First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
Public Comments (15,444)
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Oct 2nd, 2015Someone from Redding, CA signed.
Oct 2nd, 2015Someone from Des Moines, IA writes:
Thanks to your war against pain medications and those who suffer unspeakable pain, pain patients are ending their lives. And not with drugs because they can't get them...blood is on your hands. Opioid are VITAL for chronic pain patients to live a semi productive lives...the majority of us are responsible and follow doctors orders. But now you jail compassionate docs, deny those who suffer because 'some people accidentally die'. Might I remind you alcohol has destroyed more lives than opioids - kids, who you seem most focused on, can raid mom and dads liquor cabinet, buy heavily caffeinated drinks/pills, a wide variety of synthetic drugs, diet pills, huff household chemicals...the list goes on and on...they can and do OD/die from these things that anyone can purchase. STOP HARMING THOSE WHO NEED HELP - we should not pay the price for their ignorance or your fake war against us.Oct 2nd, 2015Someone from Castalia, OH signed.
Oct 2nd, 2015Someone from Mathis, TX writes:
These anti inflammatory drugs do more harm then good. FDA/DEA is full aware of it....This inhuman treatment shouldn't be allowed by the DEAREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 1st, 2015Someone from East Weymouth, MA writes:
Start going after street drug dealers not the person in true pain. A new epidemic is on the rise but not talked about: suicide and complete isolation of chronic pain sufferers.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 1st, 2015Someone from Ilion, NY signed.
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No, CancelOct 1st, 2015Someone from Oxford, AL writes:
Please post this petition on your social media so others can sign the petition. I'd also like to hear from a doctor and their opinion. For the people that don't understand from my previous post I mentioned I have a pain pump. What that means is I have a pump that has been surgically implanted in my abdomen right under the skin. The pump has a catheter that goes to my spine that delivers medicine to my lower back only. I do not have control of the amount of medicine it delivers or anything. I have to drive anywhere from every week to every other month 11/2 hours to see the doctor to get it refilled with medicine, pick up a prescription, adjust the flow ( when we start a new medicine in it we have to start low and adjust upwards until we reach an acceptable amount of meds) , tests, refill the pump every other month. I was declared disabled in 2003. I much rather have been working then going through what I have since 2001. I have to agree this petition will do pretty much anything but get me a form letter from my representatives in Washington. I'm really not sure if it was DEA the Medical organizations or who decided this was a good idea. I also have to agree with the person about epidural so ready any procedure that involves having a lumbar puncture as the more you are stuck the higher your chances of getting arachnoditis . To make a blanket decision affecting so many people with pain was irresponsible . If they did this to control those who overdose they will just switch to a different drug such as heroin since that it the "new" drug. Personally I will no longer be able to do even the simple things or have any type of life. Will it finally get to the point I can't live like this ( as if I were actually having a life) any longer and end it. Doctors need to be taught to recognize true pain and conditions that cause extreme pain. The doctors that give patients pain meds for a minor problem which are called pill pushers should be monitored or lose their license to practice. Yes people have different tolerates for pain but that doesn't mean the doctor should write them another prescription. It's the people in pain 24/7/365 that needs the relief if only for a few hours a day. If they are taking away our life then why not make marijuana legal nationwide or give us another option for relief. I'm not an advocate for marijuana but ..... So I guess I'll just curl up in my bed, unable to fix something to eat, take a shower, clean and just wither away or just end it all. I'd hate to do that to my children but unless you've had unrelenting pain you don't understand. What we go through. Then you change our lives. I bet you 10 to 1 the ones that had a part in this will be the very ones if they get in our situation will get the medicines they need to ease their pain. Hopefully they won't have to watch a love one go through pain and be unable to help. Please post this petition on your Facebook and any other place so more can share their stories and signREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 1st, 2015Someone from Oxford, AL signed.
Oct 1st, 2015Someone from Syracuse, NY signed.
Oct 1st, 2015Someone from Redding, CA writes:
Disabled individuals, and chronic pain sufferers absolutely should be able to get prescribed pain medication. I have family members that NEED pain medication to be able to get out of bed, and function during daily activities. Without them they may throw up from the pain, cry, cannot get out of bed, shake, and suffer. It is not at all right to have to live that way, because doctors will not prescribe medication, and actually treat their patients. These people are not drug addicts, and really should not be treated like one. They just really don't want to suffer anymore, and want to be able to experience more in life than just laying in a bed while holding back tears. People that do not understand what it is like to have to live with severe chronic pain each day of their lives should not be interfering with patients receiving pain medication. It is simply inhumane, and unjust for chronic pain sufferers to not receive medication, and I hope people unable to receive treatment now will one day be able to.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 1st, 2015Someone from Redding, CA writes:
Please, please, please do not make the disabled suffer. I have severe, chronic pain. I have for 20 years now. Titanium in my lower spine from a failed fusion at L-5, ruptured disk at L-4, and two ruptured disks in my neck that require surgery because I am at risk for paralysis. The controlled substances are the only thing that allow me to half way kill enough pain to take care of my autistic daughter and my husband who has Parkinson's Disease, not to mention my own self. You know, simple things in life, like having clean dishes and laundry. Maybe have a laugh or two because you feel well enough to watch a dvd or wow, how about sleep???. Maybe be able to cook a meal or drive to a restaurant? I was under the care of a pain management clinic in Santa Clara CA and they absolutely recognized my pain. They could see why I am in pain from my recent MRI results and were able to prescribe the controlled substance that I need. Now, I have moved to Redding CA. Now, I am very afraid for myself and my families future. Now, my family will get to watch me cry and shake in pain. Vomiting from pain and spinal migraines. I will be absolutely useless and in absolute agony while they are trying to manage their own disabilities And yes, they do count on me. Now they won't be able to. The very few pain management clinics here are into cortisone epidural shots and nerve blocks. Very invasive, painful and temporary procedures. Cortisone shots aren't even approved by the FDA for the spine, and it is risky. I can't tell you how very wrong this whole thing is on SO many levels. The DEA should really re-think this whole thing. Especially for the permanently disabled people who are on Social Security Disability due to chronic pain. We absolutely need our narcotic pain medication to even be able support our bodies to do simple things like eat, shower, sleep, take care of our children and have intimate relationships with our spouses. Seriously....it is hard enough to do those things WITH the narcotic medications. Those medication's make it possible to tolerate the pain and live our simple, physically limited lives, and stay out of the ER because we are screaming, crying and shaking from REAL pain without our medication. I can see how some disabled people suffering from severe chronic pain would rather commit suicide than live in agony just because they can't get their pain meds. I didn't know the DEA was made up of a group of doctors or psychologists. Are any of them disabled and suffering from chronic, severe pain? I am totally sure that the suicide rate will increase. Disabled Social Security Recipients in chronic pain should not be made to suffer. It is INHUMANE, UNJUST, UNCONSTITUTIONAL. OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE BEING BROKEN. We have constitutional rights. This IS the United States of America. I am absolutely freaked out that I need another surgery because I am at risk for becoming paralyzed from the neck down. Especially now. Thank you Oh so much. The President ofREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 30th, 2015Someone from Apple Valley, CA writes:
I am almost 60 and have chronic pain and have been prescribed pain meds for years. Now, I'm told the doctor will no longer prescribe my usial dosage but will refer me to a pain management clinic. So I must endure the pain and the stress of trying to convince some new doctor, who knows nothing of me of my pain and need for relief. Please note, I have been with my doctor for 10 yrs.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 30th, 2015Someone from Brooklyn, IA writes:
I have Arachnoiditis due to the injections I had to supposibly help my back instead I get an incurable spinal disease. I cannot function or have any part of life without pain meds. They all want to do invasive procedures to "see" if it helps but all's I keep hearing is theses procedures make it worse and then what. How would you feel if it was you living in a life of intolerable pain and the only relief you get is from the medication which has been helping tremendously. I was able to go back to work pt because of the medication if it gets taken away from me I will be bed bound. What kind d p f life is that. How would you feel if you got your only relief from meds and then someone says no. What about the obeses ppl getting meds to lose weight or procedures or diabetics cancer patients what if you took the meds away from them. Who are you to tell my Dr how to do his job. That's why they take an oath. To help. If they can't help and do their job why bother having the medical field at all. We are suffering beyond belief while your able to do the activities you enjoy, watch your kids at functions, sleep, have sex. We don't enjoy theses things with medicine but it makes it so we can go to drs and help a sick kid. I'm so frustrated I can't even think straight your taking my life away you have no right to cause more harm to us. Our blood pressures sky rocket I get physi ally sick from the pain why are you doing this to usREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 30th, 2015Someone from Harrisonville, MO writes:
When my pet ached and pain medications failed I was able to put her down it was considered humane. We can't be treated with better care than a pet? This is obsurd. If pain medication works and the patient knows and comprehends any risk there should be no problem. I don't want my health cared for by people that have never met and cared for me. I trust my DR let him do what he's been educated to do to care for my health.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 30th, 2015Someone from Murrieta, CA writes:
I have read pages and pages doctors being forced not to honor their oath and worse yet the patient being forced to live a life that is less the that of a rat. This is my question, W H A T can be done?. is it going to go to the point of people actually having to start a civil war over this? it just seems like the DEA has gone deaf . So what and where do we go to come to an understanding? I'm not seeing anything but a lot of complaining and DEA claiming they aren't targeting doctors that are trying to treat a patient for real pain. I know for a fact that is bull. I've been told by pharmacies, doctors and nurses how hard the DEA has made it for them to even get the medications that the doctors prescribe. this is forcing people who desperately enough will go to places like the dark web and get their medications there. now that in itself should wake them up. The DEA should turn their heads and see a much bigger crime that is happening. The Dark Web, Silk Road should be where Didier focuses much more so and so should the FDA.. let our doctors do their job and tell me what I can do to begin healing this broken system. just let me know where to start and I will be there.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 30th, 2015Someone from Rowlett, TX signed.
Sep 29th, 2015Someone from Jacksonville, FL writes:
I have been on opiate pain medication since 2003, with it I am normal functioning human being. I destroyed my lower back falling head first down a wood staircase and although the meds don't take away every ounce of pain it makes my life tolerable. The stress and terror I now live in on being able to get my medication filled is made my life complete misery. I live in constant fear over this. I did nothing wrong, I don't abuse my medications or lose them or take more than prescribed yet I'm being punished. Something has to change. Stop torturing the law abiding pain patients. You know these efforts do nothing to deter those who obtain these pills illegally. It's a shame our own government that our tax dollars pay for cares nothing about our quality of life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 29th, 2015Someone from Jacksonville, FL writes:
I have been on opiate pain medication since 2003, with it I am normal functioning human being. I destroyed my lower back falling head first down a wood staircase and although the meds don't take away every ounce of pain it makes my life tolerable. The stress and terror I now live in on being able to get my medication filled is made my life complete misery. I live in constant fear over this. I did nothing wrong, I don't abuse my medications or lose them or take more than prescribed yet I'm being punished. Something has to change. Stop torturing the law abiding pain patients. You know these efforts do nothing to deter those who obtain these pills illegally. It's a shame our own government that our tax dollars pay for cares nothing about our quality of life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 29th, 2015Someone from San Jose, CA writes:
There are tens of thousands of people on pain meds that do not misuse their medications. My doctor told me today that after this month that she would no longer be able to give me my pain medication. That I will have to find a pain clinic. The pain clinic is 1 hour away. I will have to go every month to that clinic. She has treated me for extreme pain for 5 years. I am so upset with this plan. I will be going to strangers and trusting them to know me better then my own doctor. Don't you think this is ridiculous? Are all of you in going to have to do the same when you find you are in terrible pain due to arthritis, back problems operations etc. Please change this law. Somehow you can find the doctors that overprescribe and deal with them, not the doctors who are careful with their patients. Please reconsider this law.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 29th, 2015Someone from Mesquite, TX signed.
Sep 29th, 2015Someone from Smock, PA signed.
Sep 29th, 2015Someone from San Jose, CA writes:
I just found out that I can no longer get my pain meds from my doctor. She said that the Palo Alto Medical Facility can no longer give out pain medications. I now have to go to a pain clinic for it. I have never abused my prescription. I don't know what the very old people will do. I seriously don't understand when all of us who have good doctors who have done their very best for us are now not able to help us. Shame on the government for this. Shame.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 29th, 2015Someone from Simi Valley, CA writes:
Please listen to everyone. This isn't right. We just want to be able to function. They don't get us high, they barely take the edge off the pain. It's enough to have some good days sometimes. This needs to be between us and our doctors. We have suffered enough, we don't need this on top of it. Most of us already suffer from depression, this will push some of us to suicide. Please reconsider!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 29th, 2015Someone from Denison, TX signed.
Sep 29th, 2015Someone from Bowie, TX writes:
I am shocked at the treatment of the disabled here in Texas. Who is responsible for this mess? I don't want to hear any political B... S... I just want someone to be answerable for the crimes against the disabled that are happening right this moment.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 29th, 2015Someone from Davenport, IA signed.
Sep 29th, 2015Someone from Howell, NJ signed.
Sep 29th, 2015Someone from Brooksville, FL writes:
Note this is my 2nd letter last was 9 months ago.They don't care about our pain because they are not in our shoes.I been on meds for 15 years after three major lower back surgery and my doctor said he could do no more.It took years to improve and with the help of my meds I was able to have somewhat of a life.When I saw 200 people standing outside a clinic that was not legal and our DEA and others did nothing till people started dropping dead this went on for years.Now the fix is make everyone suffer.I had my meds cut down to a 1/4 of what had been taking and now they say we don't have them.So I guess to bad is what they say.I tell ya what why don't you line us all up and kill us off like Hitler did because I have no life anymore.I will not be subject to your idea of shooting die into me and try to kill the nerves off so I can wind up dead or in a wheel chair if it helps every 6 months when I did nothing wrong for 15 years.If I wanted to get high I would just buy drugs off the street I just want some help with my pain the legal way.But this was a waste of time too!!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 29th, 2015Someone from Henderson, KY writes:
I have rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, deformity in my back, and depression caused by the pain. I was born with my deformity but did not seek pain management until i was 42 years old. I suffered significant pain and only got treatment when all of a sudden i woke one day and was unable to walk. The neuropathy pain was so severe that i begged for someone to cut off my hands and feet. The RA pain is constantly present. Before all of this excruciating pain kicked in high gear i was a very productive individual. I absolutely hate that i cannot function as productively now. The reality is that i like many others will live like this until our time is done here on earth. These diseases cannot be cured. I had surgery on my back last year and remember thinking that i won't need pain management after and actually felt a glimmer of hope. But low and behold...it turned out that my deformity caused other physical problems in my back, hips, and legs. All hope gone. Who wants to be dependent on medication to function??? Oh my gosh, it's miserable but if we want to be somewhat normal we must! I for one never thought of my life as being limited but sadly it is. We meed management for our pain. Maybe pain management processes and guidelines should change but not in a way to threaten our physicians or our well being. Yes our society does have an issue with drug addiction but please don't hurt the ones living in real misery every single day.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 29th, 2015Someone from Plattsburgh, NY signed.
Sep 29th, 2015Someone from Tulsa, OK signed.
Sep 29th, 2015Someone from Tulsa, OK writes:
I have rheumatoid arthritis that has not been responding well to the medications we try. I also have fibromyalgia. I don't like pain medication and do everything possible to take as little as possible. Steroids help the pain but I'm also diabetic and they cause significant increases in blood sugar. I can tolerate a 6 day medrol dose pack a couple times a year with increased medication (under a endocrinologist supervision) to keep my blood sugar at a safe level. I do it when the pain has been too bad for too long and I can't handle anymore. I've cut back as much as possible. I take as little as I can because to get a refill I have to go to the doctors office for a paper prescription then I get to call every branch of my pharmacy, sometimes daily for a week, to get it filled... all this while in constant pain. I'm one of the lucky ones. My doctor cares. My blood tests show very high inflammation. It's really sad that the people who have to suffer most are those of us who have legitimate need for the medication. The doctors, nurses, and pharmacists suffer too. Most are decent people who don't want to send us away knowing how much pain we are in. Meanwhile the addicts just switch to heroin instead of prescription narcotics. The only people the policies help are the drug cartels.... not the ones we should be helping.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 28th, 2015Someone from Houston, TX signed.
Sep 28th, 2015Someone from Akron, OH writes:
These pain doctors need to kick out patients that abuse pain meds or have dirty urines .do background tests then they could treat us right . For 22years I took MS Contin 100mg. 3 times a day and before that I took 3. 80mg of oxy a day and roxicodone 15mg 4 times a day I had good pain management plus 6 nerve blocks a year . I've been with the same pain center for over 20 years . Now the idiots in the government think they know more than my doctor does thanks to them I only get 2-40mg OxyContin. A day and 4 15mg. Of roxicodone I'm ready to just die I now have no quality of life afraid to try. Or I might hurt my self more can't sleep hopeless this is unfair I always followed the rules now I'm being punished due to ******* addicts there has to be a better way yo stop drug addicts without hurting patients like me that do right I live alone . The government needs to send me a maid or nurse to help me since I can't help myself this sucks so unfair to patients taking like me . I have total spine pain arms and legs,stenosis ,herniations at multiethnic levels had 2 cervical fusions I need a third. And 2 low back surgeries on disc and nerve roots I have a lot wrong with me like my pain doctor said but he said his hands are tied due to the dea and governmentREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 28th, 2015Someone from Greenville, TX signed.
Sep 28th, 2015Someone from San Juan, PR signed.
Sep 28th, 2015Someone from Portland, OR writes:
What I've encountered over the last three years, with Kaiser Permanente, is a drastic reduction in my pain meds. I am now at half the dose I was on three years ago. I am a model opioid patient. Followed all the rules, did everything that was asked of me, never raised any red flags. This med decrease was done against my will, without my consent, and I was given no choice. My quality of live has dived to nil. I am told over and over again that "there is new thinking"on how to treat chronic pain. That there were many deaths from respiratory depression( come to find most of these were patients on methadone, I am on morphine). That I suffered from opioid induced hyperaglesia, which is an increased pain response from the same pain stimuli.In laymans terms, needing to increase dosage, often confused with tolerance. I was on the same dose for 12 years. No increase, no bad side effects. It worked, and gave me quality of life. All that's been taken away " for my own good". I have run out of options. As of today, I have gone back over and over, seen the head of the pain clinic, and sought new providers. My dr appointment today ended with : we will further be reducingg your meds until you are at 120 mg per day or less. Kaiser has a blanket policy regarding pain meds that does not take patient individuality into consideration. I have proven to them over and over in the last three years that this med reduction has taken my life away, and am being told that the only way my pain will be better is to get off pain meds entirely My pain stems from repeated episodes of kidney stones 15 years ago. When the stones cleared up, the pain remained. Anyone who's had a kidney stone can tell you that the pain is incredible. I assume there is nerve damage, but drs were unable to find what was causing the pain. Doesn't mean it isn't there! Now I've reached the point where I have no other options. I keep being told that I will find this "new attititude towards pain meds"even if I leave Kaiser and seek treatment elsewhere. Today, I want to die. I don't want to suffer anymore, with no hope of finding compassion and relief. With nowhere to turn, no one to turn to. What's going on in the pain community unethical, immoral and inexcusable.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 28th, 2015Someone from San Antonio, TX writes:
I don't take medications to have a good time. I take pain meds so that I can get out of bed and take care of ADLs! Don't take meds away from people who are following all the rules. The measures you are proposing is against legit patients not street users.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelSep 28th, 2015Someone from San Antonio, TX writes:
I don't take medications to have a good time. I take pain meds so that I can get out of bed and take care of ADLs! Don't take meds away from people who are following all the rules. The measures you are proposing is against legit patients not street users.REPORT COMMENTS
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