First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
Public Comments (15,444)
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May 29th, 2015Someone from San Antonio, TX signed.
May 29th, 2015Someone from Astoria, OR writes:
I am a chronic pain patiant for the last 19 years due to damage from many hours of flying search and rescue for the Coast Guard "helicopter back" and arthritis .May 29th, 2015Someone from Astoria, OR signed.
May 29th, 2015Someone from Beech Grove, IN signed.
May 29th, 2015Someone from Visalia, CA writes:
Living with chronic pain is a daily event no one should have to suffer with, like I do. There are day's I can't lay my head on a pillow or when I am able too. Get out of bed the next morning. I have pointed out that I don't call in early to get refills. I have even brought in my medicines with a couple extra's when it is time to renew to show I don't abuse my drugs. I was told that by doing that, I can't get a refill due to the fact I have to be completely out of them. Yes, I know some people have abused the system in the past, however with the computer set up between pharmacies. This is no longer an issue. Sad, when you go to one and they say no, you have more than 2 controlled substances. Yet of my 3 one is for sleep and is not a narcotic. I stopped going to that pharmacy and I hear their are others.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 29th, 2015Someone from Oakland, ME writes:
As someone living with chronic pain for many years I see a horrifying trend of treating patients as addicts or even a convicts rather than an individuals who, through no fault of our own, lead lives of constant misery. We are not partying with these medications. They offer us a chance to live a more normal existence than we would without. We do not need to add the fear of not getting the proper medication to that misery. I recently told my pain management doctor that I needed to try something a bit stronger since I had been on the same amount for three years and I was told I was all ready abusing my medication and my medication was cut down as punishment. I felt like Oliver Twist asking for more gruel. It was sadistic and emotionally debilitating. I was then suffering from both pain and withdrawal symptoms. I was also told I should go on anti-depressants instead. This is a common response these days.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 29th, 2015Someone from Burleson, TX writes:
I have struggled with Multiple Sclerosis since 2002. The pain initially started in my feet and moved up. Now it consumes my entire body. I feel like I'm being dipped in molten lava up to my neck, while my muscles feel like they are being put through a meat grinder and my bones are going to shatter into a million fragments. I used to get out twice a week and was able to get around with a walker. Then you congressional *******s and the DEA decided to crack down on pain management dr's and mine was fired. I've been through 7 dr's just since last September 2014. Now, because of you people who don't have a clue what TRUE CHRONIC PAIN really is, I'm reduced to living out the remainder of my life in a wheelchair. I know of a few chronic pain sufferers who have taken their own lives just to be free of their pain. I don't blame them. In fact, I battle thoughts of doing the same myself every minute of every day. I can't live with this much pain. Our blood is on YOUR hands!!! Stop being so sanctimonious and holier-than-thou and leave our pain management dr's the hell alone! Our dr's know those of us True Sufferers from those that are just addicted to pain meds after a surgery or accident. I just hope than none of you at the DEA or in Congress ever become chronic pain sufferers....but then again, y'all would probably be able to get whatever you need to help with your chronic pain so y'all can have a good quality of life for the rest of your lives. You people make me sick!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 29th, 2015Someone from Bridgeport, CT writes:
It is unconscionable that Chronic Pain Patients with the documentation to support their pain complaints are being under-treated or not treated at all for the pain that is incapacitating and debilitating. It is not only a quality of life issue but one which has many Pain Patients contemplating suicide to stop the pain. This is absolutely horrendous when this is exactly the situation these Narcotic Drugs are meant to be used in. The government and medical community should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this situation to exist at all and the fact that it is ongoing is irresponsible and unnecessary. Treat our pain in appropriate dosages that take all the variables into account.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from Pueblo, CO writes:
I'm writing you today because I am but one person who is dealing with severe pain on a daily basis. Since the "sweep" that targeted dr.'s who over prescribed pain medication, people like me are living in hell! Pain management dr.s wont take new patients, especially if you are on medicare/medicaid. I am disabled and can't work. I'm 48 years old. Since a car accident that left me unable to work ever again, I have bounced from one painkiller to the next. I gain a tolerance to them. I even tried the interthecal pain pump to help control my pain. I have been through five pain pumps, and six surgeries for them. It was removed and a huge section of scar tissue now sits under my left ribcage, that feels like a knife stabbing me. I have been through hell and back. I have had way too many surgeries, from the brain, jaw, back, and many more. Painkillers are a part of my life now. Limiting them is just cruel. There are many who abused the patient/dr relationship, and the rest of us suffer. Is there a way to be 100% sure that the person getting the prescription really needs it? I have no idea. I do know that this intimidating dr.s and pharmacies is wrong. I hope that you never have to deal with the pain that I deal with on a daily basis. Or need medication to control the pain. I do hope that in the near future, this will ease up a bit, and allow primary care dr.s to prescribe opioids. They know their patients the best. They are more diligent, and can see the pill seekers from the cronic pain patients. Thank you for your time.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from New Carlisle, OH writes:
On behalf of a good friend, myself, parents, & so many others please realize the importance of this petition so those if US suffering can ATTEMPT to live a more " pain managed controlled" life....if thst exists.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from Andrews, NC writes:
Cruel, cruel cruel to allow innocent people who is in chronic pain to suffer.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from Huntington, WV writes:
I have a pain management Doctor that is treating me like a street junkie. I have severe Disk Degenerative Disease 7 Herniated Disk, Spurs growing on every disk I have, One large spur growing on my tailbone large enough to be seen through my cloths people say I am growing tail. I have scoliosis, and many more that are on MRI's and Cat scans, but yet this Doctor is treating me like I am a junkie instead of trying to give me some quality of life pain free.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from Youngstown, OH writes:
I have been suffering since 2010 with pain. I'm now 50 & told all the time by my Dr., "I'm too young to have so much pain". What does age have to do with having Arthritis and other medical conditions.? I have not had an increase in my medication in all those years. The Dr., Pharmacist and everyone in involved in getting the script to picking up the medication, Makes me feel like a drug 💊 addict. They all actually play 🎭 some kind of game each month. Loosing the prescription or Dr. Not calling it in & having to wait til Monday before I can get it.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from Richfield, NC signed.
May 28th, 2015Someone from Kailua Kona, HI writes:
I AM NOT A DRUG ADDICT OR DEALER. I SUFFER WITH CHRONIC PAIN YET TREATED LIKE A STREET JUNKIE! After surviving Cervical Cancer at age 20. Now at age 43 and 4 auto accidents later starting at age 23 (none at fault for) I live with 5 cervical disc either fused/bulging/herniated causing severe pain down my neck shoulders, arms and upper back, 3 Lumbar Discs either collapsed/herniated/ bulged along with facet damage on two levels as well cause horrendous pain across my buttocks down my legs to my feet. I have lost most sensation in my feet due to nerve damage, I stepped on 3 nails in my yard and never felt it until I saw the blood on my kitchen tile floor, I get Charlie horses in my inner thighs and in the balls of my feet that hurt so bad all I can do is cry. I also have arthritis in both Knees causing me to fall into walls when they buckle on me.Severe TMJ syndrome which has caused me to lose my bottom teeth. Now that I was released from my doctor of 13yrs due to his fear of the D.E.A I was released as a patient and now live on 1/3 of my meds with my current doctor. because of this I can't live a life with equality and afraid now to even have surgery knowing I am going to suffer with more pain and no relief once I leave the hospital. I don't sleep more than 3 hours a night due to pain which now has caused seizure from sleep deprivation. In my 20yrs since my first accident causing my disability I consider suicide every day than continuing a life in pain without quality of life and relief.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from Rockford, IL writes:
I am fortunate enough to have a primary that is willing after years of treatment to give me low level pain meds. I'm 13 years in this diagnosis and I'm still struggling to work full time. I've lost 50% of my vision but I cannot afford another eye exam because I'm working and my insurance will not cover another. I work at a hospital caring hands on for patients using needles all day long. Pretty scarey huh? What other choices do I have in this economy? I'm just trying to get by like everyone else. I haven't had a vacation in years, no kids, no big dinners out. I'm struggling to the point of dangerous. Thank you for taking tax dollars out of my check before I get it and not giving any concern to how huge this problem is. I'm one of MANY. Think of that next time it's your health and they are using a needle on you.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from Sandstone, MN writes:
Due to chronic nuerological conditions ( birth defects as well as IH and dysautonomia) I get treated like "genetic garbage" by my nuerologist and RUDE emails from my neurosurgeons nurse. something needs to be done about these uncaring doctors. it's not right people who suffer unfairly get treated like garbage or drug users.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 28th, 2015Someone from Taylor, MO signed.
May 27th, 2015Someone from Tionesta, PA writes:
I have several debilitating chronic pain issues. I had the most wonderful doctor team where I previously lived, but due to a serious family issue, I had to move back to my home state. I had been to the point I was able to function fairly well, with my flare-ups only occurring after too much exertion. Now I live in pure agony 24/7 due to the doctors where I live refusing to adhere to my treatment plan and not giving me the pain meds I so desperately need. I cannot sleep, walk, sit, stand or anything without having agonizing pain. I also have degenerative nerve disease and feel as if I am constantly being electrocuted throughout my body. I have a son with autism that needs me to help him with his needs and I am so incredibly afraid that he will have to live with his father if I can't get the help I need. That would be devastating not only for me, but for my son. His father knows nothing about autism or my son's particular needs. Please, please stop this pressure on physicians so the suffering will end. I personally know of 2 people that took their lives due to their pain. I won't think of doing that, but as I sit here in tears due to the pain, I can understand why they did. My heart goes out to each and every one of you that has to live as I do. Thank you to the wonderful family members that support us.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 27th, 2015Someone from Polson, MT writes:
I am the wife of a chronic pain sufferer. It is absolutely devastating to watch my husband suffer 24 hours a day because of lack of proper pain relief. Pain management doctors treat him like a criminal for asking for more pain relief. He has tried alternative treatments to no avail. It is absolutely inhumane. PAIN KILLS. It kills the will to live. Pain so bad, death seems like a blessing. We are heartbroken at the system. It feels so hopeless and dreadful. Please help us. Words cannot convey the suffering.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 27th, 2015Someone from Terre Haute, IN writes:
This war on prescribed narcotics will not ever effect those peoples with power and influence petitions sadly will do no good as he wealthy will allways get a free pass just as they do with dui blind eye will be turned.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 27th, 2015Someone from Ponchatoula, LA signed.
May 27th, 2015Someone from Denham Springs, LA signed.
May 27th, 2015Someone from Folsom, CA writes:
Please do not make chronic pain sufferers be treated like junkies. When it helps me get up in the morning and be a productive person...I never take what I not prescribed or more of it. Please allow Doctors to decide on a case by case basis.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 27th, 2015Someone from Buchanan, MI writes:
Jobs, jobs, jobs--citizens such as me have our ability to work taken away. Many are forced to apply for disability due to pain. If you don't care aboit people's quality of life, you all say you car about jobs. My life and career are gone because doctors do not want to treat the disease I have . I am left to prey for death. The goons at the DEA are taking lives, not saving them.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 27th, 2015Someone from Buchanan, MI writes:
I have a debilitating and painful disease. Due to the DEA, doctors refuse to treat me. My primissing career and life are gone as I am left to prey for death. The DEA goons are the killers.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 27th, 2015Someone from Naples, FL writes:
Please remember to vote out your states attorney if they are the ones in bed with the DEA. Unless one of these people have a family member suffering from a chronic illness, they will continue to put another notch on their belt. The DEA has been granted absolute power. They do things as they have always done. Why should they bother using a sniper when they can throw a grenade and intimidate. They could care less about the many great physicians getting hit by their shrapnel and leaving well established honest practices. Not to mention all of pain patients struggling daily and committing suicide. This is ALL about VOTES and nothing about saving lives. Change your votes, get your story in the media and let the public know what is being allowed to occur to you and your physician under the guise of saving lives.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 26th, 2015Someone from Glen Burnie, MD writes:
I am being treated for chronic pain caused by a rare spinal disease called Transverse Myelitis for which there is no cure so you learn to live with it. If I know I will need to walk for any distance on a given day I will deny myself some of the relief I get from medication for a couple of days to save it for the event. Living with this painful disease is misery that could be a lot less so if Doctors were allowed to treat patients as they see warranted. Let the Doctors treat us so we can live a comfortable life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 26th, 2015Someone from Indianapolis, IN writes:
As a very compliant chronic pain patient, I am neither an abuser or a seller but I am treated like one or worse yet...like a potential one. I do not have an addictive brain and fall outside any risk categories. My latest doctor closed his office in Indianapolkis because he wasn't making any money and told his patients he would see them in his base office....a sixty mile round trip for me. With one family car and a very tight budget, that wouldn't work for me. So, I let the office know I would be needing to go elsewhere and that I may need to see them once more if the new office couldn't get me in before my meds ran out. I told the doctor what I was doing and he made no comment to me about it. So, I set another appointment and signed a sheet to send my records to the new office. (The new office does not make appointments until they get my records). I was also told by the office I would be called if I needed to see him in his base office instead of his satellite closing office. I show up for the appointment and no one is there. I call their office and ask why no one was there. Apparently, because I sent a records release, they cancelled my appointment. Their reason....you signed a records release so we can't see you again. That would "appear" to be doctor shopping. I asked how it could be doctor shopping if they closed the office I go to and I have given them the name of the new clinic. Bottom line...I run out of my medications in two weeks and have yet to be contacted by the new office for an appointment. The doctors are so afraid to practice, they are punishing the compliant patients along the way. This office could easily document why I was there and where I was going but that's just not good enough. So...I will suffer and they don't care. It's cover your butt and to hell with these people.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 26th, 2015Someone from Youngstown, OH signed.
May 26th, 2015Someone from Flint, MI writes:
I am NOT a criminal! I'm sick of being treated like I broke the law..I'm just in pain.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 26th, 2015Someone from Killen, AL writes:
I had so so much more written... It was cut off. I haven't the spirit to retype it... It wasn't even close to detailing everything.. All the pain and misery and doctors. I just want to die. I don't feel I have anyone to help me or at least listen. The very people I used to trust, the doctors, the very ones that I unconditionally trusted, who are or at least were supposed to care for me don't. I'm in constant misery and pain since the two car wrecks missed fracture... No one will treat it. Because I'm young they feel I don't have pain or can somehow handle it, they disregard the me and the numerous tests accounting and proving the painful injuries still not healed after two and a half years. They now treat this as psychosamatic illness bc I have severe depression and anxiety.. Even though the wrecks and the pain and injuries and the drastic change in my young life are what caused it in the first place. They just don't care, they won't do any tests..they distrust the ones proving the unhealed and under in treated injuries and pain. They send me away in tears such a desolate hopelessness fear abject misery anti depressants and steroids. I can't do this anymore. Blow my brains out in Their parking lot, maybe then they'll believe me. The one pain doctor I had didn't take a proactive approach but we agreed to taking two pills a day.. Morning and night.. He changed it to four after two months.. I didn't ask or care I just followed the labeling.. The next appointment he said they made a mistake and trued to call me... No calls no messages to any if the 4 telephone numbers I gave them to reach me. He said he was just "helping" me out and said he'd no linger treat me. I lost it and cried and they said if I didn't leave they'd call the cops. What cruelty. Even with me asking up front I wanted everything done to treat things and all my doctors to work together and come up with a complete across the boars pla to get me well or at least have us all understand why so much pain and limited function.. I just wanted my life back. The pills made it more bearable. I should have been planning my wedding and going back to school, instead my youth has left me and I have finally turned my back on hope. Instead I just wish the wreck killed me. I guess I'll be where they think I belong rotting away in the ground. I just can't do this alone anymore. No more pain... Please no more. Wish you doctors cared enough to help and be proactive and understanding. Wish you would have cared.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 26th, 2015Someone from Killen, AL writes:
I had so so much more written... It was cut off. I haven't the spirit to retype it... It wasn't even close to detailing everything.. All the pain and misery and doctors. I just want to die. I don't feel I have anyone to help me or at least listen. The very people I used to trust, the doctors, the very ones that I unconditionally trusted, who are or at least were supposed to care for me don't. I'm in constant misery and pain since the two car wrecks missed fracture... No one will treat it. Because I'm young they feel I don't have pain or can somehow handle it, they disregard the me and the numerous tests accounting and proving the painful injuries still not healed after two and a half years. They now treat this as psychosamatic illness bc I have severe depression and anxiety.. Even though the wrecks and the pain and injuries and the drastic change in my young life are what caused it in the first place. They just don't care, they won't do any tests..they distrust the ones proving the unhealed and under in treated injuries and pain. They send me away in tears such a desolate hopelessness fear abject misery anti depressants and steroids. I can't do this anymore. Blow my brains out in Their parking lot, maybe then they'll believe me. The one pain doctor I had didn't take a proactive approach but we agreed to taking two pills a day.. Morning and night.. He changed it to four after two months.. I didn't ask or care I just followed the labeling.. The next appointment he said they made a mistake and trued to call me... No calls no messages to any if the 4 telephone numbers I gave them to reach me. He said he was just "helping" me out and said he'd no linger treat me. I lost it and cried and they said if I didn't leave they'd call the cops. What cruelty. Even with me asking up front I wanted everything done to treat things and all my doctors to work together ansREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 26th, 2015Someone from Batavia, NY writes:
This is disgusting and too many times are patients treated like scum bags just cause they haave pain! A good friend of mine died because his doctor cut him off from pain meds and he then got hooked on heroin.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 26th, 2015Someone from Killen, AL signed.
May 26th, 2015Someone from Killen, AL writes:
I am going to commit suicide. I am only 28 years old. I was involved in two high speed car accidents, neither of which I was a fault. The first I was t boned un my tiny 96 corolla by a speesing truck, my seatbelt didnt hold. I dont remeber the impact the duration or comming to a stop. I had no health insurance, the driver had no car insurance. The hospital sent me home diagnosed with a cervical sprain/strain unable to move my neck and in severe pain. I kept returning to the er amd they kept sending me away saying there was nothing wrong with me, not to mention I had no diagnose of concussion or indicator as to why I blacked out right before he hit me and stayed out until a man was pulling me onto a strecher, no explanation as to why I had no memory either. I struggled, fell into a deapairing depression, desolate and hopeless no one would help, listen, let alone care.I suffered headaches, double vision at times, inabilty to move neck much, and of course severe pain. I resolved as best I could to march on. After about 8 months the severest pain subsides witha return of nearly full motion. I still to this day experience neck pain and catching along with popping I never had before, an mri taken nearly two years after the accident showed bulging discs 4 5 & 6 with a reverse of the normal curvature.fir some reason the x rays taken the day of showed no indication of any damage worse than a strain/sprain. Well just around the time I was getting used to neck pain and discomfort in my every night and day I was a passenger in a head on collision, we were going 45ish the lady who smashed into us was around 50 or so. I remeber every second. The raising of my arm to tell my friend, I was obly able to utter a few incomprehensible mutters, he hit his breaks, but she still hits us full force. The impact was so hard, so violent, so irreversible, so incomprehensible, so shocking, and immediatly painful and life altering. I have suffered nightmares that have me relieving the physical impact and course of ear pounding adrenaline experienced in what had to be the longest few seconds/minutes ever experienced. I suppose that time actually stood still. After those few secminutes we scream help helllp help at the top of our lungs. Stunned and dazed I groan fear so palpable we tasted it. Are you okay? Are you okay? I dont know, my arm, i cant move my arm, its broken. The windshield is cracked and we cant see out just our blood on the airbags which i assume was from our noses or shallow scratches on our faces. I am beyond shocked. I am terrified we're bleeding to death into our stomaches... And then we see smoke coming from the glove box and we fear the car is about to blow up. I cant move, i physically cant move. Zach cant open either if our front doors and he climbs through the back and kicks the back door and people i assume lead him to the curb. A man appears in my window and says its okay the cars not going to blow up, that he was an off duty paramedic. I here other gaREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMay 25th, 2015Someone from Arverne, NY signed.
May 25th, 2015Someone from Joshua Tree, CA signed.
May 25th, 2015Someone from Downingtown, PA signed.
May 25th, 2015Someone from Hatboro, PA writes:
Everybody is already stating how I feel! Without being overly redundant, I just want to live my life with some relief of pain! I am 45 years young and if I have to live the rest of my life without these painkillers, please just put a bullet to my head because I'm not living anyway!REPORT COMMENTS
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