First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
Public Comments (15,444)
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Aug 7th, 2017Susan R. from Naples, FL writes:
My husband is 54 years old. He has served his country, was then a private military contractor, and provided for his family. Injuries he has sustained as a result had eventually taken their toll causing him to finally concede to pain and he has been seeing a pain management doctor for 15 years. For all of those years he has been to a total of 3 different doctors - never one issue. One moved his practice from FL and referred him to his second and then we moved to NJ where he was with his last doctor for 9 years. MRI's, injections, procedures, and every 20 days the same prescriptions. Along with seeing this doctor came the rules of testing and random pill counts any day at anytime to rule out abuse or dealing. Never had a problem. His medicine helps him function and his quality of life is much better, when it gets unmanageable they do a procedure and it gets him through. Every 20 days same prescriptions, same doctor, no issues. Pain levels under control, quality of life sustainable. He just received a judgement for SSDI. Not an easy thing to go through. It took almost three years and we almost lost our home. We moved back to Florida. We moved back to FL with an appointment set 45 days before we moved. That doctor canceled on us the day before our appt. Since then I have called over 27 doctors and have seen 3. Everyone of them sees you as suspect and will not treat long term if at all. We may have to move back to NJ . However, even before we left NJ, his doctor was warning him he should start doing more procedures and reducing medication. And I thought...every twenty days I have come in with him and spent 15 minutes, watch you do a quick exam, ask what he needs refilled and then send him on his way. Now doctors are so terrified of losing their practice, they are just sending their patience out of the office anxiety stricken not knowing what is going to happen and when. I see the pain he is in. I know what he has been through to get the injuries he has. He has the images and 427 pages of doctor notes and procedures, SSDI ruling and we STILL cannot get a doctor to keep him with what works. -
Aug 7th, 2017Susan R. from Naples, FL writes:
My husband is 54 years old. He has served his country, was then a private military contractor, and provided for his family. Injuries he has sustained as a result had eventually taken their toll causing him to finally concede to pain and he has been seeing a pain management doctor for 15 years. For all of those years he has been to a total of 3 different doctors - never one issue. One moved his practice from FL and referred him to his second and then we moved to NJ where he was with his last doctor for 9 years. MRI's, injections, procedures, and every 20 days the same prescriptions. Along with seeing this doctor came the rules of testing and random pill counts any day at anytime to rule out abuse or dealing. Never had a problem. His medicine helps him function and his quality of life is much better, when it gets unmanageable they do a procedure and it gets him through. Every 20 days same prescriptions, same doctor, no issues. Pain levels under control, quality of life sustainable. He just received a judgement for SSDI. Not an easy thing to go through. It took almost three years and we almost lost our home. We moved back to Florida. We moved back to FL with an appointment set 45 days before we moved. That doctor canceled on us the day before our appt. Since then I have called over 27 doctors and have seen 3. Everyone of them sees you as suspect and will not treat long term if at all. We may have to move back to NJ . However, even before we left NJ, his doctor was warning him he should start doing more procedures and reducing medication. And I thought...every twenty days I have come in with him and spent 15 minutes, watch you do a quick exam, ask what he needs refilled and then send him on his way. Now doctors are so terrified of losing their practice, they are just sending their patience out of the office anxiety stricken not knowing what is going to happen and when. I see the pain he is in. I know what he has been through to get the injuries he has. He has the images and 427 pages of doctor notes and procedures, SSDI ruling and we STILL cannot get a doctor to keep him with what works.REPORT COMMENTS
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Aug 7th, 2017Someone from Martinez, CA writes:
Disabled because of incorrect mistake on medical test that was forwarded to ortho surgeon who also made a mistake in surgery on wrong lumbar disk then major complications which the chief surgeon of John Muir hospital falsified surgery report to cover up failure to plan surgery with correct size of implant so major portions of my vertebrate were removed which I had NOT CONSENTED so surgical error now causes constant pain. Only one pain Rx works OxyContin but other people abused so now I have extreme hardship in getting a Rx. Stop punishing me & new pain doctor who informed about surgical mistake by surgeon.REPORT COMMENTS
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Aug 7th, 2017Someone from Martinez, CA writes:
Disabled because of incorrect mistake on medical test that was forwarded to ortho surgeon who also made a mistake in surgery on wrong lumbar disk then major complications which the chief surgeon of John Muir hospital falsified surgery report to cover up failure to plan surgery with correct size of implant so major portions of my vertebrate were removed which I had NOT CONSENTED so surgical error now causes constant pain. Only one pain Rx works OxyContin but other people abused so now I have extreme hardship in getting a Rx. Stop punishing me & new pain doctor who informed about surgical mistake by surgeon.REPORT COMMENTS
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Aug 6th, 2017Someone from Bates City, MO signed.
Aug 6th, 2017Ralph M. from Glenwood, GA writes:
"How Not To Treat patients". WTF. If you don't want to treat patients, then Don't Become a Doctor! Pain is a TRUE medical condition. No matter where it comes from. Accident, injury, illness or hereditary. And the HUMANS suffering from it deserve to be treated. I have no problem with close scrutiny, drug testing and other ways. But if there is evidence of pain then there is evidence for treatment needed. The Hypocratic Oath number ONE: "FIRST DO NO HARM". If you, as a doctor, allow your patient to SUFFER needlessly, then you ARE DOING HARM!! And you should be ASHAMED Of YOURSELF! As well as should be sued for Malpractice! Our govt. needs to get out of the patient exam room. Leave the well trained doctors alone to treat their patients as they feel necessary. This nonsence of allowing people to suffer to the extent of suiside is barbaric. I don't like to wish ill will on anyone, However, you people that are dead set on making me and pain sufferers like myself, not able to get help, then you need to feel this chronic, unstoppable pain for just a little while and you would change your tune. I guarantee it.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 5th, 2017Deborah D. from Brevard, NC writes:
It is criminal, an assault, and it's actually practicing medicine without a license dear congressmen, pharmaceutical companies and even doctors....because without a patient assessment it's malpractice. A patient has a right to decent medical care. We are already being treated for chronic conditions and this is part of it. Unless you want to deny the orthopedic, rheumatiod, oncology, geriatric, surgical, dental, etc etc patient health care, you have no legal or ethical right to deny or interfere with this one aspect of their medical treatment while treating the same condition in other ways. Everyone sees this for what it is, a grab for the booming business of pain clinics and drug rehab clinics. It's also the pharmaceutical companies making a grab to sell newer more addictive drugs as well as requiring additional drug purchases. You will be sued, you will not be reelected, because this whole scare is orchestrated to herd people into a profitable business on the pain, suffering and inconvenience of the sick and vulnerable. For God's sake some you you must have some common sense and compassion. Please stop the assault on the sick and disabled!! We are suffering enough and all who support this platform will be guilty of murder, loss of income, pain and suffering, coercion, extortion and ABUSE. You well know the consequences of this horrible destructive policy and you know with the way people are, and the law, it's only a matter of time before the DEA, the FDA, the CDC all are defunded for incompetence and sued for criminal liability. Leave the practice of medicine in the doctors hands and judgment with their own patients they access and know. If you want to influence the illicit and illegal drug use close the border, not the dor to the doctor's office.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 5th, 2017Julue N. from Sturtevant, WI writes:
We should storm Congress and Senate as a big group and demand to be heard. We have to do something drastic. Or a class action lawsuit since our rights are being stomped on by people that aren't dr and know nothing of our suffering. We are millions of votes for them that's all that matters to themREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 5th, 2017Joanne O. from Raymond, NH writes:
I am sick and tired of the government getting involved where thry don't belong. Let doctors use their training, knowledge, and judgement. Stay out of it!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 5th, 2017Cathy R. from Soddy Daisy, TN writes:
I am truly concerned when people that do not suffer from Long term Pain can't be treated with Opiates because they do not help Pain how would they know without the studies needed to back that statement. Why will they not fund a study that would give them the true facts instead of guessing. I have had long term Pain since I had a simple back surgery that should have no long term pain but though no fault of my own the Surgeon did a Sciatic Release but remove part of 2 vertebrae were removed but did not graph the bone back. After the Surgery the Doctor would not see me for my follow up visit oh did I mention that I ended up in the E.R a week after my surgery because of a injection of steroids in my spine and I had told them I could not take steroids and my white count shot up to 35,000 with right side pain they thought it was my appendix but it showed my Liver was inflamed from the shot. I tried to see my Doctor after all that and he flat out refused to see me or speak to me.It took me a year of searching to find 4 spine surgeons to find out why. They discovered the missing bone and my spine from the waist down was Degenerating Quickly. There was so much Damage NOONE would touch my spine for fear it could paralyze me so I am left with no help or fix. Is that a person you turn your back on even knowing HOW my CHRONIC PAIN came from. I would be the first to Volunteer for a study that proves that Opiates are the only thing that helps that kind of Pain without the damage being worse from Insaides . Having a fatty liver to start with they do more damage it just distories your body as a whole quicker. I have a new Grandson and Grand daughters I love seeing 6 days a month and that will be taken from me bathing myself will stop my house will go uncleaned. Please don't take my life away even it is does go down to 60 mme a month I will lose a lot of my life now.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 5th, 2017Cathy R. from Soddy Daisy, TN writes:
I am truly concerned when people that do not suffer from Long term Pain can't be treated with Opiates because they do not help Pain how would they know without the studies needed to back that statement. Why will they not fund a study that would give them the true facts instead of guessing. I have had long term Pain since I had a simple back surgery that should have no long term pain but though no fault of my own the Surgeon did a Sciatic Release but remove part of 2 vertebrae were removed but did not graph the bone back. After the Surgery the Doctor would not see me for my follow up visit oh did I mention that I ended up in the E.R a week after my surgery because of a injection of steroids in my spine and I had told them I could not take steroids and my white count shot up to 35,000 with right side pain they thought it was my appendix but it showed my Liver was inflamed from the shot. I tried to see my Doctor after all that and he flat out refused to see me or speak to me.It took me a year of searching to find 4 spine surgeons to find out why. They discovered the missing bone and my spine from the waist down was Degenerating Quickly. There was so much Damage NOONE would touch my spine for fear it could paralyze me so I am left with no help or fix. Is that a person you turn your back on even knowing HOW my CHRONIC PAIN came from. I would be the first to Volunteer for a study that proves that Opiates are the only thing that helps that kind of Pain without the damage being worse from Insaides . Having a fatty liver to start with they do more damage it just distories your body as a whole quicker. I have a new Grandson and Grand daughters I love seeing 6 days a month and that will be taken from me bathing myself will stop my house will go uncleaned. Please don't take my life away even it is does go down to 60 mme a month I will lose a lot of my life now.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 5th, 2017Cathy R. from Soddy Daisy, TN writes:
I am truly concerned when people that do not suffer from Long term Pain can't be treated with Opiates because they do not help Pain how would they know without the studies needed to back that statement. Why will they not fund a study that would give them the true facts instead of guessing. I have had long term Pain since I had a simple back surgery that should have no long term pain but though no fault of my own the Surgeon did a Sciatic Release but remove part of 2 vertebrae were removed but did not graph the bone back. After the Surgery the Doctor would not see me for my follow up visit oh did I mention that I ended up in the E.R a week after my surgery because of a injection of steroids in my spine and I had told them I could not take steroids and my white count shot up to 35,000 with right side pain they thought it was my appendix but it showed my Liver was inflamed from the shot. I tried to see my Doctor after all that and he flat out refused to see me or speak to me.It took me a year of searching to find 4 spine surgeons to find out why. They discovered the missing bone and my spine from the waist down was Degenerating Quickly. There was so much Damage NOONE would touch my spine for fear it could paralyze me so I am left with no help or fix. Is that a person you turn your back on even knowing HOW my CHRONIC PAIN came from. I would be the first to Volunteer for a study that proves that Opiates are the only thing that helps that kind of Pain without the damage being worse from Insaides . Having a fatty liver to start with they do more damage it just distories your body as a whole quicker. I have a new Grandson and Grand daughters I love seeing 6 days a month and that will be taken from me bathing myself will stop my house will go uncleaned. Please don't take my life away even it is does go down to 60 mme a month I will lose a lot of my life now.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 5th, 2017Mark N. from New Castle, VA writes:
I cant wait until the day when a human being can go to the doctor and tell them you have a problem of severe chronic pain and She , my pain doctor is a Lady, Doctor Verna Lewis, and she says this prescription should help the pain and if it doesn't call and we will try until we find something that will ! I know I cant be fixed but it would be wonderful to be able to watch TV, set outside and watch the birds, set on the creek bank and fish without having so much pain you cant set up and get out of bed. I am very thankful for my sight, I Can hear, speak and so many other things I am so grateful for that I am ashamed to say I hurt so bad sometimes that it would cross my mind that not being here might would be a blessing. I have a 32 year marriage and a 1 yr old grandson that are so wonderful, the thought of them getting abused by my grumpiness from all the pain they would be better off without that and she could have a happier life having someone to share life with instead of just doing a life sentence with someone you used to know! I really hope tomorrow is betterREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 5th, 2017Deborah D. from Brevard, NC writes:
This is a criminal assault on patients by the drug industry, the healhcare business industry and the pharmaceutical companies. The CDC's research behind their 'guidelines is biased and outright false and misleading. Mr Christie who is spearheading this hysteria stands to gain financially. Leave the doctoring to the doctors and stop the assault on patients!!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Ken L. from Largo, FL writes:
Although it is not being reported. Chronic Pain Patients are committing suicide at alarming rates because they can no longer tolerate thier pain after having thier Pain Meds reduced or taken away. People are loosing thier jobs , their Homes for same reason. Chronic Pain Patients that have always taken thier Opiate medicines responsibly for years are now being forced to reclusion and lives of misery. Many Seniors in their "Golden years". Stop the madness.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Ken L. from Largo, FL writes:
Although it is not being reported. Chronic Pain Patients are committing suicide at alarming rates because they can no longer tolerate thier pain after having thier Pain Meds reduced or taken away. People are loosing thier jobs , their Homes for same reason. Chronic Pain Patients that have always taken thier Opiate medicines responsibly for years are now being forced to reclusion and lives of misery. Many Seniors in their "Golden years". Stop the madness.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Caye C. from Houston, TX signed.
Aug 4th, 2017Someone from South Dennis, MA writes:
In my state and in Canada that is never done. People who are hypochondriacs are seen at least 3 times, and if untreatable and known to be 'in their head' they are refused treatment for the same ailment. Stop Government from interfering in Doctor Patient Relationships, and, Complain about lousy doctors/et al.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Someone from Marysville, WA writes:
I was labeled a drug seeker for 11 years until a physician finally decided to examine me, had a full body contrast MRI and turns out I am covered in bone tumors, degenerative disk and muscle disease among 4 more diagnosis. Needless suffering, I've lost inches in height and many surgeries on tumors that have also caused both deformed femurs.... All it took was a scan... Instead I was demeaned, accused and criminalized all the while suffering from very real and chronic pain.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Candi S. from Plover, WI writes:
I look at the reports on how the "opioid epidemic", has got to be stopped and addressed. I am, along with millions of other Americans, are on the other end of opioids. I am on the end of the chronic pain disease epidemic. As the CDC, DEA and Medicaid and medicare, and numerous other government associates, are blaming Doctors for the over prescribing of medication, NOBODY, is looking at or reading the statistics from chronic pain disease patients. How about not addressing these drugs as dangerous and addictive. Let's look at them as lifesaving and medically necessary for the million of Americans in chronic pain. Chronic pain is a disease. It is now becoming an epidemic. No other disease medication is scrutinized. Chronic pain is a disease. We as patients are being denied, dismissed and overlooked by our drs due to all the scrutiny associated with treating chronic pain disease. Our doctors are afraid to treat us adequately. We have a disease that medication is readily accessible to us and we are being denied. We pain patients are truly being discriminated against, due to people who use heroin, illegal fentanyl, and placed a blame on anyone but themselves. This is a witch hunt for drs who prescribe life saving medication and pain disease patients who benefit from this medication. We have a chronic disease. We want to be able to take care of our homes, our children, our selves, as much as possible, but without access to our, potentially, life saving medications, we are unable to do so. We want to live not just exist in pain 24/7. We need the government agencies to look at the real statistics, not the hand picked. We need help. With all the headlines, topics and stories on how opioids are bad, let's look at what good they do for our disease of chronic pain and the million of Americans they help.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Beth C. from Minneapolis, MN signed.
Aug 4th, 2017Someone from Derry, NH writes:
Do not go after doctors that treat intractable pain. These people need the small amount of relief that pain meds gives them.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017helen h. from New Bern, NC writes:
This article is an insult to those of us that wake up every morning in pain and spend the rest of our day in pain also!! I do not like depending on drugs to get through the day but they do contribute a small amount to make my day tolerable!! Quit treating everyone who takes narcotics for pain like they are just 'druggies'.....I am only trying to have something that resembles a 'life'....REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017helen h. from New Bern, NC writes:
This article is an insult to those of us that wake up every morning in pain and spend the rest of our day in pain also!! I do not like depending on drugs to get through the day but they do contribute a small amount to make my day tolerable!! Quit treating everyone who takes narcotics for pain like they are just 'druggies'.....I am only trying to have something that resembles a 'life'....REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017helen h. from New Bern, NC writes:
This article is an insult to those of us that wake up every morning in pain and spend the rest of our day in pain also!! I do not like depending on drugs to get through the day but they do contribute a small amount to make my day tolerable!! Quit treating everyone who takes narcotics for pain like they are just 'druggies'.....I am only trying to have something that resembles a 'life'....REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Kathy S. from Wentzville, MO writes:
EXACTLY, first, do no harm. Never in my 66 years have I wished harm on others but I'm beginning to wonder if it is possible for anyone to understand the daily, really hourly, struggle/fight/battle just to live with chronic pain without feeling it themselves?!?! Personally, on most days I simply EXIST because to live is too painful. I am "lucky" because, so far, my pain medicine has not YET been decreased but I am being under treated because I am in excruciating pain that stops any semblance of LIFE, allowing only existence. Thanks to this insane war on chronic pain patients, I am now terrified of telling my rheumatologist that I am not getting pain relief anymore as my diseases progress over the past 26 years--doing that would make me a drug seeker, wouldn't it. Try for a few weeks to go from taking daily showers and washing your hair every four days to showering every 5-7 days with hair washing at every 10-14 days and see how that makes you feel about yourself or life in general. Try not having any social contact for several days, no for months at a time because your entire body hurts so much that you swear that your fingernails are on fire. I believe there are stronger medications available to me to lessen this excruciating pain but I am now overwhelmed by anxiety and terror by this war that I am not able to advocate for myself!! First, do no harm. No harm.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017JoAnn F. from Belpre, OH writes:
Doctors are more like robots than doctors..They do what they are told to do..The patients don't matter any more....REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Michael Z. from Great Bend, NY writes:
Selectively choosing data to prove your theory is not science. The Clinical practice guidelines from the CDC is a travesty. The Attorney General is using agencies at his disposal to enforce the CPG which repeatedly reinforces the fact that it is a guideline and not a standard of care. I suffer so badly because you are failing to be honest and forthright. The United States Government said it would take care of me when I enlisted in the Army if my service was honorable. Well I served I received an award for Valor in Desert Storm went on to serve 25.5 years served in Afghanistan went where ever I was told to go I was honest and kept my oath. The thanks I get from my government is to wake every morning , if I was able to sleep, to excruciating intractable pain. My VA Medical Center reduced my opioids to a level that is not sufficient why? Because of the "guidelines" from the CDC. I ask about medical marijuana and now have to **** in a cup frequently I'm threatened with a pain contract. Can you possibly understand how it makes me feel to have to sign another contract with an employee of the government of the United States? Your not honoring my enlistment contract. Why would you honor a pain contract. I've taken opioids for 18 years since my first spine surgery same dose never had a problem what so ever the doctors along the way agreed with therapy and continued it until the CDC guidelines. There is no place for the government between my doctor and me. Get out.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Michael Z. from Great Bend, NY writes:
Selectively choosing data to prove your theory is not science. The Clinical practice guidelines from the CDC is a travesty. The Attorney General is using agencies at his disposal to enforce the CPG which repeatedly reinforces the fact that it is a guideline and not a standard of care. I suffer so badly because you are failing to be honest and forthright. The United States Government said it would take care of me when I enlisted in the Army if my service was honorable. Well I served I received an award for Valor in Desert Storm went on to serve 25.5 years served in Afghanistan went where ever I was told to go I was honest and kept my oath. The thanks I get from my government is to wake every morning , if I was able to sleep, to excruciating intractable pain. My VA Medical Center reduced my opioids to a level that is not sufficient why? Because of the "guidelines" from the CDC. I ask about medical marijuana and now have to **** in a cup frequently I'm threatened with a pain contract. Can you possibly understand how it makes me feel to have to sign another contract with an employee of the government of the United States? Your not honoring my enlistment contract. Why would you honor a pain contract. I've taken opioids for 18 years since my first spine surgery same dose never had a problem what so ever the doctors along the way agreed with therapy and continued it until the CDC guidelines. There is no place for the government between my doctor and me. Get out.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Someone from Gilbert, MN writes:
Patients have a right to be treated fairly and compassionately. Since pain can be treated, denial of pain relief for an unproven issue is harming pain patients. Right now, my morning foot pain and back pain is barely treated. I am finding that doctors deny certain pain meds because they are labeled as addictive. But there is no real alternative...REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Mary R. from Lancaster, MA writes:
Patients are suffering needlessly because because they are being unfairly judged as addicts. Please stop punishing innocent people who didn't ask to be sick with painful diseases. Now this onslaught is causing innocent and desperate people to turn to suicide because they have no other option to gain relief from the terrible pain they live with every day of their lives. They choose to end their lives rather than live another day in excruciating pain. Please stop this attack on innocent people and concentrate your efforts by going after criminals who are selling and other illegal use of drugs. Please before any more innocent lives are lost.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Mary R. from Lancaster, MA writes:
Patients are suffering needlessly because because they are being unfairly judged as addicts. Please stop punishing innocent people who didn't ask to be sick with painful diseases. Now this onslaught is causing innocent and desperate people to turn to suicide because they have no other option to gain relief from the terrible pain they live with every day of their lives. They choose to end their lives rather than live another day in excruciating pain. Please stop this attack on innocent people and concentrate your efforts by going after criminals who are selling and other illegal use of drugs. Please before any more innocent lives are lost.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Alison S. from Fair Oaks, CA writes:
I am a chronic pain patient of almost 15 years now. I use my medication responsibly and follow all the rules,yet I am very worried I will lose access to the medication that has allowed me to live a fairly normal life. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to find a drug free solution to my pain and will continue to do so. But please, keep people like me in mind, don't make it impossible for us to find relief for daily, unrelenting pain. Without adequate pain relief my quality of life is quite low.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 4th, 2017Someone from Lake Oswego, OR signed.
Aug 4th, 2017Catherine S. from Bakersfield, CA signed.
Aug 4th, 2017Someone from Phoenix, AZ writes:
Unmitigated ignorance! Don't these morons realize that leaving a patient with untreated pain is doing harm? Unfortunately, I see the numbers of suicides rising as the legislators try to insinuate themselves in the doctor/patient relationship. Doctors are being told that they cannot practice medicine in a way that is beneficial to the patient. They are being told that they can only practice in a way that satisfies the government's so called "guidelines". In following these "guidelines" they are leaving patients to suffer needlessly and endanger their lives. Doctors are treating patients like this because of the government mandates and prosecution of those who dare to treat their patients using the only pain management medications available to them. The government needs to leave the practice of medicine to the professionals and stay out of this relationship.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 3rd, 2017Lisa C. from Nashville, NC writes:
For the past 6 years numerous restrictions have been placed on prescribing opiate pain medication. Too numerous to list here.The goal was to make people stop abusing opiates. To cut down on overdose deaths and addiction. When we evaluate the results of the restrictions and cut backs on doctors prescribing pain medication and evaluate if the goals were met we see the results have been increased heroin use increased overdose deaths from illicit streets drugs of heroin laced with fentanyl and counterfeit pills on the steeets from illicit sources. So we can safely and honestly say "no the goals were not met". In fact the total opposite was accomplished. More deaths from overdose and more addictions to even more dangerous drugs. The effects of the restrictions on pain patients were costly in so many ways. Financial physical and many other negative ways. As legitimate patients in need of pain relief we followed all the pain contracts and rules for years trusting if we did the right thing and didn't abuse of misuse or meds we would not lose access. Now we are being forced to taper to subtheraputic doses. Results... we are now suffering. Our suffering isn't accomplishing any positive results to over dose deaths on the streets. Now we are having even more deaths through desperate people committing suicide. We need to reevaluate the goals and interventions and go back to the drawing board to come up with a different plan because the bright ideas now aren't so bright and aren't working at all. Thank you for allowing me to voice my concerns to this terrible mess.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 3rd, 2017Robin K. from Spring, TX writes:
Enough is enough! I can no longer deal with this pain! My PM Dr cut my meds to the point they no longer worked! I might as well have just been drinking kool-aid! Please stop punishing pain patients for crimes we did not commit! Stop scaring our Drs to the point they can no longer practice medicine. Stay out of the Dr/ patient relationship!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 3rd, 2017Pam H. from Roseville, CA writes:
We need rheumatologists who actually care about the pain that arthritis brings to patients, many suffering for the rest of their lives. The good "doctor-patient relationship" we used to have is now gone, because the government has decided that living lives somewhat productively doesn't matter.REPORT COMMENTS
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