First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
Public Comments (15,444)
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Jan 26th, 2015Someone from Beech Creek, PA writes:
For those of us who deal with daily pain from Chronic Pancreatitis who depend on pain medication just to make it through the day. Imagine if it were your mother, your wife, your daughter that is suffering with daily pain and there is nothing you can do about it because her doctor won't prescribe the pain medicine that would help her. Now imagine her going through years of this pain and having the medicine she needed only to be taken away. That's what we have been dealing with, not a pleasant way to live, with some of us actually committing suicide because we can't live without pain relief. Would you want your mother, wife, daughter to commit suicide because she can't deal with the pain. Think about it. -
Jan 26th, 2015Someone from Nicholasville, KY signed.
Jan 26th, 2015Someone from Sacramento, CA signed.
Jan 26th, 2015Someone from Saint Louis, MO writes:
Under obamacare I lost my original health insurance. Now under "his" plan my new doctor (I couldn't keep my original) its become clear this doctors will not write any of my for prescriptions from a.doctor at a.top 10 nationally ranked hospital. These new meds are so ineffective that I can not work get I have been denied disability aid. I went from a.contributing citizen to an immobilized human who lost his home,can't support his family and is loving with a surviving parent in fear of what happens next.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 26th, 2015Someone from Hillsboro, OR signed.
Jan 26th, 2015Someone from Tulsa, OK writes:
Where does this madness end? I don't mean when I mean where? Must we have a major upswing in suicides before those in authority accept responsibility and actually do something that is helpful to the patients and NOT self serving or done at the end of a threat. Must we all become street junkies so we can get "treatment" instead of medical care. Idiocy, sheer idiocyREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 26th, 2015Someone from Lawrence, KS signed.
Jan 26th, 2015Someone from Tucker, GA signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from Stanton, ND signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from Rossville, GA signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from Sarcoxie, MO signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from Sarcoxie, MO signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from Pensacola, FL writes:
I was in a head on collision caused by a drunk driver. My injuries have lead to chronic Pancraleatitis due to blunt force trauma and my internal injuries have caused severe scarring and adhesion all through my abdomen. Because of circumstance I have lost my good insurance and have had to go on State medicaid. Being on this insutance, I am not even eligible for Obama Care because I fall below poverty level and if you qualify for state medicaid that negates being able to buy into an Obama Care Insurance. That being said, I cannot go to any Medical University that has a Specialized Pancreatic center for the care I desperately need. I can't have a life saving operation called a TP/AiT due to my State Medicaid won't cover out of State healthcare. So, I am stuck on this proverable hamster wheel of having to depend on Opiate Pain Medications to have what little quality of life it gives. I have been accused of being a drug seeker because the first year of having Chronic Pancreatitis My Family Doctor would not prescribe narcotics, my local GI prescribed very low dose for 3 months and I WS told that He WS limited to only 3 months of prescriptions unless I was a cancer patient. Research from Dr. Whitcomb at Pittsburgh University Medical Center has stated in a seminar that they are finding that Chronic pancreatitis Is more painful the almost all cancers.I lived in the ER and Hospital my first year diagnosed because I could not even get a Pain management Dr. due to Nome would accept State Medicaid. It was by the Grace of God and a hospitalization and the right Dr. that requested a Pain Management Consult in hospital that I finally received proper pain Management. If I had other options that would allow me better quality of Life then having to take Opiates just to function; I would choose the road to becoming non opiate dependent and the journey to a better life. We the people desever proper HOLISTIC Medical Care and Treatment. Road blocks to this care need to be reasseced and rewritten. Dr's should have the right to treat said patients holistically and with compassion. The DEA has made this almost impossible to achieve. I am aware there is a need for a system that monitors such patients, but Physicians should have the write to set these guidlines NOT the DEA or FDA. Give the trust back to the Physians that spent 12+/years training for this very need.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 25th, 2015Someone from Pensacola, FL writes:
I was in a head on collision caused by a drunk driver. My injuries have lead to chronic Pancraleatitis due to blunt force trauma and my internal injuries have caused severe scarring and adhesion all through my abdomen. Because of circumstance I have lost my good insurance and have had to go on State medicaid. Being on this insutance, I am not even eligible for Obama Care because I fall below poverty level and if you qualify for state medicaid that negates being able to buy into an Obama Care Insurance. That being said, I cannot go to any Medical University that has a Specialized Pancreatic center for the care I desperately need. I can't have a life saving operation called a TP/AiT due to my State Medicaid won't cover out of State healthcare. So, I am stuck on this proverable hamster wheel of having to depend on Opiate Pain Medications to have what little quality of life it gives. I have been accused of being a drug seeker because the first year of having Chronic Pancreatitis My Family Doctor would not prescribe narcotics, my local GI prescribed very low dose for 3 months and I WS told that He WS limited to only 3 months of prescriptions unless I was a cancer patient. Research from Dr. Whitcomb at Pittsburgh University Medical Center has stated in a seminar that they are finding that Chronic pancreatitis Is more painful the almost all cancers.I lived in the ER and Hospital my first year diagnosed because I could not even get a Pain management Dr. due to Nome would accept State Medicaid. It was by the Grace of God and a hospitalization and the right Dr. that requested a Pain Management Consult in hospital that I finally received proper pain Management. If I had other options that would allow me better quality of Life then having to take Opiates just to function; I would choose the road to becoming non opiate dependent and the journey to a better life. We the people desever proper HOLISTIC Medical Care and Treatment. Road blocks to this care need to be reasseced and rewritten. Dr's should have the right to treat said patients holistically and with compassion. The DEA has made this almost impossible to achieve. I am aware there is a need for a system that monitors such patients, but Physicians should have the write to set these guidlines NOT the DEA or FDA. Give the trust back to the Physians that spent 12+/years training for this very need.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 25th, 2015Someone from Lawrence, KS signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from Fort Lauderdale, FL signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from Shelbyville, IN writes:
We deserve some sort of normalcy in our lives and we should not be left to suffer because of abusers. You have NO CLUE how much pain some of us are in. If I had to give a number on a scale mine is a 10 and above most days and so are the other 928 people in our support group. There are some diseases that are more painful than cancer and there is no end in sight , we suffer for years!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 25th, 2015Someone from Lexington, KY writes:
As a chronic pain patient and Ambassador to US Pain Foundation, I am aware of the significant harm the new opioid pain medicine restrictions being implemented nationwide and within each state, Kentucky in particular, are inflicting on both patients and doctors. Understandably, these medicines must not be dispensed or taken without proper knowledge and consent by both doctors and patients. However, the climate of pain care in the US today is one of fear, judgments, stigma, and misunderstanding. Patients are automatically being treated like addicts, and doctors like drug dealers. The DEA has gone too far, and legitimate pain patients are being denied the only mmedications that give them any quality of life, because doctors are afraid and daunted by the Big Brother tactics and overwhelming paperwork that now comes with prescribing scheduled medications. Please put the proper authority back in the hands of our trusted physicians, and take it out of the hands of law enforcement.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 25th, 2015Someone from Jackson, MI signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from Charlotte, NC writes:
It's not right to take away pain Meds from patients who desperately need it. Myself being one. Why am I being punished for someone else's addiction? Now I can't sleep, my nausea is out of control, exercise is unbearable--but I'm being shamed by my doctor for weight gain and being in pain. They should be ashamed.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 25th, 2015Someone from New York, NY writes:
SOME JERK GETS ADDICTED TO A MEDCATION HE OR SHE TAKES FOR NO REASON SO THE PERSON WHO HAS A LEGITIMATE PAINFUL CONDITION WHO THESE DRUGS ARE LIFE SAVERS IS BEING TOLD NO YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BECAUSE THE WOMAN DOWN THE STREET GOT ADDICTED TO IT. IT'S NOT THE PAIN PATINET WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADDICT GETTING DRUGS FOR NO REASON IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. WHY NOT START TAKING BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART MEDS AWAY I'M SURE SOME IDIOT TOOK TOO MUCH HEART MEDS AND DIED SO NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THAT. CIGARETTES SHOULD BE BANNED, ALCOHOL BANNED, ANTI DEPRESSANTS BANNED. THIS IS CRUEL AND INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING. EVEN DOCTORS WHO ARE GREEDY WANT PATIENTS THROWN OFF THEIR MEDS SO THEY CAN COME BY AND TELL THEM THE PAIN ISN'T REAL AND THEY ARE JUST NOTHING BUT ADDICTS AND THEN SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE GIVE US $50,000 AND WELL PUT YOU ON SUBOXONE FOR A MONTH THEN TAKE IT AWAY AND THE HELL WITH YOU. DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT THESE SO CALLED COMPASSIONATE DOCTORS "PROP" GIVE A S- ABOUT YOU EITHER THEY JUST WANT THE MONEY WHEN THEY STOP GIVING PAIN MEDS TO LEGITIMATE PATIENTS. THEN THEY STEP IN AND GIVE THEM USELESS REHAB THAT HAS LESS THAN 10% CHANCE OF WORKING. DR. DREW SAID THE GUY FROM TAXI PROBABLY WAS DRIVEN BACK TO OPIATES DUE TO HIS CHRONIC PAIN. WHAT A BRILLIANT REMARK THE PERSON IN PAIN FINALLY CAVED IN AND TOOK SOME PAIN PILLS SO THE PAIN WOULD STOP THERE FOR HE IS AN ADDICT??? WHAT KIND OF IDIOTS ARE THEY AND ISNT IT BETTER TO BE A FUNCTIONING PERSON WHO IS DRUG DEPENDENT OR IS IT BETTER TO BE USELESS AND IN BED.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 25th, 2015Someone from High Bridge, NJ signed.
Jan 25th, 2015Someone from West Springfield, MA writes:
We want harassment of Doctors to stop just for giving us help with pain.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 24th, 2015Someone from Neptune, NJ writes:
All I want is to be able to live a somewhat pain free life. I know it is possible, before the DEA started messing with the doctors I was able to sleep and walk , exercise. Now I'm over weight and in chronic pain 24hrs. a day. I don't think life is worth it anymore. The DEA will be responsible for my demise.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 24th, 2015Someone from Amarillo, TX writes:
I don't think the folks in the DEA, FDA, HHS or Government in general, really care how long the trail of abandoned pain patients is that they leave behind from their decision to reschedule hydrocodone containing drugs. Their only concern is that after 20 or so years and millions of taxpayer money they have succeeded in rescheduling the ONE drug they've been after all this time; and they based this decision on 573 comments on their gov website that was hardly advertised at the time of voting for this change. They based it on numbers of ER visits, deaths and MIXTURE of illicit drugs in the 100 thousands, maybe less. While pain patients number in the 100+ millions. They took it upon themselves to "THINK" and "SPEAK ON MY BEHALF" believing I give a rat's*****about the kid who OD's on mixing other drugs with hydrocodone while his parents are more concerned about their BMW sitting in the garage or his dad who's more worried about being caught having and affair with the office secretary. OR the mother working 60 hours a week and doesn't find time to talk with her child. Hydrocodone, alone, was never the sole contributor in these deaths it was always a mixing illicit drugs WITH hydrocodone. That's right, DEA has been after this ONE medication! Failed attempt after failed attempt at rescheduling; this overdue and costly victory will define their legacy in these agencies. The lot of them are NOT going to back down now. The failed war on drugs is the least of their worries at this point. They are basking in their glory as we speak. To HELL with patients whose doctors QUIT prescribing them the pain meds that allowed them to function daily but never eliminating the pain completely. These folks in government care not what the ill effects are just that they FINALLY go their way with this ONE drug. It's not like they will ever succeed in the drug war so the chalk this up with a "thumbs up" and pats on each others backs. My pain management doctor told me that the new regulations on hydrocodone were TOO MUCH TROUBLE for him to continue prescribing them to me. His office staff informed me that he didn't order any triplicate prescription pads which are required now. NONE. He's just not gonna deal with the DEA and his patients are the ones who are suffering. He told me at the last apt that a whole lot of people were mad about the rescheduling. Go figure! Government officials with the ability to REPEAL this atrocity of a decision should do so NOW!! Before they have more blood on their hands via suicides.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 24th, 2015Someone from Clinton, AR writes:
They should really consider who they are putting out of commission by not letting them function and do their activities of daily living. My pain meds put food on our table and tax money in their pockets. It was bad enough that I couldn't even get the proper medical care to remedy the problem and forget getting on disability. Now they don't even want me to cook dinner for my family? Where's Hitler when you need him! I mean really"!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 24th, 2015Someone from Apopka, FL writes:
Unconstitutional, inhumane, there is blood on the hands of those that have prevented treatment of debilitating conditions. They should be criminally charged with crimes against humanity! Disgraceful for any part of government to interfere and directly cause Americans to suffer and contemplate, or even worse commit suicide, because they are refused treatment!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 24th, 2015Someone from Evergreen, CO signed.
Jan 24th, 2015Someone from Spokane, WA signed.
Jan 24th, 2015Someone from Appling, GA writes:
I've been on pain management since 2000 (my body was crushed in an accident) and while originally told I'd be on oxycontin "for the rest of my life". I'm now on vicodin, which I break in half just to get out of bed each day. I take far less than what's prescribed, I'm able to function, but without these meds I would be bedridden. I don't get a buzz off my medicine. I get to live a semi-decent life. Never pain free, but bearable. The laws are becoming insane due to the ones taking these for fun! And yes- totally with pot for treating a rainbow spectrum of health problems- and hallelujah it's FINALLY being recognized for the miracle drug it's always been! In Georgia, however, that won't happen anytime soon. I follow the rules. The rules keep changing. So far I'm still one of the lucky ones, though I don't know how much longer that will last as long as the feds keep pulling my treatments away from me and those like me who just want to get through a day without agony.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 24th, 2015Someone from Springtown, TX writes:
I do hope all the sufferers can find an organized group to deliver the message of the results this Government decisions has had on their now low quality of life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 23rd, 2015Someone from West Springfield, MA writes:
I had cancer that caused chronic pain.The government is stopping doctors from helping.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 23rd, 2015Someone from Louisville, KY writes:
I, too, am a disabled RN from 25 yrs of service and it saddens me to see how the DEA & FDA have turned on accredited, board certified pain management physicians (not to mention the PCP's that will no longer treat their regular patients for chronic pain). As a "pain patient" myself, I've felt the humiliation and degradation simply because I have pain that has not been responsive to interventional procedures, and "Yes" I truly am allergic to NSAIDS (have had three systemic reactions!--plus NSAIDS cause more GI damage (increased hospital costs and long time consequences) than opiates so many times long-term, low dose opiates are the only answer. Yet, due to the DEA & FDA, rather than consider the best interests of the patient, physicians are forced to think of themselves and what will keep the DEA away! Patients suffer until they cannot take the pain anymore. If they were a cardiac or diabetic patient, they would have no problem getting treatment for the rest of their life but chronic pain? Well, the patient will be forced to deal with it in an illegal fashion or commit suicide. Neither are acceptable but the DEA & FDA haven't left pain patients another choice. Please back off and let doctors treat their patients like they were trained to do.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 23rd, 2015Someone from Las Cruces, NM signed.
Jan 23rd, 2015Someone from Fresno, CA signed.
Jan 23rd, 2015Someone from Wheeler, IL signed.
Jan 23rd, 2015Someone from Birmingham, AL signed.
Jan 23rd, 2015Someone from Yorba Linda, CA writes:
With the increasing numbers of patients who have been harmed and died because of surgeons implanting medical mesh, access to pain management is crucial to their quality of life. Not being able to get these medications is atrocious. These medications often need to be taken and cannot be discontinued abruptly. For example anti seizure medications and anti-depressant medications. Seriously adverse effects will happen with abruptly stopping these medications. When a definite cause of pain is established, the management of that pain needs to be left to the patient and treating doctor.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 22nd, 2015Someone from Yorba Linda, CA signed.
Jan 22nd, 2015Someone from Lancaster, CA writes:
I am a nearly 50 year old electrician with three herniated disks in my low back. I have worked construction for the past 28 years and am unable to retire until the age of 55. I need to work everyday as i still have four kids at home(the youngest is 8). I have seen several physicians who have told me that back surgery would be not only very risky for me, it may have little or no affect on the pain. Without pain medication, I will be unable to continue to support my family and will ultimately lose my medical insurance,our home and the ability to pay for my kids school. Please consider all of the families in America whose rights you are violating through this ill conceived policy of suffering!REPORT COMMENTS
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