pain and difficulty you already live with. There was no support, no sympathy, no help. Health”care” is SO SCARY these days. I don’t complain or protest, I’m shut down, lest I do something “bad.” And we PAY these people. What choice is there?
They have strong-armed good, needful people into silence and non existence. “Drug-seeking.” “Doctor shopping.” “Suspicious.” “Red-flagged.” “Addict.” For having PAIN. I have suicidal thoughts all day, every day. I just want away from this screaming pain. Often, I think this is what they want. If so, why take away such dangerous, overdosable drugs?? I could VERY EASILY walk down the street, pay 5 bucks (FIVE BUCKS!) and get a needle full of heroin, but OH HELL NO, if you try to do things right, pay thru the nose for insurance, doctors, pharmacies, jump thru every ridiculous hoop they put you thru, answer questions, take their tests, endure all the discomfort and hassle and invasion, you’re obviously just a low-down drug seeker. Makes no sense. I won’t even smoke pot anymore (even though it gave me such relief I tended to cry) since it is still illegal in Texas. It’s beyond belief that some people in some states are allowed to get HIGH for the hell of it, but those of us in agony in the backward states are left hanging. And no, I can’t move, I can’t work, I have ZERO income, and I cannot take care of myself. So, stuck and trapped in a body full of pain.
I’m Hopeless. Nonproductive. Very sad, very angry, very hurt, because I’m a person who hates to be idle and useless. I had ambition. I had a life. And I live in agony. And it won’t stop.
I’m off every helpful medicine except plain Tylenol now, which is laughable and the liver damage risk concerns me. HOWEVER, I would NOT go back on ANY addictive medicine after being treated so cruelly and rudely by the medical establishment and the power they held over me. The stigma they have put on people is shameful. It’s abuse. It’s neglect. It is uncaring. I’ve lived long enough and been thru the system enough to have seen the changes and it’s just incredibly horrific now compared to earlier times. I know they are stressed, but so are we, and we have NO POWER and we don’t get paid. We just get sh!t on.
Someone, please stand up for us. Except for writing comments sometimes, I’m out of energy, fight, and hope.
Please never give up. Never turn to suicide.
There are good doctors out there, please keep looking.
Sure, out of 10 Dr’s, 9 will take your money then tell you to meditate and avoid gluten.
But there is usually at least one that cares about patients more than politics.
Once you find a good doctor, it is up to patients to help keep them out of trouble by being responsible with meds. Do not leave medication where other people (especially children) can get into it.
Do not drink alcohol or use other medications your doctor doesn’t know about with it.
Help is out there. Keep trying, and never give up.
Please call a help line if you feel like harming yourself or others.
Hi,,, I’m in your exact shoes and you said it all… I’m stuck with a provider who appears to be enjoying this…… A.
I have suffered oral and for the last 8 years-intrathecal method of opiate interjection into my spine. After several changes of opiates, including one month of Priault (which side effects would fill a book by itself) I finally decided to fully have dilaudid opiate removed from the pump and re-filled with saline solution.
The pain Doctor made no comments about the following effects of opioid with-drawl. I suffered the effects without any suggestions of help. Two weeks after complete with-drawl I made an appointment with my GP of 30 years and ranted obsessively about my experience. He walked out of the Door after me ranting mostly about how I felt the pain Dr. was the “Music Man” in regards to developing more and more patients. He now on Facebook states that he is the owner of more than one pain clinic. I have seen the volume of patients mushroom.
The conventional statement made in regards to pain pumps is —–This should be the last resort for pain relief. I was not sure of any pain relief at this trial but I said “maybe” some relief as any normal person experiencing much pain WOULD. So the hook was set and you don’t want to turn loose, especially if you don’t get relief. You keep hoping that higher doses or a change in opioids will hit the mark.
After 8 years I finally zeroed out expecting a pat on the back. What I got was no comment whatsoever from the pain Dr. (same Dr. for 8 years} no referral to with-drawl techniques.
It has been very tough to work through the with-drawl. I have almost drove my wife of 53 years crazy. But after two months plus a few days I am 80% Free of Opioids.
Pain Doctors whos have a financial stake in having more patients are at risk to morally forget the patients care and think the monetary rewards. 79 years old now. 69 when I started on the journey. 8 years of pain pump. First 2 of orals 10 years total.
Completely agree with you they treat use like we r the junkies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!But people who take there meds. responsibly r treated like SHIT NOW!!!!!!!!
I feel your pain. I have fibromyalgia and a rare virus called cytomegalovirus. It’s rare for a cold or mono to mutate to this. This makes it extremely hard to function. I too have suicidal thoughts day in and day out! Pain is constant and no Dr knows how to treat me so they put me on tramadol that doesn’t help. My bones feel like they are ripping from the inside out! It’s made me think maybe I should go to the streets or worse. But I don’t because I’m one of those maybe one day I’ll get help. To make it worse I work in healthcare and dr have admitted to me that they rather patients suffer than get their license revoked. They are plain idiots! They will get it revoked once enough of their patients die or press charges.
These posts are near to breaking my heart, and have made me realize how lucky I am. Please do not give up hope! There are good doctors still out there!
I fractured my neck 30 years ago, fell several times over the years and now have degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, etc., etc. Many of you have a similar story. I have refused surgery over and over again, because as a license certified nursing assistant I have often seen that not only does it many times not do any good, but often leaves the person unchanged or worse off. In fact, one of my patients who had only been in pain years ago, after 3 surgeries was now a complete paraplegic. She is only one of many I have seen (I must say here that I have also seen it help. I just don’t want to be part of the crap shoot).
I have been very committed to pain management with opioids (also, the practice of Chinese qi gong and vitamin co-factors for the opioids) in the 20 years I have been on them. I can work and function. I had one pain management doctor (from his website: “I have had a neck injury and know how you are all suffering out there!”) run after me in the hallway yelling, “Come back when you’re ready to be appropriately treated!”
Like everyone here, I have been shocked at the creeping, and ever increasing, disrespect by the medical establishment, including local pharmacies. In my local town in Florida you can no longer even get a months supply of opioids at one pharmacy but have to go back every 12 days to be refilled. Thankfully, my pharmacy has not implemented such insanity yet.
I had a great general practitioner for years, a little 84 year old guy from North Carolina (who is as bewildered as I am by this political nonsense). When he finally gave in and said he could no longer prescribe my meds as he was afraid of losing his license, I found a terrific pain management doctor who continued opioid treatment. Yes, I have to go an hour away now rather than ten minutes away. And yes, I have to go every two months (it used to be one month). I was really upset about the inconvenience, but then as I read more and more about the nightmares suffered by most people in chronic pain like myself, I began to consider myself exceedingly lucky that I could/can get my meds at all.
There is another awful aspect to this story I wanted to mention: the drug companies that in their search for ever increasing profits, use cheaper and cheaper materials in the manufacture of their narcotics. By law, a generic medication will not have to have 100% of the active agent in each pill. Also, the quality and formulation of the co-factors affect the performance of the narcotic. Pharmaceutical companies are more and more putting in the least amount they can get away with in their meds and also, cheaper and cheaper ‘inert’ materials. I was on one of the best generics out there for over 20 years. Their medication was superb. A few years ago they merged with another company, changed the formulation, and all of a sudden, the effect of taking their medication was like take water. This company has thousands of complaints about them on the web and denies any change in formulation except they said they took out the dye. I finally found a generic finally that ‘sort of” works, but nothing like the other one.
So, for us pain managed patients, the search for a doctor is only one third the battle and the search for a decent pharmacy is the second third. The final third is the battle against the greedy companies that make less and less effective meds, even if you can get them.
My prayers for everyone out there.
Can’t u get a form social security disability ur age doesn’t matter. And pain management is not so bad, u get ur drs to send ur records to a pain management dr , they review ur records and make an appt with you. Sometimes using a combination of pain meds and nerve meds, I take norco but lyrica helps with leg tingling I have had 3 surgeries in 9 yrs , my fault fell twice after 1st herniated disc, after last operation was able to lower my norco rx. I work again part time I feel better about life now. I had MRI done, physical therapy assessments done, what ever I needed to prove I had a real problem for pain management dr and social security disability and now I have both.
Dear Meanie,
I’m so sorry you are going through this terrible time. You are not alone. The Doctors are being punished too. They will be fired if they give medication to sick patients. I have a good doctor. I am also afraid to go to my doctor. I was in Med school in 1994. I was about to graduate, I had an accident and when I was hospitalized at my own Medical College Facility, I asked to have an epidural for my surgery. I had mapped it all out for myself in Grey’s Anatomy. – (I was 4 and a half months from graduating. I was going to be a pediatric Surgeon after my residency was over) I had already matched. I lay there on the table with all of the IVs in, I listened to everything, & my peers severed several of my nerves by accident. First mistake came with the Chief Surgical Resident saying, – instead of – pointing at his mistake and saying “There!”, (especially with the patient AWAKE, He said,
“Oh,!”, The he said the 4 letter word for ‘poo’ that begins with SH.
“What Did You Do?”, I asked him from flat on my back with my arms tied down to the arm rests and loaded up with IVs. He and the others said, “Don’t worry, I’m Reattaching it as we speack'” When he began to work on the other side, He severed another Nerve. AND HE SAID THE SAME EXPLETIVE!!!
They told me I would NEVER WALK AGAIN. BUT, I would have Nerve Pain, and Sciatic Pain for life.
I was a real pain in the behind for a whold day, but I decided I would try to overcome this mess, and it took me 8 months, & I CAN WALK,
I have to wear Leg Braces, I have terrible pain, and I have awful scars, and I have been put on some very large opiod doses though I NEVER have been totally Pain Free since 1994.
I have had an extraordinary life with my family.
I have beaten Cancer so many times in my life it’s remarkable. I’ve had a good life, but, I’ve had my little setbacks. I’ve also had my big ones just like you have. I have HAE. I There are times when I swell up and do not look hjuman, It’s like anaphalaxis only my stomach swells up, and my throat and larynx and Allergies can trigger it too. & I’m allergic to ALL of the NSAIDS. I’m ALERGIC to POT, I am Sensitive to Polyester when I’m “In Crisis”, which means “No Patches”, and the only thing that gets my swelling down is Fresh Frozen Plasma” 6 to 8 Units of it – depending on how swollen I am, – It’s excruciating pain, and it’s almost impossible to get an IV into me when I’m in Crisis, because all of my soft tissues swell up and my viens are tight. I can’t breathe, and it’s dangerous for me and it’s nerve wracking for the hospital staff to care for me. They have been so helpful and kind in the past.
BUT – They MUST give the Lowest dose of Pain medication to begin with. That’s why I NEVER wanted to take anything stronger than Propoxyphene. Pure Propoxyphene (because I’m allergic to Aspirin, Acetamenophen, Naprocen, Ibuprophen and all of the other NSAIDS. (I actually had a few Nurses say,”That’s Convenient”, Till my lips swelled to the size of a Baseball and my face couldn’t fit in an oxygen mask. They were laughing at me when they saw that all I had was Darvon N100’s as my Pain Medication. Because that’s so weak. Of course I was in Agony, It only took the edge off, but when they gave me 100 of Demerol IV PUSH IT Worked when I was in Crisis. (Even though I was taking 12 Daevon N 100’s dail.
Before the Hippa Laws Nurses would talk to me like I was a terrible person when I was in the ER. I’m lucky, I look a lot younger than I am, I always have looked much younger than my age. When I was 40, once, I passed for a 15 year old and I couldn’t say anything because I had lalrlllyngeal edema, and they were furious with me when I wrote that I had been prescribed 12 Darvon N 100’s daily, and I was asking for something more for the pain, because I couldn’t take a pill, I couldn’t open my mouth and my nose was blocked by my lupper llip, and my belliy was beginning to swell. They knew I wasn’t expecting, I went in with a flat tummy, and at 117 lbs, and half an hour later I looked preggers. I was begging for a pain shot, they were putting a tube in my throat so I could breathe, and they were calling me an addict. There were only curtains in the ER between the Trauma room and the other rooms in there, I wanted the ground to opem up and swallow me.
After that incident one of my regular doctors insisted that I should go to a pain management specialist and have my pain managed properly. I started to take Time released Pain meds and things like Oxycodone. Dilaudid and Morphene. I was never pain free, but almost.
My Migrains ended. one morphene and they would disappear, or one didlaudid and the were DONE>
My legs still hurt, and my surgical wound on my arm that never heals because of the lymphedema and bleeds every other day because it swells up and splits wide open and gushes blood, even if it skips a couple of weeks anause d heals, it will open up two weeks later and then, it’s agony, can you imagine your arm just suddenly splitting open and gushing blood like a geyser? But because of all this hoopla about chronic Pain People Not Really being helped by Opioids anyway. Or EVERYONE MUST BE Taken off their Opioid MEDS – NO EXCEPTIONS! I’ve had to be taken down too.
My physician told me he DOESN’T Believe in ANYONE having to suffer through Agonizing Pain, & I believed him, – BUT HE won’t stop taking me dow from the meds I’ve been on since 1994. This can kill
a person, and I’m the opposite of an addict.
I never smoked anything in my life, I didn’t drink, and I didn’t get high. I was sick since I was 4 years old, this is ridiculous. You seem like you have my story too. The Virtueless are trying to signal that they have virtue b PUNISHING the peoplw who have pain, and they are trying to punish the best Doctors, the Good ones and the honorable ones by punishing them and trying to make the “Cool” Doctors into the “New Elite” in the World of Medicine – I don’t know about you, but I feel betrayed. We must make the world see that it’s wrong to punish pain.
RAY; TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; BEING DISABLED FOR22 YRS,17 YRS UNDER THE SAME PAIN MANAGEMENT,,NEVER A PROBLEM , WITH MEDS, MONTHLY URINE TESTS , AS A PATIENT, LIVING IN NY,50% OF MEDS CUT 4 LOWER BACK SURJURIES,UPPER BACK NECK AREA SCAT SCANS I ,LIVE IN MAJOR PAIN EVERY MINUTE OF DAY. THE MEDS HELPED TO LIVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING,RAISED 2 CHILDREN TO ADULTS NOW IN 4TH YR COLLEGES I MOVED TO CHARLOTTE ,NC. I CAN NOT FIND A NEW PAIN MAN. TO TAKE ME . THEIR NEW LAWS DROPPED ALL CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS OFF OF THE BRIDGE. I AM TRYING TO FIND A DOCTOR AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT,THEY ARE SCARED TO TAKE ME AS NEW PATIENT CAUSE OF LAWS. I NEED HELP PLEASE
I’m a 42 year old man with Severe Hemophilia Type A Factor 8 deficiency less than 1%. This is a disease your born with, where your body doesn’t produce or store the 8th clotting protein. This causes the joints and muscles that sustain corrosive damage due to repeated internal bleeding with or without trauma. My generation and beyond, endured arthritis, degenerative joints, muscle atrophy, and a slough of other issues. These are irreversible even with the medical advancement of today. Such things are excruciatingly painful.
Dr.’s prescribed pain meds at the age of 6 which allowed me to live a functional life. Currently, I take 30 mg of Morphine SR twice a day and 24-26mg of Dilaudid every 4 hours! This is 194 mg per day or 5,800 mg per month. Doing so allows me to be engaged with my life. This PROP rule states only 90 mill equivalents is the max allowed for non-cancer or non-terminal issues. This equals a monthly allowed quantity of 2,700 mg’s. The CDC, AMA, DEA, and greedy Dr.’s blame patients. If you run out your a dealer. If pain isn’t under control and you seek immediate medical care, well then you are a drug seeker. The overdose rates are alarming high. However, this is because Dr.’s are failing to monitor or identify abuse. Taking action this blanketed will only ends up with more overdoses, is dangerous, and irresponsible!
I recently lost a fellow Hemophiliac to overdose. Why? Like so many others his Dr’s rapidly decreased his medications to comply with PROP. They did so out of fear. They lacked any regard for him despite his numerous reports of increased & uncontrolled pain levels. Extreme uncontrolled pain can drive you to do many things out of character. The medical community failed to help. He sought out other things to relieve the pain. He was a happily married man and father of 3. He had a great job and handled his disease better than most. That is until these governmental agencies and disgraceful medical professionals killed him. What happened??? He committed suicide. His country and Dr’s failed him. He paid and suffered the ultimate price for the wrong doings of non-compliant patients and Dr’s. Prop ruined his life, his family’s life, and the bleeding disorder community.
His last 8 months the reckless implementation of the PROP guidelines, left him:
• An alcoholic
• Drug addict
• Marijuana user
• Unemployed
• Divorced
• Clinically depressed
• And sadly suicidal
When his suffering ended… the autopsy revealed he’d consumed opiates, cannabis, alcohol, benzodiazepines, and methamphetamines which combined became fatal. Until then he’d never abused or took illicit drugs. 3 days later a letter was discovered explaining his intentional consumption and why he did it. He spoke of his unanswered cries for help. His medical team and government denying him the right to live with manageable pain. He went on to say the hepatic oath “First Do No Harm” was grossly and unethically disregarded. He stated he felt this suicide should be found as homicide as his medical team murdered him.
Congrats people! The ignorant plan to stop abuse and opiate death backfired. The implementation of a reckless rule killed a man. Let’s hope the people involved sleep well knowing they killed a patient, destroyed a family, and caused psychological damage to innocent kids.
Such a shame! This beautiful human being didn’t deserve death. He didn’t deserve to have his country fail him. He didn’t deserve to be discounted, labeled, and ruined.
James, Thank you for posting this! Would you be interested in writing a guest blog about this on my website? It will be a copy/paste from above with perhaps a few tweaks and and an introduction.
The sad truth is, they really don’t care. What Ray said above is absolutely true. “If you run out, you’re a dealer.” Etc.
You know things are really bad when you have major surgery or suffer suffer sort of trauma … but even mention the pain, and you’re blacklisted as a drugseeker. That’s ridiculous.
What to do about it? Not sure. Calling the government out on its Bullshit seems appropriate. More than half of the federal Congress doesn’t give a shit if Working Class people have access to any kind of basic, affordable health care. And the electorate is inclined to agree with them. “I’ve struggled in my life, and nobody helped me! You bet, I’m voting for this guy who promised to take away my Medicaid! Why? Because some other Unworthy will suffer too! Hooray!
But when it comes to opioids or addiction and overdose … oh, they’re soooooo concerned about that. Because they care (sic). Riiiiiight.
This was inevitable. With the decades-long demonization of marijuana finally winding down, our rulers had to fabricate another strawman enemy in the so-called “war on drugs.” Opioids drew the short straw.
And I hate to say this about anyone in the medical profession. I realize the majority of folks enter that field to help people.
But like it or not, a lot of doctors have been infected with a very insidious disease called Greed. They may tell themselves they do it to “help people.” But when you throw established data out the window (or tweak it to align with your personal beliefs) to obediently comply with some phony mandate at the expense of all compassion and even chronic pain sufferers … you’re really just looking out for Number One. If covering your ass and protecting your 300K a year job against any oversight, is more important than your patients … congratulations! You’re nothing but another corporate hack (or stooge) more worried about convenience than your customers.
It’s bad enough that most patients have to toil in crummy merciless jobs just to survive. But it’s even worse now that the government controls that aspect of their lives, too — through their emissaries in healthcare. And since corporations own the government to begin with, who’s really pulling those strings?
Let freedom ring … but only if the government is OK with your choices.
I am sorry about your friend. May he find peace and relief from his pain in an afterlife without disastrous kneejerk reactions and sad policy decisions enforced by g-men in labcoats.
I’m almost there myself…I have end stage COPD/Emphysema with a slow growing adnocarcinoma tumor that can’t be removed, too I’ll for chemo or radiation because I’ve become cachexic (muscle wasting away and extreme weight loss due to so many chronic and severe health problems, I have epilepsy that has been hard to treat and stop seizures that I’ve gone into pulmonary arrest that led to heart failure and then a mild heart attack while in the hospital 2 times in past 2 years to end up emergency intubated and left on a ventilator to breathe for me, how I lived through it I don’t know but the grace of God. I’m on 24/7 oxygen, I have extremely painful secondary multiple sclerosis-no treatment for, my eye sight is starting to get worse from lesions in my brain from the MS, rheumatoid arthritis that it’s hard to move in my joints so very painful, and early onset osteoporosis for past 8 years. I’m only 47 years old and have 3 kids and my first grandchild. I can’t go out of my house anymore. My pulmonologist amd neurologist released me back to my primary physician as their is no cure for either of my deteriorating conditions or medications they haven’t tried on me over the years as my illnesses have taken over. I was recommended to go into hospice by all my doctors but I’m having trouble doing that in fear. My mom passed away from emphysema and lung cancer in 2 months after she went into hospice at age 55. My kids still need me, my husband too. My life has changed so drastically that it’s become unbearable anymore. My 2 kids that live at home have watched me go from a very active vivacious happy spontaneous fun mom to crying a lot and in pain, no longer able to laugh or do things we used to as a family. They watch me suffer daily, which causes more suffering in me knowing that. For a while I was able to hide the tears and pain but it has over taken me.
Last September my primary doctor prescribed morphine at a low dose to help with not just pain but my sleeping issues, breathing exasperation’s, and found that when I finally took it that it helped my appetite and depression too. I was able to smile and laugh, still in pain but I learned long ago to tolerate pain for my families sake. It also somehow has prevented me from having major seizures (I’ve had small ones but not requiring hospitalization) and no exasperation’s in need of ER calls or ambulance since starting morphine. After 2 weeks taking a low dose I started to feel more pain again and apparently got used to the morphine that it wasn’t working as well. So my doctor bumped it up a bit from 2.5ml to 5ml every 6 hrs, again low dose compared to others who need this medication. Once again after about a month the pain was coming back as my body adjusted to the low dosage that was only taken so far apart (6hrs) so this time my doctor gave me the same amount but prescribed it every 4hrs which helped. I was taking that amount with great results. I continued for the last 2 months up to Christmas time. Then on my new script my insurance denied the prior auth my dr sent in as usual. I didn’t understand why this would happen if morphine was helping me, had no interactions with my 14 meds that were now down to 8 due to the help of the morphine helping with so many of my issues. I normally weigh 114lbs as I am only 5’31/2 ft tall but since becoming cachexic, I was down to 69lbs! I got my appetite increased with morphine and for once in years I started to gain weight! In those 3 months I gained almost 10lbs! I don’t understand why anyone would allow a person to be put on morphine by a doctor, insurance cover it then abruptly stop if it was helping me survive longer! My family got just 3 months of “me” back to worse than I was before the morphine! Because I got no warning I went into withdrawal immediately. I had severe pain worse than ever, couldn’t fall asleep and when I did had trouble being woken, had a bad seizure wit in 3 days that caused a stroke that I’m trying to recover from plus nightmares, cold sweating, and I’m becoming really grouchy and mean. I don’t know how to stop it, I can’t cope with it and feel like I was tricked into taking an addictive medication I was once afraid to take that actually helped when I finally took it in more tjan I ever thought. It’s not an amount that makes a person “high” or like an abuser of drugs. It’s low dose regulated by my doctor. My doctor found a good safe level of morphine for me that truly saved insurance money cutting out several of my old meds and cutting down some others to almost half doses, also saving hospitalization costs, ER visits, and 911 calls. All this over people who literally STILL find it illegally and STILL OD on it unregulated while I’m very ill and had it regulated in small doses keeping me alive…I don’t know what to say or think anymore. There’s got to be a way that these types of medications can be looked at again, discussed and find some other way to stop criminals from getting drugs off streets and insuring that those terminally ill can still benefit from regulated amounts given that do more good than harm for end stages of life. Why am I just left to suffer to death? I’m not sure I can go through all this suffering with out help ;-(( If all that is going to happen then treat me like an animal and be humane and put me to “sleep” or “down” like an injured animal. I can’t believe I’m less than an animal to the ones who did this with medications that gave quality to last stages of life just to suffer mercilessly it’s horrible! I keep wondering if I end it quicker will I still go to Heaven? Surely God wouldn’t want me to suffer…I’m no use for anything or anyone crying in pain all the time alone…I’m already dead
Not only his medical team failed him. Trump put this in motion. If he thinks that taking opiates off the market is going to help people, he’s wrong. This is going to be causing more deaths, suicide and more people getting killed by guns. All war will break out because of this. I’m on percocet and I’ve tried getting off but because of my pain I couldn’t. I couldn’t function or move when I tried to get off of my meds. I’m on disability for scoliosis and siatica. Even with meds I can hardly walk down my dirt road and come back without severe pain. I want be able to do anything. This is just not humane. The government or the president does not care about the welfare of the people in this country. The government is trying to control the people of the United States, what happened to freedom? These are the end times and everybody better get their lives straight with God. We are already bring controlled by our government. It’s just a matter of time people when our glorious maker comes and gets his people. There is going to be chaos, fighting and murder when we can’t get the help we need. Mark my words it’s coming. The end is near. God bless everyone of you in this fight to get back our rights.
No Government has any right whatsoever to limit the amount of Pain Medication a Doctor can prescribe!
My old Body is so worn out if it were a old Car the Junk Man would charge to take it away!
I have terrible Chronic Back and Knee Pain along with Parkeson’s, CLL and Chronic Kidney Diease!
My very best days are Hell!!l
If it were not for the Oxycodone I get every month life would no longer be worth living!
I do hope all of these so called Do Gooders Break their back someday and experience the God Awful pain that I have to bare each and every day and night!
Rest assured if they did suffer they would find some relief even if they had to buy it on the Street!
As far as all these Dope Heads let them go ahead and Kill themselves, for they are going to do it anyway no matter how many Stupid Laws our Stupid Government may pass!
I have just about as much faith and respect for Government as I do for a Rabid Cayote, they will both bite you in the Ass if given half a chance!
It’s insane. The gov is creating a drug problem. I have had 2 low back 2 shoulder and one cervical surgeries I still need another low back two more disks replaced c56 c34. MI’d t9 8. And a complete shoulder replacement. I am in hidious pain every day I use bio feedback massage light therapy chiroparctic adjustments traction ice heat physical therapy tens acupressure everything humanly possible my pain management retired after 8 years of and the new Dr’s just cut my pain control in half I now endure life in bed no help to myself or anyone else it’s criminal and am looking for an advocate I will not go to surgery for fear there will be no pain meds while healing I don’t blame anyone for looking to the streets to stop the pain. I haven’t yet but ……
I agree it is such a shame I am not currently on any kind of pain meds but have a friend that suffers terribly he’s just had surgery major back surgery and they limit the amount of medications he’s not a drug attic he’s not addicted he is in pain when is this going to stop it’s not going to and you absolutely right it’s the government that’s killing everybody with this so-called opioid crisis there are people that need this then they’re going to limit cancer patients . There is also something that is natural called KR a TOM it’s very hard to get only in smoke shop and considered illegal as for me are use it for back pain it save my life it comes from Thailand in your email they’re trying to ban that too but as far as pain meds you’re going to limit cancer patients who are dying agonizing death pain medications it disturbs me more than you know my friend is Suffering but he has no choice he is on assistance he lives alone and thousands of miles away from me I guess his future doesn’t look that great either you all in my prayers and I don’t ever think we can stop this
I have suffered migraines and back pain for years. I had a headache that lasted for two days straight so I asked for a refill of Tramadol that I had been prescribed before. The doctor treated me like a criminal and asked me if I’ve tried Tylenol or Advil. It was so frustrating and to make matters worse, when I went to get it filled at the pharmacy, the pharmacist told me she can only dispense 7 days at a time. I have to go back three times to get the entire prescription! I pay a lot for insurance and have legitamite pain. I shouldn’t be made to feel like a low class drug seeker w no medical insurance!
Probably not going to see that happen — the self-annointed do-gooders breaking their backs, I mean.
Never seen an activist pharm tech perform grueling labor. Same goes for doctors. And the agents of chaos who suddenly care enough to legislate on behalf of the Working Class (sic) … nah.
I don’t disagree with your point, but I don’t think it’s ever going to happen.
Marijuana’s been a convenient boogeyman for establishment do-gooders for decades, but do you remember the one that took center stage some years back? Crack Cocaine? What happened with that? It was (and probably is) a legitimate addiction that devastates lives … but did government intervention save the day? Did most of those addicts get the treatment they needed, or did a lot of them just land in prison because their particular addiction was criminalized beyond reason.
That’s all that’s happening here: the criminalization of another drug. What’s even more insidious about this one is this: it’s classy. It has a Class designation, and even a schedule (neat-o mosquito). So the government can openly regulate production and distribution — as opposed to doing it on the sly, the way they usually do — and that’s never a good thing. To compound this error even more: the government has been sleeping with Big Pharma for … forever.
So there is no part of the “new deal” that the good ol’ government isn’t manipulating somehow.
Does that mean everyone who advocates criminalization is “in on it”? No, of course not.
It just means another facet of our lives has been taken over by a government that couldn’t care less. Why? Good question. Wish I had an answer.
We can’t regulate clean drinking water (or water that isn’t flammable). We refuse to regulate banksters who reap Billions and destroy lives in the process (and who will need to be bailed out yet again when that shitshow turns sour). We can’t even regulate a consistent voting system that works the same way everywhere.
But God save the queen. (And God save subjugated Working Class people from themselves. And if He doesn’t do it, no worries: the government will be happy to step in and do it for Him. Hallelujah.
I agree no government should dictate how high of dose of opiates or other pain medications a doctor can prescribe a patient with acute or chronic pain. Like this fellow I have lived with chronic pain for the past6 years. I live in Alberta, Canada and for the past 2 years I have been forced to take Suboxone for pain relief because my doctors feel I should not take Oxycodone because it is addictive. In 2012 fractured my T12 vertebrae and injured my spinal cord in a fall accident. I was paralyzed from the waist down initially and suffered no pain below the fracture before I had emergency surgery, after the surgery I have and still live with severe pain every time I move, but I can walk with a walker so I guess I am a lucky person in that respect. However the sciatic nerve pain along with lower back pain is horrific and the constant ache and burning of my calves and thigh muscles in both legs make me cry out loud daily. My tailbone and glut muscles can hurt so bad that tears form in my eyes when I stand up after sitting for more than an hour at a time. I can only walk with my walker for a block before I am in so much pain that I am praying to god to end my misery. The Oxycodone helped me from wanting to kill myself but I was never given a high enough dose to take my pain away enough to enjoy life. The Suboxone has worked to take the edge off the pain so I can function enough to look after my basic needs, but do not enjoy life. I am miserable. I can not concentrate on tasks and my short term memory is going. I sleep a lot because it is exhausting hauling around this crippled pained body. I am taking the highest dose possible and the next step is methadone which I do not want to take because I tried it once before my accident for accute pain (self medicated it was a friends of mine with chronic pain) and puked my guts out and slept for 2 days from only taking a less than a teaspoon of it. I rather take Oxycodone and be given a high dose of long acting oxys with an ample short acting dose for break through pain and enjoy life again. . I shouldnt have been forced to take Suboxone or nothing and be treated like I have an opiate addiction and only have up to 3 days of carries at a time because of some stupid law governing this drug. I read above about a fellow Canadian forced to buy oxycodone on the streets now because doctors are afraid to prescribe opiates it to their patients. It is our body, our pain, and our quality of life, doctors should give cautions with prescribed pain medications and make sure their patients are educated on the pros and cons, but do not judge people who need them and make us feel bad because we need them to function. We all know if we have taken too high of a dose and we will find what works for us if given the opportunity to experiment. But making us live in agony which leads to depression and self medicating with illegal drugs like fentanyl is not the answer and I know their will be more doctor induced suicides because a person can only take this hell for so long and we will hear about somebodies mother or father or son or daughter with debilitating pain died because they just can’t live with the physical pain anymore. I know I have fantasized about ending it more than once a day for the past couple of years. And when I can no longer cope and when there is no more hope for me because of stupid laws governing pain medication … i will find the right dose and end it.
It truedoctors edd ama anyone not hurt would rsthet see us dead ,that fact.i had meningitiamenicacal type a t worst,at sge 4,at age 42 my body way done,21 years on oxycotin, moved to nevada,wrongthat state iscrocked, ive been on 420milga day last 9 years, nevade will give 90 mil max a day, everyday i lay hear sick, i go 3 days sick ,take 6 so to get to store, sick again ove ,a over ,nd over i gound info on web this will kill me,the heart goes i to attack, u throw up,its a year plus ,now ,this causes. Muscles to breakdown degenerates muscle tissue cauces degeneratuon ,then u die, i believe with all my heart thats wga they want sll of us dead period it gact, living in nevada ,i was die or get rhe herion or death ,really mistreated vdc days give the pills back ,ya right, people f…uck the liei g doctors state cdv ama fda ,its bull ,herion is cheap works ,i live fine as this country is now gone to hell, the thing is mu disease got me just get the black,oxyd ate herion ,no pne saying no, no pharmacy treating u like a worthless peonly need 6 30s a day and might make it 180 mg instead of 420 milrson ,who di this to us hum our uda politics,the thing is i gact we are better dead ,vome pn doctprs ,its the truth, think is u get sick one day ,and ur next i didnask for spinal menigitis typa a we should have the right to end our lifes ,o f… all the bull shit it your wish ,cdc ded ama ,doctors on usa are not healers any more,lieing 2 face f-ers ,tell u on phone yrs we can ptescribe, u get tbere say no. Charge meficare 1,200.00 nd u 118.00 co pay ,it pne of the great ripoffs on medicare. I busyef them twice now tecotded them ,filed cpmplaint, aftet in room what a joke ,i say u a doc says yes ,u sign your diplomia ,great so u can write me my script u fickiing doctors repthis hospitaly oh we dont write pain pills, i tply chsnge the name of this place i drove140 miles i rcorded u ,try billong medicare,i got them in Arizona ,tnenvegas.for now its a came ,people pkay the game doctors are now worthless.find a heroion supplier the have forced us to do iy,poliics,no war lets kill 3 million then cut back,its real had i not mpved id been fine ,oxycotin was not eat killed or caused suretside its fntimsl, if we sllem put of wprl we have to fight this time if u can get up ,cgncell all appts ,cdc told all states to put payients back on therenherion doctors wpuld be out of work ,so lets ptutputpf work loose thwre hpuse.cdc demands them to do it all bull shit ,i say it time wa,shington we are coming 200 millipn of us u wantout taxes we had all w can take fight for health cat they stole from us ism ready sick and ready some will die on the way the price has t b pai some will make it
I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 24 years old, the only medication that stops this is Klonapin
In my late 20’s I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and sever psoriasis for which Humira was prescribed, it clears up my skin but does nothing for the pain in my Joints, I have been in pain management over 15 years and have been prescribe 40 mg of percocet a day for the pain
I was able to gain back some quality of life on these meds however now the Government has stated that I am 5 times more likely to die if I take these medications together, My Florida Pain Management doctor will no longer treat me, His reason, he is afraid that he will loose his license if I abuse my medications and overdose and Die, Is this ludicrous or what ? If i overdoes ? that would imply I am abusing my medication, his next excuse is the government says he cannot prescribe my pain meds if I take this benzo, I checked this is an outright lie. The Black box warning only states that if not other medication works then they can be prescribed,. The same government I served 22 years in the military for is now denying me the right I earned to have a quality of life, UN like others I gave up 22 years of my life for this right. I have been given a choice be psychotic or lay in bed with pain, its also ironic that the same government and doctors will not give me disability, So my choice is Die or Die. So when presented with that choice I guess I will Die. I am so ashamed to admit I wasted my life in service to this country. To hell with the USA
Its sad i also have Chronic C.O.P.D. Along with being sexually abused years of my child hood I developed a eating disorder and felt assamed I was sent to a University to be treated they started me on a mild nerve medication so I have been on a nerve med for 38 years now and my Doctor treated my C.O.P.D with Percocets. Untill a year ago i had to make a choice of one or the other. It was bad either way but yes i could live my life daily and enjoy what’s left of it untill the DEA decided his office would be shut down, its sad because I never abused my meds I’m almost 57 years old and cant get help is there not something we can do they are comparing people like me to people buying them from the street to get a high. Its not fair something has to be done.
No, she does not realize that. She is clearly suffering from trauma, PTST, emotional & physical pain. Be glad this is not your life & try to show some compassion. I know this will be hard for someone like you but you can at least try.
I have suffered from chronic migraine headaches for about 25 years. I have tried every medication to prevent migraines that either didn’t work or the side effects were worse than the pain. I have the scares on my wrists to prove Inderal worked for my migraines but depression is a side effect and not realizing how I was feeling was due to the Inderal I tried to commit suicide. I have tried the Botox, Botox with a preventative medication, bio-feedback as well as nerve blocks and Imatrix. I have been in the Philly headache hospital for 10 days which the medication given made you so sick but worked for the pain in my head. But and there is always a but they could only be taken up to 3 times a week. And no more than twice in a day if the pain came back. So I would have to pick which 3 days out of the week I should get out of bed. I have been on Oxycontin for the past about 5/6 years. A very small dose taken 3 times a day. I am able to live a normal life with this medication. I can get out of bed in the morning without pain. I can enjoy my grandchildren. I can enjoy my life. Believe me when I say I am not high. I have never failed a pee test, I have never asked for my medication to be increased and I have always taken it exactly as directed. Now the state has decided that because I am not dying from cancer – which I do have by the way but my prognosis is I will live more than a year – I am unable to get any of my pain meds. I am scared to death of withdrawal, I am scared to death of what my life will be like without my pain meds. But I guess I am lucky my cancer wont kill me in the next year. I guess I am lucky to only spend two or three weeks of the month not being able to get out of bed, staying in the dark, with the a/c on and not matter what no sweet smells or cleaning fluid smells near me. I sure am lucky and I want to thank whoever is responsible for doing me the great favor of helping the opioid epidemic.
I’m suffer from severe chronic every I’m not addict or have I ever
sold my medications what this Dr.Asinine is proposing is terrible
especially with elderly patient like myself let me give a litany of
my problems I have sever spondylosis in my spine,2bulging disk
severe spinal stenosis,severe arthritis in my facet joint and the
hardware from my fussion at L3 is loose in my.spine they have
Lowered my meds which is methadone to 1 10 mg tablet every
8hrs oh and I failed a nerve conduction study I have no reflexes in
Either leg the. Neurologist told me the nerve that is damaged is
the most painful Im leaving in a nightmare
I’m so sorry! What is this insane idea tha, for example, cut my 76 year old
mother’s meds and then build them back up to avoid addiction?? Are you kidding
me? She also loves in hell after three back surgeries,rods and wires up her spine.. doesn’t she or anyone deserve
to somewhat “live” in the so called Golden Years?? When will the
people saving our country from an addiction realize that there’s always been some sort of addiction going on.
This time they’re playing with the
lives of good people that in the
majority of cases didn’t do anything
to deserve their situation ..or chronic
debilitating pain. It has to change..
It’s ridiculous.. but after how many die because they can’t stand it anymore.
I am more than willing to listen to
ANYONE that can explain this to me.
Until then, I’ll do everything I can to stand up for the humane side of this dilemma.
no_d_k@yahoo.com
I can relate to every post even though our pain may be caused by different conditions.
When i had stage IV cancer given 15% chance of surviving 3-5 years (at the age of 42)
the doctors were kind, helpful and empathetic.
I survived 15 years before another cancer took half of my lung and lymph nodes.
Times have changed!! I dread going to the pain management doctors. You don’t dare to be nice or they might think you’re up to something.
I have left in tears, called psychotic, accused
of calling in double scripts.. no apology of course when he found it was his error. There is no relationship because they’re so suspicious!
My pain has increased tremendously in the ladt 3 years but after expressing this to doctors who seem to not hear or address what you’ve said,
what do you do? My brain pounds, so dizzy i fell through a glass table (no not the meds and I don’t drink alcohol.) I see a constant vision block in my eye, constant pain from radiation in
my anal vaginal area that was agressive to give me an extra 3-5 years followed with radiation that has made me hypersensitive to practically any smell. I use the term ‘survived’ when discussing life after cancer treatment because it’s nothing close to living! Can’t live on the amount of money i’ve been told to feel lucky that I receive! I worked from 14 to 42 and paid into social insecurity. Wish I had become a brain surgeon to have enough to pay bills and feed myself and the animals I had BC( before cancer) but I wanted to and expected to work
another 15-20 years. Bought a house 5 months before diagnosis and hurt so badly it hurts to vacume.. I’m not feeling sorry for myself, but come on DEA!!! All of this and the missing years for US to get drugs that have never come close to providing anything close to euphoria.
Never imagined I would think of death as a calming thought or pray that I WOULD
die to end the physical, emotional pain,
AND humility that’s besuch a common feeling.
As a former opioid addict it bothers me that legit patients are being forced off drugs the medical community had them on for years. From my prospective, I started using hydrocodone recreationally back in 2009 when I was 19. A couple years later I was a daily user and didn’t get help until 2015. Now i’m off everything including suboxone. I still smoke pot but I haven’t used opioids since. I digress, From what I saw it wasn’t so much prescribing as over prescribing. I don’t think a legit pain patient ever sold me pills. In fact they were really the least likely. What it was was things like; “Joe Blow just got his wisdom teeth out” the dentist by default would write for a 30 day supply even though no more than a couple days were needed. Teenagers and young adults always need extra cash, but really had no use for the pills. Another example is drug dealers going to an ER, faking pain in an area hard to prove or disprove said pain, then leaving with a paycheck printed on a RX pad. But those 2 were a drop in the bucket, the bulk of the oxycontin and shit came from networks that would drive down to Florida and see a crooked “Pain Management Dr” I would like to see effective non-opioid pain meds developed to treat some of the people above an a compassionate way. But since we aren’t there quite yet, it is only right that people with these documented issues be treated with respect and dignity. Do I think a lot of legit pain patients are also addicted? You bet I do. With that being said, people who take adhd or anxiety drugs daily are also addicted, I don’t see a push to give them the boot.(yet anyway). I use marijuana quite frequently, I’m sure if I was still in rehab i’d be diagnosed with cannabis dependence. Finally when I was on suboxone my Dr. would count the strips at every appointment and urine test me to make sure 1)I’m taking it 2) That i’m not taking any other controlled substances not prescribed. It seems something like that might be a good compromise for people who truly are unresponsive to other forms of pain management. I’m not a doctor, but I seriously recommend everybody with access to medical or recreational marijuana in your state give it a try. You have really nothing to lose and a world to gain. I know somebody who says it helps them more than opioids did, and they can purchase as much as they are willing to spend. Also Kratom(an herbal drug with mild stimulant/opioid properties) shows promise, it’s available at most head shops, and in many major cities there are stores that do nothing but sell different kratom strains. Best Wishes 🙂
I am not an addict and i am tired of being treated like one every time i go to the hospital . I’m at the point rt. now that with all that’s wrong with me ( COPD Emphoseima Stress fracures ( plural ) in my spine that wont heal 3 blown out discs in my spine 3 broken ribs that also will not heal plus all the other DOCUMENTED aches and pains ) i do not want to go to the ER or call 911 and i really need to go cause i can’t handle the chest pains and the congested chest anymore . Oh did i forget to mention that i’ve had 3 heart attacks and have 4 stents in my heart also and am on oxygen. So believe me when i say i feel the change they just made in my scripts. Changed my perc 10’s to 750’s and instead of 6x a day to 4x .i knw it dont sound like much but it is to me . What can i do? Any answers ?
i am so stressed and backin pain due to cut off of part of my meds and more next week i have had chronic severe pain spinal issues and also h was given wrong blood at hosp yrs ago so that deletes major surgerie was doing fine on my legal medicine and if felt good would miss one or two occassionally . 79 yr ols senior alone was working part time and could do fair amt od necessary things at home . now past 2 mo been to hosp 5 times for pain shot and to drs twice have an appt 200 miles away to spine dr wed to try to have another injection which has done well for about 14 yrs not quite as long now. i am a graduate nurse and have worked in hosp, i do not approve of street drugs, i do not believe in marijuana, ilove my drs but dont feel its their the problem as they are in pain mgmt and you have contracts. i feel this is very unfair and i dont like all the pain right now i am dealimg with an impinged nerve in neck pain and burning cant sleep keeping ice and trying to stretch and waiting on call from dr — i have spinal stenosid, very narrow according to neurosurgeon that fluid and nerves bareky squeezing thru lower spine have upper and lower aaaaaaalso upper and lower herniated discs pinched nerves osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and bone rubbing on bone and blood factor asked about bandaid surgery but they dont accept medicare i am with understanding now only pts that can stay on routine meds was on if over 90 mg would be cancer pts well i guess its suffer or die some just dont care . THIS ISNT GOING TO SLOW DOWN THE OVER DRUG USE AND DEATH FROM HEROINE OR STREET DRUGS IN FACT WILL PROBABLY CAUSE MORE TO GO AFTER THE ILLEGAL DRUGS NOT ME BUT THIS IS NOT HELPING THOSE THAT NEED I DONTLIKE MED, I DONT LIKE GOING TO DRS BUT WEAR TEAR AND LIFE HAS USED MY BODY SO I GUESS NOW U SUFFER AND LIVE WITH AS BEST YOU CAN I PRAY SOMEBODY WILL FIND A AWAY FOR PEOPLE TO FINISH THEIR LIVES OUT IN A MORE HAPPY AND FUNCTIOMALLY WAY ESP WHEN NOT ABUSING YOUR SCRIPTS GIVEN BY A PROFESSIONAL DR, AND GOVT MAKES MUCH ON ALLTHIESE PEOPLE AND MEDS. i JUST WONDER IF THE PEOPLE DOING THIS REALLY FEELS THEY ARE HELPING THE PTS THAT NEED THEIR MEDS. SO HOSPITALS WILL GET FULLER DRS WILL QUIT AND PEOPLE WILL GO THE WRONG DIRECTION TO ALLEVIATE PAIN . i feeel this will haopen
I’ve been elecuted 32,000 amp back of a semi truck in which I lost a leg and two fingers and been in two head-on collisions. And now after 33 years of work ,yes I’ve went back to work but around the age of 52 the pain set in, I’ve been the pain management chronic pain management I’ve had cortisone shots from my neck mid-back legs and elbows and none of it helped has helped my pain medicine now the government is taking that away from me and that’s not right because I do not abuse it I respect it or it makes me have a normal life. Please let me know if anyone can do anything about this my email is underwood454yahoo.com
Are you taking any pain meds now? Also where do you live?? Every state is different..
Someone please tell me what I am suppose to do. I have a severe spinal birth defect which does not allow me to take any types of injections for pain. ( Tried injections in the past but had a bad result and was told to never do that again, could cause further damage). Pinched nerves through 100% of my spine, compression fractures, bulging discs and herniated discs through out. I have a bone disease that will not allow manipulations due to bones breaking. My leg is fused due to breakage of bones. I have been on pain management for the last 15 years which has allowed me quality of life. Now, they have cut my medication more than half due to the new laws and regulations. Insurance will not cover the cost of the medication ($800 per month). I am just beside myself !! If anyone has any suggestions please share. Is there any help?
4979 lancaster hills dr
I CANNOT SAY WHAT I WANT TO BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS RUINING MY QUALITY OF LIFE. SO MANY PHONE CALLS WITH WE DO NOT WRITE PAIN MEDICATIONS ANYMORE, WE DON’T TAKE YOU INSURANCE THRU MEDICAID! I HAVE ARTHRITIS EVERYWHERE AND JUST HAD VIEN PROCEDURE WHERE YOUR SUPPOSE TO WALK 15 MINS PER HOUR, I CAN NOT DO IT – MY KNEES. LEFT ANKLE BACK AND NOW HIPS HURT. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT BUT FIAGMALGIA IS ONE OF MY CONDITIONS ALSO AND LYRICA STARTED TO WORK BUT THEN IT GOT TO ME MENTALLY AND I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO JAIL! OH, THIS MORNING I WONDERED WHY IS THE WHITEHOUSE ETC IN DC, MOVE THE PRESIDENT TO A MORE SUITABLE PLACE WHERE THE EDUCATIONAL PEOPLE LIVE. I CAN NOT EVEN PROTEST WITH FEAR OF GETTING MURDERED IN THAT PLACE THEY CALL THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES. I DON’T CARE HAVE BEAUTIFUL DC IS IT’S A HELL HOLE. THE GOVERNMENT is NOT MEDICAL DOCTORS, WHY IN HELL ARE THEY REGULATION PAIN MEDS. IT IS JUST GOING TO INCREASE OF HEROIN TRAFFICKING! THINK. REALLY THINK. IF PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE “EPIDEMIC” TO OCCUR DUE TO NOT MAKEN THEIR DUGS UNSECURED LOCK THEM UP. I USE TO PUT MY PAINKILLER IN MY POCKET AT THE DRUG STORE AND LOCK IT UP IF I COULDN’T, LIKE WHEN I SHOWER. A PAIN BUT A RESPONSIBLE PERSON. THINK, THINK, THINK, I AM SICK OF PAIN AND MENTALLY CHALLENGED, FIX IT BEFORE I BREAK, PLEASE. LION WITH A THORN IN IT’S PAW (HOW OLD IS THAT?) IDIOTS MUST BE RUNNING THIS SITUATION. OH, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY FIND THIS WHEN YOU SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG, SO ACTUALLY I WILL MAKE A BUNCH OF COPIES AND EMAIL EVERYWHERE!
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THE PEOPLE’S MEDICINE COMMUNITY ®
Hi, from IL all.doctors cut me off I have 122 auto immune disorders lupus,fibro,graves disease,raynauds syndrome, thyroid goes from hyponto hyper to hypo to hyper they cant fix on levothyroxine after they ablated killed my thyroid because they couldnt control it and still cannot. I found this out after having a herniated disc in 2009 had injections and physical therapy until 2013 then had a disectomy failed had another 2014 failed had a fusion 2015 i swelled up like ballon found my lupus and all other auto immunes and they redid my back ct or mri whatever and i have 7 more herniations. Cant have surgery though because I have lupus so bad i swell up so badly. I have parathyroid tumor they now are sending me to oncology they think i have liver cancer or blood or some cancer due to my wbc being real bad they did a ultra sound of liver said your gall bladder looks enflamed i had it out yrs ago so tumor there and im not allowed pain meds my intestines hurt so bad im bleeding out my rectum. ALOTTTT so i finally get into oncology monday june 18th after 6months its crazy who cares if im dying anyways???
I care brother i have been disabled for thirty two years and for the last four years i have had a he’ll of a time getting meds too! I would like to go to dc myself and lay on steps of capital and if needs be die there to demonstrate against our forked tounged politicians who talk out both sides of there mouths with no truth to come out of them!! I to have lost the will to live because of the way we are being treated but with the strength of Jesus just maybe I can hang on some how!! I can guaranty you this though anyone who causes others to suffer needlesly will have it come upon them and maybe even someone close to them seven fold at some point in there life!!! I am praying for all who suffer like you and me always!!
Hey ,I hear ya, I am in the first state to take pain medicine away. I have so many physical issues …5 yrs. Cold turkey 10 days off and left with only pain!! I don’t wanna sound neg. But.. someone help me!!
My mother didn’t even have an occasional alcoholic drink or use anything but blood pressure medication until she was diagnosed with progressive rheumatoid arthritis 6 years ago. Since then she has had numerous painful surgeries to remove cysts from her feet and arms. However as her disease has progressed her body has built up a tolerance to her pain medication. The problem is as her pain has increased her dosage has not. She has been discharged from several pain clinics for taking more than her prescribed dosage. After all when one is in excruciating pain that can be relieved by the medication in their possession one is going to take it. Either way she is screwed b/c she has to either suffer because she has pain meds but doesn’t take them or she takes them and suffers when she runs out. Instead of helping her the doctors admonish her and discharges her as a patient. I watch her cry b/c it hurts too much to even walk. But no one will help her b/c government regulations won’t allow them to. They treat her like a a crack addict. She is humiliated by having to pee in a cup while they watch. If she has trouble peeing bc she is embarrassed they are condescending and mean. I promise you If all these damn politicians in their self appointed role as crusader against the Opioid crisis had to watch their loved one or themselves suffer the way she does they would have a different perspective. Of course they will never find themselves in that situation b/c you can bet your ass they and their loved ones are getting everything they freaking need or want.
The name of the condition is Fibromyalgia, it is an awful illness that effects you both physically and mentally. I was diagnosed with it 3yrs ago after a very traumatic surgery due to another illness I have. I understand how Lyrica made you feel, it’s not a nice medication but does help with the pain. In my experience, I like you found it was effecting me mentally so I decided to try only taking at night which gives me some pain relief and has eleviated some of the mental health issues.
I think it’s awful what the USA government are doing to people who genuinely need serious pain relief, what are they going to create apart from more problems if people with illness turn to even worse substances to get a little relief from their pain & misery. I thank my lucky stars that in Scotland we have the NHS and I never have to go without my opioid medication.
My heart goes out to you honestly I can’t imagine how you must be feeling it’s an absolute disgrace how genuine people are being treated.
Sending you a healing hug from Scotland.
I AM MRS KATE ROSE FROM UK I HAVE LIVE WITH MY HUSBAND FOR THE PAST ONE YEAR BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENED AND WE BROKE UP AND I WAS VERY SAD AND I WAS LOOKING FOR HELP SO I WENT INTO INTERNET WERE I FOUND DR MACK AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE CAN HELP ME WITH MY PROBLEM I NEVER BELIEVE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD ABOUT SCAM IN INTERNET UNTIL HE CAST THE SPELL AND RIGHT MY HUSBAND AND I ARE TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN AND LIVING HAPPY AND TOLD THE MAN THAT I WILL GET HIM MORE GOOD PEOPLE THAT WHAT HE LIKE PEOPLE DOING FOR HIM AFTER THE SPELL THANKS YOU CAN CONTACT HIM THROUGH THESE EMAIL ADDRESS:dr_mack@ yahoo. com
Does it really work? I had someone refer me to him but he asked about my address phone number and told me to pay $150 through western union.. I felt like its a scam.. How did it work exactly for you if you don’t mind me asking?
Sounds like a total lot of poop, look at the grammar and English think that says it all!! Lol.
Cast a spell?!! Can you be more detailed about what this “doctor “ actually did? That sounds demonic! Oh, dear lady… you need help… please answer.
I’m totally blind, and have so many pain conditions (arthritis, rheumatoid and osteo, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia), conditions that affect muscle, bone, joint and nerve. My family doc wants me off opioids, and set up an appointment with a rheumatologist, who said what others have said: Since I couldn’t tolerate Methotrexate, and my conditions have run unchecked for ten years, he didn’t think biologics would help. This is not the first professional who has told me this. Yet, my doc ‘got religion’ about this type of medicine, and won’t adjust the dosage, even when a pain specialist recommends it. In Canada, the family doc is God, and no matter what a specialist may say,, she or he can veto it, while admitting that pain is not his/her expertise.
Not all patients should be on long term opiates. Some can regain health. I’m not one of them. In the broadest sense of the word, I’m palliative; that is, there is no cure for anything I have. I do not operate vehicles, heavy machinery, or look after children. My pain is way more disabling then my blindness ever was. Yet, the bureaucratic policies of Canada do not take anything like this into account. In fact, there are drugstores here that won’t fill an opioid prescription, even when given by a doc. It’s getting ridiculous.
Since tolerance and addiction are such a problem, scientists should concern themselves with creating a pharmaceutical that shuts down the body’s ‘memory’ of a substance use. So, for instance, you can be on 15 mg of morphine for many years. As for the euphoria, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, What’s so terrible if, along with effective pain control, we get a nice feeling? The things that I could do as a blind person, recreational things, are off limits because of my pain. It’s depressing not to be able to do the things I once enjoyed, even as a blind person: walking, tandem biking, skiing, participating in theater. I’m on too many meds to enjoy a drink now and then. I would not like to see an opiate come out with the endorphin-enhanced feelings knocked out of it. That’s not why I take morphine, but it’s a side effect I won’t complain about. At this point, it helps me with a nice warm feeling that uplifts me, even allows me to write my novel, and not feel so bad about my situation. Science hasn’t, and can’t, make a medicine better than God can.
I’m not saying I’d like to be an addict or anything; but if the products of the opium poppy help with pain, and even lift my spirits a bit, better than my antidepressants do, so be it.
Otherwise, I’ll be in agony till I die. Nothing I have is terminal, but it’s darn well life-limiting to an agonizing degree. Not to mention, I’ve experienced prejudice from doctors, and I know of people who, unable to receive pain relief because their doc got religion against a particular medicine, opiates, (like the new doc that’s come in to replace one that retired), people who can’t get the pain relief they got from a former doctor, have reached out for heroin and large amounts of liquor.
These moralistic docs, thinking they’re saving lives, are actually driving patients into the arms of unregulated drug industry, to dealers who could really injure them, or into alcoholism.
Stop treating opioids like the villain just because Mrs. S. decided to smoke her Fentanyl patch, and died from it. She made a bad choice. The medicine didn’t tell her to do it. The press are always sensationalizing opiate-related deaths, and making the drug the villain. How many car accidents happened with, say, Camaros? What happens if aCamaro is involved in an accident? Do they panic and call the car off the market, or do they say the driver was drunk, or the accident had no fault? If they treated cars the way they treat opiates, we’d be riding horses.
I completely understand what you are saying and l am in the same situation and lost my husband and l feel like someone stole my life! I have been taking opiates for a long time because I was hit and drug buy a car for a long time and I cannot put leave that I still have a face!? I am at miracle and I was not supposed to have children so they are miracles too! My pain in my back and my shoulder and my hip’s are still very painful and are getting worse because of not as active as I was before ! I have been struggling with dry mouth because of the medications for my pain and from my depression. My teeth have been falling out and now I don’t want to leave my house because I’m afraid of anyone seeing me. I was a pretty girl at one point but now I am not and I don’t know what to do! I don’t want to be here anymore because I feel like I’m a waste of space and time and money!
This is Lynda again & I am really so sorry I didn’t know that I was able to tell you more about myself! I miss my husband but he remarried and has a new baby boy. I don’t believe that she would have gone out with him if he wasn’t a millionaire! I was the one who filled for the divorce but that was because I didn’t think that he loved me anymore? He married me when I had a little girl and he was on the fence about that and I was really so upset and my Dad told me that the reason that he left me will be the reason why he will come back! I just cried in my sisters bedroom. My Ex husband knew me before I got hit by the car and he came to visit me a lot and he was always making me laugh and I was so happy that he was coming to see me! I was a little embarrassed because I had to have a catheter because I had two screws through both of my knees so that my back. Stay straight. I stayed in the hospital for a couple of months and then went home in a body cast. My mom and dad made it really nice for my friends to come and see me on the weekends! So I went back to school and stayed in my grade and that was wonderful and I went to college for A couple of years but I got pregnant the first time I had sex! But I was really excited because the doctors told me that I was not going to be able to have children! Jaclyn is the name of my daughter& she is getting ready to have a baby girl too! I don’t like being divorced but I don’t like being with someone who doesn’t love me and I really don’t know what happened because we moved so many times so my husband could climb the corporate ladder and it was very difficult but all of the crying in the world didn’t help me so I made the best of things and it turned out that it wasn’t so bad and then we got the opportunity to move back home where we both went to grade school high school and college! I was the love of his life and after I got divorced from my first husband who I only married because I was embarrassed for my family drank and drove with my daughter and didn’t really know how to love and my second husband was just overwhelmed when we moved back to the area and became grumpy! I lost my dad 10 years ago and he was my best friend and I wasn’t the same person after he passed away and became really depressed and I didn’t want to get out of bed and I also had sleep apnea and I didn’t know what that was but I was waking up every day so tired and I knew something was wrong with me but didn’t know what! As it turned out I have MS and I have to give myself injections once a week that make me have a fever that night that goes up to 104 but it’s only once a week so I can deal with that! I can’t deal with being alone and without my husband because he took care of me and I don’t know how to take care of myself now after taking the medication for my pain and now for my depression Has caused me to have dry mouth and is making me lose my teeth and I don’t know what to do because I’m not that old and I do not want anything but porcelain veneers because they last forever and you can have a normal life with them and you can eat whatever you want and be normal! I just wanna be loved and normal! I’m in pain on the inside from my broken heart and I’m in pain All over my body because of my terrible accident! Just don’t know what to do! I want to be myself again!
Why don’t you ask your ex for the money for your teeth.? The rich one. If he has a decent bone in his body, he will do it. There are also places that do it free. Look on the Internet. I live in FL and we have 3places that do it Pick any dentist & call them just for information, they will be happy to give you a name
Hey Lynda I know how u feel I was in a horrible dibilitating accident that ruined my whole life my husband couldn’t Handle it and left I couldn’t take care of my son’s I went from being super mom to nothing I lost my dad to soon 10 years ago and it was like he was the only one who loved me I have no one left I’m all alone with Drs that are sick of me everything they have tried doesn’t make things better I lost my ins and ran out of the $2,000,000 coverage that had been covering the medical bills but not my house bills my ex was paying them but has decided no more I have had to sell everything I spent my life building all because a guy wanted to drive recklessly while on his phone over the speed limit and crossed into my lane head on into me my airbags didn’t go off and I my seatbelt broke my collar bone tore my hip and shoulder while I went into the window then crushed my shoulder and hip then flew to the back of the car as it spun around are hit so hard it fractured the veribra in my neck at first I was so happy I was alive and that my son’s werent in the car I kept saying how amazing it was to be alive the look on my son’s face like I was a monster the pain has been excruciating that now I pray for death and while my Drs write me scripts for pain pills my body doesn’t absorb them well and the pharmacist at Walgreens where my ins was refused to fill them so where it would have been free to me and if out of pocket $60 it is $590 for 90 pills that doesn’t get me through the month and after the pharmacist who’s not a Dr threw a fit with my Dr told her she needed to put me on long term drug I ended up in the hospital having a allergic reaction that cost me 1800 and almost cost me my life then she felt like she was going to get in trouble for writhing my scripts because she yelled at the guy she has sent me to 15 differnt Drs that all send me back to her she doesn’t think it’s a big deal but me just getting in a car is this whole ordeal and so painful and traumatic to me I have sever brain damage I’m not the 140 iq I once was so each time I meet a new Dr they want to see my limits which is like being a circus freak causing me so much pain to tell me there is nothing they can do for me and send me back it’s this horrible parade of shame and embarrassment all for some stupid law created to stop junkies from getting a fix well I get no high I barley get a second of relief I get no sleep cause no position is comfortable it’s been almost 2 years with no end in sight of procedures I’ve had multiple surgery that has done nothing to make me me again but most of all I loved my husband since I was 14 and we had been married 20 years and for him to say he just could go through anymore he couldn’t watch me suffer he couldn’t stand to see me cry anymore he couldn’t take it he tried to kill himself he always said he would have to die first because he couldn’t stand to lose me and he just left with our sons they come by once in a while but I live and breathed them my whole life was for them I think he left because he knew as soon as they stopped giving me the pills that are keeping me from ending it that I will and he can’t stop me from ending my pain and doesn’t want me to men are weaker then we are and they go because when things are out of there control they don’t know how to handle it I love him I miss him I cry everyday for him but I don’t want him to watch me this way either how could I make him watch me suffer every second of everyday soon there won’t be anymore money and I have nothing else so affording the life saving pills that keep me from pulling the trigger on ending my suffering will run out it’s ashame that the laws are so messed up if not my Dr could give me enough to end the pain and I could have gotten them with my ins if the Walgreens would fill them and he would still be here and I would keep trying harder then give up but life isn’t fair for people who follow the laws only for those who break them I hope you feel better about ur situation my mom stopped talking to me when my dad died I lost my entire family when he went it was so hard then for this it was like life ended and the dea alone is the cause of my pain my husband leaving my Dr cutting my pills back causing me to suffer sever pain that is inhumane I think people like us should sue them for the cost of our marital status if u were able to relieve pain on ur terms and weren’t suffering he probably would still be there I know mine would have been.
You sound absolutely insane. Do you realize that?
Shey,
For you to tell someone who is obviously trying to tell her story while suffering physically, emotionally and possibly mentally from her accident that she sounds insane, makes you a heartless! Why are you even reading these stories???
I agree with Rachel that was heartless and uncalled for !
I so agree, not appropriate conversation TMI!
Jennifer, please don’t let Shey’s cruelty get to you. You did not sound insane. It sounds like you are going through unimaginable heartbreak, pain, and frustration. It is completely understandable with everything you are going through. Some people say things like Shey did, because they are unhappy with themselves. They want to hurt others because of their own pain. Chances are, something you said triggered this reaction in Shey. It’s probably because they can see part of your story in themselves.
Shey, I hope you find peace so you don’t have to continue hurting others. Each of us is doing the best that we can. If you cannot tolerate reading these stories, please find some other subject to spend your time on. Leave those who are suffering alone.
That’s not nice as it’s quite obvious she’s on the brink of destruction.
Shey
Ur comment makes clear that u lack compassion for others suffering. Obviously u dont KNOW how chronic health problems can change a life, succes, career, family, friends ability to enjoy hobbies are interrupted and sometimes lost forever. It’s horrific. To see or experience a life being disassembled, as the strain starts to crack the foundation grounding ones life. Ppl are forced to endure ever increasing challenges & yes it’s damaging psychologically.
You have nothing positive or relevant to add. Your response was just mean. Shame on you…..
Shey
I agree with you. That did sound over the edge. Maybe we can sue out these haters for the “cost of our marital status” right?
you sound absolutely ignorant and heartless.
No you are not a waste of space, youAre a child of God and he loves you. He did not provide you with the medication the doctors dead and I don’t know if they’re trying to take it away from you I hope not because I’m sort of in the same situation you are and I do not consider myself a waste of space I consider my doctor is responsible for what I’m going through and what you’re going through and we need toHave our voices heard. I am searching the web to find out who created these drugs and if they knew the side effects from each drug takin together and why they’re just telling us now that we can’t take them let’s have hope and pray.
https://www.dea.gov/pr/multimedia-library/publications/drug_of_abuse.pdf
And that is exactly what ‘they’ want you to do. Go away. You and I are ‘sucking’ good air. We are not worker drone bees, good little tax payers. No, the sooner they get rid of us that are in pain, the happier the alphabet agencies will be.
I’m in the same boat,I feel for you .I also lost my husband,And mother 3 Weeks apart,I’m very depressed and I just want to be with my husband,but we just can’t be put to sleep,we have to induor all of this,And like they tell you life goes on .does it??
Hello, I’m Canadian as well… I have 2/3’s or my internal organs removed. Due to chrones, once was on percocet. And my new doc…. suddenly says, she gives no pain killer like that to any one, but those with cancer.!!!!! I have been through hell with this. now, I have buy them off the street! Nice eh! I totally agree with everything you just said. And I was on percocet since 2007. I’m 39, and in bed everyday, no quality of life. And I can only buy from the street when I can afford it, which is very limited.
This stupid law that makes you have to go to your doctors office just to pick up an popish is so stupid, why didn’t they just make it that the only person it is prescribed to can pick it up! I bet thes government officials are addicted to iopistes , well a lot of them,
My story I was addicted to Vicodin for a long time, put myself in the hospital to dry out then I start going to a pain clinic for my back, what do they do give me hydrocodone, than they gave me shots that didn’t work at all, had to go back every month 20 miles each way for nothing then they put me back on pain needs, ne of the docs their told me how to get off them in 4 days and it worked, in November I broke my pelvis, more pain mesds for like 2 months 5hen this April had my hip replaced! Now I’m having problems with that surgeon thinks it’s my back or knee causing the problem, now they want to give me shots again and they have no clue what’s wrong with me had an MRI LAST WEEK HAVE TO SEE SURGEON Monday, personally I think it’s some kind of tendeious I have all the symptoms it’s called something, but when I go see this pain Dr she’s not even a doctor she looks at me like I’m a drug addict or something! I don’t like her at all I need these meds right now! Not the shots, and another thing why can’t the doctor give me my meds he can keep track if I’m calling them in to early or not.. it’s all money, money money, all those pain clinics are is a legal way to get pain meds! And whoever made this law is an idiot’
Hello they can now efax the prescription over,they should of done thos a long time ago.Boom right to pharmacy,so much easier ,my doc is couple towns away,so life saver
I too, am fighting chronic pain, & am doomed to a lifetime, of pain, I can no longer tolerate. do to back issues, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and God only knows what else. Death may be my only option, now that the meds, I have taken, for ten years, with no side effects, except some relief, of the pain, are going to be taken away by idiot politicians, who have never attended medical school and couldn’t have made the grade had they tried.
I too, can no longer participate in all the sports I used to do every day. People who have never experienced chronic pain have no clue what it is like to do the most basic things, each day.
I would love to know the number of suicides that have occurred because people can no longer tolerate the pain, they must endure each and every day, 24-7. No one seems to bother counting those numbers. I don’t know where nor how, to start the fight, to save these life saving medications and get the politicians out, of the medical arena.
Would you object if I copied part. of your essay and reprinted it as a letter, to an editor, in our local newspaper or letters, to the government? I thought your comparison to “Camaros” & cars, in general, was excellent.
I had to smile, when you mentioned Mrs. S smoking her medication patch…You are so correct. No one forces anyone, to take that first drink, shot of heroin, smoke the patch, etc. It is a conscious choice, made, by the abuser. I a sick to death, of suffering because of a bunch of people, who make such poor choices, and cause the legitimate people to suffer the cost, of their stupidity. For God’s sake, there is even a blood test that can predict who will become addicted if not monitored….why is that not being used before a prescription is even written. Give the rest of us, who follow the rules, a decent chance of surviving and a slightly better quality of life, without considering suicide as a final option.
I am new, at this new “battle”, but feel I have to start trying to get my voice heard. At this point, I am fairly certain, I will not live to see my eight year old grandson. grow into a young adult.
I was prescribed narcotic analgesics since1985 steady, particularly oxycodone, with absolutely zero problems getting it….until about 2015 that is. Now, after my doctor of 15 years dumped me for zero reason that resembles the truth, I’m forced to either suffer, or take methadone…buprenorphine is definitely something I cannot entertain the thought of taking once let alone every day. The doctors have completely abandoned me…I’m pissed off so bad, I seriously doubt I can get over the betrayal. Overdramatic? Not from this angle. I truly hope that these doctors suffer as much as we are…we being chronic pain patients.
My words exactly. I feel betrayed and extremely pissed off. My Primary of 10 years just recently emailed me saying she could no longer refill the meds I had requested and I needed to go back to the pain clinic. She even denied refilling my Ambein, Which I have been on for 8 years. Without sleep my pain is much worse. I’m sure I will be looking at other venues without any guilt if I am turned away at the pain clinic. I have Cervical Stenosis , Lumbar Atrophy , Fibro , Chronic Ridicolaphy and Chronic Insomnia. And , Ive never even been on a opiate anyways.
The perpetuation of this myth has resulted in people not getting effective care, because the focus is on the substance and not the sufferer. You know, I used to believe that if a doctor told me something, it was as good as scripture…but since these doctors have did a 180 degree spin on their previous theory of opioid drug regimens for chronic pain were not only acceptable, but in most cases probable, and their views on the consumption of marijuana also did an about face. How can I now put any trust in a person who is so undecided about near everything? Especially when they trat me like the “bad guy” now in light of this opioid crisis. Hell, I knew as far back as 1995, that this new OxyContin was not a good idea…and I’m a damned drug-addict for crying out loud!!! I’m f…in’ scared.
I am a 79 year old male and have been on pain killers for 17 years since I was 62.I am under care of a pain doctor I was send to have an MRI Have had many , to see if there is some surgery that maybe can help me. I was told that there is no surgery available f