First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
Public Comments (15,444)
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Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Florence, KY writes:
I am an Iraq veteran with 12 years active duty, and still a US Army Reservist. I am a Police Officer for my civilian career. My back/neck is deteriorating due to my time in Army, and the pain is absolutely unbearable. I cannot focus, can barely get out of bed, and struggle at work and just life in general because of the pain. My family life is way below what it should be due to the pain, and I spent the last 8 years stationed in Germany in which I saw a German Doctor who worked with me in treating the pain, and would prescribe the necessary medicine to combat the pain. I have had to go to the emergency 4 times since returning home in March and every time in which I have to co-pay 125.00, which I cannot afford. I have a C-7 herniated disc, with arthritis in my neck, and severe radial nerve pain. I cannot get help at all; I just get the run around from the doctors I have spoken to. I have been prescribed medicine that does not help my intense pain, the medicine is too weak or one I was issued and the Doctor even knew I am a Police Officer, gave me medicine that causes blurred vision, which kind of makes it hard to work. And I'm being informed to schedule more appointments which normally are weeks or months away and me suffering during that time frame. I have had to call different doctors with hopes that I can get help from someone because the doctors I have seen have not helped relieve the pain. I do not understand why there would be any type of issue since they have recent MRIs and X-rays. I?ve been told twice that the Doctors I saw could not prescribe pain medicine, which I don?t see how a doctor would be scared or cannot prescribe medicine for pain. This is a shame considering I am a Veteran of the United States Army and completed 12 yrs active duty, deployed to Iraq and the serving my country is the reason for my pain, and I cannot get medicine for my pain. All I can do is suffer on a daily basis. There needs to be discretion and common sense in the situation. I am a 40 year old husband and father to a 3 year old, a SFC in the Army and a Police Officer, and also still attend college to finish my degree. I am not a young kid who just wants to get medicine to misuse it or a dope addict, which is the way people here get treated when they just go to the doctor for compassion, understanding and relief. All I want is for the pain to stop. Can someone please explain why this seems to be impossible to get the medicine I need to continue a normal life and be able to function. It's sad that I received better treatment from a doctor overseas (Germany) than I get in my own state and country. I am one of thousands I am sure after reading posts on this link, who are needlessly suffering. Everyone involved needs to put themselves in the shoes of us and imagine how you would feel if you suffered from chronic pain. There are different ways to combat mistreatment of medicine other than making those who don't misuse it suffer. I am stuck -
Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Billings, MT writes:
My brother was allowed to lay there and die of a heart attack because someone thought it was a drug overdose. The autopsy revealed NO drugs of any kind in his system. Now two children are left without a father because someone decided to make "that call." It's NOT OKAY to just let people die because they live on the poor side of town. This happened in 2011, not so long ago at all. Please stop this from happening to anyone else.REPORT COMMENTS
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Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Billings, MT writes:
My brother was allowed to lay there and die of a heart attack because someone thought it was a drug overdose. The autopsy revealed NO drugs of any kind in his system. Now two children are left without a father because someone decided to make "that call." It's NOT OKAY to just let people die because they live on the poor side of town. This happened in 2011, not so long ago at all. Please stop this from happening to anyone else.REPORT COMMENTS
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Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Florence, KY writes:
I have a C-7 herniated disc, with arthritis in my neck, and severe radial nerve pain. I can't help at all, I just get the run around. It's a shame considering I did 12 yrs active duty, deployed to Iraq and cannot get medicine for my pain. All I can do is suffer. Sad world we live in now.REPORT COMMENTS
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Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Tampa, FL signed.
Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Kapolei, HI writes:
I am miserable. At this point I DEFINITELY do wish my pain on every member of the DEA, FDA and CDC. Try living as we do.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 27th, 2015Someone from Brackenridge, PA writes:
I have been in pain for 20 years now my doctor retired and I am going to have to buy from street dealers...Thanks dea.....REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 27th, 2015Someone from Eustis, FL signed.
Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Englewood, OH signed.
Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Dayton, OH writes:
Can't find a doctor to prescribe Vicodin for my rheumatoid arthritisREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 27th, 2015Someone from Mart, TX signed.
Nov 27th, 2015Someone from Oberlin, OH writes:
The day we find a way to measure pain through some sort of test will be the day many healthcare providers will feel the shame of willfully allowing those in their care to needlessly suffer, in many cases, suffer to death. As a nurse & someone living in constant pain from a rare disorder, I've seen "the look" from a healthcare provider when I tell them what I take for pain...UNTIL I tell them I am under hospice care. Then they immediately think, "Oh, Cancer is painful, so that's okay". Guess what? Many disorders are very painful and they are not cancer. My pain is associated with a disorder for which there is no cure, it is degenerative and progressive, so I was lucky enough to fit into the hospice category. My pain med is now respectable. I was ready to end my life until I began palliative care through hospice. Pain is harmful, subjective and no one, absolutely no one, wants to suffer enough to wish themselves dead due to pain. Healthcare providers need to EASE suffering, not create it. Believe your patients when they tell you they hurt. Listen and show compassion. I can live a productive life if my pain is relieved by opiates. I will not be confined to a bed, writhing in pain because someone fears I'll be an addict. I will take my own life the day that happens because I will not subject myself to such suffering ever again. I know my pain, not my insurance company, not my legislators, not even my healthcare providers. They can see the positive response when my pain is managed and the devastation when it is not, but they cannot know my pain. I own it. My heart goes out to the suffering who do not fit into the hospice palliative care niche. I will pray for you. I know the heartache of suffering intense pain you cannot get away from...you wake with it, you try to sleep with it and eventually you take your life in order to escape. I hope healthcare providers, insurance companies and law makers hear us as we cry!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 26th, 2015Someone from Nampa, ID writes:
Insufficient funds cost of actos "There is no good reason anyone should keep suffering through this shutdown," he said. "It's hurting the very citizens that our government exists to serve. That's why a growing number of reasonable Republicans say it should end now."REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 26th, 2015Someone from Cooksburg, PA writes:
I've got a very weak signal actos mg The three images and paper of the incidence appeared in Journal of Raptor Research this month. The authors of the report were Jonathan Slaght of the Wildlife Conversation Society (WCS) and Linda Kerley of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 26th, 2015Someone from Southgate, MI signed.
Nov 26th, 2015Someone from Jacksonville, FL writes:
Can't live in this pain much longer. It appears my death will be my only relief.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 26th, 2015Someone from Queen Creek, AZ writes:
I am sick of doctors telling me no helping me with pain. I'm told to go to the E.R by my doctor to get pain medication. Then I'm told I'm just trying to get pain medication by the doctor that told me to go to the E.R . Then they want to send me to pain management. I talk to 15 different pain management centers. You want to know Why? Because I have IBD and not one treats that tip of pain. Today my doctor called told me should would not write any of my pain medication, Xanax. Or muscle relaxers. I have never abused any medication. I don't mind trying other options but she is just cutting me off not tapering me off of them just cutting me off. So i started thinking can i live with the 24/7 pain and the withdrawal symptoms of 3 medications that are just being yanked out from under me without any type of tapering off? The answer NO! Have I tried every option to get better? YES! Will God Forgive me for Killing myself because I can't handle the pain? I Pray that he will because if at my next doctor appointment she refuses to taper me off the medication and just decides to cut me off totally, killing myself vs living in horrible pain well I guess the government is making my choice for me can you guess which one?REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 25th, 2015Someone from Buckner, MO signed.
Nov 25th, 2015Someone from Cullman, AL writes:
Added to previous comment: My pain will not be life long and I should be able to fix it MYSELF with strengthing a perhaps a few chiropractor visits . However, my insurance will not cover the chiropractor. One of the few doctor I have seen who actually examines and lays hands on a patient. I really do not understand how regular lay people deal with this. Good luck everyone ..REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 25th, 2015Someone from Cullman, AL writes:
I have been a nurse for 13 years. I am in school to be a nurse practitioner. I have now been to to several urgent care doctors , a neurosurgeon and physiotherapist for pain in the muscles all along my spinal cord. I know how to describe pain and treat pain . so far I have had so many steroid injections that my immune system would not respond to nasty viruses it should have . Additionaly, i have been exposed to possible infection causing invasive procedures to avoid prescribing me a narcotic for the pain. The physiotherapist tells me my spine is better than his. However, he follows this up by telling me if the steroid injections in my neck muscle does not help the will perform facet injections next . why do I need an invasive procedure that puts a needle in between my vetebral joints if nothing is wrong with my spine and there is not a pinched nerve. I DONT. Enough people will have to die , or bring forth lawsuits before anything will change. I welcome a contact from the current administration about the subject. The only place you can get pain treated now is the hospital and everyone wonders why the emergency room is over utilized.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 25th, 2015Someone from Mayfield, KY writes:
I go to a pain clinic ever 3 months for pain medication and treatments on my back. Have had chronic pain since 1978 when injured on the job. Have 10 different issues with my spine and neck. Dr keeps reducing my pain medicine because he said it was because of DEA wanting Dr's to reduce pain medicine. If the evidence is there that you have chronic pain and need what Dr was giving, why would the DEA bother that DR. I was doing good till he reducedoesn't my medicine in half and now back to not do anything or go anywhere. I am 70 years old living in missery everyday because Dr is afraid of the DEA taking his license. Again I say, if the proff is there of my chronic pain we hy would DEA have a problem. And I am not addicted on the medicine, I just want some relief. He is a new Dr and has overruled what the other 2 Dr's was given to me for 8 yrs. All he can say is that it is because of the DEA. Plus we do not get along well. He doesn't even know what a break through drug is. He has made my life not worth living anymore.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 25th, 2015Someone from Charleston, WV writes:
I am a 38 year old woman who is chronically ill due to multiple chronic illnesses. I suffer all day regardless of the hot baths, Tylenol, ibuprofen, Aspirin, muscle rubs and other meds because I can't get anything prescribed for pain! I have a hard time walking, and trying to do everyday stuff! I have had over 26+ surgeries and probably looking at more! From kidney stones, hip deformity, IBS, Bulging disk, bone spurs, narrowing in two places in my spine, RA, and multiple more problems, I have no other choice, but to suffer! I don't buy narcotics off the street and since I have had to change doctors, even if they gave me something, but wouldn't search up the underlying problems, I get called a doctor shopper... I am sick and tired of being sick and tired! They treat me like a plague victim! Please pass this! I see too many who need pain meds, but cannot get anything! My father is a Vietnam Vet and has Agent Orange, so I got hit with it too, from my head to my toes, literally!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 25th, 2015Someone from Pittsburgh, PA signed.
Nov 25th, 2015Someone from Brandon, MS signed.
Nov 25th, 2015Someone from Pittsburgh, PA writes:
I suffer . Then you have the nerve to say not to commit suicide ? Up yours !REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 25th, 2015Someone from Pittsburgh, PA signed.
Nov 25th, 2015Someone from West Plains, MO writes:
I also have been followed. The doctors have their own people to do that. What is not reported is that when you have not left the house for over 2 weeks due to pain and neighbors wonder if your dead. Camera is off then. The day comes where you are able to hide the pain for an hour and go to store " no one wants to see a wooped dog ", That's whats reported. They seem to make it fit their agenda. I can hide and hold the pain back very well even at 9 levels for a short time. Most people I know don't want pain to show in public places. When you have no other means of getting food on the table, the adrenaline does what its supposed to.Getting that across to the docs is like speaking greek to them.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 25th, 2015Someone from Howell, NJ writes:
I am sitting here at 4:30 am, up since 2 in excruciating pain! Pain that never goes away! With this colder weather now the pain is off the charts! I am sick of this inhumane mistreatment the chronic intractable pain sufferers are receiving!!! I went to my dr two days ago for my monthly visit. He makes me sick! He was once a compassionate man who showed empathy towards me, believed in me. For the past two months hes tried to make me feel like a piece of shit! He asked how im doing. on the correct mg that i fought to have him put me back on ( i should be on it every four hrs but hes since lowered it to every eightand im not making it) I told him how hard it was waiting eight hrs to take a pill. By the time im due im in agony. Then it take an hour for it to start working. NEVER brings my pain to a managed level because Im waiting to long to take it. Therefore, it is INEFFECTIVE! He tyrned to me and said " you looked fine coming out of the store the other day' So what?? I cant go to a store, something that needed to get done??? Am I being followed now?? Little did he know, no sooner I got home, I paid the price for leaving the house. The pain is relentless!! THE SUFFERING ARE HAVING THEIR RIGHTS STOMPED ON BY THE VERY ONES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO ABIDE BY THE CONSTITUTION,! I then get a call from the White House in reference to an email I sent. An email that addressed the WAR ON LEGIT PATIENTS, THE DISCRIMINATION THE CHRONIC PAIN COMMUNITY IS RECEIVING!! The person who called me left a message pertaining to suicide, giving me an 800 hotline for help!!! WTF.?? I am NOT suicidal YET! But you idiots running this country are responsible for every suicide that is happening, the ones who were legit patients and no longer had access to the meds they needed to ease their suffering!!! The persons message said NOTHING about the REAL ISSUESI ADDRESSED IN MY EMAIL,!! If its a fight you idiots want, its a fight you will get. The chronic intractable pain community will ban together as one, stand up for our rights!! We have the right to have the meds we need to be ease our suffering! Who are any of you to tell me what does or doesn't work for my body!! To my fellow painers, we MUST UNITE AS ONE AND STAND UP TO THIS INHUMANE, BARBARIC MISTREATMENT NOW,! WE MUST TAKE OUR VOICES TO THE FOOT OF CONGRESS AND FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS!! RIGHTS THAT ARE BEING STOMPED ON BY OUR DOCTORS, THE DEA, CDC AND THE IDIOTS RUNNING THIS COUNTRY ! I know its cold and the pain is intensified, I know how hard it is to get out the door, I feel your pain my friends, BUT WE MUST PUT A STOP TO THIS HELL WE ARE BEING FORCED TO LIVE IN!!! IT'S LONG PAST TIME THAT WE JOIN FORCES, AS HARD AND PAINFUL AS IT MAY BE, THAT WE GIVE THEM HELL, LIKE THE MISTREATMENT THAT IS GIVEN TO US!! WE SEE IT ON THE NEWS EVERYDAY, PEOPLE STANDING UP TO GOVERNMENT, #BLACKLIVESMATTER, OR #GAYLIVESMATTER, WELL ITS TIME #CHRONICPAINPATIENTSMATTER!!! WAKE UP CONGRESS, CHANGE THESE UNETHICAL, INHUMANE RESTRICTIONS YREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 24th, 2015Someone from Olathe, KS signed.
Nov 24th, 2015Someone from Kingsville, OH writes:
"Due process ensures the rights and equality of all citizens." and "a prohibition against vague laws" according to the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. States, however, are writing discrimination and abuse into their "controlled substance" laws. Ohio is an example of this. The Ohio Revised Code allows for discrimination based upon conjecture, and a doctor needs only to use the word "discretion" to discriminate against a federally protected class of citizens, bypassing the Equality Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Here's an example: A patient experiencing a serious, life threatening neurological emergency, due to a stroke or multiple sclerosis attack, can be labeled as having "aberrant" or "drug seeking" behavior, and a doctor can then use his or her "discretion" to discriminate for whatever his or her bias or prejudice may be, and deny medical treatment. Think this couldn't happen? It just did. To me. Having had a stroke and TIA at the age of 37, I know the symptoms. Lethargy, slurring of words, weakness, loss of balance, and falling into walls. Typical junkie stumbling into the emergency department for a fix symptoms. Add multiple sclerosis diagnosed by two brain MRI scans. After experiencing severe head pain on numerous occasions, the most recent lasting two days, along with stroke and hypertensive crisis blood pressure levels, I finally called an ambulance to receive emergency treatment. The ambulance attendant and emergency room physician jokingly assumed this to be "drug seeking" behavior based upon their "discretion", and the doctor then proceeded lawfully and gleefully to verbally abuse, humiliate, and deny that an emergency was occurring. This is the real crisis occurring across America and ignored by the Justice Department, Congress, and the President. They should, by emergency action, Federal legislation, and Executive Order, immediately stop the discrimination and abuse that the states are perpetuating against its weakest, most vulnerable citizens. But they won't. Due process and equality are inaccessible and not afforded to any patient whose illness, disability, or medical emergency includes the word "pain", regardless of how severe or life threatening it may be.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 24th, 2015Someone from Rutherfordton, NC writes:
It is way past time that chronic pain is treated like any other disease there is no cure for . People who have this kind of pain struggle to do the normal things that people without it can do with no fault at all . I have had Reflexive Sympathetic Dystrophy for 20 years now and it actually hurts to put on a pair of socks and sometimes even walking is to much .The only relief I get is from medications and elevating my feet when possible . I emailed President Obama not to long ago and his response was that he was trying to help researchers find a cure . What he didn't say was what a person with chronic pain is suppose to do in the mean time . When it comes to this life saving issue , no one is asking anyone who actually sufferers from chronic pain for their input nor are they including doctors who have treated and understand what chronic pain is and knows how to interpret what a patient is saying . As I've said chronic pain is a real pain (regardless if you can see it with the human eye or not ) and we deserve to be treated just like any other incurable disease . While I am sure we all would love nothing more than a cure ,until that time we deserve to be treated the same as anyone else .REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 24th, 2015Someone from Gainesville, GA writes:
Chronic pain is real and debilitating-To be stigmatized by the govt and everyone down to the local pharmacist is downright sinful-What happened to human compassion?Junkies will always find their drugs -but that is NOT a real to deny treatment to those whose lives depend on it!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 24th, 2015Someone from Brandon, MS signed.
Nov 24th, 2015Someone from Tucson, AZ writes:
I went to my Raytheon private practice doctor after spine surgery and when I told him I had continuous pain, he prescribed Oxycodone 160mg 2 times a day and 30 fast acting Oxycodone for brake through pain. I asked my doctor if this was addictive? My doctor said, it is NOT ADDICTIVE! I had been addicted after coming back from Vietnam. It almost cost me a divorce. Well, I found out the hard way, they are very addictive and I was forced by my wife to divorce her, I lost my job, my career, my wife and kids, assets, my education meant nothing at this point. I lost everything, so a drug sales man gets a commission for pushing drugs and telling lies. I even lost my dog. I'm 63 and may as well live under a bridge. I had test tube babies with my wife and I was not allowed to see them. Not because of the medications, my sly X-wife. Class action law suite should take place. Do you know how many lives it destroyed? Then after they stop you, cold turkey, I go through withdrawals. Help a veteran. I asked the question in the doctors office with my wife as a witness. This should be what the DEA is looking at. Not Medical Marijuana. Thank you. A hurting veteran. USA, USA, USA. Take care of your veterans and make this a Class Action Lawsuit. George B.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 24th, 2015Someone from Tucson, AZ signed.
Nov 24th, 2015Someone from Mountain View, HI signed.
Nov 24th, 2015Someone from New Caney, TX signed.
Nov 24th, 2015Someone from Redondo Beach, CA writes:
i've been having bad painful periods since puberty because i wanted to stop periods so doctors may think it's elective hysterectomy so i just want hysterectomy to get rid of the painful periods now. do not refuse any service to us!REPORT COMMENTS
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