First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
Public Comments (15,444)
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May 25th, 2016Someone from Cincinnati, OH writes:
To those who make decisions and laws that affect the lives of people who suffer from chronic pain, specifically regarding prescription medications, please listen and hear from those of us who are writing and petitioning. Please use some common sense when considering any changes that negatively impact the lives of those who are suffering, and also of those who love them. Be thankful that you are not among the millions who struggle to make it through each day. Those who battle with depression as a direct result of chronic pain. Those who simply want to function and participate in life as much as possible, but are being punished because of careless individuals who misuse medications and illicit drugs. Those who make and change laws regarding prescription medications, especially opiates, need to give the authority back to the prescribing physicians as to who they write pain management prescriptions for, what drugs to prescribe, and what therapeutic dosing is required for pain relief, without fear of repercussion from doing so. There is a drug problem in the US, and abroad. It will always be that way. Some people choose to use drugs who have no business in doing so. Some of them will die as a result of overdose. That result, though unfortunate, has nothing whatsoever to do with the people who are in pain, and need strong medicine to give them a fighting chance at making it through another day. Those who need these medications are not getting high on them. Ask them - they will tell you. There is no buzz associated with these medications for those who are in serious pain. The buzz is attained when an individual who is not in pain, takes the medications you are trying to take away. The issue is not the medication. The issue is the irresponsible behavior of some. Do not punish the doctors who have a responsibility to improve the lives of those who are ill. Do not punish the patient's who have no shot at pain relief without proper doses of opiate medications. Let the doctors do their jobs, they are quite good at it! They know how much medication their patient can take without dying as a result of taking it. Do not regulate or otherwise try to control how much medicine a doctor can prescribe, or a patient can take, based on overdose deaths in society. When used properly and as prescribed, powerful painkilling medicines will not likely kill the patient, as the physician monitors each patient on a monthly basis. Give the chronic pain patients what they need to survive. Give the doctors the tools they need to do their jobs. It is very simple, actually. As for the problem with the people dying from these same medications, I can only say that that is a separate issue, and it needs to be addressed. Just don't punish honest and responsible people in the process of addressing the problems of those who are not responsible. There are consequences for every action and inaction. Get this thing back on track. Let the doctors get back to doctoring and let those who suffe -
May 25th, 2016Someone from Cincinnati, OH writes:
This subject makes me furious. I have had Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN2), along with regular (well nothing's regular about TN) Trigeminal jolts & zaps & a myriad of other problems as well. I had a 2nd MVD craniotomy and got the complications that they told me not to worry about, 'only .02% of patients have ever gotten these complications'. I am in so much pain everyday that I am pretty much confined to bed bc it hurts my face & head to even walk.. It's been 21 years now. And I read so many letters of people who have awful pain as well. I had finally found a good pain Dr who didn't mind that I didn't get expensive injections (tried them, tried everything - 7 brain surgeries), I just needed him to try to understand what I was going thru with the "suicide disease" as it had been nicknamed long before I knew anything about it. He did what I asked & wasn't afraid to prescribe opioids to help take the edge off. He has been my pain Dr for the last ten years. I followed the rules, never had a problem with him at all, he had unscheduled urine tests, which I thought was responsible of him. Then new DEA guidelines came out here in Ohio, I guess everywhere else too?? At first nothing was said to me. Then we decided to move to KY to be nearer to our grandson. The minute we mentioned this to the girl at the counter where you schedule your next appt & get your scripts, all the nurses & receptionists in that front office came running over to us to say, almost in unison, "you can't be our patient anymore, it's now illegal to carry opioid prescriptions or the pills across state lines!" Two or three nurses came around to us & escorted us to the door, pushing the whole way. And that's when I understood just how scared my pain Dr (who was conveniently absent during this humiliating ordeal) was about the DEA & my meds. I don't know what he would have done if we hadn't moved. We moved back to OH after about 8 mths, I love my son & grandson who moved down there with his wife, but I missed my other 4 kids something terrible, esp my only daughter. She's with me everyday now, taking care of me. So now that I've had a new pain Dr in Ky & I have a new one now that I'm back in OH who is so conservative & I am always in excruciating pain - I've started to stutter bc my mouth hurts so bad, inside & out. I will probably get accused of Dr shopping or I would try someone else. HEY DEA DO YOUR JOB & GET THE HEROIN & COCAINE ADDICTS/DEALERS OFF THE STREETS!! LET THE PAIN DOCTORS WHO ARE TRUE PAIN DRS DO THEIR JOBS!! Sorry this is so long, I'm passionate about this problem!! Kelley B. Cincinnati, OHREPORT COMMENTS
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May 25th, 2016Someone from Phoenix, AZ writes:
I am a LTDU according to the definition. At 12 I was involved in a serious roll over car accident followed by several my car accidents. March 20, 1990 was dragged thru an intersection and dragged by the vehicle for at least 65 feet on back and head. Chronic pain along with debilitating migraine headaches have been my constant companions with only relief found with marijuana (legal MMJ patient in AZ) along with muscle relaxers & narcotics. I am the only one that has reduced prescription drug use going from almost 500 Vicodin per month to about 120 but now because of legal MMJ use in AZ I am considered a drug addict. I have found using both MMJ and pain meds is the most effective treatment of my pain. Thought I could finally enjoy my life with less pain but then was told I am an illicit street drug user and that "using cannabis along with narcotics will kill you" Prescription drugs kill over 19 minutes last I checled statistics but cannabis never has, in 10,000 years not one documented case. I went to another DR after being with same practice for most of the 30 years been in AZ. He prescribed me not even three weeks of meds, I knew that I better start weening off these meds to reduce the inevitable withdrawal after 30 years on them. Not one time did a doctor or assistant suggest how to address tbe situation just how their policy prevents them from treating my pain since use MMJ. Sent to another Pain clinic, provided history and signed requests for medical records to be sent but today after 6 mos at dr and se eral at pain clinic found they only have one year of records. I have told all Dr.s I have records for last 7 years but none would accept them and apparently never read through the year of records they did have. I say apparently because I have been given meds that have side effects no Dr zhould ever prescribe a patient like me. I also suffer from PTSD after my husbands suicide in 08 so prescribing drugs such as Gralise that can cause depression or suicidal thoughts seems like the opposite of best for me. Lorzone was another one was given after stating stomach issues but yet no prescription such as Imeprozole (spelling) to combat the common side effect of naseau, vomiting and stomach pain. Sent for MRI'S & Xrays to screen me for being candidate fir steroid injections. I had steroid injections for 11 years until they were no longer effective leading to back surgery in 2011. Yesterday went to this pain clinic, to find was seeing a PA who informed me of reason they ordered MRI'S. Said they stopped being effective 5 years ago and was told they had just wanted current images. She read over the radiologists reports that stated L5S1 disc was bulging along with bulge on L4S1....interesting since the L5S1 was replaced with a plastic materiel where my disc had been, how can the plastic bulge and how can a radiologist not see (MRI with and without contrast along with Xrays) that one disc is natural L4S1, and one is plastic? The PA then says "you have had suREPORT COMMENTS
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May 25th, 2016Someone from Homer City, PA signed.
May 25th, 2016Someone from Martinsville, IN writes:
I am disabled from my injuries for life. I suffer from chronic pain. I was on the same dose for five years, 40 mgs day, I could function and enjoy my life as much as I could using cane, walker an be wheelchair. Now my pain Dr cut it in half I went through withdrawals and currently had heart attack and high blood pressure due to pain. I can no longer walk to restroom from living room without buckling from pain . I am depressed and don't want to be around anyone at all because I'm in so much pain. I understand there are people who abuse drugs. But cutting chronic pain patients down or off is inhumain! You are starting something you have no idea. There will be more people drinking, using illegal drugs coming from South of the border with tons more deaths due to overdoses not including the thousands who commit suicide! I admit there no reason to be alive if I can't move, walk and do normal things like walk to bathroom is rather die than cause my family more problems. These people deaths will be on your hands. There are way more deaths from alcohol and illegal drug use a month than overdoses of chronic pain pts! You should leave current pain pts on dose they're on and start petiole on lower dose to start. I pray with all my heart you never have to watch a family member cry and not live life from pain. I pray you do though so you understand what you've done and I pray your Dr tells you deal with it.... You are not worthy of living a close to normal life. ... I agree that something needs done on this subject of people just wanting to get high. But this is not the way to do it at all.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Freehold, NJ writes:
I am livid! This is not about me, ive written plenty of times about the hell I have been forced into. This is about my brother, who has had five major back surgeries since December, got MRSA from the first surgery, that was caused by an incompetent surgeon who did not close him up properly. Ive watched my brother be tortured by the PA who had to pack and unpack the huge hole that my brother had in his back. I see how mich pain he is in, his back looks like a railroad track..His surgeon has been very neglectful these past few months, trying to get rid of my brother as the insurance money ran out, is pushing him out the door to a pain dr. Well he went today to the pain dr referred to him. This dr wants to lower his meds way more than half, allowing him 15 mgs!!! hes on 30mgs four times a day! The 30mgs has allowed him to get out of the house, maybe get a haircut, take a shower, walk his dog. and most importantly it LESSENED HIS PAIN AND GAVE HIM QUALITY OF LIFE! The pain dr told him he had two options, either go down to just 15 mgs or go on suboxone! HE IS NOT AN ADDICT! Suboxone, another opiod that relieves withdrawal, does nothing for the amount of pain my brother is in, and myself as well. SO IS THIS WHAT YOU CORRUPT PEN PUSHERS ARE DOING TO LEGITIMATE CHRONIC INTRACTABLE PAIN PATIENTS!? IS THE PLAN TO GET US ALL OFF OPIODS AND ADDICTED TO SUBOXONE B/C DR KOLODNY WHO OWNS THE PHOENIX HOUSE DETOX CTRS SAYS SUBOXONE IS ACCEPTABLE TO BE ON FOR VERY LONG PERIODS OF TIME, ITS ALL ABOUT THE DAM $$$ LAWMAKERS WANT A DR TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE 200 SUBOXONE PATIENTS INSTEAD OF 100. ARE YOU PREPARING FOR THE MAD RUSH OF MILLIONS OF CHRONIC PAIN PTS WHO YOU ARE FORCING TO DETOX AND IGNORE THEIR SEVERE PAIN!!! THIS IS A VIOLATION OF OUR RIGHTS! WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TREAT OUR CONDITIONS AND THE TREATMENT OPTIONS SHOULD STAY BETWEEN A DR AND A PATIENT. YOU ALL CONSTANTLY THROW ADDICTION EVERYWHERE, THE NEWS, TV, NEWSPAPERS, ETC, AND YET NOONE IS STANDING BY THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES LOST DUE TO CHRONIC PAIN AND PEOPLE KILLING THEMSELVES TO ESCAPE IT, YOU HAVE THOSE DEATHS LABELED AS OVERDOSES THOUGH. SHAME THE HELL ON ALL OF YOU! WAKE UP! HEROIN IS KILLING PEOPLE, ITS COMING IN FROM THE BORDERS, THE DEA DOESN'T STOP IT, AND WHY IS THAT!? MAYBE IF THEY TARGETED THE CARTEL LIKE THEY ARE TARGETING INNOCENT LAW ABIDING CHRONICALLY ILL PEOPLE, THE HEROIN DEATHS WOULD DIMINISH, BUT NO THE DEA CONTINUES TO RAID OUR DRS OFFICES, TREAT OUR DRS LIKE DEALERS AND US LEGITIMATE PAIN PTS AS ADDICTS. TWO WORDS TO ALL OF YOU F*** OFF!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Laurinburg, NC signed.
May 25th, 2016Someone from Kenosha, WI writes:
I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 33 years. I have had multiple surgeries, replacing joints and ruptured tendons. Since this law has passed regarding hydrocodone, I feel like a drug addict. My primary doctor will prescribe 60/month. I cannot have a new prescription before the 30 day mark. Some days I need 3 hydrocodone in order to function. Any activities will cause pain and the only thing that will help is hydrocodone. I am 60 years old and thinking about trying to buy pain medicine on the street. This is what this new law has resorted me to. Very sad indeed. I do not abuse this medicine. I take as needed in order to function.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Pittston, PA writes:
My chronic low back pain and sciatica is unbearable without pain medication that I have been on for years. I am on a very low dose and just 2 pills a day. This alleviates my pain probably 50% daily, which is a huge success, and lets me physically function and perform normal daily activities and chores around the home, being on disability. This monthly weaning, total elimination. of all pain medicine is unethical and beyond heartless. Please do not make doctors stop prescribing these meds, just implement urine testing to make sure patient's are taking their medicine and also adjust doses to exceptable amounts. Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak for those of us playing by the rules and living in chronic pain. Time is of the essance, thank you.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Pittston, PA writes:
My chronic low back pain and sciatica is unbearable without pain medication that I have been on for years. I am on a very low dose and just 2 pills a day. This alleviates my pain probably 50% daily, which is a huge success, and lets me physically function and perform normal daily activities and chores around the home, being on disability. This monthly weaning, total elimination. of all pain medicine is unethical and beyond heartless. Please do not make doctors stop prescribing these meds, just implement urine testing to make sure patient's are taking their medicine and also adjust doses to exceptable amounts. Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak for those of us playing by the rules and living in chronic pain. Time is of the essance, thank you.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from North Collins, NY signed.
May 25th, 2016Someone from Spartanburg, SC writes:
If it were the people that are making these rules that were in pain, They would do anything to stop it. People who have medical conditions that cause severe pain are being penalized for something they cannot help, ya that's really fair. What if it were you, how would you feel?REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Mckinney, TX signed.
May 25th, 2016Someone from Hopkins, MN writes:
I signed a chronic pain management contract 20 years ago and have been comletely compliant to my end of contract and was told I would be on oxycontin for rest of my life, and I am legitimately allergic to Nsaidsand now my dr. of oer 10 years said I will give you your pain meds for 3 months then your on your own. I had no quality of life when they started me on meds and I have degenerative issues, How is that do no harm as they say. I wonder if life will be worth living. Shame on all of them!!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Pierson, FL signed.
May 25th, 2016Someone from Naugatuck, CT signed.
May 25th, 2016Someone from Howell, NJ writes:
I am writing on behalf of my mom, who I have watched suffer with multiple debilitating incurable conditions for ten years. Over the course of ten years, she has tried everything to lessen the severe pain and be a part of life. I've watched her go thru very painful epidurals which always intensified her pain, never lessened it, she's been thru years of PT, massage, chiro, accupuncture,nerves burned, steriods, facet and trigger point injections, nerves blocked, and the worse came when she had her second FAILED spinal fusions that left her with severe nerve damage. My mom use to be so happy, fun to be around, enjoyed working out in her garden, She use to have all ththe nieces and nephews, my cousins, come spend many sleepovers at our house, always putting the kids first, always wanting to create memories. She use to love photography and making wreaths. Ive watched my mom go from someone who gave 100% in whatever she did, to someone who can no longer leave the house, she has become bedridden. It's killing me to see her in so much pain. How can you people running this country get away with torturing my mom and many many more just like her. !! She deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, instead when I go to her pain dr appts, she is NEGLECTED, and DEGRADED, she always brings up to the dr how her health is rapidly deteriorating since her dr lowered her meds to INEFFECTIVE doses. He continues to say "his hands are tied" how is it that a chronic pain pt who has been on the same stable dose for eight years, has followed the rules, has been mistreated more times than I can count, has been discriminated against, is treated like some pill seeking junkie,,to going to having her meds lowered more than half, leaving her in excruciating daily pain!! Her dr thinks waiting eight hours to take a pill will be just fine. THAT IS NOT THE CASE! When she use to take her meds every four hours she was a functioning member of society. I miss my mom, I can't stand to see her suffer anymore, the dea and governments war on drugs is really a war against innocent law abiding citizens who are chronically ill, I will fight for my mom and her right to pain medication and the doses that worked for her. Treating patients the same across the board is unacceptable! My mom has spoken of taking her life, to end her suffering. How would you feel if your mom was suffering and being denied medication that would make the pain a little more tolerable . MY MOM IS NOT AN ADDICT! STOP TREATING PAIN PTS SO HORRIBLY WRONG! YOU ARE FORCING PEOPLE TO END THEIR LIVES! HOW DO YOU ALL SLEEP AT NIGHT!? THIS IS GENOCIDE! MURDERERS!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Wheelersburg, OH writes:
I live in Wheelersburg, Ohio, a small town 9 miles from Portsmouth, one of the most drug-addicted cities in the United States. My husband suffers from chronic pain from 2 herniated discs and degenerative arthritis of the spine, and relies on pain medication to function in his daily life and to be able to continue to work and support our family. He's not a candidate for surgery. He's tried the lumbar epidural steroid injections, which give him some relief for a couple weeks, however insurance will only pay for so many of those injections within a calendar year. Where we live, it's almost impossible for anyone with true, legitimate, chronic pain to be prescribed pain medication. We have one physician who still cares enough for his patients that he tolerates the constant scrutiny and investigations from the DEA, so that his patients with genuine pain can receive treatment and relief. With the way the DEA are going after the doctors, I'm not sure how much longer he'll be able to continue his practice. I implore congress to differentiate between chronic pain sufferers and the common pill junkies! This is one aspect of the pill addiction epidemic that needs to be carefully taken into consideration, before those with true chronic pain can no longer receive the legitimate pain management they need in order to maintain a adequate quality of life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Riverside, CA writes:
As a Nurse Practitioner becoming ill with an extremely painful disease, I was shocked to find our medical system and insurance are not for the sick. Doctors refuse to treat pain and often times refuse to treat the patient. They don't get reimbursed for all the treatments and referrals needed by chronically ill patients. Their offices refuse to return phone calls or even speak to patients so they will go elsewhere. Some times the doctors are just rude, hoping you will find another provider. Sometimes you will just receive a letter letting you go with some false reason. The power has been taken away from doctors by those unqualified to make the rules. We need to rally together and give the power to treat where it belongs- with Physicians and Providers.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Chapel Hill, NC writes:
Without pain medication for my incurable and painful disease, I am going to waste away, and suicide seems a less terrible option that buying heroin. I wouldn't begin to know where to find it anyway, as I've never used it or anything like it. My medication allows me to walk with far less pain, to sit up for more than a few minutes, and to enjoy the company of the people I know and love. I had a well regulated low dose plan than kept a steady dose in my system. I didn't feel high, I just didn't feel so much pain. Right now I'm basically praying for a miracle or death.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Abilene, TX signed.
May 25th, 2016Someone from Carrboro, NC writes:
There are two people in my life who suffer from chronic pain. One is my father who walks with a cane when he can walk at all. The other is my best friend who suffers from interstitial cystitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Due to their suffering both have withdrawn from life. Both are in bed most hours of the day. One was an avid outdoorsman hunting fishing boating golfing until his back surgeries and the other ran three miles a day, ate organic, was an involved mother of five. Now both are shadows of themselves. Doctors are afraid to prescribe the medications that work for them because they will get flagged. Stop punishing those in need for the wrongdoing of criminals. I want my loved ones functional again.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2016Someone from Odessa, TX signed.
May 25th, 2016Someone from Hays, KS writes:
Why can't these people understand I need my pain medicine or I suffer endless pain from my neuropathy, if one doctor refuses me treatment I should be able to go to another to get what I need. Since when does the DEA get to decided what is the right treatment for me by treating doctors as if their drug dealers and patients as if their drug addicts. Why would anyone put the most vulnerable people through endless suffering. Will this only change when someone you know you love has to go through days, months, years, of endless pain.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from River Falls, WI writes:
If the medical profession would be more willing to do what it takes to find the source of the pain, and then treat the cause, many of us would not be dealing with severe, chronic, debilitating pain and other problems. But these days it seems like going to the Dr is more like going to a technician who orders the same tests over and over again- like CT scans for which some conditions don't show up on. Things like adhesions and endometriosis which can only be diagnosed and treated via laparoscopy by a properly skilled excision surgeon, of which there are very few. Partly due to the greed of our health insurance companies who don't like to pay for exploratory surgery or will only pay a highly skilled laparoscopic excision surgeon for 1/2 hour of work when the surgery might take several hours. So, because the medical system refuses to do what it takes to get the patient well, the patient is left to endure severe pain, often for years or the rest of their lives. The very least they should do is offer the patient pain relief so they can at least have a chance to hold down a job and be productive. If the medical profession would pay more attention and respect to what the patient had to say, and not rely solely on what the typical tests show (or don't show) , and if the insurance companies didn't have so much power to deny us appropriate treatments, we might not have the pain epidemic that we do. But until something changes, the very least that those of us who are forced to live with pain should have the right to use these pain meds.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from East Lansing, MI writes:
What the DEA is doing is reckless and irresponsible. Their politically motivated actions have inflicted devastating harm on thousands of innocent Americans. The DEA needs to change course before more innocent lives are destroyed. The DEA is hurting far more people than they could ever hope to save.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Bradenton, FL writes:
I recently moved from ny to florida THIS YEAR-2016. both my primary care physician and the pain clinic i was sent to told me i was on to much pain medicine. first thing that happened is the primary dr said he could not provide me with any narcotic or he risks a ten thousand dollar fine . the dr at the pain clinic immediately cut one of my meds (nucynta) from 100 mg 4x a day to 2x a day 200mg ext. ended release. my insurance company would not cover my expenses so i was referred to another pain clinic. i have been there just 2x as of this day (5/24/2016) just for the record i also take 3x a day 10 325mg of hydrocodone,and 3 75mg of lyrica and used to take 3 robaxan a day that was switched to tizanidine 3x a day. i have done the triggerpoint injecr\tions and nerve blocks and had relief for about 30 minutes. i had back surgery in 2014..i suffer every day. the pain medicines help but do not take the pain away. it makes it somewhat tolerable but not very well. my new pain clinic doctor in florida told me yesterday that the DEA is looking at him AND STATED "THE DEA HAS EYES ON YOU" which shocked me as it was totally unexpected. He also told me my doctors in ny have had me on way to much medicine. this is while seeing me for only the 2nd time. i found that very unusual. questioning my ny dr's assessment of me and his tx without even speaking with the dr in ny or as far as i know reviewing his medical records re: my tx (treatment). Long story short the florida dr said he wants to try triggerpoint injections again and get me off the nucynta altogether. i am open to that as long as the current dr will be able to help me manage my pain. the current dr did say he would not cut me off immediately as that would be problematic for me but would taper me off. i am open to treatment suggestions but they need to work. i could go on for hours about being unable to live a life..my daily activities of living, including self care has been diminished by this chronic pain. i also suffer from severe depression and at least one dr thinks i have a schizo affective disorder. i take medications for that as well. i think all legistlatures on a local and state level need to take a deep breath and revisit the current florida laws. to have my dr tell me the DEA has eyes on me does wonders for my paranoia and depression. this is crazy behavior on the part of well meaning officials. it is time to support your constituents that suffer from chronic pain instead of abusing us, because that is what you are doing. ABUSING US. I WAS NOT GOING TO SIGN MY NAME BUT I REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR OF GOVERNMENT. sorry for the typos!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Newark, NY writes:
Hi there, so very long story short. I have been very sick and medically fragile for two solid months...in agony. Prior to that my medical problems started in. January I was told that I had ulnar nerve compression and needed surgery. Then my abdomen is so hard and distended that it looks like I am 9 months pregnant. They also found that i have colonic inertia, hiatal hernia and ulcer which showed intestinal metaplasia. They are currently watching a swollen lymph node in my lungs in addition to multiple ground glass nodules. I am also scheduled for a cystoscopy because i have blood and protien in my urine. I am in excrutiating pain. All i do is go to doctors appts and lay around. I have to have someone shave my legs because i cant bend its just way too painful. I have right sided back pain that is a continuous stabbing feeling that never goes away no matter what i do. Can doctors really let you suffer. Aside from putting a gun to my head, honestly I dont know what to do. yes,they are still trying to figure out what is going on, but I have been like this for two months solid and prior to that the pain started in January and has progressively gotten worse. Enough is enough!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Tonawanda, NY signed.
May 24th, 2016Someone from Minneapolis, MN writes:
I have battled back issues/pain since my 21st birthday - that was 40 years ago. Since then, I have married, held two jobs in managementent of 18+ years duration, walked, worked out, cycled 300 miles per week or more, and generally speaking, tried to live a normal life. Gradually back pain, chronic and disabling pain, sciatica, partial paralysis, change in bladder and bowel function, etc., began to chip away at the quality of life I had worked hard to maintain. Mine years ago, after multiple injections, MRIs, x-rays, therapies and doctors, I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, scoliosis, arthritis of the spine and a half dozen other maladies all spine related. I lost 3 inches in height during the years leading up to today, and have had two surgeries with more on the way. I AM IN CONSTANT PAIN AS A RESULT. The pain finally affected my performance on the job and in 2013, while on long term disability, I was let go by my employer of 19 years. Today, the only thing that has helped reduce the pain and allowed me to function around the house vs bed ridden are opiate-based narcotics. Because of recent legislation and the resultant pressure on prescribers, have to drive from drugstore to drugstore because of the "suggested" limits imposed on doctors who prescribe them. I AM NOT A DRUG ABUSER! I HAVE A LEGITIMATE NEED FOR THESE MEDICATIONS and if they are taken away I will have no options but to turn to less than ideal means to treat my pain and try to live the rest of my now miserable life in debilitating pain.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Mc Donald, TN writes:
I am a complete paraplegic since a roll over car accident. That was in 1978 was 16yrs old my life changed dramatically but I made the best of life on wheels. I had one successful spinal fusion @ 8 days after the accident. One to remove the Harrington rods,pins, screws due to the one that broke. In 2006 had anterior/posterior spine fusion which is twice the amount as before. Long story I live in constant pain I take pain med.s they help to allow time up in the wheelchair. I see 1 doc. 1 pharmacy and follow Dr.s orders. Random drug screens that never failed so please keep in mind Chronic pain patients are not the problem. Take heroin, meth, crack, synthetic marijuana ect. off the streets that will benefit Everyone. Pain does not discriminate at anytime your lives could changed in the blink of a eye like mine. My Dr.s want to do more but fear the lose of the license to do what they were educated to do! 1st Do No Harm!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Nashville, TN writes:
I have more diseases than I can count. I have had over 30 surgeries, I've been in critical care, been brought back by CPR and am STILL treated like I'm lying about the pain I'm in by EVERY single Doctor, hospital I go to! If I go to the ER too much...I'm a "frequent flier". If I don't go...then "I'm not in pain because people in pain would go more". My colon tore in two...completely split in half. As I'm laying there dying the surgeon says it's my fault. I'm moaning because the pain is so horrific...I can't speak. The doctors and nurses surrounded my bed and made fun of how I was moaning. I'd rather be dead. But, They don't care. No one does.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Oxnard, CA signed.
May 24th, 2016Someone from Port Richey, FL signed.
May 24th, 2016Someone from Land O Lakes, FL signed.
May 24th, 2016Someone from Portland, OR writes:
My husband has diabetic nerve damage in his feet. Without pain medication he would not be able to stand or work. He's never had anything to do with illegal drugs and never will. Leave doctors alone and leave patients alone.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Howell, NJ writes:
Ive written more times than I can keep track of on this petition, as well as signing many others pertaining to the NEGLECT, ABUSE, MISTREATMENT, DEGRADING, AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE CHRONIC INTRACTABLE PAIN COMMUNITY. I exist in MULTIPLE DEBILITATING CONDITIONS THERE ARE NO CURES FOR. Ive tried all the alternative therapies MY BODY, NOT THE CORRUPT PEN PUSHERS IN WASHINGTON, NOT THE CORRUPT CDC, THE CORRUPT DEA OR THE CORRUPT FDA's bodies, MY BODY , could take and I surely could not afford. I went thru YEARS of physical therapy, massage, chiro, accupuncture, nerve blocks, steriod, nerves burned, facet injections, trigger point injections, discographies, epidurals, two failed spinal fusions that left me with severe nerve damage, TENS, I have been in thousands of dollars in debt from medical bills and trying all the alternative therapies, some not even covered by insurance. I am way beyond tylnol, ibuprofen, aleve, and any other crap medicine thrown my way. Ive been down the road of trying all the OTC AND NSAIDS out there that tore my stomach and liver up. Ive tried all kinds of muscke relaxers, and even been put on anti depressants for chronic pain, go figure. After many years of pain I was finally given opiods and oh what a relief it was. Once I was on the right doses my pain went from over a ten down to a tolerable four. Was on the SAME STABLE DOSE FOR EIGHT YEARS WITH SUCCESS. Then in steps the DEA and the government and I, along with thousands and thousands more like me, are DENIED LIFE SAVING medications that allowed me a QUALITY OF LIFE. Allowing human beings to exist in severe pain is a form of torture, do you have any idea what its like to be at war with your own body!? To feel like your back has been freshly beaten with a baseball bat everyday!? To feel like your knees are being hammered everyday!? To feel burning, piercing, stabbing, ekectric type shocks that run like volts of electricity thruout your legs, feet and arms, Severe pain so intense that you beg God to take you!? All thats on the news in transgender topics, and how their rights must be protected, WTF!? WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF MILLIONS OF CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS!? Wheres LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?! Ilook forward to watching all you corrupt *******s who are forcing innocent law abiding citizens to endure severe pain and suffering , I look forward to watching your world come crashing down. Surely their must be whistleblowers who must be ridden with guilt from the intentional torture you are causing peole to endure. MY QUALITY OF LIFE HAS BEEN TAKEN THRU NO FAULT OF MY OWN, BUT B/C ONE TO MANY RICH KIDS GOT THEIR HANDS ON MOMMY AND DADDYS MEDICINE, ARE GETTING HIGH, SO IT MUST BE MY FAULT, EVEN THOUGH IM TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL, MONTHLY DRUG TESTS, REFUSAL FROM THE PHARMACY TO FILL A LEGAL SCRIPT, I AM DEGRADED AND TREATED LIKE A PIECE OF SHIT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! WHEN YOU RECIEVE THIS LETTER,MARE YOU DIRECTED TO THIS PETITION ON THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HEAREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Mount Shasta, CA writes:
my dear old mother is suffering every minute of every day! they took her pain medication down to nearly nothing. the dea is trading drug addicts for legitamate pain patients. watch the suicide rate among chronic pain patients skyrocket! prohibition didn't work.more people died from bathtub gin and more acoholics were born than any other time. lets save the drug abusers and kill perfectly respectable americans with chronic pain!!!!!!!!!!! that will be the cherry on top of this crappy country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Houston, TX writes:
I'm in chronic pain, and I'm 30. I have degenerative disc disease, chiari malformation 1, syringomyelia, bulging discs, herniated discs, sciatic nerve pain, and many more. I'm tired of being discriminated against because of my age. I'm tired of doctors not even bothering to look at my MRI's or do some research. Enough is enoughREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 24th, 2016Someone from Vassalboro, ME writes:
I am suffering from complications due to agent orange because my father fought for freedom. I began becoming disabled by it at 10 years of age. I am now 32 with sever untreatable chronic pain you can see with you own eyes. It has been getting worse each year. They say people are dieing because of overdoses... I've seen the statistics on this. I have also seen the statistics on suicides and favorite methods of suicides. Those taking the meds as perscribed are not overdosing. However, those buying the illegally are. Often to kill themselves... I guess supply and demand will make them pay more or switch to something far worse and far cheaper like actual dangerous drugs the DEA is supposed to be after!(grrrr....) As for those killing themselves... I guess they'll just have to jump of a building or wait for a large vehicle - because who wan'ts to spend all their rent money on suicide??REPORT COMMENTS
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