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First Do No Harm: The DEA targets Physicians who treat their patients pain.
Public Comments (15,444)
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Jul 18th, 2016Someone from Corpus Christi, TX signed.
Jul 18th, 2016Someone from Rochester, NH writes:
I have been in recovery for about a year and I have severe pain in a couple places. I said to my doctor when I first met him to not ever prescribe me pain meds because I used to be an addict. It was a mistake to do and I hope nobody ever tells their doctor this because if you ever are in pain and u do need something you are out of luck. I feel i am being treated like a addict by my primary care doctor after letting him know. I went and got things on the street because I was denied and couldnt deal with it. I finally got clean and called a million places to get help in a clinic and one place responded and it was over 100 miles away. I needed to go so I did now im depending on this guy to help me and the the pharmacy treated me like an addict when getting my addiction meds only giving me portions at a time when the script was for a normal amount. I asked my doctor they told me they never told the pharmacy to give me partials. To end the whole scenario after yelling at the pharmacist for making me drive there for nothing I came back later for the rest and never went back. The next month I go to my doctor and he lowers the dose by 1/3 saying its a law but clearly states its a recommended dose not a maximum dose allowed.I was being harassed to find a new clinic closer to where i live but nobody would let me in because I was already in a place.One place agreed but didnt want to do all these meeting to me are useless anyway and already a half a year good.Now my doctor is always talking down on me and criticizing my weight when the persons an addiction councelor? Its crazy how people who want help and depend on doctors for assistance but get treated like crack addicts and looked down on. I am so close to just saying screw it and starting back up because im sick of it. Someone needs to team up and form some sort of patient union of some sort to protect themselves from arrogant doctors who think they can treat you bad. I'm contemplating contacting a lawyer and seeing if they can help. Its depressing. I'm even nervous to bring up another subject because I'm nervous im gonna be labeled again because the treatment is a controlled drug. Everything I said is 100 percent true. Sickening!!. DEEJul 17th, 2016Someone from Memphis, TN signed.
Jul 17th, 2016Someone from North Little Rock, AR writes:
I have systemic lupus that is destroying my joints and other body parts. Believe me, it hurts to slowly die and degenerate. I was also blessed with diabetes, fibromyalgia and polyspleenia. My day consists of lying in bed and watching my life pass by. I have actually witnessed other people die that did not feel as bad as me. Why begrudge me the little relief I can get because there are people out there that take drugs to get high? What about MY rights to lie here and slowly die with some relief! My pain is so bad and the stress so high always wondering if my doctor or pharmacist is going to be closed for bogus reasons. The only thing I can see is maybe the DEA is crooked. They would rather see heroin and pills from mexico here so they can bust dealers and seize money and property that they are able to keep. The statistics for overdose does not warrant this frenzy we pain patients are suffering under. I wish every person behind this suffer excruciating pain for a month and then just think what that is like when you have pain day in, day out, year after year until merciful death comes and takes you!!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 17th, 2016Someone from Ann Arbor, MI writes:
I live with a lot of pain from both fibermyalgia and jaw pain. I only take Tylenol when I'm in severe pain - not everyday, so I'm not addicted to it! But, I'm also sick of taking medicine that doesn't work and become a drug store for no reason or doctors that dont do anything about it except suggest things that I'm already doing! Going to the doctor is a joke because they don't understand what the pain is like!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 17th, 2016Someone from Louisville, KY signed.
Jul 17th, 2016Someone from Highlands, NJ signed.
Jul 17th, 2016Someone from Udell, IA writes:
I am a Veteran and have been in severe pain for years due to Tarlov Cyst Disease and Nerve Damage. On top of this I also had an ADCF surgery on my Cervical (Neck) area. All with debilitating pain and needing pain medication long term for severe chronic pain. This is needed so I can function minimally at the most. Without these medications I would be bed ridden and would be a burden to my family. Doctors are now not prescribing pain relieving medicines due to the negligence of our governments actions relating to abusers.. Legitimate people are suffering severely in this country. These abusers should be dealt with by law and we should treat legitimate chronic pain patients as they should be. Please change this attack on the documented patients that need help and the few doctors that help these patients.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 16th, 2016Someone from Ripon, WI writes:
Taking away legitimate prescriptions is only harming people. Also, drug abusers are turning to dirtier more nefarious underground drugs. I thought people are innocent until proven guilty. The government is now dictating what our bodies feel? I'm sure the rich and powerful do not suffer.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 16th, 2016Someone from Lansing, MI writes:
I believe the "Real" reason for government illegal involvement is because the failure of "Obamacare" & the outrageous costs! So in order to control orices & spending Obama, CDC, DEA & Health insurance Companies cAmerica up with this Rediculous claim about ppl overdosing on prescription drugs when it's the Street drugs that's killing ppl & Not prescription medications! Patients get drug tested 3-4 sometimes more every year, we have 2 pock up the prescriptions in chronic pain, we have to wait until we are Completely Out 2 refill while in severe chronic pain! How in the HELL does that crap make sense? If you ever knew what chronic pain was you ppl wouldn't interfere & would actually act to help the millions who suffer needlessly! It's all a government scam to shore up the runaway Healthcare costs of "OBAMACARE"!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 16th, 2016Someone from Orlando, FL signed.
Jul 16th, 2016Someone from Mc Donald, TN writes:
As a paraplegic who was injured in "78" there is No Cure yet. I suffer with chronic pain as do 100. Million Americans why are we punshished for those who use illegal street drugs such as White China and Illegal form of Fentnlyl?? These are coming in through our Wide Open Borders. The Herion and Prescription drug Epidemic is as big of a fraud as the War on Drugs! Most of us know how cozy our government is with big pharma and drug cartels. It insults me to be thrown into the same group as a addict, I abide by the laws. Keep my Dr.s appts. Even drug tested to assure I'm not dr. Shopping or selling my meds. Which have been cut 2 times since the DEA & CDC guidelines lines. I also want my Dr.s to not fear the loss of licience for treating my pain as they feel is enough to have a quality of life. I fully understand I will never be pain free but it is not asking to much to get out of bed? I miss so many family functions because of the pain. Please think of the Chronic pain and Chronic diseases this legislation will kill off. I will never resort to street drugs but to be free from pain I'd be lying if sucide had not crossed my mind. My Faith keeps me from doing so but it is sad at this time 2016 this is even a thought. Stop and listen to your citizens the legal ones for once., Thank you.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 16th, 2016Someone from Lapeer, MI signed.
Jul 16th, 2016Someone from Erie, CO writes:
I am 67 and have been in chronic pain for many years. I was treated well in California, but have been shat upon my the medical profession and by all of the pharmacies here in Colorado. I frequently consider suicide. But that's another anomaly. You cannot seek assistance in the taking of your life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 16th, 2016Someone from Rolla, MO writes:
Taking away legitimate prescriptions is only harming people. Also, drug abusers are turning to dirtier more nefarious underground drugs. I thought people are innocent until proven guilty. The government is now dictating what our bodies feel? I'm sure the rich and powerful do not suffer.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 16th, 2016Someone from West Creek, NJ writes:
This is not communist Russia this is America where government has hearings on baseball an now steps into our homes an lives an punishes it's citizens because of addicts. This is why people do stupid things! I don't wonna be a couch potato so leave good doctors do what they are schooled too do. Let government worry about illegal drugs an leave the doctors alone!!!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 16th, 2016Someone from Riverside, CA writes:
I think it's ridicules that people who are in sever pain get treated like drug addicts when the doctor can see from my x rays exactly what's causing my pain and knows the only thing that can be done is for me to take pain medicationREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 15th, 2016Someone from Denver, CO writes:
Cops are not doctors. The DEA should not be telling health care professionals how to care for patients. For anyone else, it would be illegal to treat a patients without a license or with a license but never meeting the patient. The DEA is doing both, and refuses to change policy regardless of science showing how much harm those policies do. Portugal is a great example of a way to combat addiction without destroying people in the process.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 15th, 2016Someone from Mastic, NY writes:
I am writing to you today regarding your decision on SB524/HR953 Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act of 2016. Please reconsider this bill. Having a career in Emergency Medical Services for twenty five years, I have seen many deaths and near deaths from Heroin overdoses. I am sad for all the young lives taken by the poisons in a syringe (I've seen too many of those) but that epidemic intervention should not be used as a punishment against good Doctors treating legitimate chronic pain patients or used against these patients! I lost my career because of an accident and injury to my spine. I have had one failed three level 360* spinal fusion. I have been told that a revision surgery is "too risky" I am awaiting an appointment for a second opinion. I have a spinal cord stimulater in my spine and I take medication for chronic pain. I have taken pain medication for four years, same dose, same Doctor. On my worst days I cannot move and everything that touches my legs causes excruciating pain. It feels like my skin is being ripped off of my legs. On my best days I am never 100% pain free. I wake up daily with pain in my lower back. Then as my day progresses the pain gets worse with everything I do. With a combination of lidocaine patches, pain medication, medication for neuropathy, medication for muscle spasms and my sheer will, I am able to have some quality in my life. Without all of this, I would not want to live! I would not be able to deal with that amount of pain day in and day out. All I ask for is to be comfortable enough to go places with my husband (who hasn't left me yet) to hang out with my children and grandchildren. To take my dog for walks like I used too. Many of us agree that our country needs to do more in helping those that are suffering from addiction. There needs to be more rehab and recovery places that are affordable or better yet covered by insurance. These places need to be nice and committed, not dumping grounds. There has to be a solution to stop the illegal, illicit, synthetic drugs like the fentanyl coming from China across our open borders. More needs to be done to halt the manufacturing of heroin. Go after the suppliers and distributers. Addiction is an illness and needs to be dealt with as such. But our government needs to remember people like me also, over a million strong. We are not addicts! I get absolutely no "high" from my medication. All I get is some relief from pain and some relief is better than none. So, until there is a cure or I wake up miraculously recovered, it is my life. I beseech you to reevaluate the decisions being made at all levels of government. People with chronic pain are being severely hurt by these rules, laws or guidelines through no fault of their own. Permanent injuries and life altering pain can happen to anybody of any age. I believe you will see an increase in drug abuse and addiction because pain patients will turn to whatever means to get relief from their pain. Sadly, I believe yoREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 14th, 2016Someone from Medford, OR writes:
After years of all kinds of pain management and finally finding I am a rapid opiate metaboliser, I find today that my second doctor can't adiquately treat my chronic pain as has been the last 5 years. I am not an " addict" but need my pain medicine as a diabetic would need his or her medicine. I have never had any incidents involving misuse or abuse of any of my meds. Now my doctor can't treat my pain and has to take me almost completely off of my medicine. This kind of across the board gestapo tactics by the Oregon medical board is of no help to anyone that is in my health situation.! Surely there's someone having the same trouble I am? Help please!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 14th, 2016Someone from San Antonio, TX signed.
Jul 14th, 2016Someone from Rockwall, TX signed.
Jul 13th, 2016Someone from Florence, KY signed.
Jul 13th, 2016Someone from Weed, CA writes:
I'm a chronic pain patient in N California and was denied by all pharmacies after 16 yrs of taking opioids legally, getting masters degree, teaching at university, running three large businesses (thanks to pain management). I've spoken with the DEA and pharmacy board, everyone pointing fingers as to whose fault it is that millions of pain patients like me are being abandoned as a result of no scientific data. Research shows there is no limit to the actual amount of morphine equivalents a person should take to manage care as long as pain is managed and side effects are not a problem. Also, of thousands of people studied in long term pain management programs, only .04% abused them. My question to the medical boards harassing our doctors and the DEA--what about the other 99.06% of us???? Do you want us to go to Mexico to get our meds? Or the streets to by heroin? This is unethical and goes against all clinical research. I suspect there is politics and greed at play here and we pain patients no longer have the luxury of sitting idle. They are torturing us and will continue to do so until we stand up and fight for our rights to take our pain meds LEGALLY!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 13th, 2016Someone from Weed, CA writes:
I'm a chronic pain patient in N California and was denied by all pharmacies after 16 yrs of taking opioids legally, getting masters degree, teaching at university, running three large businesses (thanks to pain management). I've spoken with the DEA and pharmacy board, everyone pointing fingers as to whose fault it is that millions of pain patients like me are being abandoned as a result of no scientific data. Research shows there is no limit to the actual amount of morphine equivalents a person should take to manage care as long as pain is managed and side effects are not a problem. Also, of thousands of people studied in long term pain management programs, only .04% abused them. My question to the medical boards harassing our doctors and the DEA--what about the other 99.06% of us???? Do you want us to go to Mexico to get our meds? Or the streets to by heroin? This is unethical and goes against all clinical research. I suspect there is politics and greed at play here and we pain patients no longer have the luxury of sitting idle. They are torturing us and will continue to do so until we stand up and fight for our rights to take our pain meds LEGALLY!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 13th, 2016Someone from Hamilton, AL signed.
Jul 13th, 2016Someone from Houston, TX signed.
Jul 13th, 2016Someone from Horn Lake, MS writes:
I have ankylosing spondylitis and am in constant pain 24/7. The pain medication I do take is necessary for me to just be able to get out of bed!! The medicine doesn't NOT take all the pain away but it makes it bearable. I have marked limitations on all activities. I get treated horrible by my pharmacy that I have used for years!!! I have enough to deal with because of my disease and the last thing I need is to fight with doctors, pharmacists and even society!!! It's our right to be treated by physicians and to not have to be labeled as "drug abusers"REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 13th, 2016Someone from Troutdale, OR writes:
This new attempt to stop drug abuse in America is just plain wrong. People are being hurt by the one's we relay on to ease our pain. It is the older people that are being harmed the most. How many lives is it going to take before our "Leader's" stop this action. There is an election this year and our vote maybe our best friend.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 13th, 2016Someone from Albertville, AL writes:
I have been living with extreme pain for many years. I have fibroalgia, degenerative joint disease, and narcolepsy. Between all 3 combined, I can barely get up every morning. My muscles ache and hurt. It has been frustrating trying 2 get any relief from doctors. Please help with something legal, so 1 doesmt have 2 turn 2 the dangers on streets. Thank YouREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 13th, 2016Someone from Albertville, AL signed.
Jul 12th, 2016Someone from Rhinelander, WI writes:
Look, I'm even afraid to show my name. I am now a victim of the war on doctors. I need my medicine in order to have some quality of life and now because the government criminalized legitimate pain medication, that is now being taken away from me and many others. This is inhumane. What are people supposed to do when they have real pain and nothing else helps?? What are we supposed to do?? I don't hear any answers!! Hello!!?? What are we supposed to do?!! They need to start helping people get the pain treatment they need instead of making a situation that is all ready disabling even more disabling. This is very sad.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 12th, 2016Someone from Des Moines, IA signed.
Jul 12th, 2016Someone from Des Moines, IA signed.
Jul 12th, 2016Someone from Coronado, CA writes:
Stop doing the Physicians Job, as he sees fit. Trust the physician again to medicate their patients according to their individual needs. DEA, CDC go back to your own jobs, and provide better health management, safer drugs, and the CONTROL OF ILLICIT DRUGS ON THE STREET... LET EACH PROFESIONAL, have the freedom, to do their job, as he intended to do. Respect upon each others expertise, Unite in giving the American People, safer healthcare. Not take it away from them. People are suffering needlessly for the 'risky actions' of others who 'choose' a risky lifestyle. Patients use medications to ease pain or control it, and to have some quality of life. Millions of US, did NOT CHOOSE TO BE IN PAIN... Drug addicts, "CHOOSE' that lifestyle. and they will use, and abuse and obtain, their "DRUGS" anywhere, and from anybody, because there will always be someone that will provide them their drugs. That is your "fight", not the our Physicians. So, don't take away our Medications from millions of chronic legitimate pain sufferers, who have no 'cure' or no hope in sight, other than to be kept under a safe amount of pain medication to be able to still function, with less daily pain and only our Physicians can provide that 'humane' service to us.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 12th, 2016Someone from Flushing, NY writes:
IF ANOTHER DOCTOR NEEDED pain meds hed get them,if gov.or mayor needed hede get and so on an so forth.BUT REGULAR PEOPLE ,HONEST PEOPLE WITH LIVE LONG P A I N must suffer.This makes no sencse Please HELPREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 12th, 2016Someone from Greenwell Springs, LA writes:
the pain i suffer from each day due to fibromyalgia is unbearable. But my pain management has decided to let me go - due to the demands from the dea. my life was hard with the pain meds - but now the quality of my life will diminish greatly.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 12th, 2016Someone from Mount Nebo, WV writes:
I was a working man until I hurt my back. I've had two back surgeries for herniated discs. I have spondy, stenosis, desiccated disc, narrowing, 3 other herniated discs and all the bad stuff that goes along with it. Some days I can barely walk. I constantly have pain and need meds. My doc's doors were shut back in march. I'd been with him since 2001. I now have to drive 3 hours one way to a pain clinic where they do not care about me at all. They lowered my medicine from 3 30mg Oxycodone a day to 3 10mg a day. I am in misery. Not only that, I have to deal with cocky pharmacists who don't wanna fill it. I swear it has given me PTSD. A working man cannot get any help but the lazy junkies are still going strong, and I guarantee that these politicians and DEA agents and their families get their meds. Guarantee it!. It isn't right. I have always taken my meds as prescribed and I have never sold them. Now I have no quality of life and I suffer daily because my family doc is too afraid to manage my pain and the pain clinics are under a lot of pressure--NOT TO MENTION MOST DOC'S AT PAIN CLINICS ARE SOCIOPATHS. I just don't know what to do. My kids don't have their dad and my wife doesn't have her husband. It isn't right and if there is a hell it will be full. allowing or causing human suffering is a sin that will not be forgiven, IMO.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 12th, 2016Someone from Burke, VA writes:
It appears to me as if there is a witch hunt going on. I understand that people are dying but they aren't caused by pain patients. Pain patients are required to keep their medications locked up. Doctors seem to be panicking since the CDC guidelines were sent out. They are cutting off their pain patients left and right, leaving these people to suffereexcruciating pain. First do no harm. The doctors should be weaning patients not just cutting them off to suffer seizures and crowd the hospitals. What are you all thinking? Are you young and healthy so have no compassion? I am not a patient but the wife of one and can see what happens when ones medications are cut by 75%. The muscle rigors, diarrhea, seizures, vomiting for months on end. Please don't make people in chronic pain suffer.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 12th, 2016Someone from Columbus, GA writes:
I have been going to Pain Management for almost five years now. I take my meds as prescribed, take a drug test every 3 months, etc. Without my pain medications I would be SUFFERING! I'm not a drug user or pose a risk or danger to anybody! I have an advanced case of Ankylosing Spondylitis which is an autoimmune disease and a form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily attacks the spine. My own body calcified ligaments in my spine and grew extra bone that compressed my spinal cord. I have had four back surgeries to stop paralysis but I still sustained spinal cord damage. I get horrible muscle spasms and 'jolts' of electricity in my legs. I was in agony for months when it was at its worst. I also have spinal stenosis in my low back and my feet have also calcified. My Rheumatologi actually gasped when he saw the X-rays of my feet. And they hurt like hell sometimes. The only thing that helped was medication prescribed for me by my Pain Clinic. Even with all the medication I am on, I am still in pain and can't do housework or cooking. I've been on disability since 2008. I used to run a branch of a Home Health Care Agency. I wish I wasn't disabled. I wish I could work again. I wish I didn't have chronic pain. But I do have chronic pain and pain meds, NSAIDS, biologics, muscle relaxers mask the pain so I am not in torturous pain all the time. I'm not a criminal! I'm a patient and let my doctors decide my care!REPORT COMMENTS
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