First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
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Aug 28th, 2014Someone from Phoenix, AZ signed.
Aug 28th, 2014Someone from Murfreesboro, TN writes:
Please please stop the discrimination against the disabled that require narcotics to leave the bed as I do. I have never been arrested and hate the discrimination that I face daily because of my diseases. How can the DEA determine how much medication I require? It's been 8 years of being disabled and looking at the same bedroom wallpaper. I pray daily for relief from the pain that the narcotics don't ease. I would love just to go to Wal-Mart but can't walk that far. I so appreciate your help and information. Your support has been priceless and such a blessing. Thank you.Aug 27th, 2014Someone from Rhome, TX writes:
I'm 46 and have had scoliosis since I was a teenager. I had surgery at 17 with a Herrington rod installed in the length of my back and spinal fusion, I only have three moveable vertabre. I have worked hard all my life, self managing pain with nothing or Tylenol for over twenty years. Now for the last half dozen years my pain has skyrocketed due to degeneration and still having a twisted spine. (Only partially straightened). I've had spinal shots with minimal results, I've had a spinal cord stimulator installed, which helps some, and have been on relatively strong pain medication which keeps my pain level at about 60% on average, hardly a good life but at least I can move around some. NOW the DEA is constantly harassing doctors and I can't get adequate medical treatment. My first pain management doctor suddenly quit treating patients as chronic and started cutting medication down. After MONTHS I finally got settled into a new pain management doctor, now he has closed up shop due to some harassment, he had three offices, all his patients hanging in the wind either finding an emergency clinic or winding up in the emergency room with no medication. I went to an emergency doctors clinic and they helped with medications and a referral for a new doctor. You can't even see most doctors anymore without a referral and a minimum of THREE WEEKS just to get an office visit. He is helping temporarily but is getting out of pain managment . he is referring me to yet another doctor and at the same time drastically cutting my medication, leaving me where most days making it to the kitchen for a cup of coffee is my limit. This path and stance that the DEA is taking leads to insanity and death for honest, law abiding citizens that have worked hard all their lives and are now being treated as sub standard human beings for political posturing and making the budget from fines slapped on doctors. Its bad enough its hard enough to find a doctor that actually understands chronic pain and doesn't treat you like a criminal even though you have xrays and mri's showing your problems, but now the good doctors can't, or won't do their job for fear of being fined, arrested or God knows what. ALL my doctors were careful of who they treated, randomly drug tested patients (sad its come to this) and carefully track where they fill their prescriptions and when. At this point I have completely lost faith in our system and our political representation to support and work for and with the people. PLEASE redress this travesty on humanity in America.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 27th, 2014Someone from Chardon, OH signed.
Aug 27th, 2014Someone from Taft, CA writes:
Pain treatments have kept me working for an extra 5 years. I could have given up and went on dis ability, but I found a great Doctor and because of his treatment regimen I still work with my severe back pain manageable. I understand there are people who are abusing pain meds why I don't know. They coat the receptors in the brain to block nerve pain. They are the ones that need to be dealt with. I would ask you take another look at this situation after all we are hard working Americans who have worked hard all our lives. Stop the abusers.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 27th, 2014Someone from Cincinnati, OH writes:
This doesn't just happen with chronic pain. I have a definitive diagnosis that, under normal circumstances before this year, would have been a legitimate reason to prescribe pain medication. But because my first pain clinic made a mistake, something I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt was a mistake, I can't get into any other clinics and my doctor is too afraid to prescribe me pain meds himself. I've been unable to work for 2 months, I had to hire a lawyer to help me fight for FMLA and STD, despite clear medical evidence supporting those, and still haven't gotten those. The depression my situation has caused me has gotten bad enough that I have been suicidal on several occasions. I'm not an addict. But I'm dangerously close to becoming a casualty in your war on prescription drugs.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 27th, 2014Someone from Cincinnati, OH signed.
Aug 27th, 2014Someone from Shelton, CT signed.
Aug 27th, 2014Someone from Shelton, CT writes:
I suffer from chronic pain due to a biological condition and a bad surgeon. I have had dark thoughts more times than I can count. Worse, my family suffers as I do because many times they don't have their father, due to the extreme debilitating pain. The sad truth is that most people do not know what real pain is, but they think they do because they suffer from minor aches and pains caused by adding or had a simple headache.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 27th, 2014Someone from Tryon, NC writes:
I hurt every day and have for years, I do not go to doctors as most will do nothing for the pain yet charge a arm and a leg. I try and work some but then the days I do not work I cannot move, I do not go out much as I pay for it later, I can not sit for any length of time so I avoid places where I have to sit. the DEA needs to let patients be treated with meds that help them period.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 26th, 2014Someone from Rutherfordton, NC writes:
People who have no pain have no way to understand chronic pain. I have been on pain meds for several years and only take them when needed. My doctor knows my needs and addresses them. That's his job not the DEA..REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 26th, 2014Someone from Plano, IL signed.
Aug 26th, 2014Someone from Winchendon, MA signed.
Aug 26th, 2014Someone from Cecilia, KY signed.
Aug 25th, 2014Someone from Jacksonville, FL writes:
No one should ever ever have to feel like a criminal in any sense of the word because they have a debilitating disorder that causes great pain and with some f us that is just one f many symptoms we have to deal with. The condition alone has wrecked our lives and then to add true insult to injury we as patients are treated as criminals when any number of things that are in NO way related to medication can cause addiction. It is not unfair it is inhuman and MUST!! STOP!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 25th, 2014Someone from Flower Mound, TX signed.
Aug 25th, 2014Someone from Mount Dora, FL signed.
Aug 25th, 2014Someone from New Port Richey, FL writes:
Legitimate pain patients that can't get help seek out drug dealers. It's wrong to label people who suffer and creates more problems un society and desperation & depression. Pain management is vital for many people to live a worthwhile life or at least be able to care for themselves!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 25th, 2014Someone from Sayreville, NJ writes:
I have herniated L 5 disc, sciatica from that, fibromyalgia . I am an RN and dont want to takenarcotic meds. I had a tens unit which helped vry much but I have a birthmark on my lower back where the electrodes must be placed and my skin breaks down, preventing its use. I have been taking tramadol for over 12 yrs. which allows me to work. I am still in pain every day. My primary doctor says the govt watches him prescribing it and wants me to go to a pain mgmt doctor. I have been trying for a week to find one. Many have left my state, the others are not accepting new patients. Our legitimate doctors are scared to give long time patients medications they need for documented medical problems. Peop l e are going to begin commiting suicide like in the days of Dr. Kervorkian.. That was the reason pain mgmt. as a specialty came into being. What is going to happen is anyones guess. Congress will have to rein in the DEA and set up guidelines, where doctors can be free to provide medical care to their patients.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 24th, 2014Someone from Paso Robles, CA signed.
Aug 24th, 2014Someone from Homestead, FL writes:
I've watched my husband who was crippled in a fall off a roof putting up shingles and since 2004 has needed pain medication for the nerve pain in his legs and from a broken femur and torso. he was only 30 at the time and he was given adequate opiate pain-killing medication to take 3 times a day until 2012 when his regular pharmacy refused to fill an order for meds he'd taken for almost 10 years. He was taking 10mg/500mg hydrocodone/acetaminophen every 8 hours for which was increased as his pain increased from 5mg in 2003 to 10 mg in 2008 and he had been on it regularly and could function. The medication did not make him sleepy or dizzy because it was acting on REAL PAIN and there was no abuse of it. If he waited longer than 8 hours to take his meds the pain would become intolerable to the point that his legs cramped so badly he needed to go to the ER and got a shot of Dilaudid !2mg! to stop the pain! after that he stuck to his regimen like clockwork and didn't need any increase since 2008. He has suffered from ulcers due to stress so he can't take Aspirin, Motrin, or Aleve without GI bleeding. In 2013 his doctor told him that he was not able to give him prescriptions for pain anymore unless he visited a pain management doctor. My husband already saw a neurologist who validated that in 2008 the need for an increase in pain medication was needed, but the "pain doctor" said my husband needed to begin taking a prescription for Ibuprofen instead of his regular meds. His hydroconone was hard enough on his stomach that he had to take it with milk or food, but Motrin was out of the question. When my husband asked for his regular medication the doctor instead tried to get him to take shots of lidocaine instead. My husband agreed to the shots but insisted on his regular pain killers fearing another trip to the ER and feeling the same pain he had in his legs and torso. The pain "doctor" accused my husband of being an addict and loudly told him to get out of his office. My husband returned to his primary doctor and told him about the incident and was told that he should have taken the lidocaine shots and Motrin as he was told to do, knowing full well my husband could not take the Motrin with gastritis and GI ulcers. My husband left without pain meds. I drove him to the neurologist the next week and that was his last day of medication. The neurologist wrote the script after asking my husband to submit to a urine drug test which he did out of desperation. He went back to the Neurologist and was seen by another neurologist who worked with his neurologist who told him he needed to take Motrin. When my husband explained he could not he was told to take Extra Strength Tylenol and to go to pain management if he still needed THAT type of opiate pain killer because he was not able to write a script for that. My husband demanded to see his regular neurologist and was told by a secretary that his doctor was not there ALL that day, yet in passing the lounge for the facREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 24th, 2014Someone from Homestead, FL signed.
Aug 24th, 2014Someone from San Jose, CA writes:
The DEA should never focus on a physician! Unless the agent has been trained (as a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologist, or similar) how could he/she possibly assess the pain level of any particular patient or condition! Addiction can and will happen. The answer to this problem is to destigmatize addiction and provide easy to access programs. Addictions can be horrible on the individuals, the families and communities. However, many people who never take a prescription narcotic end up with addiction issues. I believe the DEA should focus on the tunnels that bring drugs across the border from Mexico everyday. Or perhaps the people without medical degree. Or better still perhaps not the patients with legitimate needs for pain medication. Because the result of today's strategy is only resulting in fearful doctors who do not treat chronic pain patients with the appropriate level of care. And the illegal drug trade goes on everyday... unlicensed, uneducated, and untaxed. For the DEA to focus anywhere but within this demographic is ridiculous.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 24th, 2014Someone from Salt Lake City, UT writes:
I don't think its fair that those of us that have chronic pain should be without or medicines. Taking those away may harm all of us then do good. Many of us would be in the ER and no one will be able to help us because its a chronic pain issue. I think the whole government needs to relook at things before making it into a law or anything else they are trying to do. I am a suffer from chronic pain and its not easy living with this everyday and wonder how long the pain will last will I be able to get up in the morning and be a productive citizen not if they take away pain meds. None of us would be happy if you choose to follow this regulation. Please look out for the citezens with chronic pain.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 24th, 2014Someone from Cambridge, MA writes:
The DEA keeps justifying it's existence by waging war on the powerless chronic pain patient. I have chronic abdominal pain from Crohn's disease. I was forced to seek out a Suboxone clinic after my doctor would no longer prescribe opioids. Now I exist on a combination of Subutex and Tramadol. That's all I can get. Together they work to make the pain level bearable. But now my Tramadol script I fear will be cut. My PCP had no problem prescribing 240 50 mg tablets per month. But now since the new law has scheduled Tramadol, I know trouble is coming. Who creates these new barriers ? Certainly no one who has had real pain for any length of time. I read that only 3 people out of 100,000 have trouble with tramadol every year. (overdose and addiction) Is that reason enough to make life more difficult for the 99,997 people who use the drug properly ? Since when does a tiny minority dictate policy to the majority ? I know it's the norm for pain politics, but this has to change. My story is minor compared to what many of you are going through. Therefore I wish every one of you, less pain and Doctors who will live up to the Hippocratic Oath and treat the needs of the patient. I also hope and pray the DEA will be dismantled. They serve no useful purpose. They only cause misery for pain patients, their families, doctors, and pharmacies. The legal system has no right to dictate and interfere with medical policy.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 23rd, 2014Someone from Garner, NC writes:
The DEA needs to focus more on drug dealers than those of us that live with chronic pain daily!! If they walked a day in my shoes they would definitely would have a different view on this!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 23rd, 2014Someone from Happy Valley, OR writes:
So now I'm a criminal because I have chronic pain? This is just great.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 23rd, 2014Someone from Portland, OR signed.
Aug 22nd, 2014Someone from Mineola, TX signed.
Aug 22nd, 2014Someone from Columbus, OH writes:
You mother ****ers!!! How dare you bully physicians who are only trying to help ppl with REAL chronic pain issues. You have NO RIGHT to dictate how a physicians treat their patients. I suffer every single day from your bullying & it's not at all fair or just. The Constitution states that you do not have the right to dictate what a person puts in their own body. I have a very limited quality of life because of you ****s, & I'm sick of it! We are not criminals or animals. We are human beings who suffer every single day because of your ********! Stay the hell out of people's life, & allow us to be treated as human beings who deserve to live pain free.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 22nd, 2014Someone from Leonard, MI writes:
Not everyone who takes pain medication does so out of addiction or to get high. I have suffered from spinal cord damage (which shows up on every MRI I have ) for the past 9 years which causes unbearable burning pain in my hands, neck and upper back, as well as weakness. I was afraid of getting dependent on pain medication not afraid of addiction as I actually hate the hazy feeling it causes but physical dependency which I have never experienced. The result, I have spent most of my days lying on the sofa watching TV. I thought I was doing well by making 30 pain pills last 6 months taking them only when I literally could not take it anymore. I had tried anti-seizure medications which are often prescribed for chronic nerve pain but found I couldn't think at all, my husband thought I was getting Alzheimers because I repeatedly asked the same questions all day long, day after day. I had anaphylaxis (life threatening allergic reaction) to an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and was told to never take any related medications again even aspirin. So opiate pain medicationss were my only choice which as I said I thought I was doing my self a favor by only occasionally taking one. Well I caused myself far more damage than the pain medication ever would have. Because my life was so sedentary, spending most of the time lying on the sofa, over the past 9 years I gained over 60 pounds and now find myself with wide spread vascular disease, very high cholesterol, high blood pressure, severe swelling of hands and feet,and shortness of breath, I am out of breath just going the few feet from the living room to the bathroom. Now what am I supposed to do, exercise? The severe pain and cardiovascular symptoms now make that impossible. Think twice before you try and scare a person with true, provable pain into not taking narcotics for severe pain even when other methods have failed. I have no doubt that my life expectancy has been shortened by living with poorly controlled pain, not to mention that I have not been able to enjoy my life these past years.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 22nd, 2014Someone from Chula Vista, CA writes:
The author of this article clearly understands the gravity of this deplorable situation that chronic pain patients are experiencing on a daily basis. Myself and others have been scorned by medical staff both in clinics, urgent care facilities, and emergency rooms throughout the United States. The DEA has targeted the wrong population. As taxpayers, we are essentially paying their salary and funding their witch hunt Presently, the situation is grave. Withdrawal is not only dangerous, it can be deadly. Every individual has the right to life. What we have been given is a life sentence of uncontrollable pain, loss of family support, and sadly for others dying alone.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 22nd, 2014Someone from Chula Vista, CA writes:
The author of this article clearly understands the gravity of this deplorable situation that chronic pain patients are experiencing on a daily basis. Myself and others have been scorned by medical staff both in clinics, urgent care facilities, and emergency rooms throughout the United States. The DEA has targeted the wrong population. As taxpayers, we are essentially paying their salary and funding their witch hunt Presently, the situation is grave. Withdrawal is not only dangerous, it can be deadly. Every individual has the right to life. What we have been given is a life sentence of uncontrollable pain, loss of family support, and sadly for others dying alone.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelAug 22nd, 2014Someone from Plattsburgh, NY signed.
Aug 22nd, 2014Someone from Maize, KS signed.
Aug 22nd, 2014Someone from Kansas City, KS signed.
Aug 22nd, 2014Someone from Spencer, IA writes:
It's ********, the Government wants to get control how the Doctors are doing their jobs! Why the hell aren't the Doctors Fighting this CRAP if it's such a big deal!! They obviously don't give a******either.REPORT COMMENTS
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