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On October 6, 2014, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) decision to restrict access to hydrocodone combination pain relievers (HCPs) went into effect. Medications like Lortab, Norco, Vicodin and generic formulations have been moved from Schedule III to Schedule II.
This may sound like a technicality, but the difference between these two categories is huge. A Schedule II drug is considered to have a strong potential for abuse. Such drugs require a written prescription. Doctors can’t call in, fax or send electronic prescriptions to a pharmacy. Each prescription lasts for only one month and no refills are permitted.
A Schedule III drug has less potential for abuse or addiction. A physician can call in a prescription and allow five refills over six months. Schedule III drugs include anabolic steroids (male hormones or testosterone), barbiturates and the anesthetic ketamine.
Why Did the DEA Change the Rules?
The reason for this sea change in the prescribing rules for HCPs is to reduce abuse. More prescriptions are written for such pain relievers each year than any other medications. At last count the total was over 130 million HCP prescriptions annually.
No doubt many hydrocodone-containing drugs are diverted to the black market and abused. The hope is that tougher restrictions will make it harder for doctors to prescribe such medications and harder for patients to become addicted to them.
What Is the Problem?
The problem with the new rules, however, is that patients in severe pain will have much more difficulty accessing needed medicine. One reader shared her story:
“What is going on with the new, and in my opinion, asinine DEA ruling regarding Schedule II pain relievers? I have been treated for some time now for chronic pain relating to neck and back issues.
“I deal with pain on a daily basis and I am prescribed hydrocodone (10 mg four times daily). Often I do not need the four daily doses. I elected this form of treatment rather than chase after various forms of surgeries for both neck and back problems when four doctors gave me conflicting recommendations.
“Yesterday I picked up my prescription which has one refill left and was advised that I will not only NOT be able to receive the final refill, but I will now be required to provide an original written prescription on a monthly basis because of the new DEA ruling. Up till now I would see my doctor four times a year for follow up and receive a three-month prescription. Each visit cost me $35 and my insurance company $78, for a total of $113 per visit or $452 per year.
“Under this new rule, 12 visits will cost $1,355.28, or for me in particular, $420.00. That’s a yearly increase of $280.00. I am retired on a fixed income.
“What about the inconvenience? I will have to make 12 visits to the doctor, plus extra visits to the pharmacy if the prescription cannot be filled immediately. I am still independent and able to make all these trips. What about those who cannot and need assistance because of severe, chronic pain?
“This added cost and inconvenience is unconscionable. Just because the DEA cannot figure out how to control the illegal use of these drugs should not be a reason to penalize millions of responsible individuals in serious pain.”
Balancing the needs of patients in pain against the abuse of such drugs is a difficult dilemma. The new rules may bring additional suffering for those with legitimate need for narcotic pain medicine.
brad
This is why so many people are dying from fentanyl poisoning. Older people are doing anything they can to lessen the pain because doctors have cut them off of all hope. I feel the doctors are the most resposible. They know their patients’ history and whether or not they will abuse their pain killers. I would be ashamed to tell my suffering patient: “Too bad.” This web site should be required reading for all doctors. How can we make that happen?
Amy
I am in the same boat. What I don’t understand is why the government needs to control our pain meds (narcotics) and prevent death? Why not control alcohol? It causes a lot of deaths. God gave us poppy plants to help us. If they control narcotics then why not control alcohol and tobacco? I don’t drink or smoke, and my injury on the job disabled me, and I need pain meds to manage my pain. I have fewer choices of medications because of allergies and side effects. I feel for others worse than me.
Michele OB RIEN
I feel that the fatal overdoses are due to people not being able to get their medicine.
I was told my medicine would be ready. On a certain day I went in to pick it up. And they said they had run out.
What was I to do? It was a Saturday, and no doctors were open. I went through withdrawals. Finally I called my pharmacy, and described me 750 that they had there. They never gave me an option. They just told me they didn’t have it. And somebody else got my prescription. They didn’t call me; they didn’t let me know anything.
I don’t understand what’s going on. I tried to ask them what is going on. I asked them “Can you even know, that I was gonna pick up my prescription that day. You told me it would be ready. And I want to go pick it up and it wasn’t there. You gave my prescription to somebody else.” That’s how I feel. And I’m very angry about it. And I don’t know what to do about the next time.
I went into withdraws for a few days, and it was terrible. I finally went to my doctor, and he gave me 750s that they had there. But they never said anything.
What to do? I’m scared.
Tina
I have to travel to pain management clinic, provide urine samples as requested per DEA regulations, and can’t even get prescriptions filled because of others’ stupidity. It is unfair to those of us who are diagnosed with severe pain per MRI and other diagnostic tests for proof. I have an inoperable condition so surgery is not the answer. As much urinalysis they have done they darn sure know I don’t abuse or misuse so why penalize. I’m sure I am not alone.
dan
I am in the same position. I’m on zanax, and the new guidelines have now made me have to quit. Once I was taking Vicodin for my legs, now nothing. Even smoked pot but no effect.
How come we have places like pain management clinics and such? I was being monitored and when my new dr. came on I was then told that they are also having Gabepentin scheduled as a narcotic. It didn’t work for me–I had extremely bad hemorrhoids. Lyrica didn’t work though they increased the dose and made the pain worse.
For almost for 20 years I was on both Gabapentin and Lyrica. I signed the drug contract and obeyed every requirement I was supposed to do. That doesn’t explain why, when I had MRSA, and I had to have surgery they put me on pain medication, and thats OK. What is the purpose for these clinics if they cant help. I thought doctors took an oath to do no harm.
I have no idea what to do anymore. Suicide is just about the only answer. I have given up!!! I am in such pain that I don’t, eat can’t sleep or walk. I’m only 58! Well, I guess I will just say that I empathize with all of you. I pray that you find what will work. But I believe that the health system has failed us!!!!!!!
Laura
My health insurance doctor is a private one, and there is no black market! I had a bad back (I even stretched it and walked), and I have a bad neck, and constant headaches.
I had these Hydrocodone 10/325 for 20 years with 120 tablets and down to 90 and now down to 60 and again 30 tablets (with the new doctor!). Last year, I moved to another city and a different doctor. All of sudden I had a disc slip last November. It changed my life. My new doctor announced he will give me two per day. I could not believe it. Is it acting like I am a drug addict?! I had trouble sleeping and especially waking up at 3 am. It is so painful and a bad headache! I do not drink alcohol. I never used any other abused drugs and never smoke cigarettes. The only thing is to help me with medication and staying active such as walking with my dog, swimming, and helping my husband who had bad arthritis. I cannot cook any more than 25 mins because of my back. I lost everything once I used to be so active with medication.
Since the prescription was changed by government rules, I have lost my normal activity and am notable to do anything but bed rest.
James
I have been prescribed Hydrocodone 10/325 for 12 yrs for chronic pain related to various orthopedic surgeries, three forms of arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Each month I receive 60 tablets (many times after some battle or another with the pharmacy). I break all tablets in half for 120 tablets of 5/165mg, which I take four times daily (daily total of 20mg opioid/ 650mg acetaminophen). I have never taken a greater dose, nor have I ever exceeded the daily total, although, on occasion, I can skip one of the doses. I do not drink alcohol. I do not use drugs recreationally, and I do not smoke cigarettes. I maximize my pain management by supplementing the medication piece by remaining as active as possible and participating in yoga meditation (and focused positive visualization), acupuncture, massage therapy (when I can afford it), and counseling.
My “hacks” also help on the worst days, such as taking meds with a cup of coffee, taking a hot Epsom salts bath a few times each week, doing watercolor painting, listening to music and rocking, etc. Bottom line: I am a responsible and mindful person. I do not take my access to medical care or treatment for granted. Like all of us who suffer the maddening effects and consequences of chronic pain, I take my treatment seriously and manage it carefully. There is absolutely nothing in my treatment history that indicates any incidents of misuse or abuse. Nor is there anything indicating potential issues with addiction. I am satisfied with the level of pain reduction, and I do not need or request regular increases in either amount or frequency.
I am a member of a large group of patients that is NOT a part of the opioid crisis (a serious problem that needs to be addressed). We have a right to proper and effective medical treatment. We have a right to continue within the careful and responsible treatment programs established with our doctors without either (us or our doctors) being swept up in the overreaching, over-reacting, and demonization of an entire drug classification – without regard for the many individuals being harmed by the poorly- focused response by government agencies.
Walker
I became disabled b-4 I turned 30yrs old, & had been married 4 yrs. I refused to take meds & dealt w/ the pain that came w/ Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). Did that for 9 yrs. while going thru procedures, surgeries, injections etc. and being told not to get pregnant. After my last surgery, even when I asked my Mayo Clinic Dr. to just cut my arm off, he refused and said, “Someday there will be a cure & just hang on.& manage your pain.
I’ve had enough. I’ve had a solid respect for the pain management w/my meds and w/my same dr.’s & followed the rules. The thing that is so terrible is that the pain patients who do this and follow the rules are treated like the people who are ruining it for those who do as they’re told. Why do we have to to suffer for others’ mistakes? It’s frustrating for patients, and the drs who truly care for their patients.. & want to treat them accordingly. It’s becoming so ridiculous now. I want all the addicts out there to get some help get some help because this sucks for the ones that do as they’re told. We’re all suffering.
Kelli Leitner
I had a spinal cord injury in 2010. I was severely injured and couldn’t open my hands, feed myself or walk for months. I had to leave nursing home/ rehab center early to save my home. Now nothing is keeping away from thoughts of suicide except my religion. I can’t take it anymore and need relief before I can no longer handle this. It is stupid to me because for yrs. Hydrocone worked. Now, because of other people I have to suffer. All I need is 2 7.5 hydrocodone a day to feel as close to normal as everyone else. I just want to feel normal without every movement I take in excruciating pain. I can’t take it much longer. I don’t know what to do.
Sandy
How can we change the gov’t regs? Who is causing this ? The FDA, DEA, CDC ? All of them or who? Are there any groups of legitimate pain sufferers who join voices to the proper authorities?
Julie
I have had a lot of excruciatingly painful whole mouth dental implant surgery. After each procedure I am given 15 5mg Vicodin. This latest procedure’s pain has lasted more than a week but when I requested more pain medicine the Doctor cited worry for his license. After I begged and explained that if I eat or drink anything the pain comes roaring back, and I have to constantly apply oranges. And the ibuprofen and Tylenol regimen makes me have stomach pain, so all they would give me was Codeine 3 which is proving as useless as I’d heard it is! Even after horrible dental surgery we must suffer for the CDC and FDA!
I would think these laws would cause more people to become addicts because they can’t get pain management and turn to Dealers! Doesn’t the Geneva Convention prohibit TORTURE? Who do I complain to for the idiotic new opioid prescribing laws?
Kendra
I live with chronic pain. I’m scared every time I call my pharmacy to fill my prescription. This is just More Government control. What gives them the right to control this? I had complete knee replacement surgery, and my orthopedic doctor would only give me enough pain meds for one week. I was in severe pain for three weeks. He was scared to give me any more because of the government and pharmaceutical industry. Also, I have never drank alcohol nor participated in illegal drugs. But I, too, have been targeted by the industry and made to feel like I’m an addict. Just for needing more.
Jean
This is a very sad thing. The so-called guidelines suck. This situation is grim and uncalled-for. Real pain patients feel like their lives are not valued.
Paul
I had a terrible accident which shattered my right tibia and my right ankle. At the time of accident I looked over at my foot. and it was turned around backwards. Yes, a complete 180. The doctor prescribed me narco 325 after a couple operations of fusing my ankle and tibia. I was on narco for over 10 years in Michigan.
In 2015 my whole body was debilitated, and I chose to go on SS disability. Also something going on which the docs couldn’t figure out! I decided to move to Wisconsin to be near my son and his family. When I got a doctors appointment he agreed to refill all my meds except the narco. He said he doesn’t prescribe that kind of pain killer or any pain killer. This blew me away, as I did bring all my prescription bottles in to show my new Wisconsin doctor. I got really upset. I asked what can I do, just live with this pain?
In the winter, like all winter, I could barely walk sometimes which was due to another underlying problem. That which the doctors in Michigan couldn’t figure out or/ and didn’t want to. What a dilemma. Two months later my fused ankle got infected where as I lost so much weight that apparently the 2 screws that were left in my ankle becomes exposed and infected my ankle which bore a hole in the ankle which was very painful. I had a orthopedic doctor/surgeon by this time which did diagnose and treat only with antibiotics but he also refused to prescribe me any pain killers of any kind. He said he only prescribes pain meds after operations. My God what the hell is going on in this state and others. What do I do. Another doctor got me an appointment with a state run pain clinic. When I seen this doc I told her the pain I was and have been in. She asked to see my infection and took off my blood soaked wrap. It looked terrible and was still oozing. I told her what meds I was taking in the past and present and she kinda freaked out and said she can’t prescribe me the narco and the depression med because this will Kill you. My God ! I told her I’ve been taking this combination for over 10 years and doc does it look like I’m Dead. She refused to give me any kind of pain meds. I could barely walk in to this office walking with my cane. She suggested to inject the base of my spine with something. She said they’ll write it up and see if I get approved. And they didn’t have a clean cloth wrap for my bloody oozing ankle. About 2 days later my ankle was more painful . I took off the wrap and the infection/ hole traveled inside my ankle and ruptured to the other the other side. It was 1 minute after 5pm as I immediately called my ortho docs office and no one picked up they close at 5pm. I called the lead nurse number and no one picked up. I did this for bout 10 minutes. I got in my car and went to the ER at the hospital. They took tests as I was placed in a hospital bed already. The new hospital orthopedic doctor came in and told me I had metal poisoning in my ankle due to the screws. He was really mad to because he asked who is my reg ortho doc and how could he have missed this. I have been going thru this for 2 months now. The doc asked it they could operate and take out the screws. I said yes please. After I was on intravenous antibiotics for 3 months everyday. Since I moved to Wisconsin in 2015 I have had this metal poisoning, a double stroke, a PE and DVT at the same time which almost cost me my like let alone the double stroke. I finally went to a vein doctors and the tests revealed that the main arteries in both my legs were getting clogged. Which had been going on and getting worse over the years. My right artery was 100% clogged and my left leg artery was 70% clogged. So I got an operation that the doc replaced my both main leg arteries. Artificial arteries. After a long recuperating period when I could walk with any assist. I have felt better than I have in the last 20 years. And/so this was the underlying leg problem I started having like in 2010. Further more I got my left hip replaced and now my right shoulder and right hip needs replaced and is very painful. My reg doc and hospital orthopedic doc refuse to give me any pain medications. I have have 6 cortisone shots in both shoulders and right hip. The last series didn’t help at all. I told doc. I asked to prescribe pain killer and she said she doesn’t precise narcotics. So now all pain killers are called Narcotics. She said they could call a pain clinic in another hospital and they will call and she prescribed me a whole 5 day scrip for prednisone. What’s going on in the U.S.A. the government declared there was an opioid crisis going on and a couple chosen ones thought they could cure this alleged epidemic by moving many pain killers to the Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 category. And put the Fear in doctors to precribe certain or most pain killers or they will be put on a list and further investigation could entail. Which the govt. claims could lead to losing their medical license. What a witch hunt and brain wash tactic the U.S. and state governments have instilled on the American. They cherry picked a few docs and people that they deemed to over prescribing and taking and plastered this info in the media , TV, internet, etc. So once again the government devised yet another plan to help and control the Whole population. And spent and still spending Billions of Dollars on a/ another ‘Sounds Good Plan’ . The U.S.A. always seems to need some kind of pandemic every year to Help us all if we like it or not. The ‘Sounds Good’ antics the federal government have been legally instilling on its own people have only back fired in their face and many plans have been a pure wastes of money. We have said enough is enough for many years now to little prevail. In this pain med war the people like me who really could benefit have been slapped in the face, slammed the door on me and just look at me as just / you have to be a drug addict. I’m 65 now and I have many times thought of ending my life in the past because of the constant pain. When the truth comes out that the Federal Governments ‘Sounds Good’ plans didn’t do a damn thing or actually harmed the general public they slam the door on us , Definitely Deny the facts/truth. If they admit they did wrong what would we think. What would we say about all the $Billions spent to convince us they are doing something to help us. Where will this all end. In conclusion Alcohol is the biggest drug #1 that causes harm and kills people in this country. Do they regulate that, do they plaster this in our face/media every day for a year. Do they put a heavy tax on as they did to cigarettes-NO. A 1/5 bottle of alcohol can cost as little as $7 bucks. The examples and comparisons can go on and on.
TIMOTHY
The new pain medication control is getting very bad in the United States! I have broken my neck and back and am in chronic pain My pain medication has been cut in half, and I am suffering for it! I think it is not right, and that is why the black market is growing for pain medication. People cannot get it anymore unless they are rich. Plus, I also have arthritis in my spine and joints.
Dee
Oklahoma
I personally don’t take pain meds, but my 59 yr old husband was taking them until pain management decided to do just shots that are expensive and don’t last. He has osteoporosis and has had seizures which have caused multiple fractures in his back, which he has had operated on, but still hurts him badly. As well as diabetes, steroid shots only raise blood sugar so those are out. He’s never abused his pain meds. Yet doctors seem to treat people like they’re drug addicts, if you tell them as honestly as you can that you hurt!
By all means, make a product that works without opioids that numb patients pain and gives them a quality of life, and we will all be happier!! The money is now in the treatment, meaning drug rehabs, and the shots are very expensive. It feels like America doesn’t care about its people anymore!!! We are all just pawns, and when you’re at an age where you are useless, you’re thrown away like trash unless you’re rich!!! It makes me wanna go nuts when I see someone I love, who worked hard all their life, wanting to die because they hurt so badly!!!! Have some compassion, America, and care for one another again!!!!!
pat b.
Tennessee
I have chronic pain caused by neuropathy and bone and joint pain after four years of chemo treatment. I can no longer get hydrocodone, which helped me live an acceptable life style. I was prescribed 2 tablets a day but took only one and if needed I would take 1/2 a tablet. If I did’t get enough pain relief to help me rest during the night I would take the other 1/2. I never abused the medication.
Now I lose whole nights of sleep because of the pain and am really home-bound, for the most part, because the pain makes it impossible to walk or socialize even with family. I would get a 30-day supply. Both my DR and the pharmacy knew I was using what was prescribed and no more.
The abusers will always find a way to get high or kill themselves while we non-abusers suffer and live a life in constant pain. The laws are legalizing “weed” while taking a much-needed pain medicine from the ones who need it to help us get through life more efficiently. I think they have it backward.
Robert
I feel for you and agree with you 100%. I am a disabled veteran with both physical and psychological problems. When I was on active duty I slipped a disc at L4-L5 (lower spine) and multiple bulging discs in my thoracic (middle spine) and cervical (upper spine). I also suffer from chronic panic attacks and chronic anxiety, as well as insomnia.
I live in Nevada where marijuana is legal. My VA psychiatrist told me to smoke marijuana for my anxiety and insomnia. But! My pain doctor told me if I did they would take me off my pain meds! What???? Now, I pay for private insurance for over $300 a month. That’s sad! A veteran of the USAF has to pay for private insurance to get sleep, not panic and help stay out of pain as marijuana is a good pain reliever. I am 100% disabled! That over $300 could be put to better use. However, with this new doctor, chiropractic and pain medication, I am talking less medication then when the VA was treating me! They had me on, in the middle of my treatment, oxycodone 15mg 4 times a day, 30mg morphine extended release 2 times a day and diazepam 10mg 4 times a day. I guess I can take some solace that the over $300 a month really has done me well and has not been a waste of money.
Judy
Baltimore
I have for yrs gotten my med. filled at the same pharmacy in my city. My dr faxed all medicines here. Today I picked up the medicine, and they cut my hydrocodone from 250 to 125 pills. Evidently they are only able to give you 125 pills a month. My problem was that they said nothing to me at all. Because they did that I had to call my doctor AGAIN to let him know that I will need a new prescription mid month. This is not the only problem I have had with this medicine, and quite frankly, I am tired of it.
I understand that a lot of people have been getting illicit drugs and also overdosing, and I agree something HAD TO BE DONE. But there ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. THE SPINAL DAMAGE I HAVE is so painful. My nerve roots have been cut into, and there are times I can only lie flat, looking at the ceiling and praying that the pain will subside. I cannot even bend my fingers. This pain is unpredictable. When it comes I just stop what I am doing and pray I will get home. I resent being treated as if I am a drug addict. It is not fair to treat me and other people who need this kind of medicine as if we are taking it for fun. Believe me, I am having NO FUN!
Dee
VA.
What a world we live in (or should I say exist in). I was cut off my pain meds because the Government wants to tell Drs how to do their job. Took those meds for over 10 years for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hern. Disc x4, fibro., and OA. As long as they have no pain they can have a life.
Jeffrey
California
I wanted to share my thoughts after searching on this topic, after my PCM (Primary Care Manager) reduced my Norco Rx from 100/month to 80/month (2 3/4 pills per day). This is not adequate for me, in my opinion; I am not a Doctor. I am the patient, with the pain (RA, OA, Disk degeneration, etc.)I
My addition to this subject is that the previous Rx dosage was what I needed. It allowed me to have the relief that is required to live my “normal life”. My body has served me well, and now at 60 I hurt. I was happy with my opioids. I was happy being responsible. I was happy to know I could make it through the next 6 hours without thinking “I am really hurting right now!”
I am tempted to use profanity right now toward whom ever “they” might be, who are saying to me personally, “Live your life in PAIN, old man. We have an agenda to fulfill.” I pray that common sense will return to my medical facility, and my original dosage will return. Yes, my PAIN is NOT improving with age.
I pray those in charge will help me live a pain-reduced remaining life.
By the way, I am NOT optimistic. “I am screwed” is what I am thinking.
I hope my thoughts are included in the tally of responsible Norco patients.
Ellie S
Warren, Ohio
My husband’s doctor cut his Norco script cold turkey, no alternative suggested. It’s been 6 months and he is in constant pain. He is starting to work on my last nerve. I told him to see an attorney because I don’t believe it is fair for a doctor to cause pain. That is not their job.
He never abused the medicine taking only one a day. I’m thinking that the doctor was probably overprescribing for other patients and now he is covering his tracks. My husband has nerve damage. With the pills it was bearable but now it’s agony and he cannot live a normal life. I can’t take watching him in this pain day after day.
Dawn
Wisconsin
I am pushing 60. I had a non fda botched 3 level fusion in 1992. I live in agony. I refractured after motor vehicle rear end by a stolen uhaul truck 1995. I was so scared i tried everything except surgery until critical mass when i lost bowel feeling. I decided to try surgery in 1997. Better surgery. It failed. Ive been bent over in pain.
Now 20 years later new accident popped disc above surgery Pain like no ones business plus my old sciatic and Lower back pain. Oh well
My primary retired. He was well educated, more than any I’ve met with alot of accolades. The new ones nurses decided i was too much paper work and portrait me as a pill seeking junky. They’ve cut my extended release in half within the last three months. Ohhhh i negated to add in that three past months i fell and snapped the top of my humerus and reinjured my back. Dropped my regular meds after 25 yrs by wirld renowned drs . Trying to find new primary but this new has trashed my name and made me look like a junky by giving me weekly and rapid detox . What the heck. I could barely walk before now i try to grocery shop and everyone stops me and prays for me or i sit and cry…
Im also taking care of orphaned grandson. Trying to have any quality of life….
what kind of democratic society welcomes torture….
To us. Opiate dependant pain patients that are legit…
Tim
California
I fully agree with the above posts. People with chronic pain that have been responsible should have the right under our constitution to pursue happiness. Not be grouped in with criminal abusers. we must find a way through legal recourse! If anyone out there has sought legal advice I would love to hear from you. I am going to begin looking for options that will protect my rights as an American with chronic pain, trying to save what little quality is left of my life. If I fail so be it. But I will not continue with this level of pain and cause unnecessary hardship on my family. It’s sad to hear of so many people taking their lives after their coward Dr’s. refused to refill necessary medication. I am willing to go down fighting for the greater good. If there are others respond to this post. My name is Tim in California. Lets fight together!
Gayle
South Carolina
Those are the saddest stories I have ever heard. It is unconscionable to think these people have to suffer like that because of the irresponsible use of a drug. To deny responsible adults this life saving drug and make them live with excruciating pain should be criminal! Joe, what can you and Terry do? What can WE do. Thank you
Royce
Niagara Falls, New York
It’s now 2019; five years removed from when my pain medication was taken away. It doesn’t look like things will ever change. There are two new trends I am seeing:
1) now benzodiazepines are being taken away for anxiety just like opiates were five years ago. The speech I got from my doctor regarding my klonopin was very similar to the one I had when pain medication was taken away (‘this wasn’t meant to be forever’, ‘the way we’re approaching this isn’t working anymore’, ‘these drugs carry serious long-term risks’). So look out; our anti-anxiety medications are about to be taken away. I went to my last appointment and noticed I didn’t get any refills.
2) rather than prescribing pain medications, those of us in chronic pain are being pressured to get injections or have unnecessary surgeries. All because these doctors are afraid of being sued for prescribing opiates. This is ridiculous. If the doctor is afraid to treat their patient, then why the HELL did these people become doctors?! I never thought I’d survive being without pain medication. If you had asked me 5 years ago I would have said I’d be gone by now. But what other choice do we have? All you can do is keep on. My quality of life is terrible. I’m depressed all the time; I can’t do much or go anywhere. But I have a family.
I’m very, VERY angry that we wound up being collateral damage in this war on drugs. I am also extremely skeptical about the angle that this ‘crisis’ has been delivered via the media. Someone HAS to be making money off of this. We aren’t being told about opiates just for our own good. I’m convinced that the drug treatment and insurance industry is making a fortune off these treatment clinics that are licensed to bill insurance for every addict they get.
I don’t see any of this changing. I’ve had to suck it up and just get on with life in pain. Nobody cares, and unless someone has been in pain – especially when there are ways to treat it but our doctors are sitting on those options and won’t help us, well, tough. We can’t do anything about it. I’ve stopped talking about it in public because the medical marijuana people have an agenda and want to get you fired up about moving over to that; I’ve tried it and sorry, medical marijuana didn’t do anything for my pain. Not to mention…I don’t want medical marijuana; I want my prescriptions that gave me a quality of life back!
Terry
Houston, Texas
I have severe lower back pain. I have deterioration of the lower spine plus arthritis and just recently another very painful malady to my lower spine. A leading Neurosurgeon in my area advised me against taking any operative measures for this recent new pain because “the pain would still exist and, indeed, could become worse”. I have been taking Hydrocodone 7.5/325 for 12 years. (I’ve had 3 injections to my lower back and have taken steroids all to no avail) I was just ready to ask my doctor for 10/325 when I was told it is too late. By law, they cannot give me anything stronger. I had only held off as long as I could because I never wanted to go to anything stronger than hydrocodone.
After 4 months of a leading pharmacy withholding my prescription, always telling me when I called it in that there was plenty, only to be told they were out and did not know when they would have more when it was time for me to pick it up, I switched to a smaller pharmacy who is always honest with me. Then another drug hit the market in place of my regular hydrocodone. It is called M366. This is the worst thing that ever has happened to me personally. After 4 months of this drug, I am in pain continually. I had to stop my walks around my block. The pain was too much. My pain doctor had me doing stretching exercises. I can no longer exercise at all. I cannot shop for groceries, I cannot do any housework. When I must absolutely force myself to do any housework at all, I am bedridden afterward.
I love my grandchildren. Keeping only one of them for even a couple of hours, I am bedridden the rest of the day and cannot move the next day. My husband must do all shopping without me. I rarely cook, as standing for any length of time sends my lower back into what feels like a fresh severe injury, but I know that it is the M366 just not working.
My good pharmacist tells me that he cannot obtain anything but M366. The black market must be getting richer and richer. Marijuana is being legalized. I would never even consider taking such a drug or any other illegal drug, yet the quality of my lifestyle has taken such a nosedive. I lie on the couch or in bed every day. What kind of life is this?
I did not have any side effects whatsoever with the regular hydrocodone, certainly not taking it this long. I never felt “high” on this drug. I never abused it. I have always taken urine tests along with regular blood tests all this time. My liver is fine. I get blood tests every six months and “drug” (urine) tests regularly.
Why, oh why, must I pay for the addiction problem? My life is now falling apart as I am sure the black market gets bigger…and bigger..and bigger.
Is there ever going to be help for me and others like me? Will the help take place in my lifetime?
Douglas Martin
Modesto, California
This is extremely ridiculous and I can’t believe it is legal without some kind of active appeal system in place, or a neutral 3rd party who can be an advocate for patient rights! The system has gone astray. Where is the correlation between the responsible pain patient and the addicts overdosing (most without prescriptions to boot)? There is not one. I have been taking pain medication for a variety of reasons since I was 23. That’s 16 years. Responsibly.
I also used to take Soma, then came the start of this ridiculousness….they took it away and gave me pseudo medication which might as well be sugar pills.
NOW they are after my Xanax which I take daily as I have very bad PTSD that stems from a traumatic experience in my life that changed me as a human being forever. I have relied on this medication for 16 YEARS. I, am alive.. I AM responsible. I am not a junkie.. yet today my doctor literally told me about these restrictions and said “you will have to make a choice between being in pain or having to go through anxiety”… wth kind of physician responds to the patient that way? Talk about a violation of the oath he took!!! People have a RIGHT to be pain free, and a RIGHT to not have to suffer horrible, legitimate anxiety. Why is there no option for the patient to sign a legally binding form which says the doctor is NOT RESPONSIBLE in the event of a medication related problem? A waiver?
This needs to be redacted and changed with long term responsible patients taken into consideration and not thrown away into the garbage because doctors are afraid if lawsuits.
This is a perfect example, Americax of the government having too much power over the people and mistreating us. They are legalizing weed for the potheads like crazy in states all over, and my kids get to breath in marijuana smoke if we choose to have our windows down while driving in our cars or at home on a nice day because our neighbors are potheads.. and they literally have free reign right not with zero consequence to do their drugs in public.. but a law abiding citizen in their own home had their rights stripped from them, to not be able to go to sleep because of panic attacks or wake up and relieve their pain so they can start their day and take care of their lives?
This is a mockery of justice.
Deep shame on the system!!!!
OPIATE AND BENZO LAW REFORM NOW!
Sandra
Michigan
This is unconscionable to deny their medication to people in such pain. This reminds me of stories I read about in concentration camps. To expose people to as much pain as they can without medication for experimentation. What’s next? Starvation, torture, and killing us? This has got to stop. What genius came up with this idea?
CeCe
North Carolina
You know I understand every written comment. The people who need the pills don’t abuse them, keep their follow up appointments are being punished for the idiots who abuse their medications. I, for one, would be horrified to buy something “off the street,” for fear of what may be in the pill. But I feel your pain.
I hate to say this about people wanting to end their lives, but I understand. Just don’t do it! Too many people depend on your love, guidance, your help. They may not understand your problem, but please let God decide on your time to leave this planet. Always remember: somebody, somewhere loves you, and God loves you. I’ve been to the pit of not wanting to live but I promised my family I’d never do that, and that was 14 years ago. Love and prayers to everyone suffering. It will get better.
Linda
GA
It’s a damned shame. My hubby is a retired disabled veteran with back issues. He’s got a spinal cord stimulator which doesn’t really do much. They stopped his pain pills back in Sept\Oct, 2018.
Me, I’m a whole other bag of issues. Among the 18 surgeries I’ve had is the last one back in June 2018 where the fused C3-T1 in my spine. They did a laminectomy on those too, for spinal stenosis and other things I forget the names of. Now I’ve been taken off all pain meds. I use baclofen cream, which does nothing. Tylenol makes me sleep. PT makes the muscles around the surgical area even angrier than they already are. They’re in constant knots. I’m 55 and I walk like a person older than my 77 year-old mother. I can’t be put on disability because I’ve been self-employed, and apparently I haven’t been paying into SS for the time that I’ve been self employed. I can’t work. I’m a seamstress and upholsterer. I’d love it if I could go back to making money but without pain meds, I’m left to lie in bed or sit in my chair. I’m just so tired of it all.
Doctors are too worried about going to jail or losing their license. This has got to change. I’ve got to get back to normal. The pain meds didn’t kill the pain but it did make it easier for me to work.
Edna
I too have had my meds cut. I take 15 mg morphine 1X a day, and I take baclofen 3X a day 20 mg each pill. I now have to give myself injections 2X a day for severe migraines. I was taking much more pain meds but I had them taken away due to new rules. I used Kratom but Indiana has made that illegal to use. I have TMJ and broke my back twice, once in 8th grade and second time was in 1997 car accident. I have had 23 TMJ surgeries. The last one was total R and L joint replacements. TMJ is the joints of the jaw. My migraines are due to a doctor that put Teflon implants on both sides. He had received a letter 3-4 months before placing them in me telling him not to use them and to send them back. But he put them in anyway. The Teflon more or less ate at the bone and exposed the soft tissue of my brain. Every time I moved my jaw it would push on the brain tissue.
My niece 2 yrs ago overdosed and was found dead. She didn’t have prescription drugs in her system. It was a drug made in southern mexico and brought over the border. Last week on the news big pharma has made a new narcotic that is 10X stronger than any narcotic on the market. So let’s get this straight: I am being punished due to prescription drugs on the street so big pharma makes a more powerful narcotic. OK, that makes a lot of sense. Not.
Some days it can take me 2-3 hrs to get out of bed due to the pain. I found a CBD oil that helps but it’s more than $200. I don’t have any answers but I wonder what would happen if we got together and marched to Capitol Hill and demanded to be heard. I do find all of this crazy because not one person is speaking against alcohol and cell phone deaths. A lidocaine patch for my back and TMJ did help. It anesthetizes the area where the patch is placed.
Robo
USA
Hello. It is sad to see so many people in so much pain, and the government regulating pain pills. Life is not easy when you crash head-on into a car while driving a motorcycle. I fractured my left leg 16 places. I was in the hospital for one year. Then came out of hospital with spike body cast for 7 months. I also fractured my left hand. I was 16 years old. Also had a brain tumor, Lupus, 2 knee replacements, and ready for the 3rd. I go to my pharmacy, and they don’t want to fill my prescription. That is very sad. It seems to me they see us as druggies. Never judge a book by its cover!!
Tammy
Pennsylvania
I have severe chronic back issues, my entire spine is fused, top to bottom. i have a interstim stimulator for my bladder and bowel due to the severity of my spine I am unable to know when i have to go to the bathroom. I was prescribed 120 7.5 325mg hydrocodone for the past few years. Today I went to get my meds filled and have new insurance which is through Capitol Blue Cross and they will only allow me to fill 42 pills for 22 day! How the hell does that work and how can they do this? i have been wanting to try to wean off of them a little but not this quick. i am sure i will go through withdrawl symptoms , so with that and my pain I am in for a miserable ride. I have never abused these pills and they do not help 100% but they help me through the day. I really dont know what I am going to do now. Are there any exceptions? How am I to go from 4-5 pills a day to 2? This is all new to me since the new law has not effected me until now. I just had to say something because this has me so frustrated. Thanks for listening
Nick
USA
I have been a pain patient for 10 years. I also had my dose cut from 120mg a day of Oxycodone to 60mg. I am also a 100% rated disabled Vet. When the V.A. cut me off cold turkey I found a civilian pain management clinic. Everything was fine until the CDC/DEA came out with their bogus long-term (6 weeks) study by anti-opiate doctors.
Suicides among pain patients are up 38%. I have had two friends who were Vets take their lives after their pain meds where cut off. I was desperate to find something to hold me over until my next prescription. I found green tea kratom in capsules. They are not for everyone. What worked for me was 4 capsules every 3-4hrs for the first day, and then the time to take them would gradually extend to every 5-6hrs. It is not a miracle-worker. It does take the edge off withdrawals, restless leg syndrome, etc. You must keep hydrated, eat plenty, and rest. It saved my life a few times when I wanted to check out. Hopefully with the new H&H, FDA, etc., rules coming out in 2019, we might get back to our original doses.
the Kurk
on top of a fence
Big Pharma, FDA, and the CDC, with big government have take away another liberty, the pursuit of happiness. Seriously, those in the government get free health care, which we pay for and we never get reciprocated for. The gov’t is trying to run our lives for us, but they do not know what pain is, after all the gov’t is an autonomous in nature and as such feels no pain. Doctors know about pain because they learned about it in school now they know how to treat pain with medication. Big pharma is at the root of narcotic distribution and now they opened Pandoras’ box and are pushing marijuana as a ‘cure all’ drug . I have been taking opiates since 1982. I nearly lost my life in a motorcycle accident. I lived and 30 some operations later I’m here telling you, if not for the pain meds, I’d be dead. I’M thinking of going to a nursing home where a doctor can help me. Is this how people in pain will live? Or are we left to suicide as a cure?
Ken
Utah
Who made the DEA Medical Doctors ? The damn Federal government starting with the donald needs to suffer of severe chronic pain then be told there is no treatment available to them. That’s just stupidity. As a retired police officer I can tell you these patients are not the problem. The problem has always been the Feds stopping legitimate people who suffer from getting their meds that help them with horrific pain.
BARBARA
17331
Well, I was on 60 mg of Morphine twice daily. I was in 2 car accidents, in addition to having worked hard since age 8. I have spinal stenosis, had 2 hip replacements (which can’t be done again b/c of bone loss); rheumatoid arthritis, 2 shoulder surgeries, and now knee problems. What am I do do, and others like me? I am angry that they have to make us suffer because of drug dealers. Help!
Kandy
Oregon
I live 50+ miles from my nearest pharmacy. If the date of my refill lands on a Sunday I have to wait until Monday to refill. Too bad for me if this happens because under the new system I don’t have any back-up pills. Also some states don’t honor an out-of-state prescription so if you are traveling it sucks to be you if you need a refill and have a prescription written out in your state. It’s too bad we are being punished because of other idiots. Why don’t they just prosecute harder, and leave us alone?
DALE
KANKAKEE
Fentanyl on the streets is the problem! My nephew died from it, not pain killers. They are not doing anything about that.
Jaylene
FL
no they’re aren’t doing anything. Just declaring a fake war on drugs by coming between doctor and patients i was getting 60 7.5s a month. my doc agreed based on numorous Mris and x rays, i have legitimate reasons and wished he could give me more OR higher dose BUT said he can’t. in fact he s cutting ppl off and back. so I’ve went from 60 a month to 50. i pleaded with him to please NOT cut me anymore. because of THE cut i no longer can have my 2 a day. i am NOT getting much pain relief any more. the end of they month, i have to either take just 1 a day for the last 10 days which doesn’t help much, or take 2 a day for 25 day’s but then be left with nothing 0 for last 5 day’s of them month. i cannot be without so i try NOT to do the 2 a day throughout the month. i told my doc this, he said he would NOT cut me anymore but his words were, life is pain AND you cannot take a pill EVEry time you feel it! he said ppl need to learn to deal with it!! i couldn’t believe he said THIs knowing how much legitimately documented pain I’m in and wasn’t getting enough relief to begin with. im grateful he still gives me some but i don’t live a day of relief, even before the dea and feds started threatening doctors. fast forward to this year..i was getting Xanax for severe panic disorder and anxiety. I’ve been so upset because yesterday my doctor informed me that no longer is a patient allowed to be prescribed both opioids AND benzos. he told me i HAVE to make a choice. it’s one OR the other. not both. so Fed’s now coming after anxiety patients. they WANT us to die. im in Florida btw. also a friend of mines sister committed suicide 4 months ago. it was because she could NO longer get her meds because of these New rules. yet nothing’s changed on the streets. the addicts ThaT caused this are still having no problems getting the heroin. its just us ThaT get and do things the right way that’s being penalized!!!
John H
It is all a put on by big brother!!we need to push random drug testing on all politicians!!for you information the ins company worry about little hydrocodone but was pushing for people to get fentynal which is very dangerous!! Guess they wanted people to die so they would not be a burden on there pocket!!
Jackie
Russellville, AR
I have degenerative disk disease in spine. All my family has it. I was taking medication for over 7.5 years. 1-2 per day low dose, then lost my doctor and was stuck with one that wanted to play God with my life. He just completely stopped my medications and refused to treat me. Their clinic had lost over 15 doctors in a short period of time so they had to make up the money shortage by threatening people to come in every month if they wanted their scripts filled. I have been suffering for over a year, one half living off Tylenol/Aleve which does not alleviate pain.
The doctor I have now does not care so I don’t see much sense in taking bp meds, cholesterol meds, heart rate meds or lassie for kidneys. Already suffering from liver problems, but that’s life according to some. Not able to stay on feet long enough to get from one room to another. I guess losing leg muscle is not a concern. Hopefully doctors will come to their senses, I guess, if we all who have legitimate reasons for needing pain medications start dying (not from any over dose or street drugs). Maybe someone will open up their eyes and ears.
CJ
SFL
I just don’t understand how hard it is to see the diff in patients w pain , Instead of giving pain pills who say they are in pain should be able to show some kind of xray or scan or cat scan to show the illness which is causing the pain. I just cant take the Gov saying these people are abusing pills so lets take all the pills away from those that are in pain w proof of injury or years of Drs. visits to prove that you have been a pain patient n have a history to prove the pain w your Drs. notes to back up the history . So now here in FL cuz they don’t know how to stop the abuse from some they are stopping being able to get a script filled or just all together stopping the Dr. from giving some a script at all , we all need to get together as a force n fight this idiotic pain pills laws that are sweeping the country .
John Hilton
Ga
I know how you feel I to an being made to suffer after thirty one years of being in meds and all sudden it being taken away! I have contacted members of Congress and they do not respond to my cry! But they will bombared you with emails and letters for your vote and say and do anything for it! I think all politicians should be drug tested as they require all else to do, after all we can not have them under the influence of drugs with all the important decisions they make! And they do work for us!!
Liz
La.
I feel the same way but the Drs. are not able to prescribe any pain meds without DEA threatening to pull their medical license. Wish we could be looked at as individuals instead of all these changes across the board because of abuse, selling it, or whatever they do with it. I have been in pain for 15 years now. Have a lot of pain at times even on meds. Don’t know how we’re supposed to begin to semi-function without anything.
Ben
oklahoma
Those of us that have chronic pain have been thrown under the bus! The government, the FDA, and the junkies could care less. Look at what prohibition did, allowed crime to flourish because people wanted to drink. Bathtub gin killed people and now the people who take pain meds for recreation will be buying the imports of what may or not be legit drugs.
Crime will escalate, suicides, robbery, elderly people will become targets. Thank god for our government! They have to stick their nose into everything. As I write this I’m crying because of pain. Thanks again FDA.
Wanda
Texas
Thank the Lord I found this site by accident. I moved from another state & had to leave my pain doctors. I did take Watson mfg hydrocodone 10/325, 3 per day at 6AM-2PM-10PM. I am 83 yrs old and when I got here my brother-in-law made me an appt w/ his doctor which he said took me 3 wks to get in & found he didn’t want me to take pain meds nor did that dr. But he did did send me to the one dr listed in the phone book (that took a month). Don’t wait until you are 83 and go thru withdrawal for a couple of months without any meds to help you. I could hardly cook, clean house, bath & hurt so bad I was ready to move the 1475 miles back to where I came from.
For 3 mos the pain dr gave me my same meds. I got pneumonia, went to the hosp., then to nursing home for a month because the only rehab in this small town was there. My doctor was their doctor. Yep he pulled the pain meds & slipped in tramadol which did not do even as much good as an aspirin. I couldn’t even go to their rehab with the pain. I’ve never seen such a beautiful facility but you could not use their phone. Cell phone didn’t work so I checked myself out after fighting them for 3 wks. Got home and had a registered letter from my pain dr. She had dropped me & said it was because I had gotten 2 prescriptions from a dr & that broke my contact with her. She wouldn’t talk to me on the phone or in person when I went to her office.
Visiting Angel Care came to the house and gave me the name of another dr. In 2 wks I could see him. They told me I should have pain pills to do rehab, That dr then sent me to another dr. That took a little over 2 wks. Because of the opioid scare she ordered a compound of one a day 10mg hydrocodone and told me to buy tylenol 500. My insurance would not pay for it. (between 500 to $600/per mo) If I had no trouble with my 10/325 Watson hydrocodone , 2 wks later she would schedule me for spinal shots. I think I could crawl into her office while slipping on the floor from tear water & I couldn’t get pain meds.
I don’t know what to do and was hoping some of you had found a solution.
I will keep coming in here and check a couple of times a week. Sorry this post was so long but I will be here one yr the 13th of this month,and have had pain meds for only 3 months of that time. To think that I was virtually pain free for so long and am mostly not mobile now is devastating.
John Hilton
We need to make a law that requires all got officials take random drug test!! If we are to be tested so should all of them!! Spread the word because they work for us! Gov of the people by the people!!
JON
TORONTO, ONTARIO
I’m not sure how feasible it is to do this, but if I were in your shoes I’d move back to where I had been living. I think this opiate crisis response is only going to become more restrictive; if you can find a location where your doctor will still prescribe your pain medications the same as before, I’d stay there. These other states are not going to ever go back to the way things used to be. Everyone is now terrified of getting sued, losing their licence, or going to jail. No doctor cares at all about the patient’s quality of life; only about their own selves. I was cut off my hydrocodone after my doctor retired and after meeting with one of the many new young doctors here, who told me to ‘try meditation! try yoga! try mindfulness! I told him where he could stick his mindfulness meditation.
As God is my witness I will never trust another physician again.
Jackie
Russellville, AR
I have had degenerative disk disease for over 30 years. Lost my doctor last year and was switched over to a doctor who wanted to play God. Refused to give meds, and I only took 2 per day when needed for over 7.5 years. Now I am in chronic back pain because of a disk that is collapsing on nerves, and they want to give shots. Not gonna happen. New doc doesn’t do pain meds. I’m just going to let nature takes its course. No sense in taking all these other meds for heart rate and BP (Lasix) and starve my self to keep my glucose levels down. I can barely stay on my feet for more than a few minutes. Not much living here.
Robin S.
New York
Jackie, Hi. I’m Robin. I am also being weaned off hydrocodone that I have been prescribed for a number of back problems. I also have bad Sciatica. I went to see a neurologist one random day. He gave no pain medicine. He started giving me lanocaine nerve blockers. Then told me this is only for chronic migraines. I would have to go to another Dr. for shots in back. I have uncontrolled diabetes. Shots rose my blood sugars and by 3rd round of shots I almost went into diabetic coma. Dr. said the shots can’t affect diabetes. I’m going blind, nueropathy beyond painful. Am confused, etc. I have had to stop injections. I noticed you mentioned both injections and blood sugar. Have you noticed any worsening of your diabetes since injections?
Misty
UT
I agree with you 100%! Ben! I have been a broken record (to my poor husband, mainly) about the wole thing. I, too am a chronic pain sufferer, due to an autoimmune disease, which isn’t my fault. I was born with it and now need pain meds. It’s not due to anything else. I also have major deformities from it. It makes me nervous and stressed out to get surgery done to correct the deformities done BECAUSE of these new laws!
But you’re right: Crime will increase, because there are some people who will do ANYTHING to keep pain at a tolerable level, just to functon at work, home, just day to day things! It will be a bigger issue on the CDC and DEA’s hands than they realize. Or maybe that’s what they really want. What the Gov OUGHT to do is open clinics for the heroin users, which does two things: First, it gets the drug dealers off of the streets, reducing overdoses with crap that’s put in it, and second, the user can use a safe, clean, state-of-the-art clinics, to use a cleaner, controlled product, like in places in the Netherlands.
But to make a patient suffer. Isn’t that partly going against the doctors’ Hippocratic Oath to “do no harm?”
Wm
Arizona
Little to do with concerns over “Opioid addiction” Everything to do with a Medical Insurance Industry behind scenes actively and aggressively manipulating the FDA , Media and State Elected officials . Determined to increase profits by cutting the cost of treatment to the millions of seniors and other injured disabled and suffering as the consequence the industrial based society. The so called information age had it’s predecessor.. Men and Women at war (still at war) the heavy industry and machinery of the Industrial age..
Mollie
Illinois
But what do we do when it’s not the doctor that cuts you off of your pain meds, but the manufacdturer of the drug you had been taking for years suddenly stops making it? Then you have to try another manufacturer and trust me, they are not all the same. I have had so many bad side effects from vicodin made by other manufacturers and never had a problem with the one I had been taking for over 3 years every day 10 mg. 4x a day. Every one I try now makes me so sick I guess from binders, fillers and rat poison in the pills now. Not to mention, no pain relief there is no medicine in pain pills anymore. It is so unfair to now sit here in so much pain I am crying and have ill side effects from the pills now that I never had before. I had my pain under control for the most part and now back to square one. Why? Why do we have to suffer because the company just up and decides “oh we are not making Vicodin anymore.” So unfair my life is over.
John Hilton
The doctors will gladly put you on ssri drugs that are very dangerous!! I think all politicians judges doctor’s too ought to have to give random drug screen!!!
Rick
OR.
This is a crisis that is killing patients, and the risks to the Doctors with patients who are contemplating the end of their suffering could expand into patients contemplating killing their Doctors as their last act of futility and to send the most dramatic message they can deliver to the CDC.
An opposite and equal reaction that may have already occurred but has been suppressed in the media. The CDC has that covered in a contingency plan to suppress these events in the media, this is known as dark state suppression of the media, this has been done for years in reporting the number of deaths during the Vietnam war, those of us old enough to remember the false news reports of that war heard this type of phony headline each week when the war was at it’s height: three Americans were killed this week, but we killed a thousand VietCong fighters, all lies. This isn’t a new technique they are using, it’s been refined to deal with such situations as they arise.
The Government has plans to deal with such news, they suppress the reports and cover it up. After the fiasco of the appointment of a new Supreme Court Justice this last week, can we trust the Federal Government to tell us the truth? The CDC will eventually face a Congressional investigation on the numbers of increased suicides from their guidelines, and it will be another Dog and Pony show… the classic”don’t look over here, look over here distraction” we just saw this pulled off by none the less Hillary Clinton and her phony Mueller investigation which she constructed with the aid of a former British Spy. Meanwhile we are suffering and dying for real pain management, not the sham the CDC is forcing on us.
Here’s a detail you won’t hear often, Doctors work in the profession that has the highest suicide rate. Here’s a hint on how they kill them selves, and it doesn’t involve a firearm. You can figure out how they do it yourself.
It makes committing yourself to yet another surgery VERY HARD when you KNOW your going to suffer badly for months of recovery, or for some of us with CRPS 2, a recovery that never comes. I have seriously thought about amputation of my leg, but my CRPS2 is a form of phantom pain, and as such I would accomplish nothing by doing so, and the pain has moved over to my right foot in my toes as I have developed hammer toes as my right foot is doing overtime to keep up with my left foot which I have foot drop from nerve damage from multiple surgeries to fix the fracture in my left leg which was caused by phenobarbital which destroyed my bone density by blocking the 450 enzyme pathway to absorb calcium and magnesium in the liver, thereby reducing my bone density to -1.7 which is osteomalacia, one step away from osteoporosis caused by my former primary physician when he DIDN’T use the DEXA scanner right there in his office to check my bone density UNTIL I broke my left leg. Trying to file a lawsuit against a large medical practice has been all but impossible to accomplish.
Medical mistakes kill 100,000 a year, and a report came out that number is more likely 200,000 a year. How many of us are suffering because of gross incompetence at the hands of a doctor who made a mistake in our healthcare?
I’m one of them.
John Hilton
Ga
All the government employed by us the people should be drug tested randomly!! And you are right many people have lost all hope of living because they are being made to suffer.and sure there are many who want those who have made others to suffer pay the ultimate price!!!
Jane
Louisiana
I am just finding out how bad things have gotten! I had a lower body lift at age 59 2 months ago and 1/3 of the stitches did not stay in. So for 2 months I have had an open, oozing, and hurting hole on my back hip. My doctor has been giving me 20 / 5mg percocets every 8 days BUT the pharmacist called him to find out why!!! So I have 1 week of Vicodin and still a 4-inch hole!
They seem to be pushing pot everywhere, and it is still considered illegal in this country! So I could break a federal law and get pot but not Vicodin! I find this outrageous. Beside that, you are looked at like a criminal, which makes me angry and sad enough to cry all the time!
Nate
Virginia
This is another example of government overreach! Their enability to find a middle ground is astounding! You can bet your bippy those at the top can get their pain meds! Both my wife and I have have been chronic pain sufferers for over 10 years. The pain clinic that used to treat me for years, until bought out by big industry, told me there was nothing else they could do for me. So they cut off my pain meds and told me to try yoga and not to come back! Wow! Are these people for real?
The unintended consequences of the war on opioids was easy for us suffers to predict! They threw us under the bus big time! I was told that my drug is dangerous, and I may become addicted or overdose. Really? Whats the alternative? I’ve followed the rules for 10 years now and am looking at job loss, uncontrolled pain, depression and other mental health issues. Maybe I should try alcohol, which more people die from every year, or unregulated street drugs that are cut with who knows what! How about the ultimate cure, the end of a gun barrel! The people at the CDC and DEA have done a knock-out job with the increase of suicides from chronic pain sufferers, with many more to come if nothing’s done! Keep up the good work. We saw it coming. Why didn’t you?!
John Hilton
Ga
We need to push for all got to be random drug testing!!!
Julie
CA
I have read others opinions, Here’s mine: There are thousands of people that literally have reasons to have to take pain pills to help them with their pain. Yes, people abuse them, but what about those who’ve had to be put on them to live. People would rather not have pain at all. No one asks to be put on pain pills to keep their pain under control. The fact of the matter is: they had to. Have you ever had a headache and had to take an Advil just to take it away?
I have. Taking away prescription pain pills is not going to fix the problem. It’s only making it worse. I have literally seen people crying real tears because they have so much pain and they can’t even get out of bed to function without their pain pills. It’s wrong to take them away!!!!!! People are scared. If someone killed someone you wouldn’t throw an innocent person to jail in their place. That is what is what is happening.
They’re convicting innocent people because others abuse it. If they feel they need to make that kind adjustment they need to have stricter rules and guidelines instead of omitting the necessary drug to help those who have a legitimate need.
They are not helping the problem at hand, only making it worse. They are not taking drug abusers off the street, they are making more abusers. Now they haven’t got the pills they need to control pain, or they are thrown into withdrawals. They have people turning to the streets for heroin, or spending their rent money for pain pills to keep from hurting. Now their are more persons that are homeless, on drugs, etc. They are killing those people that are in desperate need.
For example, my mother in law, she is disabled and in tragic pain. She has R.S.D. reflex sympathetic nerve dis trophy. Her pain jumps from joint to joint and eventually will go to her heart and kill her. So keeping her pain down is necessary. She needs her pain meds. or it will kill her without them. Something needs to be done to help. We need to help those who can’t help themselves. I really hope someone has some idea on what we can do. I want to help the people who can’t. So where do I start. Any Ideas? Thank you.
Jon
Phoenix
It is my opinion that this fake opioid crisis is merely another vehicle to make politicians, branches of the medical community, and drug co/pharmacies filthy rich. All of the things that chronic pain patients are made to do does not make any common sense. Therefore, to me it is all about money and control. I have written my gov on a regular basis about having to see my primary doctor as well as pain mgmt doctor a total of 16 times a year and a multitude of baseless drug tests.
I used to go once, then twice, then four times a year until my primary doctor refused to prescribe. I believe that I take very little, especially since taking extended release (ER). So now we see pharmacies way overcharging for ERs and opting out of coupons for narcotics whether it is the drug co or not. I was paying a $15 co-pay just last year now it is $100 which I cannot afford so I take a different one with horrible side effects. With my theory there is a ton of money passing hands.
It is the real war – on patients – not drug overload. I plan to file a discrimination complaint. If it was any other illness they would treat you differently, and it should be affordable. I continue to search the web for any class action lawsuits. By the way the gov said new laws have nothing to do with chronic pain patients (24 yrs and counting). Gee, can you let the PCPs know that, please? Going to pain counts as it is a specialist visit so $$$ multiply that by 12. I am over it all.
Mary
Illinois
I’m praying for her as myself and so many many others!!
God Bless you for speaking
Up for her!!
??❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️??
IM AWAKE
WI
I was functioning great and only taking pain medication when needed for many years. I had a fall, broke my back, breaks in both ankles, ect… I wont go into everything. I have been struggling with pain and have been disabled for many years. I live on disability so my husband carries the insurance, a good insurance. On my pain medication I was able to feed my animals (we raise chickens, for eggs for the local food pantry) it helped me to give back and stay active. Since my doctor cut me off my medication I have been struggling everyday just to keep my animals feed & get to the feed mill. Every night I struggle with restless leg and usually walk around all night ‘crying’ trying to find relief. I have found myself talking 800 IBUPROFEN every few hours trying to get relief, which I am sure is hurting me more. We also have a great insurance which causes me to drive 3 hours one way to a pain specialist as we live in the north woods. My bills are now racking up over 20,000 for treatments that are not giving me the relief I need, and causing me more pain to do the drive there. So how are so many of these drugs getting on to our streets when a person with a doctor degree cannot prescribe? My biggest question is ‘WHY ARE DOCTORS NOT FURIOUS (WHO HAVE THE YEARS OF EDUCATION) AND ARE BEING STRIPPED OF THEIR RIGHTS TO HELP THEIR PATIENTS NOW? SILENT WEAPONS FOR QUIET WARS- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_38tsQ4p0I
Jongkie
Sacraento, CA
So glad to hear all the reactions to the issue of taking Norco and/or any other medicine to alleviate the chronic pain issues . I agree with all the comments I agree, as well, that there are multiple reasons involving the insurance companies and drug companies. I was diagnosed with chronic pain around 2008 due permanent neck and back injuries sustained in 1987. I have been treated with Hydrocodone, most of the time effectively. No abuse or overdose. Always the same dose Recently I have been “tapered” down and I feel like a criminal or a child reading the label on my medicine “must last for 30 days” I believe that if the medication is used for a specific medical purpose such as chronic pain, addiction should not play a role in the use of the medicine. Furthermore, the BP medicines prescribed to me one year ago have dangerous side effects. I’m a 90 year old female, very active and choose quality over time.
Mary
Illinois
I have a question? Why is it that they tell you how many to take and you take accordingly and they then say you should not have took that many?! I am also a chronic pain suffer. You tell them each visit your pain level. They don’t believe you. How can they know what you feel or think??!! So discouraging!
Carolyn D
Diboll, Texas
What good is this web page? All you’re doing is pushing your books and home remedies.
None of it helps chronic pain.
Raymond
Michigan
I agree with all of the replies. Thus whole thing is asinine, the total definition of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. They can cut prescription drugs to zero and it won’t make a dent. There are more drugs for sale on the street than all the pharmacies in the world. Plus they missed the most lethal drug around, the stupid pills they sell in Washington DC.
Judy
Philadelphia
I get afraid each time I see my pain specialists. He has cut my medication for pain three times in the past 4 months. Sometimes, I have to skip doses because otherwise I would not have enough to last the whole month.
bonnie duncan
48386
I just had to go off Norco after 7 years. I think it has to do with the weed vote coming up in nov. This from Bonnie in Michigan.
Cheryl
Florida
First I think everyone that works for the DEA and the CDC and the government should have a drug test to see how many of them of them have pain of any kind. If they are being treated for pain does the new law apply to them? Probably not. It’s bad enough that the insurance companies are telling us what we need or don’t need, they don’t even know us. Sometimes I wonder what we need a Doctor for, since the government is wanting to take over our meds and the insurance companies want to tell us what we need or don’t need, lets just cut out the middle man. The one person that see us, know us, and understand us, the same person that this law ties up their hands.
It is no wonder that so many pain Doctors are leaving this line of work. And then there is the fact people that are abusing this or any kind of meds will just go to the streets, you will find that maybe there will be less prescription over dosing but there will be more heroin od’s. People who want to get high or messed up will find away. But people who really need pain meds they too may go to the streets. And then the government just made criminals out of them. For people that don’t have chronic pain just don’t understand it can drive you crazy the never ending throbbing, burning and aching pain. It has caused people to take their own life. How is this law really going to help anyone? And you know they never even mention nerve damage.
Charles
Missouri.
I am 76. My primary care physician prescribed hydrocodone years ago for my inoperable osteoarthritis. I was able to work for several years, but fell into disability while taking vioxx that was prescribed by a specialist, not my primary care physician. I had a are & emergency by-pass surgery, as test showed my heart muscle was dying.
During cardio rehab, I developed chronic prostitis, as the radiation treatments I had for prostate cancer burned the wall in my rectum. I had several surgical corrections but incontinence still plagues my every day life.
We lost everything due to medical expenses even with excellent health insurance.
I still wake up & do a few chores, fix meals, watch the kids dogs, but I don’t go anyplace other than a store or a fast food restaurant, as all are close to our apartment. I am able to swim some, but not on “diarrhea” days. Walking is very limited and very painful. There is no extra money for the luxury of seeing doctors anymore. My meds are free, as I have Medicare C plan that covers the tier 1&2 generics 100%.
My PCP remains the same. I see him once or twice a year now. I am back taking NSAIDS but they are causing internal bleeding. That doesn’t hurt, but I’m pretty sure it’s why I can’t get a high enough red count to donate blood anymore.
John Hilton
Ga
That is very true and people the majority are for drug testing randomly for all who hold any office!! Judges included!!
Debbie
Mi
Who can I complain to in Mi about this thus is sooo unfair
Mary
Illinois
Am in so much pain. My family thinks I’m making it up to get pain meds. If they could ONLY feel the pain that I do for 1 day they would be begging me for my forgiveness. I’m just so incredibly tired of hurting just so very very tired!!
❤️??❤️
Kandy
Oregon
My mother-in-law was going through the same things with my husband’s siblings. The wanted her off the pain meds and to exercise more. She died of an infection of the foot this year. I say if you are in pain, and especially if you are elderly, you should have something that works to ease your pain. I have been on hydrocodone for 6 years for fibromyalgia. Thank God my immediate family understands and supports me. To hell with the rest of the world.
stephanie
fla.
I would like to know what people with chronic, debilitating, pain from a terminal disease are supposed to do about these new pain medication limits. I have been suffering from HIV for almost 30yrs. now. The disease is under control, to a certain extent but I have been left with many side affects, including severe, chronic pain from peripheral neuropathy, which I describe as feeling like there’s something chewing inside my arms and legs constantly, leaving my muscles so weak that normal daily activities are next to impossible. I also enjoy the pain of degenerative disk disease and osteoporosis that has caused two fractured vertebrae, bone on bone vertebrae, numerous herniated disks, and these problems also affect my lungs. I have problems breathing. I also have slight scoliosis and a disease called Scheurmans disease and extreme kyphosis (hump or painful slouch in upper back) that older people might get. I also have severe arthritis all over my body. All this garbage, and I’m only 51, young in mind but not in body.
I do feel for people who are having problems with addiction but why should people with severe, chronic pain suffer because these people have an underlying psychological problem that they think opiate addiction will help. In turn, they may overdose on a medication that unfortunately some of us have no choice in taking but that does enable us to do more things in life that normal people take advantage of. I would just love to go for long walks, horsebackriding, or even simple things but I just can’t. I’m not looking for sympathy, not by any means. I’m just looking for a happy medium and an answer. I just want my pain relief. Don’t we deserve that?
Charles
Missouri.
Apparently, no. I have been hurting for 25+ years, and my Doctor helped me keep working. I lost part time income in 2012 as I could no longer pass a DOT physical.
In 2013, my 3 month supply of hydrocodone started getting written by Doctors I never met. Now, I can’t even get tramadol without begging for 30 days worth, and NSAIDS are just as effective. But they cause me internal bleeding.
I guess I will try & find a street pharmacist, or take ibuprofen with whiskey.
Dan
Arizona
I have neck and back and leg pain. Sometimes the pain
meds. written out by my doctor aren’t enough to slow the pain.
what are we to do? If the people in Washington DC have to go through my pain would they be doing this to us?
Carolyn
Diboll, Texas
I have diabetes with Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy. In Jan of 2015, My doctor decided not to take my Insurance anymore. Not getting paid enough from my insurance. I had also broken my back earlier and foot from a fall. I could no longer work.
I have been taking hydrocodone for years. I was cut cold turkey and without a doctor. Took months to find a new doctor and I could not find one that would prescribe hydrocodone. All I could get was Tylenol 4 and it does not help much. So I am on SS, limited income. And can’t find a doctor around here that takes new patients and ones that do, will not prescribe hydrocodone. What can we do???
Kandy
Oregon
It was recommended to me today by my doctor to try CBD oil. I bought some not knowing if it will work or not. $104.95 for a 60 day supply. My hydrocodone costs $5 copay. Nice.
Mary
Illinois
Hey Kandy let me know if it does help!!
Thank you
N
God Bless you!’
Jill
Arizona
I am not only a chronic pain pt but also a nurse. I find it absolutely infuriating that the govt is getting involved to this extent. I have seen a HUGE increase in elderly and younger patients attempting SUICIDE because they can’t take the pain anymore. People respond to pain meds in different ways.
This policy is like selling the same pair of pants and forcing everyone to wear them, and if they don’t fit, go naked. It’s ridiculous, and it’s inflicting pain and suffering on so many people. If you don’t abuse it, go to the same doc for the meds,and follow the rules, there should be NO issues. My doc is so upset because he KNOWS his patients are suffering. Again, DON’T PUNISH THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE RULES.
I really want to investigate suing the DEA for inflicting pain and suffering. Watch: there will be a huge increase in illegal drugs because desperate people will do desperate things to get pain relief. I really want to start a lawsuit.
Sue
MI
I would join you in the lawsuit, Jill from AZ
Janie
TN
Thank you Lord for others understanding my pain. I began having TMJ in the mid to late 70s. I wore a night splint and was very active. I was advised not to chew gum or ice any more so I quit. I usually had a very upper sore back at night. A friend asked me why I had such a notty back. In 1994, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia along with bulging disks in the lower back. I had put up stock as a manager and before the title since 1983. I went through pain management until 1998 and then had my first of 3 lower back surgeries.
I was given a very low dose pain med and muscle relaxer and stopped taking them. I had a cervical 3, 4, 5 surgery next. The Dr. had big hands and wasn’t able to complete the procedure. It relieved some pressure but in 2000, I was back for the surgery he didn’t complete.
In 2016, I was fused from C 3- C 7, have bone on bone and constant pain at T3-5, and am fused from L4-5. I had L4-5 vertabra scar tissue scraped to help with pain relief. I’ve had multiple mouth splints made with no pain relief, migraines, muscle spasms preventing me from being able to to move and get a bathroom at night and unable to use any part of my body from my neck down. VERY SCARY!!!! I’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease, TMJ, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Lumbralgia, chronic pain syndrome, and now my Dr. that helped me through all of this moved and left no letter for me to use stating I did not abuse drugs.
The Dr. I asked to take over my case said he would back me up with a letter from my orthopedic Dr. or my previous dr. I went to pain mgt. in Jan. They burned the nerves again. I’ve been in extreme pain ever since. I tried to ask this Dr. how I could take my narcotic 10 Norco and 5-10 of valium when you can’t get both. I don’t even take them both together. I don’t take the pain med unless I need it. He got mad and walked away. Pain has been with me half of my life. My sister was an addict. She stole my mom blind. She lied to my mom and told her I took all these meds which she stole from me.
So, our government has slowly become socialist. Now, no trans fat. And YES, ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS CAN WALK IN AND GET AND MED THEY NEED NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!! ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS PULL THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION ROLLS AND CHECK THE DRS. & PERSONS OVER TAKING.
GOD HELP THE CANCER PATIENTS, OUR VETS, and those of us Who are TRULY IN PAIN. I THINK ILL MOVE IN WITH MY CONGRESSMAN SO ILL HAVE A CAREGIVER TOO. IM ALL ALONE WITHOUT RELATIVES. I am the LAST. And, if we could put a few mines down, it would stop drugs & illegals from coming into this country.
Janie
TN
HhH
North Carolina
I agree with you. My life was destroyed by a back injury seven years ago. I wish I had been killed instead of injured. I had a half million in life insurance, and my husband would have had a great life.
I was forced out of the job I had held for fifteen years, we lost our car, our credit is destroyed and we may lose our house. I am in constant unending agony and am treated like a criminal and a drug addict because all other forms of treatment failed and I had to go on morphine.
My state is more interested in protecting stupid addicts than real patients. They want to limit scripts to 120 pills per month, regardless of actual need. Spare me the “addiction is a disease” nonsense. It is a disease they chose to get by taking drugs they don’t need. Pharmacists and lawmakers should stay out of our treatment.
NASCAR driver Dick Trickle killed himself because he couldn’t bear his chronic pain. Expect that number to rise as more people lose the medications that don’t even give them complete relief….. just enough ease to get through one more day.
Anna G
Australia
If you lived in Australia, I would have joined a class action
My father attempted suicide last week due to a director of pain clinic abruptly cut all his pain meds and he suffers irreversible chronic cancer pain! Will be seeking legal advice this has to stop.
Kenneth
Monmouth, Oregon
I had a rupured disc at L5/S1 about 15 years ago. I had surgery to remove the ruptured disc. The surgery helped me walk again, but the residual pain continues
to this day. I also have a herniated disc in my upper back. It is inoperable because the surgeon would have to enter from the front of my chest, which means moving the heart, etc.!
So, I was prescribed Hydracodone for the continuing pain. My pharmacy filled my Rx every month until this last time ( 5/24/2018). I have to drive about 22 miles to my doctor to GET the Rx, because they say that the Government will not allow them to mail it to me. Then I have to take it to my pharmacy ( Walmart), and when I presented the Rx to the pharmacist, he said that he had to call my doctor to ” verify ” that my Rx was ” valid. ”
I said: ” In other words you don’t trust ME or my DOCTOR! In short, it has become a major hassle to fill my Rx because of the Government laws! They make honest citizens feel like criminals!!!
Kate
USA
This is to Janie and others: Try not to politize your issue as it will immediately cut you from sympathy from whatever the ‘other side” is. This is not to say the government isn’t involved. They are always involved in setting in the regs. But I’ve watched the pendulum swing from over to under prescribing for many years. It seems to go in 10 to 12 year cycles., independent of whether the blues or reds are in power.
Some of you favor government involvement in other issues like women’s reproductive health, or end of life issues or mental health care. So, if you want less government control it has to be more universal. You can find other allies so that it’s not just 1 kind of issue but an overall look at how any of us gets treated.
Look at what other countries do. Get facts. Your stories, while heartbreaking will not change a single vote. I wish it were different.
Norah
USA
Sad state of affairs. Worked in public health for many years. It is sad to see the level of blatant destruction this drug war is having on law abiding citizens.
Uninformed people making health care decisions for citizens. I watched people being labeled by the medications they take by non-medical staff and some nurses as they reviewed their files. Making judgements before visiting them in their homes. It sickened me.
My doctor informed me my prescription will no longer be filled. He’s been my doctor for over 20 years. He disagrees with the laws and feels he should be able to practice medicine as an independent doctor at his discretion. Unfortunately, there is no way I want to see a compassionate doctor be arrested for offering care. How can this even happen in this day in age?
There are no alternatives to this problem. Even my pharmacy is shocked at the level of hoops people must jump through.
Why are insurance companies having to get prior authorization after a script is written? Double dipping in my opinion, causing my health costs to sky rocket.
I agreed to try other medications. However, the side effects are horrible. Celebrex has a BLACKBOX warning and 26 pages, versus two pages for T3. The other alternative is a synthetic and has an SSRI to which I am extremely sensitive and has extreme side effects too. No thank you. It took years and 1000’s of dollars to come up with a solution to cope with my pain, and it was working.
Terrified for my future, as many of you are. Yes I too have considered giving up because of quality of life issues. I never once felt high or drugged on T3. Muscle relaxers make me feel like a zombie, and I literally can’t move or function taking them. NSAIDs cause stomach bleeding. Synthetics are a joke and alter my brain chemistry to the point of dysfunction. Plus the cost is quadruple. Thanks, big Pharma!
Get the government out of my and your doctors’ offices. Decisions like my health care is none of their business.
This war on drugs is alarming to me. I have never abused my prescriptions and am sad that many people are suffering.
I feel stigmatized and alone. Sad to read other people are suffering too.
Our country is so brainwashed into thinking pain isn’t real. There is a choice of medications for a reason. What works for some doesn’t work for others. This is far from the “person-centered” approach to care. The opioid laws are short sighted and in no way solve the perceived problem and only create revenue for the government to oversee another program.
In my opinion, this kind of campaign harms good citizens who are doing their best to function.
Does the government not understand the basics of “use it or lose it?” My prescription kept me active and in the game. It kept me from atrophy and helped me to do the exercises to strengthen muscles and carry out daily tasks of living.
Now a person cannot turn on the TV or news without a drug commercial or an ad attacking opioid use. Good grief.
I bet many children and adults had no idea what an opioid was until our government educated them through their vile campaign, making people either curious or hateful. Stigmatizing patients who have legitimate needs. When I see those ads I fume because of the destruction they cause.
My script is medically necessary. I don’t abuse it nor do I share it. Empathizing with the those who are suffering. Pain is real. Relief is necessary to functioning and leading healthy lives.
Wanted to put my words down and hope they make a difference. My fears about “big brother” are actually being realized. What a sad, sad state of affairs. Never have viewed this drug as mind-altering in anyway.
Stay strong, those of you who are suffering. My heart breaks for you, and I hope you find relief. I, too, find this a matter liberty and freedom.
Keep the government out of my doctor’s office. Let my healthcare choices be between me and my doctor.
Rosie
Michigan
I throught living in the united states you had freedom. But it is not freedom when the Government can control medication that people need to be able to function and live an almost normal life.
TIM
I am in chronic pain, and my insurance will only pay for only half of my pain medication which now is $200. I have to pay $200 out-of-pocket every month. That is a lot of money for me. It’s because of President Trumps war on drugs. Some people abuse the pain medication, and the people who need it suffer! I had broken my neck; badly bruised my spinal cord in my neck area and back; lost half of my left lung; broken all my ribs on my right side and 8 on left side; broken my sternum and collar bone in two places; had a pint of an infected fluid removed from my left chest cavity; I had a high fever; 5 ribs so the fluid could be removed; and needed a 4 inch round by 4 inch deep cavity that had to be packed every day for 6 weeks so it would heal from the inside out.It was horrible pain pulling out the packing (12 foot long ) across the sawed ribs and cut nerves!
If I do not have my medication I cannot function, and my quality of life is horrible as it is when I am on my medication. If I do too much my pain gets very bad.
Diane D
MS
I to spent alot of money and it took us years to find something that worked for me. I have cerbal palsy with ataxia. Now I can’t get the meds. I need.
Because of the government. I don’t want to live the rest of my life in pain. My choices are becoming a drunk or getting meds. Off the street or killing myself.
Sue
MI
The streets are drying up as well, we are running out of options.
Chris
Ca
I’m in the same situation you are, and I was taking 2x a day. It helped with pain. Now I have weaned myself off of Vicodin, and my pain is back to where it was 20 yrs ago!
My headaches from my neck and shoulders seem worse!
It is so sad we have to live like this now!
I’m using aspirin, Tylenol, and turmeric along with ice and volterin cream
You summed it up just perfectly!
Hope you feel better soon!
Spritzgie?maschine
https://www.sunbunmachine.com/de/
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Jan
Arkansas
I am 66 yr old and was forced to retire at 62 even though it was hard financially. I take oxycodone 4 times a day 10mg. The orthopedic Dr. said I had degenerative spine disease. He told me all my joints were those of a 78 yr-old. No surgery would fix it . I cannot function even with meds! I cannot shop for food or stand long enough to cook. My husband does it all. I do no not want to take pain killers!! I want to go to Disney World with my grandchildren. I want to stop waking up my husband at night crying because I hurt so badly. Do you think people would not take another route if they could live without pain. Come up with an idea before you take something away! I also have diagnosis of severe depression and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome!
Suffering
Almost Heaven
I am a multiple organ transplant patient I have had diabetes for over 50 years. The complications from neurapathy alone are devastating . For over 23 years the hospital who did the transplants precscribed oxy to handle my break out pain. With being subject to Morphine, Dilauded, Demerol etc in hospital The addiction or dependency got started. So when this big mandate came out The hospital dumped me into the primary phys lap They did not bother to take the time to understand what chronic patients like me have to deal with.
I have talked to hundreds of thousands of people with the same problem. They are all in agreement that they are dumbfounded by that nu 1 ass in Dc who made this ruling. To only wish the same pain on them is ludicris but what will it take to made Washington Understand People are suffering.
Please forgive my lack of spelling. I am blind and doing the best I can. As with many people here who have shared their story. Many are responsible individuals with a common problem PAIN Please take the time to write your state congress people and or Senators of each State you reside in.
Like me, aspirin and band aids do not fix the problem . The pain clinics set up by the gov are a joke. Making many go thru unnecessary hoops to get any help if any at all. I am one voice but together we can send our body parts to Washington to show them Action must be taken to change their thinking. Thanks for all who read this.
Anonymous
https://www.laser-cutter-machine.com/pt/
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Robbie lee
Texarkana, Tx
I think they don’t care about us u
In true chronic pain.they only care about betty addicts off easy street of getting pain meds. How n
Many of the people like myself have considered suicide? I’ll get let than street addicts cause they self medicate while we go through text after text doctor telling us the same think but then how they can’t help us. Too we my death is because of the medical bullshit.
Susan W.
Michigan
Just a side note. Start writting your officials, and let them know your stories. They do get our messages
Edward D.
PA
This is the second time I tried to share my thoughts.
In the late 90s I had a slip and fall at work and 2 and 1/2 discs removed. Ancient bone graft not so successful. In the years since have had other surgeries and plain old arthritis, osteoarthritis, and spondylitis. They have decimated my body.
So as time progressed, and pain became a major issue I have been prescribed opioids. These medicines have helped me to continue to be a good neighbor and citizen of this great country. But now the government is going to make me a burden where I cannot help my family and my mother. So I will go from a cane to a walker to a wheelchair, dependent on the powers-that-be.
Take all this money, and stop the illegal drugs from coming in and killing our young people. Please leave us old folks alone!!¡!
Edward D.
PA.
After a slip and fall at work I had 2 1/2 discs removed from my back in the late 90s. The bone graft surgery was not 100% successful. As I have grown older and also had multiple surgeries, where spondylitis and osteoarthritis have set in, my doctor prescribed me opioids to allow me to function as a good citizen of this great country. Now, facing no longer receiving proper pain management, I will become a burden on society. I was brought up to never be a burden.
So maybe I should walk off in the distance like the Native Americans did. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not thinking of suicide. I would prefer to use a cane instead of a walker. I have a family that I want to assist and have only been able to do so with proper pain management (not be a burden.) Without my medicine I will become a burden. I say take all this money and prevent drugs illegal drugs from coming into our country.
Why should millions like me suffer? It is wrong!!!!¡
Thomas
Saint,Ignace Michigan
I too have been on pain meds for a very long time, since 1978, I toke a fall on a job site in Michigan, Mackinaw island, have two herniated and bulging discs in my back L-4 and L-5 causeing very bad lower back pain and real bad sciatica on right leg, moving to both as age goes on, had talk with doctor today he is basically throwing me away after 25 years, this is my home town doctor we know each other well, I have had no issues with him or him with me, but all of a sudden he no longer wants to treat me, and no other doctor at hospital wants to take me on, so in all this it looks like I will live my last year’s of my life being treated like I am 10 years old, they don’t even treat 10 year olds that bad , it would hurt their feelings, but do it to the elder and disabeld, and you can get away with that!
Bozo
Colorado
I am a decorated, disabled, combat veteran of the Vietnam War. Had injuries to both knees, which later in life had to be totally replaced. I have severe arthritis in all of my joints. I was prescribed a few years ago with Hydrocodone/Tylenol mix from the VA. I do not take the full dose prescription. I was prescribed 7.5 twice a day. I usually take one every other day. I am very cautious with this medication as I know the pitfall of addiction.
I have not, nor do I tend to, ever abuse this drug. However, I am 72 years old and have been in constant pain for several years. On a good day, my pain lever is about a 7. On a bad day it is about 9-10. The Hydrocodone helps me to still enjoy some aspects of my life. Also, hydrocodone relieves my pain more than anything else. I do not get a “buzz” from it. It just relieves my pain.
Please note: If I am denied hydrocodone, which I have not abused, I WILL find relief from my pain. It will either be “street” drugs or alcohol. I have never used street drugs before, but I know where they are available. I have been the alcohol route and that was not pleasant, caused me a lot of family problems, and I put my self and my family through hell getting off alcohol. However, as stated, I WILL not live the rest of my life in constant pain. Also, all of the law makers that are making the decision on hydrocodone will be able to get the hydrocodone that they need. They just are’t concerned and don’t care about the average citizen and what they have to go through.
I do not have the answer for control of the general population. One can become addicted to anything. Where does personal responsibility fall in this decision making process? The govment cannot control every aspect of our lives. This is called socialism which most of the people in America want today and which our last so called president advocated and his bosom buddy, Hillary.
I can’t speak for others, but for me, if I am not allowed to get hydrocone, strictly for pain with no purpose or intent to abuse, I WILL go to street drugs or alcohol. Sad, part is that our govment will have driven me to that decision…
Rich
OR.
The pain scale works like this for me, and others already know this, a pain level of ten is actually life threatening, the patient has uncontrollable tears pouring out of their eyes, is screaming in pain, and can pass out from shock, shock kills a lot of people. If your claiming a ten, you know what I mean, if your not displaying those uncontrollable symptoms, your not having a 10 level event. These claims of a 10 level event in pain management is often used by drug seekers, this is why doctors have good reasons to not prescribe narcotics.
RUSSELL
CALIFORNIA
Russell California April 16, 2018
I searched for a like this site because the federal government changed the rules on pain medication. I am 72 years old and have had neck pain for 40 years. Years ago, I went through a pain management class. The idea at the time was to give enough drugs to control the pain. The opioid crisis caused by individuals looking for a high and overdosing created a knee jerk action.
A few people in the federal government decided that they knew better than those in pain set limits on prescription drugs. For me the drugs were a blessing. No more trips to emergency rooms or throwing up in the toilet. I took part in the lives of family and friends and had a career in law enforcement.
Along comes the government and I am now forced to reduce my meds to their standards. I am now struggling to cut my meds. I suffer withdrawals and my headaches are increasing. It appears my pain has nothing to do with the process. Help me please. We all need an advocate to support those in pain.
HhH
No Carolina
Yeah, brother, I hear you. I know other ain patients who have given up on health care and are using heroin off the street to treat their pain. That is my plan too, if I lose access to my meds. I am so sorry for what is happening to you and all of us here. I have zero sympathy for addicts. They chose to abuse drugs, and those who got hooked “accidentally” should have just told their docs and asked for help. Nobody cares about us.
Sure will
Kansas
I have been on 10 mg hydrocodone 4 x a day for many years. Even with medication I have very bad days. I see a pain management doctor about 4 times a year. I have no insurance at my place of employment. 2 to 3 times a year I have a u.a. That costs $820.00 dollars each time. My appointments are $130.00 each time. My script every month is $75.00.
I have osteoarthritis, bone spurs in my neck and back, had neck surgery to remove the worst spurs, three knee surgeries, and two failed. My doctor tells me to file for disability, but it doesn’t pay well. At the pharmacy and doctor’s office I feel so looked upon like a junkie. But the physical realities are forever present. When in pain you will do whatever it takes to make it go away, and they know it so good luck, everyone. I will continue to crawl through the hoops.
JJ
Nebraska
Use GoodRx for your prescription, and it will help lower your monthly expenses. I use it every month and it helps a lot. Also, I hope you start feeling better. My wife has a very similar situation to you. People who are not in pain daily just don’t get it. I tell people to grab a chef knife, stick it their neck, and leave it there. That’s how chronic pain feels. I feel so bad for anyone just trying to relieve some pain so they can try to live a normal quality of life. I hope this helps you. I think worse times are coming.
Lisa
FL
Someone please stop this madness! It is not us who are addicts. People who live in pain don’t get the euphoric factor. It only helps us to function normally like everyone else. When I heard that woman in Congress say we should try more aspirin, I laughed through my angry tears. I wanted to say, let me break YOUR neck & hand you a couple of Tylenol after you’re puking from the pain. I am so frightened to go back to that state.
It’s been since 2002 & has gotten much worse. Now I get to have seizures with it, as well as sciatica. I am not a drug addict. I don’t even drink. I take 3 10 mg methadone pills a day and one 10mg Percocet for bedtime. That’s not a lot of medication. I don’t play with it, run out early, sell it or give it away. This is my medication! It is for the intense pain I have to live with for the rest of my life! It will never get better! Please! Stop this ridiculousness, now! If you want dopeheads, go after the methamphetamine people. They are the ones that have it the worst.
Buddy
Arizona
My son is a Veteran. He was told he can wait in the ER for 6 hours or so and end up with nothing because “they are really cracking down.” You look my son in the eyes and tell him it does not matter that your back is trashed. We just don’t help people who need it. No insurance to see a real doctor either. People wonder why there are so many deaths. Really? He is about to give up. He does a very tough job when he works, and he travels. Imagine anyone having to go to a new doctor every other month. It is an impossible feat. Impossible. There’s zero interest or concern. I do not want to lose my son because NO one will ease his well-documented pain.
My idea all along was to not cut off or cut down on chronic patients’ meds. If the doctor feels they need it then why not make that happen? I say grandfather the patients who have been suffering a year or more. Let them see their GP if possible and establish them. If anything changes send them to pain mgmt for their next visit but bring them back a couple months later. Make it managed care. Give us a gold card that allows us to be flexible within our city and doctors.
For someone like my son (God bless him for working like he does) he could get established with new MRIs and other tests and get a platinum card. That’s all a doctor, urgent care, ER would need to have all the info necessary. It would be tamperproof. I guess this just all makes so much sense, though.
James
El Paso
I have been prescribed Vicodin for the past 5 years following failed back surgery to repair an injury received in combat. Every time I try to refill the prescription I am given a big hassle, and I usually end up without it for a couple of days. I have to call to get it actually pushed through again.
Well, my VA doc went somewhere else, and now I have new doc. She wants to see all of her patients on Vicodin before she will prescribe. The VA is not a quick process so I run out on Thursday, and my appointment isn’t until the following Thursday. I simply cannot function without the medication due to the level of pain. I also do not know what the hell I am going to do if the withdrawal symptoms hit hard. Now I am all about trying other things, but you should never cold turkey stop taking hydrocodone. It should be stepped down to avoid this.
Bottom line: if it gets too bad I will go to the street to get it. I wish I didn’t have to do that but this ignorant doctor cannot feel my pain so there is no understanding whatsoever on their part. I am completely freaking hopeless at this point. Every month is the same crap. Because others have abused it I have to pay their price. I never take more than 3-7.5mg a day which just knocks it down enough to function. I have not been pain-free in years, even with the medication. I have passed every urinalysis I take every six months so I do not understand why they would do this. How the hell do I feed my family if I can’t work? I guess I need to start drinking alcohol again. One way or the other I will not be in excruciating pain every day. Tried to do it all legally but our government and doctors won’t let me. Your fault this time.
Tina
Oregon
I have suffered for so long I want to die every single day all day and night what does a person do when there’s no hope? My dr quit and took me off my pain meds cold turkey and I thought they must be right now I realize there was a serious reason I was prescribed them in the first place because they allowed me to function and now I’m just waiting for the day I eat a bullet or all the crap torturing me actually kills me. Neither is an option I want and never would I have ever thought I could feel this horrific.
You can visibly see my hip popped partially out of the socket as well as feel my spine jammed so badly into other hip and that’s not even all of it the siatica alone is enough to make me wish for death but man when my hip gave out I am in a level of pain I didn’t think possible and I suffer from real actual cluster migraines which supposedly are in the top 5 of most painful things that can happen to a human and they suck they don’t go away and hurt so bad. For years and years I truly thought I couldn’t have anything except being trampled by an actual elephant hurt worse then my hip which could have been avoided had any dr taken me seriously when I was a kid.
Never the less the hip pain is as bad and often worse then the cluster migraine and I get regular migraines the cluster ones are insane. Today I’m not on anything and have tried everything other then opiots nothing helps nothing. Idk if I’m loosing my mind but it feels like everyday is worse and worse. I can’t even imagine having to walk half a block to go pee I think if in that situation I would be screwed but to make things worse because I went ahead and stopped all opiots now no dr will even see me or try and help me.
I hated being judged for taking pain meds but now I think it was much safer doing that then everyday trying to find the strength to kill myself as I have zero options and I’m Oregon they don’t care not at all. I’ve spent over a year now just trying to find a dr even saying I will never ask for pain meds just please help me only to be told I would need pain meds and they can’t be prescribed. Then I find out every single de here in Oregon just got permission to treat pain patents with a drug called suboxin (don’t know how to spell that) so I did some research and it doesn’t at all how pain wasn’t made to help pain is meant for a short term use for detox yet it’s harder to quit then heroine and it’s bad bad bad.
My husband started going to methadone clinics talking with people downtown and this drug leads people right to heroin as detoxing from is is horrific and very very painful so much so people would rather shoot drugs then go through the detox ask any pharmacist they will back up what I just said but ask a pcp dr they have no clue. Today is so bad for me I’ve forced my husband to leave I’m alone sitting hoping either God helps me or I find a way to die. So to all the people out there thinking ur helping stop addiction yet instead are totally screwing those who aren’t addicts but truly have chronic pain and have no help or hope now I say to you the rise in Suicide amongst chronic pain patents study the statistics because every major medical university has done major studies and people like me have less then .004% chance of becoming an addict as all we want is to not hurt so bad we take death as an alternative. That’s on all the law makers heads and I hope all of them will end up suffering like me
Dave
I honestly think they don’t care about such a small segment of population. We can’t convince doctors who do care to fight these regulations that are anti quality of life how can we do it? I can nearly do anything for myself! I know when I can’t get pain relief from these drugs my only option is left.
This might be what the insurance companies want to get costs under control and the government could go along with that just to shut them up. People who write in Facebook or Twitter don’t take action with the government they just complaine more. I am afraid that by the time a real person responds to this plea it will be too late for us all!
Dave
19128
I am 64@ and on opiods since 2 nd operation on spine at c3-c5 area plus lower back pain. 2014 till now went all this time with getting my pain medications no problem but went to psychiatrist for depression and he told me I had to get off the drugs. The opiods are the cause of all evil in my life? To me it is a quality of life issue! I have damage to the inside of my spine that sends signals to my arms legs and rest of body!
He did not understand any of what I was going on inside my body before his snap judgement it was just his standard diagnosis pain medications bad!
People in pain they can’t tolerate it okay! I let them deal with off the scale pain alone with no drugs! I am off charts all the time 8 of 10 with medications.
I hear all the pain in this group and understand why your fighting this patients last mentality. I don’t think of myself as addictive personally but have a legitimate need to use these drug. My first response to this is to turn away and just continue to do as I have been doing. The doctor prescribing is not pressuring me but will most likely go along with this doctor if I don’t go back? Who knows what will go down in future?
A couple of years ago went to pain doctor and he switched things up on me with other drugs. My pain is real not made up so if no alternative existed why did I try the synthetic drug methadone that did nothing for my pain and made me feel high half the time did not touch the pain either.
Pain levels are irrelevant to this doctor the drug makes you believe that you need it? This scares me I don’t know what he can do to me if I don’t go back? Can he call over and get me cut off of call insurance company force me into his program? I have no idea as to what the right thing to do is here stand up and convince him by going to him or say no and go elsewhere?
Ralp
Southern New Jersey
I had in 1998 what was considered a minor hernia operation. Prior to that I had NO pain. Immediately after surgery I was in excruciating pain and went back to doctor for 2 week checkup and explained the pain . His response was that he might have nicked a bone or it could be a ‘minor’ infection.’ He sent me to a series of doctors, and they said exploratory surgery was needed.
The original doctor wouldn’t do it & recommended a general surgeon who went in and said my spermatic chord was tangled on the mesh used for the hernia. Still had tremendous pain & went back to the original surgeon, and he threw me out saying it was topical pain & go home and take aspirin.
The pain got worse so I went to the top urologist in the Phila.area & he gave me three options: stay on pain meds, go in & look around; or take out the mesh but I would lose a testicle. I asked him what he would recommend, and he said the latter would be the only way he would go. I took some time to think about it and decided to listen to him, again two weeks later for checkup & no change.
I went thru the usual docs — acupuncture, physical therapy etc. After two years of pain mgmt. I went to a doctor in New Haven Ct. who had a camera to look inside the site. After the exam he came back in after twenty minutes and said I have good news & bad. I told him to just lay it out . He said the good news is I DON’T have a hernia but the doctor giving me nerve surgery damaged three nerves not just one & to top it off he asked me if I intended to sue & I said no & he said I should think about it & if I did he would testify on my behalf!
It was past the two yrs. mark so there was no suit but I have been in severe pain since. The pain mgmt. clinic had me on 4 80 msg, Oxycontin a day $ 4 30 mgs. Oxycontin. I was able to work until they took away all but 40 mgs. a day. Now I can’t work, and my quality of life? Well, what quality of life? I also have two knees that need to be replaced and a torn right Achilles heel that needs surgery. I have gone from working (spraying new homes) to being confined to an old man’s lifting chair. I always went to pain mgmt, doctor for meds, and was urine tested for the last eight years & never failed a test.
The problem isn’t with the medication; it’s the doctors and the availability of cheap heroin. It’s the docs because they never once said be careful with meds & make sure to keep away from kids. Cheap heroin: they will deport a working father with two kids but the government won’t go anywhere near Houston where the MS-13 gang brings in & ships out the cheap heroin.
I recently went to a legal medical marijuana program and they do what the docs should have done with the opioids. You have to go thru a two week course & they explain everything from keeping it locked up from kids to not using it hours before you drive. If the docs would have told people to keep their meds under control & explained the dangers of them, you wouldn’t have the problem you have today. I weigh 275 lbs., and I am 6’ 3” tall so my pain meds will be different than a 5’ 135 lb. women but my pain med doc told me to write the CDC because there is nothing he could do & ha, did it with a smile.
I know my story is long but it took 20 years to get here. I worked my whole life and built a beautiful home so I could retire and do a little traveling but I’m stuck in this stupid chair!
John
Phoenix
Many changes for the worst have happened since 2014, and it’s not stopping.
My pain started in April 1994. I was prescribed Vicodin and Soma. I saw my doctor once a year, and starting about 6 years ago, twice a year. Last year I was sent to pain mgmt where they took me off of Opana (a Godsend) and Soma. I now take Morphine (works OK but I hear it destroys teeth) and a different muscle relaxer. My real doctor told me that because I’m taking something for sleep (a medical reason) I would now have to see him 4x a year. So 16 office visits and 16 drug tests. For what? It’s a joke. You have to pay to play though.
I don’t work and am flat broke. It doesn’t matter to anyone but me. I also drive to and from the doctor’s office, and then sit and wait for my doctor to finally see me. That 90 min or so puts me at about a level 8, pain-wise.
I’m sick to death of doing all of this just because the feds say so. Welcome to social medicine. They demand we grovel and go along. If only they had the same issues and rules.
Rich
New Jersey
I can’t help but think that the so-called intelligent professionals who restrict use of opioids to patients who need it have never experienced long term pain. Second, 33,000.00 people die each year from opioid o.d. 88,00.00 people die each year from alcohol abuse. Have you heard legislation limiting alcohol sales? Opioid deaths are the new topic to tear apart. If they are not suffering you are meaningless to them. It’s the publicity that implements these new laws, not your health.
Paul
W-S, NC
My prescription has tripled, and yet the neurosurgeon says he has nothing to offer me surgery-wise for my back pain. This is just not right, and they need to fix it!! I shouldn’t have to suffer because of someone else’s addiction. Alcohol, which I don’t use, has not been put on any list, and look how many alcoholics are out there !! Another question in my mind ?? Who gets the extra money from the price increase in Hydrocodone ??????
Lynn
Denton, NC
The previous guy said it all, in my opinion. The reason for all this “OPIOID CRISIS” is mainly because doctors are terrified to write a prescription for pain medications. They are not about to lose their license and I don’t blame them. Here is the flip side! I am 71 and ready for the bone yard. I have Lupus, SLE, the BAD stuff. Next, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, thyroid problems, 2 back surgeries and still in constant unrelenting pain. Two years ago I broke my left ankle – surgery with 12 pins, ankle never quits swelling and hurting. Honest to God, I am in pain all day and night, but I “white knuckle” it because WHAT THE CRAP CAN A PERSON DO? I AM A GOOD MORAL PERSON AND WOULD NEVER TAKE HEROIN. But this crap has gone too far! When my pain hits a 10+ I tremble.
I can see where desperate people would do desperate things. By that I mean turn to drugs in the streets. But these folks are playing Russian roulette because they don’t know what is in the chemical makeup of that “crap”. Government should stay out of the prescription business. Let physicians use their very best sound judgement to administer schedule 1 and 11 drugs to their patients. I don’t think I should have to lie in bed in agony contemplating getting out of bed to grab my 38 and end this misery. It should be against the law for folks to suffer like this.
The government’s war on drugs for over 40 years has done nothing. If we can’t treat our elderly any better than this why not put them in a firing squad and put them out of their misery. Give them an option and I bet 9 out of 10 would chose to be shot. I know I would sign up right now. So get the papers ready, I am ready to move on to the “Upper Room” and see King Jesus!
Carol P
PA
I am facing major back surgery. It all started January 2016 and the pain has just progressed. Have had 7 different shots in my back and none had worked. All the Dr.’s I have gone to refuse to give me any major pain meds. So I am living on Ibuprofen and Advil both which are bad for my stomach. Also neither one works.
I need a Flexeral or Oxycodone which I can’t get either one of them. So all I have done is suffer with severe pain until I can get a second opinion and be operated on. That is the only thing left, last resort.
Athena
I wrote to my local congress person and senator a month ago; no response. I wrote to the white house a few weeks ago; at least I got a response. Of course saying they were taking it seriously and looking into it. Not great news but maybe if more and more contact them, it might help; https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Tina
Come back in 10 years, and then you won’t be saying I need or want anything but death. I’m 44. Because of doctors’ mistakes I pray for the strength to kill myself every min of every day.
Marty
Richmond VA
Hi, I’m 56 if that matters. I’ve read many posts on here and agree with almost all. I had a double whammy. First a bad fall from a ladder March 2016 onto my back, followed by stage 4 cancer two months later. Cancer treatment was successful. (surgery, chemo, radiation) I was on 10 mg Oxycodone during that time so I didn’t feel back pain. Once the treatment was over, oxy was cut off. Hydrocodone 10/325 works fine and I take less than prescribed, usually 2. One before I plan on doing anything physical, another after I did it. Without it I stay in bed most of the time.
Insurance company changed so I had to find a new Primary Doc. First one assigned me without my knowledge stated by phone message, even before I saw her, she “will not prescribe opioids of any kind to anyone for any reason” period. Shallow minded, forget her. Not a board certified Doc anyway.
New one I will see this week. She is aware of my various conditions as I had a phone pre interview with her staff and they have all my records, medication list. They are directly linked in the same health system that did all the cancer work. So do I go in there acting like I’m on deaths doorstep to get a relatively mild (compared to Oxy) pain medication? Over the counter stuff like Advil don’t cut it.
This so called “opioid crisis” is what many have said. People, often youngsters, get hooked on stuff to get high, turn to heroin, OD then die. Very sad but it’s making it very complicated for people with legitimate needs to get what works.
The government over reacted on this. Don’t hold your breath thinking they will reverse it. They will never admit they made a mistake.
Mary
Illinois
I am also 56. Through many health issues hydrocodone is the only thing that helps… unless you count being sedated. I am recovering from rotator cuff and bicep tendinius. The pain is out of this world but now they said no hydrocodone only Tylenol 3. Now if Tylenol 3 would work I would go so grateful but they are just a tic-tac compared to actual pain help. I have had knee replacement n still needing the right one done but to scared of the pain. Fibromyalgia, arthritis, slipped disc’s, and the current rotator cuff and torn bicep surgery makes me want to tear my hair out. So tired of the doctors looking at you like you are an addiction looking for a fix makes you feel like dirt. So , so very tired
Misti
Norman, Oklahoma
I am a 46 year old female with 4 children ranging from 27-8. I am a Registered Nurse and manage 2 branches of a huge Home Health Company. About 6 years ago I started having severe symptoms that were very odd, starting off with a facial pain that was terrible. I would then have to tell my arms to move and my legs to walk. I did everything my doctor (s) asked. I did MRIs; saw Neurologists, Rheumatologists; had X-Rays, Lab Tests all to find that nothing helped.
I was put on a mild dose of Xanax 0.5 mg and was later diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. The pain had become excruciating so my Xanax was changed in the ER, and I was also placed on Norco 5 mg twice a day. I have taken the same medication for 6 years and was very stable. Now I had to choose between the 2, and the pain has been horrible. I am not an abuser. I hate taking all of this medication but I need it to function and have a quality of life, not only for me but my children as well.
This is insanity. I do not want to go to pain management or get any stronger drugs. I want to be able to get out of bed, go to work (not live off the system) and be a model citizen. The fact that others’ bad habits are causing me to not be allowed to have a quality of life is very sad. If any of the lawmakers were in this position they would understand or empathize.
I do understand the epidemic is bad. However, it will just get worse with people looking for drugs elsewhere, and the overdoses of heroin are going to increase. I, luckily, would never take that path but it will happen to others. It is outrageous. It is not fair, and it needs to be the doctor’s discretion, as your doctor should know you better than anyone.
I hope someone hears this plea because I am a Registered Nurse, and I am only 46 years old. I can’t walk long enough to go to the grocery store. I can’t get out of bed to watch my son play baseball. I can’t take walks with my daughter or play with my grandchildren because I am in bed. The elderly are going to suffer, the veterans are going to suffer. Why? Because people have no clue. It is so frustrating, and I pray that someone reads these reviews, and it makes a difference. I hope my voice can represent others who can’t speak out about this issue.
Bill
75034
I suffer from both back pain from injuries and arthritis. My latest is Angina from blockages in the heart. My disease is chronic and very painful every day. I was taking 5mg of hydrocodone as needed; now that has risen to 10mg to make me functional. After cabg (open Heart) surgery, my surgeon sent a script of 10mg to pharmacy. The pharmacy proceeded to call my doctor’s office and inform them that I was double-dipping on the Narco, giving the impression that they felt I was abusing the freaking drug.
I would love for those idiots to have to walk in my shoes for a day. The only way many of us can function is to take the pain meds. These new laws making us provide a urine sample, every time we go to the doctor, then pay a lab to test to prove that I am not abusing the drug is about nothing but MONEY and is BS. News alert, FDA: Not everyone who fills a Narco script is abusing the med or selling drugs to junkies. Stop making us feel like we are freaking criminals for having the misfortune of a painful illness.
Loretta
Georgia
I am right there with you Im not a nurse but a law abiding voting citizen and there is a way to regulate these pain scrips..I dont want another to die on abusing these drugs but yet I cant live a productive life with out percocet for my back pain and the previous surgeries I had on my thigh due to the flesh eating bacteria that almost killed me..pain clinic is a joke..somewhere we have to stand up and do .
Gina
Florida
I watch my husband in pain everyday and there is nothing I can do to help him. He suffers from nerve pain after esophagueal cancer surgery. Nerves severed during surgery that will never go back to normal. Most of his stomach and part of his esophagus was removed, that’s enough to deal with let alone the pain. Someone needs to take into consideration our real medical conditions that the tax payers have to deal with. The DEA is employed by us, we pay their salaries yet we are denied our right to life.
j
canada
I suffer from a bad back. I’m in tears as I read all these different stories but yet are all the same. We no longer can get pain meds . I’m 56. I used to be on pain meds, nerve blockers, for yrs. They stopped working. Was told I needed back sugery, yet I can’t get anything for this 24 hr pain. All I seem to do is cry.
Something needs to be done. We are treated like addicts. I always took my medication right. I’m losing hope. Unless you have chronic back pain you won’t get the meds you need. My bed has become my prison. I just want to go for a little walk, see the birds, and have a life. Death sounds like a better choice at times, but I don’t give up. What can we do? I can’t afford to buy pain meds off the street. Is that as low as we have to go? We are forgotten. I am so angry. Is this how humans are to be treated? Well we are and being treated that way, and I can’t take much more.
Peggy
hang in there J., I’m with you
Peggy
Hell
I find it ironic that just below the “share your thoughts” here on this site is the following statement “Stopping medication suddenly could result in serious harm.” No kidding. Someone needs to tell the fat cats in DC. The Doctors don’t get it either.
I think it’s time my friends. When I first found this site, it was right after the laws started changing. People were commenting, sharing their stories and were scared. All it would take is to wait until people are downright pissed off! I wrote my congressman, and of course his response was a lie. I wrote the President, canned response. I wrote pretty much everyone I could think of. They are as uninformed as the rest of them. We need to get together and march on Washington. Get involved. Write anyone you can think of. Demand an answer. Keep going. Don’t give up. Remember, we are all in the same boat. These law makers haven’t a clue about what it’s like to suffer chronic pain. Personally, I don’t share with them my story, I don’t tell them every detail of my condition. They don’t care. Never will. I Just want them to know how I feel. Day to day. I want them to know that THEY are the reason I feel this way. I pray, someday, someone will get it.
Dear EVERYONE who will listen:
“When I wake up in the morning, crying, as usual, I pray God takes me every day. I can’t end my life as I so very much want to, as I believe it’s a sin. I can’t believe I am going to have to live another day. The pain is so bad, it’s hard to breathe. My life, as I wanted it, is over. My family, who was everything to me, doesn’t exist in my heart anymore. I love them still, but how an you love and deal with this pain? I don’t want to think of anyone I love. I can’t even think of them. I can’t think of anything but the pain. The awful, never ending pain. Please, God. Take me today. How can you do this to me without even knowing how I feel? How can you pass a law that takes away the only relief I have in my life? Please tell me it’s not because “some” people abuse my medication that you are taking it away from me. Please tell me that’s not it. Please tell me you are not punishing me and taking my life for that?”
Bud
I am 61 years old. I was poisoned at 16 by Ethyl Methyl Parathion. At 17 I had my first Migraine headache. They were severe, i tried all the treatments from injecting myself with Imitrex, etc. At age 48 I developed Benign Essential Blepharospasm and began using Botox. After 16 years of semi-professional sports an x ray revealed moderate to severe spinal stenosis at L5 – S1. Also neck steroid injections for neck pain. At 52 I suffered an injury that was devastating to me. I tore my right ACL into, also rupturing my left Hamstring and tearing both hamstrings at the Glut and just up and behind both knees. I was put on Botox for Blepharospasm and Lorazapam (better blinking control than klonopin), B/P med, Heart Stent for blocked artery along with Zocor for Cholesterol, and Percocet 10-650 for my constant pain and occasionally worse migraine. Later it became 10-325, and then later on my own, I requested a reduction to 5-325. I was on this med 2 times per day, am and pm for 10 years until last august i was simply told no more. No one seemed worried about withdrawals or problems, fortunately I have a non addictable personalty and produced no symptoms except small amount of diarrhea. I have never smoked or drank alcohol or had any addiction problem, simply hurt. 2 Orthopedic surgeons recommended NOT having the cadaver tendon inserted to replace my left tendon . Reluctantly I tried a pain clinic. My paperwork was thrown away because my MRI was over 6 months old! I also have Sleep Apnea. Both stopping breathing and obstructive and use cpap. I then began to take multiple doses of aspirin and my heart doctor stopped me and tylenol as stomach and liver was in danger. Why can i not follow a doctor’s order to the letter and continue my Oxycodone with complete cooperation. I can see why black market, marijuana, theft, alcohol, etc have become options for some. I refuse to smoke dope, steal, or drink, but i struggle on a daily basis even with Botox and Lorazepam, magnesium, aspirin, tylenol, there is still a pain and muscle issue. Am i doomed for the last 10 or 15 years to struggle with this ongoing situation?
John
Wisconsin
Well, I have always thought pain was a hell of a motivator. I wonder how many suffer so badly that they will seek (at any cost), heroin or other “illegal” substances for pain relief. And how many will visit Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson for the last time?
j
This is terrible being in pain. It is hell on earth. We get no help from dr; they have turned their backs on us because they no longer give out pain meds. To live in pain 24 hrs a day is no life. I feel like giving up so many days, but hold on to hope. Yet, that is fading. How can this happen? We are all suffering, and they have the proper medication. Drs. need to monitor their patients on pain meds and have a relationship with them. This isn’t happening! We are treated like animals; well, animals are treated better! What can we do?
Chad
In
I started working at construction sites for my father at age 12. Before you jump to judgement, you should know a couple of things. He had polio when he was a kid back in the 1950’s and he was forced to drop out of school because he lost the use of his right arm from it and could no longer write with it. His teacher began scolding him in class in front of everyone for his horrible hand writing, which he was performing with his left hand– his “off” hand. At age 15, after being humiliated several times my dad had enough and so one day he just stood up, walked out and never looked back. So, his dad put him to work making deliveries for his construction company. You see, my grandfather was a stonemason, my dad became a mason (it eventually helped him regain the use of his right arm several years later), my three brothers are masons as am I, as are the six generations of men in our family before my brothers and myself. So taking his youngest son out on the job seemed absolutely natural. I was about five and a foot tall at that age. I’m now almost 44 years old and after performing masonry work for thirty years, I have chronic back pain which is often severe. I’ve been to more doctors than I care to count over the years. My generation may very well represent the last of the “hard men”. I’ve ripped out fingernails all the way down to the root and kept on working on several occasions. I fell off a roof two years ago, when my ladder slid, landed badly on concrete breaking my left wrist and left elbow and badly injuring my back again. I got up and drove myself twenty miles back home where I met my wife so she could take me out to the hospital. At 6’2″ and 190lbs I did not land lighly. I had to have surgery to get my wrist bone screwed back together. Im not a rough guy, I was just raised to be hard, to be tough. All of that being said, I’m sick and tired of this sh*t. I went to college for English and Secondary Education, but I got sucked back into the family business afterward. My dad had a large project at the time that was very unique and challenging and he just couldn’t find the right help, so… Anyway, at one point I hurt my back. It got to the point that I was crawling from truck into the house when I got home each evening, where my wife would help me take my boots off. I was 24 at the time. I finally went to the doctor. Long story short, I’ve been dealing with this back injury for about twenty years. No one wants to do surgery on me for fear of making things worse, especially when it first happened at such a young age. Half the stuff wrong with it is hereditary issues. A couple of years ago, I was in N.C. on a job, 800 miles from home when my gall bladder went out. I’ve also got a fairly pronounced heart murmur too, so the hospital assigned a heart specialist to help treat me due to the severe infection in my gall bladder. I spent over five days in the hospital before and after emergency surgery to have it taken out, due to thr infection. I drove myself to the hospital that time too. Anyway, my heart specialist told me he thinks I have Marfans– after checking me for the hand signs, because those along with the murmur I guess are “dead giveaways”, according to him. He was surprised to hear that one of my sisters was diagnosed with E.D.S. which, is closely related. My point is really twofold. First, I’m a fairly tough guy who was raised to believe that pain is some kind of “voodoo rite of passage into manhood”. Second, I’ve watched my oldest sister, my best friend, my first born son, my mother and my father die hard. Pain is now my only constant companion who I can rely on to ALWAYS be there. When my family doctor retired to care for his dying wife, I was reassigned to a pain clinic. I went there for about year, when one day the DEA raided them and then shut them down. I finally got into another pain doc only to have him treat me badly, mostly because my last doc had gotten shut down. He thought that I looked like “too athletic a young man to be having back problems. So I said alright, pretend I said I played pro football for ten years, how would you feel then– because I’ll put my thirty years of construction work with injuries up against 10 years playing football any day of the week. I have worked with too many athletes to be star struck what they do. I spent much of my youth working circles around college football players, basketball players, baseball players, weightlifters,…etc. Tramadol was the only thing he would prescribe and for that I’d a joke. I had a colonoscopy for abnormally large, ulcerated polyps about a decade ago, and they couldn’t keep mne under even though I had warned them in advance. Stuff like that just doesn’t work on me so well. Afterward, at least that doctor admitted aftward that he was wrong and that he should’ve listened to me better. But that second pain clinic doc? Well he pawned me off onto a second year flunky. I never went back. I spent years figuring out what meds my body could handle. Percocet are about the o ly thing that doesnt turn my stomach inside out. I spent years shitting blood in order to find that out, only to turn around have a doctor like that tell me that I’m wrong! So, now I just get what I can from a couple of sick, old people who are having to chose between food, shelter or medicine. Most doctors aren’t wise enough to realize that coming into their office and asking for them help is not drug seeking behavior. Busting out their car windows in the middle off the night while breaking into their cars looking for loose change, now that’s “drug seeking behavior”, but some of them are too stupid to recognize the difference! Along with myself and those who have commented here, I now know so many middle-aged and older people who are actually considering suicide as a viable option to their medical issues that it is really is an insane situation. I cried the last time my back went out knowing all too well what I was once more about to go through without any hope. Our politicians can afford to have stupid, ignorant knee-jerk reactions to our society’s problems because they still get the treatment that they need. And because we allow them to do it. We need to get them out of office, by any means appropriate. Forgive me, but maybe a few less suicides and a few more homicides of the correct people might bring might bring the appropriate level of awareness and concern for those who are suffering. I don’t know. Something has got to give soon. I do know that desparate people do desperate things when pushed into a corner. Im not advocating for it, but i see no way to avoid it at this point if they don’t wake up and approach all of this and everyone more appropriately. If you treat people badly, eventually they behave accordingly is all that I’m saying. Why can’t we just sign a damn waiver stating that we as adults acknowledge that we have been fully educated in the potential dangers of prescription pain meds and waive our right to hold them accountable for any liability or criminal responsibility as far as the pain meds are concerned? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? If YOU chew a handful at a time, how is it that the doctor or other patients are to blame? Why is it that our politicians begin by trying to force the issue legally, which ends up for people like me seeking pain relief by “underground” methods because it’s easier than going to a doctor who treats everyone like junkies? We can’t afford to suffer in silence any longer…
R
52302
Being treated for back pain from injuries is a nightmare. Drs. treat you like a drug addict. I had to go almost 2 weeks without med because the Dr. wouldn’t let me make the apt. Once I got in she did the usual drug abuse urine test. Because I went almost 2 weeks without my med I didn’t have any med in my system. She outright accused me of selling my med.
I reminded her without patience I went almost 2 weeks without my med because of her insistence for the apt to be almost 2 weeks after my med ran out. What a deceitful tactic to eliminate pain patients. She informed me she was referring me to another Dr. elsewhere. Obviously her tactics to cut me from the herd worked.
Mary
Indiana
My story is just like so many others. Am a long-standing pain patient over 20 years now and disabled due to nerve root damage at L4-L5-S1. 60 percent of my left side from the waist down is paralyzed. Muscle loss, joint destruction, and that lovely asleep pins-and-needles feeling from butt to toes. I’ve been on a working pain prescription of duragesic patch for 20 yrs plus darvocette for break-through pain. Of course they stopped making darvocette and switched me to Percocet which I did not like nor ask for! But used it as needed. Now I’m being told I cannot have my patches after August.
Imagine how scared I am!! After 20 years of it I don’t think stopping it will be too easy on me. I’m so tired of being judged for doing nothing wrong! I’ve never sold or given away my meds or asked for early refills. I don’t drink! I don’t use recreational drugs or pot. Never have! Now at 58 I’m being treated like I just killed someone! And they are making it to the point that I hope I die from something before my timeline runs out because my condition cannot be treated or cured, and a DOCTOR caused my injury!! Misdiagnosed and botched surgery. Can’t put back the chunk of nerve root cut out. So in August I decide do I die? Do I go into rehab so I can come out not being able to walk and in annoying pain every second??? What are my options?? I’m being backed into a corner with NO HOPE! All to think they will stop drug addicts who are abusing medication they don’t even need! This is wrong in so many ways, and you can bet no one cares!!!
Ann
Pa.
I have been just reading all the comments. I found this because I was contemplating buying Percocet without a prescription.(too dangerous), but some patients may go that route anyway for relief. I have been suddenly taken off my pills of 1 1/2 a day for foot pain when I went to see my doctor. My husband, who has severe back issues (spinal stenosis and herniated discs) has been cut in half for a monthly dosage. We were not abusing these pills, but yet we are being punished because of the high use of narcotics by others. This is what the DEA thinks of the elderly: they don’t care!!
Steve
Arizona
And you can blame the CDC for the statistical reports starting in 2015 or 2016 on Overdose deaths from Opioids. 64K…of which about 7.5K is solely attributable to pain pills alone. Break it down even further and it goes to about 2K. But the new media sells it as a crisis directly related to Opiates, Rx drugs.
What they fail to mention (or put on page 16 of the report), is most of the deaths are the result of mixing Opiates with alcohol, cocaine, pot, heroin, and other powerful illict illegal drugs, or primarily the illegal drugs themselves. So the DEA decides its time to crack down on Drs who over-prescribe and Big Pharma who flood the markets with lots of Opiate pain meds.
There is no doubt that legitimate chronic pain sufferers have to be very careful of getting addicted to these beneficial and helpful drugs that can take the edge off of whatever disease or disability someone has that is incurable or fails to keep them in remission, or get much worse with aging.
Blair
NM
I am a wildland firefighter who’s 59 years old, & I too have been living with severe pain for 18 years. I have been playing by the rule for many many years and now im being told i have to make an appointment to get a hard copy of my prescription after failing a drug test. I have two torn rotator cuffs one has been operated on and that was beyond painful & the surgeon gave me a prescription that was for two weeks and its been three months and finally not in as much pain as i was. I have the other to be operated on and thats gonna surely hurt and i cannot live on the crumbs they give out. I also have severe hip, Lower Back and Knee pain besides the two shouders. I am getting a one week supply and when i go into my doctors office i have to wait at least 2 to 4 hours. I feel like the idiots who have overdosed on meds weren’t in pain like we all experience and even though they say the people who live with chronic pain will be alright. WHAT? ALRIGHT? I’m treated like a drug addict because i want to live life w/out pain? Now my friends are selling there’s and the black market is taking off like crazy and i cannot afford to pay $5.00 per pill from them!
So now that i took a pill because the ones they prescribe are not phasing this horrible pain. Were not being treated fairly due to the idiots who abused this medication and were suffering due to their mistakes. So what are we supposed to do? Buy from some shady guy on the street, or risk buying from someone on the internet just so we can walk to the bathroom and wanting to feel normal? I think we need to send a clear message to Washington or to our congressmen about this! I’m upset because now i have to take half of what i was prescribed and it doesn’t help to try to feel like i wanna go to the store and hurt just getting into the truck. We’ve been left behind and i for one am tired of being treated like crap because i wanna feel normal again.
Mary
No they don’t care! And you know no one’s gonna help any of us.
M L
USA
I am a 66-year-old senior citizen who is divorced, lives alone, and no family. I worked my whole life and paid my taxes. However, in 2009 I suffered an episode of my back cracking with a simple turnover in bed, followed by immense pain and the inability to move. An MRI showed I had spinal stenosis (the spine strangulates the spinal cord) with two bulging discs, and minor fractures of the spine. Not to mention cervical bulges in my neck from a 1996 car accident. I had nerve damage and my left leg partially paralyzed. From that point on, I was put on a regimen of unimaginable torture for several years of being injected with all sorts of cortisone therapies that were painful, electrical stimulations which caused more pain, and felt more like a lab rat for mad scientists to get their jollies off, rather than finding a solution to my constant pain.
Finally, I met a compassionate General Practitioner doctor who saved my life from sepsis, had prescribed opiate based pain relievers for my aliment. It was like I had been given a new lease on life; I’d been given a moderately functional life back. I did not use my medication for selling to others, overtaking my prescribed amount, hoarding it to get high, share with others to party, or ask for more. I would not THINK of abusing that privilege to be pain free or risk losing my medication because it was too precious a commodity for me being able to care for myself.
This kind doctor saved my life twice, the second by giving me independence despite losing my ability to work for a living and put on permanent disability. I am terribly crippled with weakness in my left leg, and needing a cane to maneuver, but I COULD maneuver enough to care for myself! Eventually, this poor doctor had prescribed a young man who probably got over on him with a phony story, who overdosed with the opioids and regretfully died. This kind doctor was sanctioned for one year from practice, and I as his patient was booted out the door without a single consideration.
I moved to another state and discovered via a regular physician, a pain clinic. I signed a pain contract and was under their care with opioid treatment, monitored monthly and a stellar patient for six years. These medications are needed so I can care for myself, otherwise I writhe in pain and cannot get out of a bed. As I said, I use a cane to walk and standing too long to cook or clean or even bathe is difficult, but manageable with medication. Sitting too long even in a car is painful and sitting in the little go carts at the food stores to shop is uncomfortable. But the medication helps me through each challenge. These pain doctors say they can TRY to operate on me, however refuse wavering the risk factor of my becoming paralyzed if they do operate. So, naturally I am terrified to wager that sort of risk because I have no relatives, friends, or immediate family to care for me should I become worsened by a tampering of my spinal cord. I would therefore need to be institutionalized.
Yesterday, I was told that HALF of my medications will be taken away from me, and I would just have to make do with that, or be put on a lesser medication that I and the doctor both know will not address the level of my pain. The clinic is located within one of the key states focused upon by the DEA and they are struggling to remain in business. This shocked me due to my senior age, all my tests as confirmation to my need, history of complete compliance, and therefore have a legitimate claim for these opiate medications. I wish I did not have to take ANY pill to function, but it is not my fault, nor is it the doctor’s fault. They do what they can within these stringent limitations by these ridiculous guidelines.
This war on drugs is decidedly ill focused and jaded. They are harassing seniors who need these medications to live, not merely these kids seeking recreational drugs to party with and have fun. This is an inhuman attack on the elderly in this country, and the mentality of this latest ‘witch hunt’ on doctors and seniors is an endeavor akin to throwing out the baby with the bathwater! I agree revisions should be made on younger drug seekers, but the elderly??? It is unfathomable that they bunch us all into the same category as ‘drug abusers.’
I predict the death of seniors will rise, because many of these poor souls have nothing left for clinging onto life, hanging by the thread as it is at the mercy of relying upon that simple miracle pill which can help alleviate their pain to some degree. This current torturing of seniors is a DISGRACE upon human beings and the right for them to obtain a decent life as it is possible in their golden last years of life. I expect many will opt to kill themselves rather than suffer. So, instead of teens killing themselves with a gluttonous yen to obtain a high, many legitimate seniors in pain who no longer want to live in agony will kill themselves. America has no respect for the aged anyways, so this is probably designed as a subversive means to have us do the job for the powers that be.
Well done America! But hang your head in shame for letting your fathers and mothers down. It is my parting wish to curse every individual who pushed forth this cruel bill, for elective torture upon the sick and elderly in this country. I curse every person who devised this plot to have the very same and intense pain these poor souls suffer with and try calling it a life. I hope you feel that pain in every hour you breathe, the nerve crushing agony which makes you want to scream and writhe in bed, unable to move. I hope you too will have nothing to reach for to help you get through all that, just as you have now assigned every poor soul in pain now and has the misfortune of living in America. May it be so.
Al
Phoenix, AZ
I am a 68 year old man with chronic pain in the lower back and legs. My doctor slipped with an instrument and pierced my dura and damaged spinal nerves during decompression surgery. I have pain at about a 6 out of 10 scale daily and worse at night. That is with a opioid equivalent of about 148 morphine units daily. Governor Ducey in Arizona just signed into law a bill prohibiting more than 90 Morphine equivalent units daily for anyone on chronic pain medication (at least that is my understanding). My pain meds are being reduced accordingly. I will suffer, but not nearly as much as some of my peers with much worse pain than I who will have to endure on this new low dosage. It is criminal beyond anything that we, who played by the rules on our prescription conditions, have to pay for other people who abused opioids and caused this bad law. God have mercy on the pour souls who will suffer immeasurably by this new Arizona law. Many will commit suicide. Many, I suspect will move over to heroin or other illegal drugs. Then the governor will be scratching his head and wondering why there are even more opioid deaths from this problem.
Boyd
Surfside Beach, SC
Well said, Al. I am a 70 year old male and have degenerative disc disease. I am missing 8 discs total as of my X-ray last month. My wife also has multiple pain issues. She also has several mental health issues including Bi-polar disorder, agoraphobia, and PTSD. We were both dropped by our doctor of 9 years with a trumped up excuse of “changing too many appointments.”
We went from being able to live a somewhat normal life with our meds to a life of hell on earth. My wife has alluded to taking her life, and I fear she will if something isn’t done very quickly. She only has a few days left of her Clonopin that she got from the ER last Sunday. They told her she couldn’t come back for more as they reluctantly gave her an RX for a weeks supply.
Never in my life did I imagine a situation like this in this country. Are the people who developed these new rules human? It is the most insane, poorly thought-out set of rules ever passed in this country. I can only pray that someone with some clout will stop this insanity before my wife and many other seniors and other sufferers take the final drastic step and end their suffering by giving up and taking their own lives
Patricia
I think it’s time for all the people that are living in severe chronic pain that ever day we all think the same way an that is why don’t we just end
Patricia
Saint Francisville la 70775
I pulled some info off the internet I’m going to try an take a picture of it and I think it’s time to take our rights baby for rights for Chronic pain this is America we have the right to how we receive our Medical treatment it says it All over hospital doctors walls
Mary
I pray to God that the good people, myself included, find something besides suicide to help with this stupid issue!! All alcoholics should have to be banned from alcohol! Let’s see how well that goes! Same type of torture!
j
Yes, Mary this is what it’s come to. We are in pain,in tears. Why, why, why is no one helping? Just a few pain meds a day: is that asking for so much. I have thought of ending it many times but still hold on to something. We are all going through the same. Hugs to you, hun. All the best as we suffer. It’s so not fair.
Andrea Romero
California
Can we ALL ban together about the injustice and file a Class Action law suit against the government? Please, if anyone has any ideas, I would like to hear them .
j
Andrea, I hear you. I’m in Canada. It’s the same here. What’s happening? We are like garbage, thrown out and forgotten. I am so tired, so fed up, so need to be heard. But no one is listening. I just wrote to my MPP here and told her something needs to be done This is hell!
Susan W
Michigan
I am ready to join. I have sent letters to our “leaders” about the mistake they’ve made and I just Facebooked one of the pharmaceutical companies and asked them to stand their ground, there are a lot of people that would be willing to back you up. So, ya, I am upset with this new governmental policy. The DEA needs to leave our health care providers alone.
Sharon
Bakersfield,CA
Yes my dear you are preaching to the choir. I too suffer and have for 20 years. Hard work left me pretty beat up, I worked with animals, livestock to exotic. No job for the weak I tell you. I am now a 65 year old disabled woman, living alone with 3 kinds of lupus, 7 herniated discs, 2 stenosis, minor scoliosis. 1/2 a disc missing, 1 compression fracture, degenerative cartilage disease, and 2 kinds of arthritis. And yes there have been many days when stepping off the curb into traffic looked like a good solution, but it would break my grandchildren heart if I did such a thing and somehow I have soldered on. They are doing the lets take your pain meds away from me too now. One thing no-one has mentioned so far is the counterfeit pain pills they are seeding into the regular supply, it has always been happening, you know when you take a pill and it doesn’t do anything at all for the pain. Well for the past five years or so I noticed this happening more often, but for the past two years I have suffered a poisoning effect and they are now becoming down right toxic. I break out in soars all over, swollen joints and cartilage areas all over along with horrible pain. They are not regulating the quality of the medications these drugs stores are using any more. Anyone else out there notice this.
Joe
I think this is unethical. I’m now looking at having a dangerous surgery which I can’t afford. But since I can’t get pain medication I’m screwed.
.
Christine H
NJ
I am a 62 yr old chronic pain patient for last 17 yrs saw a pain management dr in Phila. I’m from nj . DEA shut my dr down & I can’t get proff of all the alternitives treatments I tried b4 trying opioids.The only real help with my chronic pain ( intractable) We are Old & no one cares for oldr American anymore. I know we’re not Drug abusing,we only want to function again get our dignity back before we die . They’ve forced us into this life(exsistance !!!)
Patricia
Let’s fight back here is some info I found out so far but I’m not stop and maybe if we all start gathering the paperwork we need to get our rights back as an American people
Stuart
NY
Perhaps, we can find a person willing and able to start a Twitter.
“Do not leave us in pain”. I could not begin to tell my story, as it all started when I was 15-16 yrs. old, and has continued. I am now 57 yrs. have three children, one that is 14 yrs old, and my beautiful wife of 30 plus years passed away. I live with intractable pain everyday, and I still want to do all the things life has to offer. I still want to meet a wonderful women to share all that this life has to offer, good or bad. I was a pharmacy student in 1982, and was not well enough to continue. I would not ever want to be a part of anymore, they also only want to bring home the check. I believe they have said the hell with all that suffer. Wow, things have changed , hasn’t it. Where is the love ,and compassion that make us who we are. Well, I could go on forever, we’re off looking for comfort all of us. Love to you all, and g-d bless.
John
Phoenix
There are quite a few Twitter pages. Lots of chronic pain patients. You can also write to many politicians on there too. There are millions of us. I implore everyone to take action now. There are other alternatives as well that does not include suicide. Baths, pool and naps help me. If no sleep aid I take melatonin.
I’m trying hard to not let my doctors make me feel like it’s their way or no way at all. I let them know how I feel. It makes me sound crazy but that’s part of chronic pain.
If you think hard enough you may find a way. We do need a class action lawsuit. Whoever takes that on would immediately be inundated by those of us who need to be taken seriously. Keep track of office visits, money paid and hassles endured just in case. Hang in there!
Bella
Arizona
I can’t imagine how a politician can dictate to a Dr. what to prescribe for his patients?!?!? The politician i.e. Gov. Ducey, is not a Dr. or even medically trained so what gives him the wisdom to know what a Dr. should be ordering???
Steve C
AZ
well you got a lot of people in the state of AZ that are Opiate users and illicit drug users. Illegal drug black market and Seniors with chronic pain from diseases that are incurable. The Drs now challenge a patient’s request for pain meds to address their pain with the response, “its not anti-inflammatory”, so it wont cure (or put in remission) the disease. Some of the new meds for the many forms of Arthritis and autoimmune disorders) work, many do not. they are far from perfect and have many serious side effects long term or even short term.
The “sad” cases of OD deaths being reported by the media for ratings and used politically by people like Gov Deucey and POTUS Trump are disingenuous and the CDC, DEA and Media are all complicit in trying to make Opiates illegal or Schedule 1 drug. Who gets caught in the crossfire? They know who does, but this crisis makes for good ratings and re-election (or election) to public office. It also makes the CDC folks look Zen like and the DEA drug-busters taking care of the public’s health and well-being. Not ALL of the public and they know it.
David
TN
Does anybody out there have any ideas about what people with chronic pain can do?
John
Phoenix
CBD oil is worth looking up. I have ways like I place my hands on a vibrating neck pillow, and it scrambles the pain message. I run hot and then cold water over my hands. I swim, take baths, and most of all I take a late afternoon nap. My doctor supports all that but I’m sure most on here are very desperate and need medication. So back to the oil. Look it up.
One thing I haven’t mentioned in my posts is awareness. People like Tucker underscores how dangerous opiates are. So dangerous and addictive he had an appendectomy and took no medication. It’s such bad press. Is wanting to get out of pain and have some semblance of a life a crime? Apparently. Write to everyone – all politicians, newspapers, tv anchors, and often. Not sure it will change minds but it sure needs another look. I can’t imagine what horror kids are going through. So many adults are brainwashed about addiction. I’m sure they say no to kids. My sister said she would never let her kids take anything ever. Yet she gives them melatonin to sleep. Unreal.
Anyway my two cents. Hang in there, please.
LESLIE
Michigan
Yes: All warnings say not to stop pain or any other medication suddenly without consulting your doctor or being hospitalized for a change of medication. None of this is happening for legitimately ill pain patients being dropped by retiring doctors. Their practice partners feel no responsibility to help abandoned patients. No helping hands are doing anything but threatening patients to not call, telling them “Sorry, the client load is full,” and turning their noses up and their backs on suffering patients unable to get another doctor to continue their pain management protocol.
Many patients like me are being thrown out, told no everywhere they call, and accused of drug-seeking as we try to just maintain the pain protocol we were legally prescribed. We were never abusing nor misusing it but now are being harassed, interrogated, put on “do not treat lists” as we try to find a replacement doctor to maintain the pain protocol legally prescibed to us. The ugliness, rudeness, false and accusatory notes being put in our files as we search for a new doctor suggest we are drug addicts and drug seekers, which is a flat out and out lie.
The hospitals and ERs are falsifying records and putting secret lists together if you go and ask for a perscription to hold you over until you find a new doctor. Just asking for what you were formally prescribed is enough to get you listed as a “do not treat” patient. I have been refused pain medication the last four visits to two local ERs, as I lay suffering and crying. I was held there and interrogated in an unkind police-like manner, asked the same questions over and over; them promising to treat for pain under the Emergency room act, a federal law; then coming back refusing, acting like they are bringing it but never do, accusing you of drug- seeking, or trying to upset you so they can call security and have you humiliated even more, dragged out, or just lying and never administering any stabilizing pain medication which is their legal obligation under the Emergency room act.
They are violating patient rights, disability rights, and federal law, all while telling us “Do not kill the messenger. We are following the law.” Which ones? Can you break three federal laws to honor a new regulation that denies human rights and the legal right to be relieved of pain in any U.S. hospital or transferred to another hospital if they cannot. They are doing neither. The law was specifically passed to prevent elitism, racism, sexism, and prejudice used to deny care. But we are being denied care, refused the right to get our long-standing pain perescriptions filled and treated like criminals as we try to get help or die suffering.
The doctor who prescribed the original pain medication is being disrespected, not listened to about their patients’ health and well-being. No one is listening The doctors are so busy trying to stop their licenses from being revoked that they have lost sight of and compassion for the patients they swore an oath to care for and protect. “Do no harm” has turned into “do no harm to my license,” and “Sorry, but I can’t risk anyone thinking I am actually helping you by prescribing the pain medication you need and have been using to control your pain.” “I am now denying you access to it and making any excuse to avoid writing these prescriptions any more. Sorry.”
44,000 patients have ended their lives after being denied, become desperate, being talked to like trash, herded in cattle lines, charged $200.00 for the office visit and a fee for each prescription picked up. I am in bed most of the day, too ill to get up or function now since my pain meds were cut off on May 30, 2017 without any consideration or arrangements made for me. My blood pressure is sky high, and my heart has been racing every day. I cannot eat, feel dizzy, and my ears are ringing. I asked every doctor in the area to help me, and they all refused. My new doctor said not even to ask him to help me find a new pain management doctor to reinstate my legally prescribed pain management protocol.
No one cares. Not one doctor from the practice has called to see of I found a new doctor or have gotten my pain meds I need to control 24/7 nonstop pain. The ER refuses to do anything. The new doctor has been called by my pain doctor warning them they are putting my life in jeopardy. They do not care. The senior doctor over my new doctor scared me so bad. I was forced to leave their practice after he called my home yelling and screaming after illegally reading my file, violating HPPA, law screaming at me and accusing me of trying to force them to prescribe narcotics. This is a flat out lie. My new doctor told me he could help me fimd a doctor to prescribe the meds. They have a roster of doctors, and a staff member was to give me leads to call. Not one would help me. Some were out of business, and others just said they do not treat chronic pain; others were rude and hung up. The staff member assigned to help me decided she was done and lied. She blamed me as being the problem so she would not have to help me anymore. She embellished my record to say it was me being a problem after being unable to give me one viable contact to write my prescriptions. This was neither her fault nor mine. Rather than go back to my doctor to say she could not find me a doctor she went to my doctor’s boss, lied, and said I was a problem because I was ill and being pushy, instead of the truth: I was in pain, unmedicated, having heart and high blood pressure issues, and being refused care at local ERs. I was suffering and getting frustrated. I was polite, professional and only asking if they could help in reinstating my former legally prescribed pain protocol put together by a team of specialists out of St. Lukes hospital, San Francisco, CA. I had no more visits to ER after this protocol was prescribed and had been living with an improved quality of life ever since. Pain protocols do not relieve all the pain; just take most of it away. No high is involved, just relief.
This is the industry standard for a final stage chronically ill dying patient in end stage liver disease. The local palliative care clinic refuses to help me, with federal funds given to them for this reason. The callous, cruel attitude toward the chronically ill has to stop. We pay very high taxes yet cannot die here treated with basic care, respect, pain relief, and dignity in dying. I have written several letters of complaint and been retailiated against because of it. I am literally afraid to go into the hospital now. After my last two injuries I just stayed home. It’s sad and true. I am sick of this arrogance and cruelty being passed off as care. We deserve better.
Melanie
Gainesville FL
To get pain meds you either have to have cancer, have a broken bone, or be in the hospital. That is what they do here at UF @ Shands in Gainesville, FL.
Denise
32168
I am lucky, I ended up with legitimate back problems all due to the physical work that I had to do starting with my first job in my gpa’s restaurant. By 21 I had 2 children and became a single mom by the time they we’re toddlers. Being single parent with only a GED I had to take what ever jobs I could get. It was always a physically demanding job. I even did metal framing. I loved being fit, but never thought for a minute that I would suffer in my later years. I was also in an abusive relationship, he was only abusive to me and I was certainly getting into physical altercations with him. he beat me down mentally and physically and the worse thing there were no drugs nor alcohol that played absolutely no part in our lives. Before our 1st anniversary I managed to plan my escape. I had also in in a few car accidents in my life. I was to the point that I could barely sit, stand, lay down, MRI’s three years showered I had lots of damage in my lower back and I had a piece if deteriorated cartridge that had broken off floating around and causing lots of pain, I went and had blocks done. I did therapy and the only thing that helped ease the pain was pain meds. When I lost my insurance and Rick Scott saved the opiate world I was just left with my pain. My family helped me go cold turkey. No insurance meant nothing to ease my physical and mental withdraws. I made it but now I am left like a lot of you. Thank you Rick Scott. Getting opiates off the streets has caused us legitimate people to suffer the rest of our lives, oh and just to say I have tried yoga and other fitness things but it makes the pain worse . Good luck and maybe one day we will not be the forgotten people that our government has forgotten about. Thanks Corporate America.
AL
ok
I’m a 58 year old veteran serve my country honorably I suffer from pain. I had my right femur crush spend 8 months in hospital with rod and pin my whole right side in pain. I have function with pain med’s for past 8 years I don’t abuse or sell my med’s. Now law maker think they know more than my own doctors. I function with my pain med’s I work and pay taxes.Don’t want to be disable I want to work and pay taxes.
Christine H
Are you trying to say most ppl needing opioids for pain relief don’t have legitimate pain problems? I’m an intractable pain patient, no surgery or treatment will help my pain condition. I’ve tried everything available surgery therapy medication before opioids everything.
Only opioids help my pain at 62 now with age added problems (at 55 I was diagnosised with osteoporosis ) that makes my problem worst along with kidney problems from my younger yrs. Medication (opioids) are the only relief I had, now I have no relief, no sleep no help from my GP of 35 yrs who knows all I’ve been through. Where do I go before I die like this at a very early age?
Nate
Central, PA
This is my story & how it can happen to ANYONE at anytime so people who complain about Opiates should read this.
I was an active kid who played sports: baseball, football, track & cross country, from 5 years old until my senior year in high school. I lettered in Football, Track & Cross Country all 4 years of high school. After that I went to a 2-year trade school & after my 1st year I had just turned 20 years old. I was with my friend in his car in the front seat when we were stopped on a highway on-ramp waiting to merge onto the highway. I was turned looking back for traffic when a lady hit us from behind going 25 mph which blew out 3 discs in my spinal cord, 1 in my neck & 2 between my shoulder blades. The pain was horrible & took my breathe away & I had to be taken out on a stretcher. This was in August 2003 & I had to go back to school in a few weeks where I was training to be an automotive repairman.
I went back when school started & after the first few weeks I couldn’t get through the day without being in severe pain. The only time I wasn’t in pain is when I was lying down so I went to the doctor who sent me to physical therapy, which I did for a few weeks but it just made me hurt worse. I eventually had to quit school, leaving me $12,000 in debt. I was living back home jobless because I couldn’t work. So I sued the lady that hit us & 2 years later I got a measly $25,000. During those 2 years I applied for Disability which is a joke in PA. I was denied & appealed it; lost.
Meanwhile, I finally found a pain management clinic when I was 21, and the Dr. started me off on Percocet & cortisone shots which really helped the pain. So I tried to go back at working at an auto parts store. Over the years my tolerance to the pain meds went up & after 5 years I was on 60 mg of methadone a day, which let me live a pretty normal life. I still had pain but I could deal with it. Well, my best friend who moved to SC in high school came up to visit me & he wanted to go out. So we went out to a few bars & when we were leaving the bar to walk home 5 guys, who I didn’t get along with in high school, followed us out & they jumped us. I was beaten up pretty badly & someone called the police. I ended up getting a ticket for public drunkenness. I only had 3 beers all night because I don’t like drinking. Well, when I went to go get my medication script that month the receptionist tells me the doctor won’t see me any more because I broke some pain contract stating I wouldn’t drink alcohol while I’m taking my meds. I asked her “How do you even know this?” She shows me the newspaper’s police blotter. And when they gave me a breathalyzer & I blew .003, I was freaking legal to drive. But they took my pain meds away just like that leaving me to go cold turkey off 60 mg of methadone a day.
So I tried finding another pain management doctor but there were only 3 within a 30 mile radius & 2 weren’t taking new patients. The other wouldn’t give me anything. So I ended up quitting my job & filing for Disability again. I had to buy whatever pain meds I could off the street so I wouldn’t go into withdrawal. It was horrible. I never thought my life would come to this. I finally ended up going into a Suboxne program when it first came to our area, which really did nothing for my pain. But at least I didn’t have to worry about going through withdrawal. I eventually lost my Disability case again & my lawyer told me that PA hates giving it to young people so it’s going to be very hard to get.
So now I’m 34 years old & I really want to get back to a pain management clinic but there’s none in my area. They’re all full plus now that I’ve been in a methadone program for 7 years it looks like I was a junkie when I’ve never even done heroin. And I’m still fighting Disability. I’ve been denied 4 times & lost every appeal. But I’m going to keep filing for it until I get it because I can’t be on my feet or sit for more than 1 hour without having to lie down for awhile. If I had access to a regular prescription of pain meds & cortisone shots I’d be able to at least enjoy life. As it is now, I’m miserable & only leave my house when I have to. It’s not fair that a few junkies ruin the lives of millions of law abiding citizens who take their medication as prescribed. Something MUST be done to open the eyes of the DEA. I think a million disabled people on the mall in D.C. might do the trick.
RON
MONCKS CORNER
I have been on Oxycontin for 10 years now for a broken back caused by a fallen tree that crashed through my house, striking me. And a car accident to add to it. Recently I went to my drug store and was told I needed a prior authorization in order to have it filled. Why not tell this to a patient in advance and not wait until his or her prescription is on its last day? IF this were booze there would be stores full of it. Why not put a prior authorization on liquor? There is a boat load of drunks out there and a whole lot of highway fatalities.
Cynthia June hux
NC
I was diagnosed in 2007 with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Type 3. It is a genetic connective tissue disorder that affects all parts of the body. I have had 11 bowel obstructions, bunion removal, hysterectomy, impacted teeth removed. I have trigeminal neuralgia, cervical stenosis, 4 curves in my spine, osteoporosis in hips, spine and,wrist, spinal degeneration, my elbows look like they are on backwards, insomnia, depression. All of this from Ehlers. I have been on pain management since 2007.
June of this year the VA hospital decided to get vets off opioids. My life has fallen apart. Local hosp want treat me. I’m searching and begging for help. What is our alternative.? God I just pray no one resorts to suicide. They are punishing those of us who are sick. They used to have sign in the ER that read “Pain is what the patient says it is.” They have taken it down. All my blood work is normal. Xrays are normal. But those things cannot pick up inflamed tendons and cartilage. It has to be torn to show. I get released from ER with no treatment. No dr knows much about the disease or how to treat it.
I want my quality of life back. Now my ribs are crushing me and causing me panic attacks. This is not fair.
Kathleen
Co
I hear you loud and clear!!! For all of us out here dealing with the horror of day in and day out chronic pain, I say “what the He%%!!! HOW can Alcohol be legal let alone have no real rules, limitations or penelty. You have to kill someone and even then there is little consequence. Both my ex and my son were Alcoholics. While this too is a terrible life long disease, you don’t have too see the doctor, have a written prescription or require a “pre-auth”. Alcoholics actually have an “Allergic” like reaction to alcohol and yet it’s every where. What the government is not paying attention to or seeing is that it “It is not the people who have the chronic pain that are causing the problem. It is the drug dealers and the people who should not have it that are causing the problem”!!!
LISA
FL.
I’m so to say but all of this needless, horrific suffering is from the culling of society. greed and power. Unfortunately, the people who are supposed to care, have been trained not to care and it’s only going to get worse. Even if you have an empathic doctor, you still can’t get the scripts filled that are needed. We have to start some type of movement, but how? That is the big question! Having a selfish, ruthless, power mongrel for president certainly does not help. I wish the pharma companies would be made to help the people who need the meds or help the people get off the the meds. if one wants. Their are millions of people if not billions of people who are suffering, therefor, they will end up hurting the economy, which naturally is bad for everything. When you are sick from pain you are useless. You would think they would want a productive society. There is obviously another agenda. For God sakes, how hard is it for them to weed out the bad pill pushing doc’s from the decent doctor’s who took and oath to help to cure you or help with pain! We need to educate everybody on this subject and figure out how to do something about it. Please somebody help us with some type of direction. I refuse to be collateral damage!
Lisa
TX
I suffer from severe, chronic pain as well. Our doctor of 25 years is retiring soon. My husband and I are trying to find another doctor who can prescribe hydrocodone for me for severe fibromyalgia, insomnia, IBS and hypothyroidism, and Xanax for my husband for a condition he’s had for about 15 yrs. It’s called Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. It’s often initiated by a very severe stress (physical or mental) incident (www.cvsaonline.com). It’s victims are also children who get extremely excited (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) When he had a motorcycle accident in 2003 at age 54 and broke his shoulder, he was misdiagnosed at the ER by a doctor who never even touched him. Had a syringe brought in to put his shoulder put back in place. Then came back and said “Good news! No dislocation”. Said he just had a torn AC, wear a sling for 2 weeks and all should be good. 4 weeks went by with, of course, no improvement. I got his original x-ray films from the hospital, took them with us to a highly rated orthopedic surgeon. When his PA took one look at the films before the doctor came in and said “How have you been living like this? You have a very badly broken humeral head, severe dislocation. Your torn AC is the LEAST of your problems.” He also said there are 4 types of shoulder dislocations. The vast majority, 95% are anterior. The others fall into what makes up the other 5%, including posterior, the kind my husband had. 3 days later he was in surgery. Doctor even scheduled him last and had an artificial shoulder brought in because he feared there would be terrible necrosis of the humeral head after so much time passing without intervention. One month later is when he started having the severe vomiting episodes. He has to take large doses of Xanax (among other meds, anti nausea, emergency BP med.) to make him nearly unconscious when an attack hits him which is necessary to stop the violent vomiting which has lasted as long as a week and resulted in several hospitalizations. Works sometimes, lessens the severity of the vomiting sometimes, often not. And before the vomiting starts, his BP spikes dangerously high and requires emergency BP medication. He also had a heart attack in 2009 resulting in a quad bypass and 6 months before that, was diagnosed with prostate cancer (treated successfully) and diabetes. But he’s still with me!!
But blaming our current president is totally off course. The horrible new regulations were passed while our previous president was in office. I can only imagine the fallout if our current president had the authority to change the CDC’s and FDA’s regulations and acted upon it. He would be considered a drug pusher. I doubt he has that authority anyway. Let’s not assume either president wants to make us suffer for no reason. Neither are doctors. Obviously, they have no experience with themselves or their families living in chronic pain. We know if they have, they would do something about it.
Kimberly
UT
WOW these stories I am reading are horrifying. It is getting worse each and every day. I wrecked on racing bicycle in 2000. I flipped over handle bars and pretty much broke back, messed up severely hips and neck. I had no medical insurance and so I tried to survive this horrible accident without being able to get my injuries repaired. Finally by 2007 when I was loosing my legs. The pain was taking my breath and I saw a surgeon and he started working on me. 8 Procedures later I slowly regained my legs and the pain lessened some.
They gave me a 2 level lumbar spinal fusion and cut most of the nerves that were at the L-5 S1 levels. I still had chronic pain and my surgeon retired. So for the past 10 years my family medicine doctor has provided my pain medications. Since then in 2015 both of my hips became unbearable. In the past 18 months I have had 4 hip surgeries from 2 different doctors. The first one made my right hip worse then before I saw him. He did not want to give me pain medications at all. Once again my family medicine doctor came to my rescue. I found another doctor that had expertise in Congenital Bilateral Hip Dysplasia. He did a total hip replacement in 2017 on my left hip and also agreed to repair the ever so damaged first surgeons mistakes. He was aware of my pain medication dependency and gave me appropriate medication the entire three months that I was in his care.
Now, I have just been 5 weeks out from a three level cervical ACDF fusion C4-C-7. This doctor has barely helped me with 40 pills a week. I have asked him for another refill this week and he called me today and said as long as I am taking pain meds from another doctor that he was refusing to give me anymore. I take 10-325 Norco’s. About 6-8 per week for my chronic back pain. I have struggled to get them anymore from my family medicine doctor. They all are scared to give any to anyone anymore. When the doctor called me today I once again explained my situation about having a high tolerance to any pain meds especially Norco. To me they are like taking aspirin. Since the early 2000’s the strength of them had lessened more than half the potency they once were. My husband who is disabled from a 4 level spinal lumbar fusion also has been taking them for along time.
So, I gave up and said well fine. I read the paperwork later regarding the fact that we signed a contract that he the neck surgeon would provide my pain medications for 3 months after my fusion. No other verbiage was in there about any other doctor writing them for me or anything in which the treating surgeon is then excluded from providing my care for post op pain from his surgery on me. I called and read that to his message machine and also really told him that if I would have known that he was going to refuse to treat my post surgery pain that I never would have gone to him, etc…I really gave him all that I felt his actions were dropping the ball on his care of me. He called me within a dew hours and has agreed to refill my prescription. He gave me this big story on my answering machine that he could lose his licence and blah blah blah.
Which all was crap. I never answered I allowed him to leave this message on my machine. He knew he ha done me wrong. His voice was very compassionate. Earlier he plowed right through me and barely allowed me to speak. People sometimes you have to let the doctors know that this is unacceptable treatment and that you will not stand for it. Don’t be afraid to speak to the doctor about you feelings on how they are not treating you properly. I can pick up my prescription on Monday. Remember earlier he would NOT budge on giving me anything. They know that common sense says that I have been through alot and am not trying to get over on them with refills but that I actually need them. He just didn’t want to look bad with this epidemic and all. That he was doing wrong. Bull crap it’s about him calling the shots for his patients and not allowing others to pressure him to relent on how he would normally take care of his patients that are in pain. Hey he wrote that statement in the contract and I called him on it. I don’t want to be on them any longer than I have been. I am doing all that I can to repair the damage on my body that I have done throughout my 58 years on earth.
The doctors need to put themselves in our shoes. Punish the people that are abusing them for no justified reason not someone like me that legitimately has needed them until I am healed and better from all that has been done operation wise on my body. Thank you for reading.
Dixie
Over the rainbow
So they expect you to live in pain.
They put animals to sleep who have bad pain. They think animals deserve more mercy than a human. I hope they find the idiot that started this stupidity. We should be treated more humane than an animal. Sick world we live in.
Gary
Scottsboro Al
I’m mad about the decision to make it harder for us pain sufferers to get our needed pain meds. I’ve had back surgery and am supposed to have it again and I’m a police officer that suffers with bad low back pain. And in my 19 years of law enforcement I’ve yet to see a single death for opioid deaths. It’s unfair for us that depend on them and I won’t vote for anyone that makes it harder for us to get our pain meds period
David
South Carolina
I have been in chronic neuropathic pain for over 17 years. I’ve tried every neuro med that neurologists have recommended. Nothing touches the daily excruciating pain that my small fiber neuropathy generates. I must use Hydrocodone to ease the pain. For 17 years I have not increased the dosage. I may be addicted but I am not abusing the drug. I also have periodic limb movement disorder that ruins my sleep. For this I have been taking a class IV medication along with the hydrocodone. My primary care physicians close their office early on weekends and holidays without notice to drug dependent patients. I cannot refill my prescriptions early – my pharmacy refuses. So over the holidays, because my doctor’s office closed early I didn’t get one of my meds for six days. Numerous calls to their on-call physician went unanswered. I suffered withdrawals and almost no sleep. This aggravated my multiple chronic conditions. I was unable to do anything but sit and suffer through the holidays. This weekend was no different. My doctor’s office closed early. Numerous calls to get a refill of my Hydrocodone went unanswered. I drove to the office – closed 2 hours early. My Hydrocodone ran out on the 14th. Today is the 16th. I have spent 2 days with excruciating burning pain. Hippocratic Oath: First, Do No Harm. How do patients who legitimately need these medications to survive get by? I too have thought of suicide as the only answer to a life of pain. Why are we being penalized for abusers’ deeds? Arrest the doctors and abusers, cancel their licenses and put them in jail. Keep allowing treatment for people in chronic, often horrific pain!
Marge
Pottstown,Pa
I am 71 year old woman. Without my Hydrocodone I will be in agony and in bed 24/7! THIS WILL NOT STOP THE DRUG PROBLEM ! PLEASE HELP US!
Savanna
Little Rock Arkansas
I am exhausted physically mentally and emotionally from all this.. I have been in bad car wrecks, abusive relationships & put in hospitals.. I have servere depression anxiety and chronic pain on top of it all… I am disabled from the amount of trauma I have survived.. every Morning is a battle to want to live, I didn’t learn till recently after seeing (yet another doctor that treated me like a druggie and will only prescribe me medication that is equivalent to me taking my 4 Tylenol every few hours and a ton to sleep at night) . I learned at physical therapy that my chronic pain has gotten worse over the years and all the trauma I’ve experienced has a lot to do with this ongoing nightmare… it all makes sense … bc a few years ago I got relief and had a doctor that listened and was put on 40ml gram of pain medication a day.. wow the amount pressure I feel in my back constantly hitting and my legs locking up at night went away, my hands & feet I could actually move, I began to workout and was able to maintain my mood swings and raise my 2 kids sooo much better!!! I had my son in baseball and was very involved in there schools. I felt alive again !! I maintained myself my hygiene and honestly felt like I was finally able to control my depression.. I felt safe and was able accomplish small goals. Unfortunately after 2 years my doctor dropped me. Well her nurse did she refused to talk to me.. I was so confused on it being over these new rules or my insurance… since then my world has changed !!!! the past 4 years I’ve spent sick in everyway possible!! I’ve felt so much pain sucide has been a battle, Im feeling every bit of pain, I’m isolated, I have gained weight, loss motivation, depression Now runs my mind and my pain gets so bad I don’t leave my bed. I have developed insomnia, force myself to shower even brush my teeth, I can’t hold a job, a relationship, I feel so misunderstood , weak, & lost. This has affected my kids, my decisions on a day to day basis and feels like a living nightmare!!!! . its made it impossible for me to get real relief and dealing with pain management doctors that won’t listen hurts !! Ga I have left in tears more than once bc I know I’m alone and once again I’m let down… I think this “rule” has hurt us the disabled ones that hurt mentally and physically like I can’t put into words… I think that by treating patients like there is no hope has lead to people giving up and turning to herion and sucide… it’s crazy how medication, therapy, & listening can help save lives and how being left untreated ends lives Bc if you suffer like I do I’m breathing but I’m not “alive “
Marge
THIS IS SO WRONG FOR PEOPLE IN REAL PAIN!
Darlene
Lavalette, WV
I’m 68 years old, and I have been in chronic pain with Rheumatoid Arthritis since 2005. I did all the MRIs, blood work, X-rays , etc. I spent thousands on tests besides what my insurance paid. I did the massage therapy, physical therapy, and injections. I did it all, and nothing helped except pain medicine. I was on Percocet 7.5 4x day until my doctor that I had been with for 30+ years retired. The next doctor took the Percocet away and put me on Norco, which greatly reduced my quality of life. But I could still function enough to take care of my personal needs. I was given custody of my 15, 11 and 8 year old granddaughters in 2015. I had just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and CFS besides the RA. Shortly thereafter my doctor took away all my pain meds. She said she didn’t know how I was going to handle the pain and take care of the girls and she empathized, but because of government regulations, there was nothing she could do. I have suffered the daily torture for 2 years, but it’s taken a heavy toll. I knew I wasn’t able to care for 3 girls when I took custody of them, but I was told by the GAL that it was me or foster care. My 70 year old husband is 100% permanently and totally disabled by Social Security and the VA. Since the VA took his Percocet, he’s unable to function at all. He had been on Percocet for 17 years for injuries he received in Vietnam. Now, it appears we have no choice, but to give up our granddaughters since we can no longer care for them. I know I won’t be able to survive that, but I’d be better off dead, anyway.
The bottom line is what can we do? The government doesn’t care, and everybody complains, but nobody really does anything. Of course, it’s almost impossible to do what needs to be done when you’re too sick to get out of bed. We need to start a movement like the Vietnam war protests and let the powers that be know we’re not going to put up with it. Like many others have said, I don’t understand why we have to suffer and have no quality of life whatsoever just because some people decide to use pain medication to get high and kill themselves.
Linda
Charlotte NC
I totally agree with all of the people that have terrible painful conditions. The FDA is doing the people a disservice to us. I wish someone would get a petition going because I would be the first to sign it.
LC
Kim C
I posted previously but wanted to add this..if going to a methadone clinic will get you pain relief..then do so…I know its for addiction per say, but if thats what has to be done to allow you to function as a human being..so be it!!!!!! The veteran that spoke to me about the fact that he was doing this himself made me think about how awful it is to be cornered so badly that you would purposely LIE and say you were an ADDICT just to get pain medication you rightfully need and deserve.
What is wrong with our country??? Don’t they know they are creating a problem bigger than the one they claim they are solving??????? No ONE should have to suffer when there are medications that can help in some way. Even with the meds my spouse took he still didnt get much relief but it made it tolerable at least. Now with nothing, I am watcing him slowly give up and I feel like I want to give up too some days. god, I pray they see our pleas and our distress before its too late.
Anonymous
COLORADO
I have been taking prescription pain meds for 8 years for severe pain in my cervical spine. I have collapsing vertebra, degenerative disc, stenosis, bulging discs and arthritis in C1-C7. these cause migraines with vomiting.
The pain gets so bad that I have contemplated suicide on several occasions but couldn’t do that to my family. I have found a combination of RF Ablations and pain prescriptions to bring me to a point where I have some quality of life. Enough to stay alive and maybe someday go to work again. Now someone is going to punish me for the acts of others by taking away the very medicine that is literally keeping me alive. You can’t tell me that the people with the genuine need to relieve pain won’t turn to the streets to buy heroine to get the help they need.
Does anyone actually think the addicts won’t do this either? What a disgrace to have a system giving knee-jerk reactions to give the appearance of giving a crap. Sadly, it’s just a show. I have a sister who had an addictive personality and it ended badly for her. I certainly have a sympathetic heart for the addicts but keeping the meds from those who truly need them is NOT the answer.
Marge
THIS IS SO WRONG FOR PEOPLE IN PAIN! :( PRAYERS FOR ALL OF US!
Marge
THIS IS SO WRONG FOR PEOPLE IN REAL PAIN LIKE ME :(!
frampton
24219
I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue which causes me great deal of pain. I had to retire from my teaching job due to these conditions. My doctor tried several different medications and nothing gives me a lot of relief. However, the hydrocodone I was on did help with some of the pain along with Neurontin. I had to have two teeth surgically removed due to dry mouth and the doctor gave me some Percocet to take when needed. I took that medication along with the hydrocodone due to lot of pain. I had a doctor’s appointment and a urine test was done as a routine test, then to my amazement, I received a letter dismissing me from his practice because of a failed drug test. I tried to explain what happened but that was useless. Now, I have no doctor, no medication and when I try to find a new doctor, I am told that they will not take me as a patient. I am 68 years old, in constant pain, and have no hope. To be honest I am at my wit’s end. Now today my 70 year old husband gets a call telling him that he will no longer be able to get his oxycodone which he takes for a bad back and is in constant pain, barely able to walk. What are people like us to do? We are not seeking drugs for recreational fun, we NEED them to have any quality of life. My husband had to retire after 30 years in the coal mines because of his physical disability.
Tina
Arizona
Severe chronic patients like myself should be treated individually. I know the doctors can tell drug seekers and real patients who have prove of their severe chronic pain. I have neck fusion and 2 lower lumbar plates that the edge of the plates are digging into my bones and pinching the nerves behind the plates. My pain Doctor said if it gets worse go to ER. Then they think your drug seeking. As I always say is “treat’em and “street’em”! I’m 53 and mobility is down 80%. When pain shoots up blood pressure is200/190. My heart Doctor. Is worried my heart is overworking. Big question is what I’am going to do to control the pain or die from it! Trump and everyone who agrees is going to have a bigger problem. If the doctors won’t help there will be more people heading to the street causing a bigger street drug problems. Think of the bigger picture to this major problem. Please read this. Give the doctors and patients their treatment . Trump should worry about our world problems and the doctors theirs. Please don’t tie their hands behind their backs and let them take care of patients. Please take this problem seriously!
Laine
All.
These stories are the same for so many people who take the pain meds. like Drs. tell them and to stop them completely is just PLAIN CRUEL! The ones that abuse meds. or get meds. Just to sell them or what ever they do with them is the people that the DEA should go after and leave us real pain suffers alone and let our Drs. continue to treat us so that we can have the quality of life that we deserve.
Christine H
NJ
I agree !!! I’ve been a chronic pain patient maintained with opiates for 17 yrs.Dea stacked my 70 yr old knoledgable dr who only saw patients 4 short days a week. Now I have no dr no records to find treatment.Ive been stuck in bed since 6-2016. Cruel way to force a 60 yr old woman who was low level functioning no stolen away. I never abused my medication that restored my functioning. Older ppl shouldn’t be forced to suffer with no relief,it makes you insane!!
Levi
Pennsylvania
I’m a disabled chronic pain patient. I want to work but ever since the DEA changed the hydrocodone I was taking to a schedule II none of my Drs were willing to write prescriptions for them (I was on 10/325 4x daily as needed ). I had 2 vertebrae in my neck broken with my 3rd lumbar vertebrae crushed. I was 5’11 3/4″ in height now I’m 5’8 3/4.
Without the medication I’ve seriously considered taking my own life on many occasions and nearly have. I’d like to know how these alphabet agencies can determine whether or not I need pain meds to function when no physician from them has ever looked at my tests or been in on my 2 failed surgeries. I’ve never been pain-free from my medications nor have I ever experienced any type of euphoria or “high” from them. I’d truly enjoy seeing anyone in our government go through the trauma I’ve been through and be told “Tough, you’ll learn to live with the pain.” Well, I’ve been to every type of physician including one who specialized in CBT/Hypnotherapy, with no resolution of my chronic pain issues.
Quantity of life without quality of life is meaningless. If you can imagine having to sleep in a reclining chair because you can’t lie flat and having to use a moist heating pad for hours each morning just so you can begin walking with a walker, and not being able to turn your head either way because doing so causes your arms to feel like they’re on fire. Hydrocodone should have never been moved to a schedule II. It was fine as a schedule III and gave many people like myself the ability to function in life without being looked down upon.
I don’t take kindly to my government trying to oversee my personal health issues that should be between myself and my physician, no one else! If all chronic pain patients were to get together we could rally and make the government change these new rules they’re coming up with. It would solve multiple problems. It would decrease the amount of heroin being cut with fentanyl on the streets. It would decrease overdoses because the majority of overdoses aren’t from abuse of opioid pain pills. The majority of the overdoses in this country are combinations of alcohol and illegal substances. But our government continues to demonize medications that over a hundred forty million Americans need to function on a daily basis.
William
New Port RIchey FL
Same here: Disabled VET with back in pain. Doc gave me Hydrocodone for pain and stopped drinking. Made promase to DOC. Cried when my pain went away. I could do my work–computers and electronics programming. Worked 10 yrs part time, 6 hrs or so a day. Said I couldn’t drive but was ok to drive after 2 months. Best job, bad boss. After 10 yrs. DOT cut my hours. I lost my home and car and was then evicted.
so bad at end air broke at work boss wouldnt fix in afternoon 80 to 87 degrees. while trying to fix very complicted things souround sound amps etc. then went to next county. Brother helped but didnt understend. 2nd eviction. went to mental rehab program st vencents got place . bad. roaches , rats in bedroom ceiling etc. . now 3rd eviction . I cant come up with first last deposit. now going t homeless shelter in tampa new beginning as per va. …. helps. got denied hydro. yr ago. had to go to rehaB my self. Va Sucked. so many things I cant think. bigest help was American legion post 79.
Anonymous
Hi William, our stories are extremely similar and our sentiment is the same. I hope you find relief without taking your life. I hippie the same for me..
Kim C
TX
My husband is a 50 yr old disabled Desert Shield Veteran. Being a veteran yourself , you can empathize with his dilemma as he can with yours. Today we went to the local VA to find out why he didnt get his pain meds in the mail with his other medicines last month and was told that they would no longer be prescribing his Morphine 15mg 3 daily..that now he would only get get the Ibuprofen , Gabapentin , Lidoderm patches and the muscle relaxers and she literally told him..”you will simply HAVE to learn to accept this pain and live with it! Seriously lady??????
He WAS typically able to function some what, can go for short walks , can sometimes cook and drive himself to The store. But now, after the medication was taken a month and a half ago,all he does is sit on the bench at the foot of our bed or lay in the bed propped up with 10 pillows and watch tv day in day out. His sleep has been affected, his appetite is diminished and he does NOTHING Outside of that room. I cried to the dr today and told her all this and more. I said how can you leave him with no quality of life? Her answer was curt and snippy..she said “well what do you expect me to give him these narcotis so he can sit around popping pills all day?” I had to get up and excuse myself from the room. i wanted to tear her eyes out I was so angry. she didnt listen to a word I said nor did she give one whit about his pain or his quality of lifeonly that ‘the DEA has said that pain meds are for cancer patients or the dying’.
Theres got to be something done or all the men and women that have served this country will start to feel that their country has turned its back when they needed them the most! Im so sad to watch my spouse and to hear that other soldiers and chronic pain patients have to suffer so needlessly. I was told by another veteran in the clinic that many of them have turned to methadone clinics that treat addiction and telling them they have addiciton problems (even tho they do not) simply to attempt to get proper pain medication and some semblance of care. That is rediculous to have to resort to such things to get help!!!!
I hope they see the pleas and do something before pain drives many to truly BECOME the addicts they are so scared they already are…I see many turning to heroin and illicit street drugs or even suicide. I read about all this and it sends a shiver down my spine. Their new policy isnt helping to cure addiction..i believe its simply creating A WHOLE NEW WAVE.
sandy
Dallas
For years I’ve taken hydrocodone for bad pain for my back. I had no ins. I had to wait until I was old enough to draw my disability at 65 and also draw from my husband’s. I had to have relief until that time came. and the doctor understood what I was going through. I can’t take just anything because I have restless legs, and you would not want that at all. I have had it since my early 20’s. With age it surely worsens. When I began my disability I started with the xrays and tests I needed. I wasn’t told anything about pain management until the end, and my doctor was told by DEA he couldn’t prescribe narcotics anymore. Not long after that he fired me as his patient and my husband also. My husband is 78.
When I found out about pain management I got a pain management doc. I got back injections every month and pain meds. Am also trying to get things done about my back. The surgeon told me I needed two to three surgeries at least. Well, all of a sudden this doctor shipped me off to another pain management doctor and guess what? Now I get this Buprenorphine. He swears it’s not for my to get off the narcotic. I don’t believe him at all. First of all, I had no problem with drugs. I used the stuff because I needed it. I also used tramadol for the restless legs. It’s the only thing on earth that works, and I have tried it all. This last stuff does stop that problem at all. I tried telling him it didn’t work for pain. It made him so mad, and then he would get really nasty with me. So I just stopped saying anything. The last two months when I went in he’s so happy because he asks how I am, and I say fine. He wants to hear the lies. I cant do anything else. One D.O. doctor I was going to use, to hopefully bypass pain management, was a young guy and made me feel like a junkie. He looked at my records and made a comment about all the doctors I got meds from. It was the two doctors and one pain management doc. Each one knew about the other and why. He was mad at me because at one time I thought about not using him. Then when I went back he let me have it. If these doctors would talk to us they would see what’s going on.
Now the tramadol is a controlled sub, but before you could get free samples from the doctor’s office. It’s how I knew how well this works for my legs. The DEA doesn’t care if we die from our pain and condition. Now that’s OK. But, oh no, we can’t have anything to make a day less miserable with pain. Why is it their business who dies of overdoses? Just tell me. I think I’m a little old to be in that category. Where’s the DEA helping us with the medical help we need. No we don’t have that. I think they need to get their noses out of our business. This is getting more and more like a communist country. I’m sorry, but it is. Telling all of us what we can and can’t have instead of dealing with the hard core crap coming in here. They want to go after the innocent people like us. We need to stand on the White House steps and have sleepovers there til this mess is changed. You won’t see them messing with alcohol because they drink and they won’t hide it. People die everyday from drunk driving. Why are they still selling alcohol, hmmm? Thank you.Tired of the pain.
Deb
Minnesota
I too am a vicTim of the Govt’s recent war on Opiods, Narco’s and any pain relievers that actually work. I’ll skip the details but that same Govt whom I applied with and was approved to receive monthly benefits for my medically diagnosed lifelong disabilities that cause severe pain…..is now cutting off me and thousands of legitimate severe pain sufferers and washed their hands of us. Leaving us out in the cold and on our own to try to deal with an exhorbant amount of pain 24/7. With no relief in site, this is really turned into a highly desperate situation for thousands, tens of thousands or even higher….What in the world can we do? This is so wrong. We are entitled to a pain free exsistance! Without real relief we fail to thrive, or even do the most basic adl’s. Legislation is no help, doctors no help, pain clinics no help. This is a right and a choice that our govt has abruptly taken away from the folks who don’t abuse their medications that help them have a semi-normal life. We are not demanding A life free of pain, but we are demanding and entitled to decreasing the level of pain that actually allows us live our lives…. Something needs to be done and quickly….The medical field made me this way……
Joe
Madison
I feel presumptuous posting after reading the comments of people in truly horrible pain who have been denied the opiates that make like bearable. My pain doesn’t match theirs. But it IS chronic and slowly increasing in severity. I have tried every therapy known to man and the only thing that is effective is opiates. Recently my doctor refused to increase the quantity of my modest hydrocodone prescription. When I pressed him he admitted that even if I were in incapacitating pain that left me bedridden, he STILL would refuse to do so.
Are there any doctors left in medicine who put their patients FIRST?
Tess Malone
Mechanicville, New York
I’m a disabled vet living with chronic pain from accident in the field while on active duty. I’ve been on hydrocone for 21 years trying many many other meds without success. My VA doctors have stopped my pain pills after I pled with them to wait til my husband passed away as he’s terminally ill and I’m his only care giver. They said that’s no excuse along with telling me lies as to why they were stopping my pain pills. I fortunately video taped my appts and brought witnesses with me to all my appts(disgrace that I’m not safe just going to the doctors at a VA). They don’t care what they are doing to me & they took away the last days my husband and I have to breath together.
He is my life my world & I just wanted his last days to be as good as I could make them. My VA doctors have abused me, disrespected me, turned their heads, lied to me, treated me like I’m a completely worthless human and that I deserve to be treated this way JUST because I have pain from an injury while I was on active duty. I’m scared for all the others out there that drs are doing this to. I fortunately have 2 wonderful children that give me the emotional support and strength I need & I know I’ll be ok. But my heart hurts for those who don’t.
When my husband passes I want to yell and scream and fight and search for whatever I can to stop the suffering that they have and are continuing to put so many ppl in & the lives they’ve taken from so many, taking any quality of life they deserve to have. Other diseases & conditions are given meds to treat symptoms so people can function the best they can but we can’t because they made mistakes thru the years with them meds!?!?! That’s wrong & not a valid reason for me to sit back and accept. We all need to speak up, yell and scream and tell whoever will listen to get this problem fixed & end this unnecessary suffering !!!!
I wish I knew how to get the word out & what I can do. If anyone else out there wants to help me find out a way to let the right people learn what is happening to us, please let me know. I’ll watched this forum for replies in hopes to find someone else who wants to try to do something. It won’t stop until we speak up and everntually someone will hear us. I’ve looked for groups and ppl in regards to this without success on Facebook. :(
JAke
I agree with you I’m a pain suffer too. I thought we lived in the land of the free. G The FDA and CDC never gave us a choice. We need someone to lobby for us pain suffers. They have created a real problem in the US. What no one has said is that there is a huge influx of heroin now, a lot more than they will admit. I’m afraid a lot of pain suffers will turn to heroin for relief or commit suicide. Either way the finger needs to be pointing at our so-called govt.
Darrell
I have been in pain for many years after two back and one neck surgery from getting hit in a head-on collision. I’m disabled and have been for 14 years now. I’ve been getting by and am able to do some things around the house but the VA has cut off pain medication. Now I can’t do much but lie around. I’ve been thinking about how long I want to live like this without relief.
Robert W
St. Louis
Yeah I put a petition on the white house petition sight for changes in the law for those that have been awarded SSDI, SSI and Veterans disability and guess what not one signature so much for us helping each other. I have been on this medication at various doses for about seven years now and it is the only thing that allows me to function at any level and it does not completely take away the pain it moderates it.
Funny how the government doesn’t GAF if you go to a bar down 12 drinks get in your vehicle and kill someone or their family. Yes, we tried prohibition and found out how well that works and the same thing is going to happen with this ban. Sounds like a clear violation of the ADA to me. I guess they want us to trade in the pain killers for cocaine which apparently with full knowledge Obama allowed to be shipped across the border by terrorist so he could get the Iranians to sign their nuclear deal.
There is no abuse of hydrocodone in this country unless you are consuming it with alcohol, taking more than prescribed or mixing it with other medication. Almost every over dose involving hydrocodone also included Xanax and a sleeping medication and the last one will kill you with out the hydrocodone if you mix it with Xanax and if you add in alcohol your screwed.
Honestly this entire thing sounds like a way for doctors to make extra money by requiring you to have more visits to obtain prescriptions that and apparently some politician didn’t get the payoff they were expecting.
Birgit
Dale City, VA
After working with the U.S. Military Police (for 13 years) overseas in Germany, where I was born, raised and lived for 30 years. As so many before me, I also married a U.S. soldier in 1990. He was in Germany for 7 years and when the post closed it’s gates forever in June of ’93 (dumbest move ever, as it was their since WWII and located at the opening of the Northsea, in Bremerhaven, GE; the only post by the sea). Be that as it may, the civilians (like me) received furlough pay and my husband, our then 18 months old son and I moved to Ft. Belvoir that same month. As so many foreign wifes I really met the guy I married. He cheated, stole, held a gun to my temple to play Russsian Roulette and then made the biggest mistake. He hit our then 5 yr. old son. That was it for me.
Of course, he left the Military to work the privat sector and while I paid his schooling for the FBI Academy, I looked for a better paying full time job for myself, easily found one with a Patent & Trademark firm across from the Pentagon and when he returned from school I kicked him the heck out. It was a nasty divorce, especially because I had been diagnosed with cancer and required a complete hystorectomie at age 37 at the same time. He didn’t give a hoop, would not even watch our child for the 2 day hospital stay from which I returned with an open wound from left to right across my lower abdomen (Jan. 2000). Two years of chemo followed but I kept working, after all, I had a young boy to raise.
By August 2000 the divorce became final and a few days later he re-married a girl that could have been our daughter. His dicision! My last chemo was in Jan. ’02 and that’s when the “stuff hit the fan”, so to speak. In 03/’02, I took a severe fall @ work, when I entered the ladies room of the building the law firm was in. The tiled walls and flor had been chemically treated but no warning sign posted. I sustained bad back/neck, knee (requiring surgery months later, because it wasn’t diagnosed at first) injuries and had fractured my wrist while attempting to brace the fall. (Not a good idea!) Still, after a few days at home, I dragged myself to the office, as I was the head attorney’s legal assistent and interpreter. Trying all I could my medical situation only worsened and exactly 5 weeks later (04/’02) I was rear ended while waiting to leave from a sidestreet into a main 4 lane busy highway.
I refused to go to the hospital, because only my neck/back and head were hurting and was able to slowly drive my 2000 Mustang convertible home. The next morning I awoke in a hospital with a knee brace a back brace and yet another arm brace too. But there was nobody to take care of my son (then only 9) and signed myself out. Four long years I fought, paid everything out of pocket because I was fired while on sick leave. I tried everything, Western Medicine, traditional medicine, accupuncture, daily chiropractic and physical therapy, electric muscle stimulation, holistic treatments, and I could go on and on. 2 yrs. later I had no choice but to file for Disability. The assigned disability doctor kept me for almost 8 hours and did test after test. I got my Disability within 6 weeks. Unheard of and few people could believe it but it was the truth. But like I said, I fought. Telling myself “I did not beat cancer to have this take me down”. But suddenly my speech became slurry, I could not see right (although I had 20/20 vision, which I had corrected via lasik for $3K after my hysterectomy). Well, by 2016/2017 I was down for good and have been bed-bound for 12 yrs. now. In 2017, I became violently ill from what I thought to be a stomach virus. Wrong!
After almost 2 weeks without food or liquids, my son drove me to the ER. It was a terrible experience. First, they left me in my own fecies for over an hour despite several attempts to call staff until finally one of the 8 doctors who kept coming in to ask the same stuff over and over (of course, they all charged for their few minutes). In any case one of the doctors called an off duty friend to consult and within 20 minutes (after laying in the ER for 19 hrs.) I was immediately prepped for surgery for bleeding stomach ulcers and a herniated stomach wall. I stayed there for 5 days and will never set foot into that hospital in Woodbridge, VA again! Unfortunately, my story doesn’t end there but I believe that’s enough read for now.
Actually, there is one really pertinent I must add. The attorney I hired to provide my interest for both, the WCC case, as well as the auto accident, skipped town and neither of his clients ever saw a penny. He ultimately turned himself in and served the last 11 yrs. in Federal Prison for falsifying our signatures, embezzlement and a slew of other charges. The money was never recovered! But because of a certain medication, I lost all but two teeth. The roots are still in, minus the few I took out myself with only Orajel, rubbing alcohol, a small instrument to loosen the root and household pliers. Did it hurt? Heck yeah, but on less than $10K/year, who can afford a dentist. And neither Medicare nor Humana HMO will pay for any of it. Heck, my doctor of 20 yrs. isn’t even on their list and I have to pay him out of pocket. But according to the law, I don’t qualify for Medicaid… And to top it off, they are going to withdraw all opiates, without Fibro sufferers like me and so many others can’t exist. 12 yrs. in bed and my life is over!
This is my story and I am sticking to it (sorry, but if I would lose my God given humor, I’d probably not be here any longer!) May all of you get the help they need and go against this crazy new law, just because the DEA is incapable to keep the junkies apart from the real sick people. Soft hugs to all and may you never have to go through what I am dealing with. God Bless and so long for now… P.S. There may have been some typos but I ask for forgiveness, I am in excruciating pain and haven’t slept for quite some time. B.
Kim
Nebraska
My husband is in severe pain every day of his what was a normal life when using hydrocodone. Since the dea and fda decided people in severe pain don’t need such a drug, his life is now one of pain, deliberating pain, one that a once functioning person is now confined to his bed and unable to function or walk from one end of the house to the other.
He has had several life threatening surgeries, back surgeries, failed ankle surgeries, facial surgeries from a fatal for the other person accident, not his fault, there are too many surgeries to list–even his oncologist dr said his case is genuine and that it should be taken to court but we don’t have the money to do so–we are now on welfare because he cant work or have quality of life–he keeps telling me he doesn’t want to be around anymore which keeps me in constant tears.
He takes what he is to take, when he is to take it, never asks for more, has never abused it, is going to pain mgmt. and now they are scared to death to give him what works. This is not fair to ANYONE that has a true need for such a medication—its almost like the dea and fda just don’t care about anyone any more and expect those in intense pain every day of what is left of our lives to lay down and die.
We have had 2 dr’s tell us to take him off what he is taking would be detrimental to his body, his health and his life. He is 69 and this is not something anyone of that age or in severe pain no matter what the age should be going thru—–thank you dea and fda for probably making me a widow soon.
Sarah
Missouri
I have a friend who was injured by falling 2 1/2 stories onto a concrete curb made for dump trucks. He broke his back in 16 places and has been on opioids for chronic pain for the last 20 years. He has had at least 10 surgeries and has tried a pain pump twice but both caused an infection. Yesterday his doctor told him they are cutting him off his pain meds. He, like a lot of other people, is wondering what he is going to do and how he is going to manage life being in pain all the time. He has been treated with disrespect by some doctors, like he has done something wrong and called a drug addict. He has never abused or misused his prescriptions, and I don’t think it’s fair he should have to suffer because of those who do.
The DEA is not solving the opioid problem by doing this anyway, as many people are turning to heroin, which is far more dangerous and deadly. What is the DEA going to do with our heroin epidemic now? How are they going to solve this problem? They are never going to be able to stop drug addiction completely, and I don’t believe cutting everyone off of their pain pills, especially those in chronic pain, is the answer. As far as I’m concerned this is taking away our basic right to receive proper medical care, and who is the DEA to tell doctors how to prescribe medicine anyway? My friend is now severely depressed and stays in bed all day, wishing he was dead. There has to be a better solution to the opioid addiction epidemic than this.
Susan
Idaho
Like the other stories, I have had multiple injuries and surgeries and I take my meds as prescribed and even when I’m in pain and my amount for the day is gone I just deal with the pain. I believe that there is a difference between dependant on and addicted to! I was worried because I am dependant on my meds for my pain and without my meds I am in crying pain and my meds allow me to take care of my family and without them i would become immobile…but thousands of people are dying daily from O.D.s so they have to do something.
I’m sad for myself and people worse off than me and that abusers have ruined it for us but I get why. It’s too bad they couldn’t find a way to help the opioid epidemic without hurting people in real pain!
Jean
MD
I cannot take this pain anymore! I went from my doc given me 3 months of hydrocodone picked up at the desk for 21 yrs to telling me she’s leaving and no doctors will write scripts for me!
Went to a pain specialist who not only spent all the time with the door open laughing with nurses to really tell me to suck it up!!!
I can’t take it the pain I’m in no more.
LW
North Carolina
I come from the Medical Field and I’m now disabled at the age of 50 due to many surgeries and other health issues I cannot cook clean get in the shower by myself drive or pick up my prescriptions grocery shop or anything I’m in chronic severe pain even on the pain medications which I am on a fentanyl 25MCG patch and I take Dilaudid 2 mg 6 times A-day and I’m still in severe pain I’m not a drug addict nor a drug seeker and I think it is a shame and a disgrace that the DEA and everybody involved with the control of Opiates prescribed by doctors Is dictated by them they are not the ones that are and the constant pain they have no idea what each individual person goes through with the pain that they are in that they can barely get out of the bed some days there are days they don’t get out of the bed It’s horrible when you go to the doctor for chronic pain and your looked at are treated like some type of drug attic or like you’re a Drug seeker when all you want is for the pain to at least be tolerable so that you can function it is not everyone’s fault that is in chronic pain for whatever reason or for whatever their diagnosis is there are drug addicts out here who abuse the medication they take more than they’re supposed to then they get hooked on it and they want more everybody is not a drug addict just because they take Opiates and the Drs, DEA, etc need to stop judging everybody like that don’t blame the medication because someone takes it upon their self to double their dose or to take more of the medication than the doctor told them to take you’re punishing everybody because people are taking it upon themselves to misuse the drug that is being prescribed to them As far as drug addicts go they are going to get their drugs one way or the other and the DEA, Drs, or anyone else is going to stop them so stop punishing everyone else for the drug attics problem
I lost my father to cancer last year and the cancer doctor sat across from him and told him he had to suck it up and learn how to deal with the pain That he would not prescribe him anything that doctor better thank God I was not at that visit and that I never got to see him my father never asked for pain medicine in his life But when he developed cancer and he was getting towards the end he was in severe unexplainable pain and that doctor would not lift his finger to help my dad all because of these new drug laws put out by the DEA and all I can say is I would not want to be in that Drs shoes when he has to answer to God My dad laid there and suffered in severe retching pain until the day he died 112716.
I do understand the DEA trying to help as I said I come from the medical field but you’re punishing the wrong people and you’re going about it the wrong way. The DEA needs to sit back down at the table and rethink this and re-discuss this because they are making things worse not better Doctors cannot even be doctors anymore and they are really hurting people who really need the medication such as myself And other people out here who suffer with chronic pain again no matter what the diagnosis is. I am not saying that the doctors should not keep an eye on their patience that take these medications because they are dangerous medications but as long as the patient is seeing the doctor and doing everything they are supposed to do as far as taking their medication appropriately seeing the doctor appropriately then the DEA should not make it so difficult for the patient to get the medication.
I’m still in pain with the medications and dosages I’m on but I have never asked for increase in my dosage Because even though I’m still in a lot of pain what I am on helps some and as long as the medication continues to do that I won’t ever ask for an increase in my dosage.
Marge
PA
THIS IS SO WRONG. THEY ARE MAKING PEOPLE IN REAL PAIN SUFFER!
Karen W
Alabama
I have to say I know what you all are talking about. I thought at this point we all know to go through our congressmen but they have been tainted also by drug addicts who are looking for a high. I have such terrible pain in my back and I have degenerative disease in my neck, 3 bulging disks in my neck, migraines also. In addition I am diabetic and have nerve pain. My doctors over the years have always given me lortabs. Finally after a terrible car wreck, I had to increase my pain management.
The first place I was sent to was a doctor who was more or less a pill mill. He was arrested and sent to prison. I had to get another doctor so I was referred to who I believed was a good doctor and wanting to really help his patients… after the DEA got through with him, he’s taking all his patients dosages down and making them stop taking anti anxiety medication they are on, whether we have been on that for 35 years. I don’t know what to do. I’m in such pain and I’m supposed to get off anti anxiety at the same time as I am getting reduced dosages of pain meds. I may have to go into a rehab to be able to do this!!!! Is outrageous. The govt has taken the ability for pain management doctors to do their job away and at the expense of probably killing the patients he has because he is afraid of going to jail. This is the most craziest thing I have ever seen.
At my age, I am 63, I should be comfortable and able to live a non pain life. Now I have to go through more painful withdrawals suddenly???? Please US GOVT! Listen to our PLEAS. It is unbelievable what you are doing making legislation to control Americans lives! Change this horrible Act!
Annie
North Carolina
I am in pain management. I had been on Morphine for 3 years, Morphine 30mg ER twice a day and Morphine 30mg IR twice a day. It was working for me! Last year they replaced my PA with a different one and without warning she cut out my Morphine IR to just once a day. Under new guidelines they aren’t supposed to give patients but 110 mg a day so I was over by 10 mg.
The second time I went back to her, she lectured me over ONE missing pill! I told her it’s just one pill, that I was having a time adjusting to the lesser dose. She said, “Well, you still misused your medicine. You have 4 times a year to be short and then you’ll get kicked out!” I did everything I could to take it when I was supposed to.
Then I got a jaw infection after having this PA for a year now and the Dr. I saw gave me 5 mg Percocet because it was so painful. So I got in trouble for that! But if I would have used more morphine I would have been in trouble too! Last month she said, “You are at the end of your Morphine” Not exactly sure what that meant but I’ll find out in 4 days at my appointment.
If she takes me off of them I don’t know what I’ll do! I have chronic pain from a motorcycle accident and was told I wouldn’t be able to walk normally again! Well I fooled them on that but do walk with a sleight limp. I have had 12 operations since 2004 because of the injuries I received from the wreck. I am stressed out about this!
Tonya West
CA
I personally have no idea what to do. Multiple reasons that I have been on pain medication. I have been struggling with my doctor of 13 years. And my anxiety medication was taken away all at once. That was July 2017. I can’t sleep; I have bad thoughts; and the pain is now out of control. U can only cry and pray for help. Bottom line is we just fight for what is rightfully supposed to be for my treatment. Now I am on my bed all day in tears. I know of people going to illegal drugs like heroin, and that is scary! Doctors are basically turning on their patients.
Bud
Tuscaloosa , AL
Yes, we need to get the word out. Legal people who have needed these meds for years are being unjustly penalized!
I am retired, over 60 years old, am on disability, and do everything I am supposed to. Dont penalize me, please!
Jodi
Iowa
I have severe nerve damage, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease and have been on methadone and oxycodone. My pain specialist dr, who I have been seeing, moved, and they started having me see a NP/C. It took my dr a yr to get me to where I was able to tolerate the pain until the NP/C took over, stopped the meds I was on, and put me on something that we already knew wouldn’t work. I have been honest at taking my meds daily due to chronic pain. She just informed me that a urine test in May showed I had a trace of an opioid I have been on, which I can not believe since I take it the same time daily. How are we to know that it is ours since we have to leave it on a sink in the bathroom? I now have to try and find a dr and know it won’t be easy since she said I failed, and she won’t give me any opioids. I am disgusted with the way things have changed and how they treat us. I asked her how she new it wasn’t mine since it was left on the sink, and she told me there was no way it would have lied!!! She’s a NP/C for Pete sake. What does she know about chronic pain or if it wasn’t mixed up
LW
I’m so sorry to hear about your drug test And it depends on which lab they use they could have made an error they could have simply just did another drug test Especially if you have never failed a drug test before I pray you find a pain management doctor I know for myself it is ungodly at the pain doctors that I have seen and I have finally found a doctor that will at least meet me halfway and it’s been 6yrs for me
Eric
Maine
I have had nearly every bone in my body broken at least once! I have been in thirteen car accidents, four motorcycle a indents, three plane accidents & also I was hit from behind while walking by a van doing 50mph that fled the scene. All of this plus numerous sports in juries before the age of 26.
I have followed all my doctors instructions for healing, but have been left with permanent injuries that have progressively got worse over the years. By the age of 27 I was in severe chronic pain that only opioids could keep under some control since I’m allergic to all NSAIDs, & Tylenol makes me extremely sick now. I was still able to take care of myself, my family, & work full time with the use of perscribed opioids that I never abused or sold. However, as the rules/laws started to change & my perscriptions went away, I no longer can work, I’ve sold off everything i own, I’m forced to live with my aging patents becoming a drain on them! Dr’s only offer pointless or expensive therapies i can’t pay for & have 0% success rates with my issues.
My only option now is pain & misery while draining my family’s retirement to try & take care of a now 39 year old that doesn’t qualify for any assistance due age and the new federal/ state guidelines. I love my family too much to ruin the rest of their years that they’ve work so hard to achieve. It’s getting about that time for me to leave this world. Lawmakers, CDC & DEA can add my painful & miserable death to bad choices they made! I hope they can explain their terrible decisions that has led to my family grieving better than i could!
LW
FL
Apply for Disability They will deny you but fight it appeal it every time they deny you and get a lawyer that’s what I have to do all of my stuff started from a severe accident as well and then from there I went down hill from there and that was in January 2011 I am disabled at the age of 50 and not able to work but I did win my disability I had to go before a judge but I did win my case If you were working before you stopped working you should have went out on long term disability and applied for search the security disability to give yourself some income.
I’m so sorry this happened to you it saddens me to know what the health system has become The only reason I knew to go out on short term disability then long time disability apply for social security disability and fight for it is I am from the medical field but also specialize in human resources so I knew some of what to do but I did have to get an attorney for my Social Security Disability.
Please don’t let them complete lever on your life you may not be able to get the long time disability because it’s been so many years but it doesn’t matter your age you can apply for social security disability and you can also apply for social security income You can even do it on line this is so sad and believe me I know your pain my accident they said I should have never survived but I did.
lulu
People shouldn’t be punished by other people abusing medicine. If people are in pain they should be able to get the medicine they know they can take.
Lorraine
Bronx, NY
of both kinds. My discs are shattered. My medication was taken away; they gave me special shoes with braces attached up my legs, a neck brace and a back brace. I am allergic to braids. The pain is so bad I don’t know what to do. I am totally depressed.
John
Pa
Hi I’m a newbie on the computer and spelling I’m 57 years old and disabledI 28 years with multiple problems including thoracic outlet syndrome-degenerative disk disieve- multiple rods and pins in left femur and hip and my doctor says that I need a new knee and I’m afraid to get it done because I’m got cot down on my opieds ! I have two children my girls health is good she is 33 yrs old but my 27 year old son has a rare blood disease(canser) in witch I moved back with my ex wife to help with him 8 years ago ! I had a part time job that I had to quit because of my health . I always went though the many surgeries that the doctors told me I would have a better quality of life but after the fifth surgery on my arm and neck and they were wrong . The thing that is really laying heavy on my mind is my son. With out my meds I’m useless (running out of ideas). Thank you
Cindy
Louisiana
I had 12 surgeries in 14 years. 4 of those where due to breast cancer. A double mysectomy and 13 lymphoids removed. I have pain 27/7 on my left side. Haven’t found a dr yet that cares. They put me on all this psychotic med instead. I come to just not care about ANYTHING because I’ve tried and tried and everything has fail. I no longer care. The drs are going to leave me in pain and there is nothing I can do. I didn’t beat cancer it’s still ruining my life with pain.
Ralph
Illinois
I don’t think the patients that take these medications for ligitament reasons should have to suffer for the ones that abuse them. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis at 28, since then I have had 4 hip replacements, a lower back fusion and an anterior cervical disciotomy, where they remove the discs and put a titanium plate with screws on the vertebrae so I can still hold my head up.
The medication (Norco) was actually giving me a life back. I’ve had counseling on how to property take them. Physical therapy to build my muscles and keep my joints from staying stiff. The combination of all three is what made my life comfortable. Now without the medication I’m almost home bound, with no dought surgeries in the future.
Who wants to live with a life of pain from the tone your wake up, that is if you are able to sleep, with pain all day, it’s hard not to focus on pain when it’s there at every move to take…..
Donna
Nj
I’m 48 female who has been through 6 back surgies, in 2006 working in a nursing home, my patient, who weighed almost 500 pounds, lost her balance and fell on top of me. From that day, did I ever think or know how my life would be so destroyed?!!
It’s the saddest things in the world for people like us who suffer and struggle day to day. I understand how pain meds can do other things, and how they can be abused, but really, come on now, for people like myself, when it can be seen in black and white what we deal with, why then take HOPE AWAY FROM US!!!! I have never abused my meds, not once. I have been on many different pain meds, and when finding it may not work I make sure to take back to my doctor, I make sure or put out a reminder to have my urine checked and also liver!!!The meds haven’t been taken away yet, but my doctor makes limits me to less and less. I did not ask for this to happen. My surgeon not only did a few but 6 unnecessary surgeries and has now left me to suffer!!!
Well, trying to see things on the other side, I want to agree and I somewhat do, but really not FOR THE ONES WHO NEED IT, AND DO ALL THEY CAN TO MAKE IT KNOWN. THANK GOD WE HAVE SOME PAIN FREE DAYS FROM OUR MEDS!!
I wish every one the best, and maybe some day things will change.
Take care!!!
Dina C.
California
I was always an active fit person who worked out my whole life in the gym and I am only in my 40’s and have suffered with chronic pain throughout my body for years. 24/7/365.
I have had two back surgeries which didn’t seem to help. I have fibromyalgia, arthritis in my hands and back, chronic back, neck & shoulder pain, carpal tunnel in both wrists and pinched sciatic nerve in both buttocks and legs including everything else that hurts!
I think it is completely unfair for us who suffer with this pain to not have access to pain medication or relief! This definitely has an impact on my daily life.
Just because a lot of people abuse it, it should be based on individual person(s), not everybody else should have to pay the price for it! Only God knows what’s going to happen to me when I’m in my 60s and 70s especially with no relief . This makes me quite angry that so many people are destroying this world and breaking America apart!
GARY
Pain is what causes suicide. Not an accidental overdose.
Martha S
Glendale
I have been in chronic pain for over 30 years. The older I get the worse the pain gets. I have 3 degenerative discs in my thoracic spine (back) that have developed arthritis over the past 5 years. I take pain medication just for functionality. In the past, I had to go to the emergency room several times over my chronic back pain when my back goes into spasm.
At that point, I was thrashing around on the floor with my arm and hand on my back. Just to try and hold spasams in. This has happened more than once. The ER helped me. There is even fiber from my sweater stuck in my back from me holding and rubbing a spasam in. I cannot drive, sit, walk, or lay down. That is very painful to the point of total disability. As one doctor put it. “you are totally disabled.” The ER doctors can see the spams in my back. Those were expensive visits. I was seeing a primary care until it was becoming unbearable. My pain got too intense for him to treat. He referred me to a specialist to take it from there.
I am seeing a specialist now and receive epidurals in my spine about 3/4 times a year. Additionally, take pain medication just so I can function. If the DEA wants to trade backs with me, I’d be much obliged. I don’t think back transplants have been invented yet. No one should have to be in that much excruciating pain. My spasms are chronic. I have to take the medication just to function. I’ve been taking medication for over 30 years now. I have not overdosed and take my medication as prescribed.
What am I supposed to do now that I have been cut back. Like I said, the DEA can have my back and I’ll take his/hers. Please don’t make life difficult and painful for honest patients.
Stopping all pain medication is not going to solve the problem of other people from abusing drugs. They are going to abuse anyway. Why do we have to pay the price for the abusers. I live in an apt. complex for now, moving soon, bought a townhome. I’ve been here for 6 months. I’m having movers move me. I have to pay someone to help because I can’t even walk across a long distance yard. Not even to go to the laundry room. It takes me a long time to bring groceries one at a time from the parking lot to my apt. Much more moving household items around to move.
Yes, I undestand that others abuse the drugs. I get that. That’s not me and other honest people out there that need the pain medication. Please, don’t take the pain medication away from the people that are in real pain. There were times I was in such pain, there was only one answer to not feel the pain. Then I went to a specialist. I am in real pain that is very serious.
ER and specialist Dr.’s felt sorry for me when they saw the spasams moving around in my back. That is real painful and totally debilitating. The DEA and others are making the ones that really need the pain medicaiton for functionality suffer. Suffer, for the ones that abuse pain medicaiton. Guess what, those that abuse are going to find the pain medication and continue to abuse anyway. I doubt if they are even in real pain management.
Don’t force real pain patients to go to the streets to find pain medication. They’ll probably die a lot sooner from what they buy off the street. Please listen to the ones that really need the pain medicaiton to function on a daily basis for every day living skills. Leave discontinuing pain medication, to those that really need it and are honest, up to the doctor. The doctor’s are real good at weeding the abusers out. They won’t see them. I have to pay $35 a visit monthly. That’s $540 yearly. Not to mention the price of the medications. One is 85.00 a month with insurance. That what it costs to keep me out of pain and I can function. Please consider us that are truly and seriously in pain. Don’t make it more expensive, hard, and literally painful on us.
Jokitty
Georgia
I have several conditions that severely affect my functionality every minute of my days. I have suffered with agonizing pain ever since I was in a car accident in August 2004. It took 2 years of a multiple doctor appointments, specialists, tens of tests and multiple prescriptions for a variety of problems each doctor would diagnose. At one point I was taking almost 20 prescriptions. After another 3 years my doctor convinced me to take the pain medication on a regular schedule for the best results rather than wait until I was in tears from the pain getting to an unbearable point.
I did the responsible patient research for possible new and better treatments.
John
Illinois
I don’t know what to do. I was put on disability at the young age of 58.I went from making 45K per year to 17K.I have both steo and rumatoid arthritis in my spine and my hands and I’m in pain 24/. My Dr put me on Hydrocodone 10/325, and it helps. But with the new rules from the Government I’m in trouble with pain, and financially I can’t afford to get help from specialists.
My problem is because now I suffer from panic attack. I have no money and no pain medication. Didn’t the Government learn anything from prohibition.The Cartel are doing their happy dance. In the 7 years I never filled a prescription early and I even cut down my panic meds(my choice).If I was a politician I’m sure I would get what ever I wanted. Shame on them. Please go after the illegal drugs, not prescription drugs. In God I trust.
Charlene
PA
Yep. I was just cut off my medicine too (by my pain doctor) after 5 years, and never had a bad urine or pill count. I said the medicine wasn’t working, I was having a very bad day. Please, she told me, to remind her to increase my dose next month. So, I was trying to remind her, by saying my current dose is not working. The response was “Well, if your opiates aren’t working, we are going to wean you off all opiates.” I messaged back saying no, they do work. It’s this dose(which you told me to remind you to increase). My second response was “No, start the taper.” I’ve sent 2 more messages begging not to be cut off, and I was ignored.
Christina
AZ
I agree with you 100% it’s funny you mention prohibition. I just said that the other day did we not you need to learn anything from prohibition. They’ve been going on for how many years now about the War on Drugs. Well, they’re causing one hell of a war on those of us who need our pain medication just to be able to get out of bed in the morning. We are not simply going to be able to stop using it so what do we do if we can’t get it legally? I mean, really, people, what do they think’s going to happen to the ones of us who do need these pain medications? We are going to have to do something. If we didn’t need them we wouldn’t be on them.
We have got to band together and figure this out because we cannot live without our medication. If we did not need our medication we would not be taking our medication, and yes, when you have to live on these strong opioids you do become addicted. It’s just a given. Some of these are addictive drugs. It doesn’t mean you’re a drug addict. It just means the drug does what it does, and that’s the price you pay for being able to put your feet on the floor in the morning. And one last thought: if you think for one minute that just the amount of pain we would be in from not having our medication is only half the problem the other part of the problem is called with drawl. Yes,at that point we will do or say anything to get the medication our body needs. If you have never been through a medication withdrawal then you have no business trying to make these laws. It’s going to lead to violence and a swelling of the cartels’ bank accounts. And it’s going to make grandmothers into criminals because there’s nothing else we can do. We cannot live without it. Even if we could live with the pain we could not live through the withdrawals.
Donna G
Arkansans
Drug dealers are laughing all the way to the bank.The VA is supposed to care for the vets, HAHA! My husband, a Vietnam veteran was had cancer 3 times, broken his hips, 7 surgeries, and he is 70. But y’all get they took him off all meds that help. So thanks for making it hard on me, and I’m no spring chicken…..but he is the one that was in hell. Thanks, Donna.
Cat b
California
I have pain meds for several years due to tumors in my brain that are non-cancerous and cannot be removed and daily migraines taking away my pain medication will put me in bed and greatly decrease my quality of life this is just like prohibition and gun control and all other things in that arena.
Honest people suffer in crime goes up it’s amazing to me that people don’t look at history and see what happened in those instances . illegal purchasing of the product will rise greatly and the legal purchase will not be available this is not the way to stop addiction and death it will cause great depression and in some cases I believe it will cause suicide . I was already barely making it with the medication I was on I don’t know what I’m going to do to make things worse I had gastric bypass I cannot have over-the-counter NSAIDS and Tylenol does nothing for me.
I’ve had to gastric bleeds when I tried to go on NSAIDS. One was just a month ago my doctor is aware of this and still took my pain medicine away knowing that I will have to take something that could kill me.
They expect me to be on nothing .Tylenol does nothing for me so if I am in pain I have to risk taking an NSAID hoping it doesn’t risk my life . Which is ironic because they think they’re trying to save my life this makes no sense it’s just bureaucratic BS.
Lori
Michigan
I have taken 7.5 Norco 4x day for chronic pain. I had stage 3 breast cancer having chemo, radiation, and a mastectomy. I have damaged nerves with burning, pulling…just terrible chronic pain. Since I ran out early a few times I can no longer get it. At the end of my rope.
Sharon
Florida
I think your going to find a lot more pts commiting suicide from severe pain then over doses. I for one can’t live without my meds.
Brenda
FL
anyone know of a inexpensive doctor who WILL prescribe hydrocodone? 57, disabled with incurable conditions. Tired of wasting money and having NO life.
Brenda
I’m in JAX, Florida by the way. Wanting legal Rxs but…sometimes the thought is tempting but won’t do it. Need a compassionate doc. no insurance
Frank
Onalaska. Texas
What we all must do is take the time to study the issue. Discover how the CDC, HHS manipulated the data to present a fake epidemic and why. Almost all deaths from opiates are heroin and fentanyl caused. The victims were addicts. Once you learn the facts you get your friends and loved ones to write your senator, congressperson and Governor a letter reminding them they are voters and with the letter enclose the information you find about the fradulent CDC and HHS claims and challenge the official to compare the facts. This is our lives, our dignity and our right to live as pain free a life as possible. Doctors should not be pushed around by some drug CZAR and agencies who pick on the most vulnerable persons in our society. Show them we still vote. We count!
Sophie
FL
Frank, excellent comment. As you said, fentanyl is the killer and is coming across our borders by the tons. Makes me think those responsible for the drug prescription scare may be getting a cut on the fentanyl. Maybe this country wants the disabled and elderly to do themselves in. Now they are telling us to take anti-depressants for pain.
Sheri
FL
PLEASE DON’T TAKE MY PAIN MEDS AWAY!!!
All involved in approving the new guidelines for opioid dispensing for people in chronic pain should have to live with that pain w/o opioids for 1 day so they can see how physically and mentally debilitating it is. I have nerve damage in both legs and feet (bad surgery), a damaged spine (Amtrak train accident) and sciatica in left hip, buttocks and thigh. Without my opioid medication for the past 15 years, I would not be able to function. I would be lying in bed 24/7 screaming and crying with excruciating pain, worthless and no good to anyone, unable to work or do anything useful. That is no way to live, if you can even call it living! There are millions of other elderly people in the same boat! Why are we being discriminated against? Why are they trying to kill us? Is it because we’re considered a waste of human flesh when we get old? Is it because we cost Social Security and Medicare too much and we should just get off the rolls and leave it to someone else being there is such a deficit in these organizations that was created to help us in our old age? If the government hadn’t borrowed from SS years ago and failed to pay it back, there would be considerable more funds available. What is it…just plain stupidity by some overpaid, uncaring idiots in high places? We need to make ourselves heard by protesting. Contact the CDC, DEA, state representatives, Congress, even the POTUS. We have to do something NOW!!! It can only get worse unless we speak up. I want to enjoy the few years I have left. I want to LIVE!!! Please don’t take my pain medication away and end my life!!!
Sophie
Sheri, you are so right. We need to write every official we can think of and I think you may be correct that the goal is for us to die off. We are of no use any longer. Besides, Obama made sure millions could cross our borders and replace us. Sad to live our remaining days in pain in the home of the brave and the free.
Renee
N.J
Hydrocodone not just that everything that is going on !!
Renee
N.J
I lost my pain Doc in June 17 seen a Doc after that very nice treats you with caring there are NO Doc/s out there today!!!! They get on the PC don’t let you talk and I said to them stop can you please stop???? I need you to hear me …. They are just worrying , about them and getting me off my PAIN Meds. I hurt myself at the GYM back in 94 was ok maybe two years after that and after surgery I was in so much pain I could can not sit get in the car on my knees, Go to all the best in Philly Not wanting to go on pain meds. I did shots after shots ! I never had so much pain after the surgery My tailbone hurts like I was hit with something a I put up with this many years I don’t drink ,smoke ,sure I’m not a druggie Well I keep getting this sore throat Doc says nothing there I think its your G.I something there …I go to the for that she put a tube in my belly when I woke up she said what have you been taking for this pain I told her many , Advil she said no more no anti inflammatories at all never for I had burned myself so bad ! Everyday I was getting worse ,In can’t get up at all the pain is so bad I can only be on one side even now !!! from 94 to 2003 I did not go on meds. Hoping there was a better way out ! Will there was not I tried The S.C.S all the injections you can think of many more things if list it would be to much on here!
My poor mother had to do everything for me help me on and off the toilet you name it seen a pain for the first time in my life tears rolling down my face I ask the Lord to please help me !
Lord for I cannot live in this pain it was and is debilitating ! The pain Doc gave me all the test new M.R.I Says to me I think we need to do the morphine pump I don’t think the meds will work .
I said let’s try the meds. so we did very slowly Oh I was a new person all that time I would fight it? Seen the Doc for 10 years this year the D.E.A close them up seen a new Doc 40 years there very by the rule said he had to retire, was not playing their game how this was so wrong I can not lie and I will not look at my patients going down hill gave me a paper who to call what I could do ..Fight Renee’ you have to now I’m going to this place that don’t care about anything and boy it shows have to get out of there see someone looking from some to hear me. This is not The U.S of A I know I have panic attacks even taking them away I think the Doc should just stop doing pain can’t do anything for anybody just go away! They need to stop pushing the pot have their very own! 5.00 a month I can’t afford that maybe this is why the Gov. who I do not have any faith at all in we are not in a good place if I had the means I would move to the U.K
They don’t want the so called President of this place there told him to go home we don’t want you hear anyone see that ???We have became a joke and a JOKE it is ! How can you hurt a pain , cancer patients If the rich and powerful got like this they would be very taken care of they will get the meds. they need They need to feel what I feel we are the underdogs we are nothing to our Gov. I don’t like the U.S being ran by rich , power people that care about nothing but how to more money,The White House news says it’s a Playground ! Heartless , cruel , Barbaric, Don’t know how they sleep at night ! This has to stop we have to do something from all over Good way to get us all off of Disability now they wish to put a chip in our hand bull and you have to LOL
Come lock me up now I’m sick of being spied on I will not get this chip for it’s as the BIBLE says the mark! Now I know for sure we are in the last day’s Look around did you ever see it so bad that we need to kill ourselves can’t do that if I want to go to live with God but that pain in bed 24/7 nobody to talk to can’t walk so I stay in bed now, How do we know we will get someone who cares about people in the White House !!! We have the right to speak up go on a bus all of us no matter what even in our pain they know we can’t think again If I could get all the people to go I would we need to!!!!! This is getting like the years of Hitler he also wanted to get rid of all the disable look what we have nothing I have the worse GOVernor N.J sucks ,The U.S is a laughing joke hurting its people ? Did you ever see it this bad that the care nothing for us we are paying them work for us not amused !!!!!! Read between the lines ! We are all in trouble we need to act …
Barbara
Jupiter, Florida
I have had a fusion at S1 and L2 in 2000. The pain never stoped. The Dr. fused with Titanium balls. And on my last visit I was in terrible pain. The Dr. actually said he never promised me no pain. I had also been diagnosed with Fybromyalge. I had a fusion on two Disk in my neck which actually worked. I had no more severe headaches. All this time I was still in pain from the first fusion. The Dr. recommended a fusion on my right sacroiliac joint. This never helped the pain. Somewhere during this time a started seeing Jupiter pain management. The gave me a narcotic in a small dosage. I have now been going to pain manage for around 7 years with no problems and no issues. About 4 months ago I developed excruciating pain. I found a lump in my back. Pain manage said to have the cyst removed and felt quite sure it was the cause of the pain. I received NO extra pills for the surgery and once again excruciating pain. At this point they changed my P A. I told her I was in excruciating pain. I asked to see the Dr. on several occasions. The P A saidicould not see the Dr. and she continued saying I for two months and got mad every time I asked. Finnaly after numerous request the Dr. saw me. He examined me and many of the things he told me to do I could not do because of the pain. The Dr. told me it was most likely due to a disk in the L3 L4 level. Several years ago Pain Manage told me that a stimulator may make the pain go away. So I did. The Pain Manage told me to go to the Dr. who put it in and asked him to remove it. He said I needed a MRI. I had the stimulator removed and a new MRI compatible stimulator was put in. I had told the surgeon about how much pain I had during the cyst removal to please keep me out of pain post opt . He said he would a gave me prescription for Percocet. The Pharmist called Pain Manage me t that I had submitted a prescription from the surgeon. Pain management told the Pharmacy not to fill it. I called Pain management on several ovations telling them I was in in excruciating pain. They finnaly told me to come and see the Dr. 3 days after surgery. I was in severe pain and could hardly walk. When he came in the room he told me he would give me 20 Percocets and after that do not come in any more. I think I was in shock. He said that I kept asking for higher pain meds. Which is not true and the pharmacy has records showing that I went to pain management every month and filled my prescriptions every month. She said I was a perfect patient never command early or anything. There was nothing in the records indicating Dr. shopping or any other problem. But when I was in his office pain management told me they were try to wien me down on my medications. I was so much in shock I could only cry. He nor anyone there told me they were trying to wien me off pain killers. Why would you wien a patient right in the middle of my treatment and two surgeries. In fact he did not even remember that HE told me to have the surgery and a MRI after. He offered me 20 pills. I was so humiliated that I left and did not take the prescription. I called the administer to check into this. They did not even talk to my previous P.A. about three days the administer called me on the phone and I believe she had me on a speaker phone. There was someone in her office that kept laughing at what I was saying. I asked the administer to tell the girl to stop laughing. It was probably 2 days when I realized she had violated my hippa rights. She also told me if a gave her a Dr. she would immediately send a referral and all records to him. I gave her the name of my sister’s Dr. when I called this Dr. they said they never received any thing. Then I got a letter saying I had to asked for my records in a written letter which I wrote. My girlfriend is hand delivering it this morning. To the best of my knowledge they fired me because I asked the surgeon for pills for post op. The last surgery they sent me home with no pills. At this time I can hardly walked and have a terrible time using the bathroom and I am unbalanced and have fallen once. I am in the process of going to see my primary. Not for pills because she does not believe in them. But I need to find out if I hurt myself falling or from the surgery. I am using Advil to try and take a shower. My surgeon is out of time for a week. When I was trying to get an appt. with my primary care the receptionist told me the Dr. would not treat my pain which I never asked her to. And I pay dearly for a consear Dr.
Kelly
Alcohol and nicotine are addictive and have killed thousands, if not millions of people, yet it’s still on the market! There are lots of people who have died from lung cancer, liver failure or drunk drivers, yet you can still get these drugs whenever you want – sold on every street corner. Why isn’t everyone seen as an alcoholic or future cancer patient/chronic smoker? I don’t know of any purpose these drugs serve, yet it’s ok with the government for people to keep selling them to the public, knowing what they know about them.
People turn to street drugs because they can’t get pain meds when they’re suffering. Not everyone taking pain meds is an addict or drug-seeking just like not everyone is an alcoholic who drinks a glass of wine! Until all these people making the laws/rules actually suffer or watch a loved one suffer and contemplate taking their life because they can’t deal with the pain, and have no quality of life then maybe they’ll realize some people actually need pain medicine. Maybe they will understand if they experience unbearable pain someday due to a car accident, which caused 2 spinal fusions – like my story or someone else’s story who is suffering, then be told by a doctor to deal with the pain, and there’s nothing they can do because of the laws now in place for fear of being fined or losing their license.
Obesity kills, too, and causes a boat-load of health conditions due to all the chemicals, poisons, and additives they put in our food. How come the government isn’t doing anything about that? How come foods that are banned in other countries can be sold here in the US? I’m so frustrated with our system and how they can control whatever lines their pockets with the most $$$.
Toni P
TX
We need to get and petition going to get our medicine. I have chronic back pain. No dr will give me pain pills. The only thing he prescribed me ie Tylenol 3.
Charlie
Texas
I fell 110 foot on to my face. Broke jaw in 5 places and sheared all teeth at gum line. Broke back and neck. Also, I was kicked in the same spot on my jaw by a horse and my brother dropped a hatchet from a tree that stuck in my head. It took 63 stitches. So I live in pain, and a doctor at Baylor gave me two 10.25 pills a day. I never used more than I was given, and my life was ok. I could move around better and had a better life. Now that he will no longer give me the meds I used for 12 years, my life is one that hurts, and the pain has stopped me from enjoying life better. The new laws have hurt me in my heart, as I was one person that needed such meds and never abused them. I’m angry and have to live in pain that I should not have to live in because of others. I have no choice but to try and find my much-needed medicine another way.
It’s not my fault that the DEA forces me to find in other places the one med I truly needed. I would love to know how many who work at the DEA, and their families, use the same med that I can no longer get. Take good people, and turn them into one who considers breaking the law to get what they need. Shame on the DEA. I don’t like stupid people. I’m telling everyone not to write me stupid stuff because you’re not me and cannot feel my pain. I’ll use my free speech fast on you, and I’ll ask God to forgive me for writing stupid people truth.
Lorry
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia back in 1991. They tried every antidepressant and nothing worked . Back then there was nothing you can take for fibromyalgia . I did try the new medication but I had a very bad reaction to it. So let’s fast-forward to the year 2004 when my body started quitting on me I’ve had two rotator cuff tears 1 full 1 75% then I had a frozen shoulder a pulmonary embolism collapsed lung.
I have been diagnosed with scoliosis lordosis which it’s a double curvature of the bony Spurs all over my body. I have two artificial knees one knee cap broke and I had to have it . Since the knee cap wasn’t done correctly the first time I now have less than half a knee cap. Which is the same leg that was damaged by the anesthesiologist who left me with 50% femoral nerve damage. If that nerve damage does not grow back within two to three years that’s it you suffer with . I am on pain medication I am on nerve medication and some anti-anxiety medication for the above. I was on a significantly more and higher doses of pain medication but I took myself off of simply because of following surgeries . I’ve had carpal tunnel , ulnar nerve , distal nerve surgery on both arms and hands.
I had my right thumb surgery then additional surgery two wire my thumb to my hand. together to my hand because my bones are breaking joints are dysfunctional bilateral hands. I wear a brace on my right hand because I broke my wrist after it was wired together and the only other fix is another surgery . If the government took away my pain medication I don’t know if I could stand it we have tried to reduce my nerve medication only to have my leg get worse I don’t know the answers all I know is that government does not have the the right to tell the person who is sick that they can’t take medication to help them feel slightly better.
Believe me when you take pain medication the pain doesn’t go away, it’s there. Medication for pain is just enough to let you function for period of time until it all comes back it never goes away. It’s bad enough being in pain 24/7 not having a social life trying to function by yourself . Now the government has the audacity to tell me that I am unable take pain medication, because they are unable to control the greedy Physicians who hand out drugs, that’s where their focus should . Not the people who are truly chronically sick who go see Physicians. The government is controlling too much and I’m very concerned because God forbid those people with cancer can’t get their medication because of the ill-informed government officials that have no idea what’s going on in the real world. That is just my point of view.
Lorry
Florida
Sad to say it’s not just myself that is in pain but also my adult daughter who suffers from cerebral palsy had to have a pain pump removed due to a FDA recall and because the nursing home screwed up the surgical site she could no longer receive another pain pump she is in full contracture deformity and suffer severely every single day
susan
california
I agree with the comments that many with chronic pain will resort to suicide to end their suffering if they can not get their pain medications. I have chronic pain from fibromyalgia and polyneuritis, 90 % of the time I am able to tolerate the pain during the day, but nights are a whole different story, not only do I have burning and pins and needles in my feet, legs, hands and arms but the bones in my legs and arms ache terribly at night. I take gabapentin for the neuropathy symptoms but get very little relief of the burning and pins and needles, I was also taking Tramadol 100 mg that I took if the bone aching was unbearable. My new insurance has declined to authorize the Tramadol. Since then I have spent about 5 nights a week in agony, tossing and turning , moaning and sometimes even screaming. I work full time as an RN, and my lack of sleep is making me crazy, and each day as night approaches I become anxious wondering what the night will bring.
I do not understand how an insurance company, or pharmacy, can be allowed to make a decision on whether or not I need pain medication, that should be left up to my Physician. As an RN I am fully aware of the Opiod crisis I see it almost everyday in the hospital, but restricting Opiods across the board is not the answer. I looked into medicinal Marijuana but as I am a licensed medical professional I would most likely lose my job and my license.
Shelly
Erie, pa
Susan your situation mirrors mine. I have been on pain meds for 17 years. Three weeks ago my doc just refused to renew my scripts. I was on 10/325 hydro 4x a day, somas 4x a day, and Gabapentin 600mg 4x a day. I called it my life saving cocktail. I asked to see the doc and he refused. No explanation at all. Then he sent in a script for Tramadol. Seriously? So I was talking to my pharmacist about my physical issues. I explained how I average 2-3 hours of sleep a night. I explained how my legs and feet spasm beyond belief. The pain is literally breathtaking… so he suggested that I try magnesium glycinate 300mg a night. I have been taking it for a few months now and have only had any spasms when I forget to take them. So give them a try… also for the pain.. I heard about CBD oils and pain cream. Listen I am an EMT so I have medical knowledge. I didn’t believe this person that this stuff would help me. I didn’t want the pot high, I just want the pain to stop. So a week before my doc cut me off I saw on FB that this company is at our mall. Nature’s Best is the name of it. So I said screw it im gonna check this out. I went to the kiosk and ended up purchasing a bottle of the oil and a bottle of the face cream. I got in the car and opened them up and did the drops under my tongue, I put the cream on my face (I have bad rosacea) and headed home. I followed the instructions for the need 2 days. I noticed I felt different. I still had my meds but as we all know the meds just take the edge off so you can function, walk, work, be a parent etc… but this oil and cream are the real deal. I pain is next to nothing, the neuropathy in my left leg is still an issue but the oil works! My rosacea and brown spots… I had two spots which are so faded now that you can barely notice them. The rosacea is almost gone! Give it a try. You can purchase online if you don’t have a store. It’s not cheap but well worth it!
Peter
New York
I feel for all the peoe like me suffering. Now people will turn more to heroin for pain relief, I think. The goverment makes good people suffer for others’ mistakes. It’s not fair, what is going on. For the people who need the, now what do we do?
Renee
N.J
It’s time we fight back if we don’t stand up nothing will never be done T.V are you addicted that’s all I’m hearing all the back things coming out for pain but people are standing up like I’ll be ok I need to do some work well I can’t get out of the bed ! Get on the news like they are doing all over about getting off the market ! Just now they did not have Deluit for cancer!
They are going through the same you need to call Governor, or who ever is in government we need to wake up and fight back or nothing we be done they don’t care making money we kill ourselves no one Disability think about that??!
We have no one in the White house or anywhere ! Need to do something like get people to go to the White house and make it big… T.V News this will be the only way we can’t sit back thinking it will go away they don’t care the Doc’s don’t care!
JONATHAN
DOWNTOWN TORONTO
Luckily, I was tapered off two years ago. Personally, it was the worst experience I’ve ever had. I didn’t want my family to know how much pain and psychological anguish I went through so I left town and checked into a hotel for a week.
I started out with severe achilles tendon pain that went on for years. While on hydrocodone I was able to function, exercise and even run. This was after I tried therapy and cortizone patches on my heel. My doctor who I’ve had since I was born retired after tapering me off (in June ’14) and at that time, he told me that he wanted to see me get off hydrocodone, because the new young doctors will basically tell you to get out of their office if you even suggest painkillers. They will try to push meditation or yoga or massage or whatever else. It’s as if they are in a contest to see who can prescribe the least painkillers or something. I no longer trust physicians because I don’t feel they trust me. I really despise these young doctors who haughtily say they ‘don’t believe in painkillers’ and leaving us to suffer.
As well, I smell a rat with all this ‘opiate crisis’ stuff on the news. Nobody would go to this much trouble unless they were making money off of this somehow. And I believe that, the same way Oxycontin made billions back in ’97; twenty years later these awful treatment centres are getting rich off of ‘patients’ and provide very little to no therapy/rehab/life skills, they employ unqualified staff who are often between 18-21 and are paid minimum wage, and the people who own these places are making out like millionaires. The quality of these treatment centres is very low and don’t appear to be helping anyone.
Charlie
May I please ask how many pain pills a day you were taking. With much respect, I ask you sir.
JONATHAN
DOWNTOWN TORONTO
At the end, I was taking 6 x 5-325 mg/day. Over a period of six months, I was tapered down one pill a day per month. And even with that, it was really hard to go from having 1 x 5-325 a day to having nothing.
The way I feel now, over three years later, is bittersweet. On the plus side, I did discover that I really didn’t need the pills as much as I had thought. But on the other hand, there was a sense of comfort and security – in case my pain got worse, in case my injuries became worse, etc. There was a lot of anxiety over that.
I know someone who, after being cut off her pain meds, turned to food. She has gained almost 50-60 pounds over the past year. So to those who have been cut off their pain meds, please watch your habits because it’s so easy to turn to anything for comfort – food, gambling, smoking, etc…it’s not fair what has happened regarding this taking away of our pain medications, but I honestly don’t see it ever going back to the way it was.
Frank
They had to create a false epidemic to put rehabs inner cities.
Joe
USA
I just learned that a man I know killed himself due to suffering chronic pain that made him cry and scream in pain. The doctor became afraid to write any more medication, good job do gooders, the man is now dead due to not being able to cope with chronic pain. I hope there is a hell, these do gooders are the ones that will get the hottest spot!
Renee
N.J
I don’t like the Doctor today. I had a old country one he was the best there 1934 till the day he pass away , Made house calls in his 80’s you would hear someone say deliver me old days Doc, House calls kind caring never would he stand for this never !!!
The votes need to get the house both of them clean out not that we have to much to vote for today it sickens me to see the U.S today very sad fix the election now it’s a joke
I do believe the Governor from N.J did this got the ball rolling he needs a job what better way to get in the White House don’t do anything for the people ! I feel this is cruel and why people are not fighting more I did tell everyone who they need to talk to in some post go and look ? I still would love to protest !! Like to know how to go about it !
Sheri
Florida
Joe,
Be prepared for many, many more suicides amongst the elderly who can no longer function or handle the 24/7 chronic pain they are in by having their medications snatched from their hands. Their pain has a lot to do with “bad” surgeries performed by doctors who are incompetent, non-caring or just in it for the money. If these idiots forming the new guidelines (CDC/DEA) for opioid prescribing had to live just one day in the pain so many of us elderly live with, they would be on the suicide list, too. We need to band together and protest NOW! Contact our state representatives, the CDC, DEA, and the news media (which hasn’t helped the situation by publicing opioid related deaths amongst young people). Even contact Trump with this national atrocity being forced upon the elderly. We need to protest publically and let ourselves be heard. Soon enough, if these guidelines are upheld, the suicidal death rate amongst the elderly whose pain meds have been taken away from them will surpass the younger generations dying from “street”drugs such as heroin, which is far cheaper and easier to get than opioids. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD EVERYWHERE possible and NOW!! The elderly are being disregarded, disrespected and kicked to the curb by a misinformed, narrow minded group of non-caring people. WE NEED TO DO IT NOW!!!!
Frank
Onalaska. Texas
Because of the jobs it willl bring to inner cities. First the CDC and HHS had to invent a crisis. A fake epidemicn
Donna
I was hurt in 2006, working in a nursing home, while takeing a patience to the bathroom, she lost her balance and fell on top of me, needless to say crushed me..from 2006 till now 2017 I’ve been through 6 back surgeries, and till this day, as I pour my heart out living in the pain that I do, is sad…
Through out this all, I must say I’ve learn a lot, things I never thought I would even care about, meaning why the world is so unfair, to people like us, the ones who suffer so much, when I was put on pain meds, I never gave it a thought as to how bad it is, or what it could do, if that makes any sence lol.
Up until now, it’s a struggle every visit to the doctor then to the pharmacy. I have become more and more ANGERY DEPPRESSED, CONFUSED for a lot of reasons, I did not chose for this to happen, I have no answers as to why I’m in the pain I’m in.
I do everything I need and have to do, asking to have my liver check, that to me is sad, because instead of working on the problem to make it better it’s all about throwing meds at you, and talking for my self that’s the only hope.with also relief I have!!!
In case I deal a lot with workmans Comp and let me put this out there’ as well, they seem to be so concerned as to me being on strong meds, but yet don’t want to fix the problem!!! I am also tested to make sure the meds are in me, and have never once, had a problem, I am very faithful with my doctor as far as, when changing pain meds if they are a problem I make sure to take them to the doctor.
It’s been a long road of pain and struggle, to live this way, I’m sorry to just run my mouth, and hope I’m making sense. For all who suffers like myself, I wish you all the best!!!!
Dawn S.
Illinois
I take norco to walk I’m in such of pain. Now the doctor told me no more because of these drug addicts and people that don’t take their norco and sell them. I have some left yet but I have pain all over I’m not going to be able to work yet alone walk and do my daily routine. We’re all really screwed we are people that really need them. I guess I’ll just stay in bed I hope all those drug addicts get punishment.
Ginger
PA
I am in total panic mode ! After seeing my new Dr. For only the second visit, he all of a sudden told me he has decided to no longer prescribe or refill opiate drugs. He said this without even making eye contact and typing on his keyboard.
I have been on Fentynal 50 mcg patches and Hydrocodone 10-325 for over 3 1/2 years for severe arthritic feet, Fibromyalgia, Crohns disease, and Osteoporosis of my spine. They are the only thing that keeps me on my feet and able to feel, for the most part,human. God, what do I do now ? I just can’t. I want to cry a river. But who would care ?
He told me he will fill my scripts one last time, and next month I need to decide what to do. Makes it sound so easy. What a joke the medical profession has turned out to be.
Luann
Manns Choice Pa 15550
who can we complain to that will stop this
Jodi
Newburgh IN
I have arthritis and bone spurs throughout my whole spine and every disc is messed up. I am not a candidate for surgery. I will not live with this pain. I cannot. If I can not get pain medication I will have to end my life.
Tammy
Jackson, MS
I have rheumatoid arthritis, osteo arthritis, Fibromyalgia and had my Rt Hip broke in three place, Rt ankle shatter, I have been on Norco, for several years, now taking Morphine Er, to reduce my pain, even taking these meds daily, I am still in pain, so I do not believe I should have to SUFFER, due to others who miss use the medications or should anyone else.
I have to ask is it the meds, the DEA is worried about? Is it people overdosing? Or does the government just want to control what each person does, and make us take all these other meds, with all the other side effects, that only compound our existing problems and add more problems. I do not believe they have the RIGHT
Bonita
Michigan
I have rare disease that is destroying my joints. Two knee replacements, two revisions, surgery on both feet to put off fusions, lumbar fusion, pending shoulder replacement (likely to result in paralysis of my complete arm for around two months, as was the case with both knees). Insurance companies want you in and out of the hospital often before a person is ready. I personally do not have any family or friends for help.
Do these elected officials want to take my place and have a good sedition of their humorous/femur cut out and only have pain meds for three days?? You are on home care for three weeks. I was always told I need to “stay in front of the pain” otherwise I am not able to do the necessary PT to walk again. Even in the hospital nurses would find me absolutely sobbing into a pillow due to the excruciating pain.
I only see three options for those of us in chronic pain, “suck it up” and sob nonstop for days until you die (if working, forced to quit and apply for SSDI whose mission seems to be deny applications). For those with major surgeries either get longer stays in the hospital (which would cost the insurance companies far more money and increase risks for infections for the hospitalized person). Once home when you run out of your ineffective three day supply you will have to get home care to call an expensive ambulance to take you to the emergency room…if we get driven to a hospital by family or friend we will be labeled “drug seeker.” The other option will be suicide. This is sad and an embarrassment to a once great country–where we treat animals more humanely than humans.
The right thing to do is not cut everyone off from medications that keep them productive members of society or at least comfortable and active people in “life.” The right thing is to deal with the root cause of pain and those with addictive personalities (a disease in its own right). There IS a definitive difference between dependency and addiction. Dependency: Diabetics need insulin, they are dependent upon it. They are not addicted to it. If you take access to insulin away the person dies. Addiction: People who use medications for getting high, escaping life, etc. Cutting off access to opioids will only hurt the people who need it the most. Those seeking a high are not not going to be stopped by a crack down on access to opioids. They will just find a new drug and source.
Care needs to given back to doctors. I have “partnered” with a reputable hospital pain management team for over 25 years. I know, without a doubt, they want to help me in anyway they can. Now a well known not for profit insurance company is now requiring pre authorizations for everything. Even simple trigger points, My recent cervical ablation and trigger point injections (done in a very small office) instead of being done in four visits will take close to twelve. It makes no sense for anyone. Every office visit between medical treatments do nothing but torture me. Driving is very painful and exhausting and that hospital is a 60 to 75 minute drive, one way. Every visit is a $50 copay. Ablations have a far higher copay. I have known these doctors for over 25 years and they are having their hands tied.
In support groups the people are terrified. Six have already committed suicide. (Do all these studies that “prove” the opioid crisis and the resulting deaths include suicide or heroin. Most studies just look at deaths.) There are 60 and 70 year old people trying to figure out the ins and outs of acquiring the right CBD. Seniors are looking for marijuana. Many do not know there is a difference between cannabis and hemp. Our seniors are looking for a drug that is so highly classified that much research cannot even be done on it to find out what ingredient in the plant is the one helping different diseases. Sad.
Many, many people never get a proper diagnosis, wait lists for the appropriate specialists are 8 to 24 months. Once a disease is identified rarely is a person treated appropriately and completely. Maybe if the poor, working poor and middle America got quality care and treatment they wouldn’t need pain medications.
No good will come of the ban. People who need pain management after surgeries or for painful diseases are terrified. Sometimes it seems that with the cut off of pain medications, financial destruction the goal is to have the sick die.
Equally appalling the healthcare new plan winding through congress reinstitutes pre-existing conditions. That means and one with a chronic disease or some vague insignificant sinus infection can and will be used to deny people any care at all. If this horror passes they won’t have to be worried about people abusing opioids, they won’t have the money to buy any medications nor see specialists…they will try for a time try to survive (which sucks and is far from living) until they find away to end the pain.
Joe
VOTE against puritans. The so called Christians and Republicans and the fake Democrats are all foaming at the mouth with greed. They hold stock in addiction clinics and they want to see their investments pay off. Try, if you can, to find political leeches who might fight for the rights of people suffering chronic pain. Vote against the political leeches who are pinning you down. We need people to run for office that CARE about people. I do not see anyone screaming in panic about the car crash epidemic. Car crashes kill and injure millions of people every year. We really need to crack down on the auto industry and people who build roads. There needs to be a warning on the door of every car that while useful, cars are very deadly and might harm you. These puritans have to go, we have to vote them out. WE ARE ALL LIVING UNDER TYRANNY! Thomas Jefferson warned us against this, the right to LIBERTY was supposed to cover what you choose to take as medication, they completely ignore the “liberty and pursuit of happiness” the clearest of all things in the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION! LIBERTY means that you do as you please as long as you bring no physical harm to others. We need to explain the idea of the United States to these people. I wish they would all move to North Korea where they can run the lives of others, this is NOT allowed in the United States. There is a crowd coming to vote in 2018 and they are carrying CANES instead of pitch forks. Eliminate these do gooders by voting them out! Anyone dictating what you do with your own body does not belong in the United States Government or State Government. ENOUGH!!!!!
Brenda
I’m a Christian, conservative and trust me, I DESPISE this law. How do we fix it?
Donna
North Carolina
I am 60 years old. I have had 2 lamenectomies on my back, the first one was when I was 28
years old. Since then I have had fussion on my back. My neurosurgeon told me that I would have to have at least one more fussion on my back but to put it off as long as I can. I have had 2 neck fussions. I have had Addisons Disease for 25 years which requires that I take 2 different steroids daily which has resulted in serious osteoporosis. I have arthritis in my hands and my feet.
I broke my wrist and my arm in two places within a year and that has reulted in more arthrits pain. I have been diagnosed with chronic joint and muscle pain and have had bursitis in my hip for 3 years which caused me to walk with a limp. I tried physical therapy and dry needle therapy which allows me to walk witout a limp but I still cant lay on my left side and more recently my right. Two weeks ago my doctor said she would no longer give me my oxycodone or tramadol and refereed me to a pain clinic.
The 31 year old doctor told me he would give me steroid injections. I said that I couldn’t have them anymore. He asked why and I said because the steroids that I have to take to live have caused serious issues. He said his thoughts were “if you are already drinking water, why not drink more”. I said because water is harmless, steroids are not. I told him that I take 1/2 of a 10/325 oxycodone tablet 6 times a day or 3 whole pills. I break them in half. He said he would write a persciption so I wouldn’t have to break the pills. I said that I didnt mimd, I was okay breaking the pills.
Got home and read the persciption that he wrote for 5/ 325 pill 3times a day. I called back and said he made a mistake becasue I take 3 whole pills even though my persciption is for 4 pills a day. I have been able to take the oxycodone medication and have had perfect attendace for 4 years at work except when I broke my wrist and arm. I broke 3 toes including my big toe and wrpped them up and went back to work the next day. I did not want to go on disability even though my nerosurgeon and primary dictor said they would support me if I couldn”t take the pain.
Now no one cares. The pain clinic doxtor told me that he had discussed getting me off oxycodone and had purposely changed my persciption which was never mentione during my visit. He said I could fo elsewhere but no physician that fell under the unbrella of the large hospital in the city in which I live would ever give me more oxycodone. He told me he was giving me Lyrica which I said I would try although the side effects were unbelievable. I took two and felt like I was drunk. I was dizzy headed, couldn’t focus on my computer screen. I felt very confused and felt like I wasn’t walking right. This persciption started with 1 pill 3 times a day and went up to three pills 3 times a day.
I called the pharmacist and described how I felt. I asked what to do and he said stop taking the medicene. The doctor was upset and said I should not have stopped the Lyrica and that I shoud have toughed it out even though I told him I would not feel comfortable driving home if I took anymore of the Lyrica. I havenever abused my persciptions, never asked for early refills which insurance wouldn’t allow anyway. I wanted to retire and then work part time at the job I love. When I saw the doctor I had a feeling the appontment wouldn’t go well after all I had heard but I tried very hard not to argue.
When I arrived, my blood pressure was very high. After the appointment I was so stessed. I had tightness in my chest ans shoulders to the point that I was concerned. Why can’t they leave the ones that don’t abuse the drugs alone and let us live our lives with dignity and continue to be productive human beings. They must want us all on disabilty or some drug like Lyrica that the pharmacy can charge from 414.00 for 30 pills and up and they want you to take 9 a day! Who can afford this. Sounds like a great financial gain for drug companies at the expense of the elderly or anyone with chronic pain. I don’t think the ederly with chronic pain are becoming drug addicts. This seems to have started with people who may have has good intentions, but it has become a nightmate for us.
This change has become a huge boost to pharmaceutical companies selling Lyrica and other Tier 3 drigs to the elderly with real pain. This can not be the answer. What is the point of livinig if every day is spent in pain, unable to work and feeling like no one cares. Why not take away alcohol. People addicted to it can cause severe problems to themselves, their families and others when they operate vehicle or machiney while under the influence. If I can’t work and have to just exist to be kn constant pain, I might as well stop taking my steroids that allow me to live with Addison’s disease. Death would be better than laying around with chronic pain. I feel that a lawsuit would be appropriate.
Keith
Capitola, CA 95010
I’m in a lot of pain after 3 back surgeries. Fist one ruptured a disk and has in “Red hot screaming pain for 3 months with only Vicodin which wasn’t even a quarter of what I needed. I had not idea of the strengths of pain meds. Second back surgeries had 3 Verts fused together. I got over it quick but same thing under it quickly. But 4-5 yrs later I got a staff infection in my spine. Went to a quack doctor which each months (for 8 months), kept telling me “I was only there for the pain meds”.
I have to work for 7 days a week for 8 months before I could find a real doctor. I went to a pain doctor. When I pulled my shirt up and she saw a square lump 3-5″ 3/4″ think plus the rest of the huge mass. She had never seen anything like it. She send me to the Neurosurgeon that did the fusion. He said the same thing. But I had the surgery where he took out the 6- 2 1/2 ” screws in my spine. When a massive amount to the infection. He told 5 other Neurosurgeons a Ortho doctors eack of the ten doctors said they had never seen anything like it and that I should have died 3-4 months before that.
They all said it should have got through my whole body and killed me. But has left me with chronic back pain in my back and legs and feet because of the nerve damage. The government is the problem. They a/passed a pain law that said they couldn’t leave a person in pain. SO now they can. But if you dog’s in pain and don’t do anything we’re thrown in jail. I knew 4 people that commit suicide because they couldn’t get the medication they needed. How many people die every years from legal alcohol? Dying for drinking to much and drunk diving. Why don’t they make the drug of alcohol first?
A lot of people are going to buy illegal drugs on the street and drink alcohol for pain relief? How many of those will commit suicide and drink themselves to death. Five times more people than who have died from having the drugs illegally. Fact
Renee
N.J
I was thinking about a Lawsuit to this is very cruel sue the Gov. Something has to be done right now before we all die ! No joke I can’t see how the mind can do it ! Read a post I put on one of my first I gave you the who the # of who to fax or whatever you need to do . The Doc who gave it to me said you need to fight back ! The Gov. are murders should be in jail ! I’m in so much pain my hubby sits down ,I sit in my bedroom 24/7 this is no way to live I’m so nervous even my Lorazepam was taking away Pozic I will not take it afraid to losing I was 136 Icant Swallow due to the panic ,can’t sleep always worrying this has made me so upset what will I do I keep thinking
Diane
Pennsylvania
I’m in the same boat, & this is the first time I’m waiting for the paper work to comeback from my insurance, I wrote the ACLU to see if they’d take my case & try to sue for my pain meds. I’ve been on 100 pills a month for years & now, they want me down to 44. If they don’t think that stresses people out & I’m trying to find over-the-counter meds, & I’m not doing well. My doctor says every month they must file an exemption for me &–all the paper work to get my my 100.
I have nerve damage due to a surgery. PA is trying so hard to pass medical marijuana laws. But a drug that works for me, I can’t have, even though it’s a legal prescription. I even said I would pay for it, if it’s an insurance thing. They said that I can’t pay cash for it. That would be illegal. I hate this. This should be a doctor’s decision, not a government decision.
Clarence
Alexandria,Louisiana
Christians at least me aren’t against you and us cause I suffer also and the only way I work is threw my pain meds and social security don’t want to pay,but I guess they will have to if they cut our meds off are there’s going to be alot of crimes and the drug dealers getting rich,cause they go to New Mexico and get them a dime a dozen and there not regulated,so youre kids will die faster cause of this and belive me there won’t be a shortage but the old will suffer cause there honest.They will be a lot easier to purchase also,so people be aware of what monsters you’re creating.
Melissa
GA
I accidentally took more than prescribed because of my pain. I ran out of my hydrocodone 3 days early. Well, my pee test came up negative. He basically accused me of not taking them. He now refuses to prescribe me any more. I am so lost. I had a HUGE panic attack in his office. He was so mean. Told me to get m act together or get out. I don’t know what to do. I have bulging discs in C 6/7, L 1/2 L 3/4. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, and migraines. Anyone have any suggestions. I don’t know if I can find another Doctor, will my name be flagged? Help….
Julie
Florida
When your under the care of anyone prescribing narcotics,,,
You HAVE TO CALL THEM, and let them know…
“ My current dose isn’t working and I either need to increase it or we need to discuss another plan “
So….. yes, I’m sorry the doctor seemed mean, but aren’t you seeing the drastic changes in the laws every few months ??
You better believe you need to take your medications to the last detail right now and forever more in the future !!! This crack down will only get worse. I don’t know how the new laws are going to help make a difference ? They changed these laws a few years ago, making the drug classification different,,, requiring a separate script for every fill….. now , it’s 7 days worth ???? And your wondering “why” a doctor might be upset with you ? Please always make that phone call and don’t change your prescription plan on your own even if it’s by a day or so…..right now as pain management patients we have to be as transparent as ever with our doctors and STOP being afraid of talking with them…..I just read so many comments where people fear their doctors, hate being stigmatized by the pharmacies, and are afraid someone ( doc, DEA, pharmacist, CDC ) are going to take their meds from them.
I do not want to write this and seem like I’m coming from an unsympathetic mindset, because I don’t ….I have lived with this for years !!!
I don’t remember asking the horse that crushed my body, to please do something freaky that day that will forever require me to live with pain medication that barely covers an amount of pain so bad that some days “living” feels like a challenge, and I don’t recall asking the horse to damage me so badly that when I DO get my scripts from the pharmacy I can deal with their
Pre-judgemental and jaded beliefs……let alone be put through the ringer with doctors hardly anyone can afford !!!
You know what’s funny ?
In all my years of walking into a pharmacy with a cane, crutches, walker, whatever……. NOT ONE PHARMASIST has ever asked..” Well, wow… if you don’t mind may I ask what happend to you that has required you to live with so many medications ? I see you walk with a cane so I probably can assume you’ve had some damage done somewhere…”
So now, if I have to change pharmacies (which is rare) I walk in and introduce myself to the pharmacy manager, I open the list of prescriptions and show them each one and each doctor. I take their bit of time to explain what happend to me and that I’m going to be needing these medications on a regular basis…and I give them the freedom, by asking THEM…” If you are NOT comfortable with dispensing these meds to me, I understand completely and will continue on my search for a pharmasist that can communicate and help ME be the number one advocate in MY healthcare. About 2 years ago I became so tired of being stigmatized by the pharmacies ( and they will say they don’t ) but it happens. My advice to anyone able to speak for themselves that are going to be on long term pain medications, ( just so we have a chance at living a fulfilled life like everyone else ) Be open with your doctors, stop fearing them !! If you need a third explanation about your medications because you don’t understand completely, never hesitate to tell the doctor, “ I know your super busy but I’m going to need a few more minutes with you…” !!!
Introduce yourself to the pharmacy manager, show them the meds your going to need….
None of us managing permanent pain issues asked to go through this, and “feel” like some addict or criminal living under a rock !!! Step out, speak loudly and clearly, be the first advocate in your care, if at first you don’t succeed with the results you want then “Try and try again !” Because this is my life,, it has been since that fateful day I was crushed by a horse 35 years ago ! Didn’t ask for it to happen so I could live some (imagined) jolly high life on narcotics !!! No… my medications have allowed me to have children and be able to help at their school and drive them to activities, my medications have reduced my days of crying in bed because I just can’t get up, my medications have provided me with somewhat of a functioning life ! And these medications and doctors have cost me dearly…….
I’m really sorry that so many people are abusing these meds, and even more tragically causing their death….very sad.
But….. I’ll be damned if I’m going to be “grouped” into some “sheeple categorization” because of this.
True pain patients, it’s time to speak up and be transparent with your caregivers !!!! We’re slowly losing control over our own bodies to people that make huge money to play “decision maker” when they haven’t even met “ME” or “YOU”
Best Wishes to anyone else living “The Dream”
LOL,
Signed,
“The girl crushed by a horse.”
Charlene
PA
I did that, and got cut off. I was told your opiates are not working so we are weaning you off allOpiates. Beware.
Susan
Arkansas
Since November of 2016 the pain mgmt Drs have taken me from 15 100 mg of fent patches and 90 10-325 hydros to 10 25 mg fent patches and still the 90 hydros. I have had nurophath pain in my right arm and hand since 2-20-08 after I contracted necrotizing fasciitis and had 75% of my right arm removed. Since these new guidelines almost a year ago it has absolutely taking away any and all qualities of life so much to the point I beg to die 29 out of a 30 day month until I’m getting to the point that instead of trying to find someone anyone something anything to help I’m going to start trying to find a way to end my life so that I get the relief I have been begging for and just let theses so called cdc fda whomever is responsible for taking my meds away have my blood on their hands. Please if you have any suggestions of what and where I could go to get some help please tell me I’ll drive anywhere out of state just where ever I need help and I do not want to die I have a 16 yr old son to raise but I’m no good to him or anyone else living with the worst quality of life I’ve now been dealt with…
jim
utah
my thoughts on this are . I have had miserable pain for the last 27 year from an industrial accident, I kept working because my doctor monitered me and my pain so I was able to work till I turned 70 I didnt take disablity because thats just not me. So retired am i going to be bed riden because there are a few idiots that make a simple thing as pain control to get by. Im so frustrated at what they are doing ( goverment ) to people who are just trying to get by in life, we are not drugies. please wont someone do the right thing? I have had three back surgeries Two neck surgeries , both total knees , one total shoulder, all has kept me going with pain meds I dont get high I just get relief .
Barry
Milton pa
I never used more oxycodone and I was prescribed I had four back surgeries a new replacement I have a drop foot and my left foot and a metal plate in my foot and I cannot get anything for the pain anymore it is really hard to function anymore they are going to put millions of people that are out of work
Chele
Virginia
Plain and simple… STOP PUNISHING PEOPLE WHO LEGITIMATELY NEED PAIN MEDS BECAUSE OF A FEW ADDICTS!! LET DOCTORS DO THEIR JOBS!! AND DO YOURS!!
I have even gone through the trouble of seeing a doctor who specializes in addiction to CONFIRM THAT I AM NOT AN ADDICT OR AT RISK OF BECOMING AN ADDICT!! I have chronic foot pain due to multiple surgeries that… as a result have affected my gait, resulting in bi-lateral hip surgery, and intense back pain. After my last foot surgery in February, 2017, I now have a broken toe and bone fragment floating in my foot. I’ve had it for 6 MONTHS AND MY SURGERY IS NOT UNTIL OCTOBER 26, 2017!! AND I CAN’T EVEN GET MY DOCTOR TO RETURN MY CALL!!
You better believe I’m angry!! I have a traveling husband and 3 kids, all with various autism spectrum disorder. I need to care for them, and I CAN’T WHEN I CANNOT WALK!!
I realize there are more than “a few” addicts. BUT, I am certain there are other ways to address this rather than throwing some blanket law over everyone. Now doctors can’t do their job and are scared because of the government!
POLITICIANS, DO YOUR JOB!!! FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY!!!
Mary
Livonia, MI
For those of you who think you need to see the doctor 12 times a year; I used to go to the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia for chronic migraines (I’d still go there, but I moved to Michigan). Anyway, they are a VERY busy center (the best headache treatment center in the country). They are far too busy to have their patients coming in once a month just for follow ups and narcotic refills. I WAS on two different migraine abortives (you’re not supposed to treat migraines with narcotics alone). However, I was constantly in the ER when I maxed out on my abortives for the week (you can only take migraine abortives 3 times per week). Since the ER is expensive, and the waiting room and overall time spent in the ER is torture for migraine sufferers (bright lights, noise, long waits to get relief even once you’re in a room, AND the typical refusal of ER doctors to administer narcotics for migraines), my headache specialist started writing me prescriptions for oxycodone 20mg as well as Dilaudid 2mg injections in order to stay out of the ER. As I said before, the center had way too many patients from all over the country to schedule simple refill appointments once a month…they scheduled follow-up and refill appointments for every 3 months (unless you had to get in for an emergent situation). Therefore, my specialist submitted my abortives to mail order for three month supplies with enough refills to last me a year. With the narcotics, she wrote out three different prescriptions for the Dilaudid and the oxycodone 20mg to last me three months. For example: if I saw her on January first, she would write me a prescription for January first, another dated February first, and a third dated March first. That way I had a new prescription for each month without physically having to go see her once every 30 days.
If you have a good, empathetic doctor, who understands office visit costs, and the inconvenience of having to come back every 30 days, ask him to write out as many prescriptions for every month as he can, to avoid constantly coming in for refills. If he/she is a good doctor, and trusts you, and mkes you promise to come in for emergent situations or changes in your health status, then he/she will do it for you.
Sorry this post was so long, but I wanted to explain MY situation, and how MY doctor handled it. I also wanted to give you an example of how she wrote the Rx’s so that I wouldn’t have to travel to all the way to Center City Philadelphia every month.
I hope this helps some of you.
Julie
Florida
Mary…..
Awesome advice AND exactly the way people should be on top of their OWN lives and meds !!!
It’s really a fairly simple protocol to follow….and people ,,, you also have to faithfully keep your appointments, not “lose” or have meds “stolen”.
Be open, talk with your doctors and stop being afraid.
Betsy
Dallas
I hope something is being done to help people in chronic pain and are doing nothing wrong. People are suffering while our governments tries to save people from themselves. This has got to stop. Please tell me something is being done
Terrie
Weatherford, TX
My husband was told that he would have to take hydrocodone for the rest of his life by a top surgeon in Atlanta after his first neck surgery in 2000. He put off taking the drug for 3 years until his last surgery on the same area in 2003.
The doctors here refuse to prescribe anything for the pain even with proof, in x-rays, that he needs it. “Do not stop any medicine without checking with the prescriber”, they cut him off in one day. How can you do that? “Why is there no doctor will to present our case, or any cases, to the medical board with medical file in hand?” Why is there no doctors willing to present our case or any cases to the medical board with medical files in hand?
Lo
Va
They really have taken the wrong route for this overdose issue! What is happening is those that DIDN’T ABUSE ANYTHING are now suffering more. I have chronic pain due to a broken C2. Had to have fused C1 to C2. Then few years later C2 to C7. Now C6 and C7 the screws are loose. Major pain. Problem: I just had emergency Aortic dissection! Now I have a mechanical valve. The pain I have everyday is unbearable this time. And doctors say nothing they can do! I used to be on Vicodin one tab, etc a day. What it did was to help me get by each day. I was never addicted. It makes me sick that people have made life even worse again, and it didn’t need to be!
Michelle
Pittsburgh, PA
We need to go to Congress and the Federal Government. I have an 80 yr old mother who is suffering so badly with no quality of life because they are refusing to give her the Hydrocodone which is the only drug that takes away her pain. We have been to countless doctors and most recently a Pain Clinic that after 3 months have told us there is nothing more they can do for her. Her PCP is refusing to prescribe Hydrocodone because of the government crack down. She is actually going to die from chronic pain because no doctor or pain clinic will do the one and only thing that helps her, so basically the federal government is killing my mother. I understand the opoid epidemic but there needs to be exceptions for elderly people who have chronic pain. They are not kids strung out on drugs. By doing this they are actually encouraging people to seek illicit means to prevent watching their loved ones suffer. So by restricting opoids because of heroin overdoses they are promoting its use to deal with chronic pain. Something needs to be done!
Notfiveo
I can tell you that I am very hesitant about having much needed shoulder surgery for fear there will be intense pain afterward with no pain meds.
1970
Minneapolis
It’s all about money. The pompous pencil pushers at the CDC? They could care less about saving lives. Responsible pain medication people will suffer.
Kristine
Connecticut
It’s POLITICAL right now. It’s wrong that they throw us all into the “abuse pot”.
Why do they not care that 90% of people are addicted to Xanax or some type of BENZO? If you are on that, like I am, it makes getting off opiates, even harder. Insurance will NOT pay for the 3 months I was told that I need for in patient rehab.
My neurosurgeon suddenly got banned from CVS. I have been seeing him for almost 2 years. How stupid to think, that a surgeon, who guts us like fish to put hardware in our spines so we can walk and function, would not require pain medication?
Workers comp used Hydrocodone as “treatment” for me back in 2000. I exhausted every conservative treatment, and was finally “approved” for a 360 fusion with the hardware, in January 2016.
In March 2017, I had to have an XLIF for L-3-4. I was told by the neurosurgeon that he can no longer write my prescriptions, because of what happened, and he will TRY, and call another pain clinic. The doctor he wants me to see, I went to in 2000. He is impossible to get into.
He is also the head of the MEDICAL MARIJUANA program in CT, for which I qualify. I have a paper that he wrote about how the combination of medical mj and opiates, is a good thing, and the person requires less opiates. Let’s see if he tries to nail me on a “dirty urine”. Then I will shove that paper in his face. If I get kicked out, and I run out of opiates, I will die.
I was told this would happen, by 4 clinics that turned me away, because I am not a heroine addict.
I am on 30MGS a day total. That is down from the 120MGS I was on for 4 years. That is not someone that abuses it.
That is someone who wants to feel like a human being and not a burden to their family. Once feeling like a BURDEN, kicks in, depressions takes over, and people end up ending their own lives.
Did you know that Oxycodone was not classified as addictive before 2000? THEY ADDED a chemical to MAKE IT ADDICTIVE, and now it’s all OUR faults, not the BIG PHARM who did it, or those doctors that knew, and prescribed it anyway.
ITS WRONG, and I am so pissed off right now. I can barely walk due to them “accidentally nicking” a nerve at the top of my left thigh. I woke up with “drop foot,” and it is permanent. I did not have drop foot when they put me out.
These neurosurgeons have pricey attorneys to protect them.
WHO IS ON OUR SIDE?
Cara
Satellite bch FL
I had shoulder rotator cuff & carpal tunnel hand surgery at same time in 2008. I have a super rare shoulder surgery condition needing surgery. So rare I’m the 9th documented person in the whole world out of dead & live cadavers since 1959′, that has it. I’m on the same medication for 12 yrs & same dose for over 10 yrs. I will have to travel many states away to get my surgery.
My Dr. of over 9 yrs says I will have enough Meds as is to get my surgery even tho it’s gonna take 2-3 yrs for me to somewhat recover & my muscles to grow & come back. (My muscles are 100% atrophied) & have perm nerve damage although the surgery will help I’m sure so much as my nerve is being impinged. I am so scared to get it after it’s taken 22 yrs to get diagnosed because it is so rare. I’m only 35 & also have FM & filled w/ arthritis. My point is im so scared to get my surgery as I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE just how much shoulder surgery hurts!!!
W/O ANY extra medication for it scares me so much as I can barely get by as is. I’m a Christian, not a drug addict & I just don’t know where to turn to for help. I can tell my Dr is so scared to help me! Any suggestions…??? I’m so lost & scared & lonely & don’t know where to turn to.
Ric
california
Hi Cara, I know how you feel i have severe psoriatic arthritis and Cancer yes you read that right (CANCER) and they are taking my medications awayits a shame that good people suffer while drug addicts skirt the law i am sick of it. I will leave my email if you ever feel the need to email me i am hoping to get enough people together to see if a class action law suit can be filled against Big Pharma i know they are trying to get the population down to a manageable number but this is just cruel if it were there family members i know this would play out different. I feel like smoking again, i know they are going to be telling me in a couple of days there is nothing they can do for me because there are no more treatment options left.
Dan
Jersey city NJ
Ok so if doctors can only legally prescribe a safe amount of opioids then how are people overdosing. I know. They take to much obviously. If people take to much they run out of doctors pills and find them on the street. They’ll always be on the street. There’s nothing you can do about that. No matter what you try. Maybe a war on drugs might help?!? Haha laugh!! If people wanna abuse these drugs to often let them. It’s there life. So what. Your forcing them to find any substitute illegally and turning to a life of crime. Stealing anything to support their habit. But for people that really do have serious pain your making it almost impossible to get. So now we have to take heroin and other drugs from the street that nobody even knows what it really is. Thanks. You are creating these overdoses and serious problems. Not the doctors.
Dan
Michigan
Daniel C. After reading the comments concerning chronic pain, at least I felt that I wasn’t the only one complaining and feeling discriminated against. I’m retired now, on a fixed income. I had to start my own small business, because of the companies who would drop you like a hot rock, if they found out that you had a back injury. It doesn’t matter how long ago. It didn’t matter that your work attendance was perfect. And you never complained out loud about your pain issues. They still drop you. I know it will never happen, but if these Dr.s and the DEA had to go through, what we go though. There would be pain relief big time.
Rebecca G
North Hills, CA.
I need to add my complaints about this unfair treatment to us people that just need to get up, take a shower cook food and make lunch, and clean our home before going yo work for a living. The drs dont care that we are doing this every single minute in pain. I wish I could go back to the days when all we had to worry about was gettint yo work on time.
Now, I have to worry with alot of with pain and anxiety. Being shooed away to another and another pain management dr. Telling them the same story that i need to keep the same amount or even better meds that would work to ease the pain of daily living not just to keep me from going through withdrawals.
I’ ll pay anything even if I have to get another job, where can I get meds to ease this horrible pain of new laws and of uncaring drs. After I retire I will go to a program. But that will be painful too..I want to get meds.
And find a dr or clinic any where to get mental and physical releif…please do I contact a lawyer I cannot afford..please give me info. I am desperate and 62 year old handicapped lady. 2 artificial knees 1 knee several sugeries, spine infusion, both wrists had surgery and some other body situations.
Kacy
Plainfield Indiana
I practiced as an RN since 1980! Back then all meds were loosely placed into the patients specific box. We had no late meds being given due to pharmacy not properly stocking the single dose or order changes or after accidentally dropping the pill and needing a replacement! Like we do now, And then we weren’t 1-2 hours late delivering the patients pain meds to them to keep them comfortable because of having to use a PIXIS MACHINE WHICH TAKES using codes and keys end time recording everything Dotting i’s and crossing Ts!!! By this time the patients pain level is now uncontrollable!!! This is also a show to us ( RNs) the LACK OF TRUST IN OUR HONESTY AND KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR PROFESSIONALISM WAS DOUBTED AND Provided more degradation and humiliation to us!!
Now I’m to address the government , once again sticking their noses into the medical profession instead of doing something about helping the poor and starving on Every street corner in America!!!
STOP PUNISHING ALL OF US BECAUSE YOU , and YOUR MESS UP!! the Government, has let the drug addicts control their decisions !$!
WAKE UP!!) it will NOT STOP THE ADDICTS!!! But what it will stop and HURT ARE PEOPLE IN HONEST CONTINUOUS AGONY AND PAIN!!! PROPERLY GOING TO OUR PAIN MANAGEMENT PHYSICIAN AND FOLLIWING THE RULES AND LAWS!!!!)
NOW WHOS DISCRIMINATING??? You take away the much needed medications used ONLY HELP TO Us fUNCTION IN SOCIETY OR TO STAND UP WITHOUT SCREAMING IN AGONY!!! Or make it to the toilet alone!
I have a BROKEN BACK AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES OF MY SACRUM AND PUBIC FRACTURES!!! Severe spinal stenosis , Fibromyalgia. Arthritis. Osteoporosis AND MS!!!
NOW :: WHAT GIVES THE GOVERNMENT THE RIGHT TO TELL MY PAIN DOCTORS HOW TO PRACTICE MEDICINE AND DO THEIR JOBS???!!! And WHEN MY MRIS SHOW THAT I AM UNDOUBTEDLY IN PAIN SINCE MY SPINAL NERVES ARE SQUASHED IN THE NARROW CANAL!!
CONGRESS IM BESEACHING YOU TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW OUR PAIN DOCTORS TO TREAT PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH REAL PAIN FROM Testing. Results
And documentation , with any rx and means to alow functional ADL’s!!
Most s sincerely
RN IN REAL CHRONIC PAIN!!!
Kacy
Amen sister well said!! The OVERDOSES are NOT DONE BY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE!!
As an RN. IM SAYING SO SAD TOO BAD!!
These are codependent people and made a choice! Don’t punish us, suffering from REAL DIAGNOSED Pain!!!
Your looking fir a scapegoat due to government failure NOT THE MEDICAL PROFESSION!!!!
Kathy
Pennsylvania
I am in chronic pain daily myself and totally agree with your statement !! The Federal Government is going to create an even worse problem !! I have had several surgeries on my shoulder, one to fuse my neck. I injured my back so bad I can hardly walk with pain radiating down my leg into my foot. I acquired these injuries due to working (taking care of patients) and being hit by a drunk driver in an auto accident. I never abused my meds, filled them early etc. I took them as prescribed. Now those of us who live in pain 24/7 are being treated like criminals. Well feeds you are going to either make us criminals by buying what we need off the streets (Lord only knows what’s in them ) or turn us into drunks just to get pain relief. I find this such a sad situation this is no way to treat people who never abused their pain medicine. Now they will allow heroin addicts to just stay on this Suboxone forever instead of making them go into a good treatment center. I have seen what Suboxone does it is horrible & it is addicting. I am talking they are on it for years & they are young, they nod off mood swings & most have children. I would not say they take care of them very well when they are reacting like that, put them in treatment to get off the crap !! They are not in pain, just addicted so address the addiction !!!! Please don’t take this war on pain medicine out on those who need it to function a somewhat normal pain free life. I have never been one to drink & they are driving me to it just to numb the pain. What an Upside down world we live in… Why not make $ on the medical marijuana ?? Get us out of DEBT& PAIN ?? If they are so worried about the pills…. Sure ALL of those in high places have their drinks at the end of the day, heck yeah it’s legal just hope they don’t drink & drive…. I am just so disgusted with the Government telling our doctors how to treat patients, if they were in pain or someone they loved they would sing a different tune for sure !!!
Donna
Nj
It’s just so sad for those like myself who have close to no choice but suffer lol
Krissy
Calgary
I feel like no one is standing up for patients who are in actual chronic pain. I am deeply frustrated that a bunch of politicians are controlling my medical care. If someone has diabetes they take insulin, hypertension-blood pressure meds. How is my illness any different and why should someone else’s poor judgement decide my medical treatment options?!?! It’s insane to me that someone who isn’t even a doctor is telling doctors what they can or cannot do.
I am terrified what I am going to do-I have had over 12 major surgeries, tried acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, meditation, behavioural therapy, injections, hypnosis, diet modifications, yoga, I drink over 124oz of water a day and I still am in chronic pain. I do not smoke or drink and take my medications as prescribed and because somebody else is an addict my medication is going to be taken away? Why are politicians so focused on opiods when cigarettes and alcohol kill way more people per year.
It’s all a political parade. Without my medication I will have no way to function- take care of my children or family. I use my medications to live a normal life and have never abused my medications and now I am being punished??? Unless you have lived with chronic pain you have no idea how difficult little tasks can be. I feel voiceless and all these people deeming opiods as a crisis when alcohol and cigarettes are killing five fold what opiods are is madness. What they don’t tell everyone is people who are addicted to opiods are using multiple substances and opiods are not all to blame.
An addic is going to find their high no matter what so what is going to happen when chronic pain patients who actual rely on their medications to function get cut off? They will end up going to the street and commit illegal crimes. Is this not counterproductive? How is this legal? Why is some politician dictating my medical treatment? What needs to happen is doctors need to more carefully prescribe their medications and be given more tools and education to understand chronic pain patients and treatment options available.
If the patient was properly evaluated the public would have no worry about what they do with their medications. If you truly are in pain your not giving your medications away or selling them you take them as prescribed. We don’t wish to live this way and everyone is different and this is wrong what is happening.
Veteran
83226
Doctors don’t care whether you have opioids for pain relief…. They are worried being sued or arrested for writing prescriptions for their patients pain relief and care…federal government worried about deaths from drug overdose and addiction.
They will see a spike in suicides from people in chronic pain who no longer can have their pain medication…I for one who had their hydrocodone taken away… I have taken 12 different meds that was only one I could take with no side effects and I could function.
Now, I’m mostly in bed now unable to take care of myself… I’m going insane from pain…. And I will inform my doctor he will have my death on his head I will no longer live like this….
Lisa
Buffalo Ny
I worked as a LPN in a nursing home. In 2011 I had a work-related back injury. I herniated discs L5,S1. I stayed working until my first back surgery (microdisectomy) was authorized in July 2012. I returned to work 3 months later, and discs collapsed pinching nerve. I contnued light duty work until 2nd surgery was authorized in August 2013. That’s when my life changed due to complications of the surgery. I live in constant pain until I went to pain management. With the use of narcotics and other non- opiate medications the pain level was reduced. That was 4 years ago. I was just at my pain management appointment a week ago, and they have reduced my medication. I am regressing back to the pain level I began with. I was floored when I was told my meds were being cut immediately.
For 4 years I’ve taken my meds in compliance, and because of the changes that are occurring I will return to that life of hell. We are the individuals who are suffering. I can tell you personally that this heroin epidemic isn’t from opiate use. It is because there aren’t enough facilities to treat those heroin addicts looking for help. My granddaughter s mother overdosed on heroin and passed away at age 27 because she could not get into a rehab when she sought help. I am the nurse who cared for people in pain. I am also the patient who is in pain, and I am the family member who lives in heartache pain from losing a loved one. There are those out there who abuse the meds, but they are not everyone. And we are the ones who suffer, so the blame could be placed on someone.
Terrie
Indiana
I am 60 years old, i have been in chronic pain for 12 years, first diagnosis was fibromyalgia!! Then diagnosed with thorasic spinal stenosis, (they say is rare) lazer institutes will not take medicare patients!! The surgery is very dangerous, so i decline!! also have buldging discs, cervical spinal stenosis inuding buldging discs and an overgrowth of bone spurs in my entire spine!! I am now waiting on a call from a neurologist because i walk like a drunk, my head constantly shakes as does my right shoulder and arm and hand, sometimes i have full on body seizures that can last up to 6 hours!!!!
If the CDC does not think i have chronic pain, I would like to see one of them get through one day without oxycodone. I have an elderly 78 year old mother and one brother who (works all the time) try to help us both in his spare time!!! My house is a mess, i cant work in it!! I am overwhelmed with dr. and hospital bills i cannot to begin to pay. I live on disability.
I was once a thriving tax paying citizen. I would gladly trade anyone of the people who have made the decision to penalize the chronically ill for their health and job. I have never in 12 years not taken my prescribed medicine. Why do the few pay for the masses drug issues I ask you?????
Kathy
CA
I have been on an opioid for 10 yrs. I have RSD as well as Fibromyalgia. I also had surgery at L5 S1 and now have disc disease above the surgery. I am appalled at the way people in real pain are being treated. My Internist has written my scripts and one day said that the DEA is sending her alerts all the time so she has to refer me to pain mgmt doctor. I had no qualms with that at all. It actually turned out well for me. I am a lucky one. My pharmacy has not given me any grief but what about the others out there? I will continue to fight for other chronic pain sufferers as well as myself. I know what is going on out there with the abuse, as my pain mgmt doctor explained a lot to me. I take my pain medication as prescribed – never abused it and have always gotten it from the same pharmacy. I have been a model patient like so many others out there and on this forum. Please do not let the people who really need it suffer.
Rhonda
Wilmington, Ohio45177
I think it is terrible what the law makers are doing.I have never abused my medicines and have many many health problems and can no longer get my pain medication. Yet,my husband went out and abused herion and now gets suboxenes which helps his pain and he gets 84 every month how fair is that ?Herion addicts continue to get rewarded for there drug use why we suffer..no justice..
Neiceyb
Long island NY
I have lupus and get very painful flares. When I asked my primary for pain med he said ” ask your rheum”. Asked my rheumatologist. I was told he was not allowed to give pain meds. Nonsense or what?
james
Michigan
I have read a lot of these letters today, and I must say what has happen to the patient well being in this area. I would like to help anyone that needs help fighting for there rights. I am really in the same problem that all you face and getting very frustrated on my situation at this time. I have a lot of problems like all of you and more. So if I can get any feed back to help me get stated in the right direction to help fight this problem. Jim
Wilma
Sanborn, ny
Why isn’t there any groups or lawyers fighting for people who suffer from severe chronic pain and don’t abuse their drugs.
My back after 3 bad back surgeries collapsed into kyphosis, after 4 yrs the dr did a surgery supposedly to fix the kyphosis. He never informed me he never performed this type of surgery before. He couldn’t complete the surgery cuz he almost put a screw through my aorta, and told me my back is unstable and will float till it fuses.
Well it collapsed into severe scoliosis. I went to a specialist who deals with this, he broke my thoracic spine in a 19 hr surgery and put rods, screws and spacers in to straighten my spine, I still could not stand up straight so he did a 10 hr surgery to break and straighten lumbar area put in two more rods and screws in my hips and sacrum.
The surgery was a success till a yr later the lumbar rods broke, first one than the other. It took the dr six mos to do surgery cuz he put in the wrong paper work and waited three mos to send it back in, when it was auth he still took another three mos to do surgery, my rods tipped pulling on my cervical spine tipping it and damaging four disc. I now suffer from numb cramping fingers, severe headaches, my bottom jaw is moving out place and he accepts no responsibility for it. He now wants to put rods up to my head and I have to give up my driving license forever. I said no, so he said, come back in a yr than .
I suffer in severe chronic pain from the screws in my hips to my head everyday. Now there taking me off Opana 10 three times a day to hydrocodone 7.5 three times a day. I like being active and doing things not just sit in a chair all day and that is all I can do now.
Why isn’t there any groups or lawyers fighting for us. The dr told me the govern. Isn’t telling everybody that the suicide rate of people in severe chronic pain has more than quadrupled since their meds were taken away, they could not deal with the pain anymore.
If anyone knows anyone fighting for us please let me know.
Kay
VA
It’s very simple. People have pain for a variety of reasons, debilitating pain. There are vital signs that support that pain. I do not believe the CDC or the government has any right to decided how individuals are treated or to punish the physicians who treat them. And as a person living with previous neck surgery, current herniated discs between 4-5 and 5-6 much of the time I make do as best I can but there are days when it’s intolerable. It is between the doc and patient and the responsibility of them both to stay in contact, visits and make sure treatments are appropriate. No government office should decide.
Deb
PA
I agree with most of the comments above. People in Pain Can’t “fight the fight” so they get walked all over. And NO ONE Cares.. Does anyone realize IT’s easier to go out and buy an assault rifle than it is for a person in pain to get much needed pain meds just to get out of bed in the morning. But NO ONE CARES!! The DEA needs to feel like they are doing something and it’s easier to go after sick ppl (who use much needed drugs for pain) than drug dealers. And Trump is hell bent on going down that road. VOTE these ppl out of office Period!!!
Republican’s have made it their mission. PA’s new Republican Gov is now changing those laws in PA and many docs are dropping patients or not prescribing Pain Meds anymore..Several docs have even quite their jobs at a local pain clinic and I feel it’s because they are in fear of what will happen to them if they prescribe meds.. Honestly Prisoners get treated better!! But no one will fight for us, because if they don’t walk in our shoes they don’t get it. So yeah I see the suicide rate going up over these new laws. Why isn’t there any Attorneys filing law suits over this stuff? They are out chasing ambulances any other time. Anyways, I hope someone helps us that can’t fight for our selves.
Laura O
Riverside
I have fibermyalgia and gastroparesis. I was cut off pain meds when i saw a new doctor because my insurance changed. The pain was so bad i lost my job. I have not been abke to work since. I gave up on pain doctors. I have not been on pain meds or been able to work 1 1/2 years. Now im pregnant and my fibermyalgia is severe pain.
I called the Riverside medical clinic back to see someone and i was told that doctor that took me off was fired. He ruined my life for not understanding my pain. I was told to look into a law suit. Im not sure where to start or if i even want to but it ruined my life. I hurt everyday. I have real pain. I gotta find someone to help my pain and i don’t know where to look.
Charles
North Carolina
The DEA can stop all the prescription drugs they want to, however they will never stop all the illegal drugs. What will happen is all the people that take them for the real and true prescribed reason that really need them, they will have to turn to illegal drugs. They think the death rate is bad now. Wait till the elderly start shooting herion.
Darla H
California
This is what always happens to innocent people. We get punished for the deeds of the frauds and drug abusers out there among us. Doctors are writting long term pain relief of narcotics to people that don’t need them. Suddenly it seems everyone has a prescription for narcotics, they hit the streets and sell them, and the honestly suffering patients get the short end. It is a shame that the DEA doesn’t seem to take us into consideration.Do they?
Teri
GA
I was a Law Enforcement officer for more than 20 years. I put alot of people in jail for illegal drug possession or use. Then I was shot a couple times doing my job and developed a Chronic Pain Illness that over the course of several years and negligence of a doctor caused my pain to spread all over my body.
Over time, joints have begun to deteriorate and the pain has worsened to 100 %. I returned to work in L.E after extensive rehab. I hoped to make a difference in the lives of others. No matter how against I was in regards to taking even Tylenol nothing controlled the pain completely but the narcotics at least relieved my pain enough to be function as l. 16 yrs I used same pharmacy for all my meds only to be given the run around that they could no longer fill my mefs. Drug tested every 3 mos, I never violated my meds. Never took too many, never ran out and despite recommendations to take at the same time every day if I was having a good day I didn’t take anything.
What the DEA, CDC, and everyone don’t understand is that those who take these drugs to “get high” will not stop because they cannot get it “legally” from a doctor. My meds have never made me high, I don’t like not having full control of my faculties. I’ve never been intoxicated. No desire to get sick and esp. No desire to vomit.
Those who use drugs to get high. WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER UT TAKES TO GET HIGH. THESE PEOPLE DON’T CARE WHAT THEY PUT IN THEIR BODIES OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF TAKING G TOO MUCH OR HAVING IT TAINTED. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS THAT HIGH. Before, I retired from L.E I worked as a School Resource Officer.
I cannot tell you the number of pre-teens, and young teens taking anything they could steal from their parents or grandparents medicine cabinets. Usually, they did not even know what the drug was used for. Kids snorting the compressed computer keyboard cleaner and dying. When I spoke to children about the dangers of drugs, and weapons and the need to be hero’s and step forward and tell an adult if they had knowledge of someone harming themselves or others the response I got from most was “We all gotta die some day or everyone does it”.
Not how I was raised but that’s the attitude of alot of children in this day and age. NO RESPECT FOR LIFE. There gave been bad doctors writing narcotic scripts to patients who turned and sold them for profit. Regular drug testing could have stopped the abuse long ago without punishing those in need of opiates to make it thru a day. Their day is NOT psin free but their day makes them / us still productive members of society.
There are so many plants sold at local nurseries that if dried and smoked, or snorted will give you a bigger high than many old well known abused drugs. Drug abusers told me about that. I would have had NO idea. Those who died over dosing on oxycontin, and other opiates was because they did NOT take meds as prescribed. They chopped up time released drugs snorting them or injecting them giving themselves a 12 hour dose all at once. Of course it put them in cardiac arrest. As their tolerance built to each drug they abused they took more to get that high they got the first time. Eventually it takes more and more and they get no buzz. It knocks them out, they stop breathing.
Unfortunately, what I forsee happening is the deaths from opiates will continue in time only it will be due to those in need of pain relief who CANNOT get it. Only those who fear what happens when we die will question what will happen when they can NO longer deal with the uncontrollable pain from their illnesses, no access to pain meds so they won’t be abused by those who truly need them for pain BUT instead they will find ways like guns, knives, hangings, etc to put themselves out of their misery by committing suicide because they have NO other options.
New laws and those who abused them have taken their pain relief away. Stress makes everything worse. Emotional ly and physically. When the pain becomes unbearable and they see NO way out they will find a way to stop the unbearable pain permanently. Then who’s fault is it ?
WELL DEA & CDC can successfully say they didn’t overdose on opiates. Who’s going to accept the blame that had they been given the meds they needed to be functional and though not pain free but controlled enough to continue as human beings, mothers, fathers, grandparents, sisters, brothers or any other family member who is greatly loved by family and friends that they might still be alive versus the dozens of people grieving the loss of their loved ones because as seen by DEA & CDC 1 + bad apple HAS ruined it for everyone. Esp. those who truly rely on it for all the RIGHT reasons and most victims in some wsy. Not those who want to make themselves feel better being a junkie but being given a legal script by a doctor able to write for such drugs. In their mind they can justify they’re not junkies because a doctor wrote them a script.
Think about it! For those of you who do not experience pain every day. Imagine the worse pain you have ever felt in your life. Everyone at some time has. Now imagine if that pain NEVER went away. It was with you 24/7. What would you do? Now tell me how you feel about the new drug laws if you or someone you love dearly relied on it to survive a somewhat normal life?
D Everett
What’s the use? They don’t care. The cry from the abusers’ families are louder than ours who suffer. And like all good politicians those votes matter more than the few who are living in constant pain. We are on our own, don’t look for it to change, how many years has there been a war on drugs? How is that war coming along. There is your answer!
Kathy Moore
Oklahoma
I have chronic pain due to RSD and MS so now they want to take away my pain medications! Why do patients have to suffer because of all this BS.Those of us who really suffer from pain will have no quality of life!
Donna
You couldn’t have said that any better!!! It’s sad, just so sad for people like us…
I wish you the best!!
Kelly J.
Alabama
I am a 41-year-old female and have had multiple surgeries. A doctor originally punctured my esophagus, and I had a mass in between my soft tissue and esophagus for almost a year. That was also followed by a staph infection that went undetected. He accused me of being addicted to pain medication because I was in so much pain I could hardly move my neck. Of course I was asking for something for pain because I was in agony.
After going to the doctor on 15 different occasions a walk-in clinic finally found the mass. I was then immediately admitted to the hospital and had a team of doctors that had to work on me. They had to clean out the staph infection and put a feeding tube up my nose and down the back of my throat for a week and then placed one in my stomach for six months. Then to be told the doctor wasn’t responsible for what he did. When he did the original surgery, which was a disk fusion, he told me that I had plates in my neck, and I never had one plate put in. He also told me to take my brace off after one week and come to find out I should’ve worn it for 8 to 12 weeks.
So my neck healed wrong, and now as a result of it I have spurs on my spine and a lot of problems with my esophagus. I had to have surgery again a year later because I had a Zenker’s diverticulum in my esophagus. To this day 10 years later I still have problems, and I also suffer from a torn disc in my lower back, scoliosis, bulging disc in my neck and lower back, arthritis in my spine and throughout my body.
They are slowly taking my pain medicine away which I think is ridiculous. I guarantee you if any of the people had to deal with the pain some of us had to deal with they would think twice about changing the laws. People will always find a way to abuse drugs and get the drugs they want or they will charge you something worse. You shouldn’t mess it up for the people that really need it. Why not give people urine tests or test the levels of opiates in their blood. Or just prescribe them an amount every month and let that be it. They are the ones choosing to overdose, and if they don’t overdose on opiates it will be heroin or cocaine or whatever they can get their hands on.
I’m sorry but Tylenol and ibuprofen do not work for chronic pain, and some people have to do jobs that they really shouldn’t be doing to make a living. My husband and I do carpet cleaning and general cleaning, and it’s very hard on my body but unfortunately he pays our bills, and we have to do it every day 10 to 12 hours a day. I could probably get disability but I cannot be out of work for year to try and get it and play a waiting a game. Plus, it’s not enough to live on and I will still be in pain. Sad, sad, sad is all I can say, and it’s pathetic that idiotic people ruin it for people that truly need it and DO NOT abuse it!!!!
Kristine
CT
CVS is humiliating and stupid.
I have injuries in different body parts so the insurance is different.
My lumbar spine surgeries. (1) 360 fusion with 2 artificial discs implanted @ S-I, L4-5.\
March 27. 2017, 15 months later I had to have an XLIF fusion with a plate at L-3-4.
Going in through the side means they retract your psoas muscle, and the healing is really painful.
I have been getting my oxycodone filled by this same neurosurgeon for over 2 years. All of a sudden, he is kicked out of CVS.
Walgreens ended up filling it, so I am yanking my Gabapentin from CVS. Funny CVS said they would fill that.
I also have a 4 level ACDF, That is on my regular insurance. CVS said I cannot have 2 doctors write a prescription, even though they each are only writing it for ONE PILL. That is a total of 40 MGS a day, and I cannot get the one for my neck filled at all now.
They are forcing me to take leftover, HIGHER dose when I have a flare up, when the new script, is for only 20MG;s not 30MGS.
I am trying to wean down but CVS wants you to finish the 90 day supply before they will give you a smaller dose.
My insurance told me to always get 90 days because then I have no co-pay. They do not care what the medication is, so my neurosurgeon for workers comp writes it and it saves me a drive 42 miles every single month.
I have never abused my medication or run out early.
I initiate weaning down when my pain gets better.
The good suffer for the bad.
Why doesn’t CVS get their panties in a whirl over people who take XANAX every day?
No out cry over benzo’s and it is a FACT that those that overdose on oxycontin, were all, taking XANAX or similar benzo.
Thanks for taking away my ability to function.
Now I can barely stand long enough to cook a meal for my family.
The (3) surgeons accidentally “nicked” a nerve, that had to be sewn and wrapped in something to help make it grow back. This happened during the 360 fusion (2016) when they cut you in the front. I have drop foot and the worst RLS and nerve pain. Gabapentin helps get me to sleep through the night. My left thigh, hip, groin and shin pain are terrible.
I wonder why nobody thinks we deserve proper time, to get off this crap.
I was talking to a WC attorney and he told me, that oxycodone did not use to be so addictive. The drug companies put an additive in, to make it MORE addictive. Just like they did with tobacco.
Now they make us live a suffering life by cutting our doses down to once a day, even when they make a mistake and cause the added suffering that is chronic.
I give up.
Sj
MO
I had a tumor removed from y sacral spine. I now have three herniated discs on my lumbar spine and three discs out on my cervical spine. I never ever took a pain medication before the age of 66 years old when my back became so bad I could not walk. I have been to two neurosurgeons who stated I need back surgery but they will not touch me because along with the current things the matter I also have a hereditary autoimmune disease. No doctor will touch me so that leaves me with having to go to doctors for pain medication. I hurt all the time on a scale of 1-10 without the meds the pain is 9 and with the meds it is 4-5 so the meds I take is hydrocodone. I am taking nothing else because with my autoimmune disease along with having microscopic colitis I am limited as to what I take. without becoming ill and I am also anaphylactic. No doctor can or will understand this. Apparently neither can the DEA. I am limited as to what I can take without becoming sick to my stomach and going into shock. I and my husband live in our home alone. No person visits or comes to see us so there is no way anyone can get to our meds and they are put up to where only we know where they are. Oxycontin makes me sick to the point of vomiting so I have to turn it down but hydrocodone is the only thing that works but every single doctor thinks I am out to do drugs??????? Why don’t they understand that there are some people who are trying to do what is right and those of us who cannot get surgery are stuck with either living in pain 24 hours a day or having something to help us. I am now 70 years old. I have worked all my life and raised 4 children and have contributed to society and am am not senile, have no dementia or any other disease aside from my autoimmune disease and I try to stay busy all the time. I am not in a wheelchair or walker. Recently I found out after seeing 6 doctors for help that I had cellulitis in both legs and the pain with my back and then the cellulitis made me want to go crazy. I took myself off the narcotics and it was not easy but I did it just to see if I could and I can. I was without anything for 3 months and I did it but the pain was excruciating. I just think at the age of 70 years old I have contributed toward life, paid taxes, put my children through school and worked a full time job and deserve to live what remains of my life without being in pain. Any and all the doctors I see are putting me into one big circle of what they call a drug user which is not the truth. I know zero about drugs because I have had two brothers whose life has been ruined because they were on drugs all their lives. At my age I just think I deserve to be listened to and understood and the reason as to why I cannot take any muscle relaxants or any other drugs they consider to be an alternative. Aside from the they make me tired and I do not want to sleep during the day as I have a lot of things to do and am not a sleeper. I live out in the country and we bother no one, have no visitors and do not see or talk to anyone. Why am I treated as a drug addict? I do not know and never will know. I have had to drive for 3 hours just to get a script for hydrocodone and this is ridiculous. If the DEA wants to pass these somewhat ridiculous laws then they need to give us doctors who will not throw us under the bus who are in need of pain medication especially someone like me who has an autoimmune disease. I had cellulitis for 6 months without any help, any antibiotics or any doctor to help me because I kept seeing doctors who said “What hurts is it your back or your legs?” Well by that time it was all three things. May back was killing me, my neck hurt so bad “I had to continually brace it and my legs were eaten with cellulitis in both legs. The ER room doctor gave me antibiotics which I am eternally grateful for since no other doctors would but then he gave me 10 hydrocodone tablets script????? That ten hydrocodone was like a slap in the face since I had been taking nothing so I decided not to bother filling it. Why doesn’t the DEA make it illegal for any doctor to give you only 10 pills when with cellulitis in both legs my pain level was at a 10 as I could not walk and it is harder than heck to try to fill 10 pills through our insurance carrier so I asked the pharmacy if I could just buy the 10 pills outright and Good Lord I thought they would have a heart attack. The way the DEA has done this is they put. all of us who desperately need pain medication in the same category with the buyers, users and sellers and what is right about that? We are no criminals but using something that works for pain.Us who rely on these pain medications in order to survive and who are my age should make it possible for us to have pain medication and not be laced in a category as a user. Now this is the another kick in the face to this whole story. I have been taking .05 of zanax for 15 years. The same amount never going up to down but the same amount. I am now told in order to get my Zanax that I use for bedtime only, I will have to go see a mental health doctor. What????? That is insane that I a forced to see a mental health doctor for a Zanax fill. I take my Zanax and go to bed. I wake up at the right time every day and wake up not feeling drugged or sleepy. Th medication does its purpose. I recently lost my mother, father, my son and 5 other members of my immediate family and all this time I was hurting with my back out, needing surgery and I had absolutely nothing to take for the pain and in another state so no doctor would give me any narcotic fill because I lived in another state and could not leave the state I was caregiving two dying people in. My doctor in Texas mailed me a script for hydrocodone because it was legal to do at that time but absolutely no pharmacy in the state I was in would fill it. I was caregiving two dying parents????? Then was when I needed a mental health doctor and could not get one. There is something very very wrong with our pain and health management system here and the DEA is only making things worse by passing all these laws and regs that are imposed on doctors who are trying to care for people who desperate are in need of pain management narcotics. Those of us who have done everything right and still cannot get help have done all our homework and are knowing of what we need to help with the pain and people such as myself who go into anaphylactic shock in attempting to try to take a med that I cannot take is worse on my body than a narcotic which is the only thing that will help me. No doctor will operate on me. That is plain and simple. I have this in writing. No operating or either I will die or be disabled so what does a person do? All the pain management doctors are being forced to put us into one big bag of some others called “constant drug users who sell and cook the stuff” when all I need is something to control the pain that the doctors can do nothing about. My choices are this by two doctors (neurosurgeons). If we try to operate on you then you will either die or be disabled forever. Those are my choices. I am literally trying too find a doctor who will go ahead and operate to take the chance instead of living with this kind of pain. I have those two choices. Then I am still having trouble getting narcotics for my pain?????? Why??? I honestly think that at this point the DEA should consider quality of life versus quantity of life. Quality versus quantity. Why is that so hard to understand by the DEA? I just turned 70 years old and the only place I go is the grocery store because I cannot take a trip because I hurt so badly at this time. What is so hard for the DEA ad doctors to understand about those words. What choices do I have? None!!! I clean my house, I cook dinner. I even try to mow my yard and do whatever I can do to stay busy to try to keep my mind off the pain when I have been told to lie down. I did take, when I could get them, six (6) hydrocodone 10/325 a day. I really do not consider that to be a drug addict. The amount given me makes me able to live a relatively decent and comfortable life without excruciating pain. I have taken every test that could possibly be taken including dopplers, blood work and cardio/heart tests so otherwise other than my back, my neck, a large cyst on my knee where my knee continues to literally POP out of joint due to the cyst and the cellulitis it is the pain that I need to have under control. No doctor will operate on my knew to take out the cyst and due to my autoimmune disease I cannot have a steroid shot without ending up int e emergency room due to it. The cellulitis came from a staph infection I got from the hospital during my back surgery (sacral spine). I have been dealing with the cellulitis since my surgery with not one single doctor to diagnose it until it became so bad that my toes had turned black and I could wear no shoes. Not even flip flops would fit my feet. That is how bad my condition was from no blood circulation. I was fortunate that I did not die and probably would have had I not had medical knowledge but since my knee has a cysts in it and my lumbar spine is so bad that I was really not sure where the pain was coming from until I became unable to walk but when my toes turned black was when I knew what I had but cellulitis is rarely in both legs as mine was. I was dealing with all four things the matter with me and armed with test results still unable to find a pain management doctor to look and listen. They pain management doctors are all trying to sell off the pain devices now the I hear from at least 50 people after continual checking the these pain devices do not work so you are then stuck with a foreign object in your spine then you cannot get out and the doctors even think the is a good idea? Of course they do not but the DEA has forced them to try to sell these deices for pain thinking us who are in pain will not check it out and swallow this bunch of bull. I cannot have any of these devices implanted because I have an autoimmune disease and could die from doing this kind of thing and decided against it. SO DEA – Stop and think!!! Yes there are many people looking for pain pills to make money but there are any of us who need and have no other choices to avoid pain other than take narcotics for it. I am one of those people so please stop and think and stop placing all of us in the category of drug users for convenience sake. We have to use narcotics for pain because there is no other alternative for me and many others. The DEA needs to stop and think that I and others do not care what that medicine is called and if they can come up with something else that works as good as oxycontin or hydrocodone then we will use it. Stop and think that I an 70 years old. I care for the quality of what life I have left and would like to be able to enjoy a portion of my life before am gone from this earth. I have worked all my life and raised children and have never used a hard drug in any way on or in my body for my entire lifetime. I happen to feel that I worked too hard for my money and my children needed everything I could give them and I had no money to spend on the in or on that kind of stuff but the main thing is that it is called ILLEGAL!!!!! I have had all the tests run but on me but do not have and will not have hepatitis. I have never been drug user. There are many others like me only who only want something that will help control the pain so we can live our life as successfully and fully as possible. I want quality time to spend with my family. I want to be able to go somewhere without hurting all the time. I want. to be able to go to the grocery store and carry my own groceries to the car. I want to be able to take a vacation and enjoy myself. I worked for the and deserve that for my lifetime.. Stop treating us who need pain management meds like we are all drug addicts because we ask for pain meds. Bear in mind there are many of us who did the whole thing the right way. We need pain medication in order to live our life without constant pain. I do not happen to feel that to be too much to ask nor should the DEA place a restriction on all of us who actually hurt due to the idiots who are lying, faking and stealing. That is not us and not our fault. Our only alternative is to use pain medication in order to live as quality and as comfortable a life as possible. Otherwise they may as well go ahead and dig the hole to bury me in because living with chronic pain is totally unbearable, excruciating and it is costing us who need these meds for chronic pain thousands of dollars in jut finding a doctor who will give us a script for them. Since the DEA has made it impossible for the medical doctors to give a narcotic they are all just refusing to give any of these meds to anyone and we are being forced to see mental health professionals in order to get our medications? This is just plain wrong. I drive 2 1/2 hours one way just to get to my doctor and now am having to drive 3 hours another direction for a CHANCE that a doctor will give me pain medications? I am called a senior citizen and that should not happen to anyone and especially not a senior citizen. The DEA need to look again at the restrictions they have placed regarding the pain medication for chronic pain sufferers, The DEA restrictions have only made it harder for us who greatly need these meds unable to obtain them.
Jane
Michigan
In a million years, I never thought my life could be so miserable because of chronic pain. I shattered my right (dominant) shoulder, went to physical therapy, had a reverse replacement, more therapy & then was talked into a cervical fusion. More therapy. I also see a psychologist monthly and a psychiatrist for valium to keep my anxiety under control because of this whole situation.
I retired two months before my injury after working 45 years & raising two sons. One is a lawyer, who owes thousands to gov loans. My younger son lives with me & is a high functioning aspergers angel, who has learned to do everything around the house, including watching me cry when the pain overwhelms me. I have no friends left. They tell me to call when I feel better, which will never happen. How many doctor opinions do I need?
The last one told me to get off the opiates & start living my life. Believe me, I want nothing more than to cook, clean, shop. Not even a vacation would make me happy right now. What else can I do except lay in bed, go to doctor appointments and pray I have a dece day. NOBODY understands chronic pain unless they have it. The only thing that keeps me going is my autistic son. What would he do or where would he go. I pray each day to have relief but my life gets worse. To those in good health, be thankful.
Erin
Newnnan, GA
I have been a functioning RN x 40 years. In 1989 I was rear-ended at a high rate of speed than I could list. I kept working even in upper moderate pain. 10 years later, I was hit head on by another large truck at a high rste of speed. What wasn’t damaged in the first wreck was severely injured. I started with fibromyalia in 1989. I have numerous, now severe autoimmune illnesses. Life is difficult with pain meds. I’ve given up my career, and now with these guidelines, the providers of treatment are scared and in a cya situation and meanwhile with inadequate meds to treat this with I’m an unfunctional invalid-laying in bed crying-wailing and wishing to die.
I’ve done pain management I’ve done pain management in home health patients for 10 years and have had much training. People who are in real pain do not become addicted except those who continue the med once the pain is gone! It’s those who sell it, buy it on the streets and deal it and take it in doses much higher than prescribed-THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO DIE-Those who take it to get high!!!! In all my years of being on opioids, I have NEVER ONCE HAD ANY HIGH FROM MY MEDS!!!
This has taken my life from me-now you can count my possible death from suicide among the statistics if I cannot find any relief!
Donna
North Carolina
I also have been in chronic back, leg and knee pain due to degenerative disc disease and arthritis since before 2005. Without my pain medication, oxycodone, and muscle spasm medicine, Soma, I can hardly move around to do house work or work at my part time job. I was on social security disability because of this since 2005 and had to take on a part time job, ironically, at a pharmacy to make ends meet financially.
Without my medications my quality of life is almost non-existent. I don’t abuse my medications and have been going to the same physician for over 20 years. Now he is compelled by these new regulations to try to cut back on the dosage on my pain medications, which I am afraid will result in my not being able to hold down my part time job. The medications I take are the only thing making it possible for me to work, as I have herniations at every level in my back and now have developed severe neck pain after having a C5-7 diskectomy and fusion this year. I have osteoarthritis in every joint and muscle spasms in my back and neck, and any sudden movement causes unbearable pain.
I lost a child because he was addicted to drugs and had a brother overdose and die and get revived, and I was his caretaker for 10 years. So I am well aware of the problems. But the people in control need to realize that there are some of us who don’t abuse and who are going to lose their quality of life because of these changes. I fear a higher suicide rate and even the possibility of some of them turning to street drugs, not knowing what they are even getting and possibly ending in their deaths.
I think there need to be better guidelines, and physicians who are dispensing large amounts of narcotics need to be investigated but ultimately there are people who will suffer unjustly because of the wrong decisions of others. I also had a son killed in a hit and run accident by a meth dealer so I really want to see drug dealers dealt with on a stronger level because that is where the even worse problem is, with the selling of prescription and other drugs for profit. If that is reduced I think it will make a big difference in the rising death toll from narcotic abuse.
My heart goes out to all these people that this will be affecting who are innocent victims of a crime they did not commit. Unfortunately, life has given many of us painful conditions that require these medications, not by choice but by necessity
Chinook
Texas
The government is totally out of control as to what your doctor can prescribe for pain! They say they are trying to help stop the illegal drug use but are only forcing the people who really need a pain med to turn to the problem of trying to find it illegally, just to feel normal enough to get through their daily lives and do what they have to do to live pain-free! They care less for the people who really need it and need to come up to a much better way to stop illegal drug use than forcing doctors to cut people off who are trying to be descent cutizens.
Mary
Indiana
My injury was caused by a doctor’s mistake over 20 yrs. ago. They ripped, then cut, a section out of a nerve root in my spine, leaving my left leg partially paralyzed. Bowels, bladder all no feeling. Foot feels asleep with that annoying buzzing. Can’t stand touch, even socks or shoes drive me insane. Pain never goes away. Tried pain clinics early on. Didn’t stop pain but helped me deal with the fact it’s always there. Tried loads of drugs that made me sick, a zombie, caused horrible side effects to the point I was almost dead. None of the so called neuropathic drugs worked on nerve pain! None!!!! Just made me depressed or angry or sleepy. I was down to 80 lbs from drugs that I hated taking that did nothing to help!
I went in and told the doctor I was going to die if he didn’t find something that helped! Finally hit on a fentanyl patch! It was like I got my life back!! I was off all the other drugs aside from darvocette for break- through pain. The break-through pain was only a problem because I felt normal again and was living life working and doing things I probably shouldn’t be doing with my injury. But I wanted to be normal again! I gained 20 pounds back in 2 weeks! I felt healthy again!! I lost 7 years of my life to those drugs for brain disorders, NOT PAIN!! They think they help pain but they did not for me or most others I knew in the clinic I talked to. They just didn’t want to prescribe opioids because of the back lash and damn drug addicts on the street!!!
Well a few years ago they took darvocette off the market! That was one thing I could use that helped me along with my patch! The pain doctor prescribed Percocet to replace it. I didn’t ask for it, and I don’t like it. I want the darvocette but t’s not my choice. 2 years ago, after 20 years of using my medication correctly and never losing selling or giving any away, the doctor who caused my problem wanted to stop my patch because heroin addicts are using the drug found in my patch to die on! I don’t know how they get it or do it but it must come in a different form, and they add it to heroin and it kills you!
Freaking idiots!! I have no compassion for drug addicts or dealers because they hurt so many good people who need medication! They kill for their drugs! It’s stupid, and pain patients suffer for it! Anyway, after 20 years of me being ok on my medication the doctor wants to mess around with it again! I went through that for 7 years! I remember all too well how it hurt me and the people around me! But I tried! One drug, gabapentin,is supposed to be a nerve drug, and it almost gave me a heart attack! Took me a week to come back from that! I said “No more!! I’m not doing this! Put me on what I’ve used for 20 years!!”
But because they messed with it they woke a sleeping giant! Now my drugs don’t work as well as they did! I refuse to take more. In fact I agreed to back off the breakthrough medication which is probably why it doesn’t work as well. If my doctor desires to play with my drugs I will end my life. I’m not becoming a Guinea pig again and trying all these creepy mind-altering brain drugs not designed for pain in the first place! Most are depression medication. I’m not depressed! I’m pissed!! You have a happy pill so I won’t be pissed off that stops pain?? No, you don’t! Stop treating me like I’m a street thug looking for a high! These drugs used as prescribed as intended for pain do not get you HIGH! God, I wish they would get that through their thick heads!
And as far as I’m concerned if some dumb drug addicts are stealing medication from parents then deal with the addict! Throw their butts in jail a few years! Maybe they will get clean. Stop torturing pain patients. If I have to kill myself I will before I’ll live like I did at the beginning of this injury! I’m too old now and don’t need someone messing up my life! I’ve figured out how to live with pain doing things this way for far too long. I’m sick of this world not taking in to consideration how their actions hurt others down the line! If you are so heartless that you don’t care then just kill anyone in pain and all the damn drug addicts and dealers. Then you can throw away all the pain medication and never use it again. If not then leave freaking chronic pain patients ALONE!! You have no right to judge them or make them suffer. And if you can’t heal them at least let them survive the best way they know how!!
Karen E
Ohio
I have read some of the stories. To the people who say their physician won’t give them a decent
pain medication u need to look for another physician. Even if u have to go to another state. I am confused about the man who went to a pharmacy and was tolu can’t get your pain med anymore. Then u go to another pharmacy. The DEA has only suggested to physicians to give their chronic pain patients Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
U just need to keep looking for the correct physician. The pain dr who I recently started seeing again for terrible radiculopathy in my legs back hips and feet is getting weird to. He asks me everytime I am there to let him put in the spinal cord stimulator. I keep saying no.
I have had a axial lift which is a fusion of L5-S1 but the surgeon shoved the metal up my rear
end. I had pain in my left side. Last year I popped a disc in L 4 it really hurt. I had. Discetomy of L 4-5. After this surgery, I now have nerve pain on both sides both feet are on fire. It is not nueropathy but radiculopathy. But this dr won’t leave me alone about the spinal cord stimulator. I had the temporary stimulator 4-5 years ago. I said it did not help. All he does is say it is different.
You can get a infection of the leads and battery. If u get the spinal cord stimulator u can never have another MRI again. You have to see. Shrink to say you are mentally healthy before it is done. You can get CS fluid damage the leads and batteries can get infected. The leads could move and cause nerve damage. U can get chronic pain at the operative site of the stimulator. You will always get scar tissue. The leads could move. I told him no like 6 x but he brings it up every time I see him. I am looking for another dr.
He still gives me a 2 month of Percocet but I have a feeling this is will end . So I am going to look into medical marijuana. It was approved in my state but available for next years. All the government hacks say nothing about medical marijuana. So I am first going to try CBD. It is the marijuana without the THC. CBD is a form of cannabis it is legal in all 50 states. Try it out.
It might be an answer for your pain. Good Luck Shame on the DEA to not consider people with chronic pain just take Tylenol for severe Nerve damage. It will happen to these people someday. They will have severe nerve damage and their rules will keep them in pain.
Susan
North Mississippi
My friend of 45 years just moved from North Shore of Chicagoland to much less populated N. Mississippi. She arrived here on the second of July with enough meds to last while she found a primary care Doctor. The Nightmare has begun!!!!! We found her a well educated Internal Med. Dr. She had to wait 10 days to get a “New Patient” appointment! She was seen on the 18th and went over her complete history-Fibro., cyclic vomiting syndrome, bulging discs, spinal stenosis, DDD, pace maker, HBP, depression, and so on and so on!!! He said that he will not give her any meds until a drug screen comes back from the lab in 9 to 10 days. She has been calling his office since Monday. She has run out of most of her meds at this time and has left numerous messages with the office staff. She is on a very high dose of cymbalta (90mg. 2X a day) They will not even give her this med which is dangerous to come off of this cold turkey. This afternoon as a last resort, when no one from the office will return her calls, she went and sat in the waiting room asking to “please just give me my cymbalta script”. She sat there from 4pm until 6pm and they told her that she cannot have the script!! This med helps her greatly with her depression and with those electric shock nerve pains down her legs and other places.
“First do NO HARM!!” I know that she will end up in the Hospital-probably on the psych ward. She has been through enough in the past months-home loss, the loss of her boyfriend of 12 years, leaving all of her friends that live in Illinois, loss of her car etc. I know that other people have won law suits from Doctors who won’t treat “complex patients” who are on pain meds. She had an expectation of receiving medical care both on the 18th and today when she sat waiting for something as benign as cymbalta. She paid cash money for the first appointment since her medicaid has not yet been started in MS. She had her medication vials with her at the appointment. She gave a complete history of her medical conditions. He did NOT fulfill his end of the “CONTRACT”. He has no reasonable explanation for dropping the ball and I think that I will contact an attorney tomorrow.
Also, I will contact my state representative in the house and the senate and let them know what kind of sh_t is happening out here.
Please, each and every one of you need to phone, e-mail or write your representatives. That is the ONLY way that change can happen. The stories that you all have told are horrendous! They need to spend the money to put more law enforcement on the streets to stop the ILLEGAL sale of controlled drugs. DO NOT PUNISH THE SICK AND INJURED for coming down with a malady that requires controlled substances. This happened through no fault of our own. We need doctors to treat us with physical therapy, or rest, or medications, or a procedure usually done in the out patient surgery centers, or sometimes major surgery! All of these options need to be available to all who are suffering from intractable pain or sometimes mild pain that is well controlled with NSAID’s.
Don’t give up! LIVE, LIVE, LIVE!!! Make a BIG NOISE!!! Susan from MS
Honora
Upstate NY
I think people are going to start committing suicide. I have a pin that came loose from the fusion. It is agonising. No one will prescribe narcotics in upstate NY. My daily life is in someone else’s hands. I cannot lie in bed crying until my surgery date Aug 20!!
Karen E
Ohio
I have tried to contact my Congressman and Senator it does not do any door. They are going to try to get the opioids banned. Get your friend or sister some CBD it a legal form of Cannibus. It is legal in all 50 states it might help peoples pain.
Karen E
Ohio
Try and get Cannibis or medical marijuana. The CBD is a legal form of cannabis no THC that gives the weird feeling of Marijuana.
Pepper
California
Dear sweet hurting soul… I just read this and I’m crying for you and me too. You stated it better than I could. Have you had any luck? God I’ll pray for you!
Tim B
pahrump,nv
The v.a. is no better if not worse. I have chronic back pain from degenerating disc’s. I have knee pain as well as shoulder pain. My va doctor cut me of from hydrocodone with no warning at all. I had refills remaining but when I asked for a refill was told they would not honor it.
I was furious with my doctor for not letting me at least try and tapper off slowly. He simply could have cared less. I had been taking them for several years as I work daily I was able to cope with the pain of working.
Well, no longer. I had severe withdrawals going cold turkey and don’t advise any one to do it if your idiot doctor does not force it upon you. It’s a sad time for vets. in our country. I suffer every day for serving my country.
Ann
Florida
Honora: I agree with you about the suicide rate increasing due to individuals not being able to tolerate severe pain. I have actually heard individuals say that suicide will be the only escape from severe pain. And that drug dealers are now going to become very wealthy. People who would have never turned to a drug dealer won’t have a choice now. The crime rate could increase as people who hurt so severely become involved in a life of crime just to have whatever it takes for a little relief. I don’t think I could do any of the above things mentioned; however, I don’t know how I will live with the severe pain……it’s not really living….don’t like to have to take meds at all…and now the gov’t decides what we need and don’t need! So sad! ?
It is really horrible the way cancer patients are being treated…..can’t even be comfortable enough to spend time with family for what little time they have left. That is unbelievable when we all know that just a short time ago that cancer patients who had no hope of surviving were at least provided with enough medication which helped the patients to endure the pain and possibly have a few semi-good days before leaving this world. I can’t help but wonder…….what will be next…I really don’t think anything would surprise me!!!
Karen E
Ohio
Try over the counter Penetrex for your knee. They sell it at Walmart. A friend if mine was having severe knee pain. She needs it replaced but her boyfriend has a terminal brain tumor and is too busy taking care of him to have the knee surgery she bought some of the penetrex at Walmart rubbed some on her knee she said the knee pain was gone. It did not help nerve pain but it does help joint pain. It recommended by one of the former Cincinnati Bengal. Good Luck I hope this helps.
Richard R.
Cape May County, New Jersey
Hello, I am 60, had three back surgeries and have severe nerve damage as a result of surgeries and accident.I still have bulging disk in my back and one in my neck. I have chronic pain which my PCP helped me with for 10 years. She wrote me scripts for oxycontin 80mg 2xday time released. My doctor had to have back surgeries herself. When she left the Physicians Group they kicked me to the curb after going there since 1988, real nice.They could give me regular Meds but I had to find a pain specialist in 4 days since the office only gave me 1 week supply of pain Meds. Well I got lucky and found a pain specialist. Well they switched me to oxycodone 15mg, and every single month they cut dosage back. I am now taking 5 oxycodone a day. You don’t see the doctor the nurse practitioner writes the script.You can tell her over and over that your in pain and not to cut back the dosage and she just ignores me and cuts me back. I asked her where will it stop at cutting me back, she told me they like to keep everyone at 60mg a day. Real #%=** nice pick, 60 for everyone. Every person in the office I talked to gets cut back every month. I thought the Doctor took the oath to help patients, the Doctors practice is being run by the government. When I asked the NP how far is she going to cut me back, her response was you can thank the government. Sad time for chronic pain patients. Calling a different Pain Specialist right now. People have different levels of pain not just throw a number out like 60mg for every patient because the government can’t catch the drug dealers and go after disabled people. Where does it end? Sad.
TIM
NC
Another law put in now is if you are on any kind of pain medication you can never have a glass of red wine with dinner or when watching a football game! Which is a dumb law! I feel like I am living in China or North Korea!
As long as I have been on pain medication my doctor always said I could drink in moderation. A glass of wine at dinner,or before when I go out to eat and that’s what I done. Now the new DOJ makes this new law. I don’t understand it.
Dj
Seattle Wa
I have watched my husband of 25 yrs go from a strong capable man to a shell of what he used to be. He has 3 bulging discs, degenerative spine disease with multiple failed surgeries. He was prescribed oxycontin for long release and oxycodone for break through pain. He was able to go to work, take care of the yard, do things with the kids and lead a normal productive life.
Now, his Dr is cutting him down each month because of fear of losing his license, even though he knows that he is worsening his quality of life. In the last 6 months he now only takes his meds to go to work to pay the bills. He cannot do anything else because the pain is so bad. It hurts to watch the agony he is in.
He told me last week, that he doesn’t know how long he can hang on. I am truly scared for him and our family. If these lawmakers lived with someone or they themselves had chronic pain, they wouldn’t be doing this. We have to stand up for the ones who responsibly take there medication to lead productive lives. Not everyone who is on opiates is an addict on their way to an overdose.
On the other hand, suicide may seem like the only other option to a miserable life in chronic pain. What can we the people do? How can we be heard and will they even listen? Feeling Hopeless in Seattle…..
Andy
North Carolina
I have just moved from New York, where I have been seeing a pain specialist for several years, for back problems. Have numerous herniated and bulging discs, as well as Degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. I have been on a daily doses of Oxycodone 10mg x4 a day. This gave me the opportunity to lead a normal, quality life and hold a job(one that I just retired from) I had absolutely no problem going to get my script once a month and peeing in a cup. I never had a problem.
I retired, sold my house and moved to North Carolina. Here the problems starts! When I first arrived here, I tried calling several dr’s to make an appt. I was told by all of them that since I was a “New” patient that I would have to wait for several weeks to be seen. I explained that I just moved from out of state and need a dr. to refill my Rx. No one could help me. I even called my dr. back home, said he cannot prescribe as he in not licensed in NC.
Went to the er last weekend when my rx ran out, and took all my medical records, just in case. The E.R. took pity on me and gave me 12 pills at Half my usual dose and said, no more, you have to wean yourself off IMMEDIATLEY as no one else will prescribe anything.
I went to the clinic the following morning for a follow up as per the E.R. doc and saw a dr. there who put me in for a pain clinic appt. She told me it could take weeks for someone from the pain clinic to call!
I just took my very last pill yesterday. Had a really crappy nights sleep. Now I am afraid that my retirement years are not going to be so good after all. Why am I being made to suffer from other peoples indiscretions? The govt. needs to let dr’s. treat their Patients as they see fit!
The way this country is going, I am afraid we are ALL screwed.
Lisa
WA
I am a 55 year old women. I fell and hurt my back in 2005 at work when the janitor failed to tell me he had sprayed the floors outside the kitchen and hadnt put up wet floor signs. I have had chronic pain ever since i have been on morphine sulfate ever since I also have fibromyalgia two knee replacements but my back pain is unbearable I’m so scared that my doctor is planning to take meds away from his paitents by the end of the year he says he loses his licence if he dont (OMG).
What has happened this one thing that helps me live a normal life every day lets me enjoy my children and grandchildren he wants to take it away because he afraid to stand up and say I gave this medicine to my paitents because there pain had been documented for a very long time and showed no signs of going away.
He listen to me he was a good doctor now he is being controlled by people who say stop or you lose your license they went to medical school they took a oath to help people now they are turning people away you might as well lose your licence since you will have no paitents to treat becouse a lot of chronic pain paitents will not be able to bare this pain and so many will commit suicide.
I just hope (GOD) will beable to forgive us to commit such crime on are selves how dare the law makers do this to us we are human just like you we desreve to live a just life with out having to beg for it.This free country we live in isnt free anymore. I’m so very scared I only hope that when the time comes when my pain is to much that my family can understand why I had to end my own suffering becouse are doctors coward to law makers who dont know medicine and threw us away like garbage.
We need to fight this some how some way because its not just us its our childrens futures i hate to think of something happening to them and being locked up in a body of pure pain amd torture.You Lawmakers go talk to your elderly relitives mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and the younger ones who have been inflicted in pain look them in the face and tell them im sorry but you will have to live with the pain and watch the tears from fear run down there cheeks you are terrible people just remember when something happens to you that you were the ones who stopped helping humanity.
Kelly
Virginia
I have had back surgery 15 years ago and the back now has rheumatic arthritis. Which is very painful. The Ra has made knots on both shoulders and knots on hands and arms Nurse practitioner took my norco away because she said i abused it.
How do I abuse it when it is prescribed 2 every 4 to 6 hours. Only get it’s filled every 30. How can I talk more when you have anymore. Its crazy. I did not. Have insurance and this is the cheapest pain killer. Just because some people get addicted. Does not miss everyone does. Rd. Can kill me also they took away my ativan away which I have been taking for 10 years after my husband died. But one day there smart doctors will relieve when it’s to late. Well stop making all pain meds. I’m pissed.
C H
Wingate NC
I am 64 yrs old & had major accidents that dislocated my hip, broke pelvis, compound fracture of arm, & major back pain & have been on pain meds for 25 yrs or longer. I think we should get up enough people & sue the government. I am still getting my pain meds but I don’t no for how long. Please lets sue the damn government.
Matt
NYC
No one has the right to tell a person what type of medical treatment that person can have. People with cancer or other pain, don’t need to be told and should NEVER accept being told what kind of medical treatment they can get, because others are choosing to get high on drugs. We control what we do, not what others are doing, and if this drug use were a NEW issue it would be different. Drug use has been around in this country, either they find another way to deal with this, or get voted out of office. Never accept anyone messing with your Health Care, everyone here are adults not small children.
Greg
Pennsylvania
The way I feel it comes down to ending it all with a bullet to the head or finding a way to cause those that care nothing about us…. the sufferers of true chronic pain, to feel some pain. They are hurting us on purpose how long are we supposed to suffer in silence. We are becoming sheep being led to our deaths. Should we fight or just let them kill Us? It’s getting to the point where pain has made my life meaningless. Why should I care about Theirs?
Kent
I agree with you> however we need to group together and head to Washington and make ourselves heard. Also we need to join together and hire a reputable attorney Our rights are being infringed upon. Who is the CDC to come between our doctors and patients? This is suppose to be confidential. I have has 3 major back surgeries 4 total hip replacements. I have 3 collapsed cervical discs in my neck I was on 10 ten milligrams of metha1done per day for 25 years. Now I being reduced to 3 pills per day because of the CDC making up their own rules. I am so so angry because I always played by the rules. We must come together or perish
Deb
I agree with you…ppl talk about suicide…why just relieve the pain by committing suicide. Make a statement. Otherwise you die in vein. After all they are treating us like the criminals anyways. jk
Years ago my dad needed heart surgery and didn’t have insurance and after getting diagnosed, no insurance co. would take him. He was very upset with the whole thing and his comment was: “if I was in Prison, the state would pay for my surgery …lol”….He had a great personality. And NO my dad never robbed a bank in order to get surgery..but, isn’t that something to ponder that Prisoners get better treatment than we do? And I worked in the Medical Field for many years and believe me it is true. They do get the best of care and more care then we do. I’ve never committed a crime in my life and It upsets me that I feel like a criminal now. Just because I have Chronic pain every day and need to take pain meds. and the docs act like I’m asking for heroin or cocaine in the back alley. jeez As for Marijuana it may be approved in all 50 states….but most of us have NO idea how to get it or ask for it, where to go or HOW to use it…again, never done illegal drugs so kinda out of that loop.
Aaron
Sahuatita Arizona
I live in Sahuarita Arizona have been on pain meds for 3 years. Have failed back surgery, stenosis and nerve damage, plus arthritis in back. I’m a single father who has to work no choice but to have meds. The problems in AZ is Gov. Dusey is making opioids hard to get and, giving pain a bad reputation.
In the end, I’ll need to move back to Califonira where patients have rights. Problem here is the Pharmacists trained in Arizona believe they are a higher authority than doctor. Walgreens has a few of them. Also, Activis puts out crappy pills Oxy 10-325mg. The local Walgrens Pharmacist just laughs when I tell her to read 1000 or more complaints. The elected officials need to understand chronic pain or be in pain themselves.
There is no study that links chronic pain opioid use to heroin or street drugs. It’s getting to be where our elected officials are legislating our heath care and, for chronic pain patients we are the target really, the most ignorant people. Including Fox News Tucker Carlson.
There is no reason why chronic pain patients should be denied pain relief, it is our rights. When are the pharmaceutical companies going to file suit against law makers….when someone dies probably. All this opioid scare is just ignorance. Take away their pain killers….while the idiots eat there dinner with a glass of whiskey or vodka which, kills millions each year.
Doctors have been scared by CDC & FDA and, lawsuits. It’s government in our healthcare.
Deb
Republicans need to go!! Trump needs to go.
Mary
Alexandria, MN
Mary R.
My back is a total mess due to an accident and degenerative joint disease. I also suffer from fibromyalgia, chronic depression, and osteoarthritis. I am 71 years old and avoided pain medication for many years. After a failed back surgery and the temporary loss of my left leg and aches all over my body, not to mention the depression, I finally agreed to try a small dose of oxycodone (2 1/2mg) twice a day.
Since I had not used pain killers in the past, this tiny dose worked wonders for me. After 2 years of use, I am up to 25mg per day 2 x per day. Now I have nothing to control my pain. Since I have the precursor to esophageal cancer I cannot take aspirin, ibruprofen, etc. I feel totally screwed as they will give me no more and one doctor even went so far as to tell me he was afraid the government would take away his licsence to practice medicine if he gave out more scripts for this drug.
Oh well, I just figured since I am 71, the system does not care if I am dead or not so my depression and pain has won and I am now a recluse where I suffer alone in pain. The biggest laugh of all is that they told me I would get addicted. Oh my God, so what!! Look at my age already. It is highly possible the addiction would out live me. I have suffered since I was 15 with various pain and depression and now all I wanted was to live my last few years without pain.
Rochelle R
OH
So, don’t the doctor’s understand that if you don’t treat a person’s chronic pain that they are doing their patient harm? Isn’t their duty not to cause harm to a patient but not treating their chronic pain that they are causing further harm.
Depression or them seeking drugs on the street! It is wrong to subject a person to painful conditions when their pain can be elevated by some pain meds? It is just another part of this sadistic country! It’s sad! I have 2 painful spinal injuries and they will not treat my pain. I thought that I was supposed to be treated on an individual basis? So.. I think we should be able to sue them because
Cindy
Methuen ma
I am 55urs of age when I was 16 I was in a very bad car accident I broke both my hips my pelvic in 8 places. I was in traction for 3 months had to learn how to walk again.
In my uhh 30s I had to start taking pain meds I hated them at first and the doctor found out I was bone on bone I have degenerate arthritis and needed a hip replacement I would go to work when I got out of work go on crutches cause I wasn’t able to use crutches at work and on weekends be on crutches. Went and saw many doctors they agreed I needed a hip replacement but I was to young I had told my dr that I didn’t like the oxycontin cause it interfeared with my sex life sleeping and etc.
But at that time, it was the only thing that helped then the new drug back then ocycontin the manufacturer found out it was highly addicting was sent paper work that there was a law suit against them and anyone on it could be part of it and I did but nevèr heard anything. In my middle 30s my doctor did the operation was suppose to put in a complete hip and only did a partial and put the wrong size parts in his secretary said don’t let him operate find someone else I was the last surgery he ever did couldn’t get insurance to operate anymore went to him for 15yrs I was in so much pain I had to have a revision a couple months later and I am in tremendous pain constantly.
I have a rod that is a half inch to Big that they can’t get out of my leg. Just think when you put in a pair of shoes a half inch to small and your big toe is putting a lot of pressure to get straight. I did everything I was suppose to do physical therapy but it just made it worse. I just didn’t want to be in so much pain. If the Drs had done what they were suppose to I was suppose to be better. But it’s not and it wasn’t me who screwed up it was the Drs who didn’t do the right thing.
So who is the DRS to say you have to suffer and the addicts can get treatment and have so many things they can do to have a life and I sit in a recliner cause I have ed to much pain to play with my grandkids, plant flowers go for a walk sit in a car. I could go on and on my son is a addict and I’m glad there’s treatment for him BUT WHAT ABOUT ME. TO THE DEA what about the rest of us we don’t matter?????
Bob
Indianapolis
Bob E
I had 1 revision of a TKR because the first one came loose and was having substantial pain.
Now, 2 years out- I have serious pain – usually after 6pm. It’s not sharp pain but constant and intense achy pain. It never goes away. (Actually I have pain all the time but usually try to ignore the pain in the daylight) I have great ROM and xrays show that the implant is in perfect position.
At night trying to sleep, however, I cannot tolerate the pain and cant sleep with out pain meds. I’m on tramadol. I try not to take tramadol at daytime – but take 6-8 pills (50mg)from 6 pm to 12 midnight. I would NEVER sleep if not for pain meds. I have tried a TENS unit and compression braces. They don’t work. Also I ice but it’s not helping. Is there anything else that can reduce the pain – steroids etc?
But it’s getting impossible to sleep without sleep meds every now and then. I don’t know what to do. The pain will wake me up from sleep and I take pain pills which takes 40 min to kick in.
I am so frstrated- pain every night and nothing works completely- so I’m up till 2-3 am almost every nite. I’m 70 and don’t want to have this cycle the rest of my life. ( I also have Cardio problems and I know my cycle is probably hurting my heart too.
bill
mi.
The pain pills are so much easier to take, compared to all the failed surgeries some have had to endure in their lives. I was born with lower back problems, suffered thru my youth and mid life, had to start taking the pain meds and valiums and took them for 20 years. Then my doc retired, I got new MD and first thing he does is take my valiums. That just about killed me, now they want the norcos. I have been off them 5 months and haven’t had a moments of peace since. Now this doc has retired and they tell me they have no MD available to take my case on. All I can get is a NP to treat me. Wow, what a failed health care system we have.
Dawn
ALABAMA
I am 45 yrs old I have been living with R.A and fibromyalgia now for 12 yrs, and I am allergic to the antifantiflamortory drugs they have tried me on. Against my better judgement I tried an infusion my Dr. wanted me on. I almost lost my life that day. I can’t take any injections without having really bad side affects from them, and my Dr. will not put me on a pain medication. I do not have a life. I can’t sleep because of pain. I never make any plans because of pain. I can’t work and be dependable because of pain, and I get judged if I mention pain medication to my Dr. I live with pain 24-seven, and I will not get any better. I am at a loss as to what to do. My Dr. wants me on prednizone full time, and that is so dangerous. But she tells me that pain medication has so many bad side affects. I have looked it up. Pain medication has fewer side effects then prednizone and the other drugs I have to take every day. And many of the drugs are used to treat cancer. And can cause cancer. I have never abused any medication. But I get treated like a drug addict if I even bring up the subject.
I also agree with the comments about suicide rates going up. I never thought that would even cross my mind but when you are put in this position the thought crosses your mind because this is not living. And I have a lot to live for. I used to be a very out-going person who loves camping hiking and just a good adventure, but now I have problems just getting from room to room. Why make good people suffer when the abusers are just going to continue overdosing on anything they can get high on? Good people should not be punished that is not right. Evil will always find a way to do what it wants.
J M
Kentucky
I do not have the extreme pain that many of you are experiencing. I have always had back problems. I have had two surgeries. I blew out a disc. I have been on oxycodone for many years. It allowed me to live a more normal life. This assault and interference into the private health problems that many of us must deal with each day is beyond anything I could have imagined. I know I should not, but I feel humiliated and embarrassed. The only way that we can fight back is the legal system. Surely among someone on this site there are some lawyers that figure out a way to make the medical profession and the government agencies that are the root cause of this sudden end to pain management responsible. It may never help in getting back our dignity or medication but maybe they would have pay for their part in this fiasco!
Criket
12003 Flaxen Houston, tx
Your post is exactly what happened to me. Surgery 2 I ended up with a nerve lesion. Took seeing 6 bone drs. b4 I got help. Does your knee stay hot? Dr tied the nerve off.
Jeffrey L.
California
57 Male Retired. RA, OA, PA; pain is no fun. This patient is able to function inside the home and outside the home thanks to my prescription of NORCO. I have to arrange transportation from my home to the clinic to pick up the paper Rx (also, each 90 days I have to pay for and accomplish an Office visit with my Rheumatologist to show her I am in discomfort/pain), and then arrange transportation to the Pharmacy, and then arrange transportation back home.
I am writing this to add my name to a list of patients in pain saying to the law makers “it is hell getting old”. Good luck when you get there. Your regulations may come back to haunt you as you lay in bed wondering how to ease the pain of your joints, your bones, your whole body. Just my two cents from a 57 yo male whose NORCO medicine makes him feel normal and able to get out of bed.
Jeff L. 57 California
Deb
Those law makers have no worries they have money and means to pay for “anything” they need to make their lives better. Be it cocaine, MJ whatever….they DO NOT CARE!! And apparently the medical profession doesn’t either.
Patricia
ALl
What I have been hearing many people with chronic pain saying is that the government may restrict drs from prescribing pain pills but then they won’t be able to control the extreme amount of suicides that we will begin to see very soon in the United States. Many people won’t be able to stand the excruciating pain so they will end their life. I have severe chronic pain myself and have never abused drugs in any way. IT’S NOT FAIR!
Matt
Plainview NY
I have been on pain medication for over 30 years. I have never misused my meds in any way.
I was hit by a tow truck in ’96. I have rheumatoid arthritis, crushed herniated discs, pressure fractures and the whole myriad of disabilities.
I never prescribed anything for myself. Why am I being treated like a criminal? If I can’t find the new pain doctor, then I’m going to die on the 14th it’s just that simple.
tinwi
Wisconsin
I find it hypocritical that our country cares so much about drug addicts that it is willing throw a whole other set of patients under the bus. This from the same country that gives diabetics, asthmatics, cancer patients, etc. no relief from the very high cost of pharmaceuticals.
And these same drug addicts, whose lives are now so very important to the government, largely have zero access to the mental health care that they actually need
Jenn
Raleigh, NC
TO MATT IN PLAINVIEW NY:
PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP.
Email your Secretary of Health & Human Services. Explain the difficulties you’re having. It won’t provide an immediate solution, but it will open doors for you. It may take a week or two to resolve your issue, but the solution is out there. You just need to look for it. Good luck and best wishes to you.
Julee
CA
My heart is hurting 4 U….im praying 4 intervention 2 bring U peace & righteousness w/ this HORRIBLE & corrupt medical buracacy. I dont know you….but, sister, HOLD ON * I love you !
Emmy
PA
This is a War on Pain Patients.
Since 2008, I have been on pain medication stemming from a traumatic car accident which resulted in a spinal cord bruise and further injury to my neck, which was ridden with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis and herniations. I eventually had a spinal fusion C5-7, which prevented paralysis. It stopped the possible paralysis but left me with constant left arm and shoulder pain, like a dull toothache. I work 40 hrs full time and the only reason I have been able to work is that I had medication to take the edge off. Starting in Feb, my Doc under pressure has begun to take me off the meds. I have decreased but I’m now at 20-25 mg total of oxycodone (5m). I am so scared, as I have to work and want to work, I am only 53. I feel the real pain patients are victims too in this opiate crisis. And if you studied the pain patients you probably would find no abuse of the drug.
Pj
Tempe, Arizona
Hi, this is horrendous! I too have history multiple trauma when I was 20 years old. Sustained 50 fractures, 15-16 surgeries. Many months in hospital. Had 3 years physical therapy. Respiratory arrest x3, now I’m 61 have spinal stenosis, torn rotator cuff, 20 screws implanted, 2 compression plates and relasping multiple sclerosis traumatic arthritis and Fuch’s endothelial dystrophy. Did the epidurals, acupuncture, stretching, exercising, swimming, bicycles, biofeedback, pain clinic. Worked all my life on my feet in healthcare. Now I didn’t abuse Darvocet N 100 off market long ago but it kept me going. Hydrocodone either but was made to feel like a criminal. Pain is never better than 8-9.
Neurologist said its only arthritis you don’t need Oxycodone, hydrocodone gives me Gabapentin.. cannot tolerate it. Makes me non-functional. I fell and injured knee, no way am I ever going to have any orthopedic surgeries!
I’m done this is awful how patients with real issues are treated like criminals…
Had an ms attack employer denied benefits too. So sad, so frightening that we are considered a person with wanting to get high. Not surprised why Chronic pain patients like me sometimes go over the edge.
Joyce
Pa
I too am suffering. I had a 2-level fusion for stenosis, scoliosis, and degenerative arthritis in low back and neck. Am in chronic pain and was on fentanyl patch and dilaudid to live normally, halfway. Anyhow, now I can’t get through the day without lying down. I’m not a drinker but after being cut back till I now get no help after 13 yrs of being on them. So I have to drink! And I have brain lesions and suffered 2 bleeds and a stroke, and dr. isn’t allowed to give anymore pain med. CRAZY!!! So now I’m forced to drink just to get some relief! It’s crazy! I now suffer lack of sleep and high blood pressure, as the pain raises it. This causes increased chances of another brain bleed ! My heart beats so fast! I am also on heart pills! So, yes, chronic pain definitely causes health problems to worsen! I have considered suicide as I feel like a waste of space and useless! I wish we could have a protest everywhere!!
Gary V.
Ohio (OH)
The govt. caused it and should be legally liable.
Sarah
Boston, MA
After 10 years on pain meds, today my doctor refuses to continue treating pain with narcotics. The pain is real. He prescribed meds for it. Why am I am being punished? What can we do about this new law?
Karen
How about a wheelchair march on Washington? Seriously. This pain med prohibition is just another symptom of socialized medicine and too much government control. The people demand the government stop overdoses so the politicians use the issue of controlling pain meds as political fodder to get themselves elected.We need to contact our political representatives and tell them what is going on. Crying on each other’s shoulders may give emotional support but does little to affect change. We need to start crying publicly like the bereft parents who have lost their kids to overdose.
sara
How do we fight this?
Kent
We must come together power is in numbers. Think about all the money the federal government saves by creating this pill issue. A lot of it is money Obama started this infringement on heath care.. We must find a way to come together and hire attorneys and challenge the FDA and the CDC. We must stop complaining and come together as one powerful people.
Donna
Massachusetts
I have had gastric bypass surgery and 6 months later was treated for breast cancer. I have been in severe pain now for 7 years and the doctors cannot find out why. I have been given tramadol but in the lowest strength that the drug companies make.
The doctors are so afraid that they will lose their license to practice that they don’t care how much pain a patient is in. Not everyone is going to misuse medication. Granted their are some that will.
In that case no matter how the government tries to control pain medications these people will get the medication any way they can. It is time these doctors start following the oath that they took and don’t let the government tell them how to practice medicine.
Mary
NORTH CAROLINA
These new rules are outrageous. My 84-yr old father has spinal stenosis and Parkinson’s Disease. He is on pain meds for chronic pain associated with the spinal condition which cannot be treated with surgery. Now his doctor who is managing the pain, requires him to fill a prescription for an antidote to opioid overdose! This med is expensive and has a short shelf life. The doctor has scared my father into thinking that he is addicted to his pain meds, which he is not. The doctor is acting like my dad is a drug addict. It is outrageous!
Janis L
OR
I had cancer and had radiation which in turn had given me also fibro and I have been on my pain meds for 10 years . I am 67 years old and it’s so hard everyday to do the little things. We are people who need help and can’t get it. It’s a crime.
Kara
AZ
I am in the same position. I had cancer and developed Fibromyalgia from the stress the chemotherapy put on my body. I have other medical problems and when I have had to go into the ER they treat me like I’m a drug addict. Recently, I had some injections in my back on a bulging disc and a “steroid flare” caused me extreme pain afterwards in my arm and hand. I wound up in the ER and they wouldn’t give me anything but “Toradol” which is a like a strong ibuprofen for the pain, and is absolutely ridiculous because I already take Morphine for the Fibromyalgia. 2 weeks later I had bad pain when I swallowed and in my esophagus/chest area and a terrible migraine on top of it and wound up in ER yet again. (besides these 2 trips I hadn’t been to the ER for a year or two) The ER Dr only gave me the Toradol again. I was sobbing and crying in pain with the splitting migraine and pain in my chest, and I basically got no help. I was told they don’t give narcotics for certain pain anymore.
It’s absolutely ridiculous the restrictions that are being put on Dr’s.
Because of previously having cancer and having fibromyalgia, I’ve been on strong meds for a long time- I have a high tolerance to pain meds. But when something comes up and I wind up in the ER in PAIN, they should still be able to treat me!
Now I’m also terrified that maybe my pain meds will be cut off one day with the way things are going! I barely function with the meds- I wouldn’t be able to function without them. I see all these stories of people being cut off and it scares me. I’m 37 years old and I have a daughter to take care of. i just can’t believe what they’re doing to ppl who suffer from chronic pain! Something needs to be done!
Deborah
LAS VEGAS NV
DECADES WUITH THE DEVIL
The sixties toked on smoke of green, the seventies pushed a mainlined dream, The eighties gave your nose a line, the 90’s ice is worst in line. it seems as if ten years go by, a new addiction winks it’s eye. The era matters not it seems, it changes form to fit the scenes. Though war of countries fought and won, can not compare this evil done It seeps within our kingdoms veins, throughout the world it highly reigns. Though leaders try to stop its flow, to no avail their efforts show. This evil lurks through distant years, to try to tempt our children’s fear’s. I pray that they will have the voice, to free us from the devil’s choice.
Deborah
LAS VEGAS NV
What the DEA folks may or may not realize is that those in pain will find a way to get their pain meds any way they can. We’ll have to buy them the streets causing an alarming rate of drug dealing to rise. How did we get strung out on in the first place! The DOCTORS gave them to us.
We put our trust and confidence in them to treat our pain accordingly and it worked for me! Now, it seems as if they are our enemy. Everyone is complaining about their doctor did this, did that when it NOT the doctors fault. They have been put in a very scary position torn between treating their patients and the DEA threatening their practice.
It’s not fair to ANYBODY! Of course non narcotic pain meds are NOT going to work when your body is used to 10 mg Loritabs for 10 years. That’s like giving us baby aspirin. This means turbulent withdrawals from certain drugs will eventually make people mean and desperate . Plus it is DANGEROUS to come off of painkillers without some kind of treatment plan by taking us down slowly. Lately the doctors are just cutting us off boom without any warning ! We are left with our pain and no treatment!
And as far as the people overdosing on these prescribed meds its not our fault that they are NOT taking them as prescribed. They must be either drinking alcohol, or interacting with other drugs in order to OD from them. They should take the original amount the doctor prescribed for them. I’m pretty sure a doctor would know how these meds will affect you at a certain maintainable level. They are not out to kill people.
The DEA is using this as an excuse to cut the abuse, but I don’t feel it would be considered ABUSE if we are taking them properly. Lets face it. Not in this life time will drug abuse be stopped, contained, handled, or dropped. Also because of the cut on authorized legal narcotic medications more and more people are turning to heroin!
There’s your killer right there! How many people besides me cant sleep at night anymore. PSTD is another fatal demise that we have to look forward to. Sleep deprivation. I say leave us alone, give us our meds, and let us comfortably get on with our lives. Just like the saying ” Guns don’t kill people” People kill people”. Same thing . Doctors don’t kill people, people kill themselves. !
Deborah
LAS VEGAS NV
What the stupid DEA folks may or may not realize is that those in pain will CAUSE pain in any way shape or form to get their medications that the DOCTORS got strung out on in the first place! Of course non narcotic pain meds are NOT going to work when your body is used to 10 mg Loritabs for 10 years. That’s like giving us baby aspirin.
This means more illegal black market drug dealing will be rising stupendously! And as far as the people overdosing on these prescribed meds its not our fault that they are retarded enough to take the original amount the doctor prescribed for them. I’m pretty sure a doctor would know how these meds will affect you at a certain maintainable level. They are not out to kill people !
It’s the persons fault for either drinking and interacting with other meds that leads to their death. Also because of the cut on authorized legal narcotic medications more and more people are turning to herion ! There’s your killer right there! How many people besides me cant sleep at night anymore. PSTD is another fatal demise that we have to look forward to.
Sleep deprivation. I say leave us alone, give us our meds, and let us comfortably get on with our lives. Just like the saying ” Guns don’t kill people” People kill people”. Same thing here bucko’s. Doctors don’t kill people, people kill themselves. !
Greg
Brandon, MS
There has to be a way for law abiding citizens of the USA to get the opiates they should have legal access to have a measure of quality of life when suffering from chronic pain. Even in Iran they good size ball of opium every year! I have lived with desease that has render me with chronic pain since 1991. Opiate pain medication prescribed for me, enabled me to work 15 years, while using opiated, in order to work and support my family. Still workin now.
Because of my being able to work and later because my wife’s works all of our children had schorships along 3.90 average GPA all the way though grad school and all are very successful in their profession. When I first got sick all I could do was to lie in bed. As I got I some better even with opiates, I would just get home and fall in bed. At that time we had three small children under five years.
I could have gotten long term disability, and at that my wife couldn’t make more than I. Your children don’t need a stressed out mother coming home to take of me and them! I did get some better with the treatment of predizone which gave me AVN, killing the head of my femur resulting in total hip replacement. (Other bones were easy to break resulting in shoulder surgery and a broken sternum) I was still in chronic pain and had not had to have narcotic pain Meds prescribe, or I would have not been able to feed my family.
Instead, I would be in bed with in terrible pain and if it were not for Wife and Kids, I would have seriously considered suicide. Doctor know that anti- inflamitorys can kill your kidneys, give you stomach issues and even heart problems. I have just about tried it all-meaning alternative ways to help pain, nothing really helped except gelitan and my tens unit. A tens cannot be used on neck or head. With all the different solutions that I tried It was mainly unhelpful, time consuming and expensive.
When I had a better job along good insurance the Sarcoidosis flare back up. The Doc’s just put on something like before like Hydrocodone, soma, and steroids in order to work a job -and I did great. There is more to the story but I will stop here.
What I am saying, is I could not have worked hade it not been for opiates. I’m better now but I’m still use other non-.opiate, but controlled drugs given from my rheumatologist. I don’t think I would be alive if I didn’t have opiates for over 26 years. What will people with stories like mine do? It’s not our fault that oxycontin was push on Docters as being Ok and thousands of younger people got hook on a heroine like drug that they mainly bought or borrowed. When that drug,mainly, along with other schedule 2, like it, were not available, they were forced to heroine or street fentanyl.
Most of us that have had to use opiates did not divert them. What are all the legit chonic pain suffers going to do. Will they be force to go to weed or worse turn to the streets and end up dead. Even worse, take their life just to stop their bodily and mental torment. I am s Pastor for much of my life and I’ve had to get over the guilt of having to controlled drugs in order to funtion. I’ve gone a few weeks or a month if I was feeling better a while back, When the bad pain started back, I could go but a few days until I was in bed not able to do much of anything. Thank the Lord for the opiates that were given by Him to stop suffering
Tonya O
Oklahoma
Why are people who are legally prescribed Opioids being targeted when it’s overdose epidemic is mostly due to heroin and illicit fentanyl. I personally am so tired of the harassment and inhumane public opinions. It’s truly sad that anyone who has a medical condition has to experience such harsh criticism and hardship because of people who are using illegal drugs.
The more we are targeted and harassed will only increase in illegal drug use because patients will not be able to get the medical treatment they need. Suicide will also increase severely. I think someone who is in Washington needs to stand up for the disabled people who have take Opioids to live as those who do not. I wish I didn’t have to take any medication but if I want to continue to work and live comfortably as possible then I don’t have a choice. I truly feel for all those who have cancer or are at the end of their lives and because of these new laws will have to suffer more than they ever should be made to.
Greg
Nor cal
Out of the deep blue Workers comp doc, after 6 years of 2 to 3 a day, started the pee in a cup every 6 months which I did for about 2 years no prob for me, it is what it is, said go somewhere else for that script, I said ok, now the next 2 pain docs said to try everything else but what I know works for me most of the time, I work long hours sometimes and had a decent regime w/ that norco.,now its a big no no. Unbeleivible. Help the poor working man someone Please.
Dave Carless
Arizona
I hope these people that make the decisions to hurt people who really need hycrocodone or other medications that helps with pain sleep will sleep well tonight.
Jodi
MI
I’ve been in severe pain from arthritis in my spine for almost 20yrs. I’ve been on methadone and percocet for about 10yrs. I have always taken them as perscribed and even though they don’t get rid of all the pain, I could at least have a fairly normal life. Thanks to this new DEA ruling I’m only receive Cymbalta which does absolutely nothing.
It was a challenge before to take care of my family and my home, now it’s almost impossible. I’m 50yrs old and I’m supposed to live the rest of my life like this? If it wasn’t for my children, I wouldn’t keep on living. Thanks DEA for making everyone’s life even more miserable!
Robin
Florida
I am in severe chronic pain and have pain pump that my doctor is depleting without any other backup medication for the pain. I have daily severe bouts of pain where I can’t catch my breath and turn blue from the pain. This is a death sentence. We must have legal backup and fight this as this is death sentence. I have been in and out of hospitals. Let’s sue the state and the physicians that leave us in this state or have put us here.
Hans
Daly City, CA
I have been a chronic pain patient since 2000. I have aracnoiditis, scar tissue in the spinal cord. This pain is compared to cancer pain. This was due to a couple of failed back surgeries. I had a herniated disc, then a lower back fusion surgery. I was on 960mg of OxyContin a day for seven years and never had problems with abuse. I took care of my medications. I was mobile with the meds. I then fractured seventeen Vertebrae in 2010. My meds were then bumped up to 1280mg of OxyContin a day.
I was in the hospital 6 months. It took me a year before I was able to walk. At one point I was doing well. I told my doctor that he could decrease the meds by 320mg a day. I was doing so well that I was back to 960mg a day that I had been on for many years. Then the new reformulation of OxyContin was out in 2012. The first thing I noticed was pain in my stomach after 30 minutes of taking the new 80op. I have had ulcerative colitis since my teens. The new tamper-proof formula was now in conflict with my colitis.
I told my doctor what was going on, and he said that was not the problem. After a month I knew this new op OxyContin was causing problems in my G.I. tract. Without my doctor’s approval I decided to taper down. In two months I decreased all the way down to 320mg a day. That’s a decrease of 640mg in two months. This was very hard. I was seeing bugs on the wall. This did not turn out well for me. I could not adjust to morphine. I was told that I should go to detox by my doctor, so I went. I was very naïve thinking this would help, so I went and got detoxed. After the detox I could not walk, I could not even wipe myself.
Then there was a big misunderstanding with my pain doctor. He released me from his care In 2012. I then ended up with a very conservative pain doctor. He had me on 120mg of morphine a day. I have been bedridden for four years now.
This doctor would not even consider doing a trial for the pain pump. I and the pain doctor parted ways last week 5-17-17, If I can’t find a doctor to help me with the pain pump trial or medications then I am sorry to say that I cannot live like this anymore. I am 48, and life is a beautiful thing, but NOT if you’re in pain and bedridden. I wish you all the best, I hope your pain can be under some control. It’s much harder for chronic pain patients to get the help we need.
Don’t punish chronic pain patients because of the stupidity of others. Yes, stupidity has no boundaries.
Craig
San Jose, CA
I have been dealing with chronic migraines since 2000 (after being hit by a rogue wave and head planted in the ocean. The nerve damage in my neck started the migraines.) My Doctor has been great at helping with my pain management. He finally let me know he could no longer prescribe ANY because of the DEA crack down. He was helpful as much as possible.
My nerve damage is documented and my visits to the ER due to severe migraines are well known. (Blood pressure through the roof from pain) As usual.. the government officials clearly are not dealing with chronic pain. So they don’t care what the rest of us are going through. It is easy to see if a patient is doctor shopping… or buying off the black market…or if there is NO verified source or symptoms of pain. (Acting like you are in pain only goes so far) The frustrating part? I was referred to pain management Doctors.
I have called well over 50 Doctors..and have YET to find ONE who will take a new patient…and they have made it clear they will not prescribe pain medication…but the same meds that don’t help nerve damage. The result is I am forced underground to manage my pain… because I either manage it…or I cease to function and spend most days throwing up with blood pressure of 220/110 with no pain medication. As usual the government is playing Doctor.
Rachael
Birmingham
NO doctors care at all. The government cares less. We suffer–and can’t function and they tell us we’re “med-seeking” Well as a result–I’m losing my marriage, and will soon be living on the streets, as my husband gets everything. My kids laugh at me, and are impatient. My husband complains that the house is not perfect. And the doctors think were criminals! Just a few years ago my mother in law had oxycontin & oxycodone for breakthrough–praise God she left this earth before the law changed! My pain isn’t at the level her’s was.
Can’t live in intractable pain—now I add my family to the list of those who don’t care. I used to live for my kids….
richard
Michigan
I’ve been in 3 car accidents hit by two cars fell off a roof I have four kids my older kids ask if she could have her dad back well my pain meds do that if I don’t take I’m laid up in bed were I don’t care and just wanna give up iv gone months without take ing trying other stuff to help instead but nothing works except my 7.5 what do I do now
mechelle
AL
I suffer from a debilitating spine disease called FISH, and it doesn’t just affect the spine but anywhere there’s bone or a joint space. To date I’ve had 9 spine surgeries, 7 knee surgeries, 4 foot surgeries and a complete hip replacement all by the age of 50 and surgeries started at 26. I suffer from chronic pain and will the rest of my life. As yet I haven’t had a problem getting my pain meds but I choose to stay at the lowest doses as possible I can get by on because I do have a life I’d like to live. Right now I’m on a 25mg/72 hrs fentanyl patch and 5 mg Percocet three times a day. I take my meds exactly the way I’m supposed to but have had issues arise from oral pain meds, namely methadone. I was on a high dose of methadone until my pain doctor got info that it can cause heart problems and death so he wanted to wean me off it and prescribe something else. It caused a bundle blockage in my heart.
So in January my doctor chose to start me on morphine instead of methadone. I took a fast-acting release and an extended release pill three times a day. After several months on these meds I started suffering from severe nausea and vomiting, not being able to eat for days at a time. I developed gastroparesis, for which there is no cure. I can’t take meds prescribed for it because they can cause tardive diskonisia which can permanently freeze your muscles in place. With this round of gastroparesis I’ve gone 5 days without eating and am careful how much liquid i drink so it stays down. Now I’m looking into med marijuana so I can quit taking the Percocet and use something natural instead of synthetic.
I think a lot of people at DEA don’t have a clue about chronic pain. You have to take a pill to ease the pain and let it kick in before you can get outta bed and start the day. And severe chronic pain is debilitating severe chronic pain. If there was a way they could feel it they’d change their minds about the rules and allow those of us living in chronic pain to be able to get the pain meds we need to live a life, as you’re not living a life living with chronic pain. I think every state should allow legal medical marijuana but it should be regulated to make sure only patients who truly have problems would receive it. They could tax it to bring in money to their states.
Yes opiate abuse is bad here. If a DEA agent could feel the pain I deal with 24/7 he’d change his tune about cutting off people suffering from chronic pain. That’s the whole thing–they aren’t walking in our shoes feeling our severe pain. These new laws won’t stop opiate abuse. It will just drive people to the deadliest opiate out there, heroine, and many more people will overdose.
Debbie
Michigan
I have been a Registered Nurse for 30 years and have cared for people with both acute and chronic pain. In all those years I do not remember my patients saying they were thinking of suicide or purchasing illegal drugs, until the government crackdown on pain medication. One thing is true, there are those that could be treated by other means than narcotic medication. But for many, with true serious and chronic pain they may be the only treatment that makes their life bearable.
As far as the drug addicts go, and I have cared for quite a few, working at an inner city hospital, they will always find a source for their fix, even if they have to learn to make it themselves similar to what some did during the 1930’s Prohibition. Though most of us were not around then we have all heard of “bathtub gin”. Prohibition was repealed because it not only didn’t work, it increased the problem with illegal activities.
There is one other point I would like to make, they are not only causing difficulty for chronic pain patients, but also for people in acute pain. My husband recently had surgery where they entered his skull and removed a portion of the bone in the Mastoid Sinus, it was quite painful I assure you. A few days after the surgery and after receiving his medication, (we have to pay and be reimbursed) we received a letter from our insurance company. It stated they would not pay for the pain medication he was prescribed.
I called the company and they said that the dose was not within CDC guidelines for outpatient care. Give me a break, 50 tablets of 5mg Narco ordered one every 6 hours if needed with ZERO refills. I checked the so called guidelines, it was well under the allowed 180 tablets per month, as well as the 90mg Morhine Equivalent per day rating, which the CDC claims is only a suggestion not a law ( in fact if he had taken it every 6 hours around the clock the morphine equivalent was only 20 and he took less than that. I was also well within the FDA dosage guidelines for that medication. What is next ? Surgery without anesthetic?
Jan
Houston
More people will suffer depression from constant pain and will sink into an darkness.
They may not ask for antidepressants or they may not work.
The suicide rate will rise greatly,
Tom
Cleveland
The government rather legitimate pain sufferers die from their pain, than come up with sensible policies. And what Ohio just did was to nothing but fuel the black market.
CINDY
MICHIGAN
I agree, that’s what did they did fuel the black market, Why ? The prison system has become a business. Jeff Sessions is trying to enact even stricter LAWS !
Lisa
Al
I’ve had fibro since 2002 Now I also suffer from spinal stenosis and herniated disk.
I’ve been on 10 mg hydrocodone for years I’ve never abused my medicine but I am dependent on it to give me some pain relief and quality of life It is inhumane that our meds could be taken away and we are left to suffer I hate to think about what will happen to people who are so desperate.
Chronic pain is terrible. When you hurt so bad day after day your mind goes to some very dark places.
The people that abuse drugs to get high will move on to something else We should not be punished or neglected for what other people do. Please don’t take our medicine. Our pain is real.
Melissa A Coe
CT
I’m disabled I have fibromyalgia chronic back pain and neck pain IBS and now I found out I have degenerate bone disease and a couple of my discs are starting to deteriorate and all I want is to increase my dose by 5 milligrams so I’d have 15 milligrams instead of 10 and I’m being told no and yet I’m the one that had them cut my pills down I don’t understand what the problem is to up my dosage by 5 milligrams for Percocet since I’m allergic to a lot of other medication I wish I knew what to do I’m in on the same dosage for over 12 years to up it from 10 milligrams to 15mgs shouldn’t be a problem, I was in a car accident almost three years ago and now I have a messed up shoulder that they tried several things to do to try to fix it and nothing’s helping
Colleen
Idaho
I was taking off the road by drunk driver at 90 miles an hour how severe nerve damage neck and brain damage my whole body is horrifying and so is my brain and now they want to take me off my clonazepam or take me off my pain meds I am on a low dose of clonazepam which used to be a high dose that I felt I did not need just the low-dose I barely have a life as it is and then you doctor I have now is changing everything and I am going to give up I cannot do this mentally I’m a mess I don’t know what to do I give any advice out there what I can take with hydrocodone for my Panic anxiety overwhelmingness locking myself in my house not eating not drinking and smoking more cigarettes than usual my doctor left for 3 years to help the veterans and will be back he said I would be okay and he was comfortable with my medications I was good as could be I was very comfortable have caregivers now I used to be a caregiver I didn’t ask to be taken off the road by drunk driver now this doctor just wants to be rude and is causing me more anxiety and panic and taking me off of my clonazepam completely without any other options I have a sensitivity to many medications mostly the buffers I believe I miss you dr. Abrams you saved my life and now it’s being taken
T
KS
I don’t abuse my pain meds – had insurance but now unemployed! Costs me $82 a doc visit and another $200 for my scripts for 1 month!! I have been on these meds for 5 years with no problems – I am being punished for “doing the right thing”! I feel trapped and feel no happiness as I am being forced to adhere to these rules – makes a cheap bullet look VERY INVITING
Pamela S T
Tennessee
I’ve had 2 back surgeries the second failed me. I’ve been taking the same medicine for over 6 years or more. Living with chronic pain is hell itself and who ever past this should get a taste of it for a month. It effects every part of your life and I was trying to work but now there is no way. Since my doctor has cut my medicine in half and I think he will do more I have been bed ridden.
Let the ones overdose overdose there abusing it and they should be accountable not me or us. I never not passed a urine test or a drug count. There will be more people trying to get there pain meds illegally for sure. I can’t believe this.
Scarlett
Instead of stopping the many illegal drugs being shipped to America daily they turn on their own people! A BASIC HUMAN SENSE..PAIN! Is now something we should endure even though years of science and discovery breakthroughs successfully found medicine to block our pain receptors and therefore give us relief! Now in the year of Drones,clones and forensic science that is nothing less than genius and an amazing BLESSING were now supposed to get in our time machines n go back to the stone ages of ignorance!!!!!!!
Rick W.
West Virginia
My doc cut me off of 7.5mg x 3 per day Norco, and all I got in the mail was a notice he would no longer be able to prescribe Norco to me, with a list of three local drug abuse clinics. No personal consultation at all. Been on these for two years, & I only take them during work days. I have lower back pain & both knees are arthritic, exasperated by standing on a concrete floor 8 hours per day/5-6 days per week. Norco was a godsend. While it didn’t kill the pain 100%, I probably got 80% relief. Made all the difference in the world! Improved my mood by not hurting so much everyday. I’m almost out of Norco & have no idea what to do.
Diane D
hOUSTON
I had the best know GYN/URO doctor in the Houston area. Two weeks prior, the doctor removed her Mesh Products and repairs the prior damage done by the previous doctor. I needed a recticile desperately. I told the doctor firmly– I didn’t want him to use Mesh Products of any type because of the issues and concerns.
I woke from the surgery in horrific pain and blood everywhere. The doctors PA came in and stated the conversation with an apology. She stated the doctor refused to to the surgery without my OK to use the Mesh in case of an emergency. I felt backed against the wall.
Sure enough, I woke to find the doctor knicked my rectum, colon, illiac nerve and much , much more. He totally distroyed my body. As of today I am unable to carry a job and have not been able to receive disability. Since then I have had over 12 surgeries at 57yrs old.
Don
North Carolina
I was put on pain medicine after I had the whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer. I have had several other surgeries and radiation and chemo. I have a stein in my bile duct, and a hole in my chest were they use to run a tube into to clean bile duct.
Also had major hernia surgery from the top to bottom. I have scare tissue and every doctor I see, says I am a miracle to be living. Even with my pain medicine I hurt and can’t rest. VA says they don’t prescribe pain medicine, so I am still trying to work, hurting everyday at 70 years old. Medicare plans cost to much to cover my medicine and I need to keep my primary doctor also. I through if a qualified doctor prescribes my pain medicine, why would the VA not fill it. Guess I am a blessed to beat pancreatic cancer but looks like the VA is going to do me in.
RC
Chicago
My doctor switched me from 8 Norco/day to 6, had 4 procedures (250 o-p-cost) and I was okay until two months ago where I started taking more, there was a change in job and some stress in my life and that can increase
oa pain, I have read. I ran out his month and am on my second day without any Norco and I’m going through withdrawal, it sucks and I am changing doctors because he could have given me a few Norco until it was time for my refill. I am very upset and sick and I can barely work, terrible time driving as well.
Suzanne
Wisconsin
As a person living in chronic pain from a severe work accident that happened in 1997, I have seen the attitude of doctors, nurses, and the entire medical community and those who ‘regulate’ it (CDC, DEA, FDA) change so radically. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, when my pain started, I was treated well as a pain patient. I did sign a ‘contract’ with my doctor to contact only him for pain related issues (like if I needed surgery or dental work, emergency room, accidents, etc) and to allow them to count my medications when they asked, as well as to take urine screens to check my levels to be sure I was using my meds as they were given.
I never had any issues with any of this treatment, because it was laid out at the start, and I never felt that the doctors, nurses, or other medical staff saw me as anything but a HUMAN BEING and PATIENT who had very bad medical issues causing long-term, disabling chronic pain.
I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis (3 curves) and Kyphosis/Lourdosis when I was 9 years old. I had harrington rod fusion done at age 13 (1984). My neck and low back were left unfused because fusing them would have left me so immobile that I wouldn’t be able to bend to tie shoes or wash my feet. It was thought then that scoliosis was not a painful condition, and I would have a relatively normal life.
Fast forward to 2017. I have Lupus, Fibromyalgia, pain from spinal arthritis, blown discs, sciatic pain, two bad shoulders (Sprained left rotator cuff and right torn), Neuropathy, IBS-D, CRPS/RSD, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, a tremor disorder (Essential tremor) and a host of other painful medical conditions that impact my quality of life. I haven’t worked since 1998. I fought to get on SSDI, and won in 2004. I am only 45 years old, and I require either a cane (on good days), a walker (on tougher days) for short distances, or a wheelchair/scooter (over a couple blocks walking) for mobility.
I cannot do the simplest things due to my laundry list of issues. Since the DEA has targeted us pain patients as being the ‘heroin addicts’ out on the streets, I feel like we are having our human rights violated! Even the World Health Organization feels that treating chronic pain is a basic human right, even if it involves narcotic therapy. I am providing the link to the 2010 document. It’s very relavant to what is happening now! We are being treated worse than a sick animal! At least they get euthanized when they no longer have a quality of life.
I feel like this is ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ for those of us willing to comply with the rules and regulations set out by the doctors and suggestions of the government, but making us and those who treat us feel like prison is imminent for treating REAL and DISABLING pain, this is a human rights CRISIS!
Link to WHO’s human rights document for treatment of pain:
http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/policy/access_noncommunicable/AccesstopaintreatmentasahumanrightBMCMed_Lohman_2010.pdf
teresa m
Pennsylvania
I’m not an addict and have been on darvocet then they banned that went to Vicodin and got relief. Don’t take them daily only when needed but getting refills are hard. I feel like a loser when I asked. I keep saying I’m not an addict just like pain free. It also helps me with my moods. So far, my doctor has been wonderful what is the government trying to prove. Idiots
Diana
Oklahoma
I agree this is affecting everyone that has cronic pain. Why can’t a person sue their doctor for just what you stated it is cruelty to punish patients that they know have had surgeries that still leave one with unbearable pain, or degenerate disease that is not relieved but with opioids.
Ev
WI
I don’t think the government cares. It’s “all for me and nothing for you.” We are just a number on the long line of nobodies.
R
IN
I was 40-year-old ft nurse when I got in a head on motor collision. Broke my back, almost all ribs, ripped left rotator cuff out, left humerus, left scaphoid and left great toe. Needless to say surgeons did ” the best they could”. I take Percocet 4 times a day. (I weaned myself of all the rest). I must take one to even get up with my kids.
Is it bad for my body to take? Yes. I don’t like taking. I obviously don’t work. I rarely leave the house. I’m doing the best I can. I’m labeled one of the good pain patients. Compliant. But I’m forced to go to a pain clinic and repeat unnecessary treatments so they can document interventions. I’m forced to pick up prescriptions monthly on days it hurts to move. Then take to pharmacy who run out. They can only get so many.
We’re now labeled opiod abusers instead of chronic pain patients. We’re a money making machine for fast food pain clinics that are taking advantage of us. Our rights have been exploited by the DEA. Labeled. Physicians have now lost the ability to treat their patients. Pain physicians are often the victims of suspended licenses and being labeled “pill mills”. It takes all I have every single day.
It’s been 4 years. I know I’m at a point it’s as good as it gets. If the pain pills allow me to be minimally functional I will take them. I will be labeled a middle class suburban opiod abuser. That’s what the DEA have promoted. How many people in chronic pain have turned to heroine? Or suicide? Isn’t that the real story? But that does not generate revenue and lots of it. I don’t know what more we have left to do besides beg. I don’t think that works anyway.
The ER will only give you a 72 hour supply. Your general practitioner can’t prescribe. The pain clinics have a 30-60 day waiting list. Obviously people are in pain. The right to seek medical treatment has been lost to us. We are forced to seek unnecessary and expensive treatment dictated by our government. We’re Americans we just smile and say ok. Overdoses are bad. Walk a day in our shoes. You’ll take that pill so you can tie those shoes.
Tree
Pa
I to am one of those people w chronic pain from RA, Fibro & osteoarthritis & other illnesses & in pain all the time. The pain med does help & I do not abuse it. Has anyone thought what is going to happen to us if we have to stop our meds at once? As I’ve been told, you can just stop, but it can kill you. Can we sue for the abuse to us? We need help, please help us. Thank you for listening.
Ev
WI
My husband was told he could not get his pain meds. Now since last October until now, so he is down to 15 MG of morphine and oxycod/apap, from 60mg off morphine twice a day. Now all he does is lit in bed and cry and is very depressed. His pain from his back is very bad. Diabetes is so bad his legs are very painful, and now his eyes are going too. I don’t want him to even drive anymore. His sugars are over 700 most of the time.
My problem is why should I lose my husband because the CDC thinks they can say who lives and who dies. What made them God? I don’t think that’s right. And when we see the doctor she won’t even give us an answer to why she can’t help him. All she does is put her head down and won’t look at us. Is there anything that we can do before I lose him? I’m afraid it won’t be long now. Every day gets longer and longer just knowing he will be gone soon.
RAE
WISCONSIN
WELL GOT TO TELL YOU ALL been on these meds since 2003 after a doctor caused my troubles now I have more pain then a person should deal with trying to cope the laws in Wisconsin have tied all doctors hands they say we are not in pain its all in our heads and order mental health PT and God knows what else is coming all the new doctors facility’s being build to accommodate all of the further ideas they have up there sleeves I kind of wonder if this is a form of another form of Government its scarry to me ITS been awful since I’ve been unable to purchase my RX but I’ve not died yet but the NURSE P DID TELL ME THAT I COULD GET AT BLACK MARKET PLACES I ABOUT DIED THATS OUR NEW YOUNG MEDICAL PEOPLE TO SEE IN 2017 SHE SAID I WOULD PAY 50.00 A PILL.
I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THIS I JUST MOVED HERE MICH AND INDIANA WERE MY HOME I MOVED HERE FOR MY GRAND KIDS AND SON ITS A BEAUTIFUL STATE TAXES SUCK BUT THIS IS WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE MY BEST BET HE SAID THE HEALTH CARE WAS GREAT WELL IF I LOOSE THIS BATTLE WE WILL SEE BUT I DO WONDER WHY THERE IS SO MUCH OF CHILD OVERDOSING IN WI AND ALCOHOL TROUBLES NOT SURE I AGREE WITH ALL THAT NONSENCE EITHER !!!
RAE
WISCONSIN
It’s Rae again I forgot the NP Jennifer also said I quote [ people are using heroin she said its cheaper and easier to get can you believe this it blows me away why would anyone speak these words to a 60 year old grandmother who I just met its crazy the implications they speak out loud even I was a medic in 1998 to 1999 in Mich at salvation army harbor lights I can’t even put my head around this now but I too have a god who loves me and I will survive not painless but I have walked in many peoples shoes and I will understand this someday but please don’t buy heroine folks it’s a terrible life I seen that in my career it’s a dead end if that’s what you want god bless us all !!!
Joelle R
Florida
This law is causing people who do suffer from Pain a lot of extra aggravation and humiliation when going to the doctor and going to the pharmacies too much scrutiny. The drug urine test go off to a lab and the insurance company gets $250 a month to test your pee monthly and the doctor gets a patient every month for 150.00. It’s all about the money.
They call Florida God’s waiting room for a reason people are in pain and they have medication to treat it to ease suffering to make life not so painful now its even more so with current laws Their shoud be lawsuits against the DEA for withholding medications and causing people to suffer. Now that’s inhumane. One day we will all probably be in that situation who needs help from pain really?
True drug addicts will always find a drug even if it means huffing spray paint go figure who else would even try that? Look how many jobs them laws created and cost you as your health care premiums Skyrocket for your unfortunate enough not to have insurance and have to pay for it monthly.
Jan
Boonton,N.J.
I was on Vicodin 2/ 15 mgs a day for severe fibromyalgia and arthritis. I had tried every drug used for fibromyalgia pain and nothing worked. No asleep and gulping 4 Advil throughout the day which barely helped.
The Vicodin was a dream come true as it relived 90 % of my pain. When this new ruling passed, my Doctor told me my urine test came up with MORPHINE in it! As a 63 yr.old women, where the heck would I get morphine! He immediately discharged me.I feel as one of the individuals stated above,that they lied to get rid of me,as opiates are claimed not to help with fibromyalgia pain.
Now, I struggle with pain all day, and it is almost impossible to fall asleep. I always wake up with pain. The exhaustion has severly affected my ability to cope, and caused alot of depression. I have also started to get my migraines again. Somehing has to be done. I agree with a petition. I am only somewhat proficient with computers, so someone computer savvy needs to start it.
Rhonda M
TX
I have had to take Vicodin for the last 15 yrs for scoliosis. Now, I get Norco and just last month my pain management Dr started giving me embeda time released capsules. I don’t like them at all. Is it going to be hard to get my Norco back?
Karen
Bellmore NY
The answer to all this bogus concern of our politicians using the unfortunate overdoses as political fodder to advance their agenda is to sue the FDA for impeding upon our rights as patients. If a cancer patient has a right to choose the modality of preferred treatment, why shouldn’t we? A few well chosen legitimate lawsuits may help our cause immensely.
Bobbie jo
ohio
I myself at the age of 42 am disabled on social security over 6 surgery’s on shoulders,5 on my knee and ankle. Now going through lower back problems after braken couple vertebraes and degenerate disease and narrowing pinching nerves in back.Been taken xanax for extreme issues seens 92,which they took from me for months ,thank God I got them back.But my regular doctor has took care of my pain medication’s seems 2006 never felled drug test nor count now I’m getting pushed to pain management after my doctor left .which he claims he could not do his job no more cause the rules and regulations so he left pushed a good doctor away and pushing many people to find on the streets my feelings on this is they are responsible for others to seek for a their quality of life…sad very sad….
Laura
Logan Square Chicago, Illinois ....
I am 55 was and am now a recovering addict. That has been hell for me because all the Drs have all stigmatized me even though I’ve been clean for 3yrs. For the first time I found a doctor who understood my pain and saw that I was not drug-seeking, but now I have another doctor who wants to take them away. She says these medicine do not alleviate my pain. And I was like, Okay, here it comes STIGMATIZING me once again. Well, doctor, you can’t tell me my meds don’t take my pain away okay. Maybe true that it does take not it away completely but it alleviates my pain a lot more then the Tylenol 3-4-5 or Ibuprofen 500,600 or 800 hundred milligrams that they gave me for yrs. That didn’t do anything, but I took them because there was nothing else but drugs, and all of that messed up my liver. I have Hepatitis C. Now what do they have to say? I don’t want my doctor to take them away. What do I do now????????
This is my first time on this forum of comments cause I look up my rights and ran into this forum of comments on 4-17-2017
Lisa
United States
I too suffer chronic daily pain. I have many issues with my cervical spine, lumbar spine, arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, sleep issues due to pain. I also have depression, which has gotten much worse since none of my doctors will give me ANY type of pain meds. Stopped prescribing them about 5-6 months ago. I never leave the house and am in the disability process. Punishing people with daily chronic pain WILL NOT stop drug addicts, as there is always a way for them to get “drugs”. The CDC is going to make it so legitimate pain med takers may have to go “to the streets” to get their relief. Idiots!! There will probably be more deaths. (Maybe that’s the government’s plan….thin out the population). Terrible to hurt the legitimate people who NEED pain med to get thru their day. Communism anyone???
Jill
You hit the nail right on the head Lisa! Our government would like us all to overdose! They are hoping everyone turns to street drugs because it’s much easier to overdose on heroine than our medications!
Levenia
Houston
2005 I was hit on passengers side , while riding in a truck on passenger side. I broken and misplaced a lot of bones in neck and back. 2008 I was hit on drivers side while I was driving and broke more bones and misplaced more bones.i stay in pain and now I am dealing with the reactions from the codeine from Tylenol 4 for pain. I want to hurt myself daily. No happiness or joy and I am falling fast into a deep depression that no one can deal with me or the things that I am saying or feeling. Why am I punished with these pills that make me sad. Angry and suisidal? Why won’t my doctor help me? Is the only option I have left to kill myself so I don’t have to deal with the pain and interactions from the medication? Please someone help me idk where to turn!
Deannie
Virginia
I have rhymatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. I have major heart problems to complicate matters. I’ve tried everything to ease the pain. My doctor put me on Vicodin over 20 years ago 10 mg 4 times a day. I also take ambien to sleep.
All of a sudden, I have to make a dr appoint to pick up my medication, take a urine test and sign an agreement that I will not take any other form of pain meds. I am 68 years old and have NEVER had a problem with addition, my blood work has always been excellent. No liver or kidney problems. It’s the only way I can help manage the pain!!! Now I am weening off the sleep meds and having to take antidepressants to help sleep. Up every morning at 3:45am. Body feels worse than ever.
The problem needs to be addressed to a lot of these emergency rooms who dish out opioids like they are candy. Then turn around and sell them for a big profit around the corner to uneducated persons who end up overdosing. Seems to me there could be an agreement that drs could file on a case by case basis and not make our lives so ? miserable.
John
Olathe Kansas
I have been on pain meds since I have had major back surgery and right knee replacement. The surgeon told me I have degenerative disk disease and the manufacturer of my knee replacement told me to F off now it is a shame that.we the people who do not abuse our meds suffer. And what about the elderly this is an outrage and totally unfair if I don’t have my pain meds I cannot get out of bed to go work am I supposed to live on the street cause I cannot work ca use of pain
Debra
Tennessee
I was informed by my Dr today not only would I be sent to a pain clinic for testing but now I ha e to go to a psychiatrist.new tennessee .are you kidding me?I live on fixed income drive 60 miles to the Dr e very month now they want to send me to a psychiatrist and pay them.wow anyone heard of this?
John
Las Vegas
Its just moronic bureaucrats imposing their standards on the elderly. Will anything be done? No. John–Las Vegas
fred
las vegas nevada
Yep i just got the same pitch I am 77 years old and broke my back 7 years ago Vicodin at least made me mobile not any more. According to the doctor she is federally prohibited to prescribe both xanax and vicoden to the same patient. Any one else getting this line I can take enough to dull the pain but it will destroy my liver. THE GOLDEN YEARS HAVE TURNED TO BRASS
Karoline favela
Lvn
I would like to add to this I think that the DEA should not be involved with the doctors’ decisions to make for their patients. They know what we need. The DEA does not know what we need. They need to do their job but stop messing with people who are on their medications. We understand what is going on but we are also going to suffer. I have already heard about patients dying because the medications have been dropped so fast. It’s unheard-of. It’s un real. It’s sad, so sad to see people go without their meds. We’re all suffering because of what people want to do that is not fair to us.
I’m in chronic pain. I’ve been in two car accidents and hurt my back severely. All kinds of things have happened to me with my neck, back, and left legs with severe pain so much that I have to hold and bite a pillow at night because they have cut my medication back so much. It’s ridiculous and absolutely absurd! The DEA needs to stop playing God.
I am very concerned for other people who are very sick and have chronic pain because you can’t just cut people off. They will die, and there’s going to be a lot of backlash for this. You can bet that a lot of families are going to hurt and suffer because of this new DEA problem. They want to control everything and everybody. We might as well be in a communist country. I don’t feel like we live in United States anymore. I still hope that we have a great president, that’s all. I can hope that people don’t die from getting off of their medications so fast.
This is ridiculous! Pharmacies are acting like they’re the police. Now what’s going on, really???? The big pharmacies are the worst. They look at you like you are an addict when they know damn well they’re taking the same stuff. Trust and believe that there will be backlash. I’m sure that nobody would even shop at their stores. People are already talking about boycotting them. I don’t know what else people can do. They are just going to take your medicine away, and that doesn’t make any sense at all !!!!?
Tilly
Wisconsin
We need to get everyone on this board and all other boards to join together and start a petition, not just that but that could be the start then after getting everyone we can to sign it, then we need to set a date that would be good for at least 50% of the petitioners to go to one of these facilities or all 3 nearest to you CDC, dea, and the FDA we need to make a stand for our rights because if you won’t stand up for yourself how can you expect anyone else to. I have been in pain management for 15 years and had the same doctor all that time, I have never had a bad U.A. And any time they have done a random pill count I have always been spot on. I have many things that I suffer from multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease , lower back surgery that went really bad those are just a few of the things that are wrong with me, the worst being I wake up every morning paralyzed from the waist down since I lost my husband it’s much harder for me to deal with this situation, my pain doctor had gotten me under control and for 4 years prior to this new guide line this wasn’t happening to me any more and since my first reduction on meds it started happening again but not every day, but it is now. So please hear me we are all suffering needlessly no one should have to go through what we are going through at this point it would be more humane to euthanize each and everyone of us. we have to do something now before there are none of us left to fight. The fact is a drug attic is just that and they will use anything and go where ever they have to, to get whatever they want, so all the CDC has managed to do is take away the lives of law abiding citizens who all any of us want is to be able to live and do things that most people take for granted such as dress yourself, cook a meal, clean your home, do laundry or in some cases try and hold down a job or go to college. I don’t think that is asking too much. There are millions of us around the world we just need to stand together to stop this
Diane
Madison, WI.
I am an elderly woman and I have been on Vicodin (1 day) for around 12 years. It is the only pain medication that enables me to get out of bed every morning and do some passive exercising to get my body ready for my daily work. I can relate well to many of the posts regarding one’s loss of independence without a medication that relieves our pain. I am disabled and without my Vicodin I would find it impossible to work through my limited 4 hour day. I have a severe curvature of my spine since birth which should have been corrected but never was. I now have arthritis in my entire spine. The daily pain and spasms are unbearable! Because of my spinal deformity – it has now affected my knees and hips. I walk with a limp and my right leg is 3/8 inches shorter than my left.
There is no quality of life when one has to live with this kind of pain. I too did not want to go on any pain medications and have tried pain management and many other forms of pain relief. I am a firm believer that these other pain relief measures are very helpful in conjunction with our pain medication. I am a retired nurse and I do hope and pray that the CDC and federal government will take another look at these new guidelines and not lose their caring and compassion for those of us that are suffering so severely from our chronic –never ending pain.
Rhonda M
Texas
You are so right. I have had to take Vicodin for 15 yrs. I have scoliosis, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease and 2 major back surgeries with a long titanium rod in lower back and 8 screws about 5 in.long.needless to say I’m in severe pain at least 18 hrs a day.
Now, I’m given morphine time released pills that don’t work well at all. In progress of locating new Dr.pray for me plz that I can get my Norco back!!
Katie
CA
This is an outrage & so ignorant when it comes to anyone dealing with chronic pain. I remember trying to get through C-Section post op without pain medicine! Nurses told me it would be harder for me to manage the pain trying to be a martyr & they were right!
Now – almost 60 with painful degenerative spine, disc & tailbone disease plus migraines returned since being cut back on my 1 med. Now they want to cut back more – I’m already inactivite – I have a grandchild & another one coming!
I’m afraid of getting worse than I already am & losing hope for the rest of my life living with constant pain, sleepless nights … it’s inhumane! We wouldn’t treat our animals like that!
One thing we all have is compassion for one another’s pain – we’ve been there. We need many Pain Advocates IN the DEA, CDC & Whomever came up with this ignorant “US War on Addiction.” For those of us who must live with chronic pain & be denied relief – what’s the point in aging, much less aging with some dignity & grace!
Rhonda M
Texas
I’ve never been addicted. I guess cause I take as needed.
Dee Dee
New Mexico
I have complex regional pain syndrome/or RSD along w numerous other pain issues. A year ago I was controlled and while in pain able to somewhat function. We moved to N.M and they have cut my medication by more them half. I can no longer get out of bed and am back in a wheelchair. I believe these new laws will force many wonderful folks to end lives rather then continue on with horrific pain. So in your attempt to contain abuse you’ve forced people to many alternatives that are not necessary.. such as looking for alternate methods of obtaining drugs to just live a somewhat normal life. Your laws stole what took years for me to control.. you’ve stolen my life and the life of my family who are now forced to care for me. You’re costing my insurance many more thousands of dollars to provide ihhs, in home nursing care to help with things I was finally able to do myself (self hygiene, ect). How dare the CDC and the FDA do this to us . We are human beings! I am outraged! I don’t know how much more I can take and I know many more that feel the same way. This is inhuman and these laws need to change.
Suzanne
Chicago
I am a retired RN & a chronic pain patient. I have fibromyalgia, DJD, & a bulging disc. I took Vicodin for a number of yrs & am now taking Norco. I take as little as possible, from 1-2 tabs daily, so I am not an abuser. I generally take it before bed & in the early am, as my pain interferes with sleep. I have to see my MD more often than is really necessary to get a paper Rx, since no more refills are allowed. I will happily submit to a urine test, if this will prevent the Norco being taken away. My MD states he receives correspondence from the DEA stating that doctors should not prescribe Norco any more. I agree that drug abuse is a big problem in our country, but taking away peoples’ ability to obtain pain meds legally & safely will only make it worse.
will
on the road gypsy
Suzane….i can understand. Though I do not seem to be as bad as you by far. I believe that this might be a way to glean out the Hurd of the elderly and useless eaters.
I fear may will isolate themselves, seek illegal drugs or self euthanization, just what the government DEA Dr ordered
SYLVIA LATTA
IL
I have been on Vicodin and then Norco for several years at age 85. I have a torn rotator cuff in right side and can’t have surgery because I have limpoedema due to breast cancer. I have two bad knees: theft has hardware in leg and knee due to fall off a ladder plus lower back pain and neck pain due to arthritis. All I need is one or two pills a day to get the physical part of my day done, and then I’m ok for the rest of the day. I don’t want to have to go into assisted living, which I can’t afford. Why is the government punishing we seniors? We are not addicts. We do not abuse the drugs. I will lose my independence. That is not fair to me.
Jeffrey JG
Oregon
Let’s fight for our rights.
Martina Fisher
New Jersey
I think it is a total disgrace for what they are doing to us that have chronic pain. I am disabled and my pain management dr had to cut my medicines and felt bad about it because he knows that I do not abuse them. Now it is so very difficult to even take care of myself. Tired of being classified as an opioid addict. Life in pain every day is growing harder for me.
Golda L Hunt RN
Owensboro,Ky 42301
I’m a chronic pain patient for almost 30 years. It is HORRIBLE what our DEA has done to us!!!?
Julie
Georgia
Hello ,I am so saddeneded by all the stories of my fellow chroic pain suffering indiviuals that cant get treatment . I myself recently was denied my meds for a bogus urine spicimen . I swear I have never even seen the drug the dr insisted was in my urine but he would not hear anyrhing I had to say , I have suffered for 17 years with facial neuralgia. He told me I would have to attend drug rehab ,2 months before I can get my medicine. I dont think I could make 2 months wirtout pain management,not too mention I am NOT a drug addict ! Im so terrified I am not going to have a life . I fear the pain will drive me mad . What can we do ,? Apparently nothing . Im looking for alternatives in other countries. Best of luck to all. Im so sorry for all your suffering….
Karla
I too am outraged at how difficult the government/DEA is making it for legitimate pain patients to get the medications they need to function. My 74 year old mother has had 2 failed hip replacement surgeries, severe arthritis throughout her body and hasn’t been able to walk or drive for years. Recently Medicare declined a schedule 2 drug she had been prescribed for years, saying they would no longer cover it.
She is also prescribed Norco and they attempted to lower the quantity she is allowed each month. Her doctor successfully appealed the reduction and thankfully it will remain the same for the next 12 months. I am her primary/only caregiver, and making Vicodan/Norco class 2 has caused me to have to make extra trips to her Dr. office to pick up her RX’s each month. She now also has to submit to urine tests to ensure she is taking her medications and not selling or otherwise diverting it. Absolutely ridiculous.
In my opinion, the current state of opiate addiction can be traced back to Florida’s “pill mills” – that seems to be when the mass addiction and black market started in full swing and the rest of the country is suffering for the irresponsibility of Florida. There are addicts who Dr. shop and abuse drugs and those people are messing with the quality of life of actual pain patients and it scares me the direction this is all going. My mother literally could not move without her medication. It pisses me off the hoops she has to jump through in order to get it.
Thankfully, she has a wonderful and caring arthritis Dr. who has gone to bat for her more than once to get her prescriptions approved. The insurance companies have no business telling doctors what their patients should or should not be taking. Enough is enough. Do any of you recall heroin abuse even being discussed 20 years ago? It was a drug of the 60’s – but guess what, addicts who can no longer get pills and legitimate pain patients who have been cut off by their doctors are turning to heroin in desperation.
How have any of these “diversion” tactics helped our country? The only thing it’s done is create a new crisis of people ODing on heroin or fake drugs they buy in desperation. There will always be those people who abuse prescription drugs, but to assume every person on narcotics is a drug addict is outright disrespectful and wrong. What can we do to stand up and fight these changes? Are you telling me there isn’t a better way than what they are doing now?
Computer technology can track people filling multiple RX’s from different doctors – or they should be able to. Letting people in chronic pain suffer when there is no need is just not the answer. We need a better solution, and we need it fast!
JL
Downtown Toronto, ON
I’m a 42-year-old who works in fitness/health. My original injury was to my achilles tendon about 15 years ago, then I injured the ligaments in my knees from overuse (marathon running). I also am certified as a massage therapist and visit a sauna on a weekly basis. So I’ve tried everything: sauna, meditation, massage, yoga – I continue to work out religiously.
I was prescribed hydrocodone and flexaril from my initial injury. Like my working out, I followed my medication schedule strictly and really had no issues until my doctor, who I had seen since I was born, was retiring. This was around the same time the opiate crisis began – and believe me, living downtown in a big city – I see heroin overdoses and needles laying on the sidewalk almost every day. I get it.
It took me two years to find another doctor and this one is young and won’t prescribe anything at all. In asking around, I have found that hardly anyone is getting proper medication for their ailments now. And I really believe that this opiate crisis has backfired. Assuming we’re all addicts for a moment – don’t you think that everyone – addicts and chronic pain patients together – were better off getting their medications from a doctor and then from a pharmacy where it was understood what you were getting, who had prescribed it, and these medications were somewhat controlled?
Two years ago, after everyone got cut off is when I started to see bizarre things happen on the streets downtown. Pharmacies were getting robbed. I’d see young-looking people who had zero street smarts try to score oxycontin and get ripped off. I saw people get beat up because the dealer thought they were naive and robbed them rather than give them drugs. Now, I’m seeing people overdosing on fentanyl and dying.
I don’t believe this happened before all these guidelines, restrictions and denials happened. What’s happened is that both the addicts and some pain patients were told to fend for themselves and do whatever they had to do. This is what pushed both groups into the streets and look what happened. Few of us were tapered off our medications (I was – and I know I was lucky) and I got to wonder, what would anyone else do in chronic pain? It’s not unreasonable to think an otherwise functioning, intelligent person would come downtown and look for someone to buy off of. People were taking the free bus to the casino because they found that there were elderly people there trying to sell their pills so they could get money to gamble.
This is what created this crisis. The need for the opiates didn’t disappear – it just pushed people into illegal ways of obtaining them because it had been made clear the medical community is no longer an option. And I don’t believe it will ever change.
Jeffrey JG
Oregon
Im Jeffrey the same things. Happend. the real question is what do we as responsible people, going to do about it? Im tired of being treated like a sheepo. Im going to fight and i will finish. I can’t do it alone. So let’s get it done.
Emily
McGill NV
I was on 15 mg oxycodone 4 times a day-This month my Dr cut my dose by 1/3 (5 mg 4 times a day. My pain and headaches are back with a vengeance. I am really scared to see what happens when I get my meds totally cut off.
Catherine S
Minnesota
The fact that legitimate pain patients continue to pay for the drug abusers’ behavior is horrible. I have been on narcotics for many years for chronic pain, some due to degenerative spinal diseases, some due to medical malpractice and damage doctors caused, and now my pain clinic has started to treat me as a drug-seeker! And is taking me off the only thing that has made my life livable, and they are doing it irresponsibly. My pain provider is only worried about one thing: what the DEA might do.
When did medicine become a crime? Why not punish the drug abusers and illegal sellers and leave patients alone? I have basically been abandoned by my provider and am being forced to look into other ways to stay alive, as my provider refuses to withdraw me responsibly, so I have to find an illegal way to do it and this is insane!!!
My blood pressure has been running 250/140 with their reduction in my meds, and I am already on the max of 2 blood pressure meds from the last reduction, and my provider refuses to wait for my blood pressure to stabilize!!! Isn’t that insane??? So if I die from stroke, and I am a Stroke survivor, my family will have someone to sue…But what a terrible price for me to pay because my provider is afraid of a political ruling and feels pressured to hurry up and get me off narcotics. Then they said I must be chemically dependent because I was resistant to withdrawing!!! Because I wanted to wait for my blood pressure to stabilize!!!! And they threatened to put me in the hospital and take me off everything at once if I refused to do it their way, which is going to kill me!!! So where do I go from here??? Once when one of my patches came off in the tub, they forced me to go to the hospital ER rather than deal with it themselves!!!! My pain clinic is not one for alleviating pain, but for creating more. What is happening to medicine today??..Cathie
Eddie J
Ga
My heart goes out to everyone on here,who suffers with chronic pain.I have so much anxiety over being in pain and being fearful of what I can say to my Dr.
Debra
Mobile, AL
I completely gave up on pain mgmt. drs. 2 years ago. Being in pain & being subjected to the emotional pain of being treated like a criminal was more than I could endure.
At my last encounter with them I told them I had developed some serious side effects to the cortisone spinal injections over 20+ years of every kind of injection there is. They demanded that I continue the injections or they would no longer see me (it’s all about the money). Needless to say, I had a horrible reaction to the steroids which was causing cerebral edema & ended up having to go to emergency room for treatment. To make a long story short if possible, I’m afraid that pain treatment is on the way out for us true law abiding people who need it. What I do now I’m sure you’re courious about-=I suffer. With no meds. other than Tylenol or Motrin, the quality of my life has diminished to barely functional at a time I was looking to retire with some quality of life.
I’ve been so curious about where all these people who are abusing these drugs are getting these meds. & what pharmacies are filling them because if I could find these Drs./pharmacies I’d make an appointment in the morning. The ONLY thing that keeps me alive is that I don’t want to leave a legacy of “suicide” to my most precious grandchildren.
There is one mantra that I keep on saying to myself & it comes from a children’s movie “Finding Nemo”.
Dorry says “Keep on swimming, keep on swimming”. I wish I had some help for you & myself. I don’t know why our govt. has decided to abandon our medical needs but they have. I try to tell myself pain will not kill you but it does slowly.
For now, “keep on swimming”!
Amu
Tx.
Have you found help yet?
Sharon
CA
I have been disabled for over 15 years. I’ve had therapy, injections and surgery. Still in pain, I have been on morphine and oxycodone for the past three years after gradually increasing meds until my doctor prescribed this combination. I have never lost my prescription, never had it stolen and never asked for early refills because of overuse. After 9 years being treated by the same doctor, I have suddenly been thrown into a pain clinic.
I feel like I’m being called a drug addict, even though the doctor has been giving them to me. Without them, I cannot function. I cannot walk, stand, sit for even fifteen minutes, let alone clean my home, work in the garden or play with my grandkids. I think everyone who is not abusing their medications, yet are being refused them, should unite and complain to the CDC. If that’s not enough to get them to understand this is not the way to handle the abuse of opiates then we should turn to our court system.
We should not be punished for others actions. There is a simple tool that doctors can use to check and see if their patients are going multiple places to get opiate prescriptions. The doctors are failing to use it even though it is law. The people in real chronic pain are being punished, instead of the abusers. Sad and extremely hard to take. I guess I’ll get used to spending most of my life in bed. Again.
Seattlemist
Seattle
I lost my leg above the knee in a hospital accident 14 years ago. I have phantom pains that happen about 4 times a year. My Doctor gives me a prescription for 30 Hydrocodone pills. I only fill it once a year but sometimes the phantom pains are so severe it might take 3 10 mg pills to knock out the pain. Then I have the rest for later attacks.
I’m very conscious to not take them when not needed but have learned when the pain first starts to take one right away so it doesn’t get ahold of me. I’ve been doing this for 14 years now and it works well for me and my Dr. is happy with my management of the pain. Dr.s now will get into major problems if they are prescribing too much for a patient.
I have a friend who has MS and got addicted so now has to go to a pain management clinic as his Dr. will not prescribe him narcotics anymore as he started abusing by taking too much. He now uses a CPAP machine as he had stopped breathing because of the quantity of Oxycotin he was taken – he’d be dead now if his wife hadn’t noticed that he wasn’t breathing. It can be hard but you don’t want to give in to addiction or your life will be even more hellish! Join a pool for swimming or a gym for lifting lite weights to see what may help too.
Atarah
New Mexico
Exactly! Malpractice can come from dumping patients or under-prescribing, not just over-prescribing. I read the CDC was influenced by an “anti opiate” group. Where can we get help with class action suit?! Worse, I’ve read these CDC ideas were “recommendations” NOT LAWS!
ATTORNEYS WANTED FOR CLASS ACTION SUIT. What do you all say?
Becki
I’ve had chronic pain since about my late 40’s. When I was about 14 years old, I was thrown off my horse when n to the road and broke my low back. Nothing was ever done about it and Iv suffered for all my life. I also ruptured two vertebra in my neck. Then recently my knee started giving me trouble and I found out the tissue under my knee cap is nearly gone. These things along with arthritis that I’ve inherited from my father causes me constant pain in nearly every joint.
I, too, take norco for daily pain along with Celebrex. Without these drugs, I can barely sleep or move. I’m lucky that my doctor has known me all my life and understands what I’m living with daily. But the new laws and insurance companies make it as difficult as possible to get the pain medication I need to function like a semi normal person. I’m also stressed out about whether or not I’ll have the medication I need from month to month. It’s a horrible way to leave.
Kim M.
NJ
I have been seeing my pain management Dr EVERY 30 days for 7 yrs now. I’m being treated for arthritis in my hips..si joints.. & my neck. I have to see other specialist for my thumbs and my feet, as well as rheumatologist AND orthopedic. It’s bad enough having to be on medicaid, but to be DENIED Radio Frequency ablations on my SI JOINTS that have worked wonderfully in the past, but now they deem it “experimental”. But at leaSt I still had my norco to help with SOME of the pain.
Now, they are taking it all away from responsible patients like myself because of addicts. Now, you will see in increase in heroine overdose, as well as suicide! I came to my dr CRYING uncontrollable in pain 7 yrs ago. Pain medication is the only reason I’m able to get out of bed to take care of my disabled daughter!! WTF am I supposed to do now!! Take Tylenol 3 or 4?? Ill need 10 of those or more! And then I’ll be on dialysis!! This needs to be fixed FAST
Frances
NC
I cannot understand punishing those of us who need pain medication because others abuse it, and also they want to bring age into the equation. My pain prescription is for two oxycodone per day due to arthritis. Degenerative bone disease and peripheral neuropathy. I have had back surgery which did not work because my bones crumbled when they tried to put in the necessary plates needed.
I cannot walk straight and must use a walker at all times. I have a bulging disc and have had both knees replaced. I am 78 and they say age doesn’t work well because of this. I use my walker and do all work at home. I would like for all these people who make these “genius” decisions suffer these problems in their lifetime and see what their ideas are then.
Please use some common sense that we are not all addicts, but are just trying to have some comfort and relief for chronic pain.
Everett W Hicks
Michigan
I believe that there are only a limited number of pain releviers such as Tylenol 3 and the Hydrocodone. I think they should minimize but not take the option away from cancer patients who have angony every minute. It was done to me, and I am a cancer patient who is in a lot of pain every day.
Patricia
Milton Florida
What I’m finding hard to believe right now with Millions of Pain suffers, why someone, anyone has not picked up our American flag with all of our rights that are in the fabric of this constitution and fight back against the DEA. I dont understand why no one will fight for us?! Why should we be scared to fight back against them. I’m sorry to those who have lost someone to overdosing on Opioids suddenly but if you take away the pain medication from chronic pain suffers you will being having a loy more deaths that will occur long term. If you look at the overall drug overdose i dont believe that Opiods is much over 10% of the overall drug overdoses. I can pretty much guantee that if you held a March for pain sufferers that you might get the next Million Man/Woman March and I’ll be there!
Olivia
NY
I have been dealing with multiple forms of chronic pain, however never really on narcotic pain medication on a regular basis. I would only go for a prescription probably once every other month. However the pain and orthopedic issues consistently became worse over the years, and now that I truly need the pain medication in order to live a seemingly normal life, doctors call me an addict to my face, even after my recent hip surgery in January of this year!
I am only 23 years old, and I need to work full time and going to school full time, but each night I comtimplate ending all of that and letting my life deplete on its own. I don’t know how to fight the doctors anymore.. Furthermore, I am going to school for Occupational Therapy so that I can help people in pain and in need, and currently working in an OT office as a technician, hearing horror stories of people in worse off conditions than myself…
HOW CAN I JUSTIFY WORKING FOR THE DOCTORS THAT I KNOW DO NOTHING IN THEIR POWER TO HELP PATIENTS IN DESPERATE NEED!
Why punish patients who know how to take narcotics responsibly who desperately need it, for something drug addicts and corrupt doctors who knowingly prescribed narcotics for bribes, did!?!!!
Someone please, help me to fight this, because I can no longer do this fight anymore. I don’t think I can work anymore with my pain, or finish my degree, which kills me on the inside. All I ever wanted to do was to complete my dream of helping others, but I can no longer help myself….
Atarah
Olivia, please stay with us! Things WILL change. After needing pain treatment over 21 years for muscular dystrophy and bone disease, I’ve seen doctors go from *pushing* the oxycodone as “addiction free” to calling it “hillbilly heroine,” so nothing stays the same.
I’ve been an advocate for myself and others since I got I’ll and my husband got cancer but was misdiagnosed. I discovered a talent for medicine I didn’t know was there, and have been involved in the diagnosis of at least 12 incidents (always seeking appropriate doctor’s help). This diagnosis is easy: there will be great suffering and needless death, as pain patients resort to street medicine, phoney knock-off versions from a black market and even suicide. When this started, I was just getting my life back after losing my young husband from cancer 5 years earlier. I had met another kind gentleman, and was able to lead a normal social life. Now, I don’t know what will become of me or the son I love who already lost a father…Olivia, *please* be there to help the pain community get back on it’s feet, for someone needs to let the voice of protest be heard!
Cheryl
California
Please please stay with us!!!! I am completely fused from C3 to my pelvis, it’s so difficult especially when we didn’t do this to ourselves! I have had moments like yours, this is the time I pray and pray! It’s so important to keep track of your inner thoughts because they soon will take over all of your thinking then lead to action we regret. I’m struggling but keeeping my faith at the forefront.
I have voluntarily detoxed myself off of everything because I was tired of living in a fog, I’m in pain, sooo much pain but I’m fighting, a fight for my life. For the first time I really want to live, something I hadn’t felt in 25 years, I’m a bit lost because everyday is a day I want to reach for relief in meds, not due to addiction, I have been blessed enough not to ever feel the “need” psychologically for them, only pain relief.
I went through hell getting off and never want to experience that again. For the DEA to have the power over a medical provider is criminal at its least but, you must continue to find your inner strength, I did with God and I pray you can find that as well! Blessings and healing go out to you.
Jan
Plano, IL
I had a crush injury to my feet and legs 17 years ago. All my nerves died. I have been on everything, but mostly just Fentanyl patches 150 MCG every other day . A neurologist who knew nothing about pain, stopped my Fentanyl when I tried to have a spinal stem implant.
I felt like Joan of Arc burning at the stake, couldn’t lift my head off the bed, and vomited til taken to the hospital. The pain was excruciatingly unbearable!!! If I couldn’t get my Fentanyl I would have to find a way to end it. So the deaths from drug addicts that the DEA is trying to prevent will just be made up in suicides from people in severe, unending pain!!
The government needs to stay out of our lives! We are becoming a government dictatorship.
Steve P
Anywhere, US
I have been assigned addict status and told to get well in two months or die by my own hand. Lawmakers should be ashamed. Doctors, thanks for standing up for those of us who can’t. Try staying alive with 15 years of CMT type 2. We are made to suffer like dogs. We are financially wiped out. Ultimately snuffed out by a system we supported for 50 years and more. We have let our nation simply become an inhumane dictatorship set on genocide of people who would with proper medicine live productive lives for decades. It should discust us all. These are the desparate voices of the other side of an epidemic.
The valliant tip of the iceberg. The scarred and abandoned with nowhere to turn. I know all this to be true by first hand experience.
Alice
Usa
I had a back injury which started me on a rollercoaster ride that has turned me into a person who is being treated like a criminal. My dr. put me into a pain clinic which has to do urine tests every time I go. At first they helped my pain and gave me medication that allowed me to at least be a somewhat able mom. And for years the doses changed as I had operation after operation.
Finally, I became disabled and could no longer work. Believe me I would much rather like to have a job. This is not such a great way to live and I have taken my meds. Just as prescribed.I have cooperated with all their rules only to be told that they are cutting me off medication. Told my daughter I should see a shrink.
Which I thought I had been doing at pain clinic for years. They are going to penalize those of us who have bad chronic pain. What am I supposed to do for the rest of my life? Why are we being told to medicate now when they have medicated us for so long? At least they are cutting me down instead of putting me through withdraws.
But the new laws will not help drug addicts except to cause them to use more homemade drugs which will eventually kill them. Those of us who take our medication as prescribed are now going to have to suffer untold amounts of pain. What would you do if it were you is what I wish to ask? Are you super human and can’t feel Pain? Please rethink your laws and help us.
Charles
Nacogdoches, TX
https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2016/7/19/cdc-opioid-guidelines-not-rule-regulation-or-law
Mario
I tried with lawyers and didn’t get anywhere. I’m pretty sure they’re protected by the government in some way.
They are really putting it to me in any bad way now. I hope that this does not end badly.
Mario
So, I just made a agreement with the Dr. That he was going to give me two months of my medications, at the checkout counter they tried to get me to leave without my scripts by messing up and not giving them to me.
I called them on it and waited, then they said that he wasn’t going to write two months of Valium.
Which makes him a lier.
Michelle
PA Pennsylvania
You shouls see what they r doing to my mom
Cant even die with dignity
she has been on pain meds for 20 some yrs and last yr had hip and multiple back fractures
she is stiff as a board and so brittle. No Drs want to write pain rx and dont look at jer hx or lay hands on her
they give her 5m oxy 2day for 1wkwhich doesnt phase her
shouldnt habe to go in hospice for chrooonic pao mamagement thrpwing her under the bus she is so miserable inpain idk what to do
DWM
LA
It is really a shame how a physican who took an oath To Do No Harm out of medical school, can wossie down to a goverment that has no business being involved in medical labeling. No doubt a large percentage of the people that came into the VA Clinic in Baton Rouge were seeking a free fix. I could pick them out so easy and you know the doctors could too.
Then there are the truely cronic patients like me that with every step you wish the good lord will take me home now that the morphine and oxycontin has been reduced to the point of severe, cronic pain in the lower back, legs, hips, feet, and even the big toes. I was injured twice in Vietnam and in 1988 a backhoe drove over the left side of my body. Four back surguries later i now have Flatback Syndrone, leaving me bent over at the waist. There are other issues like arthritus, fibermyalga, and the left leg hardly ever eased up even when i was on the opiods. If i am lucky i get two hours a day sleep because i just can not find a comfortable position.
I do not dare tell the VA how often this 65 year old soldier that proudly served his country in time of need, that i often think about taking my own life now. It is truely sad that the very country i went to war for is the one that is going to be the death of me. I will fight this pain with all i have left in me, because i have a family that loves me. If there is a doctor with any morals reading this that can help, then please contact me on email. Thank all you guys, and remember that good things come in numbers. We should pull together in unity and show the CDC that we will no be sweep under the rugs. All you young people thinking joining a branch of the service, think what treatment you will recieve if you get severly hurt for pain meds. In my heart i fill the new president will help us, but we have to heard first. If anyone knows how to start a petion get it going.
Kathy
I am so sorry to hear this. I know I am being weaned down, and we must all unite against this terrible policy -both here In Canada & the USA. We must STOP this EVIL policy.
Drug addicts make a conscious choice to ABUSE drugs & overdose, and we are now paying their price !!?? I say NO to that. I am so scared to death about the pain I will also suffer when they take me way, way down. I been thinking I might just commit suicide. I will NOT be able to handle the pain.
I feel for your mother. There has got to be someone you can speak to. May I ask are you in Canada or the States ?
Praying for your mother to get help with her pain.
Vicki
Oak Ridge, TN
I have no choice in this matter! I have been in pain management for 15 years for chronic back pain. I have no options because I also have other medical problems plus auto-immune problems that cause me allergic reactions to all over-the-counter pain medications! I am unable to take aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, naproxin. I also cannot have steroid injections. I am severely allergic to drugs like Tramadol, skelacton and many others! I suffer with migraines. I can take no migraine drugs due to the reactions. I can’t even take medication for my high cholesterol!
This has gone on my whole life! But each and every doctor I have gone to insists I try the drugs I cannot take! So I humor them, and get very sick, and then they refuse to treat me! I’ve been told just to live with my problems! I have tried so many physical therapies I can’t count them, and the pain and problems got worse! After therapy my legs and feet started going numb!
I finally found a pain management doctor who is wonderful! They not only help my pain so I can lead a somewhat normal life, they care about my health in general! I am not addicted to my medication. I can skip days or go with out for several days just to skimp on them because the government now feels it knows best, as do “former” users and addicts. They seem to be the worst of people to advise! I personally believe that you only get addicted if you want to! I feel there is nothing wrong with opiate drugs when used responsibily!
I’m sorry, I am not responsible for a drug addict’s problems! I have enough of my own, and I resent the government for inserting itself into my private life and matters! I do not abuse my medication, and I won’t. I take it exactly as prescribed! If you were to meet me on the street or in a shop or restaurant and speak to me, you would never know I take this medication. No one knows I take it for two reasons, 1.) my safety….it’s no ones business and if some one finds out, they may try and steal it, 2.) no one needs to know but me and my spouse! I have made it a point not even to tell my children, and to this day they have no idea, and I’m not about to tell them now!
I have no side effects whatsoever from my medication, never had, not even sleepyness! When you have been in clinics as often as I have because doctors want to, “try” me on other medication with no luck, you may have some compassion instead of disdain. I’m not a bad person nor a thief. I don’t have fits if I’m out of my medication. I’ve never had any kind of withdrawal so, in all honesty, I cannot even relate to it! But I do understand!
What is a person like me to do? I could go through years and years of surgery, but a good outcome can’t be promised at all! I would have to have several surgeries a year for the next 10 plus years, and I’ve had surgeries…they are no fun and didn’t work…I even had a reaction from the anasthesia! All of my problems, even the back problems have been hereditary…I had this situation thrust upon me! My father died because he couldn’t take the proper medications! This medication I take is not a cure-all but it’s the best and the most help I have ever received! I have to realize my limits on living and enjoying life, but had I not these medications I would be in a wheel chair and unable to walk!!!
Why do people like me have to suffer because the government thinks they can run our lives better than we can? Why are they making the addicts the problems of the good and responsible people? I read a suggestion of filing a law suite maybe on the DEA or other branches if government! It sounds like a great idea. They need to take care of this country and allow doctors to do their jobs!
I’m not young any more and I’m looking forward to grandchildren but if these medications are taken away, I won’t be able to enjoy my golden years at all…but that’s not what the government cares about! I say, it’s our duty, if we truly need these medications, that we start reporting drug abuse when and where ever we see it, no matter who it is! We need to do our do due dilligence so we are not forced to go with out what helps us! Don’t allow these drug addicts to mess with our lives! We are not responsible for them!
Michelle
desert
It is time to put all the big Pharms out of business, start using marijuana the have ccertain ones that kill the pain, worth looking into it.
Carol
BC Canada
I have tried pot and I don’t like the feeling of getting high….but maybe I was using the wrong kind..I’ll look into which one is best for me. I guess I should get a prescription lol. All the doctors I have gone to trying to get help have NEVER suggested pot. Maybe they think I’m lying.
I’m 69 years old and have never tried any kind of illegal drugs in my life but they all treat me like I have. I actually have grown to hate all Doctors. That’s probably not fair. But if they remembered Do No Harm can have many meanings. All I want is to be treated with respect and have a pain free end of my years..thank you friend for your ear have a nice day. Carol
jo
Its not really our doctors its the goverment trying to tell docs’ how to be doc’s. Its totally wrong. Never did pot in my life but Im going to now because of them taking away what I need for my body to function half way. I don’t know what different kinds of pot there is so someone tell me. I don’t want a high, I want help with my horrible pain.
Atarah
They want to force me onto pot due to limits on opiates, but it doesn’t work unless smoked (eating it made me ill), and my lungs are already damaged. Pot is NOT a cure all. People get used to opiates and do not get “high.” But pot can make some too high for perception of space and time while driving. I wish everyone would give pain patients a break!
Jennifer B
ME
Hello to everyone, Here I am hoping to start a group on Facebook to gather chronic pain survivors who are affected by all of the new pain laws including the newest one where providers are being forced to wean their patients to 100 MME or below.
I am going to name the group Banning together against new Opiate laws until we can figure out a better one. I hope to see some of you come over there. I could use some survivors to help me fight these laws. I am angry I am suffering and I am in the mood to fight. Lets do this together guys.
Jencat
Baltimore
It’s a shame that so many people abuse this useful medication that non-abusers and occasionally-prescribed patients require for pain.
I’m sorry so many people are out there without any guidance, aim or dedication to their well-being and that they in turn are creating the “least common denominator” for patients in the ER with fractures, temporary pain issues and suffering along those lines.
It seems as if each patient would be better of being looked into case by case before prescribing to ensure that no potential abuse could get the better of them. I hope those than can’t stop popping these tablets find a more healthy and holistic approach to taking care of themselves.
I have had chronic bronchitis (7 years, 9/11) and one car accident from a recalled Cobalt. I’ve needed pain medicine. You pretty much have to ask for it, or else you spend 7 hours in the hospital waiting for your dx only to discover the medicine they only want to give you can be bought at the drug store down the road. Waste of time, waste of money and a total erosion of patient/doctor relationships in emergencies.
They are given if you are hemmoraging profusely in a life or death situation, but it just goes to show that because some folks work the system, the use of the once beneficial medication such as codeine, etc. is now off limits because of those who just eat them like candy. I’m sorry for those individual’s pain, however there are a variety of alternative holistic treatments that in the long run can do just as good so you don’t need to take these narcotics for years and become dependent upon them, leading to ordinary people without chronic pain left in the dark and treated like an addict as well, due to this situation.
Find alternatives. Be strong. I know there are “special cases” out there, but really, the human body can definitely heal gradually on it’s own without taking excess tablets reserved for emergencies.
AND THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS.
Rose
Cape Vincent, N.Y.
I injured my back at work 8 years ago. I have herniated, bulging discs and scoliosis as a result of my accident. I have Protein C deficiency, a blood clotting disorder, and therefore am not a candidate for surgery.
I’m 42 and live with horrific pain. I’m on disability and walk with a cane. My quality of life continues to deteriorate every day. I spend much of my time in bed and am no longer able to enjoy the things I used to do.
Because of the Protein C deficiency, I am not supposed to take nsaids or steroids, these can cause fatal bleeding problems. Last year my pain management Dr was arrested. At that time, I was prescribed 145mg of morphine daily. After his arrest, I ran out of medication and suffered terribly from withdrawls.
After that, I was terrified to return to pain management.
I’ve suffered so much since then and I’m no longer able to live alone. I was taking copious amounts of ibuprofen, despite the risks of internal bleeding. I was recently hospitalized for chronic pain because I could not get out of bed and could not walk. I spent 8 days in the hospital where my pain was controlled for the first time since my former Dr’s arrest.
While I was hospitalized, I was referred to pain management and I’m awaiting my appointment. I was given enough pain medication to get me through until my appointment. 15 mgs of morphine 3 times a day and lyrica 100 mgs 2 times a day.
The medication barely makes any difference whatsoever in controlling my pain. I never abused, misused or sold my pain medication. I don’t understand why I’m being punished, along with so many others who suffer from chronic pain.
I’m so miserable that I wish I’d get another DVT or pulmonary embolism and just be out of this misery. Animals are treated more humanely than those of us who suffer this way. I really believe the CDC and DEA are depending on all of us to kill ourselves. I believe that they want to eliminate all of us who are disabled and rely on SSD or other forms of government assistance because we’re “burdens” to society. I know this must sound crazy, but why are those of us who suffer so terribly being treated like drug addicts and those who commit illegal drug related crimes??
I would love to file a class action lawsuit against the DEA and CDC. I just don’t know how to begin. Perhaps if we all joined together, we could stop this horrendous patient abuse. I could care less about the money. I only want some quality of life back. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
Michelle L
Schaumburg, Il. 60193
I’m a 41 year old female whom was diagnosed with lumbar stenosis L2-L-5. My discs are degenerated, and I’m a hygentist, which has made me have to take a FLA through my employer. I’ve been off for 8 months now, with ZERO relief except for the norco 5/325, my former MD, who retired last month, would prescribe for me.
I went through 15 weeks of physical therapy that did nothing, and epideral injections that also didn’t help! I’m having my last epideral of the year next Tuesday. I have 4 children, and am widowed, and really need some answers from someone on who to correct my problem so I can return to work! have good insurance, so I’ve been thrown around Dr. to Dr. now since my Dr retired, this new MD has decreased my norco, and emails me websites on drug addiction!!
I’m quite offended to be honest, I’ve never used pain killers for sport! I’m literally in constant pain! I can’t sleep at night, due to a stabbing feeling I’m my low back, and now it shoots down my leg, and 2 fingers on my left hand go numb often. This new Dr. is not a fan of pain killers, but I need them until they figure out what there going to do for me.
I feel these regulations suck for the patients whom take them for a condition, and not for fun! It’s really unfair to make a person sit in pain, and get depressed cause you can’t live a quality life gimping around due to the pain! What can one do, whom does have a condition, to help the MD comprehend that I take them for pain, not fun!! Plus, she filled my script ONE TIME since my MD retired!! I think it’s unfair to label people due to other people’s abuse! Not everyone is a drug addict!!!! Any advice?
Becka
That’s what I was thinking …great way to get rid of some of the population.. law of the jungle.. . A class action lawsuit suit against the DEA something to check out…bless you all..
Debbie
PA
I have been a pain management person for over 20 years now. I have had a total of 12 surgeries most of them work related, I believe the most bizarre answer I got from a Dr for the company was well your collar bone that is bent in an l shape is no doubt a birth defect etc!
I loved my job which was in a warehouse an heavy lifting. I ended up with RSD WHICH IS BURNING PAIN SO INTENSE an no cure I needed pain mangement. I got my life back which I had read many people saying that thru out the forum here. Now the insurance companies are telling the Drs. that they have to take me off of what I have an cut me back.
Heck, years ago I was taking Vicoden extra 3 times a day with 10 ml of methadone 10 tabs 3 times a day an still had pain. The my dr put me on oxycodone 30 ml 2 a day an we got down to 3 10 ml of methadone 2 times a day! How WONDERFUL was that an I got my life back no longer laying in be talking to God an telling him its ok if I don’t wake up tomorrow. Now what.
I believe we all have to get together in a group an tell someone we aren’t having this we are not drug addicts an we need a lawyer somewhere to help us get our word out. I am not giving up. Someone has to hear our plea an help us Right? God Bless you all
Jencat
Law of the jungle? I think taking personal responsibility would eliminate over half these cases.
If you would like to see the population decrease, go fight a war. That seems to work in that particular method of trimming the human race down to the few survivors.
I’m kidding, but what you said made very little sense and didn’t take much effort to weigh the outcomes and situations of all those involved.
Howard
Los Angeles, Ca.
I have a similar story, but that can hold for now. What I see here is several hundreds of people who are ready for a class action law suit against the DEA. Infliction of intentional emotional and physical pain. And with little or no information on the DEA side other then a hope to make it wok with the war on drugs that they have been loosing (as well as spending billions on) for decades.
Howard
Continuation of Howard from L.A.
I think that we all, here as a start, should get together. There must be at least a couple of Attorneys in the same boat (severe pain) that could help start this. Yes, most of us are hard put for any additional expenses, but at some point maybe a dollar, two or five to help the attorneys might even be possible.
I have yet to check, but hopefully we can (up to each of you) share emails so we can talk to each other and see what can be done.
Howard
Los Angeles, Ca.
Continuation of Howard from L.A.
There must be at least a couple of Attorneys in the same boat (severe pain) that could help start this. Yes, most of us are hard put for any additional expenses, but at some point maybe a dollar, two or five to help the attorneys might even be possible.
I have yet to check, but hopefully we can (up to each of you) share emails so we can talk to each other and see what can be done.
Mary T
It’s just inhumane when you’re in chronic pain, 69 years old. Have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis, and Tylenol and asperin hurts your stomach. I think probably the suicide level will rise, because so many would just rather be out of misery! I think the DEA should let the Drs decide on a one on one judgement, as to the strict limitations of the pain meds!
Jencat
I’d find another line of work if this happens to you and as a result you have been on meds for 20 years.
Atarah
JENCAT, are you a pain patient? Sorry. It’s difficult to tell from the answers. For instance, most do not “find another line of work” after 20 years pain treatment but are disabled. Another comment was something on personal responsibility?
Shannon
Bloomington
My grandpa had his leg amputated from the knee down due to diabetes. You can imagine his pain was much more than that of the physical sense. Upon coming home he was hopeful about getting a prosthetic and walking again one day. His perspective quickly changed after his doctor changed his prescription to two Vicodin a day from one every four hours. He just had his leg amputated he was obviously in severe pain! I’d never seen my grandpa cry until that day.
I’m not a drug user but I was desperate to find my grandpa relief, I called anyone I could think of to find him something that would help him. I had no luck. My grandpa before the surgery was the type of man who was even against smoking weed. He was a man of god and did not condone illegal activity.
About a month afterwards my grandpa seemed like someone I didn’t know. In his desperation to find relief he turned to another relative who gave him heroin. The rest of us didn’t know what was going on for a couple months. In a way I understood why he did what he did. He felt he had no other option and his pain was unbearable his blood pressure sky high. We lost my grandpa to a heroin overdose two months later.
I’m sure whoever made these laws knew that many people would turn to heroin. My grandpa I never in a million years thought would do heroin much less to lose him to the drug. It angers me to my core. That our lawmakers would rather see a man die that way then give him what he needs to maintain his pain.
Mario
Lenox twp. Mi.
I was in a car accident in 2006, resulting in my back and neck getting broken and having to be operated on. My first spinal operation went wrong and had to be redone two weeks after it was done because a screw was not put in all the way. Then I had increased pain with the healing going on had it looked at by another surgeon who told me that the operations were done incorrectly and had to do the operations over again.
My Fusion surgeries fell apart half a dozen times and had to be put back together. At one point I was on enough pain meds to keep my pain under control, I backed off most of the medications on my own as much as I could reduce them then my doctor decided to start taking medicine away from me and my quality of life begin to decrease very quickly and they did not care that I told them that was going to happen they did it anyway.
As a matter of fact, my pain management doctor quit his job probably because he’s scared of being sued as my first guess. I think the DEA and CDC need to get off their high horse and maybe start looking at what other countries are doing because the War on Drugs causes there to be more of a drug problem and in countries where that the drugs are not illegal there are less people abusing them so maybe they need to look at what they’re doing and stop trying to destroy people’s lives.
Pat
Vermont
Add me to the mix. Started taking hydrocodone5/325 almost 8 years ago for chronic back pain and arthritis. I will be 70 yrs old this year. Script was for 30 days, @4 pills a day or as needed for pain. Stuff was great, didn’t take more than 3 a day, and most days two.
About 2 years ago, Dr. said I was going to be put on what they called a “contract”, had to sign a paper saying I would be willing to do random piss tests, and would be required on occasion to bring my remaining pills for a “pill count”.
My pill allotment would be for two pills a day for a 28 day period. Of course I signed the paper, as I have never done anything illegal with the pills. Lately, went through 2 hip replacements, and was given oxycodone in the hospital and for a couple weeks after. When I went back to my 5 mg. hydrocodone, it didn’t seem to work as well.
Dr. increased it to my current 10 mg. hydrocodone. Worked well, and for a couple months, I got my script as usual, every 28 days for 56 tabs. Last time I went to get prescription, was told insurance company was refusing to pay for it, but I could get it myself for $44.
I’m on social security, $750 a month, and that amount each month will be so hard to get, but if it comes to not hurting or not eating, I am sure I can give up a large amount of food and afford my medication. At 70 years old, I am not worried about becoming addicted to hydrocodone 10, I would much rather spend my final 10 years (or more, God willing) with as little pain as possible.
Right now, I have been almost two weeks without any pain meds except for Tylenol, which I take 3 times daily, 3 Xtra strength at a time, to get some relief from my deteriorating discs and arthritis pain. It DOESN’T WORK!! And this amount of acetaminophen is sure to damage my kidneys, which are already in stage 3 kidney disease.
Was wondering why I was being punished, I am not likely to go stand on a street corner and offer my pain meds for sale, and I would be a fool if I did, Nobody in daily pain would even consider that! These pills are like gold to me, and I guard them with my life. If there is ever a class action suit against the DEA for making us live in pain, then count me in.
Linda
Texas
Why hasn’t the CDC, DEA or whatever branch of the government who “knows what’s best for us” done any meaningful research on this? There should be exceptions to the rules when it comes to ANY medical treatment and the Doctors should know what is best for their patients. There are MANY illnesses that cause chronic pain. Diseases for which there is no cure. Diseases which are progressive. When you have one of these diseases or you are in chronic pain depression is also a common illness you must deal with.
Now these poor people (me included) and financially poor people (me included) must suffer in pain and ridicule and find money to pay for all the additional guidelines. Pain clinics are very expensive, constant drug tests are expensive and trips to the doctor are expensive. These new laws make it difficult to travel, relocate, enjoy what little life we have left.
When will the madness stop?? My husband went in for another risky procedure which is basically required to continue treatment all in search of eliminating the chronic pain caused by being run over by a car at age 15 thus having one leg put on crooked and shorter than the other resulting in numerous degenerative spinal problems. He had just had a drug test 3 days prior to going in but had to have another $500 drug test before the doctor would even see him. This is outrageous! and a scam to generate more money.
I have muscular dystrophy and I am made to feel like a drug addict. I have to listen to suggestions of massage or other therapies not covered by insurance as an alternative to the pain of degenerating muscle tissue. Why should people in similar situations be subject to this war on drugs? It’s inhumane. I could go on and on about problems with traveling, getting a job, wanting to relocate, stigma associated with taking these drugs. I’m tired of feeling like a lower class citizen because I have an incurable disease that most doctors do not understand.
Mario
Maybe this is just about population control and they want to get rid of us because we’re useless to the system now.
Becka
Wa
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
Tawnee Blackburn
Wa
That’s what I was thinking great population control for the expendable (how ive been feeling) population.
A class action lawsuit sounds good.
Cyber hug & love to all
Shirley
Oroville, CA
I often wonder, if there were more people in higher places, in the same amount of pain, as some of us are, would they then realize that the medication we are asking for, is only to give us some quality of life? For me personally, I can only do and pertisipate in daily activity, if I am not in pain. I have children (grown), and Grandchildren, that is my life. I have an 83 year old Mama, that I do my very best to take care of, and help, in any way I can, and without my pain medication, I would not be able to be a part of any of their lives!…..So sad that we must suffer for the problems of this world!…
Elizabeth
Yes!!
Jencat
Don’t sell your drugs. Please. That’s illegal and unethical.
Dolly
Oregon
I now think it’s time to start a class action lawsuit against the DEA for causing pain and suffering to people who really need pain management. We are not druggies looking for a high.
Shawn
Arlington Tn
Absolutely
Missy
Ohio
I have been reading these comments, and it’s like, OMG! I have been saying a little bit of each of these ppl are saying. My husband and I have the same family doctor and we were informed that he wouldn’t be giving us our pain meds any longer. We would need to go to a pain clinic.
Well, I have a question: what happened to being human and having rights? Why do I have to go and humiliate myself? It makes me feel like a criminal. Go take a urine test, while you know that everyone in the waiting room knows what you are doing, how much lower can you make me feel? I feel guilty enough basically “begging” for MY medicine as it is.
So, my husband and I have decided to not go. There are too many flaws with these new laws. They say it’s to cut the heroin problem. If you take pain meds, it will lead you to use heroin. Well, I just want to function. Test me monthly for that crap. If I test positive, THEN, take my medicine. If I don’t, then, give me my medicine, and leave me alone!!!
Carol
bklyn ny
I agree with you. My life stinks because my doctor lowered my medicine. Now my life is spent in bed. I cant stand it anymore. why are we being punished? I belong to Rally against Pain, but have not heard about what the CDC decided. Carol
Mario
You have just described my life they took away my pain meds to the point where I basically existing in my bed now. Recently I have somebody interested in me I warned them about not being able to take care of myself almost because of my pain and not being able to stand myself because of my pain and they still wanted to give me a try and just being a little bit more active because I have somebody in my life is causing me so much more pain that I don’t know how I’m going to deal with my life anymore.
I’m in the process of trying to get my pain medications increased but I really doubt they’re going to do that because they want to take more away not give more.
God help us all. God bless you and good luck with your life.
Mary T
We’ll all just have to stay drunk, I guess!
Jencat
Fair enough!
Linda
Texas
I’m in on this. It needs to be done. We should have the same rights as anyone with any other illness. Diabetics are not rationed their diabetic medication. Heart paitients do not have to pee in a cup to get there heart meds and they can travel and get emergency refills anywhere without spending tons of money. They have databases to show how often I buy sudafed so why not a database showing which of us have a documented chronic pain condition so that we are not treated like criminals?
Mario
That makes way too much sense for them to do it, and it’s probably because of some money that somebody wouldn’t be making if things were done properly.
Kathy Marie Harper
California
I suffer from chronic pain mostly on my right side of my face cause my EX was Bad. I also have bulged disc in my neck and scellerios in my back in two spots. I’ve had for about 5 years ow, it’s so Hard for me makes me sad
joanne
ct
I faced this yesterday with my PCP. After 15+ years he decided to no longer write the Rx ….advised me to go topain management – which is fine with me – problem….there is a 30-45 day wait to get in and then dr will NOT write rx first visit…so, I am out of meds as of tomorrow – what do I do ???? Want to sue the dr for abandonment….I have never misused or done anything wrong with my scripts…he jumps on his high horse and left ALL his pt’s hanging….should b action we can take against him…..
JR
You should sue him, it says right in his beloved guidelines, that physicians should NOT abandon their patients during this time. He’s playing with your life putting you into instant withdraw.
Jennifer
South Dakota
Yes, we should… suffering in severe pain and following all the rules, taking meds as prescribed!!! Not right!!! Not fair and downright inhumane!
Jennifer
SD
I wasn’t clear on the first comment, I agree with Dolly who posted we should file a class action lawsuit against the DEA for pain and suffering, we are not druggies at all and have severe pain!
Elizabeth
60491
I have suffered back and leg pain since I was 13, when I did a jumping split in cheerleading (don’t judge me by that). I was able to make aspirin, and then Tylenol, and then Tramadol be enough of a pain reliever before being prescribed Vicodin, when I was 50. By this time, the pain had increased from a number 2 to 7 or 8 on the Wong-Baker Faces Scale.
After my body had been in such severe pain for so long, I developed Fibromyalgia, which brought severe leg, arm, and back pain and severe long-term muscle spasms all over my body. After many years of trying different meds, which only helped marginally, a combination of a long and short-acting pain reliever, a muscle relaxant, and Cymbalta finally brought the Fibromyalgia under control most of the time. The back and leg pain has not been relieved even with over 10 various steroid injections and nerve blocking procedures.
This is the short story; there are many issues with my health that have required pain relievers, such as bursitis and sciatica. I went off of Klonipin because an old PCP wouldn’t refill the RX. I went through withdrawal that caused me to have permanent nerve damage. I have hot flashes, my nervous system can no longer control my body temperature or blood pressure for 13 years, so no I don’t think they will go away. I have to take more RX’d meds to try to control these problems.
I go to a very good pain doctor and he does not prescribe meds willy-nilly. He is knowledgeable and very careful when RX’ing medications. He has taken care of me since 2000, and he knows that I would never overdose or take any medication over the RX’d dose. We get regular drug testing to make sure we aren’t taking too much or too little medications. I tried to cut back one dose of Dilaudid last month and I started having more hot flashes, nausea, dizziness, and my back pain increased so much it caused new muscle spasms, which haven’t gone away.
Why am I being lumped in with people with no business or need to be on opiates? The pain is not going to just go away and I have tried everything from chiropractic to acupuncture, massage, and many types of therapy.
I need help. How does the CDC plan on helping us through this? The drug companies charge so much I cannot even afford the meds if I can get them! $350 for one month of one med. I’m going broke.
My life stinks, too.
Kent
Indiana
I was in an auto accident in 1993 and went through three major back operations. All surgeries failed and was places on twelve 10 mg methadone pills per day. As the years went by I managed to wean down to nine pills per day. As of 2010 my hips began to deteriorate and went through four failed major hip removals. My back is full of metal plates which are held together with at least four broken screws. Also the disc just over the plates has collapsed and is now causing me severe pain. I am also suffering with sever arm and head ache pain and was told I needed a fusion of three discs in my neck. I live in Indiana and as of late my pain med doctors has been nagging me every visit that he must reduce my pain med. He has taken me from nine pills down to seven. I am not only suffering terrible pain ,no sleep but now I am becoming incredibly stressed. Pain medication is all I have left to live. He has informed me that in the future he will have to continue to cut my pills even more. For a reason he has stated the government was cracking down on pill abuse. I have told him suicide will be in my future. He said nothing I guess my life means nothing now.
coy lori
Withheld
I am a 55 year old female with Multiple Sclerosis and have been dealing with pain. I take a truck load of medication to help abate symptoms. About 6 years ago my doctor started me on oxytocin because he said it was safer than taking 6 Ibuprofen evey three hours. As I could get kidney failure. I have not deviated from the prescribed amount in all these six years. I went into my doctors office for my refills and he told me that he couldn’t prescibe it to me and my anxiety which i take to control Clonis body spasms and jerkiness so what do I prefer. Well i opted for the anxiety so i am not spasing around. Two separate issues but that is what I am up against. Now i am back to 6 Ibuprofen every three hours. By the way this doesnt help much with the pain. So I guess I have this to look forward to for my remaining years. Hopefully I won’t have a long life. So this is what they have caused. I am so angry I can’t even put it into words. What do they expect us to do? This whole thing doesn’t seem right. We are suffering because of those who were allowed by their doctors to abuse the system, but why weren’t doctors being more careful and closely monitoring their scripts. I feel they are responsible for part of this mess.
Frances
Cheektowaga NY
I went to my pain management appointment last month only to find out that my doctor who had finally figured out a treatment plan for me, after many years that gave me my quality of life back. It allowed me to function 90% better then I am able to now. I was being prescribed oxycodone 30mg 4x’s a day, methadone 3x’s a day and Lyrica 200 mg 2x’s a day. Took doctors 16 years to give me my life back for it to be taken away in one visit. It’s an awful shame that doctors can’t help people manage their pain. Someone else thinks they can do it better. Sorry for the misuse in narcotic medications, but it has nothing to do with me. How can a human treat so many other humans in such a cruel manner. Never know when you will be that person in pain? None of us that wrote on the wall want the pain. We want our lives back !
Laura
lima ohio
I was on Advil after I broke my foot years ago, had to work on my feet 10 or hours a day, then had another surgery on my foot and they fused it, then my foot wouldn’t bend, so I tripped and fell almost 3 or 4 times a week, even at work, it became so painful that I would take 10 to 15 Advil a day.
Soon, it quit helping me, so my doctor said, “take theses it will help your pain,” so I took them everyday. Then, my pain started other places from falling my ribs got crack many times, so he gave me more, and now after taking them all those years they want to takle them all.
A pain clinic doctor cut me from 120 a month to 90. So, half of every day of my life, I’m in very bad pain, please can’t someone help us?
Elizabeth
Well said. I hope we all get some help, some way. Hang in there.
Shelly
Alabama to Florida
Obama opened up the Mexican boarders for a reason and also forced population out of Suburbs into the city limits; Obama was being paid my the cartel mob family to open boarders and allow our streets & schools to be overran with heroine & crystal meth.
I am a medical worker who became one of the 1st unemployed when Obamacare came in and also is fighting metasized clear cell carcinoma, which is beyond painful and was also hit by an illegal Mexican and almost killed, which added 2 fractures to my spine, punctured lung, tore my liver & spleen to pieces (must be removed), split both sides of my skull which left a blood pocket that has to be drilled off my brain and a shattered right ankle which locks up!
Where do I have to receive immediate treatment before a tumor enters into my carotid artery before it kills me?! Florida! So, as a medical worker and a registered American Indian, I will file an act of Genocide against the government and all doctors involved as a registered American Indian who is the only alive parent to my youngest 2 children plus, I have to work to pay for my major medical problems. I know how to red strike from doctor to pharmacies.
Brenda
West Sacramento, CA
My doctor said he can’t write me pain med prescriptions anymore. I’ve had three surgeries and walk with a cane. I’m 58 yrs old, and I hate pain. I’m sad because I don’t want to be in pain. I see my future staying bed now because of pain. I don’t have a car so I used to walk to the bus stops, but OMG, but how will I be able to buy food if I can’t even get out of bed.!! I am not giving up yet!!
Billy
FL - Florida
After reading all of the comments, I realize I am not alone, we need a class action suit to stop our abuse, not for money but so we can live in peace and without having to worry every month if we are going to get our LEGALLY obtained Rx filled or not. I have spinal stenosis, disk problems, fibro, etc….. I have been on pain medication for well over 15 years. Not once did I ever lose my Rx, try to get my Rx filled early, and the thought of selling the only thing that makes me able to tolerate life is unthinkable. People like us that follow the rules and just try to get a little relief from the excruciating pain are not the problem, if someone is a drug addict, they will get their “drugs”. I wish the people at the CDC, and DEA would live in our shoes for one day, let them feel the pain we go through and then I bet they would re-consider their knee jerk reactions to trying to stop people from abusing prescription medication obtained legally or illegally. The abusers will get their drugs one way or another. These laws are only hurting the honest people who need their medicine. Please stop punishing us, we are not the problem.
Jody
Iowa
I’m in palliative care, I take pain meds on a daily basis just to maintain a quality of life. I strongly urge people to do some research on pain meds & go to their dr. & have a talk with them there are other pain meds out there besides hydrocodone. I currently see my dr. every 3 months & leave with hard copies to fill my meds between office visits. Granted I fall outside of the guidelines since I’m dealing with end of life issues. If your truly in pain your dr should work with you
Elizabeth
Please put me on your list of people willing to use the legal system to try to fix this horrendous decision by the CDC (or whomever the dumbass is). -Liz
Mike C
San Antonio
I was taking off my pain medication after being on it for three and a half years 32 my doctor discharged most of his patients who are on schedule two medications because of the new DEA changes. My doctor had me on methadone. I have been sick for almost two-and-a-half years since the changes. I haven’t gotten better and I cannot work. My life is practically over. I’m a burden to my family and a disgrace.
Mark
San Antonio
You’re not alone madness here in Texas
Ellie Kacik
Greensburg pa
How do you receive a medical M card. I live in pa?
Lori
USA
I would have bet my home two months ago that I would never in my lifetime advocate the use of marijauna for ANY reason. I’m in my 50’s and wuite conservative. I took a horrible fall. My knee swoll to 27″; agonizing pain. MRI showed ruptured ACL, 4 tears larger than 5mm in mcl, pcl tear, torn meniscus and broken tibia bone.
I have never liked pain killers as they upset my stomach and cause hives. I’ve always ended up throwing more than 1/2 the bottle away after surgery. I was give tylenol. TYLENOL! When I called after 24 hours of sobbing and shaking from the extreme pain, I was made to feel like a low life drug addict and was refused.
I got my medical marijauna card. Certain products relieve pain instantly without the awful side effects of the hydrocodone I was prescribed years ago after major surgery. I will never let that card expire, and I will nevef be at the mercy of a heartless system that is making people in need suffer and only increasing the use of illegal drugs. Do not suffer, there is no need. Marijauna is not like 40 years ago when I was in college. It can take very lil every 12 hours to exist and not suffer.
Selene S.
CT
I have severe chronic pain and I actually see an oncologist hematologist and my body is getting worse and worse, my back worse and worse so I feel for these people I feel like they’re my kinship people. I really feel for the ones that say they’re going to take your life if they have to be forced to live in pain I think there’s another way to go about fighting heroin addiction.
I think angry parents have a strong voice in this country but you know those of us who are disabled and worked as long as we possibly could well we just have to keep having lives too and I just sit on the back porch and died. I don’t want to die but I already sometimes feel like and preparing for it because I just I don’t have a life anymore.
We don’t even treat each other or ourselves well enough to leave any kind of a life and who’s going to take care of us are you going to come over and wash my floor and do my laundry what are you going to do what I need to bring in my groceries so you know what I don’t care what you do I just hope I get to see you I hope if I get grandchildren I get to live long enough to see them enjoy them and I hope to hell I don’t have to leave some Legacy behind ready to take my life because my country is worried about 1% of the population who uses heroin praying out loud have a heart
Travis
Awaiting Moderation from who?
Deborah A C.
PA
Pa just passed medical marijuana plan. Be nice if I could spell! Anyway, once it all clears an it’s up an running I will go for it no uncertain term! To get off these meds an their side effects would be great an I will do this. I am sure other (people) will have there say with that too. How bout stay out of our business! Take care of your own ! This is suppose to be a free country oh wait IS IT?
Dawn
New York
I have a friend that’s neck has fused together, her spinal cord, tail bone and hips are totally disintegrating and she has rheumatoid arthritis. She is in SO MUCH PAIN, I am afraid of what she might do. She has had every treatment for the last 20 years and now they have cut her pain pills to 5mg 2 times a day. She can’t sleep, the pain is too much, only walk a few steps, or sit for a few minutes, there is NO ESCAPE for her. Is there a petition she can join to do something about All This. PLEASE HELP…….. desperate for an answer. She lives in NY.
Mary
Ventura, CA
I think I live in a state of insanity. I’m one of thousands of people in chronic pain 24-7. I want to know why we don’t practice what we preach. The DEA or whatever part of government need to get their opioids correct.
I believe the government has swung the pendulum to the complete other side of the spectrum. Why we as humans have to suffer in severe pain 24-7 for the rest of our life’s.
I prayed after I got hurt I would heal, but knew right away, after sideways whiplash I was in ER in minutes! Burn pain ripped threw my right arm, electric shocks, and severe burning pain, spine, right arm ripped in less that 1-2 seconds, but damaged me for a lifetime. I saw in 22 months and 28 Dr’s But not one could figure out it was a herniation on my C-5C-6. It did so much nerve damage and it’s very difficult to function without constant medication. Thank you!
.
. This whole concept is barbaric and inhumane. As a doctor a healer,can we get all that people involved and really put all cards on table and works this out. Do something before you kill off a group chronic pain paitients. Like get everyone who has a real chronic issue patient and see what is say as a group, DEA, Dr. Pain Paitent, get big pharma out. Also any of the addition monthly rehab. Rehab belongs after chronic pain patients are taken care of first!
Please let us chronic pain patients have enough medician to make it to 30 days. You have cut us to the quick, no room to take extra 1 because you walked wrong, picked something up wrong, whatever does take much to throw your body in a tail spin and get the second by second pain digs in and doesn’t want to give or break free. Oh just a horrible no stop of contsant digging if pain. I pray 24-7!
What baffles me is I’m disable at no fault of my own. Was and still after 33 years. I’m in the circle of chronic spine, arm, hard, neck, all right side.
I m not an abuser, but I need my medication so I can function, do dishes, maybe laundry, can not vacuum, among other things.
If only the Goverment, DEA, whomever could only realize what they are going to do with an ependimic of people stating there is opioid ependemic, this is simply NOT TRUE!
DEA, all drugs at fault for bringing illegal drugs flow thru our country. Now we have actual really humans in chonice sever pain. Going nothing herion or other street drugs.
I think chronic pain patients should have their own medication, the drug addicts, jail them! THIS WHOLE barb
Jeffrey JG
Oregon
What are we as responsible people that need this going to do about it? It’s the same thing as tomorrow you can’t use your wheelchair. People on disability should have rights! To not live in pain the rest of our lives.
sylvia
NY
I’m in the same situation as most of you, with daily pain, many injuries and worrying what am I going to do now that these laws are going to change for us. The abusers, and the politicians involved, will always get what they need. Is there not anything that so many of us can do in terms of signing a petition and/or going to the government ourselves collectively try to turn this around?
scott
san marcos tx
I have had two back surgeries and need one more. I have been in pain for two years, now my legs are numb one day and pain full next, I can hardly walk every step pain full, now over the holidays I tore my knee ligaments, went to ER, no Dr will write for pain pills, so I am to suffer in pain, this new law sucks, it punishes the law abiding ,the law makers in this country have not thought this out, from what I can tell they could not wipe there ass with both hands ,when lawyers start telling Drs what they can and can not do , and have never been to medical school ,and have no compation for pain and suffering ,it’s clear they don’t know what they are doing ,we the people should be outraged, you would not go to your Dr for legal advice, so why have a lawyer giving medical advice. My Dr has just been cut off for writing to many pain pills, and now i have to go to pain manigment , if they will not do my operation till i lose weight, can’t lose weight till i can walk ,can’t walk because of pain in legs and back and feet, this is why people are shooting them selfs in the head ,the pain is to much and theres no other way to get relief ,none from law makers and none from Drs, this law is as bad as Obama care and it’s going to kill a lot of good law abiding people ,this law is and will have people looking for drugs like heroin thats cheap, and works for pain, there will be overdoses by the thousonds , this is what happen in the 70s, and it will happen again. The war on drugs has not and will not work ,we have spent millions and have lost this war, and this is not the way to treat law abiding people ,like criminals ,I am not a criminal I am in pain!
David
Fenton, Missouri
Hi,
I have been seeing the same pain Dr. for more than 10 years and was recently let go. This I feel is in response to the new DEA rulings as I have done nothing to not be seen. I have broken my left hip, right femor, my back in three areas, my right foot, three ribs, numerous fingers and toes in part to osteoporosis from long term steroids use from a kidney transplant. I am a type 1 diabetic for more than 45 years and been diagnosed with chronic pain. I no longer drive and have been put on disability.
I am only 56 years old. I used to see my Dr. every three months getting my pain med prescription mailed to me in the meantime. The new DEA ruling have made my life even more difficult than it already was. Like I said after more than 10 years I no longer can see my pain Dr. and if I can even find another doctor I must spend even more money and must see every 30 days, find a ride, If I even am able to get out of bed! So, in a nutshell I am being punished through no fault of my own.
I am not only angry but sad as well not to mention confused. I don’t care if some wish to abuse this medication because they are making my life worse than it is. If the DEA really cared about the welfare of others (which is a government organization) they would be more concerned about cigarettes when used like they are supposed to be, will kill you or cause a disability. The new guildlines really hurt and penalize those in honest need and should not dictate on how a Dr. should do his or her job. Personally, I could care less if a person wants to cause harm to themselves abusing these meds. I could go on but what good will it do.
Dorothy
Cedar Rapids, IA
I have chronic migraine headaches. Also, other issues that cause me debilitating horrible pain. I have horrible stomach pain 5-7 days a week by eating just plain food. I have been to several doctors. I even went to a certified (expensive) neurologist and he said no narcotics for migraines. My regular doctor said the same thing. WTF?
I used to get 30 Vicodin per month and now I am keeping the only doctor in town and she refuses to give me more than 6 .325 mg. Of Vicodin per month. I split them in half and only when totally necessary. Don’t know what else to do. I think this is rather pathetic. I need Vicodin to function, especially when a migraine hits. I cried all afternoon because I was in so much pain and I can’t stop eating. I sure wish they would change things, but I may be dead by the time they do. :(
Tim
Camden Tennessee
I think the government needs to start minding their own business! If they were in chronic pain it would be a whole other ballgame.
Alicia McMillan
RI
I became sick with Lyme disease 10 yrs ago which left me with chronic pain all over, nueropathy, fibromyalgia, balance issues and an injury to my rotator cuff. I have been taking oxycodone and was giving much more then I needed and told the Dr. this. I am not a drug seeker and have tried other ways of treatmment like (BVT) bee therapy being stung by bees to jump start my immune system and help with pain. My Dr. is going to another practice and the new Dr. is sending all her pts. on pain meds to pain managment. I would love coming off the oxycodone if I wouldn’t experience discomfort, and try a different pain pill, but afraid this will be the end of me. I agree it is difficult to say if the pain is the problem or the pain med??? Waiting and wondering?
Jon
Ohio
Since October, I have had 2 bulging disks, and one herniated onto my sciatic nerve. I have had 2 sets of 2 epidural injections. Which have caused little to no relief. I as in the ER Monday due to severe back and leg pain from sciatica. Relieved, morphine, dilaudid, and valium, just to be blessed to walk. I have been on 5mg percacets since pain started. I contacted my prescribing Dr to inform her that ER dr says I should double up on my pain meds and should request 10mg from my Dr. Upon doing so I was told I cannot be prescribed anymore pain meds from her and would have to contact a pain management specialist. I did. I have an appointment next Tuesday. Today I got a call saying, after reviewing your file, there is nothing more a pain management specialist can do. And asked if I would like to cancel my appointment. HELLO!!!! Did I just spent 6 hours in the ER for pain, just to be told no one can help me? What the hell is going on??
Tricia
Philadelphia, PA
I agree, all this will do is make people turn to illegal means for pain relief. I’ve had Crohn’s Disease for almost 20 years, have had numerous surgeries, suffer from arthritis all over my body and most times I am fine dealing with the pain. But on certain days I can’t function because of the horrid pain. Guess I’ll be quitting my job and going on disability full time now.
Dina
CA
There is a huge difference between addiction and dependence. I stopped taking my meds for a pretty serious genetic condition, Ankylosing Spondylitis which, among other things, is fusing my spine. I’ve been prescribed the same amount for almost 15 years, and suddenly my soon to be ex-NP of over 10 years, said she couldn’t justify my script to the DEA. I had been approaching her over and over and over concerning an ongoing affliction, and she was so wrapped up in, “saving her own skin.”
I walked around with MRSA on my face for almost 2 years. I also developed another problem with my skin. I finally found out it’s eosinophilia, which continues to destroy my skin. Five different docs insisted that I did it to myself, and still, all she wanted to “chat” about was a pain clinic.
I finally went, and my med, Vicodin, was reduced but I was given time-released morphine. I seriously began to think that they want me dead. It did terrible things to my stomach, and although there is a non-narcotic med available now that could have possibly helped, medicare doesn’t cover it.
But the main reason is the fact that before I could get into the pain clinic I had to do a urinalysis for the NP and had to go fight for my life when it came back that I a plethora of different pain meds in me as well as methamphetamine! According to the test result, which was WRONG, I should have been dead.
As soon as I received the call telling me I’m a garbage can junkie I started demanding a retest immediately. Not only was I told, “That’s not how it works”, but the NP actually said she was doubting me because I was upset. Huh? Am I crazy to be upset about waiting for weeks after the call not knowing what to do or expect, knowing the results were false, but being labeled anyway?
I am so afraid something like that might happen again, no matter how slim the chances, so I’ve got to go herbal. And finally, I’m like a lot of other disabled persons, money-wise. I have had to stop other meds as well, including Dilantin for seizures, but I still can’t keep up with all of the medical bills. So what else can I do?
I am going to switch docs, but I don’t expect too much assistance in the area of never-ending, habitual, or chronic pain. As of a few months ago, only 4% of the labs in America meet the standards for doing an accurate drug test so I suggest that those of you who want to or have to continue the process, try to be vigilant.
And also remember, your own “caring” medical provider might not have any problem at all letting you go through withdrawals if you were too sick to go sit at a pain clinic for over 3 hours. And finally, while The law is government issued like the rest, I firmly believe there is plenty one’s medical professional could do to help if their true goal was to help their patients. Reality check ~ we are numbers.
Jim
Arizona
I just had my own Pain Management appointment where I was told that I was to expect yet another cut in my pain medication. You are right when you hear that it is not necessarily your doctor’s fault and that they too are being forced to cut back on your medications. I have been on pain medication for several problems, the worse for having a severely ruptured colon which I spent 5 months in a ICU for, and 3 herniated disks in my lower back. All in all I have had to endure more than a dozen surgeries. Now I have a defective pad that is holding my abdominal muscles together and keeping my intestines and lungs, and heart in place. I have severe nerve damage from this, and my back is becoming worse each day.
The pain medications make it just bearable enough to get thru the day and get things done. It is not my doctor’s fault, and I tell him the same thing every month. I am sure that he is hearing the same story from most of his patients. Multiply my one doctor by all the doctors out there in the Pain Management field, and you literally have millions of suffering patients caused by out-of-control, empathy-lacking bureaucrats who have made rash decisions.
What we need is a way to collectively push back against these so called rule- makers and the United States Surgeon General. We need a large and powerful law firm to start a federal class action lawsuit on our behalf as lawful citizens. We need doctors to push back against the Government which is trying to control how the doctors doctor their patients. We need to stand together and find a way to do so when the government cross the line!
suez
philadelphia
I am in chronic pain ever since a fall and went to physical therapy for years and when all else failed, I was prescribed Percocet by my orthopedist. I agree with the article that said each person should be judged on their own merit and maintain dignity and treated with the respect I deserve!
The Government does not deal with a person on their own merit as I am also sure that if a public official needed/wanted hydrocodone to function and live life, that government official would most definitely see him/herself as an exception! I was humiliated & in violation of my civil rights and chastised (as if I were a child ) by my primary care physician who I’ve been seeing regularly for over 20 years!!!?
I HIRED THE DOCTOR!!! The nurses and doctors responsibility isn’t to tell me to get surgery and if I don’t talk to the doctor with respect, (I give respect when respect is reciprocated)…my punishment will be refusal to prescribe me my medication!? How bizarre is that???
Is the doctor is living in my body. And I think I’ll let her have neck and jaw surgery & let me know how it worked out & what is taken for pain them???
The government should let each person be evaluated individually & treat their patient as if it were them (or a member of their family!!!) It was a disgrace the way I was treated & belittled by the very same practice that left my mother in hospital without providing adequate care due to lack of professionalism & TOO BUSY to prescribe my 83 year old mother with blood pressure medication so her ankles were SEVERELY SWOLLEN while in hospital & even attending physicians’ calls for my mother’s meds ignored!?
The VERY SAME PRACTICE (UPON MY mother?s death!), didn’t designate a colleague to sign her Death Certificate –police and maintenance employees told me it looked as if she had an accidental FALL IN BATHROOM!!!
SO FOR EIGHT (8) DAYS MY mother lay in a drawer somewhere until, without seeing my mom, doctor from identical medical practice said she died of a chronic heart problem for which he never requested collaboration with the family to make an informed decision as MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS & research states that she could have lived 10 years longer!!!
That very same “honorable” THEY ARE JUDGING ME??? ON ANOTHER OCCASION, Medical Group let the visiting nurse 5 days prior to my mother’s death, calls go unanswered yet signed (DEATH CERT) AFTER 8 DAYS THAT SHE HAD SUCH A SEVERE HEART condition (WITHOUT bothering to medically evaluate THE BODY AT ALL!?!? that HER NURSE’s calls went unanswered!? THEY UDGED & disrespected ME…bizarre!
My chronic pain caused that very same medical facility’s physician to treat ME without respect & the pain medication I needed just as my recently deceased mother’s needs were also NOT ATTENEDED TO!!!
I am outraged over the dilemma of the Government of FREEDOM in “…pursuit of life, liberty & pursuit of happiness…” without severe agony!!! The lives of each person and evaluation needs to be in the discretion of a doctor for which I NOT ONLY HIRED BUT ALSO CAN FIRE DUE TO LACK OF PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR WHICH THEY TAKE AN OATH!!!
Jim
ok
We are the forgotten few, that because of politics are left in the cold. I am furious, and unless the true people that suffer band together, we will continue to suffer. Waiting for a petition to congress.
Tammy
Alabama
This is absolutely insane and inhumane to do to chronic pain patients. I am 47 years old and was severely beaten by my ex husband. I am in pain 24/7 even attending a Pain Clinic. However, I can tolerate the pain to a degree with my pain medication. Now the DEA is saying not to prescribed to chronic pain patients. Huh, what if they suffered 24/7 or watched a loved one cry from pain daily. I do hope that our elect President Trump will take this into consideration and realize that people do suffer and not everyone is a junkie. I’m afraid that with Jeff Sessions as our Attorney General in 2017 he is such against medications of any kind that provide some relief for many Americans. Wow, Make America Great Again should include every American.
John
Ohio
I have major pain I deal with on a daily basis. It takes 3 days without hydrocodone and then i am unable to walk. 2 days without any and I am unable to sleep without squirming all night long to try to find a position i might be able to sleep in for a few hours. This is probably the stupidest law those pencil pushing legislative jerks and hard-hearted politicians who can walk and sleep and have no need for pain medications trying to push lyrica and other drugs like gabapentin have ever come up with. This is nothing short of war on the medically disabled. Has the evil of illcompassion for people in severe pain become second nature to our government or do they have their heads up their butts so far they can’t think of any decent ways of handling the abuse of drug addicts other than to take a very therapeutic drug away from the suffering people who become incapacitated without it? I think we need to rethink who is coming up with these stupid drastic measures to control drug abuse and find compassionate people who are in the business of helping people rather than scared politicians bent on solving drug abuse using measures that put honest people who are in severe pain at very severe risk.
Patricia
Monroe County TN
I am severe rheumatoid arthritis, I have it in my neck, shoulders, wrists, fingers, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. I am in unbearable foot pain with severe cramps/spasms. I am facing surgery very soon but in the meantime I keep trying to get help with the spasms and primary pcp and podiatrist both don’t understand me, I am not seeking more pain meds, I truly need help. Gabapentin and muscle relaxers have helped me with enough that I MAY be able to bear the pain until my surgery. Now I’m having severe anxiety due to the pain. I’m also panicking wondering if I will have to suffer after surgery, last year I had kidney cancer removed and had horrific spasms afterwards. Can anyone tell me? Will my surgeon be able to give me anything stronger than my hydrocodone to just get me through surgery that I’ve been taking since 2013 without being placed on “the black list”?
SG
FLORIDA
Agreed. Doctors have been made afraid to prescribe these needed medications. Someone close to me was able to get a month’s worth of medications with an office visit to his doctor, but then he sent him to pain management doctor who charged $1400 for an office visit, an unnecessary urine test, and a prescription only good for a month’s supply of medication. This is for a prescription writer, rather than a doctor with special technical skills like a surgeon. What a racket. Needless to say, he just lives with the pain and takes loads of aspiring, just using his prescription if it gets really intolerable.
Hearing all the time about ODs from street drugs laced with Fentanyl. Not to mention, another nonprescription herbal substance that is helping many with pain and narcotic withdrawal, kratom, is being looked at to be placed on Schedule 1. They really want us all dead, don’t they? I’ve seen petitions to abolish the DEA…. might not be such a bad idea.
Julie
Maryland
My 31 year-old disabled son had been in pain management for 5 years and doing well until the DEA changed the rules. He was even able to support his 7 year-old son by working at home as a stay-at-home dad. He adored his son and was able to deal with some pain because at least it was manageable on his medication. He kept his medication locked up to ensure that his son never had access to it.
When he was no longer able to obtain pain medication, his pain became unbearable. A “friend” offered him relief from a street drug, and out of sheer desperation he accepted it and died of an overdose. Our family, especially his son, will never be the same.
He had made multiple calls trying to locate any doctor to help him, without success until his pain was just too much. Unfortunately, his son watched his daddy change from the attentive parent that helped him with homework and read to him every night to a daddy in agony unable to enjoy the life they once knew.
Jay
Florida
I hurt my back 8 years ago, L4, L5, torn fibers, compressed L1,2,3. I worked all my life on heavy equipment, still do only with the help of Hydrocodone, but in the past year and a half, the pharmacy I have been going to for over 8 years has sold to a national chain. I had some issues before but since the pharmacist knew me, they kept doing my refill. WELL, today went there and they said they are out. No more until maybe 4 days, but they dont know for sure, they say they can not order or save any for me “by law”. That sounds like a load of poop. they were so “helpful” to tell me try some other pharmacies. Went to 2 more, same deal, AND now the one that may have the pills in 3 days says they are 3 TIMES what the other place was charging me? How is this possible? All I want to do is to be able to get out of bed and go to work, earn a living, pay the bills, and live relatively pain free with the help of the pills. Gonna cal my Doc tomorrow, maybe he has some ideas.
Karen Brundige
Shelbyville, TN
I had been taking hydrocodine for 10 years for degenerative bone in my spine, broke my right arm, left arm, and broke my femur and hip in 2014, horrible surgery in planting steel in my femur and hip. Reconstruction of my hip and leg and a month learning to walking again. I take my medication exactly as prescribed. Go to pain clinic clinic who suddenly dismissed me as patient due to 4 missing pills. They did not take in to account there was 31 days in that month. I am 74, in serious pain and take care of my 84 year old husband who has dementia. I also have severe ostioarthris with pain all over my body. I don’t want to die, but this pain is making me very depressed and a few hours each day to be able to just do simple tasks.
southernlady
alabama
They are now pushing people who wouldn’t ever thought of it , to go buy heroin & pills on the streets due to it being cheaper & very accessible to help their severe pain issues causing deaths due to overdoses and we aren’t talking about the younger generation just looking to get high
Tim M. Brantley
North Carolina
I am a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War era. I have been in the VA health care system for about 15 years now. Veterans are having the same problems getting the pain medications also. I have a new doctor now, and she is going to cut my hydrocodone off. Supposedly, she is afraid my heart may stop beating. I am 69 years old now, and I can assure my doctor my heart will quit beating very soon, with, or without the hydrocodone. The doctors are just covering their own butts, in case a patient should overdose.
Jeanne
Kansas
I think this is one of the worst decisions the FDA has made. I have been on pain meds since I was 37 for DDD L4-S1. I had a failed back surgery that left me with foot drop. 9 years later, I slowly developed scoliosis. I had no choice but to have another surgery with screws rods etc. I am now losing use of left foot. I WISH had NEVER had surgery. I have constant pain and the medication gave me 4 to 6 hours a day to live my life.
I am now 61 my doctor is now cutting me off the Vicodin I have taken for a year through him. Before that, I was on a much stronger pain medicine. I chose to get off of that to go on the Vicodin, now that will be gone. He wants to put me on Tramadol and I can’t take SSRI”s and they do not work. This is a nightmare. I can not get out of my house or walk more than 10 or 15 steps without severe nerve pain, the electric shock type. I hate to think of all the suicides this will cause. No one should be forced to live in daily horrible pain when the medication is out there. God bless you all and I pray for our relief.
ANNE T
Texas
I have been in pain since early 20s and I’m now 50. I have worked. Had successful jobs until 10 yrs ago when the pain was unmanageable. I have been under the care of 1Pain Dr for 8 yrs (he retired ) now another one for two years.
My medications are actually less that what they were 5 years ago and have managed to not have yet another back surgery. But with out my low dose Pain meds I can not function..I have never take more that prescribed, missed an appointment, lost prescriptions etc. So why am I being punished??
I didn’t ask to be in pain and have not caused anyone any issues regarding needing to take pain medication. It’s not fair to treat others like myself as if we have done something wrong! WHY? would you take a pill away from someone who needs it? Would you do it to a diabetic or heart patient? It’s not right to cause more pain and suffering on the people who need medications . There’s got to be a better way then to cause us to live in 24/7pain. It’s not fun and it can ruin your life. Please allow Dr’s to give patients who are in pain the medications necessary for them to have a life. Why would you take it away?
Bre
Indian
All this is doing is turning good law abiding citizens to the black market, heroin use (and deaths) is skyrocketing, and many others to alcoholism, etc…. If you look into it, the countries that readily sell hydrocodone over the counter do not suffer from these issues like we do
Wendy
Florida
I am lucky, in a way, that my provider is willing and able to prescribe the medication I need for chronic pain. Where my luck runs out is my 2017 insurance plan, which will increase the cost of my monthly medications tenfold to an unsustainable cost. The best new plan I have found cuts one med dosage per day in half, and $100 copay for the other. At least all of my doctors are on my new plan.
Bob r
Wisconsin
Shame on the people who are making these laws! Have you never felt severe pain? Do you know how desperately us who have chronic pain just want to live a pain free life?! Shame on you for punishing us! Have we not been punished enough by debilitating pain! You can’t control people!!! Don’t be stupid, when has this ever worked? Get ready law makers for a spike in suicide & heroine overdoses! Not long from now when each of us is drowning in our pain, you will be scratching your heads wondering what you can take away to make people stop killing themselves!
Donna
washington
I went to the dentist to have all my upper teeth pulled, I was given nothing. I have anxiety and was told I wouldn’t need anything to relax me before the extractions. It was hell. Was given one days worth of codeine afterwards. so, I would like to thank all those worthless drug abusers out there who make it difficult and more expensive for those that need it.
Hurt
Ca
To whom this may concern:
Please do not blame your Doctor, for it is not there decision to make changes in our medication. Yes (not there fault ) the fault, if you can call it that is the decision of our United States Surgeon General’s doing, not our doctors at all. So one must write to the proper congressman and ask for them to re-consider. Until then I wish all good luck. You’d doctors are just following rules and laws.
I too am a senior 68 years of age and hurt with arthritis and life in general. Like you, I cannot get my medication needed. I feel awful! Pain management is needed for one hydrocodine per day 500/500
Thank you,
Mrs. Hurt
Gary
idaho
I posted a long statement and it was not published, it appears this site is not really concerned about actually letting the people know what is really happening in this country. I would surmise this is just another government site pretending to be for the people.
HMC
I woke up this morning & couldn’t walk, the pain in my knee was literally 10 out of 10. If the house had been on fire I would have burned to death, the pain was so debilitating that I could barely make it to my en suite bathroom without the most excruciating pain with only the very slightest movement of my knee.
I’ve never experienced such truly dreadful pain since being cut off from the Norcos I’d taken daily which I was cut off from in June earlier this year.
It’s unforgivable that chronic pain sufferers have been denied the pain relief they’ve counted on for years. I only took pain medication because I needed relief from truly awful & debilitating pain. Please don’t suggest I get a medical marijuana card because it doesn’t help the pain & just makes me feel out of it & out of control for days. I’ve steered clear of illegal drugs since I was a teenager 30+ years ago & am doubtful any illegal drugs would truly help me the way Norco has helped me function properly for years without any horrible side effects like feeling out of control & a loss of concentration.
It’s just so wrong to treat patients suffering debilitating pain by cutting them off from the pain medication they have relied upon for many years. These pain specialist doctors don’t give a damn & act like gods because they know we have nowhere else to go. They assert their power & control without giving a damn about patient care or treatment.
I think they actually enjoy playing god & deciding who they help & those they punish by cutting them off entirely for simply questioning them. I had an epidural injection in my spine which caused even more pain & slight I incontinence for about 6 months until I’m guessing the injection wore off. I mentioned this to my pain specialist dr who basically told me that what I experienced was unconcerned to the injection which I strongly disagreed with. I know my body & know beyond any doubt that epidural injection did nothing to help & only caused more problems.
It seems that these days doctors care even less about properly treating patients but simply protecting themselves since being warned that they can no longer prescribe pain medication by the DEA. This is horribly wrong & must be changed immediately. I wonder how many chronic pain sufferers have committed suicide or turned to illegal drugs since being cut off from pain medication needed by patients suffering horribly & in silence? We’re not bad people, we just need our pain to be properly treated desperately which it’s not being done right now.
HMC
CA
There is no question this ridiculous change inflicts very much more suffering on those already trying to cope with chronic pain.
This is cruel & unusual treatment of law abiding citizens in an attempt to stop & punish those who break the law. It’s terribly wrong, I wish the debilitating pain I suffer daily upon every single person responsible for doing this to myself & others. Our stress, anxiety & pain are only worsened by the terrible difficulty in receiving anything approaching adequate pain relief. It’s like giving Tylenol no to a person with a compound fracture is acceptable treatment of pain.
Another major issue has been the creation of a sub group of pain specialist doctors who behave like gods and make it impossible to even have a rational discussion with for fear of being cut off entirely from any pain treatment at all & with bloody Obamacare it’s now not even possible to get a 2nd opinion since our crappy insurance offers only one group that offers pain treatment & let’s be honest, no Drs in the same medical group are going to disagree with each other. We used to have decent health insurance before Obamacare, we had a PPO option now we have no choice, no control, worse care that we pay more for.
I haven’t done any illegal drugs since I was a teenager but I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. I won’t because it’s illegal, dangerous, I don’t think it would really help & I’d have no idea at all where to get any. My daughter, a receptionist at a medical marijuana store gave me some drops to try without the thc or whatever it is makes you high because she knows I can’t stand that feeling of being out of control, besides tasting disgusting it did nothing at all to help the pain.
shelley
ohio
Chronic pain can destroy every attempt for a productive day. As a 57 year old female living with this demon it seems incredibly unfair that we are being punished for others who abuse opiates. How can you condemn everyone? Sadly I know the loss of a loved one due to pain killers and he too was in chronic pain, but when you take away what little a person gets just to survive the day, when they do get their medicine, they over do the dosage just to get relief and then its too much and they don’t wake up. You can perceive this as abuse, but in fact its hell living with chronic pain and when you have no relief, you might as well be dead, because that’s how you feel.
Outraged
colorado
There needs to be a flood of letters to your congressman. Write a letter every week. A flood that makes Noah’s flood look like a backed up sink drain. Senior citizens need to unite and protect each other. They are more important then the drug abusers.
Joan
NJ
This is out of control I have been in pain management for over 16 years now and always abide by the rules. I have a lot wrong with me. I use to be able to at least function throughout the day. My dr. retired and the new pain management dr. have cut my medicine down to nothing now I’m suffering in pain every day and all I do is lay in bed.
I hardly can walk anymore and I’m a diabetic on top of everything else. I’m supposed to walk 30 minutes a day. I cannot even walk 10 minutes anymore due to these changes. You know if the President, congressmen, mayor or DEA lived with any of the pain that we have, they would be making sure they got the medicine! Punishing us for the drug dealers and drug addicts is wrong!
Find a way to take them off the streets and stop making us suffer! I have the proof of what is wrong with me. I have herniated and bulging discs from neck all the way down my back, torn rotor cuffs, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and etc. and on a fixed income. This is why the seniors are committing suicide and the rate is up more then ever cause we cannot get the medicine we need.
Stop the DEA and Help US. Whatever happened to the freedom in this country when we were able to decide what to eat drink and put in to our own bodies. This country is not free anymore. We are in prison!
Jennie
California
Is it possible to start a class action against everyone involved in this totally unfair decision?
Terry
Politicians only understand one thing, and that is getting re-elected. Chronic pain suffers probably make up a pretty large voter block. Vote out every incumbent senator and congressman who refuses to bring the DEA and FDA under control.
william
louisiana
I won’t go into the different reason I take pain Medication but nothing else helps. I have had many other form of treatment that adds to your pain after awhile. I take 2 narco a day 1 in morning and 1 at night when the pain gets really bad. I am 65 years old, and if just 1 of these folks that ban pain medication had one day of the pain I experience they would drop to there knees and as God to take them now. I never thought I would get to this point. I was healthy, played sports in the military but you can’t write your life, many of the folks that are on these pain meds are older people, and should not be put in a position to not be able to get their their medication. These are folks that built this country. Now you want to punish them because drug addicts can’t control their problems. The addicts have the same choice as the older folks; used it as it is prescribe. I do, I don’t abuse. Nor do the older folks that really need this. Don’t punish them now after all they have sacrifice you everyone. I don’t drink or take any other kind of narcotics. I do not abuse my medication. Do you outlaw alcohol, Fatty foods, driving, come on DEA, CONGRESSMEN,SENATORS OR WHO EVER IS BEHIND THIS TAKE A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE YOU HURT THE ONES THAT FOUGHT FOR AND MADE THIS COUNTRY THEY OBEY THE LAW.
Suse
https://www.change.org/p/congress-ease-the-dea-s-grip-on-doctors-allowing-chronic-pain-patients-to-get-the-medications-we-need
PLEASE GO AND SIGN THIS PETITION!! We must fight this while we still can!!!
Jane
seattle wa
It’s NOT About abuse, it’s about MONEY. The 1% wants that money put in their pockets, they way in WA that it will save them 15 million in one year from workers comp. So, you can imagine if they include Vets, Medicaid, Medicare and kickbacks from all the insurance companies, Obama just made sure he and his whole family will be taken care of.
These people don’t care about abusers, because this won’t affect abusers. They will get their drugs no matter what. It will only affect the people who suffer from diseases and accidents that the doctors can’t cure. This is so disgusting I am ashamed to call myself an American, and what happened to doctors taking an oath not to do harm, not and under treating is as illegal as over treating. This is so we will all commit suicide. They want us to die because we are costing them money and the more of us that commit suicide the more money in their pockets.
There will be no tax breaks and cost cuts for workers comp and insurance. It will be put into the bonuses of the rich. They are so addicted to money, they will take it on the backs of the sick and disabled in this country. Well, I don’t want to be here when GOD takes vengeance on them for what they are doing.
The 1% is showing us that they can control us and make us want to die, so they can get richer. In WA, the medical community is saying that since they shut down (July 15, 2016) the only clinic that serves the poor (30,000 of them), Medicaid and Medicare patients, they made up lies about the Dr and shut him down, they used the same lies to a Dr in Eastern Washington because she also serviced Medicaid patients, over 2,000 have committed suicide because they can not deal with the pain.
I heard that a couple weeks ago, so I’m sure it’s much higher. I wonder how much each life is worth to these people. I hope they get a great car or vacation out of it. They should start a clinic where people can go and do it properly with medical supervision, they can put us out of our missory once and for all.
I watched a documentary on Bin Laden, and how he used chemical warfare on the Curds and wiped out over 100,000 people that is what this law will do in america but they will say we had nothing to do with it. These people committed suicide, but their blood is on their hands, God bless the families that will loose their loved ones, and have to watch them suffer knowing that the government will not let their doctors alleviate their pain and suffering. We need to pick a week and go to the steps of the governors home and let him see what he has let happen to his citizens.
Carl
huron sd
I have a bad ankle, which is bone on bone. Doctor wants to feaze it solid, said no, and I have to drive 100 miles to dr and they charge me a co-pay, and cut my dosage in half.
I’m checking on physician crime authorities.
Michelle
CA
I think the DEA, CDC AND FDA are going after and punishing the wrong people. We are chronic pain sufferers, we are not drug abusers, we are normal people TRYING to live a normal life with a little less pain, yet we are being treated worse than the true illegal street drug abusers. There has to be a better solution to this epidemic. The government has to do more research on this and find a better solution. Please do not take away the little bit of pain relief that we chronic pain sufferers get for a few hours each day. Please do more research. We are begging you.
Lulu
Wisconsin
I have been a chronic pain patient for over 10 years,since 1st back surgeon screwed up my back surgery and a second surgery didn’t help! So they send me to pain clinic and pain was pretty well controlled but no more!! They cut my drugs in half and now I will most likely lose my job since I can’t function at this level!! I am 59, too young for Medicare, don’t know how I am going to survive!! The topper is I had my monthly appointment at pain clinic and PA yelled at me, told me I was on a high dose, by their new standards and they aren’t going to give me any more drugs! How are we supposed to survive this? I don’t take the drugs to get high, they help the pain and if that’s addicted, I am! I am trying to live my life, but that is over now! The sooner I die, the sooner I am out of pain!! This is going to force people to seek out illegal drugs to deal with their pain! Job well done, dea, screw up in reverse!!
Kris
CA
I have chronic pain in my back and neck due to degenerative disc disease, Osteoarthritis, neck fusion c4-c7, severe fibromyalsia, and lots of bone spurs to boot. The battle to get pain meds to lower my pain level from 10 on the pain scale has become in my book, Criminal Medical Neglect and I feel we should start a class action law suit against Obamacare for pain and suffering. I have not been able to get pain medications for almost 5 months and all I am able to do is lay on the couch and cry all day and half the night because I am suffering extremely like a lot of people. This is cruel and unnecessary. Control the doctors who over write these medications or fire the ones who are abusing them but don’t make the people who need these medications suffer!!! I am not a drug addict but I can see why people are going to the streets for illegal drugs to help them being as the Government has been so cruel.
Rob
New Jersey
My pain management doctor cut my pain meds from 4/day to 3 and stated that he’ll cut me further because of the CDC,DEA NEW RULES. I’M SICK AND TIRED OF THIS CRAPPY ROUTINE. IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY? I CAN’T SLEEP, EAT,OR FEEL NORMAL ANYMORE.
Jo
Good article and very true yet you can write about it unt you are blue in the face. Nothing will change. I live in screaming chronic pain. My doc has me on 1 every 8 hour when the proper dose is 1 every 4 to 6 hour not to mention that the generic brand is very very weak robbing my rights to be somewhat sometimes pain free. The chronic pain is driving me insane the lack of any releaf… even a half hour of no pain is denied me.
I wish to be dead a few times a day just so it will end though I wouldnt do that nore want it. I just want some quality of life. An hour or two of sanity. But a bunch ignorant law makers decided that patients should live with insane pain for fear I might become addicted? Seriously Ill be dead a lot sooner because of this stress on my body and mind than if i get addicted to a medicine i have to take the rest of my life… oh.. maybe that is what they want… all people in chronic pain to go insane and kill themselves…. or maybe they want them to get so despirit that they will break the law… who knows what those animals realy want. But from this end they are destroying more lives than any opiate did.
Diane
Alabama
I was diagnosed with rare disease called actinomycosis. It destroyed several nerves in face and neck area and I am terribly scarred. I am 62 years old have degenative disc disease, osteo, spinal stenosis in neck and lower back, fibromyalgia and carpel tunnel. I was treated with hydro for pain last 10 years, now since new rulings medical physicians putting me thru pain management which I already have been to in 2014. Nothing worked injections cannot take nsaids, gastric ulcers. What am I suppose to do? I cannot afford monthly dr. visits. I could afford a $5.00 script for pain relief with seeing dr. 4-6 times a year. I believe I am being thrown into early dementia because of these new rules. Legally can I do anything? I feel for all those who are in pain and the pain is not being addressed. I just do not want to end in nursing home as a patient that just screams all the time.
Linda
Colorado
My doc will not let me get a new script for my hydrocodone until the 31st day..so I wake up on 31st day…out of meds..in so much pain I’m barely able to drive to get my rx filled! Is this crazy? I tried to explain to him…but he won’t budge!
Dee
California
Linda,
I feel your pain. Just feel fortunate you’re getting pain meds at all. Do what I do in this situation. When I first pick up my meds for the month I take 2 or 3 pills and save them aside for an emergency. That way you cut back on some doses during the month when you are having lower pain days and now you have some on hand in case you cannot fill at the pharmacy till the 30 or 31st day. Takes willpower but keeps the withdrawal symptoms at bay!
Andrew
Yeah it’s total bullshit. I can smoke cigarettes till I get cancer, or chew tobacco till my face falls off, or drink untill I cant even tell you my own name.
Or buy sinus meds 3 times a month that contain the main ingredient for making meth. But the government won’t trust me with baby Tylenol.
Judy
California
I am a lifetime pain patient. Had a spinal fusion and other nerve damage. I pay cash at my spine center and cash for the minimum prescriptions I need. the girl at the front desk today told me that some new bill passed that forces you to have Obamacare or you do NOT get any prescriptions at all. You can’t pay cash either. She’s young, but I told her that they cannot stop people from paying cash, nor can they force patients to use insurance for every single thing they go to the doctor for. Ins. companies want to know every thing you’re taking and control you. She DID say that there’s zero way to regulate this or keep on top of it, allowing doctors and large centers with thousands of patients to continue doing whatever they want. I live in a state where ALL of Obamacare options are between $400-$600 per month. That is more than my car payment and more than my rent. Were I to pay this, I would not have a roof over my head or any transportation. Also, have they factored in the people who are exempt from this whole thing like me? I make less than a certain amount of money every year and fall into their exempt category. So…I would HAVE to pay cash if I’m exempt. WTF is going on here?
B.
CA
I was just told that my doctor can no longer give me Norco and Morphine. I have had a disability since birth. Now I have less than a months’ supply for my pain. I have pain throughout my whole body. I am worried. I have had orthopedic surgeries since birth and am a senior citizen.
I am not a drug addict. They can send men to the m own but they can’t come up with non-narcotic meds for patients who have many health issues. I can’t go every day to a doctor and get shots all over my body. The pain is not in my head. It is real, and it is all over. Just because some people take overdoses and die—well, we are not like them. We use our meds to try to live the best we can.
I pray that the CDC reconsiders this new law. There are millions who now are going to suffer because of a few who make bad decisions.
Lucille
La.
I’m 62yrs old. I’ve had chronic pain since my 20’s. I only take Norco for pain. And only been on that here and there since 2009! So I have suffered for a long time without medication. My problem is I can’t go to pain management for 2and1/2 more yrs., because I have to wait for Medicaid. My pharmacist told me I could get my medicine 2 days early. My Drs. nurse left me a message and said I could pick it up today, but I can’t get it filled until the 6th. I don’t think it’s my Dr. that’s doing this. I believe it’s his nurse doing what SHE wants to do. She is very arrogant sometimes. Should I go and talk to my Dr. today and see if she is the problem. Because my Dr. is very sympathetic.
Lucille
La.
I was pulled from a moving truck when I was 15yrs old. The girl on the side of me reached around to tell the driver something and started falling and grabbed me. So we both fell. Needless to say, I held on and was drug for about 50-60 yds. I was pretty banged up. Then at the age of around 33 I had a trip and fall at work. I fell on my butt and my left arm went all the way behind me. I’ve fallen down stairs a couple times in my life. Was the twice. So I’ve had my share of body mishaps! I’m now 62 and unable to work because of degenerative disc disease, arthritis, torn disc, nerve pain, fibromyalgia…etc. I’ve been in chronic pain since my 20’s. But I’ve suffered all those yrs until 2009! I finally got Medicaid and started getting a little help. I can’t go to pain management because I only get Medicaid. I have to wait till I’m 65 to get Medicare. My primary Dr. told me he he would help me out until I found a pain management Dr. He knows that I can’t afford that. The only pain medicine I get is Norco 10/325. They don’t even help me anymore! I might sleep a couple of hrs a night. I have no energy whatsoever! Therefore my days are shot because of lack of sleep. For some reason sleep medications don’t help me. I am at my wit’s end! It’s now 4:49am and I am wide awake! Is there anyone who can give me some advice? I don’t even know who I am anymore! It’s just too much to handle!
Donna
Plum Grove, TX
You are not alone.
Linda
I have the same problem Lucille…some nurses do what THEY want to do without even asking the doc.. it’s usually the people that haven’t had a pain condition that try their best to make it hard for us to get our meds. Good luck
Christine
CA
I have RSD/CPRS,Fibromyalgia, etc..
I feel your pain.
I received Medicare in my twenties, why not you?
antonio white
atlantic city nj
i have crohn’s, celiac, and gastritis and do to the change in scheduling i have not been able to get or receive and GOOD pain meds! something needs to change! why are we suffering for other people’s mistakes
Rob
CA
One fails to see the logic in the 2014 FDA/DEA ruling regarding the change in schedule II narcotics and the overly stringent rules that now dictate what doctors may do and not do regarding pain control. This measure has turned many to desperate measures to alleviate pain. How can you possibly blame someone for desiring an adequate control of the pain they are experiencing? You can’t.
I understand why many are moving in the direction of medical weed in order to control pain, relax, and lead a better quality of life. Heroin is now even easier to get than vicodin. This is the reverse of the way we should be going.
Don’t understand why unilateral power in such a case as to change the scheduling of drugs falls into the hands of such a narrow body of “decision makers”. The AMA and other prominent pain control representatives were really never consulted. This has led to the illegal acquisition of strong narcoticsto help relieve the pain. That’s too bad. People will do what they can for themselves with, or without the DEA approval.
Jill
Michigan
This topic is all very sad. Patients with legitimate needs should be taken care of. There needs to be a middle ground somewhere. If a drug abuser is seeking drugs they will find a way. Patients shouldn’t be punished because of their health conditions. It’s cruel. I’m 36 and 9 weeks post op from a 2 level interbody fusion levels L-3/L5 with plate and screws. Second surgery … I understand pain. The fda needs a better more realistic system.
tammy
white lake
This is all wrong they need to stop not everyone is a drug head we all are being done wrong people with pain need the meds and not be drug test all the time.
Heather
I can’t agree with you more >>>>>>>>
joe
walla walla, wa.
When my dr. informed me that my pain med was going to be reduced to half of my monthly perscription due to the increase of abuse of this pain med I was assumed that I was abusing it myself without any proof or evidence that I was. lhave been on hydrocone for the last 10 years without any sight effects of addiction. it was like getting slapped in the face and labled as a drug addict. l now suffer with chronic pain 60% of my daily life and feel miserable daily. no longer can I assume my quality of life as a normal human being. I was found guilty of abusing my medication thanks to other strangers that I have never met in my life. I don’t even smoke or drink or take any illegal drugs. I have become a criminal without representation from justice
Gene
Florida
After being on Hydrocodone 500mg for over 5 years I am having hard time sleeping at night do to withdrawal symptoms and some weird dreams as each day goes by. The pharmacy said come back in July and we might get some in but can not call and say ” Gene, we got your meds in” because they say they cant give out any information on these type drugs..?
I am disabled and don’t drive, so how can I run back and forth to my pharmacy asking, “did my meds come in today,? and it will be first come first serve,…I guess we all better scurry and try for some Tramadol to at least try and ease some of the pain and withdrawals,…”Good luck Y’all,..?
Ruby
ONTARIO
This happened to me just yesterday. I was suddenly, without warning, cut down from 12 Percocet a day to 4.
I am waiting for a double knee replacement. I can barely walk with help from the pills. Now, I will not be able to leave my home. I have taken the 5mg for years. I regularly go off for a *Clean out* phase, to check my pain and, with all the addiction talk, see where I am.
Physically, it’s hard. Mentally, it’s fine.
So, now the government decided I can’t have that many. My doctor can’t override them. What do I do?
I am shocked, scared and so very angry.
Why am I being punished because others abuse what I need in order to get to the grocery store or, good Lord, at this point, get to the bathroom without screaming?
Seriously, does anyone have any suggestions on what I am supposed to do?
I certainly can’t afford to buy them on the street!
Whew, I feel just a little better for getting that off my chest.
But I still can’t walk …
Eddie
Independence. MO
Just joined 82 year old man with chronic pain for over 50 years. I cannot believe the FDA is so callous to put patients with chronic pain who have to suffer because of those who abuse and misuse pain meds.
Karen
Rochester NY
The government should not be telling pain clinics what medicines they can prescribe. They have no idea what people in chronic pain are going through. I have been in severe pain for over 30yrs. I have a very bad back due to scoliosis and I have been through every treatment that there is. I go constantly at the pain clinic for treatments . I also have severe nerve damage. The government should crack down on under age drinking and smokers. They should also do something about Guns. Every time you put on the news another mass shooting has happened.
GD
Metro Atlanta
I see my pain management physician once every three months, and I am given three individual prescriptions with the fill date on them at each visit. I had to sign a contract, and I am drug tested every six months. I have been with this physician for four years. I have never broken any of the rules of the signed contract.
On my last visit I was informed that I would now have to see him every two months and eventually every month. Since he is a “specialist” my copay is $45.00. When I eventually have to see him every month, that will triple my yearly cost for these visits.
My prescription for Gabapentin is now written for three months at a time and this is at no copay to me when ordered through my mail-order pharmacy. If I see him every two months, and he then only writes my Gabapentin for two months, it will now cost me, because the no-copay benefit only applies to a 90 day supply. I need these meds as I have degenerative bone disease in my spine. I have no discs in my neck, and two are missing in my lower back. I have residual effects from frozen shoulder, and both knees need to be replaced. I also suffer from carpal tunnel, neuropathy and arthritis in both hands, and the muscle in my right hand is shrinking. My left hip has been replaced and I have sciatica. I have also been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes since 1961 (55 years). I have been on SS Disability for 13 years.
The government should apply themselves to cracking down on the abusers. I suppose it is easier to attack and abuse the honest people. This is going to be a windfall for physicians and make insurance premiums skyrocket.
GD
I wasn’t quite clear on my prescriptions. I receive three individual prescriptions for Norco and my Gabapentin is written for a 90 day fill.
Candice
Va
I am not a drug addict, I have pain issues, the DEA has scared these doctors thinking their license will be taken away, but not caring about people that are in pain every day. I have been in 3 car accidents, I have been to 4 pain specialists, therapies, even attempting weight loss surgery to alter my body and rearrange my intestines or cut my stomach, and do know people that have died from it, but I had pain when I was smaller than I am now. So does the DEA want me and others to suffer and be in pain? Where does it end?
Jane
Seattle
I suffered for several years with chronic pain after two spinal surgeries for a fusion at L4-L5. The first surgery failed after 18 months and the 2nd seemed to correct the main problem but I developed terrible chronic pain afterwards. I could hardly leave the house and thought my life was over. By accident someone on the telephone when I called for a pain specialist gave me the name of a spine surgeon in Seattle who was very good at helping people manage their pain. He said Chronic pain will never be cured but can be managed very effectively. He has a book called Back in Control a surgeon’s roadmap out of chronic pain. by David Hanscom MD. His book is wonderful and it gave me the tools to give me back my life. He has a program called the Docc program
(Defined Organized Comprehensive Care)
You can easily use the book as he explains how chronic pain develops and what you can do to help yourself get you life back again. He has a program that lasts about 18months and maybe longer which you follow and the pain does go away. It takes commitment to work at it everyday but the rewards are great. I can recommend this book to all chronic pain sufferers out there with great enthusiasm. Jane May 25, 2016 10:00 pm
Terry Graedon
Jane, you might like to listen to our interview with Dr. Hanscom:
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2014/12/04/show-972-new-pathways-to-overcome-chronic-back-pain/
Susie q
Northwest Georgia
I’ve been on Loratab 10mg for years, it used to be prescribed with Soma .
Firstly – last year Soma was cut out . Secondly- Loratab 10.mg was lowered to 7.5. I suffer with Adult Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy ,I also have Osteoporosis , I’ve had 1- treatment of Reclast for Osteoporosis, it has caused awful pain along with pain that accompanied my acute pain that MD causes, I’m unable to get up off of toilet seats, chairs ,sofas etc any type of seating except for bar non swiveling stools which currently I’m able to step down off of.
I often fall with no warning,I broke my lower left 1x, upon having cast off less than 1wk I fell again resulting in another break on my lower left leg again & broke my right foot while in wheelchair that I fell out of ,it is as though I’m tripping over something my path (there is nothing) I have developed a stepping gait . I’m unable to get up off the floor or ground, I can’t sit down in waiting rooms , I risk falling as I’ve done before @ Aspen Dental . Dr’s have RX’ed a body harness for such accidents, SSI Medicaid continually deny the RX for body harness , also Tub safety rails , I’ve had accidents getting out of tub I must shower without any safety rails , I can’t take baths unable to get up or out , I’ve had a bad accident stranded one leg in tub-shower one leg out resting on the outer side of my left ankle , this resulted in severe lower back pain so bad that the pain causes hyperventilating, trembling & tears rolling down my cheeks wanting the agony to stop, the only relief offered beside 1 x 6hrs of loratab & flexaril is injections, which I’ve had Spartz 3 x in my right knee & injections into my right hip that has lots of damage from previous falls,I fell again 9 days ago from standing @ 5′ tall onto my right shoulder, I remained on floor until the shock & waves of agonizing acute subsided slightly, someone was able to lift me cradling me in there arms from under my right shoulder & underneath my knees, the pain was excruciating, be placed me onto my hospital bed , needless to say the Loratab did very little since I’m only able to take 1 @ every 6 hrs ,I sent to Urgent Care they x-rayed my right shoulder 10 X at various angles , the PC Dr couldn’t prescribe anything extra or stronger for my extreme pain ,I was told I had a fracture & because of my pain clinic nothing else could be RX’ed or given that risk my contract @ Pain Clinic , I was given a splint & an injection of Tramadol which didn’t relieve any of my agonizing pain.
The splint over night had my hand swollen like a Popeye hand with numbness & extremely causing more pain, I had to get my Momma who came to help me that week to remove the splint, after it was removed my bruise less arm previous to the splint being put on my fractured arm was covered with a solid bruised dark blue to darker blue from underneath my upper arm down to almost my wrist, I was referred to a Orthopaedic Dr that same day, she told me 1st off she would not treat me with any steroids of any kind because I already have Osteoporosis, steroids cause irreversible damage to bones,I didn’t need additional bone deterioration, I asked them why was the pain clinic offering the steroid injections to relieve my terrible pain ? She shrugged her shoulders with a grimaced look on her face, she also told me that splints were known to often result in a similar way to many other people, the splint also was very heavy & made my balance way off, so the moral of this story is that although I’ve fractured my upper arm Medicaid will not pay but for 1 Dr visit every 30 days & the law doesn’t allow me any additional , extra or change in my pain management regimen, even though I’m experiencing additional extreme acute pain with my fractured arm. So because of drug addicts Abusing or Overdosing Opiates I’m left suffering.
I believe these strict laws will cause suicides because people with existing chronic severe acute pain that have additional pain caused from Surgery or Accidents can not get any relief, they can only suffer through the nightmare. I will be 59 on July 5. The waiting in waiting rooms is very difficult because I must stand , now it’s every 30 days in place of every 90 days .
Suzanne
California
Taking away medication for those suffering everyday in pain is like saying those with a license to drive are going to have their license to drive taken away because there are people without licenses to drive so just take everyone’s license to drive away then the problem is solved. The reality is…..Drug addicts have a license to get their heroin because it is underground. Those who are being punished for being in pain are the ones openly going to a compassionate care centers for pain management i.e. a real doctor. So….DEA has no control over the drug addicts why not just stop allowing everyone the use of pain management no more then 7 days…….that’s how many hours? Um, then after that the pain is supposed to go away, or does the 7 day time frame then consider one a drug addict.
I have had pain management for sometime and I don’t crave mymedication it is a tool to help me get up and do things I otherwise could not do. I am not going on suboxone just because people get meds for pain underground for a high or maybe they are suffering from physical pain too. I wish the people making these unforeseen laws have some advanced knowledge about pain management and real sufferers who are not drug addicts. Stop being so superstitious. We are not witches who need to be burned.
Pain management is not opioid abuse causing one to then use heroin. Those that abuse it will still find their drug while those of us who suffer ligit are going to burn. I think everyone should have some sort of severe event happen requiring pain management then be told “no” you are a drug seeker and suffer.
How many people die from alcohol and cigs, how many die from hunger, hatred and war. Now how many pain suffers are going to die suffering from pain? The pain clinics want to stay open and will do what ever the D.E.A tells them to do. I too, do not carry the gene for addiction. I am now thrown into that addiction category because that satisfies the LAW of no more pain management for anyone we are all drug addicts now, that’s if we have been prescribed pain meds for more then 7 days. I can whine scream be a cry baby. The point is, it doesn’t matter, cause now I am considered an opioid dependent drug addict. What I can’t put my head around is why I don’t suffer for craving when taken off, I suffer PAIN.
Edith
North Carolina
It doesn’t matter what the DEA does. They can change rules all day long and the people that abuse will just come up with newer, different and sometimes more dangerous to abuse medicine.
Truthfully, how long has the “war on drugs” been going on?
I’m fortunate enough to receive the medicine I need (both of which are sch. 2 medications).
I’ve had friends offer to buy some of my medicine as they couldn’t get anything much beyond a baby aspirin. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to chances on them getting ill or whatever from an allergy or. Some. Sort of unforseen issue.
Here’s the thing. LEGALIZE DRUGS.
Let the abusers do what they will.
Legalizing drugs would create jobs, generate the government revenue, the government could regulate quality, reduce crime and a host of other positive things.
I know it sounds nuts but, people that don’t abuse drugs aren’t gonna run out and start.
The people that need medications for legitimate reasons could be helped and the Dr’s could do what they were trained to do, help people.
concern citizen
I do not understand how the DEA can make a medical decision on what a doctor prescribes me. It it so WRONG IN SO MANY WAY.
On top of not being able to get your prescription that will help, the doctors want to give you some over the counter or a prescription that they know will harm you physically and mentally and even death. I WILL NOT TAKE THOSE DRUGS THAT WILL DO ME MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
IT IS WRONG FOR US TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF A FEW THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR PRESCRIBED USE. AND DEFINITELY A DEA DEPT. SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TELL A DOCTOR WHAT THEY CAN PRESCRIBED THEIR PATIENTS.
IT IS WRONG.
Jamie
Warren
Wow, so they think that controlling this drug will help abusers. I know that if someone can’t get the drug they need sometimes that means they will turn to a drug easier to get like heroin and if someone can’t manage their pain with a prescription they could turn to a cheaper, easier to find drug.
Elizabeth
Washington State
Like so many others on this website, I am struggling with chronic pain. I have a large rotator cuff tear plus residual nerve pain from three back surgeries and arthritis. I have been on a low dose of an opioid medication for a number of years. This medication allowed me to remain in the workforce until days before I turned 78 Y/O (a total of 57 years). I was an active person who enjoyed gardening, walking, volunteering and caring for my cats. I did/do my own housework and grocery shopping. I was involved with life and looked forward to being as productive as I could be each day. Now? Not so much! Although I’m in basic good health as I approach 80 Y/O, it can be a struggle to deal with the basic tasks of daily living that are essential to living independently. I find that life holds little joy when one is in continual pain.
I fear that I will be refused medication and left to suffer even more in my so-called “golden years”. I have tried, and continue to try, alternative avenues of pain relief, including other medications. Like many others I cannot take NSAIDS due to the stomach problems they cause. I’m told I may need shoulder surgery but I’m trying to avoid it, partly because I fear severe, uncontrolled post-operative pain, especially if I fail to recover fast enough to please the DEA and FDA.
Changing medically useful opioid drugs to Schedule II is a cruel blow to many patients who need these medications and use them responsibly. Yes, they are powerful drugs and there are those who misuse them. However, legitimate pain patients are NOT criminals and I, for one, deeply resent being treated like a criminal. I wonder how many of us will choose to end our lives rather than live in constant, unrelieved pain? I think the end result of these merciless and draconian drug laws may be MORE suicides, not fewer. Unintended consequences? Perhaps.
Bob
Oklahoma
I will have been sober 26 years on June 13th 2016. God forbid I end up with chronic pain and can not get prescriptions for pain meds, there is always Vodka.
Sondra
Connecticut
I am 52 years young. Since the age of 20, I have suffered with chronic sciatica. Went through 4 pregnancies with this pain. On the floor many times because I couldn’t move. Finally, 7 years ago, I had my first major back surgery. They carved two discs (L4 and L5) to help with sciatica. Helped but still in back pain, then had another surgery: fusion of both L4 and L5. I have no cushion in my discs. Back again for another surgery. This time, they went in through the side. To this day, I have been in pain management on 15mg oxycodone; finally something that helped me.
I was able to do more things, such as working in the yard etc., but after the few hours of working in the yard, oh boy, the pain was so bad. But being on this medication has improved my quality of life. Just last month, my doctor dropped my dose down to 10mg after being on the 15mg for 5 years. Now, what the hell was he thinking? It’s not working as well as the 15mg. I am beside myself. I depend on that medication to help be get through the day of activity.
I am very upset that the 10mg isn’t enough. Now, being on 15mg oxycodone for 5 years never asking for a higher dose, what does that tell you? It’s doing its job. He made a remark to me that pissed me off: “I’m not going to continue to write the script for 15mg so I put my license at risk.” Are you joking me? My last MRI is showing that I have major narrowing of the spine, so things are looking worse in the future for me. I need to find a new pain management doctor. I’m so upset.
onefeatheraa
USA
I take Tramadol for back pain, about 6 months ago I could get a refill 3 days in advance now they have changed the rule that I have to get it on the same day that it says on the bottle, sometimes if the days fall on a weekend you can not get it filled. They MAKE these Stupid laws that hurt the people who have to take the drugs because of the ones who abuse it. It needs to be changed.
jim
dallas fort worth
hahaha 1-6-16 pilon fracture of the tibia,fibula snapped in 2, foot cracked from heel to the little toe. I have 3 plates 16 screws,and some artificial bone in my tibia now, NO MORE PAIN MEDS!! if I was a dog atleast they put me to sleep.
Katherine
Virginia
I’m reading these stories and I’m heartbroken. I also have chronic pain, not as bad as some of these folks, though. I can only get Tramadol, but MANY days really need something stronger but cannot get it. I just hoard dental prescriptions and operation prescriptions for my real pain. Doctors here are very scared and protect themselves now. Thank goodness I could retire, because my pain made it very hard to continue to work. Now I have to just sit around a lot and I am missing out on life.
It’s seems so simple to me for these stronger pain meds though, the doctors control how many pills you get, so what does this new way of prescribing really accomplish?!
I’m wondering if it wouldn’t help if all of you wrote these letters to your Congressmen/Congresswomen and the DEA and anyone else in decision making authority.
Michael
Jeff ind usa
I am ticked off to I should be on oxycodone severe disc pain degenerative disc disease had a neurologist tell me it was the worst case of cervical spurring he had ever seen I now take norco 10/325 was told oxy showed on a drug screen and if it did again I would be cut off pain pills I know this wasn’t true to the point of offering to take a lie detector test. She just shook her head. How do you fight laws like these when dr,s didn’t even come up with them.
Jill
My issue with this new law is recently I had a prescription for norco I have a back injury and the pharmacy lost my hard copy prescription. Even though they had it in the computer that I was able to get the medication with out the hard copy that they lost I was not able to get my medication and was out completely.
This also happened on a Saturday so I wasn’t able to go in a get a new one from my doctor. Also my doctor dealing with my injury is a specialist 2 hours away from my home. So the laws made it so even though I had done my part and dropped off my prescription and the pharmacy had it in there system but because they lost the hard copy I had to suffer in pain for three days and make an appointment with my doctor again and drive 2 hours each way to pick up a new one.
Phil Dalgleish
Grand Rapids MI
I’m 66 with 2 major back operations for back pain… $50,000 each… No relief…. On a maintenance dose of Narco.. 5/325 4 times a day. It works. BUT like all the others now I have to get my RX from the DRs office printed out and deliver it to the Pharmacy.. I don’t think anyone who was on the committee should be allowed to keep their job after changing the class for norco… They dont’ have a clue.. If they or one of their loved ones had to deal with chronic pain, then they might understand the need and cost to just try and live a ‘Normal’ life.
I don’t know how to get it going, but I think we should start a web site or some kind of signature campaign to get this law changed back.
PLEASE? I will help in any way I can… Anyone?
Robin W.
Michigan
I am in Battle Creek Michigan.
I wish I knew “THE”…who….organization….Cogressman/woman…..DEA that thought of this Law!!!! I have a very painful condition called Erthromelalgia. I too am having trouble getting pain pills to help me function in life.
Susan
Boston
Early on in my pain treatment, needed for Degerative Disc Disease, I was prescribed oxycodone and received limited relief; however, I desperately NEEDED that relief from my chronic pain.
During the course of my treatment, my primary care doctor retired and I became a patient to a much younger doctor. Sounds like trouble. That was my thought when she changed my prescription to morphine sulfate. I quickly became thankful as my nerve pain reduction was much better.
Chronic pain, and nerve pain in particular, can drive a person insane. It is like a bad itch that you can’t scratch. But the itch never goes away by itself. It consumes you both physically and mentally. I have been living, like most of the respondents here, for many years in chronic pain and have tried every option out there to alleviate symptoms. MS Contin works well for me, but for the hoops that I must jump through in order to obtain medication: call doctor’s office for 30 day prescription, pick up at office, fill at same pharmacy every time, sign forms agreeing to not behave like a criminal, take random urine tests paid for by yours truly, etc.
Keep your chins up. And keep talking. There are many others like you, speaking up for all. Most of all, don’t despair! Reach out and get, at least, the comfort from those who know your pain.
onefeatheraa
Go to the web site : change.org you can start a petition on anything and it does work, I sign a lot of them and it makes a difference. just write the problem and why and to the point, it has helped many . I am thinking of doing it because of these stupid drug laws.
Marly
Monroe County, Florida
I live in the Keys, and almost everyone who is on one pain medicine or another is feeling that the effects of this “rescheduling” of narcotic pain relievers has been a bad plan all along.
First, people in real pain must see the doctor every month, and that’s hard for so many of us who cannot easily get to the doctors and the pharmacy. And here, at my doctor’s 4, 10 milligram tablets of Vicodin is the max. He will only give me 3 daily, 1 every eight hours, which is torture by the fifth hour.
The biggest problem here is that the young abusers are now getting heroin, and they are overdosing and dying. That never hits the news. The DEA hasn’t made the connection. There will always be a black market. Always. And so, the debilitated are many times under-medicated because the DEA has terrorized our doctors and our pharmacists.
JenS
To the person upset she now has to spend a lot more because they can no longer write refills or call it in. I have ADHD (had brain tests from a neurologist )and that script has to be hand written, every 30 days. I only see my dr every 4 months and all he does is have me call the office, leave a voicemail for his nurse and I go into office and they hand it to me. Adderall is much more strict but I completely understand why. When I had been taking Norco, my old dr (switched insurance so had to change) would write out 3 or 4 scripts and post date them. On there, they have a fill day on it. So..I had the scripts but didnt have to worry about driving there. Id just turn the next one in,when it said to(by the date on each script) Ive even gotten 1 post dated Adderall since the actual DR has to to write for that (its just him as the M.D. and the rest are P.A.’s)but he was going out of the country to help so he wrote me 1 for that day and 1 post dated for 30 days later. Even if you (the people who abuse pills and ruin it for the honest people) would not be able to fill a narcotic because even if they pay cash, without letting it go thru insurance, pharmacies look at your DEA report on last time you got it. I’ve seen a pharmacy tell a person to come back in 20 min and well…they had cops waiting to arrest her. They will always find out. Even if it happens to slip by because they forged the date,eventually. ..they WILL be caught.
Those are my suggestions on script changes. Its perfectly legal to post date or go in to grab the script once a month,and not having to pay a co pay to see the dr. They just leave it up front with the people who work up there.
Cheryl
NH
This is really getting ridiculous. I too had a car accident with herniated disc that the doctors misdiagnosed for years (this was 25 years ago). Was scheduled for surgery January 2012 but ex husband lost job a week before surgery and insurance was axed that day. Now I can’t afford surgery with the $1,400 deductible and 20% of hospital bill – wtf is wrong !!! I’m so depressed about this country it is making me sick. Now for the past 2 years have been on low dose vicodin (5mg 4x day). Same thing had to go pick up my script monthly. Now they inform me I have to go see the doctor every month. My copay is $30 – my script is $20. Now paying $50 a month – not right! Who is getting rich here – GOVERNMENT – trying to control us. I feel so many people will go to the streets for heroin or fentonol (sp ?) if they don’t continue those that need it. Just doesn’t make any sense. If I have to start missing work cause of pain I chance getting let go – I am 55. So then we all go on disability – government still controls us. Heck I might get free surgery out of the deal then.
Esther
Wisconsin
My Dr. writes a “laddered” script for 3 months. I turn them into my pharmacy, and go in to pick up my pills every 28 days. My pharmacy prints how many “ladders” I have left on the bottle. when I need more, I can call the clinic and they will leave me 3 more scripts at the desk, which have to be picked up in person and dropped off at the pharmacy. There is no office charge for this. It works fairly well, but if I forget to do my 28 day pick up, there is a limit to how long that script is good. more than 7 days late and I lose that refill. It does make me feel a bit like a criminal, but I have severe chronic pain and without the Oxycodone I would be unable to continue to work.
Scott
California
The idea for putting effective meds, to a Schedule 2, is borderline criminal. My story, short and sweet retired LEO, hit by vehicles x2, on a motorcylce. Damage you bet, pain oh yes. Constantly acute, numb, burning, etc.. pain patients know what I’m saying. I didn’t realize how that dealing with chronic pain, would make me, un-me. In addition I carry a med bag, with pain junk, at all times. Responsible, law abiding, non-junkies, need every and all options at there disposal. I served my country, die hard patriot, I served my state. My very existence is lived month, to month, to etc. One person, one voice, many people…Change! Wait till a person high up the food change, has this problem or their mom, see if you don’t see change..
Gary
Chicago
All I can add is these bastards who created this new classification to make it almost impossible for legitimate pain sufferers like myself to get relief should have their spines cracked in two places and forced to enjoy the pain with NO relief available and see how THEY like it. This country has turned into a cesspool in the last 7 years.
onefeatheraa
Well said. We have a very corrupt medical system and government.
C.Jaeschke
MO
YES, we do!
June
Newton NC
This country has been going downhill. I have lived in chronic pain most of my life from a car accident. Now, I’m told I can longer have help for pain. I don’t have a drug problem. I have a pain problem.
I was on soma and tramadol and fentanyl. I am still going through withdrawals because the dose I get to get off of them is not enough to stop the withdrawals. I went off Fentanyl myself. I could have one more script, but I’m not taking it.
I know there is a drug problem in this country. My brother is an addict. I am not an addict. Why cut patients off that you know have pain? I never abused my dose because I knew I would need them.
LLOYD
MICHIGAN
In response to onefeatheraa: I AGREE !!!!!
Deborah
FL - Florida
I want to tell my story for the first time. I am a registered nurse but I can’t practice anymore. It’s not because I am not allowed to, it’s because I cannot.
In 2006 I was working as a Hospice nurse. I loved my job. But years of being a nurse and of course having 4 children took its toll on my back. I was the nurse who would judge patients for asking for their darvocet in the nursing home. The other nurses told me those older patients were just addicted and they whinned and complained.
Later I became a Hospice nurse, my goal was to allow those patients to live a life with dignity and as little pain as possible. I loved what I did. Because my 6 year old daughter died of a brain tumor in 1986. I started nursing school in 1987. I was so thankful that hospice helped my little daughter not be in so much pain for the year and a half that she had left to live. I thank God we lived in a country that provided pain relief to those who needed it.
My daughter died peacefully on March 3rd 1986. I then started my pursuit to be an R.N. so I could help others and I am so thankful I was able to. Then my world changed. I never did hard drugs. Never. When I was a teenager, I did smoke pot. But as an adult I wanted to help others, I wanted to live my passions as most Americans do.
In 2006 I hurt my back to the point I could not work. I went to a pain clinic because my sister brought me there. She said he was a good doctor. I believed her. After one month of taking pain pills I was able to work and not call in sick, so I stopped. I felt so horribly sick I called the doctor because I stopped all the meds he gave me. I went in he refilled them and I realized I was addicted. I couldn’t believe it. But the thing is I was able to work. I was not high or weird. I could take care if my husband and 3 other children.
You see, when I see others in pain, there is a way to tell. We are taught to use observation. Nurses are very good patient advocates and I am one of those. I will fast forward to now. I have debilitating nerve injury to my spine, that has left me with severe pain and problems with walking for the rest of my life. Due to all this craziness with the DEA, I have not been on opioids for 5 years. Because of that I lost my husband of 34 yrs and my home. Because he chose to be with a younger woman. Who could work and be fun. I am not old at all, yet I lost everything not because I want to be an addict but because I refused to be labeled or because I just wanted to do what I thought our government said was right. I was wrong.
I lost everything just because I chose to be politically correct. Yet I lost everything dear to me because I choose to be in pain and no-one wants to be around people in pain. It’s wrong to do this to human beings who are in chronic pain. There is no difference on the pain a person feels in pain. It’s just the productivity a person can make a difference if they live for 20 yrs or 1 year. That is the real issue here. Please be an advocate as I am for people in pain. It doesn’t matter if it’s chronic or its cancer pain. Pain is pain
That is what I learned in med school.
Janet
Indiana
We should be able to at least be comfortable if we have a chronic condition. Being comfortable means keeping the nerves calm so you do not have chronic spasms that cause so much pain you tense up and cannot move. Does the United States realize what is is doing taking pain medication away? People in pain are suffering. It is cruel and inhumane to let people suffer like this.
joseph
Ontario, CA
As far as a doctor prescribing this drug, they have to monitor the patients a little closer because that is one of the problems. On the black market a lot of people are selling the script for extra cash. Perhaps a blood test now and then from the patient could help. A concerned citizen.
Laurel
Utah
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and have been on many RA (meds) throughtout the years. I have developed allergies to all aspirin products and the so called miracle biologics like Embrel. Humira and now Xeljanz with horrible side effects. I’m 63 years old and when I have a flare-up the only thing I can take are pain pills. Why are we being punished for what a few people do? I’m tired of the Govt. having a say in what I can or cannot take to lessen my pain. God forbid they ever get a debilitating disease!
Caryl
Texas
After taking Norco for 20 yrs for post-op Illioinguinal Nerve Pain, DEA rule scheduled it to 2, my Dr retired (along with many others), the young Drs came to Baylor Scott and White along with the new policy…”no schedule ll drugs prescribed” by primary care Drs. ). The Pain Management Clinic would only offer trigger points which I had years ago to NO avail. There are about 600 doctors in my town alone at this huge burocracy. I think it’s criminal to withhold care in this manner. As a Home Health Nurse I saw hundreds of home bound patients with under treated chronic pain. Darvocet used to be an option for the older patient …then the FDA took it away. Now Hydrocodone ….
“Relief of pain is a humanitarian issue. To leave a person in avoidable pain and suffering should be regarded as a serious breach of fundamental human rights.”
Michael
New mexico
I’m not a drug addict I was in a bad car accident I asked for pain med and was told to take ibuphrophen even though I allegeric to it. I have 5 blown dics and am in constant pain my doctors could care less thank god I’m in a medical marijuana state.
Kim
Oklahoma City
i have chronic neck and back pain ive had disks removed from my neck and the surgery left me with constant pain at first i didnt have trouble getting my prescription but now thanks to OBN my doctor lowered my dose and told me he has to get me off my medication that would be okay if he was taking the pain down a notch or two first but no he says ill have to find some other way to deal with the pain. so i dont know what ill do im in a great deal of pain from the dose cut and i dont know what ill do when he cuts it off completely but i know ill probably spend every day of my life in pain just because the OBN doesnt care if any one is in pain
mike
Braselton Ga
I suffer from Degenerative disk disease and sever arthritis and i have 4 herniated and bulging disk in my back and 2 in my neck, i have had this for 10 years, doctors almost begged me to get surgery and i refused until now when technology got better with the one inch incision. I have pain so bad i throw up, i cant feel my feet and always falling and hurting other parts of the body from the falls. i had not worked in 3 years cause of this. i had to sell my truck cause i couldn’t get it anymore and the fact i had to stop working from the pain i couldn’t afford the truck. I take Soma and nuerotin and percacet and Having to go to the doctor to get a paper RX and hand deliver it to the pharmacy is total crap. it would be safer and more easy for someone who cannot hardly walk to be able to have my doctor call these in to the pharmacy. this way it dont get lost or stolen or pharmacy fear of people faking the paper copy,. and being able to get refills on them. instead of having to pay a $40 copay for every visit. and the insurance co. paying up just because the DEA wants to be pricks and ruin the lives more for people like me who TRULY need our medicine. I would much rather be able to smoke a joint here in GA then to be on pain meds but again the government wants to be pricks and Ruin our lives with BS laws and rules.
JenS
You need to find a diff dr,different pain management. I always use Yelp when looking for anything. ..it helps
Eddie
Paris, TX
Pharmaceuticals caused this by bribing doctors to overprescribe to anyone for any reason. Bad drug companies and doctors have caused this crisis, and now those who actually need this class of medication will be punished. This should only drive up the demand for Mexican fentanyl. Perhaps they will legalize cannabis and move it to a schedule 3 drug for those in extreme pain. It is hard to believe that more people die of hydrocodone overdoses than auto accidents annually. People who overdose though will just find another way to do it.
Diana
Buffalo, NY
I too am a long-term pain patient. After an auto-immune disease literally ate away my hips, causing me to have both replaced, I spent 5 years in bed, as my doctors tried to diagnose me and get me on proper treatment. Ultimately, I was sent to a pain management doctor.
After two years of trying to regulate my pain with oral medication and medication that is absorbed through your skin in patch form, it was decided that I was a candidate for an “Intrathecial Pump”. This pump delivers narcotic medication directly to the spinal cord ( pain receptor cells). Because of the way this system works it gives much better pain relief than oral medication and requires only a fraction of what a person would need to take orally. This cuts down on side effects, etc. I do take supplemental oral narcotics when the pain becomes greater than usual.
I understand that these new guidelines and laws are causing concerns. However, I have several questions regarding this:
First, I have read a portion of these stories and have not seen mention of people being managed through pain management doctors. Could these policies be an attempt to have chronic pain patients be managed by doctors who are specifically trained in this area and have patients receiving narcotic medications managed in a system that has accountability?
Second, as a chronic pain patient, I see my pain management doctor every 4-6 weeks regularly. It is part of my treatment just as seeing my Rheumatologist every month for the IV infusions to manage my auto-immune disease is. Is it really that unusual for people receiving narcotic pain medication on a regular basis to be seen on a monthly basis?
Any time I am admitted to the hospital for surgery, there is always a consultation between the surgeon and my Pain Management Doctor to discuss what is needed for post-operative pain. When I needed a third hip replacement, there was a Pain Management Specialist on staff at the hospital I was in who consulted with my regular doctor to solve any pain management issues that came up. Is this really unusual or do other hospitals have such doctors?
In general, the POTENTIAL implications of the new recommendations do scare me too. I think the recommendation for all doctors to not treat any chronic pain patients, except for chemo patients, with narcotics is absurd and completely inhumane. However, I am afraid objections to things like being seen by the doctor on a regular basis and potentially converting to an alternate narcotic (other than hydrocodone) might support a very sad stereotype that all chronic pain patients are simply drug-seeking and avoiding accountability.
I am not sure what the reasoning for specifically restricting hydrocodone is, but when there are so many other types of narcotics on the market that can be used for pain control, I guess I don’t understand why switching to an alternate medication is causing such difficulties for patients.
For those of you that read this and want to respond to my questions/ comments in an angry way, please know I am not trying to agree with the actions of the government agencies. I am just trying to understand all of the issues and encouraging all of us to clearly think through how this battle is going to be fought. I know without my pump my life would be over. I would become non-functional again and be a burden to my entire family. Believe me when I say, I truly think people need to understand the scope and breadth of the issue before making such wide-sweeping rulings. It does not seem that has been the case at all.
Kathleen
Wisconsin
I am a 68 year-old registered nurse, grandmother, and am 16 years post-heart transplant with chronic kidney disease from the anti-rejection medication. I had been getting along quite well, working, playing tennis several times per week, riding my bike, hiking. Then the back pain started. Initially I managed the pain by taking acetaminophen before a tennis match. The pain progressed to the point where I could not sit, stand, sleep, or eat. Sitting at the table for a family meal caused extreme nausea, I could not move enough to shower or dress. I was unable to work. A nurse friend, certified massage therapist, tried several sessions with no relief. I saw a physician who ordered x-rays and an MRI and diagnosed me with spinal stenosis L4-5. He ordered Tylenol #3, which caused severe nausea and vomiting. I saw a pain management doctor, who did facet joint injections and an ablation, both very painful and expensive but NOT helpful.
It was with great reluctance I agreed to try Percocet at bedtime. This helped, and the physician advised I take 1-2 every 6 hours. Not wanting to keep taking opioid medications, I went to our local spine clinic, where I was assessed and treated. Physical therapy helped for a while. I continued to live with pain, unable to work or enjoy family time. Two neurosurgeons said I was a poor surgical risk, and back surgery would not likely be helpful. Go to pain management. That doctor was not able to help. I have had so many doctor visits, only to be told there was nothing they could do. I tried Topiramate, Lyrica, and Cymbalta with no relief. I cannot take NSAIDs due to kidney disease. A chiropractor at the spine clinic stated he could not help me. I tried acupuncture, Lidoderm patch, over-the-counter topicals and a TENS unit with no relief.
A pain management doctor ordered oxycodone if I came in for monthly visits at a cost of forty dollars per visit. I live on a limited income, and this was a great hardship. One “expert” said to do yoga (which I plan to try) rather than use medication. The 10 mg of oxycodone 6 times per day (or less) allows me to work part time, go for walks, care for myself. I can spend time with my family, take a vacation and engage in some activities I enjoy. What I can do remains limited and so do my options. I continue to use interventions such as heat, cold, exercise, stretching. Most doctors will not prescribe opioid medication. I agree these are very powerful medications to be used with caution. They are to be used when other treatments fail.
But what do those of us with chronic pain do? One doctor suggested a pain pump be inserted into my spine or I use a fentanyl patch. Really? There are many of us in the same position. I am very grateful to the one physician who has the integrity to order oxycodone for me. His ability to do so may soon be hampered, and then what? Do I live out my life in severe pain? I wrote a letter to the Wisconsin Attorney General but got no response. Survived a heart transplant to live out my life in debilitating pain? I shudder when I think of all the money I spent just trying to live a somewhat “normal” life.
tracy
Nevada
I am basically in the same boat. It is disheartening to think that the one thing that helps us live even a little bit of a normal life, will be taken away from us for the crappie actions of others. I have blood tests to check my vital organs to make sure the opioid are not doing irreparable damage, I DO NOT take more than is prescribed and even take less if I can.
Alcohol is much more dangerous and yet it is available to everyone….
I am scared and depressed because the one thing that helps me do the things I enjoy, is going to be denied to me and I will be stuck in constant pain for the “golden” years of my life.
Diana
California
I too need take a paper RX every month for my refill of norco. Instead of seeing my doc and paying a monthly copay, she writes my rx when I call her office for a refill and then I just pick it up at the front desk the next day and it is ready to go. This is totally legal and some physicians will be agreeable. Ask your doctor if this is something they would do for you to save not only money but an unnecessary appointment?
Diana
California
Just a warning for everyone here. Do not EVER buy pills off the street or through a rogue online pharmacy. This past week here in my area many people have bought and taken what they thought was “norco” off the street which had the same M365 or M367 imprint on the tablets not knowing that they were laced with fentanyl. Many have died already. Thanks to all the new laws and regulations, peoples despiration for pain relief has killed them. Now I am sure some of these folks were addicts looking for their fix, but I cannot help but believe some were honest, despirate people in legitamate pain who were cut off by their doctors that won’t help them anymore. It’s all very sad.
B. William
Folsom, DE
With all due respect, I am hoping that the life of someone who has the disease of addiction, is not considered less valuable than the life of someone who suffers from chronic pain. Forgive me if I am misunderstood.
cindy
Denton, TX
Like the person who commented for the article, I am retired and on a fixed-income. Because of the changes in the law, my medical expenses have risen dramatically. Going from specialist to specialist trying to find one willing to continue with my pain treatment, paying a higher (specialist) copay, visiting the doc more often, taking an outrageously expensive drug test (made me feel like a criminal), and making sure that the pharmacy will have sufficient stock on hand to fill my prescription has done a few things for me: made my quality of life poorer; made it necessary for me to take an anti-depressant (anger and anxiety); and made my finances suffer. If the lawmakers think this law is helping curb abuse, they might want to think again. It might just drive law-abiding citizens to find pain relief from illegal sources. Not a good situation. Those who have never personally suffered from longterm, debilitating pain don’t understand what a life-saver hydrocodone can be. It is the difference between getting through a day and actually living the day to its fullest.
Cathryn
NM
These drugs are deadly and the use of chronic opioids for non-terminal malignant pain is nothing more than population control. I was one of the first people to be given oxycontin by my pain specialist and I believe I was the victim of an outrageous drug company that saw only profits. Fifteen years of my life later, almost killed by opioid induced hyperalgesia I quit cold turkey because my pain specialist, on the take with the Kadian manufacturer, would not discontinue the medication safely. I personally believe this highly respected physician is a drug pusher and belongs in jail with other drug dealers. I have been off all opioids for over 2 years. It is not easy but I am alive once again and grateful I refused to continue to take his posion for another day. I fully support the CDCs decision and wish I had declined that first prescription for oxycontin. I have had over 25 orthopedic proceedures and had my leg amputated to deal with my pain. It is not minimal but I am alive today because I quit.
Terry
They are not the best but they help me. Just because they are prescribed doesn’t mean you have to take them. But for those of us who would like to keep our limbs and live full productive lives with our work and families these medications help us. My doctor and myself should be deciding what is the best and most affordable treatment for me. Not the government. Meanwhile heroin is becoming an epidemic in our country killing people everyday and the government takes the medication from the patients that are in pain. I am 49 and the grandmother of 3 and I want to work and do things with my babies and I’ll tell you right now ibuprofen doesn’t help at all. I’d rather have 10’full years than 20 years of high medical bills and constant pain.
J. Smith-Carroll
San Jose, CA
What worked for you may not work well for others. The major thing is that YOU should have no influence on what goes on between others and their physicians. STOP TRYING TO PROJECT YOUR EXPERIENCE ONTO OTHERS! I had to be on opioids for 4 years while healing from a flesh-eating MRSA.
There are different reasons and different kinds of “dependence”: physical and psychological. I am blessed that I do not carry the DNA for addiction. Not all are so fortunate. Although I’m retired, I did have an Alc/Addiction specialist certificate as I taught “at risk” Special Ed teens. I DO know what I’m talking about. And YOU have NO right to interfere with a doctor and their patients.
Susan
Boston
Early on in my pain treatment, needed for Degerative Disc Disease, I was prescribed oxycodone and received limited relief; however, I desperately NEEDED that relief from my chronic pain, and I soon would undergo surgery for a herniated cervical disc. The surgery miraculously relieved the left side pain.
Unfortunately, pain returned in less than a year. During the course of my treatment, my primary care doctor retired and I became a patient to a much younger doctor. Sounds like trouble. That was my thought when she changed my prescription to morphine sulfate- not sure if subject to exact SAME restrictions as oxycodone. I quickly became thankful as my nerve pain reduction, especially in my lower back, was much better. Chronic pain, and nerve pain in particular, can drive a person insane. It is like a bad itch that you can’t scratch- except it is pain. But the itch never goes away by itself. It consumes you both physically and mentally.
I have been living, like most of the respondents here, for many years in chronic pain and have tried every option out there to alleviate symptoms. MS Contin works well for me, but for the hoops that I must jump through in order to obtain medication: call doctor’s office for 30 day prescription, pick up at office, fill at same pharmacy every time, sign forms agreeing to not behave like a criminal, take random urine tests paid for by yours truly, etc. My doctor allows me to call in and pick up script without charging for an appointment.
Costs to me:
Time to visit office/pharmacy every month,
Anxiety as quantity of medication approaches zero,
Humiliation from being treated like a criminal,
Random urine tests out of pocket cost: $82.58
Monthly out-of-pocket cost of pain meds: $98.98 x 12 = $1,187.76/year.
(My annual cost is actually lower because I try not to use as much as prescribed. So I usually refill 1-2 weeks after month.)
Keep this issue alive by contacting your congressman or Senator. Additionally, there are many others like you, speaking up for all.
Most of all, don’t despair! Reach out and receive, at the very least, the comfort from those who know your pain.
Linda
Virginia
Dear Catherine in NM.
No disrespect, but just because you felt like opioids did not work well for you does not mean doctors that prescribe them are drug pushers and the rest of us should suffer because of your personal experience.
I do not understand how any government agency should be able to come between a patient/doctor care plan. If a patient has been diagnosed with chronic pain and pain medicine helps them to function, then it should be illegal for any goverment agency to dictate terms and tell the patients and or doctors to lower the amount of oxycodone they take. The DEA’s job is to get the illegal drugs off the street, period. Just because they can not perform their job to the best of their ability should not give them any authority to step all over my constitutional rights!
All of the people who have been properly diagnosed, but have had their doctors lower the amount of their pain medicine, should gather state by state and start filing class action lawsuits. Where are all the attorneys in this fight? If we start suing the DEA because we can no longer function due to our medicine, which was fine for us to take 6-months ago, but now has to be lowered to the point of patients now suffering and no longer being able to function, they would have to back off; wouldn’t they???
Trish
Australia
This is NOT a good read for those who suffer chronic pain and I sympathise entirely I am in Australia and I think there would be a revolt if this were to happen here – please God it doesn’t! For the last 12 months I have been on a 10mg Morphine patch (Norspan) and just this month it was increased to 15mg. I too would love anything effective that would replace this but it isn’t available. I have severe osteoarthritis and 5 bulging discs in my lower spine plus bone on bone in both knees. I would love them to walk for a day in my shoes (except my walking distances are very limited!!) and then pontificate about pain relief and see if they can go cold turkey and “suck up the pain”. Don’t know what the culture is in America but surely there could be a public outcry and get some public angst going about this. It’s all very well for these clowns “at the top” making these sweeping decisions but they too surely have to be accountable – or do they?! All the best for your fight.
Suzanne
Michigan
I have much the same conditions as you are suffering from. I have recently gotten a new doctor as I am feeling no longer like an individual but rather s herd of cattle being pushed and manipulated through hoops made by someone else and my doctor just falls through it. What happened to diagnosing people as individuals?
HelenM
Modesto
I am very frightened; even with the pain meds there are altogether too many do nothing days in my life. I anticipate living another five to ten years, unless I have another cancer. I have survived four cancers, am an old lady, do not want to go thru any treatment again. Yet I wonder, what will happen to palliative care under these very restrictive rules? They have me so close on number of pills and when I can renew them that I cannot build up a supply to cover an emergency.
My husband who is disabled and on stronger pain meds has had to run around town to even find a pharmacy that would consent to filling his scripts. He is usually told to come back in two or three days, frequently gets a call before then about a further delay. When this first began, he started cutting down so he could accumulate an emergency supply. There are times when his supply, enough to cover two or three days, is not enough to carry him thru to when his meds are finally available for pickup. And now it is going to get worse.
Tim
Orange, CA
I’m 70 yrs. old and Norco 10-325 is the only medication that makes my pain bearable. I also suffer from major depression. I foresee an uptick in suicides in the near future..I hope it won’t affect me that way…
Ray
Oklahoma
My son has sickle cell disease and when he get’s crises not even morphine can help. He get’s something much stronger for more than 3 days. I can’t imagine what Tylenol or Advil will do for him. Is there a petition drive going on?
Sharon
Murrieta, CA
I have chronic pain from chronic pancreatitis and had a morphine pump implant for 13 years before it started to come out through my skin. The doctors decided to put me on maintenance medication which took months to get the right medication so I could function. Along with it I take hydrocodone for breakthrough pain as I did with the pump. Before everything I almost died from the pain caused by this condition alone. That was in 1998. Now what? I think this will become a black marketer’s dream. Just my opinion.
Theresa
South Carolina
I am terminally ill with MSA, I STILL HAD TO SIGN PAIN CONTRACT, SUBMIT TO URINE TEST, AND PILL COUNTS. TEll me something is not wrong!
Cindy
Sacramento, CA
Chronic low back pain from multiple car accidents. Experienced the worst pain of my life. Had to just stop taking Vicodin cold-turkey because of the government’s new rules. I had a fall 2 days ago which has made it worse and my doctor won’t Rx without coming to see her. It’s just ridiculous. Even the pain surgeon says people with chronic pain deserves to be on anything they want for their pain.
Jeff
All the new rule does is cause people to buy them illegally on the street which is dangerous. Kind of tired of the government telling me to wear a seatbelt a helmet. It’s my body and my choice government regulations are just established by people with nothing else to do in life. I recently suffered a strangulated hernia and all the veterans administration could think of is I must be a drug addict. Really upsets and causes me not to use the VA anymore for medical treatment
Jat
North Carolina
Is the change regarding oxy, rtc the reason there aee so many herion users in the norheast? DEA and government in our lives is the number one problem in the USA! My GP left his practive last June, stating that GOVCO was the main reason. I wonder if DEA or other Gov employees have problems getting their MEDS! The Gov is “by the people, for the people”. What has happened over the past seven years niw tha Govco wants to control our entire lives? To government: Get out of our lives,
Melody
Oklahoma
I totally agree with you! My daughter and I have severe chronic pain associated with autoimmune diseases. The government has become a dictator in so many areas of our lives! And the problem with some of this is that these are appointed positions that we can’t vote them out. The USA is not the country our founding fathers set it up to be. I AM ANGRY!
Vanessa
Texas
Veterans are dealing with this in a bad way. The head of the VA is making it mandatory for all VA doctors to force pain patients to go through a list of “treatments” before allowing us to even go to pain management.
Every chronic pain patient knows what works and what doesn’t. Yet, they are making us repeat unnecessary “therapies” that have all ready been proven not to work. My doctor told me that they also aren’t allowed to give anything stronger than Hydrocodone 10/325 (maximum of 4 pills a day). Even people who were previously prescribed Morphine or Fentanyl are not allowed to have them anymore unless they have certain cancers. He even said they are talking about making the max pain medication being Tylenol with codeine (max of 30mg). How is that going to help a combat veteran who was wounded?
Charles
Ft Worth, Texas
I was in a bad elevator collapse and have fractures of t-5. T6 & T-8 as well as Bulging and bone spurs in my C-4& C-5. I have lost two inches in my height due to herniated and bulging discs and advanced degenerative disc disease. I have annular tears in my L-2 and L3 loss of height.
At my L-5 and S1degenerativedecicciation with loss of heigthof the interverbrate disc space. also annual tearin far lateral margin of L-5-S1and Facet arthropathy. The pharmacy at Walmart made a error on what they wrote on my prescription of Hydrocodone and they refuse to admit it was there error that they wrote on my prescription that I did find was illegal so my Dr stopped my medication cold Turkey
I am living in pain I wouldnt wish on my worst enimy, I have had the same Dr for 11 years and I am shocked at her rudness to me. The most upsetting is My Dr. and I had a great relationship. Now she wont even talk to me about it to fix the problem. I need my pain meds and she just wont give me any refills. My pain is making my life unlivable. The new laws have caused more damage that you can imagine. My mobility is very limited. I can no longer get out of bed or carry on my daily dutys as I was able to before the laws passed in October. I feel my life is over I cant live with this pain. I don’t know what to do
I am angry I and others are being punished for what a few abusers are doing. I am not very well and have no one that can help me. So basicaly My Doctor of 11 years that put me on this has fired me . I have been to the ER 4 times even they dont help anymore. I need help!
Zoe
MN
Oh man, I feel for you Charles! Your back sounds really bad. That would have made me insane that I didn’t get my scrip – and was denied future pain meds because of a mistake the pharmacy made! Perhaps you can find a new doc? I don’t get any opiods at all and experience chronic pain due to arthritis – in multiple joints. I fear for my future. Walking now is difficult. I don’t even try to get pain meds, because I know what they’ll say – “no”. I’m sorry for what happened to you Charles and hope you can get back on meds to make your life more livable.
Amy
This new law bugs me death. I used to get 3 refills now I have get paper prescription and physically take inside to pharmacy who looks at me weird.
I used to just have to pick up my refills and doctor call in prescription. I am not abusing drug and I am in pain daily. It is really unfair.
Zoe
MN
Amy – what you are going through is a hassle, but be grateful you are getting drugs AT ALL. Many people here have terrible chronic pain and cannot get meds.
isabel
CA.
Chronic pain syndrome due to low back injury. My doctor retired and suddenly after over ten years of trial and error we finally landed on a pain medication regimen that works. Norco 10 mg 2 pills twice to 3 times in 24 hours and I am human. WQithout it I eventually become emotionally unstable from on going unrelieved pain which is fairly typical of chronic pain syndrome. Now doctors want to urine test me every month. Recently got a false negative result as in it looks like I wasn’t taking my meds which is ridiculous and probably red flags me.
I have no history of drug abuse no legal record of any drug charges… Why in the world am I being treated like a drug addict? I’m in pain and I am angry at this treatment. I havent even gone back in to get my regular prescription. If this is whats happening to millions of law abiding patients with chronic pain… I can only say this is not going to go well and will destabalize our country further and who knows what kinds of melt downs and blow outs will occure when chronic pain unalleviated rears its ugly head en mass. There will be terrible repercussions to be sure.
Unwise government. This will end up costing taxpayers millions of dollars in ambulance and police calls incarceration as fights break out and tempers boil over past concern in the madness that eventually breaks out from ceaseless pain left untreated.
Dee
Waldorf (and vicinity), Maryland, United States of America
I have been under pain management for 5 years for Lupus and fibromalgia then surgeon there decided I needed a dissection done on L5 after 3 series of injections that made me sick and back worse. Went in for dissection of L5 in and out 3 hr surgery went to a 8 hr 2 day stay multi level fusion with 2 ft rods pedicle screw’s and plate without consent. Which now I have been diagnosed with failed back surgery and chronic pain.
I have been going to the same pharmacy for years under contract with pain management. The pharmacist use to tell me to call a week ahead so they would have them, then was told to just call a day ahead. So I called this month was told they would have them. Walked in the next day and was told by a new pharmacist (not the one I spoke to on phone) that they don’t have them and would have to order them and would take 48 hrs… explained I called he basically told me I was lying that they will no longer hold this medication (oxycodone) it will be first come first serve bases and was very rude.
I explained I am under pain management and this pharmacy is under my contract and I cannot go pharmacy shopping he said did not care he would have to order and these are the rules. So I agreed but told him I only had enough to get through that day and the next but not for another day he did not care told me won’t be in until 4:30 on the 48 hrs I was in tears but what could I do? But it seemed really funny that before my husband and I were driving out the parking lot my phone rang it was my pharmacy when answered they hung up I called back said they accidently called my phone what my number is on speed dial? I think they found that my meds were there but the new Pharmacist told them to hang up.
So when I went in to get my meds 2 days after I was giving a generic from a different manufacturer and this brand does nothing for my pain. Went on line lot of write ups about this same problem from this manufacturer. It just really hurts me that this new Pharmacist treated me like a drug addict talked down to me and then he has to know this brand does nothing. What do I sign a contract and put down my Pharmacy for if the Pharmacy does not have them what is this contract for and can’t go to any other Pharmacy unless you notify pain management and good luck in this area you have a hard time getting anyone to fill it and they look at you like you are an addict as they tell you no we don’t have them or we order them and they short us.
I even had one Pharmacy tell me they order them and never get them true story. What is all these contracts for if you cannot guarantee that meds are going to be there? I thought when you signed this that the Pharmacy gets notice to have them in the vault or safe for you. And if we have to take generics they should at least all be comparable to help with your pain not just fillers and additives. DEA wants all this red tape so why don’t they help the ones that are truly disabled to get their meds guaranteed especially the ones that pass all urine tests and have history of it and don’t abuse meds. And I feel Pharmacist should be trained to treat people all the same unless you know what is really going on with them medically don’t judge. I feel if this Pharmacist took the time to see my history should have an idea if trained correctly by meds. All the others that work there know me but it seems he has them in fear they won’t speak up.
bill
Midway, TN
I have been on hydrocodone for appx 5 years, never once giving or selling my pills to someone else. My doctor who had orginally prescribed them retired in July, 2015, and it has been a real eye-opening experience since then.
Yes, I signed a “pain contract” with him. He required a once yearly drug test -“to satisfy the system”. Since he retired, I went to his PA who was still with the same medical group (1 time) before she decided to dismiss me because I was dis-satisfied with her care.
Now my new provider has sent me a so-called contract to bring to my next visit with such stipulations as 24 hour notice, to come in for random pill counts and Drug screens, and even advance notification of my trips out of town. This is more restrictive than someone on probation, and I have never been convicted of a crime!! In my opinion this violates not only physician-client relationship but my civil liberties!
Laurie Edwards
Holtville, Ca
Those of that that do not abuse our prescriptions are now held more accountable than those that abuse drugs. Trust me, my son got addicted after a back injury. Since he had no insurance, it was cheaper to pay $2 a pill. He is now clean, but I agree with you. It is costing me over $600 a year, even with insurance. So I have to decide, do I lose quality of life by saving money, or suck it up. My doctor would write me a prescription at my quarterly check up. Now, I have to have a separate visit each month
susan osborne
okla
in Oklahoma. Does anyone know about the new law of doctors now having to have a urine sample? Not only to see if marijuana is being used but also if you are taking the pills and not selling them? I am an old woman with severe R.A. I would appreciate any info on urine tests.
Zoe
MN
I think it doesn’t matter what state you are in – you will be required to submit urine samples on some kind of schedule. However, I’m not from Oklahoma – and am no expert, but I do know several people from other states, including mine and they all have to do urine tests.
Guy who is trying to survive
California
So I have a 18mm by 6 mm bulging disc in my L3 and a 15mm by 8mm bulge and I have been going to the same doctor for Vicodin’s or OxyContin depending on how bad of pain I’m in. I only got 60 OxyContin three times in a year and a half. And man those things are strong yet they last a lot longer than the Vicodin’s. Most of the time I only get 90 Vicodin’s.
Today I finally gave in and seem a back surgeon because I’m losing feeling in my right leg and have collapsed. The surgeon was shocked I have even lasted this long with out some kind of surgery. I’ve done epidurals twice with only one that worked. Each time it cost me $300 and I have good insurance. Today the surgeon doctor gave me a prescription for 90 Vic’s and my last prescription was 28 days ago. Normal stuff right?
I found out today that the Costco pharmacy I used for the first time said I’m going to be red flagged and this will be my last prescription I can get for pain meds. While I’m have a surgery I’m O about a month SO WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT MY AFTER SURGERY PAIN??? This is going to be a crazy ordeal.
I don’t abuse, I don’t sell my pain killers. I work construction and I have tried every route. I’ve even lost 40 lbs in a year. The government is out of control, I truly thing something has to break. We are not living in a free country anymore. I have a 4 year old daughter and I’m scarred what lies ahead.
Bet
California
This new rules is only hurting the responsible patients, and putting additional strain on the doctors, nurses and even pharmacies. But it’s worse for the patients. First, consider that chronic pain patients take this medications because of pain — very likely pain involving mobility. IN the last year, this has been my experience. I cannot take NSAIDS (Ibuprofen, Aleeve, etc) for pain because of gastric bypass surgery. Now, I’ve lost plenty of weight (200+) pounds but I’m still left with ongoing pain issues. Yes I am more mobile, which I love, but the pain has increased, especially on days when I am able to have physical therapy or a workout. Multiple doctors agree that my only real option of effective pain relief is a hydrocodone based medication. I still have to deal with the inflammation…. only treat it through natural methods. This creates a unique situation, and after much back and forth, we’ve learned that the hydrocodone based medication is effective to keep me mobile. I don’t particularly want to be taking it… but my primary doctor said I should be looking at it along the same lines as insulin for diabetics. He would not prescribe it if he felt I had another option. I happen to know that’s true, because he is the kind of doctor who wants his patients to pursue alternative options before medication. He said that he only has three patients on narcotic pain medications, and he knows them all quite well. I only have to see him every 6 months… though I get bloodwork every three.
Since this change, I’m in his office once a month to pick up a written Rx. Now, I happen to live over 40 miles from my doctor… so consider that additional expense. Also, and this is the most aggravating part of the whole process. I am often forced to go to 5-8 (sometimes more) different pharmacies just to get it filled because I’m told they are always out of stock. They tell me, “Try back in two weeks…” Two weeks? I feel like I’m treated as a criminal or an addict looking to get high. Fact is… with my stomach surgery a good portion of the medication actually passes through me without even impacting me to the point of “getting high” — but they don’t know that. My docs have done the bloodwork, and they said a hydrocodone based medication that I take has about the same impact on pain as about 600mg of ibuprofen does on the average person — because of absorption issues. I simply do not absorb food nutrients nor medications the same as most people, and it’s important to understand that these medications are formulated on the assumption that they are taken by a person with normal anatomy. In my case, I specifically, also, cannot take time-released medication, either. They are totally ineffective. If I need antibiotics… I don’t get pills anymore… I’m sent straight to an IV.
We can’t fill these until 1-3 days before our existing Rx runs out. I’ve found this is dependent on the pharmacist on duty at the time. Some will not fill it until the day I’m out… and I go in to be told they’re out of stock and to come back in two weeks. So, a chronic pain patient, on the last day (or even a day or two past) of a prescription is forced to run around town left and right to see who, if anyone, has their medication in stock because they aren’t allowed to give that information over the phone. It’s torture… especially if you do end up running out and spend several days looking for a pharmacy who has it in stock. Stopping these medications cold turkey like that is dangerous and makes it even more difficult on the chronic pain patient taking their medication as prescribed.
There really needs to be a middle ground built in to the system to get around some of this.
Laurie Edwards
I have had the same experience. I was using Target before the new law went into effect. Once it did, I would go drop off my prescription three days in advance only to be told that it would be 5 days before they got in a new supply. I asked why it now took nearly a week to get my prescription filled. The answer wad “a lot of people are on this medication “. My response was, since you know this, why not order enough for your regular customers. No response. So, I am finally getting to the point that I need less and less each day. Even at my worst, I never have taken more than 4 per day. I am down to one or two at the most.
Sharon
I agree 100%. I too had a stomach surgery. I had 60% of my stomach removed due to ulcers. I too do not absorb my food and medication normal. I get approximately 50% of it’s effectiveness. Pharmacists do look and talk down to you and act as if you were some type of sniveling addict with a little headache. I’m 65 years old and definitely deserve better respect than that. Thank you!
Dallas
Clarkston, WA.
This is cruel and I say to heck with the DEA.
Michelle
CHATSWORTH CA
I have 8 screws 2 rods in my neck , had a tumor removed from my neck a year after the hard wear was put in , I’m in pain on a daily basis ! I’ve tried Motrin , Advil etc . Nothing works besides the pain medication the dr was giving me ! Now I get the run around when it’s time to
Get my script filled ! I’m
Not faking my pain and this is just rediculos that they are doing this to the people who really need it !
Tana
Indiana
I totally agree. I have chronic pain from a back injury. It’s just like anything else a few bad apples spoil it for others that need it. Chronic pain patients should not be punished for others poor choices.
Kye Azrael
“We’re the FDA! Without us people would be eating dirt and….chairs!” -South Park
This is our government’s mentality to the letter. They think that without them, people would be giving children drugs and people ODing in the street when this is obviously not the case. They need to leave their people alone to make their own choices. It’s ridiculous when my 87 year old grandmother (with MAJOR arthritis and virtually no spine left) has trouble getting the pain medication she literally needs to get out of bed in the morning. Not to mention they think they can apply physiological and psychological data to the broad number of people that use this medication, when everyone handles substances like this differently. clowns who think they know best because they were put in power through sheer corruption. \
Renee R.
Note to anyone having to take a urine test for any opiate pain medication. While this may be required by the insurance companies, patients do NOT have to pay for this. If you are told you have to pay for the urine test, this is illegal.
If they want the test, THEY HAVE to pay for it. No patient has to pay for this test.
Lena
chico CA
I can total relate after my recent Dr.Appt my Dr told me she wont be giving me any more scripts for Norco or valium and that she was gonna try and reer me to a pain clinic and ive been going to the same doctors for 20+years and what does she mean when she says try and refer this is bullcrap and now I don’t know what I will do
Ron
Ohio
If it benefits millions of people and does more good than bad why are they restricting it so much. Other people’s children snooping in their medicine cabinet are not my problem
Bill
CA
I go through all the steps to get a monthly supply of medication for pain. I call the doctor, pick up the prescription if the doctor is available to write it. I then take it to the pharmacy and usually I have to go back to pick it up a couple of days later if I am lucky. This is while I am in pain the whole time. My wife hates to go for me as she has things to do. Remember that when I drive a car, I can not be under the influence of narcotics. This is a real PITA every month. Please stop this insanity!
stan
here
they are rich people with little to no compassion.
Jesse
The root of the problem is that in my opinion the government has no business telling people what they can and can not put into their own bodies. This applies to both food and drugs.
Sharon
And don’t forget Alcohol and the effects on the public. Many people aren’t even aware of all the ways alcohol, which is legal, affects a person. It can be just as badly abused. Bad stuff!
Darryl
Ohio
This a simple case of Big Brother trying to control all aspects of our lives and now they are going to tell us when we are in pain and when we are not.
ROSIE
CLEVELAND,TX
I have been suffering with back pain since my injury at work in 1991, It has started getting more severe as I age. I was given Tramadol in 2003. As I got older I had to have surgery after truing to do yard work. I started hearing the bones rubbing together, so in 2009 the doctor said I would have to stop work and take care of myself. Norco was prescribed for pain management, and I felt better than I have felt in 15 yrs. Sometimes I would take only two when the weather got bad. But now I can’t get it anymore. My back hurts on down in hip and legs, and I easily fall. The doctor gave me Tylenol, and I constantly take them with only slightly relief.
Anne
Had outpatient surgery a week ago. It took four hours after I got home to get paper lortab prescription filled. Ran out three days later and had to get someone to drive to another town to get new paper prescription. Still in bad pain and will run out again before doc leaves for Thanksgiving. This law is nuts!!! There must be another way to prevent abuse!!!
Terry
Redding , CA
I’ve been on 10/325 Hydrocodone for over 20 years it helped my pain and allowed me to have a functioning life. I work as a server now 31 years and have 3 grand children which I help with daily. Now instead of allowing me to take the medication , by the the treatment I can afford they want to change it also do injections and surgeries I can’t afford and the change in medication will impair me so I won’t be able to work or care for my beautiful grand children. This last year I have had several injections that helped for a couple months and cost me 600 plus dollars. Over 1000 for my knee surgery and I’m in more pain then before and on less medication. They cut my medication in half. I had to change to a pain clinic because my regular doctor can’t prescribe my meds anymore., and she knows me. Something has got to change.
Nancy
Las Vegas, NV
In 2010 I had my first back surgery. I took Loritab 10, four times a day up until recently. I have a half pill for when I need it in the middle of the night.
After the first surgery I was not getting better, so after five months I had an MRI. It showed a bulging disc that I didn’t have before so I had a second surgery. Nine months later I had to go back to work to earn my time for my medical insurance, so I am worse now then I was before my first surgery. Then I managed on Advil or Aleve.
My doctor messed me up, and I had to let go of my job of 17 years. And because I was trying to do the right thing to see if I would get better, I cannot even sue him. In the state of Nevada you have one year from your surgery and it does not matter what kind of surgery.
In my whole life I never had the need for these kind of drugs. It really it makes me angry that I still have pain even with the meds. Then my pain management doctor told me about the law requiring a prescription. I am not happy but I got through it.
It really is stupid for any insurance company is not going to pay for it or let it go through at any pharmacy so you don’t get them any way so now I go to the doctor and I am asked to take a piss test then when the doctor comes in I asked he tells me that now they have to test patients to make sure they are taking their meds. I didn’t like it, felt insulted but what could I do? I thought they was just doing a test strip in the office but no they sent it out to quest and now I have to pay 413.14 for my insurance does not pay for drug test.
I don’t know how many times a year they plan to test me but I can’t afford the one time, and I am really upset and as other people have said what about the really poor people that cannot afford this? They are hurting people young and old with this law. I don’t believe any insurance company pays for this test. This has been hard enough that people have to go to a pain management doctor and not your main doctor, so for me I have to pay 30 dollar co pay instead of 20 they just want to make it harder on all of us.
Stefany W.
Maryland
I must agree after reading all of these posts…I myself have had 10 orthopedic surgeries. 2 of them have been back surgeries and spinal fusion; a few others 4 hip surgeries. these are only a few of the many surgeries I have had. I used to hate pain medication. I did all that I could to avoid it and took prescription strength Advil 800mg. Now I try to go some time without any meds, but it is physically impossible. I hurt all over and the winter is just the worst! I become so miserable when I am off my meds and since there is such a strict limit on them I usually tend to run out. Trust me; I do not wish to be on them but the alternative after 10 surgeries is basically impossible if I am to maintain 2 jobs and college classes.
While I completely understand the DEA’s reasoning behind their new laws; all they are accomplishing is making people like us live in hell and for the drug seekers, well they are turning more to heroin and dying with the death rate increasing! You cannot control the people who are drug addicts. They will always exist. But to punish people who do not abuse medication and need them to live a more functional life than one of severe depression due to pain is really unjust.
Nicole
m
Oh, I’m sure if it’s “THEIR” family, all the DEA has to do is find a Dr and tell them what they need. If they can scare Drs into not giving proper treatment, they can scare them into anything.
I’ve been in chronic daily pain for the last 8 years due to a botched emergency C-section. Herniated discs, bulging discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, and hip problems bc one leg is longer than the other. I am so discouraged. I’m so tired of living in pain. But that’s not even the bad part. The bad part is the fact that I can’t be the nurse I’m supposed to be, or the mom and wife I want and need to be. The DEA doesn’t give 2 craps about “true real debilitating pain” they never will.
Tortured...
Cincy, Ohio
How is this fair to people like myself. ??? I am being tortured by my government !!! They have more sympathy to animals than the American people…By that my point is this when a animal is suffering they put it down…I’m forced to suffer over corporate greed and corrupt politicians who have no idea what daily never ending chronic pain is like…People like me hate how these drugs make us feel, how they affect our bodies but we take them to have a portion of a normal life…Before my body broke down from working as a slave all my life I was a strong active person…since my third back surgery my life has changed in every aspect and I’m forced to rely on pain medication, not to be completely pain free but to relieve my never ending pain…The mental stress it puts on me has ruined my life, it ruined my marriage, it’s broken me from the man I once was. Unless you suffer from chronic pain you cannot understand how it destroys not just your body but your mind…these laws have made a already horrible life experience worse and every day I pray for it to stop. Just one day without suffering, without being tortured. Yet it never comes. It’s like a nightmare you cannot wake up from, have I died ? Is this hell ??? My doctor bows his head, his hands tied, working in fear afraid to help his patients because this joke of a government threatens them for the actions of people who abuse drugs. We are being tortured for the actions of others…We suffer and those who are supposed to help cannot, our politicians make laws that punish people for being in pain…I cannot do this for 20 or 30 more years…I’m trying to be strong but I can’t keep suffering like this…I really don’t know how much longer I can go on…I’m so broken and lost, I just don’t know anymore the days never end, just one long endless road…
MIRIAM
RICHMOND HILL, GA
My whole situation started two weeks ago as I was walking the street with my son and one leg ended up in a hole and my right knee planted into a cement curb. The injury was deep and I was bleeding throughout the whole day.
Two weeks pass by and I couldn’t put pressure or bend my leg for long periods of time. I finally got an appointment and was prescribed 7.5-500 mg of Vicodin which I didn’t know was taken off the market. on the way home we stopped at the pharmacy and was told they couldn’t help us.
I couldn’t return to my doctors office as it had closed and an E.R. visit would be a total waste by this time to get a new hard copy which I probably wouldn’t get. I wasn’t allowed to have an electronical copy sent in because of these changes. Now I’m struggling to find a ride to get the pain relief I need. 1. I have no transportation of my own. 2. very difficult to find a ride. 3. why cant they just an electronical copy instead of hard copy each time? these changes are ridiculous making people suffer instead of actually helping them. Now I’m pending results to my x-ray and then I have to go in for an MRI if the pain keeps getting worse.
hardly anyone gets informed of changes when it comes to medications which result in stressing the patient out and cause them to drive in circles. which I think people shouldn’t have to jump over obstacles to get help.
Mrs D
Winchendon, MA 01475
I am a PCA for an elderly, home-bound patient who has been prescribed Hydrocodone in the lowest possible dose “Hydrocodone/APAP 5-325MG” the prescription instructions say she may take from one to three a day in conjunction over the counter pain medications for chronic osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis.
I am this patient’s health care proxy, followed by her sister and my name is on file with the physician as being allowed to pick up this patient’s prescription monthly. Every 3rd month my patient must see the physician to qualify her for a new prescription.
The physician is located on the 2nd floor of a building that houses only the physician’s offices in this multi physician facility and a pharmacy on the 1st floor.
Daily the pharmacy goes upstairs to the physician’s office to collect prescriptions that they will fill and then deliver to the patient. A perfect solution for someone who is home-bound.
I was hoping that when my client phones the doctor for a refill of this ridiculously low dose of codeine (5mg) that the doctor would allow the pharmacy to pick up the prescription or that a nurse would deliver the prescription to the pharmacy to be filled and delivered. However the doctor will not allow hand to hand delivery within the same building. This means that I must go to the doctor’s office, wait 5 to 15 minutes until a nurse or another staffer can hand me a prescription, take it down to the pharmacy in the same building and wait another 15 or 20 minutes for the prescription can be filled before I can deliver the prescription to my client.
For the life of me I cannot understand why a nurse’s hand cannot give the pharmacy’s hand a prescription to be filled for the doctor’s patient. The pharmacy’s delivery person then signs for the drug to be delivered and then would then deliver the drug to my patient who would sign for it. How can this NOT be legal????? It is legal for the delivery person to take custody of the drug but a nurse cannot hand a pharmacist a prescription on her way out the door for the evening to be filled the following day??? The same hand that hands me the prescription cannot hand it to the pharmacist???
Interestingly yesterday when I performed this ridiculous ritual I went to a staffer who has never seen me before and told her that I (first name only) was there to pick up a prescription for the patient (first and last name). The staffer left the desk and went back to the nursing station. She then returned and asked me my name and again I provided only my first name. She went back to the nursing station and retrieved the prescription and gave it to me. She did NOT ask me my last name, nor did she ask to see my picture ID. REALLY??? What happened to all the prohibitions of allowing an unidentified person to pick up a prescription for a drug???
When I carried the prescription and brought it downstairs to the pharmacy they asked me for my picture ID (which of course does not match the name on the prescription) and logged my identifying number. But the doctor’s staffer doesn’t have to do that to confirm who I am?
In my opinion this ritual is just the literal interpretation of the law and is uncooperative and inappropriately uses one or more hours of my client’s 9 hour weekly care.
I don’t know who to talk to for confirmation that the doctor’s nurse is not allowed to hand the prescription to the pharmacy clerk? In writing this I am wondering if my client could sign a letter similar to mine with the clerk’s picture ID allowing her to pick it up? My brain is clicking now!
Would anyone who is really in the know about the transfer of prescription from nurse to pharmacy please reply? Thanks much. Mrs D
Ben
This really pisses me off. I am in the midst of my first colitis flare in 4 years and no doctors will write me any pain med prescriptions. It took 3 hospital visits just to get prednisone which is the worst drug on the planet. I went as far to ask them does the new law specifically say which conditions do or don’t qualify for such meds. They said no, but have to explain each pain med script written. I said perfect, show them my goddamn colonoscopy pictures my colon is extremely inflammed how the hell do you think all that inflammation feels? I hope all DEA people come down with debilitating painful diseases.
james
seattle
I was getting dental work done and while sedated the dentist gave my gf a script for 14 loratab and antibiotic. she went across the street and filed them and the next week at my doctor appt I was told I was in violation of the idiotic pain contract I had to sign after being with my doctor on the same meds for 14 years. Now NO doctors will prescribe to me and I get red flagged at my pharmacy so thank you DEA for punishing chronic pain patience and driving up heroin sales 5000% to punish abusers. I truly wish DEA members develop crippling pains and are denied pain meds and live in the agony they put on others in the FAILED WAR ON DRUGS.
Amy
Hi
Mrs D
Did your dentist tell you HOW you violated the contract or law?
Angela
Upstate, SC
You can only get one prescription for pain a month….from one doctor. Or it’s considered double-dipping, and it’s against the law. You have to sign an agreement when you start treatment for chronic pain to say that you will not accept another prescription from any other doctor, and you will use only one pharmacy so there are no errors or doubling of pain meds. But that has been a law for a long time. Pharmacy should not have filled it.
brandi
Colorado
It’s not the pharmacy’s job to know that they had a pain contract that is the patient’s. It is common for patients to get more than one kind of pain medication and turn them in, as long as it doesn’t go over a specific amount or there isn’t a specific note from the dr office in the patient’s file. The pharmacy was not at fault (nor is the dentist) the pain contract is something that should have been talked about by the dentist but who’s to know if the patients all remember if they even have one or not….
Lori
Where you getting pain meds prescribed already other then what the dentist prescribed ?
Linda
Center of the Mitten
I also have chronic pain issues from an industrial accident 20 years ago and arthritis, knee replacements, back surgery, ect. Musculoskeletal pain is the true epidemic in this country, not the overuse of legal opioids. I have been able to hold a steady job, contribute to society as a responsible person who never abuses my pain pills. Do I know people who abuse them ? Hell yes, and most are people who have no legitimate pain issues. And when they can’t get prescription opiates anymore, they switch to heroin. I hear heroin is cheaper and easier to get now than Norco, even in the ‘burbs. So does the DEA want us in pain or on heroin? I feel it’s all about money. Obviously, the powerful drug syndicates must make bigger profits off heroin than Norco. Now that marijuana is almost legal and everyone legally grows their own medical marijuana, the DEA has to justify its existence.
Natalie
Texas
Reading these comments does ease my mind, but not my chronic pain. I was beginning to think that the trouble I am having with the dismissal of my narco meds was a problem only with myself. I am a stage 3b cervical cancer survivor. Though I survived the cancer the aggressive radiation I under went left my body severely damaged and in constant pain. Now I have been told it’s all in my head. My body, if it could speak any other way than by my mouth would tell my Dr different. I have followed every rule and never abused my meds for fear of what I’m well aware of dangers. I am now on my 4th antidepressant in 9 months.
The lyrica I have been prescribed has blurred my vision, caused numbness in my toes, and added 40lbs to me in just 5 months. Now I’m to come off it. So where now? The antidepressants are making me depressed, agitated and just foggy. Now in the past 2 months I have been having thoughts of suicide, but what energy I have I use to remind myself that these thoughts aren’t real and are the meds. I have now taken myself off the antidepressants. I’m not depressed it’s pain!! Where I could move around and feel some what human I now am afraid to move at all because I know it will cause me pain. There has to be a better way to regulate these life giving medicines. Shame on the DEA for not being smart enough to come to an even antidote for REAL people with REAL pain. I bet if their loved ones or themselves had to go thru what I am going thru they would find a better way. We must unite! We have the right to not be in constant pain. To many have paid and are paying the price for these rights. I look forward to signing the petitions, writing the letters, and screaming like a banshee from my rooftop to get these things changed.
John S.
College Station, TX
ABUSE TO THE ELDERLY
I have been taking hydrocodone for over 25 years after a severe accident. As of now I have had a total knee replacement, neck fused together, and 3 bulging discs in lower spine with nerve damage in back. Last year the doctor said no more hydrocodone, per the new law, and changed it to Tylenol #4. It’s 80 percent less effective.
Why did this new law punish me? I was barely surviving with the hydrocodone, and now this. I call it abuse to the elderly. I have a track record of 25 years of taking my hydrocodone and NEVER called in for extra or EVER abused it. Now I suffer in severe pain because others abuse it. The DEA, who got this law passed, did not think how it would effect the people whom really need it to survive.
I’m only 55 yrs old, and I’m scared to death what the rest of my life may become. Why couldn’t they add an amendment to the law that allows people to have an exemption card that allows them to be exempt for these laws and allow them to get the proper meds they need to survive. I do not wish bad on someone but if the people passing these laws ever experience the pain I have they would never have never passed such a law which amounts to ABUSE OF THE ELDERLY.
I pray they change it to allow an exemption card so we can get the proper medicine to have a little better quality of life. After all it’s a law that doctors are supposed to provide proper pain meds for quality of life. If I knew who to write about this I would.
In severe pain every day
John S. in Texas
Kendra
San Francisco
I have kidney stones and am in terrible pain. Dr cannot call in norco for me to help take edge off. I have two children 9 & 7 and with pain impossible for me to round them up and pick up prescription across town, plus wait to get filled. Pain is causing me to be sick and totally unproductive for my boys. This law is totally rediculous. What are my options? This is terrible. I am literally crying.
Crying Mother with kidney stones begging for relief.
William
Indiana
I’ve been on NORCO for nearly three years at the same dosage level. After two lower back surgeries and a hip replacement I have nerve damage and arthritis in my lower back, and suffer various levels of constant pain. Under the new regulations I’m only allowed 59 pills during a 31 day period, and only allowed two per 24 hour period. I’ve got sinus surgery coming up and my sinus doctor prescribed extra pain medication to see me through the recovery stage of my surgery. Under these ludicrous new regulations I’m not allowed to have any extra pain medication, which means that I’ll have to use my normal prescription supply to see me through recovery which will then mean I’ll have no pain medication to see me through the end of the month, which will mean several sleepless nights, and a greatly reduced quality of life for me. Unlike many others, I can not substitute over the counter NSAIDS due to a blood clotting issue I have and being on anticoagulation medication, and even higher than normal doses of maximum strength Tylenol is worthless against my severe nerve pain. They need to revisit this ridiculous knee jerk legislation and figure out a better way that’s not hurting the people that depend on these medications to improve their daily lives. I don’t know how many lives this new “Law” (joke) has saved, but it sure has made a bunch of them miserable, I can attest to that.
Michelle
Georgia
I have suffered since at least 2009 from increasing back pain, including degenerative discs, bulging discs (causing sciatica irritation that shoots down both legs), and arthritis. All these conditions worsened when I broke my ankle in 2013, with two subsequent surgeries, the second to repair the MRSA infection I so kindly was given during the first surgery. Pain meds have been necessary for me to function as a normal human being; I may be a freak of nature, but I don’t have some of the unwanted side effects of drowsiness, blurred vision, etc. when I take Norco or Percocet. Of course, as I’ve gotten older and the laws changed, I am in so much pain, I cannot do a thing. I’m a mom. I used to participate in every school activity they had, go hiking, have a freakin’ clean house, for God’s sake. Now I am a useless lump of flesh, because the doctors I’ve seen are scared of the government to fulfill their Hippocratic Oath by giving relief to their patients. I wish I knew someone who could get me my meds without the need of an unnecessary doctor, but I am as “white bread” as they come, and am afraid to seek it out. My depression has worsened to a near suicidal level, even though my outside circumstances have improved. I should be happy, enjoying life with my family, but I can’t even go up the stairs without gripping both handrails. I’m in misery and my children suffer it along with me, seeing their mother in pain, in tears, and constantly apologizing. Whatever happened to “quality of life?” I don’t really care if my lifespan shortens by taking opioids/opiates; I would at least enjoy the life I have left.
Theresa H.
SC
Doctors need to band together for their patients! Those patients who have been vetted needed to be grandfathered, allowing them to be treated at the same level at the time of the DEA ruling. Don’t just drop the patients who have proven to be responsible. That, to me, is cruel. By the way who is the doctor here? The DEA? The pharmacist? Or the physician who really knows the patient and their conditions and medication needs? Punish those who really need to be punished. There has to be a better way to handle this catastrophe.
Peggy
Limbo, CA
Wow, and I had given up! If you really want to be heard and make changes, ( I certainly do ) like the lady said, go to paincareislegal.com. The site recommends calling the DEA. The way to start taking back control of our health care is to CALL, write and email. All the time, with everything we have.
patsy
gatesville tx
I sign a contract my dr ah dentisi new I had a full mouth extraction after surgery dentist sent me home with 3o vicidons I took them was in pain my reagular dr know I was. Having surgery nothing was said bout contract today went to get 180 nirco I’ve been on 5 yrs cut meoff cold thurkey I have so many. Medicial issuse going on with my pain . Is there anyone out there please help me I’m in texas thank you.
Beverly
SACRAMENTO
I would like to suggest something simple, though it would cost you 45 cents for a postage stamp…Sent a letter to the president. Write exactly what you wrote here and send it to Washington DC. I wrote about a month ago because I’m outraged that chronic pain patients are being put through such procedures to get simple pain medication that we have been safely using for years. Do it tomorrow. You can get a stamp at the grocery store checkout if you don’t have post office closeby.
Charly
Lincoln, NE
I have had chronic pain for 10 years now. In those 10 years I’ve never been pain free. The pain I have covers my entire body, every muscle.
I see pain doctors and I have maintained a great relationship with them.
Last year I temporaly moved to another state but recently moved back to Nebraska. I got my previous family doctor back. She told me she can not fill my entire prescription because of new laws.
I deal with a lot of pain even with the two pain meds I am on. We all know it takes at least one month to get in to see a pain doctor/ specialist. So for the next month I will be short two pills a day. One extended release and one pain med for break through pain. The more pain I have I start to fall alot and my speech is affected and many more symptoms get worse. Therefore, I’m going to be suffering for a month because my doctor is not allowed to treat me and look after me. What happens if I really get hurt by falling etc. The tears are many and I will truly be suffering. I happen to be one of few who does not suffer from depression but if I get treated so terrible I wonder how I will be in the years to come. I am a legitimate chronic pain patient. I am being discriminated against because of the problems others who are not legitimate cause. I understand the addiction issue but unless the medical professionals come up with something that helps then people like me are unfortunately stuck taking pain meds just so we can function and have some quality of life. Law suits are coming and they will be paying alot out of pocket for discrimination and leaving pain patients suffering. God help those making these laws that they never have to experience this kind of pain and discrimination and cruelty.
jake
I am about to be a 28 year old army veteran, because I am being booted out because I cant get my extreme pain under control. I have a spinal cord tumor located in my nerves and am consistently in 8 out of 10 pain. All I can get from my pain management doctor is a back brace, anti-inflammatories and acupuncture in my ears or gabapentin/lyrica which makes me feel awful. I have seen 3 neurosurgeons, none want to touch me. What am I suppose to do? Things need to change in this country its an outrage!
Bob
Indiana
60 yrs old, have had bilateral knee replacement, spinal fusion, and now chronic arthritis. VA will not give me norco that I was able to get when I had insurance. It’s totally un fair to punish us in need of pain relief. Wish I knew how to get meds I need. : (
Kristy
MI
I am 39 years old, and I was hit by a car when I was younger, broke both legs, hip, and pelvis, and pelvis is still broken, then I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, went through treatment (chemo & radiation), and am cancer free now, YAY ME!! The Dr. I have been going to warned me of the substance schedule change, then told me he could no longer prescribe me the Norcos he had been for the past few years, and changed me to Ultram, the Ultram work if I take 2 sometimes 3 at a time. Have asked him to continue giving me the Norcos, but he refuses. Very frustrated, because I see so many people around me that get pain meds then turn around and sell them, and here I am truly need them and cannot get a doctor to give them to me. I did try going to a different Dr, and he made me feel like some kind of druggie, just trying to score, asking me if I believe in God, telling me I was just a baby when my accident happened (age 14), I have healed, I am fine, even compared all of my scars to his little scar on his index finger, needless to say I have never disrespected a Dr. before him before, but he deserved it. So thanks the DEA, I am not only taking more meds to cope, but my children are having to suffer as well, because I can’t do what I was able to do before.
Tammy
New Jersey
I totally agree! I am fed up and so upset about this. Where I live you cannot even find a doctor who well help me with my medicine refills. You now have to find a pain management doctor to help you, and NO ONE will help you. I suffer from extreme pain from my nerve disorder. I never take more than I should and of course I don’t sell them. You know why cant the DEA help us, it is not the sick people’s fault for the addicts out there. We need help too, but how?
rom
texas
bad law affecting millions taking opioids for pain by having more doctor trips more costly my pain is caused by lining of the bone bacteria that causes a burning feeling oxygen is very helpful for pain especially hyperbaric but too expensive and insurance won’t pay and rather pain doctor prescribed me norco.
A mom
The site paincareislegal.com has a petition and facts about current laws and changes it would like made. Add your voice!
Sheri
Atascadero, CA
I have an acute injury, a ruptured tendon in my shoulder that happened once before in 2009. At that time my doc gave me adequate pain meds before and after my surgery. NOW, I can’t get sufficient medication, and my orthopedist says “we’re worried about tolerance, which could create a big problem after your surgery.” What???My surgery is scheduled for ten weeks from now, the soonest they could get me in. I’m in pain NOW, and I’m being told to deal with it on ibuprofen, and then after surgery, I should be okay on a “mild opiate,” Norco.
They want to replace my shoulder with titanium! When I had reconstruction surgery in 2009, they just pulled the tendon up and anchored it to my bone. I had Norco before and Percocet after, just for a short while, until I recovered from the surgery. Up until a month ago, I was fine. I am not a chronic pain patient. I am an acute pain patient, unmanageable pain. I have had two MRIs and an orthopedist’s diagnosis to “prove” my pain.
I am crying tonight wondering if I can make it until the end of next month on ibuprofen and alcohol. Will I end up an alcoholic? Will I end up damaging my relationships with my loved ones beyond repair due to my pain and the subsequent anger and impatience I feel? Will I compromise my business and lose clients because I’m in pain and subsequently intolerant and short with people? Does the government or the DEA even care about the plight I am in? If I was your daughter or wife, I bet she would have the appropriate pain medication.
The People's Pharmacy
We are concerned about the combination of ibuprofen and alcohol, which could make stomach irritation worse. Check back with the doctor and ask what else you can do instead of or in addition to the ibuprofen, since it is not adequate. If you ask for a specific narcotic, you might be misconstrued as a drug seeker.
elaine
elgin,tx
I agree about with person about the new rule. Why should the folks who have legitimate illnesses and have signed the rules the doctors gave us saying we will not sell or distribute be penalized? What more can we do for the DEA? My doctor has asked us for a urinalysis, to see if we have Norco in our systems. My husband and I are both in wheelchairs with degenerative bone disease. The rains are going to be coming, and if they stop our Norco, we will literally suffer all day and night. We have been this way for years. It’s chronic, and we have tried all the other pain meds and patches. Even Norco sometimes doesn’t work, but it does better than the rest.
We are in our 60’s, and we shouldn’t have to worry about our pain. We have so many other things to worry about, and we have also had pain management treatments. I had the needles in the spine and knees, and they didn’t work. It was bad enough when we had to drive to the office every month when our doctor is 40 miles one way, but to stop giving it to us at all! I hope someone in the DEA’s parents don’t need a Level II med. They sure will be out of luck. Surely, they could come up with a better solution.
Kaelin
Ky
I was taking gen Tylenol 4- until the shortage. Was switched to Norco 7.5. Now taking more tylenol plus a synthetic that does not work as well plus the added hassle of the Norco. All because US involved in reducing poppy growth overseas?? Seriously? Say it ain’t so.
Joe
Oregon
The last time I went to my doctor for lower back pain he would not prescribe Vicodin again. I then researched for products that were natural and worked well for inflammation and found two that brought inflammation down and helped with pain without any side effects. They are Boswellia and Turmeric Curcumin. You can read many customer reviews for these supplements on Amazon and IHerb.com. I wish the best for you all.
Susan
Melrose, FL
I am also sick & tired of the new laws concerning pain medication. I also feel the public needs to somehow repeal this ruling. I have no persistent pain like so many of you, but I do occasionally bang myself up. I have never been prescribed a narcotic pain pill in 10 years or so. It is ridiculous that they treat everyone as if they are drug addicts. It offends me every time I think about it. These physicians need to wake up and really listen to their patients.
Rebecca
Indiana
Called doctor for 750 hydrocodone that I take 1-2 a day as needed. Was told he no longer prescribes Norcos. So now another responsible patient has to suffer in pain because of the Dea and abusers. On top of that, now I have to call doctors to see who can prescribe it and be treated like a junkie. Feel bad for people in more pain than me that cannot get relief either.
John
Austin
I feel for everyone on this forum who is treated like a drug addict or hypochondriac saying our pain is worse than it is. While some doctors are unsympathetic to patients, with a skill set more befitting the IRS. Many however, are scared to death of the DEA, 15 + years of school and $100,000’s in debt, and you get your license pulled for writing too many SII scripts, I can’t say I blame them. I have two cracked ribs, a broken collar bone and shattered shin from a car accident last week, and all I got was codeine 3’s.
Note to the DEA and great state of TX, there are very potent narcotics out there one can obtain easily, cheaply.
some will take that dangerous alternative if our quality of life deteriorates to a certain point.
Sylvia
Houston, TX
I never imagined that, with all the advancements in technology, the day would come when the pain I live with is so severe, not only am I able to work, I no longer have the desire to work.
I am 60 years old and suffer from chronic back pain and severe joint pain due to arthritis. Ten years ago, I asked my doctor if he thought that it would be best for me to go on disability. He said, “No. People don’t do well when they go on disability. They go down fast, and you’re too young.” He recommended hydrocodone for pain management. It worked, I managed to make it through the last ten years.
The pain never fully went away, but it was manageable. Since the ruling the DEA implemented last year, I am in pain every single day, and most days, I can’t even get out of bed. Doing any kind of work now, is not an option. The job I had for nine years, became a drag. I became more hostile and impatient towards customers. I just no longer cared if Joe Blow had a problem. That is not acceptable behavior, when customer service is a priority. And the customers are not to blame because I happen to be having a bad day every day and they’re bewildered because I usually went out of my way to insure customers leave content and with the knowledge that they would remain loyal customers because they know that I will be happy to help them solve their problem, any day, any time If I’m able to help them, I will find someone who can.
I am angry that the DEA wants to treat me like a drug addict by forcing me to have to go to the doctor every stinkin month. The funny thing is, that the only people willing to go to the doctor every month are the dealers and the drug addicts. So, how did this asinine law change anything?
Well, the dealers doubled the price on each pill, and they’re making a killing. I feel like, euthanasia for people is looking more desirable. I don’t want to live like this. This is not living. I am merely subsisting. I just want the world to stop and let me off now.
I just have one question; can I sue the DEA for ruining my life?
I used to say that I don’t wish this pain on my worst enemy, but today, I wish it for every person who had a part in this cruel ruling. I wish it for their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, grandparents, wives husband’s and friends. I want them to feel what I feel. I want every person they love and care about to feel what I feel.. And when they’re smacked upside their empty head with the knowledge that their loved ones did not have to suffer had it not been for their draconian ruling. They should be in pain every single day until they die, because that’s what they’ve condemned me to.
Marcelo Garcia
Texas
Yes I am with you there, I am watching my wife deteriorate rapidly into depression, she was a skydiver, ballroom dancer, pilot, model and works for a Police Department, now she stays in bed or on the floor hoping some thug will shoot her, she has no will to live…. Thanks you DEA
Vikki
United States
I have multiple sclerosis, arthriti, IBS, and at 56 years old, a lifetime of sports injuries and traumatic back injury from a fall from a second story window has caught up with me. I was able to work, raise my daughter and live a normal life until about 10 years ago when seizure activity really forced me to give up my driving privileges. I have spent years going to Doctors who tell me how I should feel and forcing unnecessary tests to verify that I still have a disease with no cure. Every day of my life I am in pain, the severity is the only thing that changes from day to day. I have a Doctor now that I adore, he listens to me he doesn’t treat me like a lab rat and he allows me to be pro active in my maintenance of my health. My problem is his office is 2 hours away, so transportation is like splitting the atom. I was lucky enough until recently to have a friend who would take me, but because of this insane law that requires monthly visits, she is no longer willing to do it. I can’t blame her it is extremely difficult for me as well and does seem insane to spend 4 hours in a car for a prescription of vicoden! She says any Doctor can do what he does so I should just change my PCP. I can’t explain to her the importance of not only the medical care, but for me, the emotional support and empathy I receive is equally important if not more important. I am not willing to give up my quality of care because of this insane FDA rule that only effects people who really need their meds. I hate the judgemental comments from the pharmacy about how addictive this medication is and how I should be responsible enough to learn to meditate or accept my fate with no pain relief! It is not like I haven’t tried every medication available in the last 30 years! I only want to be able to walk my dogs, take care of my daily chores and enjoy time with my daughter! I don’t sell them, I don’t buy them off the street, I just want to live as normal of a life as I can and I don’t want to be taking ibuprofen every two hours like I was doing prior to finally getting some relief. My Doctor didn’t easily prescribe pain meds without trying every other option and without gaining his trust. It is cruel to force us who live in pain to be denied when the addicts and the dealers are completely u effected by the FDA and this insane rule. How dare they take away our right to live a life with dignity and quality of life. I want some modicum of pain relief not a bag of heroin! I don’t think I should be shamed publicly for my right to live my life as fully as possible! None of us should!
Kelly Geraghty
Rhode Island
I have too many thoughts, too many tears, but I thank you for expressing mine through your words. Thank You!
dean
United States
After many years of taking norco and morphine my pcp referred me to a pain management doc. My pcp told me that he could no longer prescribe these pain meds for Me. I have a rare form of muscular dystrophy that causes me great pain in different areas of my body. Different days; different pain, in different areas, different levels of pain!
Now I see a pain management doc that I have to see once a month to get my pain Meds. all he does is ask me if I have ever tried this or that and if they have worked or not. It’s like; my man I Have been dealing with this for over 45 years and I have tried just about everything (sometimes more than few times) And they don’t do anything for me and that is why I am currently taking these meds, because they have worked the best!!!
I am in pain 24/7 but I can manage with these meds. The worst part of this whole thing is having to go through a drug screening each time I see the pain management doc! This is demeaning and makes me feel, like they think that I am a drug abuser. Then I found that my insurance company is being charged (once a month) $959.00 for these tests!!! Each time they test for every legal or illegal drug that’s known to man.
I am not a drug addict, I am just trying to live with what I have. Also it’s a 50 mile round trip to the the pain management doc. I am just scraping by and with the price of gas, it’s just another expense that’s unnecessary. What are we supposed to do??
Ron
California
Any thoughts about this article.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/08/14/fda-approves-oxycontin-kids/31711929/
Tina
Riverside, CA
While I understand your frustration and demise of the new FDA rulings, but from the other end of the spectrum, (husband is now addicted to this) you really need to consider other alternatives for your pain management. It will destroy your organs and body more by staying on them. These drugs are not the solution, only a temporary mask. I am 50 yo, with MS, arthritis and other issues, but refuse to take these drugs, as I have seen what this is doing to my husband over the long term. Consider yoga, tumeric, curry powder, fresh ginger, meditation, or other remedies to help heal your body. I also have had 3 bulging herniated discs in my neck, that my Dr. was trying to force surgery on, but I refused. Something in my gut was telling me not to go there. There are other solutions out there.
This was 3 years ago, and I was able to manage to heal 2 out of the 3 herniated discs, by consistent yoga and self healing techniques. I still have quite a bit of pain, but not as bad as before. The pain in your body is there for a reason, there are other methods than drugs. You should really try looking into homeopathic remedies to help you heal, opposed to the quick fix methods. It isn’t doing your body any good!
Best of luck and many blessings to you.
Best of luck to you
DEANNA
TEXAS
Tina,
This may have worked for you, but I assure you it won’t work for everyone. Your post is very hurtful to people who suffer from chronic pain. My husband in fact has been to several doctors, with several treatments and has been told there is nothing else they can do. He has been on pain management for about 16 years.
With medication he has something that resembles life. He does not get out much. Mostly if I want to do something I go do it alone. But this is the best he has been able to get. Now with the new rules he went to pain management dr. today and was told he would be weaned off medications because of new restrictions. Not because he has been healed or helped but because of these rules. He is on fentanyl patch and hydro for break through pain. He was suicidal before he found pain relief.
Now I have no way of knowing what the future holds. But I don’t think your suggestion on yoga will go over well. His condition is the same but now he will be denied help for pain because of addicts. He has never once taken his meds incorrectly. He has never failed a drug test. But he will be affected just the same. And guess what the addict is still finding a way to use. Don’t be condescending to those in pain. You do not know peoples level of pain. The DEA needs to leave people with chronic pain alone and they need to not be threatening doctors who are trying to treat either.
Hope
I too was suicidal when they finally put me on pain meds. They meds helped give me some years I never would have had. I never once misused, sold my meds or failed a drug test. I don’t smoke or drink. I am not addicted, don’t use them for a high (never have been once on them) Yet the new laws have made my pain mgmt. Dr say I have to go off ALL meds.
NOT because I had gotten better but due to the amount of time I had been on them they were worried about being sued if I died or losing their license. Several colleagues had because of new laws. So it’s no longer about patient care, but protecting themselves.
I am decades past 21, I have been informed of and UNDERSTAND the risks of the meds, I am an intelligent and RESPONSIBLE with my prescription. NONE of it matters. I MUST be an addict is the thought of people who know nothing about me. I am hurting like hell, and am TERRIFIED of what my future will be since I am only a few months into the tapering process. My life has already taken a fast downhill slide. My Dr. says their is no proof of any suicides from unmanaged pain.
I hope the people WE PAY to treat us like little children fix this. It’s never fair to punish the innocent with the guilty.
jake
Tina,
How does your method of fixing the pain help me with the pain caused from a tumor in my spinal nerves?
john
pheniox
I just found this page and have been reading all the comments and I really have nothing to add because EVERY single comment is a comment I would repeat. It is really disturbing to me because I know there are a million more stories like ours out there in the USA. And it seems there is really no one out there actually doing anything to help solve this problem that has been thrust on the ones in real pain. It’s just a blanket thrown over everyone to ” ” ATTEMPT ” ” to solve a problem the DEA doesn’t want to face ie. The illegal drugs, so we are made to comply because of the incompetent attempts to fight the illegal side of the drug world.
My compassion for you all in pain is real I assure of that. I could write a post here that would go on for days lol about this injustice but I will not at this time. However I do have an idea that has been bouncing around in my head ever since this new BS law took affect. My energy is low from my pain but after reading just this post I think I may peruse my thoughts. To Help Change These unfair laws. …..” The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one ” ……….. until next time …..
Ron
California
To the DEA, the Hippocratic Oath that doctors take says “I will do no harm”, and yet you have put your rule about this medication to make it seem like the new Hippocratic Oath should contain the words “unless they take Hydrocodone” because YOU feel we the people who are in pain and suffering do not need this form of medication. I’ll make a deal with you, You get the manufacturer to stop makin it and I’ll stop takin it.
Lee
Michigan
I was in a rollover accident thanks to a drunk driver and had a part of my spine crushed now held together by pins and screws. The pain is intense and I spend three or more days a week every month driving around to different city’s trying to fill my script.
i personally hope the fools that came up with these stupid rules are forced to deal with them as well.
Ana
Texas
I have been blessed to have a pain doctor who believes me and will provide medications. It is an inconvenience to travel out of town every two months for appointments. My pharmacy has been wonderful in having what I need, until today. Prescription turned in yesterday will not be in stock for another three days. I barely have enough to cover the extra time and hope that it arrives as scheduled.
Kristy
2 weeks ago my husband underwent surgery for a horrible break to his leg. He fractured his fibula in 3 different places, his tibia, and also his ankle. He’s in pain (Imagine that DEA!) he’s done great about managing his pain medication but every time I’ve gone to fill his prescription for norco, the paper has literally been tossed back at me and I’m told” oh we won’t have this until next week.” Not acceptable! Just because some choose to abuse these medications does not mean that there are not tons of people out there who legimately need it! Why are they being punished? We live over 20 miles away from any pharmacies and so while trying to call to see if any had this available we were told that they can’t say even after pleading that we were not looking to rob them or the likes just wanted to know so we weren’t wasting our time and money. Ended up having to drive around to 7 pharmacies anyway and finally found a small local one (stay away from major chains as much as possible!!!) that was able to fill the prescription (although the insurance was a whole different beast and we just ended up paying for it out of pocket) and they were wonderful. Very nonjudgmental and even had a story to share that was similar to my husbands. Hang in there everyone!
Samantha
New York
I was in a terrible wheeler accident in 2012; I fractured my left collar bone, 3 ribs on my right side, my lung collapsed, and fractured a spot in my spine. All this while 10 weeks pregnant. They would not give me surgery on my collar bone because I was pregnant and after healing I never got physical therapy. I lost my insurance for a few years. So when I got pregnant with my 2nd son, who is now 10 months old, I got medicaid. I have bad pain all through both sides of my shoulders and is starting to go into my back. The PC I went to says I have brusa of the shoulder and prescribed me tramadol which gave me a killer head ache and sent me to physical therapy. I share a car with my fiancé , who works long days and am not able to go to physical therapy 2 days a week. I don’t think the physical therapy will even help. I have asked for a MRI which they denied because I haven’t gone through physical therapy. I have gone to one appointment and since that one appointment I have started to get a tingling sensation all down my arm and into my neck. I found a new PC because the one I was seeing threatened to call CP’s because I brought my 2 yr old and at the time 5 month old in. Trying to hold ones hand and carrying a baby in a car seat then walking to the other side of the building to my appointment I was exhausted and in a lot of pain. As I was sitting in the room both kids started crying, my 2 year old crying because he couldn’t play with spinning seat and my 5 month old crying because his brother was crying. So when the doctor came in I had a emotional break down. She was more worried about my kids well being then my own! So I found a new Dr who is 20 miles away from and 75 years old. He will not give out a months worth. He will only prescribe 2 weeks. So every two weeks I drive out there to get my prescription for hydrocodone 7.5mg, I have told him they do not help , he prescribed me 10mg for two weeks then put me back on the 7.5mg . He says the state will red flag him if prescribed for a months worth. And keeps saying that because I am 25 I am healthy . This last time I went I told him I was going out of town for 3 weeks and asked if he could write it for 3 weeks he said no then sent it me a weeks worth in the mail! Can he legally do that? This doctor only cares about money and was saying how his other patients give him 100$ every two weeks. I can not afford that I am a stay at home mom with two kids under the age of 3 and a 4 BDRM home I take care of. I have scheduled a appointment with a different PC and asked the Dr if I had to sign a paper with him so the other doctor can get my records. He told me not to do that. But this Dr is not in any network. He can not even request a x ray or a MRI. I want to know what really is going on in my shoulder, I think there is more to it then brusa of the shoulder. But my question was can he legally only prescribe for only 2 weeks at a time or is he a dirty doctor looking for money in his pocket that the state needs to be looking into?
brian
cheyenne wy.
I have sever back pain. I was injured in 1996 my doctor then after an MRI told me that an operation would decrease my mobility and I would be on meds more than likely for the rest of my life, he said tough it out and I did! Now it’s 2015 and my back is in pain all the time… and let me tell you when it flairs up it is soul sucking headache with back pain that will drop an elephant… thing is I have dealt with pain so long I have a tolerance to it that is unmatched so far… now I have seen a doctor and I have had a cortisone shot in every vertebrae… I mean every!
So today I asked for a refill only the 4th refill in 19 years and he said no more refills… well I’m in pain so I threw a fit… this is wrong on so many levels… how can they do this to another human being… what has this world came to where they leave me or anyone in this matter in severe pain. So he gave me two weeks worth of 5mg the matter of becoming addicted to pain killers… well I say this I sure as hell am not addicted to this pain cause it hurts! This non sense has to stop this is madness… meanwhile billions of dollars are illegally be sold which I have zero to do with… how can they do this this is awful… If it gets bad go to ER he says..
I’m a 12 grade educated mechanic… who takes care of his widowed mother left with huge chores, when will this government start helping it citizens and start throwing the real criminals in prison… I have begun to clean my home out and have decided to have a sale and get rid of my worldly possessions… I believe that Mexico is where I’m headed… for two reasons… 1 stem cell, 2 access to pain relief… I am switching doctors and if it keeps going the way I think they are going well thats it I’m headed south…
I don’t want to but, I have to… MRI from ’96 proves I’m hurt,.. they just want surgery, my feeling on surgery is this… back surgery has changed dramatically… it’s not developed in success enough for me to say yea lets do it…
I have talked to others who have had laser done and they are on pain killer or morphine… they regret it they said they would be better off just taking meds, now new restrictions, more costs, why do they do this to the American citizens this is unfair. Wyoming just lost a very good man, Mr. McMurry he committed suicide from back pain… enough is enough, I’ll say it again I am NOT ADDICTED TO PAIN if I could id quit pain if I could..it not fair….
logan
fostoria
Good doctors getting arrested, laws, making family dr. Stop helping their patients. Now being sent to the horror show of constant shots, injections, burning nerves, like cattle lined up just to get a few pain meds, you have to be subjected to the expensive useless treatments…the pain clinics either do not prescribe and just do injections, or your forced into constant shots, buying expensive creams and gadgets that do nothing but fill the doctors pocket w money. He doesn’t even treat the areas that hurt, his examination consisted of touching my back, and its my hip and leg thats in pain….help, what is our government doing to us. We have no rights in our treatment, forced into costly monthly visits to pick up meds that cannot be called in or written for more than a month. How can a disabled person be forced to drive 6 hrs get injections once a month, that is insane! Help if your a woman you get taken less serious, given weaker meds, and no respect or even explanations of what the hell he is trying to do, besides say see you next month…no talk about treatment, doesn’t matter if shots are not working, still forced or find another slaughter house, each more terroring then the next! Help defiance area
R on
California
I have been on Vicodin for a devastating back injury for 20 years, I am reliant on this medication because it works. They tried me on almost every type of pain pill out, along with some nasty patches that almost put me in respiratory distress.
Like many people with back injury this medicine works, so naturally the “George Orwell Brigade” DEA have to get their hooks into it for funding.
My theory is that since Marijuana is now almost totally legal in many states and will soon be legal in all states, they needed to find a funding source, so we users are it.
Well, I’m 76 years old, and may not see this law repealed, but I hope it is. Oh and just a parting shot at the DEA, “you’ve made us veterans who are on this, add another stress to our lives, proving the old military acronym BOHICA is alive in your controlling minds.
Reneer
This is information for ANYONE having to take a urine test to get their schedule 2 Hydrocodone products.
It is against the law for you to be charged for this test.
If the doctors office or insurance company (including work comp) wants this test and makes it a requirement, THEY have to pay for it.
They cannot charge the patient.
I sincerely hope no one is paying for their own urine drug screening. If you are, call an attorney.
Cherry
Tx
I’ve been seeing a pain management doctor for almost 2 years now. If the lab was out of network, I paid 80% of the total cost of the drug screens until my deductible was met & then my insurance paid for them. If the lab was in network then I paid 20% of the drug screen until deductible was met & nothing after that. Strange how they drug screen also! I used to be a DATIA Certified Professional Collector, drug & alcohol screener, for occupational testing. They do NOT follow chain of custody & who knows who’s urine is being sent in & tested under your name! I guess that’s not as important! SMH!
Candice G
Texas
My husband recently ruptured his lowest disc and herniated the one above it. He saw his pcp who would only give him Toradol after I went up there and threw a fit, then a neurologist 2 weeks later who only gave him a few Tylenol 3 and didn’t believe him, said he probably had arthritis and I demanded an MRI. When the results came back he said he was suprised he could walk so we finally got in with a pain management doc who will only give him 3 hydrocodone 7.5 per day because of DEA regulations.It doesn’t do anything for him. I have never seen him cry until this. I’m so frustrated. On top of that we have terrible insurance so surgery isn’t an option right now. I’m thinking of taking a different job with better insurance just to get him relief. We finally had to get him some on the black market. I want to file a suit on the DEA. Somebody has to do something…
woozy
Dallas
Candice, your doctor is a stinking liar. I’m in Texas, too. They can prescribe what they they wish. They are just covering. They care more about the DEA than about anybodies’ severe pain.
It’s pretty well accepted that if you need more than 6 of the 10/325 a day, you must go to a real pain clinic.
Jenn
I totally disagree with all these stupid laws. Is not fair to all the people who do not abuse the medicine that follow the Dr’s rules etc. I have been fortunate enough to find a great Dr I do however have to drive about 20 miles too see him. He gives me 3 months worth of written prescriptions each that says do not fill before certain date. I did change from a big chain pharmacy too a local one because Walgreens, CVS and Walmart were horrible to deal with and VERY judgemental.
Reneer
Are you using insurance? I have found that any cash patient cannot afford their prescriptions anymore, because the pharmacies have stopped all cash discounts on any schedule two drug. My Norco turned into a $200 per month medication and I had to settle for Tylenol 4.
Barb
Charleston, S.C.
Hi Jen,
I’m having the same problem here in Charleston,SC and so expensive to pay a doctor each month almost $50 for m.s.-related pain relief. I wish I knew who your doctor was :-) is he in South Carolina? Fingers crossed. Thank you and God bless you.
Tracey
Longview, TX
I was told by a rheumatologist office that you do not have to go to the doctor every month, that you can contact your doctor’s office and they can write a prescription, and all you have to do is pick it up the hard copy and have it filled.
jack
illinois
This is true. I just call my dr’s office and swing by and pick up the script to take to the pharmacy.
Lynda
Tx
We are retired and travel full time I am forced to come back monthly just to get my script for hydrocodone. In a RV which is our home this is so expensive just to live my retirement with DEA dictating how I can do this can you have pain management Dr in more than one state?
kristy
johnstown ny
What is happening because of restrictions ….valid opiod users are going to approach blackmarket because of convienence to supply.
Nancy J.
Ormond Beach Fl
My husband is on one of these medications. He has never abused it. His script says to take two but he makes it on one a day. The problem that I see is more theft. If someone steals your pain medication you can not get it refilled until the next scheduled time. You need to find a safe place to hide your medication. Do not mention how much pain you are in, or what you are taking. Addicts pay attention and may follow you home and put you In danger. I like what Ronald Regan said. The scariest thing you can hear is I’m from the government and I’m here to help. I fear this is going to create a deadly problem.
sherry
Arkansas
I have been disabled since 2003 and on hydrocodone all these years.
I have fibromyalgia ” a chronic pain disorder”, I have polyarthritis” multiple types of arthritis” I have osteoperosis as well as osteoarthritis and just been diagnosed with severe peripheral neuropathy ” nerve damage”.
I used to have to use a cane but after being on hydrocodone as well as a muscle relaxant and an antidepressant and Lyrica..I had my pain managed and could run my errands and clean my house and live a halfway normal life.
I have not had any pain relief since the new law took effect.No doctors in my town can or will subscribe anything.
I am allergic to Ultram as well as Codiene.
I was finally sent to a pain specialist in June.The doctor wrote me out a Rx. for a medicine that was not covered by Medicare and was also a form of Tramadol which is Ultram and I am severely allergic.I went back to the specialist.He wrote me another Rx and I went to fill it, and it aslo is not covered by Medicare.
I asked the doctor why he keeps writing me prescriptions that I cannot fill, cannot take and or cannot afford..220.00 for 30 days of medicine is way too high for a person on a fixed income.When I asked the doctor to write me a Rx. that is covered by my insurace; he told me that he was excusing me from his office and could no longer treat me..
I still have not gotten the Rx. filled for I have to get a Pre- Authorization and my pharmacy does not carry it and so I am still suffering, spending all my time in bed.
Furthermore, when I mentioned to him that the suicide rate is getting higher and higher of people with chronic pain, he had the nerve to tell me that he thinks my pain is from depression..I told him, no the depression is from me being in soooo much pain..
I was escorted out of the office and the next day I had a formal letter stating that I was no longer a patient at their establishment..
I feel like I was mistreated as a human being and denied my civil rights.
I wished I knew what to do now.
Linda
Oregon
You can file a complaint against him with the AMA or whatever organization regulates MDs in your state. You can find him by searching for his name, and the organization should pop up. It is not right that if he is the only game in town, he would refuse to treat you or work within your limitations of finances and insurance.
liz
okla
I went to the dentist and didn’t even get anything for pain after having my tooth pulled. I had drove some distance to this dentist and by the time I got home I was in severe pain.
I called the dentist and was prescribed codeine. I called again as the codeine was making me sick… was told norco could not be called in anymore… this is the craziest thing I have ever heard, I hope whoever came up with this new law has to have their teeth pulled without any sedation or pain relief afterwards!!!
Carolyn
NV
I too have been taking hydrocodone for many years for chronic pain. Today I went to the pharmacy and was told I can no longer have it. My doctor prescribes it but the pharmacy says no. What the hell? I’ll be spending my days in bed I guess. May as well be dead.
Dee
CA
What do you mean the “pharmacy” told you you couldn’t have it? That makes NO SENSE! Please explain.
Reneer
Exactly. why would they say that? My pharmacy wont fill it with a cash discount anymore. They said and I quote “We don’t want to make it easy for people to get theses meds by advertising cash discounts”. My $28 per month script for Norco climed to $200 and I couldn’t fill the scrips anymore.
David
Alta Loma
I am also outraged at the DEA decision to tighten restrictions on the Hydrocodone. I have severe Arthritis in both knees, I am on Disability fixed income. This is costing me a great deal more not only finically, but emotionally too. Now I have to see the doctor once a month to get a prescription and then try to get it filled. Right now the pharmacy’s are out of this medicine and have been for over a week. So, who’s making out on this deal? The Doctors and Drug agencies!! Yeah, sit back and laugh all you Doctors, and Drug agencies. I wonder how you all sleep at night? We all now in the end this is about profit, profits , and more profits.
Doraina
Rockford Illinois
I too am a chronic pain sufferer. I have had 2 failed Neck surgeries and one failed sciatic surgery. My latest pain management Doctor told me the reason I am in so much pain is due to the fact that my nerves are mangled. My neck was broken when I was in my 20’s but well I never knew you could walk around literally with a broken neck. They found it 2 weeks after my 40th birthday. That was in 2009 and I have been back and fourth between Doctors and Surgeons all telling me the same thing I have been on Norco for my pain for 9 years and now all of a sudden no doctor wants to give me a script because its their license that is on the line… Well excuse me for making you uncomfortable. But I am the one in pain, and it frustrates me that there are people I know that are getting them and have the nerve to ask me hey I have some for sale if you want? Seriously? this is why it is hard for the ones who really need them can’t get them? At my wits end when even the pain management doctors say it isn’t their job to take over the primary care physician’s prescriptions? I am just ready to give in and let go.
Whitney
jax.fl
I have alot of serious health problems including lupus and degenerative disc disease. I’m on hydrocodone acetaminophen. I pay out of pocket 88.00 for a Dr. Visit than another 75.00 or more for my prescription. I’ve went to two different publix pharmacies (one store I’ve been to twice), one Kmart, four trips to to different Wal-Mart’s, and two Walgreen’s. No one has my medicine in and can’t tell me when they’ll have it. I keep getting told come back this week, next week etc. I don’t have a car and have to depend on a relative to drive me. I’ve been in continuous pain the last couple of weeks. I don’t smoke, drink or do any kind of drugs but I feel like I’m being punished for needing my meds. Has anyone else had this problem?
d l
I had been prescribed norco, adderrall and xanax after ECT treatments. I didn’t need any of these scheduled medications prior to then. I am now suffering as a result of this DEA change.
My PCP sent me to pain management after prescribing my Norco for 7 years. Pain management will not prescribe it, instead tried me on Butrans patch. After 2 hours on the patch, I couldn’t feel my face or speak.
The Dr said he didn’t believe me and referred me to Dr #2. In between, I went to see a surgeon, he said he couldn’t help me. Dr #2, wouldn’t prescribe anything, said take OTC nsaids and offered injections, after 2 facet block injections & a steroidal epidural, & a condescending “I’m not giving you opioids, your test results don’t show you’re in much pain,” he offered a referral to another Dr.
To be clear, I never asked this Dr for pain medications, I told him I was in pain. I went to Dr #3, this man listened to me, spoke to me like a human being and explained that all the medications I’m on throw flags and that is why I can not get help. He didn’t charge me for the visit, but wasn’t willing to put himself in that position to prescribe medication to help.
He said, “it’s not that I think you’re a bad person.” I have not been able to sleep, I’m nauseated and force feed myself, all progress I’ve made is slowly slipping away. Now, they are willing to prescribe antidepressants. THIS LAW IS ROBBING ME OF MY QUALITY OF LIFE.
I called insurance company, after receiving a request for information regarding what accident I sustained to warrant injections, I asked them “What should I do now?,” They said I can go to as many Drs as I need to as long as they’re in network. I suffer from cognitive impairment, anxiety and chronic nerve pain. I am at a loss to understand, why drug abusers behavior are now dictating this country.
d l
I had been prescribed norco, adderrall and xanax after ECT treatments. I didn’t need any of these scheduled medications prior to then I am now suffering as a result of this change. My PCP sent me to pain management after prescribing my Norco for 7 years. Pain management will not prescribe it, instead tried me on Butrans patch. After 2 hours on the patch I couldn’t feel my face or speak. The Dr said he didn’t believe me and referred me to Dr #2. I went to see a surgeon, he said he couldn’t help me. Dr #2, wouldn’t prescribe anything, said take OTC nsaids and offered injections, after 2 facet block injections & a steroidal epidural, & a condescending “I’m not giving you opioids, your test results don’t show you’re in much pain,” he offered a referral to another Dr. To be clear, I never asked this Dr for pain medications, I told him I was in pain. I went to Dr #3, this man listened to me, spoke to me like a human being and explained that all the medications I’m on throw flags and that is why I can not get help. He didn’t charge me for the visit, but wasn’t willing to put himself in that position to prescribe medication to help. He said, “it’s not that I think you’re a bad person.” I have not been able to sleep, I’m nauseated and force feed myself, all progress I’ve made is slowly slipping away. Now, they are willing to prescribe antidepressants. I called insurance company after receiving a request for information regarding what accident I sustained to warrant injections, I asked them “What should I do now?,” They said I can go to as many Drs as I need to as long as they’re in network. I feel like I’m being punished for being in pain.
Hugh
Homestead Fl.
I am a Spinal Cord injury patient, injured in 1999 and have been using the same opoide medication regimen for over a decade. Now I an/or my wife are having to spend countless hours and gas to visit every pharmacy in our area including a 50 mile radius to try and get prescriptions filled. I have never abused, failed a urinalysis, or had any blemish on my record in 15 years. My Pain management Dr.s have no problem writing my prescriptions and do their due diligence regularly. Still, while the black market is always well stocked with the same medication as is prescribed to me, I cannot get my prescriptions filled with any certainty.
I ask why the DEA and other regulatory entities cannot streamline the legitimate patients while curbing the abusers. A simple urinalysis will tell if a particular person is selling their prescription and if the person fails the test that person should be scrutinized and restricted rather than causing the entire chronic pain patient community to suffer!.
The drugs are still on the street so the draconian approach taken by our government is obviously not working. I would be more than happy to have my doctor and pharmacist be able to mutually verify my situation but this is not even an option. There exists a total disconnect between the professionals, which, if streamlined would go a long way towards getting these drugs out of the illegitimate peoples hands and provide desperately needed pain relief for the the legitimate pain patients like myself and so many others being severely harmed by the regulations set forth by state and federal regulations.
Mike
Lake station,Michigan
Yes I live in michigan and it’s the doctors here not the pharmacies. I have both of my feet shattered and screws and plates installed so the bones will stay together. The fragments of my bones destroyed a lot of the nerves in my feet. My doctor was fired for helping many people in pain and no doctor will even give me an appointment and accused me of doctor shopping. Well yes I sure am shopping if that is what looking for pain relief is and I no longer have a doctor and need one. Than yes I’m shopping for a doctor with some compassion for patients in real pain. So what all we get now is nsaids and have a nice day! What kind of a free country is this!
hoosierdaddy
somewhere in indiana
reckless use of power by dea. maybe we can get them at the voting booth!! they don’t want to lose their seat on the “gravy train”. most politicians are very wealthy and
have no connection with the people they represent. I feel its political, as you can tell.
I am also BEYOND upset. lets make some noise.
Diane
Washington
I am a chronic pain sufferer . This new law with my pain medications has me very upset. I’m retired ,I had to retire due to my chronic pain. I go to the pain doctor once a month, I can do that, but I feel I am captive to this new law. For me to leave on a trip for more then a month I have to have a pain doctor where ever I go. So far I have one in Washington and Arizona . So to drive around the USA with my husband to see the country for more than a month makes it impossible . I hope this law will change so people like me can travel where ever they want ,when they want and for as long as they want. I never imaged my retirement dream would be like this.
Chet Allen
There is a typo so I fixed it and re submitted my comments. Please forgive my bothersomeness, as Festus used to say. I also suffer OCD.
Nice forum. Thank you.
julie
Washington
Hi Diane,
Where is your pain management Dr. in AZ? We are moving to Prescott but now I must find a Dr. before we can move. We are in Wa State as well right now. Thank you, Julie
Ann
I will never recover. I am a chronic pain patient for life at over 60% disabled and fighting my way through another work comp case.
Because I’m working as a cash patient, Norco is unavailable to me because of cost. I can get the prescription every single month from my spine center. No problem with that part.
Without insurance, the doctor visit every month is $70. I managed to stay on Norco up until a month ago when the pharmacists from my pharmacy said they would no longer give cash discounts on Schedule II products, especially Hydrocodone. The cost now? $130 per month. Add the doc visit, and I’m up to $200 a month for one stupid prescription. It took YEARS for me to find the right combination of medications to allow me to be functional.
There is no way I can afford $200 a month for one month’s supply. When I asked the pharmacist why they would not give discounts, I already knew it was about money, but I wanted to see what he’d say. He told me it was because they didn’t want to glamorize Vicodin products and make them easily obtainable.
EXCUSE ME???
Then, he was condescending and said “MOST people have insurance to cover the cost, so its not a big deal.”
I said “No, many don’t.” Their cases closed and they’re on a cash basis now. Don’t treat me like a lower form of a human because I pay cash for something.
Anyway, I had to switch to a codeine product instead, and it does nearly nothing.
I don’t have a choice.
If things work out, and I’m on work comp again (insurance co. is fighting it) then I can switch back.
stuart
west chicago ,il
My Dr. stopped my prescription for hydrocodone and now I’m about to loose my business because I’m in constant pain and it’s very difficult to work. I never abused it in any way. Thanks a lot, stupid DEA people. I hope the same happens to all of you and you suffer.
M
Jacksonville
Both my parents have severe damage, both my parents have been in car accidents. These new regulations are punishing folks that are in dire pain. My dad has blown disks and more issues than I can describe he has had 4 surgery. His pain level is high but like most people you have bad days and you have horrible days.
My dad tells me that taking a bullet would be a better option than dealing with the pain at times. These new rules are really hurting those that need it. My mom myself and brother were in a car accident in 92, both her legs are in bad shape her left leg was crushed, she died 3 times to the hospital went through 10 hours of surgery on top of that here back isn’t in good shape and her neck has 2 bulging disks atm. Her pain is pretty much like my dads,s he has a very hard time walking and the damage from the weak has put her into a life that nobody wants.
The DEA has no clue what they are doing the simple fact is junkies will abuse no matter what, they will find other ways to get high it’s simple as that.This new rules is only hurting those people who really need it and it is wrong that those people are suffering.
San
Ohio
I don’t understand this either… I sit in severe pain everyday! The doctors don’t seem to care! All this is about is doctors and pharmacies to make money off of people! I can see if the doctor can’t find anything wrong with you not wanting to give you pain medicine but when they find stuff wrong with you I don’t see the problem of getting pain medication! I would love to know how we can stop this….????anyone! It’s just not fair that people can’t have a life… we have to sit and lay in pain because doctors and pharmacies only care about money not people! So so sad! Government needs to stay out if the doctors office and let the doctor treat people!
Bob
Virginia
This is the result of idiots at the top not giving a damn about the rest of us. The Veterans Administration is systematically taking away pain meds for vets. After 17 years getting pain medication I NEED to function, they’ve pretty much ruined what was left of my life. I now sit or lay around EVERY DAY! When I had my exorbitant amount of medication, 5mg. @ 5 per day, I was able to have somewhat of a decent life. The Veterans Administration really, really, sucks and anyone that is considering joining the military would be wise to consider a different job since they WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF YOU following your service. For me? I’m on SS Disability and plan to move to Mexico where I can get ANYTHING from a pharmacy there.
R
Norcal
It’s shameful that we require so much schooling and experience from any MD, yet allow people with little or no education in such areas in insurance and government tell them what they can and can’t do. It’s a travesty. We are budgeting trillions to the military “protect our rights of freedom”, fighting all the the things we are trained to fear, and this is the result?
My GP is magnificent, no substitute for experience, yet constantly under new regulations telling him what to do. He once expressed just how frustrating it is to know a patient needs treatment and even for some X-Ray request, will get someone from the Insurance office barely graduating high school questioning or disallowing his 40 years of experience. New laws are also constantly questioning his medication recommendations. Ridiculous, and we put people in office allowing laws for both.
These days – I just use Tylenol 3, 1 or 2, 3x daily as needed, too much Ibuprofen, and now even this has become ridiculous too. I have to go back every month, miss work waiting in the office forever, pay co pays, all for what we know will never go away. I do PT twice a week as well which is great but expensive even with insurance. All this because I had a car wreck 15 years ago and since have had 3 right hips, spondo-fusion, C4-5 fusion, surgery on the shoulders for bone spurs causing tears, facial repairs to deep lacerations resulting in numbness, TMJ, etc. Might right butt cheek/hip is modern art. I have a permanent Handicap Placard but am disallowed any means of effective medication.
T3 actually helps very little if at all, is more liver toxic than other better options because of the acetaminophen, but I cant imagine what hassles requesting going back to something that might help me have some quality of life might cause. A shame as I could be a much better Father and Professor if it was not such a constant daily struggle. And, the judgement you feel sometimes from counter help, nurses, pharmacy, WOW! Furthermore, if I were to just say “forget it, its not worth it”, just quit the meds, and take the pain. Then, there are always the physical withdraws that are always a nightmare. And of course very little research goes into the poor non-profit pharm companies agenda to fix that. What monies are in that? If it does not make you dependent or make something rise and grow, forget about it.
Being in education for the last 25 years, I know there are issues, drug addiction,street drugs, crime, etc etc, but it is not the MD’s job to address this topic. They should treat their patients. The other area or any misuse is the job of law enforcement addressing criminal regulations our governments set to be enforced outside the medical profession. Any pill factories, illegal suppliers, or whatever should be easy enough to spot and control, especially for all these people who are so smart they are telling MD’s how to do their jobs now anyway. It is all silly! Myself, and certainly all these folks who posted are the ones who are getting it “in the end” so to speak.
It probably does nothing to help, but does feel good to vent it out some to imaginary friends. The only choice is to write to those we put in office, educate and change their minds, or vote them out.
Anyone else, even those who love me are tired of hearing it, so I do my best to keep all this inside. On the other hand my travels indicate that it is even worse other places, even the UK. Regardless, things should be much better than they are here. Hopefully something will change. :)
Kay
california
Wow.!!! My heart goes out to all of you in chronic pain. I just learned about this new law today. I am thankful I’m healthy and am grateful. I had surgery in 2005 and pain killers were prescribed to me and over time I built up a tolerance to them which ended up with me taking more so I could function without pain. The doctors never told me they were addictive sooo the withdrawal from the narcotics was worse than the pain of the surgery!! If I had known I would have just sucked it up and been in pain then go through the withdrawals!!!! I don’t understand a urine test to make sure your taking your pain Meds…really.? This new law won’t work for the pharmaceutical companies nor is it in their best interest loss of revenues. I am sure the pharmaceutical companies will hire a lobbiest to repeal this law. Doctors are not making as much money as they did in the past.with this new law they will make more $$$$ and so will the pharmacies. Wonder who will win this fight? My vote the pharmaceutical companies… Why is the government making everything so difficult???
Rose
United States
Actually, for HMOs like Kaiser, they stand to make far more money with the new rules. My 2 prescriptions for narcotic pain killers were working just fine and I had not increased them in 10 years, However, the two were replaced with 6 non narcotic pain relievers which don’t address my pain. So, they have recommended acupuncture, massage, and psychotherapy for hypnosis, at a cost of $60.00 per session. If I did acupuncture weekly, massage 2X/month, that alone would cost 360/month. The additional 4 prescriptions are another 40 per month. So, my cost has gone from 20/month to 400/month. Multiply this by the number of patients in an HMO being treated for pain, and you can see that the HMOs stand to increase their profit by millions of dollars. It was the pharmacists, not the Drs, who promoted the change. Many doctors fought it. So, pharmacists who never see a patient or patient file, pushed for this change. It will take legal action to get this changed.
Greg
orange city fl,
After doing some reading I must say some additional words. The one reason folks needing those pee tests is to check if you are doing other street drugs. Coke, pot and the ever changing list of poisons. I mean who in their right mind would take a drug that required folks to wear moon suits to clean up any mess left behind. Now they got something out there that when under the influence will take off all their cloths for being too hot in 30 degree temps outside
Back in july of 2005, I came down with pancreatitis and I have been in the hospital 44 times to date. I have big darn issues going to the hospital. One evening it took 9 times to find a good vein. My line will only be good for two or three days and then we go all over it again. One time I got a hot shot of nausea medicine and it was suppose to be diluted with saline. My whole arm are was one total fire and on a scale of one through ten this was a fifty.
One jerk gave me narc’an and then send me to take a chest ex-ray. I honesty did not know what was going on with me but I just could not stand still for the pictures. My arms, legs were twitching along with muscle spasm’s.
After that field trip, I was given something to help me relax. The doctor spoke to my wife like I was not in the same room. Today I get a letter-hello, I just wanted to notify you that our pain management Drs. do not recommend use of benzodizepines with opiates. Could you please speak with your mental health Drs. and decide if you can come off benzos if you continue to need pain meds.
I had to look up benzos to know what they are talking about. This letter came from the VA. I have been under a pain contact since 10/2005 since I cannot function with the damn pain. I wish I could take these hydrocodones and morphine and toss them at the doctors and tell then to go to hell. It is a sad state of affairs to feel guilt for being sick-Greg
Denise
Alliance
I think its terrible, the government has no right to step in to the medical and start changing things because idiots that sell and overdoes, we have lost all concept of people being responsible for their own self. If you take more then you need ,, thats their fault and it should hold everyone for account ability. My 82 yrs old mother has had a replaced hip and it hurts, she has always taken tramadol , now she can’t, because she would need to go to “pain management” and she can’t afford her copayment for a regular doctor let alone a specialist every month. We need to change these laws, this is not helping, its only hurting. We have to have a own unaccountably for things and if someone gets addicted and takes more, its on them, not us.
Chris T
Georgia
I am so upset by the new state and federal rules regarding Tramadol. I have been taking it for several years for neck, back and shoulder injuries and degeneration. I am NOT an addict and have zero history of addiction (drug or alcohol). I rarely even drink. I do not like taking traditional pain meds (Percocet, Vicodin, etc). They alter me mentally, make me sick to my stomach and some make me break out with itchy red skin.
Prior to the reclassification by the DEA, I could go to my Dr. once every three months for a $25 co-pay and get my $10 a month prescription. Now, I have to see a pain management doctor which is a specialist co-pay of $45. In addition, they bill additional charges which means another $45 in insurance co-insurance fee and the hospital they are affiliated with charges me $215 a month in “facilities” fees since the Doctor’s office is located in the medical building at the hospital. Also, you have to be “accepted” by a pain management Dr. I had no problem getting accepted after jumping through the outrageous hoops of medical records, copies of MRI’s, x-rays, pharmacy history, etc. It was a huge hassle.
At the end of the day though, I am facing $305 a month in hospital and doctor billings to get a $10 prescription that cost me $25 office copay to get from my PCP a year ago. I can’t afford this. I was looking at buying from another country but it seems that isn’t legal without a US prescription. I can get a US script as a legitimate patient, but that puts me back to the unaffordable $305 hospital and doctor fee just to obtain the script! I am so frustrated.
I wish the government could competently deal with the drug addicts without such harm to the law abiding legitimate patients. The worst part of this reclassification is that it won’t stop the addicts. They will still get their hands on illegally obtained pills as they did before. Only the good guys like me will be harmed by this government action. The impact this is having on my family, particularly my children, is sad. I can’t afford their activity and sports fees anymore. I’ve had to tell them they can’t play football for their school anymore because I can’t afford the $1500 team fees anymore.
It’s all going to pain mgt dr and hospital that is doing NOTHING different than my PCP did. Now I have to worry about what my teens will do to fill their time since they will no longer be kept busy with athletics. I have to work. I can’t keep an eye on them 24 hours a day. When they had sports, they were in school all day, at practice all night, at games all weekend and in bed as soon as they got home and got some food because they were so tired. No room in their schedule to get into mischief or experiment with all the drugs and alcohols so many HS kids partake in regularly these days. I feel so trapped by a terrible and incompetent system.
Melissa
Texas
Why doesn’t the DEA get in contact with your Dr to make sure you are someone who is genuinely in chronic pain? Helloooooo?!?! I’ve had RA for 22 yrs & was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. You really think I’m an addict? The meds I use are essential to my day to day living. But I, like every other chronic pain patient, have a really difficult time getting the meds I need to even be comfortable. What about patient rights?!?!
Linda
Maryland
I just had this conversation with my adult daughter about how the DEA can easily track abusive prescriptions. She broke her tibia 2 days ago. They gave her 5/325 Percocet .. the prescription if taken every 4 hours was only for 2 days. First it made her nauseous and dizzy. So they added a anti-nausea med … really ???
Tomorrow we will beg for more and preferably something else. She told her doctor the Percocet was not helping. She has to get a MRI & CT Scan tomorrow and a follow-up with her doctor Friday to determine what they need to do – which will be surgery. The doctors and imaging offices don’t have any “hurry” to repair her leg and they won’t give her pain medicine that actually helps her. The fighting with her health insurance has also been ridiculous. I’m watching her cry. I am helpless in what to do to help her.
p.s. When we first called the orthopedic surgeon after the ER visit… they wanted her to wait 2 weeks for a first appointment!!!!
Dot
Georgia
Pain clinics and pain specialists are a joke. It is just a way for them to make more money because they are claiming to be “SPECIALISTS”. A patient should be able to talk to their doctor honestly without being afraid of being labeled a drug addict. Chronic Pain is something that many people live with every day of their lives, and no one knows unless they live it day in and day out.
Chris T
And the pain specialists want to pressure you into alternate procedures for your pain. They are pressuring me into epidural steroid injections that I have had twice in past years that didn’t work. If I say no, then what? If I say yes, I have to come up with more money for an invasive treatment that carries serious risks and has twice proven be ineffective.
Surgery is not a viable option in my case. Pain relief is the only path. I have done everything else (lost weight, quit smoking, I exercise to the extent of my physical abilities). You are completely right about the fact that the winners with this new law are the doctors who are getting richer.
Lee
Michigan
Trying to find a pharmacy that has my pain medication has turned into a real problem. I had my back broke in a roll over accident in 07 and surgery left me with intense back pain recently after taking Vicodin and norco for the last 6 or 7 years i was put on percocet 10/325 because the others no longer worked.
Now I find myself driving all over the city trying to find them every month and running into the same people every month doing the same. Because of the changes these clowns made on all these medications not just hydrocodone injured people are driving all over trying to find their meds.
Kidding me
When will the government learn that you can’t stop an addict from being an addict through legal regulations? Drug addicts will ALWAYS find a way to continue being an addict if that’s what they want to do. Cut off the vicodin? Hello heroin! They’re only hurting the people who legitimately need pain relief. The DEA are not medical professionals, and thus they have NO PLACE in the Dr.-patient-relationship. This idea of enacting laws intended to protect people from themselves is asinine at best. Oh but I’m sure it has more to do with the “masters” ensuring that the slave class, (you know, the socio-economically poor are the ones that are more prone to addiction) don’t become too strung out to continue being wage/debt slaves for the remainder of their miserable lives. Pathetic.
Concerned Citizen
Texas
Vote the people who appointed the people in the DEA out of office. There are millions of people mad about hydrocodone switching to a shedule II
It’s none of their business how much or when patients take it and they have crossed the line.
Vote them out now. Get a list of all the people who voted for the schedule change
Loatta Jenkins
Ft.worth,Tx.
Not only the increase of money going to three different doctors now I’m in pain haven’t been out of pain since this started. I have had three back surgery’s spine is chalk doctors said they no longer could do anything for me. Then I have had hernia surgecan’tCOOOry’s found 10 in one surgery and not got over that surgery then found a very large one and then had to have surgery for that hernia got bad infection and had to be hospital l and was so sick and then had to have knee replacement this is within thee years. I have chronic pain and then they want to take the only thing that takes my pain away and the drug dealers are the one that ruined all the legal and people in such bad pain has to pay dearly for them. I know plenty of people that need there HYDROCODONE that has severe pain that can’t even afford to go to special doctors to get there pain meds. My doctor now going on 5 months have been giving me other types of pain meds these meds suppose to work 24 hours didn’t even take the pain down then gave one for 12 hours didn’t work. I’m only 1 person in trouble like this lay in bed in such bad pain oh yea forgot to mention i’m a grandmother of teen ager I raise 1 in college 3 in high school can’t get out of bed in such bad pain to even be active with them I depend on them and it shouldn’t be that way. I was so active with them before this new law went in affect. Thank you for letting me vent. Just in pain and drug dealers caused all this for all the legal people that really need there meds.
Renee
I’ve posted here a few times….Mostly recently. A quick recap…I tried Tylenol 4 for 5 months and decided I HAD to go back to Norco because I was miserable. I’ve been back on Norco for three months, but with my next doctor appt this Monday, I have to tell him to write a script for Tylenol 4 again.
I have to pay for a doctor visit every month: $68
I have to have AND pay for a urine test every 90 days: $200
The pharmacist, who had always given me a cash discount for the Norco, announced he will no longer do that. A months supply will now cost me the regular price: $130
It takes nearly an hour one way to get to the doctors office. Add the cost of gasoline.
Also, I get migraines and very bad headaches lately. On the first urine test I had, I hadn’t taken any Norco for 5 days, because I’d just throw it up from the migraine. My urine test will show I didn’t have it in my system. On my visit Monday, will I get a pissy PA who will insinuate the why’s of how I did not have Norco in my system?
He knows about the migraine since I told him about it on the last appointment and I paid to have a lidocaine/steroid injection because vomiting throws my back out even more.
I have reached the point where I can’t deal with the cost and the full time job of trying to take Norco every month.
I am a lifetime extreme disability patient. I’ll never recover as well. I should be able to easily get Norco with a few refills to have a functional life. Instead, it’s a nightmare and I can’t do it anymore. I can’t afford all of this. The urine tests and the pharmacist no longer giving cash discounts and then you worry that because of your migraine and not being able to keep pills down, the doctor will freak out because I didn’t have the proper levels.
What do they do with patients who get the stomach flu? Do they take away their medicine because they didn’t have their meds in their system at the time of the urine test? I knew I was taking the test and I probably wouldn’t show any Norco in my system. I had a migraine, couldn’t eat and laid in the dark for nearly 5 days.
If I go back to Tylenol 4, the only thing to deal with would be a two day wait to have the pharmacy order it if their out. I’ll get a cash discount and will have refills. I wont have to go to the doctor every month and yes…
It will be a medication that takes the edge off chronic horrible pain if I take 3 or 4 at a time…
I think I’m out of choices now…
Funny how it all comes down to money.
Everything always comes down to money.
Ana
Texas
I can identify with many of the comments already on this board. Has this law limited the number of pills available on the street or given to persons who don’t really need them? Why do they put patients with long-term chronic pain through all the extra doctor visits, expenses, effort and humiliation when our conditions do not change, and we would never consider selling or giving away our meds?
Steve
Chicago
Here’s the solution for the government. Why don’t you let the doctors judge the patient by their need for the pain relieving drugs? For people with minor injuries, the patient would have to see the doctor again within 30 days, and the doctor would decide if they need a refill or not.
In my case, I was told I would NEVER RECOVER and so I’ll always need the pain medication. For the million patients like me that have physical proof via MRI’s and other means that we have physical damage, our doctors should be allowed to fax in scrips and write refills. Make sense?
Keith
Louisiana
I’m really surprised to see soo many people in the same situation I’m in. I had pancreatitis in my late ’20’s. Finally got that under control, then in my mid ’40’s was diagnosed with throat cancer. After receiving “treatment” I’m cancer free, thankfully. But the side effects of the chemo and radiation have been really horrible and have left me with chronic pain. I’ve been lucky in finding a decent doctor that has given me medication that works, but as everyone knows I’m building a tolerance to it, but I can’t ask for more or different medicine for fear that they’ll use that to cut me off. They’ve been very nice so far and I’m afraid to jinx it.
I wish the government would get out of the doctor patient relationship. They fail at managing everything they attempt and their heavy handed tactics are responsible for untold suffering. It’s a travesty. The drug “war” is lost, they need to admit it and handle it a different way.
Steve
California
I also suffer from chronic pain after ruptured discs and spinal fusions.
I have the required written prescription from my doctor but cannot find ANY pharmacy that has either of my pain meds in stock. It has been 2 weeks now and I’m going through withdrawals on top of the crippling pain that has me bedridden.
Thank you very much DEA for making my life a living hell.
Laura
Whitney Texas
I agree. I have to pay twenty dollars for my prescription and twenty five dollars for a doctor’s appointment. I have xrays to prove my degenerating back and I can’t afford to go to a doctor when I’m not sick. Why doesn’t the government have the doctors drug test their patients and see if they have a problem with drugs and not punish the rest of us as well as wipe out our bank accounts?
pam
United States
I am going through the same hell. I was on norcis fir 7 years, switched to percocet (which I couldnt find) then went back to norco. I have tried every pharmacy in a 30 mile radius and they dont have any. All These jerks have done is make drug dealers richer because people will go to the streets to avoid the pain and the withdrawals. There has to be something that can be done.
Jose O.
93291
Look like the pointing finger is not going to resolve any thing but for sure someone has and have to be responsible for all this changes laws and policies makers. Come on people. Human beings in real pain and suffering.
dino
lynn mass.
I fell through a ceiling 15 years ago, and since then have had numerous injections in my neck and my back. Now my day to day is a living hell. I think about ending my life daily, the only reason I don’t is because of my daughter. I want to sew my primary doc as well as the other pain manager doctors I have seen through the years. The fact is I only ounce got relief from injections but that is all they do over an over.
So when I stopped having them an wanted pain meds instead I was labeled a drug seeker. So no relief for me, so I go to my primary same thing we can’t do that. So I did what anyone would do when you cant get help an your desperate I got meds from the street. When I was fed up paying the outrageous prices for pills that I should get a script for I went back to my primary care doctor an was very truthful with her an this is what I got, well sir sounds like you’re an addict… at that time I had worked at the same company for 20 years and now I choose to work else where for two years but I’m an addict who provides for his family. So I guess i’ll never get what I need from the doctors. And will forever be in pain what a way to live my life… Any thoughts would be helpful thank you for listening…Dino
Jose O.
93291
I do agree with all the comments above. Very soon I will not be able to pay for my pain medication or my pain management visits and my life will be in a death row situation. I’m short of pills 4 days 8 pills a day. God help us all that have to live in pain 24/7 something very wrong please do something, many good people are dying in excruciating pain.
Ann Cain
Houston, TX 77055
I’m so sorry you’re in this ridiculous position. I was furious last summer when a childhood friend’s Father blew his head off because he couldn’t live with the pain anymore and no doctor would give an 88 yr old man, with a well documented lifetime of back & neck surgeries, narcotics to make his life livable.
I’m still angry about how he was forced to suffer for many years until he couldn’t take it anymore. As a former ballet dancer, I was misdiagnosed with a herniated disc for 13 years before a doctor would give me a milogram, which had I known existed I would have insisted on having many years before. After going to 5 doctors over 13 years and being treated like I was a drug addict, the 6th doctor discovered I had indeed good reason to be hurting but by then the scar tissue and damage done wasn’t helped with his laminectomy, nor was the second bone graph surgery performed 4 years later.
It wasn’t until 1993 that an orthopedic put rods, plates and screws in my back with a tens unit to lessen pain, was I finally out of the pain I’d been living with for years and dictated what I could and couldn’t do. I’ve done well up until now and the pain is coming back at an alarming rate. Now, there’s no darvocet on the market which was the only medicine that gave me a fair amount of relief but didn’t affect my ability to work, Mother, and perform normal chores.
I don’t want the stronger stuff that makes me goofy but what I dread most is going to a doctor who’ll mistreat and shame me as was done by 6 doctors much earlier in life. They add a great deal of mental anguish at a time when I need understanding, trust and help! Again, I feel your pain and I’m sorry you’re suffering, too.
Chuck
WA
I have severe pain as a result of many football injuries and being knocked unconscious. Heck back in the day treatment for being knocked silly was ammonia caps up the nose and count the fingers if you got within one of the number of fingers held up you were deemed fit to play. Today I pay the price of thinking I was invincible back in my young days. After many surgeries with poor results, and other treatments I settled in for the long haul with pain management therapy. I found a good doctor who I trusted and trusted me. We discussed at length the treatment and the rules. As long as I followed the rules I was good. Today government is destroying this doctor patient relationship. This is what happens when you get people in power that think they know what is best for me. My doctor and I know what is best for me and I resent government intrusion into every aspect of my healthcare or shall I say lack of decent health care.
Marty F
Washington state
I went to my doctor today since now, apparently, I have to do this even more often. The amount of pain medication I’ve been taking barely gets me through the day as it is, and now it’s going to be even more difficult.
Washington state has even more restrictions on the pain medication than other states. Wow, sounds like it’s time to move. The government on all levels is in all areas of our lives. When they get between patients and their doctors, that’s too far. I felt like a drug addict when I went to do my pee test. She put dye in the toilet and I couldn’t wash my hands or flush until I handed the nurse the urine sample. I’m a 59 year old grandma. When I got out to my car, I just cried. It was all so humiliating. I think all of this garbage is going to back fire and you’ll see more people dying because they just can’t take the pain and end their lives, can’t afford all of the appointments or will be going to street drugs for help. Way to go, government!
Jeff
California
I heartily agree with the sufferers of chronic pain here, and believe it’s an absolute abomination that the damn government get involved with what is the person’s private business. What have we come to in this country?
Since when is it the Federal Government’s business how much pain med I take, and what it’s for? Who am I hurting by taking the meds? It’s ridiculous in the extreme and I would never have thought this type of medical tyranny could have come here to the Land of The Free.
It’s well-known to all who have had to endure chronic pain that if an opiate is prescribed, the patient is going to develop a tolerance– and need to have their meds increased slowly just to maintain the same level of comfort. But when this happens, there are very few in the medical community who actually understand this, and anyone who mentions this FACT to a health care professional is immediately labeled a “drug-seeker”, and so begins a nightmare that hardly ever has a happy end for the patient.
Now, to reschedule meds that have been prescribed over the phone or by fax, to a status that only ends up by costing the patient far more, and requiring him/her to make far more frequent visits to the doctor, and endure the humiliation of urine tests to boot– I agree that some sort of class action needs to be undertaken here.
Once again the Feds step over the line, shredding our rights as private people, and stepping into our bedrooms willy-nilly with their guns and badges. It’s pathetic.
There is a solution, and I urge people to consider the Grand Jury process. Do the research, and you’ll understand that the Grand Jury is more powerful than anyone– the President, Congress, or the Judicial Branch. It was designed to be just so.
It’s the Law of The land. Let’s take this country back.
Paula
I agree with all comments on this board, I’ve suffered for over 25 years and now that our pain meds are being held hostage by the Government, DEA, FDA and any other govt agency.
Paula
As I’ve stated in post waiting for approval, My Heart and Prayers go out to all on this forum and any other pain forum that’s shared, I would give up anything material in my life and live in a box to have my health back, I know we all would..
renee
california
Wow. I have posted here a few times now but am surprised I am back posting so soon. I want to address the issue of lifetime pain patients and the hoops we’ve had to jump through since the schedule change. At this time, I am a cash paying customer and imediately after the new law, I had to pay $70 per month just for a new script while seeing the doctors PA.
I posted recently that I’ll now have to pay cash every 90 days for a urine test, $200.
I am on disability while I wait for attorney to get approval for insurance on a new work comp case.
Got yet another blow today.
I went to Target pharmacy to pick up my new script of Norco.
She announces “that will be $130 please”. I said excuse me?
I have been a customer of my local Target pharmacy for more than 15 years. I have been a cash patient for 3 1/2 years.
I always paid just $24.
So the pharmacist looks up and says there are no more cash discounts on schedule two meds.
I looked at him and said “excuse me?”
I then find out it is up to the pharmacist if they give cash discounts or not. There’s no new law. He could do it if he chose to.
I said I’ve given you all of my business for 15 plus years and you decide you won’t do that anymore?
I was livid.
Interestingly enough, I had to use a neighboring Target the previous month, because they were out of stock at my usual store.
I told him I only paid $24 last month at the other Target.
He tells me each pharmacist can make the choice on if they’ll give cash discounts or not.
I was and am so, so very tired of all this crap since last year when this started, I had had enough.
I held out my hand and told him to give me my hard copy prescription back. After he gave it to me, I said this….
“I don’t know if you’re on thin ice with your boss and want to make a good impression by suddenly charging enormous fees for these meds and making a higher profit in the store, or you were told to make more sales, screwing long term faithful customers, but I will never, ever use this pharmacy again because of you and I’ll make sure all online reviews and surveys reflect my ridiculous visit with you and how you treat customers. I’ll also use your real name in put it in all capitol letters.”
I would not have been able to afford the one medication that gives me a functional life had all the stores done this like this awful pharmacist. I am so thankful the Target in the next town over were very kind.
Who could afford $70 every month for the doc, then $130 for the Norco?
That’s $200 per month, just for a new prescription. I haven’t even counted in the $200 for the urine tests which they never did until now. I have been on Norco for over ten years or more and have never once been required to submit urine tests that I have to pay for.
I am very very close to not being able to continue doing this.
How many more horrific surprises are there?
This is the worst treatment of chronic pain patients I’ve ever seen.
Something has to be done and soon.
Renee
The madness never ends and I’m about to sue someone. I tried to use Tylenol 4 instead of Norco and ended up being so weak with pain, that my legs would give out on me causing me to crumble to the floor. I went back on Norco last month and got my life back, but now there’s a new problem and this pisses me off almost more then the schedule change.
I will be required to submit a urine test each Dr.s visit to show I’m not selling my precious Norco to street kids or addicts.
I’ll skip over my outrage over the guilty until proven innocent comments and say that many chronic pain patients run out a few days early, because really bad pain days require extra tablets. So, you’d test negative. I’ve already read that this stupid testing doesn’t prove anything and so, so many patients run out early.
Anyways, the real problem is you’re forced to take this test AND you have to pay for it. Ins. Co’s are refusing to pay for these tests and each test is hundreds of dollars every month. Who in the world can afford THAT?
So, if you can’t pay hundreds of dollars every month for your urine test, then you can’t get your meds?
I see a huge, huge explosion coming soon. I see class action lawsuits. I have never ever heard of any situation so abundantly insane before until this.
Butterflykat
mississippi
What can we do?. I have been a patient at a pain clinic for six years without a problem. I went for my three month visit Thursday. Some woman came into enter information in their room around computer to count pills. I had worried about picking up, without thinking on that day, a script from dentist for molar extraction. I began have very severe abdominal pain the second night after dental visit. Pain in stomach was so severe I thought it was a nightmare. That was 5 weeks ago, and still the pain is severe. Could not get app’t until 5/26 with GI. Er visit was a joke, we were there for 9 hours. I refuse to go through that again. I am dropped from pain clinic because I told her about the nightmare of the last few weeks. Filling the dentist’s script was against my contract. I feel so hopeless, like I have been tried and condemned because I suffer so much pain. I am an honest person, do not see what is the big deal with percocets: they barely ease the pain. In this day of advanced technology why are we condemned. I know many of us are around the world. I wish someone would find cancer, give me one month to live, and know this would soon be over. The future ahead right now seems so unbearable.
Paula
Myersville Maryland
My Heart and Prayers go out to You and also all of us who are being discriminated against because we have a disease !! Yes a disease called chronic pain,, that we did not get up one day and decide that for the rest of our lives we will suffer tremendous pain just so we can get a pill, that half the time just relives it enough to make it through half the day.. The rest of the day I spend in bed or on a couch because the pain is just too bad to function with..Just this month I, my Sister and my Daughter went to no less than 50 Pharmacies and Thank God the last one had enough to fill just half of my medicine, how could that many Pharmacies be out of pain meds all at the same time?
My Family cried because finally they saw with their own eyes the humiliation that we all with pain go thru just to fill our scripts each month. I Pray that one person dose not go home and commit suicide because of the way they’re treated and looked at and judged because they need a pain medicine just so we can live our lives pain free… I sadly admit that it crossed my mind, and without GOD and Family support I would not have survived that day… that’s how bad it’s getting for us out there… If anyone knows how to start a class action against these Pharmacies and the DEA please let’s all Band together and get one started… Together we have strength and there are many of us who don’t abuse our medicine.. Thanks for letting me vent Paula…
Chuck
Seriously, these new laws are going to kill people. Living with pain is depressing with the med pain treatment option being slowly withdrawn people in pain will become more and more depressed. Some will simply chose death over living with pain. There are probably folks out there that will say good, we don’t need them dope taking fends in society anymore. Government is so cavalier about how people are treated. Especially this Government with the, “you got to pass it first before we find out whats in it” mentality to health care.
Bee
California
Omg I feel your pain!!! I’ve been treated like the scum of the earth lately. I have a chronic back pain issue and had abdominal surgery last week. I had to use up my norco for my back on my abdomen & I’m out but no pharmacy in town will fill my surgical prescription because it’s been 20 days??? They don’t care that I take 8 norcos a day for the surgical pain so I ended up trying ibuprofen wich caused bleeding out of my drain so now it will take me longer to recover. Pisssssstttttt
johnna
PA
Did they prescribe the same medication? If so that is why the pharmacy wouldn’t fill anything. I had the same thing happen, back probs/abdominal surg. But my surgeon rx’d a different pain killer so no prob at pharm. Sorry they are being ridiculous!
Kelley
Northern California
Neither my internist or rheumatologist are willing to prescribe Tramadol or Valium since the DEA/FDA scheduling change. The reason: they don’t want to deal with the hassle. Both doctors know I use extremely low amounts of these two drugs and only require a once yearly refill and yet now I have to see a pain specialist to get these prescriptions filled. The sad part is my rheumatologist said she routinely sees patients from all over Northern California because there are so few rheumatologists practicing north of the Bay Area and yet now she is opting out of some pain management options for all those patients because the DEA/FDA has made it too time consuming and burdensome. This is impacting quality of medical care. In my case it’s especially ironic because my former Kaiser PCD (insurance changed in 2013) was thrilled when she was finally able to persuade me to use small doses of these meds for my chronic neck pain, fibromyalgia and frozen shoulders.
Twyla
Phoenix
I do this now for chronic pain with oxycodone. I think there needs to be a better scientific criteria for people with truly chronic pain. Also, there is now a huge grow of “pain doctors” pushing people into procedures, (I believe for profit) that are non FDA approved, often dangerous. Those doctors don’t even want you to take meds, they don’t want the hassle and its not profitable.
I’ve been through this, my health deteriorated because of these treatments. I have recently had surgery for a problem ignored and made worse by other treatments. I don’t want to be on pain medication. But I can’t live life in pain.
The challenge is the DEA is saying they don’t trust the doctors. I have only one I trust, but either way you are setting up a person in genuine, diagnosed chronic pain either abused or neglected. There needs to be a diagnoses standard that adjusts according to the patient and not the drug. I here needs to be accountability for doctors who do what they will with trusting, desperate people in pain and lock arms despite the outcome. Its about the people, not the pill. It’s about doctors living up to their oath to do no harm.
brady
south carolina
I pulled muscles in my back working at age 16 and was thrown from the bed of a pickup truck at 50 mph when I was 18 yrs old. I’ve suffered from moderate to severe back and neck pain for years now (I’m 46 ). My regular Dr wouldn’t prescribe me anything stronger than naproxen and flexiril. The flexiril makes me drousy which is unacceptable at work and the naproxin just does nothing. I told him this and he said to just take half. I went to urgent care last year and the Dr there gave me tramadol. Went back and they gave me hydrocodone and nurontins and referred me to a pain clinic. The clinic Dr asked me what helped me and I told him the tramadol did at first but after a couple months it didn’t. He refused to give me norcos but offered me 180 tramadol, 60 more than urgent care gave me. The next month he upped it to 240. That’s 8 pills a day that doesn’t help. This went on for 4 months then he dropped me as a patient.
Sookie
Topeka KS
Well, I have crohns disease, ankylosing spondilitis, fibromyalgia, gerd, thyroid & cholesterol issues… this new forced law is ridiculous and cruel for people like me who suffer 24/7 with hard core pain. To try and have a life and being in pain is impossible. Therefore most including myself have depression on top of issues and now my doctor told me she won’t prescribe my morphine sulfate any more, that “”she’s not comfortable prescribing it to me long term!.”” I’ve been on morphine now since 2006. I’m physically addicted and only in the form of not wanting to feel full level of pain, am I psychologically dependant.
On a scale of 0~10 pain levels without it I’m constant 10, with it I’m maintain around level 5 round the clock. When it’s wearing of it shoots up, >I always know it’s wearing off. For my doctor to say she’s not comfortable is cruel in my eyes bcuz she thinks she’s uncomfortable, she should walk in my shoes and her thinking wouldn’t be so harsh. There are no doctors in this capital city of kansas known as topeka that will prescribe pain meds over 3 months, let alone, even accept you as a new patient So I’m hurting rock bottom with depression and I’m going to start withdraws… if anyone out there knows the utter physical he-ll your body goes thru with morphine withdrawals, you know it’s awful. On top of knowing the law is completely cruel and that it’s not going to change a thing on the streets, it will infact have a awful impact on my life and the quality of my life is going to go downhill)!!! the government and all the agencies under it have really screwed the pooch on this decision.
D. Martin.
Lancaster, CA
I’m gonna lay this out for everybody and NOT pull ANY punches. The DEA needs to back the hell off of ALL patients taking ANY pain meds. I have Lupus (SLE) and I have SEVERE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS! I am one of 15,000 patients living with this disease combo and since the new scheduling rules were enacted I spend EVERY SINGLE MORNING contemplating my own suicide. Flat out. It’s against every fiber of my being to do it but I think about it DAILY. Why? Because I can’t walk well anymore (I’m only 36 too), I am already on disability and every time I have to get my modest amount of pain meds for the month I’m ALWAYS asked to PEE IN A CUP before I am even seen by the pain doc.
Then once I am done getting HUMILIATED I have the luxury of going sometimes to EIGHT DIFFERENT PHARMACIES SINCE THEY ARE ALL CLEANED OUT. This is NOT cracking down on drug addicts. I have heard explicit cell conversations (in the pain clinics parking lots) about how they ‘gotta get it first’ and then they’d ‘bring it on over’. What do you perceive from that statement right there? THAT IT’S GONNA BE A DRUG DEAL ONCE FILLED! Even people who sell it can and DO obey the pee tests, thy just reserve a one day supply and take it the night before their pain management appointments!
I’ve had people outside pharmacies here offer me my own pain pills at 5 bucks a pop when the pharmacist tells me, “We’re out and can’t get anymore for 2 weeks.” WHAT THE HELL?! No. No, this aint helping anybody, it’s hindering them! The clinics policy… go to your primary Dr and get told on visit ONE that you HAVE TO GO TO PAIN MANAGEMENT for the freaking meds if you ask for them even once! The pain clinics are choking on the congestion it’s made, the doctors are FREAKING OUT (mine even had a nervous breakdown one day and poof, LEFT in mid visit with a patient never to return)!
The pharmacies LOATHE when we try to turn those scripts in and it is US that is left with a giant stigma on our backs. It’s a mess that needs to be cleaned up. I’m also a registered and carded cannabis patient for intense nausea/vomiting. There’s something VERY VERY wrong with the world if you can call up a dispensary, order up whatever products you want made out of it and it’s on hand and at your door within 40 mins! We can’t order more than 1 ounce per order. So essentially, we have a cap. We cannot exceed that cap. We pay for a tracking number every year we have a card and this medicine is not even legal in the eyes of the DEA or FEDS. Unreal, huh?
Cannabis only temporarily relieves my nausea but it does NOT ease much of my pains at all. I’m also one of very few pain management patients who can get their pain meds and still KEEP and use the cannabis. When my kidneys failed the first time, they saved them and I still get hospitalized a lot over them. That’s why I can rock a cannabis card in a pain clinic when most of the time they tell most patients, “no, one or another.”
PAINFUL AND SHAME ON YOU DEA…some of us are DYING OF ILLNESSES WITH NO KNOWN CURE. Shame on you DEA… all your crap is doing is going to FORCE people to take their medicine by force or illegal activities. Hands off our life improving meds, get your asses out there right now and bust the REAL ILLICIT DRUGS/USERS… meth labs, cocaine dealers, the HARDCORE substances that have NO MEDICINAL QUALITIES! That’s your freaking job, afterall… NOT TARGETING THE INNOCENT, SUFFERING AND DYING! We gotta stop being afraid, we need to sue their dirty asses right off! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! By the way, all DEA Employees MUST go through what we have to go through…pee tests, pain and ALL. *is livid*
I pray for all of you suffering. I pray your pains are eased. I pray for RADICAL CHANGE! I really do. :(
joel
California
I have been using hydrocodone 10/325 for some 4 years now, Before flying to Europe, I checked, if I am caught with it I will most likely end up in jail as it is prohibited in most of the EU, DEA not as bad.
renee
I went to Europe for three weeks last year and took my Norco with me. I kept it in my original script bottle. No problems whatsoever.
Doug
United States
Yes, I have the very same problem with the DEA’s new rule on medications containing Hydrocodone. It’s truly a problem when the federal government is regulating medications that people need. Especially when the DEA has been taken before a Congressional committee about unethical behavior in their organization. The DEA needs to stop practicing medicine and start regulating its own employees. If they would do their job and stop trying to the Doctors job then maybe they might get somewhere on the ” War on Drugs “. Why would a government organization attempt to financially destroy honest people who have worked their whole lives and paid their taxes but now need some medications like Hydrocodone just to get out of bed in the morning? Further more, Why would our elected officials allow such an organization to continue to punish these honest people? Morons, look what happened when the government prohibited alcohol. If you can’t remember, organized crime found a way.
I am the same way as the first person to post on this. I have severe back and neck pain. I have had 8 different surgical procedures done on both and have suffered more pain ever since. Some days I take the six 10mg 325mg Norco pills I’ve been prescribed a day, and some days I only take 3 to 4 a day! My physician has wanted to prescribe even a more powerful pain relievers but I have refused them because of their effects. My meds are used for pain management, not for habit.
Now because of this new law, I have to go to my doctor every single month. That cost me $45 for every visit plus insurance premiums are going up 18 percent for an additional $62 a month plus my doctors office is 35 miles away, that’s 70 miles round trip and the is about $20 in gas. Lame Brains, I’m on a fixed income and can’t afford all this BS!!! I personally have always been proud that I haven’t had to ever depend on the government help like food stamps. But because of all this I’m now afraid that I’m going to have to apply.
Well now to the point. DEA, stick to trying to bust the real drug dealers and leave the Doctors alone! Your silly and moronic intervention into the medical profession is only hurting those of us that actually need these types of medicines and helping drug dealers to make more money. Theoretically you involvement into the world of legal medical treatment could eventually cause many people to turn to illegal drug use because it will be cheaper.
Finally, to our elected representatives. You need to stick up for the people who have put you in office and stop letting a government agency such as the DEA, (who’s ethical behavior is currently being questioned), dictate your decisions on medical treatments.
Cindy
United States
This new DEA law for Hydrocodone is so stupid. Why are the people whom have actual severe arthritic/cancer pain have to be punished due to some idiots that stole and overdosed on pain meds. I have a history of severe osteoarthritis and being hit by a car at a younger age. I do not want to take these pain pills for high, but only to get to my pain level to where I can actually get out of bed and ambulate. But now you can get Marijuana in certain states. What is wrong with this picture? It is a drug and it can cause you to be under the influence!
Now more of the poor people whom live in pain will now have to look to illegal ways and or places for relief.I hope the people (DEA)who decided make it so difficult to get my meds have severe pain and will be unable to obtain them. Take care of our poor veterans and disabled that have severed to keep our country safe.
Ema
I have health problems and think this new law sucks. I know pain management doctors see us like we are addicts. If people want to use drugs, they can still find them out there, so don’t blame it on the prescriptions the doctors give us. Some people with chronic pain really needs narcotics and not because other people abuses them or sell them doesn’t mean everybody does that, some people with chronic pain, like us, we need them.
renee
All of my Norco prescription are not written “prn”.
For those of you not sure what that means, it simply means “take as needed”.
My scripts don’t say that because my doctor says to always take the Norco.
In chronic pain, Hydrocodone products are best when you keep your levels consistent in your system.
I am supposed to take it without fail. In other words, there is no functional life for me without it and I’m thankful for not needing anything stronger.
When I tried Tylenol 4 for a few months after this change, it of course did not work and I got a true glimpse of what my condition is.
From the waist down, my legs would suddenly become so weak, I would have to hold onto the walls to get from room to room, but in most cases, I’d need to immediately sit, or crumble to the floor.
It is really scary to realize how bad off you truly are.
Without Norco, it would literally be the end of me and any type of life.
Sandy
Tennessee
I have been in pain since 1981 and had finally gotten a pain regiment that was working so I had somewhat of a normal life. I was on a 100 fentonyl patch every 48 hours along with 4 Lortab daily and two different muscle relaxers, plus anti inflammatory drugs. Now I have been cut to a 50 fentonyl patch every 48 hours and 3 Lortab offer day. Along with 3 muscle relaxers that do nothing.
I honestly feel that each and everyone of us in legitimate pain need to sue the DEA for severe pain and suffering. And for every person who decides to end their life because they can’t take not only the physical pain but also the emotional pain of not having a life worth living without help or being in bed all the time, their families should sue for wrongful death. The DEA knows better. Once an addict always an addict this law only costs the insurance companies more money and patients more inconvenience. An addict can get pills on the street easier than us in pain can get them from the doctors. Not only do we need our surgeon now but we also need a pain doctor, and a family doctor and in some cases a psychiatric doctor in order to get the medications we bed.
So I say to all of you out there in legitimate pain with the medical records to back it up to get a lawyer and fight for pain and suffering and sue the DEA and the state governments who put ridiculous limits on the amount of pain medications you can get. While we sit here and suffer the addicts are still getting their drugs on the streets. And yes my body may be addicted to the medication but it’s my body and if I want a semi normal life then I don’t really care if my body is addicted or if it cuts my life short. At least with my medications I can live my life and not just lay in bed all the time and have no life at all. It’s time we stick together and let the DEA and the government know that we’re not going to suffer over 11,000 deaths of addicts who regardless of what meds we have in our medicine cabinets would have died regardless by other means of finding their fix. They need to know that we won’t stand for it any more. We won’t stand for insurance prices going up due to increased doctors visits and we won’t stand for them making us suffer and taking our somewhat normal life from us. It’s time for people in pain to unite.
eileen h.
I had a workers comp case in 2010. I can’t get out of bed without nortco. I don’t abuse. The case settled a bad lying lawyer. I went to my same dr reduced the nortco. I can work now, cant move good, in pain, understands why people want to kill themselves.
Well I’m applying for social security at 47. Spine, neck and failed surgery. Well I guess I will be a liability to society. I will buy on tbe street. And live my life in a chair. Dr, lawyers, congress, president, pharmacy, FDA, ALL OF THEM, I pray they all get sick, suffer themselves and their kids, are offered the same treatment and they feel it. They have done the same with asthma meds and muscle relaxers. All for their benefit. Now I will live on the state. They have tent cities I guess will live there can’t pay rent, or bills without working.
So when EVERYONE is out of work lets see who will pay their salary from taxes, no one, I too will sue a class action. Well no one cares but the drugs on the st tbey will profit from me and others. What jerks.
Monica
Michigan
Please write to your Senators and Congress representatives. What happens when we need to travel abroad and cannot get our prescriptions to cover the time we are gone?? Medicine cannot be mailed overseas. Just something else that wasn’t considered.
Bless all of you who are also in pain.
Doug
I understand what you mean, I unfortunately had to apply for SSDI at age 47 myself. I have started to scan the Internet for class action law suits filed against the DEA so that I can join in. The worst part about filing for disability is that it takes so long. I personally haven’t collected a paycheck in 2 years. All I can say is good luck and definitely get an attorney when you file.
Lynda
Michigan
I am a 61 year old woman. I have chronic pain from severe arthritis, bone, joint, tendon and ligament disease. I have more metal in me than a bionic robot. These new “rules” are Horrible! The powers that be…..have NO CLUE what it is like to live in chronic pain. Making me, and others, jump thru hoops to get pain meds is RIDICULOUS! The costs are outrageous, to make an appointment EVERY MONTH….copays are expensive when on a fixed income. Then the Pharmacist says he has none in stock! gee…..who ever made these rules is SADISTIC. Thanks for nothing, DEA….I know you don’t care……Tough luck for me and other chronic pain sufferers…..just tough luck. :~(
christine
ohio
The more stories I read, the more angry I get at the judgement and abuse that the goverment, doctors ect…have put on people suffering…forcing people to break the law, find help on the streets, want to die, because they can not handle the pain and torture we are put threw!!! And it is not preventing drug addicts, it is affecting hard working people who
Were once productive now left begging for help, it is shameful and humiliating to need pain medication, who would put themselves threw this if they did not need them!!! And when you really are in pain you go threw hell, but these people lying and abusing, selling, they seem to get meds easily, I dont get that!!! And they have made it impossible for people truly inpain to have any kind of life, hell we can not help anyone, we can not even help ourselves… And if you cry in pain, your just an emotional female drug seeking, no thought that maybe your the uptenth doctor I ve seen that has used me for money, as you charge me outstanding amounts for injections, creams, worthless patches, and if you are someone who has side affects from nsaids then your really just a drug seeker. Most of us have tried everything, muscle relaxers, which take a chronic pain person who already is exhausted from not sleeping, and sedate them even more…they just want us in bed, quite, not saying a word, as they slowly strip away our rights our dignity!! I want to fight them, I want to help all of you, but what can we do? We are nothing in their eyes, once they have broken us, yes we cry!!! Ohio
Gary
United States
I am in big trouble….Kaiser P has used BIG PHARMA to treat me for over 20 years rather than fork out the money to treat the problems I have surgically and I have a number of real problems including chronic pain. Up until 6 months ago I was prescribed 180 10/325 percoset monthly (6 Daily) along with 150 mcg fentanyl every 3 days. This was not a pain free existance but I would be able to be mindly active 1.5/2 days out of every 3 and go fetal the day or so. Not perfect but better than now….
I have bone on bone on both knees from a motorcycle vs car accident back in 1974 where I broke both femurs and a wrist in a head on offroad event. This led to many conditions as I grew being only 15 at the time. It ultimately resulted in one leg being shorter than the other and that led to scoliosis of the back which resulted in a sprained lumbar area which led to chronic back pain. The next issue is a rotator cuff that was not repaired by KP until the tendons (2) tore in half and they had to do something other than pills. Actually they had to fish for the torn tendons and sew them together, anchor them to a bone then do a procedure on the cuff itself which now I have been told was destine for failure from the start as the damage was extensive and the repair was a failed attempt because of what was there to work with. Next I bought in on a back procedure in July 2014 where they ended up screwing up my right hamstring that won’t heal and I am worse now than in June of 2014. I could go on and on but here is the problem, I have been told they (KP.ORG) is cutting my pain meds to 2 percocet daily and 25mcg of fentanyl every 3 days without repairing any of the issues.
DEA, you are going to be the death of me and tens of thousands of truly needy pain sufferers but
Kaiser Permanente is going to beat you to it!
Each of us need to find a way to protest/picket/ demonstrate/ be heard somehow before this just is a SUPER TRAGEDY where we all parish from fetal tremors….
zach
United States
It’s absolutely horrible. We recently lost our father, my mother lost her husband. She has diabetic neuropathy and is in a lot of pain. She is unable to get around and needs help with daily chores. D.E.A. has no soul. My mom lays in bed crying in pain. She was once a nurse able to work 13 hour shifts.
Bryant Petty
Detroit, MI
I am in the same situation. I had back surgery 3 years ago and since the surgery, I have had constant back pain. My doctor prescribed to me Hydrocodone and it really eases the pain. I am able to work full time again and never needed more than what the doctor prescribed. After another MRI recently , a cyst had developed in my back. My doctor has been begging me to have another surgery but I have refused. I don’t want to be off work for another year. Now he has completely stopped my medication to force me into surgery. Even if I do have the surgery, can he guarantee the pain medication that I needed to be able to get through a normal day of life without being in constant pain?
David
Central New Jersey
Very sad reading these letters. I will tell you I take a MEDICATION (Methadone) For pain. It’s safe but seek advice from a clinic …. Clinics that initially are for drug abuse and get their advice. Please, ANYTHING BUT BREAKING THE LAW PEOPLE! Don’t lower yourselves to ruining your record. Any treatment is protected under the HIPA LAWS. God be with you…
David
Renee
California
I have posted here more than once since this change in law. Back in November when the law first went into effect, I decided to try Tylenol 3. I am a spinal fusion patient with previous bone grafts, etc….
In the first two weeks, I called and said NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Tylenol 3 sucks, so my docs office changed it to Tylenol 4.
I actually tried Tylenol 4, for 5 months. The only way I got any relief was to take three or four of them at a time. Yup. Would run out after two weeks. See, every pharmacist would shake their head at me and say “Hon, you’ve been with us as a customer for over a decade for your condition and I’m tellin’ ya, Tylenol 3 and 4 are NOT for a person that’s over 60% disabled with your spine problems.
Tylenol 3 and 4 are for short term pain, such as a broken wrist, bad headaches, etc…”
Anyways, I went to my appt with the PA and told him no way, no how I could put up with this any longer. He knew.
I had only tried it because they were a 90 minute round trip drive. Yes. They have to document by law every new script. You can’t just show up at the front window and get the script and run.
So, I have to pay for a doctors visit each month AND pay for the Norco. I will also have to pee in a cup to prove I’m not selling them. Lol
this is the funniest part. Take my car, my three cats, my furniture and all of my belonging in a robbery, but you DARE take my Norco from me. Lol
I wouldn’t sell something more precious to me than gold.
Honestly, since I was a cash patient, I paid MORE for Tylenol 4 then I did Norco. A lot more and twice my pharmacy was out of it and I’d have to travel a half hour away to another location to find it.
With the doc visit each month and paying for my Norco and after doing the math, it will cost an additional $50 per month, which isn’t that bad.
I will be cutting corners somewhere else. I will not be filling the Zanaflex (muscle relaxer) and will not fill any other prescription except for the Norco. I also take Tramadol but its only $8 per month so it’s not a big deal.
I’ll cut some groceries here and there too.
A twist to everything is, my job I had before all this made my back worse and my employer wouldn’t do anything about it and avoided me in order to not allow me to file a work comp case, so I called my attorney from my FIRST work comp case. This is how I got my original injury in 2001. A bad, bad fall leading to nearly 100% disabled for life.
I worked part time taking care of a woman with dementia in her home. Things were ok mostly until she progressed and started to fall or couldn’t get out of her chair. Sometimes she would fall asleep standing up and once fell right on top of me taking us both down.
Did my boss care? No and we’re not supposed to lift more than 25 pounds.
Anyways, my attorney opened a new work comp case and within the next few weeks, I won’t have to pay for my prescriptions again during the duration of the case which can go on for years.
I will not leave my current doctor until I find a new one that will honor my history and keep me on the current medication program.
Life really sucks, but I know from reading here that there are some worse off than even me.
I will and am willing to be a part of a class action against the DEA whenever, or if one takes place. I have spent quite a deal of time on the phone trying to locate a supply of my meds and who has them now, or if they have to order it and on and on and on. This has been a full-time job and utterly and ridiculously insane.
Barbara B
Colorado
I am absolutely so angry and frustrated with this new drug regulation. My story would just sound like everyone else’s out there. I am trying everything my doctor tells me to try and even am seeing a pain specialist. In other words, I am trying to cooperate as I feel like I am being treated like a drug addict. I really research a lot about any condition I have so I can communicate better with the doctors. I went from being pain free, taking care of myself, etc. to now having constant pain and my ability to walk is deteriorating very fast. I have had to have both ankles replaced years ago to continue walking. What can we do? I stumbled on this article because I feel like starting a pain revolution because I am so fed up and I didn’t know where to start. Oh, I am 76 years old and never thought I would spend my waning days like this.
christine
defiance
Hello, sorry for your pain, as I have similiar promblems…but aside from DEA making it impossible to get pain relief, being a women it is even more difficult! I hear new advertisements on the radio biast agaisnt women, for taking pain medication, we are
Abusing, dying, but no mention of men. Not only do we not get the same meds men get, but now this on the radio!!
I have more medical conditions then the men I know going to same pain dr. Where it cuts my medicine to less than half of the amount I was getting.. They are prescribed 3/4 x’ s the amount and strenght and do not even need or take like I do just to get out of bed, and try to walk or have any kind of life. What infuriates me even more is, I know for a fact that they sell or give to desperate wimen in exchange for sex or money…Being a chronic pain sufferer is hard enough, be a woman and your really screwed, literally!!! I have walk the lune, told the truth, tried everything from injections, creams, natural remedies…and still the only thing that helps is pain medicine, why would any of us want to take them if we didnt seriously need it to live…we are judged, treated like addicts, whispering and treated like crimminals when gettingvour scripts, filling our scripts, every thing to do with the medicine is a nightmare, except the relief and maybe getting some of our former life back!!! I talk myself of the cliff every other day, Im so tired of it, I cry all the time, because it doesnt matter what I do, it only gets harder and I just turned 50, I can not even imagine another week of this let alone 20 years!!! If you change doctors your doctor shopping, the doctors tell me one thing and put completely different info in my reports, because it was made worse by a car accident, and I had a pending lawsuit, and no doctors wanted to treat me, or be part of a lawsuit, so to cover their ass and not be involved, they just pass me ti another specialist and so on…just more money, more looking like a doctor shopper, drug addict, worthless woman just trying to get hifh on pain meds!!! Trust me if I am lucky enough to get medicine I do not even get enough to relieve my pain let alone get high!!! I read aoo of your stories, and yes, if only they had to endure the kind of judgement and treatment that comes with needed pain meds, I pray for all of you cause it sucks, and has reduced us to feeling worse than we already do if that is possible!! So good luck, from Ohio…..
mercey
women metabolize quicker than men their pain is overlooked way to much. I feel for you. A Dr. must effectively control your pain it is a law so lets get the prescribers up of the golf coarse and maybe they will fight for their meal tickets and light a fire under d.e.a. seeing how most of us on this site are too broke to hire attorney.
clark
United States
According to the D.E.A. #49664
HCP were reschedueled from 3-2, by a slim 52% -of 573 comments\41%opposed\7%undecided
14% physicians-56% for
10% pharmacist-60%opposed
14%legal users-91%opposed
62% joe public-74%for
D.E.A. Disagree with lack of scientific consensus, among scientist who object to selective information ! Who needs facts when the deck is stacked! Relying on 62% of uninformed, or misinformed,perhaps preselected citizens who think they are doing their part in the war on drugs to pass legislation is ludicrous,and irresponsible!
I don’t pretend to know what the scientist are objecting to when they say (selective information) All data I’ve seen group HCP (vicodin, etc.) with much more powerful morphine, oxycodone, dilaudid, fentanyl, demerol. When citing addiction ,o.d., & death. I personally believe this is deliberately deceitful. As new and much more profitable replacements are already being made available by the deep pockets of pharmaceutical corp.
THIS IS A GREAT TRAVESTY TO THOSE OF US WITH A LEGITIMATE NEED FOR A MODERATE PAIN MANAGEMENT MED. I do not want to be forced to use stronger than i need or suffer with nothing! I urge all to contact and be a nuisance to all your elected representatives!
CAS
ny
what are we supossed to do ????????????????????????????????? my dr thinks I should live my life in bed with an ice back for my messed up cervical spine..how is that ok????? I’m only 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 yrs ago I worked out 4 days a wk now they want be bed ridden…..HELP!!!!
CAS
NY
I AM IN THE SAME SITUATION AS MANY it makes me want to find a way to buy off the streets or any other high risk options… pissed the DEA could give a s*** about those of us who NEED the meds….the ER doesn’t even want to and depending on who I get I feel embarrassed and they treat me like an abuser…. I only go when the pain is outrageously debilitating… what do I do????????????????????????????
robin
Buffalo
I am a chronic pain patient. On paper, these new regulations sound good, but there’s a lot of reasons why it isn’t.
Drug testing is expensive and has a potential to be inaccurate. With insurance, Co payments were $50. I was uninsured for a short time & was drug tested, receiving a $1500 bill. I wasn’t informed what method they would use. They tested for 16 different things. Since then, I’ve had medicaid, so I no longer have the concern of payments, but the taxpayers should be informed of this. Pain management drug tested me 7/8 times in a year. Just recently, my primary Dr stated testing me too.
Even if there’s benefits, why should they be testing me every other visit, if there’s no signs of abuse?
My script is mailed to the pharmacy to save me the extra drive, but not without the inconvenience of calling exactly a certain amount of days ahead & the potential for it to come late – which has happened twice. I live in an area prone to heavy snow fall. We had a storm that caused the pharmacy to close down for 3 days. The Dr wrote the script wrong one month & it was a nightmare to fix.
You are only allowed to use the same pharmacy. So, if you travel, or they are out of my med, too bad.
Speaking of travel, they will only fill on the 31st day. No exceptions. A couple times my script fell on holidays, or during family emergencies, & no one could help me – yet if I choose to skip my pills for a day, I could get in trouble with the Dr.
Treatment by medical staff is horrible. One time, I went to the E.R. for something unrelated to pain, & the admitting nurse told me I was “going to die from poison,” after I have her a list of my medicine. (7.5 hydrocodone, 2x a day) To list all the ways I’ve been treated, it would take forever.
So you jump through hoops, but at the end of the day, you’re under their thumb. Don’t you dare mention problems with your medicine, don’t question treatments, or ask questions. If you do, they will find a way to dismiss you. The whole thing is a joke.
Jeff
I’m looking for helpful voices and hints. I am totally at a dead end. I’ve always been able to help my wife but now I am completely useless thanks to regulation. Why is my wife going through this hell? It’s not fair and no one cares. I am angry, hurt and incredibly pissed off. I need advice.
clark
u.s.a.
This is in reply to (jeff april,14,2015) I feel your frustration bro. was hoping to reply privately, but respect privacy policy here. please read my comments under (clark). I too seek some way to form a coalition to give a united voice to the 91% of surveyed legal users who opposed this upscheduling .I am not computer savy enough like most us to old and beatup to organize such a movement, Anyone who is please help!
All I can think to do is seek sites like this one,to whom i’m very thankful;
But mainly (compose and save) email to every elected representative and resend every day. squeaky wheel syndrome,annoy,agitate! But we better act soon or we’ll be forgotten!
Maria T.
United States
My husband worries too as to me not being able to sleep every night due to back pain / rls. And also dealing with it all day everyday, I even come home miserable and all I want to do is lay down from all the frustration not being able to do my job right due to the pain (I have arthritis on my back) I just don’t understand why try giving me 4 to 5 different medications which don’t help as opposed to just one which is the hydro I been taking… I definitely do feel like they are treating us as if we were drug addicts which were not. If they could only feel what we feel then they’d understand.
Butch
Tx
I am also going through the same problems. Why should the government tell a doctor how to take care of his patients. Maybe a class action with the DEA?
Debby
pa
These stories are both heartbreaking and infuriating since we are supposed to be grateful for our freedom. The so called “war on drugs” is nothing more than a war on patients, most especially the elderly, who should be treated like gold. Unfortunately, you never hear your stories in the media, just the opposing views.
If anyone knows how we can change the situation, share. Funny, isn’t it, how these meds were on drug store shelves for centuries and we managed to just buy it when we needed it. The shelves weren’t cleared by people wanting to swallow the whole bottle. And for the relatively few who developed a problem, anonymous free clinics were available. Bless you folks. I hope you find help! Let’s DO something.
clark
United States
Doctors are supposed to pledge allegiance to the hippocratic oath. To heal and relieve suffering. It is my opinion based on personal experience that they are now more concerned with appeasing insurance, pharmaceutical, companies, accountants, licensing, and malpractice lawyers! My blood boils when I think of how many Dr.s treet me 59yrs like a drug seeker knowing I was hit by a tractor trailer truck and having many injuries & surgeries. And now I have to wait weeks, and be reassessed by pharmacist to determine if I purchase enough drugs to be worthy of the privaledge of them filling my prescription the DR. has already determined necessary! $$$,10\6\14 HCP are now suddenly very difficult to acquire! 11\20\14 -(45days) FDA APPROVES – HYSINGA ER, time released hydrocodone@ 10x the cost\(no generics for new patents)$$$ HOW STUPID SO THEY THINK WE ARE?
holky
houston
The law is horrible – My current doctor can’t handle the patients -forcing me to go to PM- I reviewed the application – the questions had absolutely nothing to do with my spinal cord injury – My neck was broken from a violent crime. The scumbag is still on the loose yet they want to dictate my pills. I’ve always used them responsibly for 5 yr – looking at the paperwork it looks like I’m going to see a parole officer – I’ve become the victim again! I was so furious I responded to the doctor – have you ever been sued? Cheat on you wife? File bankruptcy? … I’m getting ready to be out of medication. According to warning label (which I read) I’ll go into a seizure and die – So someone please tell me what they expect me to do?
M
United States
Hi, I am struggling after have my 3 rd back surgery which was a two level fusion. Im starting to have trouble with my insurance company harassing me. No one around me takes the letters we receive from the insurance company seriously and my pain dr made me sign paperwork saying I violated my relationship with him because I received medicine from other dr’s-this was SIX weeks after a 9 hr fusion surgery! I barely knew my own name I was so drugged. Can you explain your story a little? I am TERRIFIED of them not understanding my medical situation -can you please explain the parole officer aspect? I have never heard that before thanks and good luck
Barb
Texss
I was prescribed 1/2 tablet of Vicodin x2 (one tablet daily) for a surgical broken ankle and severe sinus headaches (even after 9 sinus surgeries) for years.
That is Nothing compared to what most people take. I supplemented it with Aleve. Now that the crooks have stepped in, I am given 1 Tylenol#3 daily. It’s a waste. I am 65 yrs old. I HURT AND CRY IN PAIN DAILY NOW… I now understand why people in pain don’t care if they wake up each day. This is a travesty!
I pray each any and every member of the FDA gets denied pain medication that would work for them and see how it feels to HURT!!!
Rob
CA
I am about to undergo back surgery and have had two others in the past. I have had chronic back problems for years and I will be 53 this year. Much of this new rule/law has to do with the doctor you have had and how willing he/she is to take care of your pain and everything associated with it. What is needed from you or anyone else out there who has chronic issues is a copy of all your medical history. This should be in the hands of your primary physician. That way he/she will have a better idea of how to treat your pain issues. Narcotic medications aren’t the only modality for controlling pain. Yes, narcotics play a big role, but there are other medications and treatments that can be used in a collaborative effort to help your pain.
YOU must be your own advocate in the system used here in the United States. Nobody else gives a damn. If you have a prescription and it can’t be filled here for some reason then send it to Canada. It will take longer to get it of course, but I doubt it will be refused outright because of a lack of supply. As long as it is legitimate from your MD. I have a physician that is attentive and has my complete medical history. I communicate with him on a every other monthly basis, and by email, and I see him four times a year. It is the only way to keep my physician abreast of how I am doing. Yes, this would be hard for many to do. I understand that. Unfortunately, that is the length I must go to get what I need and to keep my care under mine and my physicians control. DEA be damned! They do nothing but harm to the current system.
The moment they left the “illegal” drug realm is the moment they started searching for a new pseudo-demon to keep track of and hunt down—money for their agency and a reason to continue existing. That agency is a disgrace and I lump the FDA in with them. The FDA is no better. The FDA makes all sorts of suggestions to the DEA, so they are in cahoots with each other.
It stinks, frankly!
CAS
hf
I felt the exact same way.. I curse everyone who has done this and to those Drs who refuse to help when my pain is at an extreme….what are we supposed to do???????????????
Samantha T.
United States
I recently had my 2nd spinal fusion surgery. While in the hospital and for the most part, post-op, my pain was handled well. But before the surgery==while I was waiting 2 months==it was agony. The ONLY thing I could get for pain was Tramadol, which did very little to help. But wait, I’ve got one better….
Two weeks before my neck surgery, I felt a funky cramp in my side. About 5 years ago, I had a 5 mm kidney stone moving slowly, and this felt similar. I went to the ER, and sure enough, another one. This thing was moving fast–could feel it in my side. I got Toradol and IV fluids, which helped some, but when the stone started moving again to my bladder, I was screaming. SCREAMING. I had a 8.5 lb. baby with no painkillers at all–and moaning, but not screaming. This was so much worse. Doctor told me that he was sending me home with oral Toradol for 3 days, and to drink lots of water–good luck moving the stone out! He wouldn’t write a script for anything else. They have a big sign in the ER saying they do not prescribe any opiod pain meds through the ER.
I spent the next 15 hours writing in pain and trying to consume liquids, and finally got it out. 2 mm, but very jagged (the larger one was more rounded–took me 35 days to get it out, but the pain was less). I passed some smaller ‘bits’ of the last one for about 2 weeks–it showed up in my testing at the hospital for my neck surgery.
First time, 5 years ago, I got a bottle of 30 Percocet without the ER doctor (different) batting an eye–he just cautioned me to watch out for constipation and not to use them if I had to drive anywhere. This time, 9 Toradol. Making someone pass a kidney stone without anything effective for pain is cruel and unusual punishment IMO. Next time (I’m afraid if you have one, you’ll get them again), I will demand something more effective.
Bill
longwood fl
This country of the freedom where is the freedom. Everybody are not drug addicts. Your new law just sindged my death warrant. I have a bad heart and need to walk every day and morphine will not let me do anything. THANK YOU SO MUCH b4 this I was doing pretty good. This country just don’t wont OLD people around, people that built this country.
Rebecka
Portland, OR
I’m 80 years old. Had Radiation Therapy after Breast Cancer surgery in July 2007. Since having taken one Vicodin tablet and having the experience of staying awake for 3days, elected to take a half a one. Worked great so I continued to receive scripts. 30 pills lasted me about 3 months.
In Sept. 2014, due to COPD, and a bowel problem I upped the dose to 1/2 every night, plus 1/2 before going to the Doctor. I had plenty of pain during the day, but was afraid more use might mean larger doses were necessary. My Doctor decided 15 pills were enough after the new law. Forget the 2 additional dated scripts.
I decided to try to find a Doc who was closer. The previous one was quite far away. Also, maybe she would give me the dated scripts. She said, I needed to stop using my inhaler, (for COPD) and stop taking Diphenhydramine for really bad allergies? She stopped 10 scripts. 2, I had never had. Vicodin and Triamcinolone Cream, that I was told I would have to use forever to counteract rashes before it became necessary to use an Antibiotic, because it was my reaction to Radiation. Finally, she gave me a script for TraMADol. 50 mg. The first thing on the no no list? Not for use if you have breathing problems.
Guess the fact that I have trouble getting from my room to the kitchen doesn’t count.
I live in Oregon. It’s OK for me to kill myself. But because a prosecutor in Fort Lauderdale wanted more ability to prosecute people for drug abuse, I just got thrown away. Looks like the Government is getting antsy about losing all that fodder for their Masters in For Profit Prisons due to several States making Marihuana legal, they have to come up with new sources. Naturally, they came up with the biggest source they could find. People in pain.
Don’t worry, they will find a way to put people in prison over it.
The worst part is, They come up with numbers on how many are misusing Vicodin. Trouble is, it is grouped with truly dangerous drugs, Heroin, Morphine, etc. I have to wonder why? Might be because Vicodin has too small a record of misuse to impress anyone.
Kaye
Austin
What ever happened to personal accountability? Not everyone is a drug abuser, as you mention, but PROHIBITION got you no where in the 20th century, and neither will this new restriction. Tell the truth. It is ALWAYS about the money, not your concern for humanity and everyone is not stupid. What is really going on?
What a shocker. Picked up a hydrocodone prescription for my 76 year old mother and just paid .99 cents for it. ha ha ha You guys (FDA and DEA) are such a joke. “We are just doing our jobs, ma’am…what THEY tell us to do……” That really gets old.
sylvia
houston
I am 59 and still work full time. A few years ago I asked my Dr. if he thought it would be better if I went on disability. He said I was too young and put me on hydrocodone. I was thus able to keep working. Now, I am supposed to work with excruciating pain. I don’t want to. I cannot. I don’t want to live like this. This is not living.
In October I had 2 refills left, but I was not aware of the change until November when I went to get my refill. It”s been nothing short of hell, since then.
Am I supposed to tell the company I have worked for for 9 years that I can no longer work because I am in Pain?
Why don’t they just take us out to a pasture and shoot us? THIS IS NOT LIVING!!!!!
Since everything that goes around comes around, what are you gonna do when you’re put it in the same predicament we now find ourselves in?
Jeff
United States
With a grain of salt, thank God my wife is not alone. My wife had a botched neck surgery over ten years ago and while in Texas her pain medication doctors had no issue in prescribing 180 Hydrocodone per month. Now in a different state, doctors here ‘don’t feel comfortable’ with that type of dosage and her medication has been cut by over 33%! If several doctors who have seen how bad she was hacked and prescribed her the prior dosage in the past then why now all of a sudden do these new doctors feel more responsible and educated than surgeons in Texas? Really?
While physicians argue over such trivial nonsense along with lawyers and such, real people are suffering. Suffering really, really bad. I’m sick of the apologists and just want to find someone that has a pair. Quite frankly I think every doctor is neutered and every pharmacist a communist. ISIS treats people better than the U.S. medical profession.
My wife is going through pure hell because of this political bull crap. Basically, it is forcing law abiding patients to now seek illegal drugs for help to have somewhat of a resemblance of a life. Brilliant lawmakers. I have never been arrested for anything in over 55 years and now I’m looking for street drugs. Law makers – you are the reason our country is f’ed up and F you for doing this to my wife.
Chris
Texas
This is probably the most ignorant law passed so far!!!! Get ready for a lot more heroin addicts!!!!
jorge
laredo, tx
This is so ridiculous that this is goin on in our country …the d.e.a is now killing the americans we fight so hard for our freedom veterans brave men that can not get this medicine you want them to resort to the black market…Or EVEN WORSE HAVE THEM GO TO A HEROIN DEALER EVERYDAY….this is outrageous my meighbor is a veteran who had this medicine ten mgs for almost 15 years just ripped away. Had a heart attack…. now hes in the hospital maybe that what y’all want see everyone wins here but the d.e.a. losses because they won’t control a damn thing.
Buzzy
Carlsbad, ca
My turn to chime in….I agree it is not fair. Every month I have to come in for a refill I end up paying over $100 for each visit.
Solutions:
That is what I want to hear… I understand that not all doctors are charging their patients for every visit. Some merely ask that they come in and they have the refill prescription waiting for them, no charge. Where are those doctors with a heart? I hate to change pain doctors, but am willing if they will work with me. Make sense?
Mrs. B
Tampa, FL
A friend of mine referred me to a pain management doctor a couple of years ago, and when I signed up and began treating there my doctor required a narcotic contract/agreement be signed which included a clause about random UA. I don’t have a problem with taking a UA, and I understand the reasons behind it. What I do have a problem with is that I now am not allowed to urinate in private. When my friend went to his appt. he told me that every patient was tested that day and that each person was told they had to be accompanied to the bathroom while they watched/monitored the urinating. I am not on probation and my doctor visits are in no way court ordered. Is there a new law that allows a pain management doctor/staff to supervise drug testing (UA)? What about my right to privacy?
Should they ask to accompany me to the bathroom I know that I have the right to refuse that, but we all know that the doctor will discontinue treating me as soon as I do. I have nothing to hide.
In the past they would set a time limit of 3 minutes to: enter the bathroom, ‘pee in the cup’, and exit the bathroom. That was logical, but this is unreal and completely inappropriate.
There are doors on the public bathroom stalls & doors on single bathrooms for a reason.
Normally when there is a new law about pain management, drugs in general, or the government’s favorite new term ‘pill mills’ it is all over the news – I have not heard anything about this.
Has anyone else heard about this? Is it a new law, or is my doctor’s office making up their own rules as they go along? Any information and input would be greatly appreciated.
Steve
Paco Florida
I recently just moved here from the great state of Michigan I have been on vicodin zanax and other meds for 6yrs due too a broken back severe depression panic attacks list goes on and what I don’t understand why these doctors are giving crack heads whatever they need. I’m talking about strong meds What the DEA is doing is total bs I almost died here from not having my zanax I had paper work sent here from my doctor in MI I also had 2 mri and these doctors look at u like a crack head. I don’t understand why the DEA is punishing the people that really need the meds well the other day I was in major tooth pain long story they did there xrays outcome was bad u know wat they said for me to do take 2 advil. This state is a joke no wonder people are dieing all over the place. So I finally gave up, I still have bad panic attacks and pain bad pain this is a very simple law that can be corrected very simple good luck too u people that need help and can’t get it.
Kaye
You are so right and I am sorry for your pain. It’s all a very BIG $$$ GAME and you are nothing but collateral damage in their eyes.
OTIS DRIFTWOOD
MASS
THE D.E.A. IS NEVER GOING TO QUIT THEIR RIDICULOUS BS WITH ALL THIS NARCOTIC BS, THEY WANT EVERY LEGIT PATIENT EVEN CANCER PATIENTS TO SUFFER IN AGONY ! THEY ARE TRUE AMERICAN SCUMBAGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE JUST CREATING A HUGE BLACK MARKET WHERE THE CRIMINALS ARE GETTING RICHER SELLING PILLS THAT EVEN LEGITIMATE PATIENTS CANNOT GET FROM THEIR DOCTORS, WHAT A CESSPOOL THIS COUNTRY HAS BECOME BECAUSE US CITIZENS ALLOW ALL THIS BS TO GO ON !!!
Laura
United States
I understand some of the rules. No refills. Logical. I can call my doctor and he will write a script for me without a doctors appointment but I have to go to the office to get it. So I drive 40 miles round trip. I must say that because of this and the fact that it hurts to drive I have cut back on my prescription. A one month supply now lasts me three months but I’m in more pain than I should be. I really don’t understand why a doctor can’t call it in or fax it to your pharmacy. What is the difference between going to the office or the pharmacy? I’ve gone to the same pharmacy and to the same doctor for years. They know my doctor and they know me and they know my medical condition. I don’t abuse my medication. There is now a nationwide verification for doctors to see if you are getting multiple prescriptions from more than one doctor. Where is the common sense?
Kaye
There is no common sense to it, Laura. Did you notice that Hydrocodone has suddenly gotten even cheaper than dollar store aspirin?? This isn’t about saving people from themselves (which IS NOT the government’s job, btw) It is about money and the FDA.
defected since birth
United States
I am a 45 yr old suffering from a birth defect that effects 1/2
My body including craniofacial, neck and shoulders. I CANNOT get the
Help with the constant bombardment of pain, lack of sleep therof and having embarrassing episodes at the pharmacy, Drs office, and I
Have been honest to no avail.
THIS is not right
Zachariah Lloyd
Virginia
I am in complete agreement that legitimate medical pain management should not be lazily thrown in with drug addiction to the detriment of those who realistically need pain relief….
My old dentist used to prescribe Vicodin, or Tylenol 3 with codeine without a second thought, and it was truly helpful with tooth pain, which by the way is the worst pain there is, but then he retired, and I cannot seem to find a single dentist that will prescribe anything but Ibuprofen, and Penicillin for tooth pain, and those do nothing to stop this kind of hellish pain.
I mean seriously, a big aspirin?? I am not a drug addict by any stretch of the term, and don’t drug seek ever, and so what does the DEA have to do with me??
I have to agree with Tommy from Maryland that the drug enforcement agencies out there are a dying breed, and they know it, and this kind of legislation is just desperately trying to remain useful and continue getting their budgets. But why do I have to suffer because these people have no true purpose anymore??
Lynn
Ny
I was on Oxycodone 5mg inn rel every 8 hrs as needed no more than 4 pills a day for like 5-6 yrs. also moriphine 15mg sul er twice a day. For a rare illness, si joint pain, hip problems, muscle problems , nerve damnage, migraines, also doing injections from pain management Botox injections also. I would still have pain to where I was crying I got a new dr at the pain management and she told me that the oxycodone was the right pills for me and told me for someone to be on them as long as I was she told me all the risks. I was scared to go off of them. I didn’t know about a lot of Drs are stopping to give out scripts. She weaned me off slowly. I still have pain but not where I’m crying the oxycodone made my back pain worst than what it was. I tried to take something for nerve pain but it made me sleep way to much. I’m still on the moriphine and I always got my refills once a month I call in the refills at the pain management and they mail them right to the drug store. It’s always been this way. Unless I have an appointment around when I need an refill. I like them mailing the drug store my scripts saves me an hour drive. I call a week before I Run out. I still need something for breakthrough pain but I don’t want anything that I will get depended on. When drs told me that pain pills can make the pain worst I always thought they was just saying it. I have been treated like a lot of you have going to the er they thought I was a drug seeker. I was even told it from a dr and they wouldn’t even help me. I try not to go to the er now. When they see that im on moriphine I get questioned what do you need from us. I tell then that I don’t need any scripts from them for any pain pills and when I do get them I rip them up. I can’t get pain medicine from anyone but the pain management or they can kick me out of the program. It does suck cause of people who sell there pain medicine the people who really need them can’t.
Kari
Ohio
I’ve been reading through these posts and the more I read the madder I get. I’m 55, have numerous health problems, including Liver disease, a blood disorder (MTHFR), Fibromyalgia, arthritis of the spine, leg pain and swelling from blood clots, I’ve had surgery on my cervical spine on 2 levels and will be needing surgery again for the next 2 levels down- I could go on but I’ve probably already bored some of you to tears. I’m in constant pain at levels that reach an 8 or 9 out of 10 most days. I have been on heavy narcotic meds for 15+ years, started on low doses and gradually built up. Doctors here now have to get a separate license to prescribe narcotic drugs.
My M.D. is going to retire in about 5 years so he doesn’t want to get the “pain medicine” license and go through all the record keeping and burocracy that comes with it. I’ve done physical therapy, epidural cortisone injections, surgery and pain management for a year that cost more than $16,000. (My husband has severe back pain from 33 years on a job that simply ruined his body, and is on narcotics also). The idiot dr. put me on a med that is NOT to be used on anyone with liver disease and the most common side effect is internal bleeding!
Thank the Lord I was a medical assistant and I always look up meds before I take them! He never even read the 8 pages of forms we had to fill out! So last month we were told our M.D. will no longer refill our meds and we were referred to another pain management at a hospital that isn’t fit for dogs let alone people. That comes from people we know who work there! So we’re both going through withdrawal and I’m terribly sick. Thanks DEA and Gov. John Kascich for punishing honest, law abiding citizens who, through no fault of their own, suffer agonizing and debilitating pain every single day. I pray you never have to endure the kind of pain and poor quality of life that we are. SOMEONE has to do SOMETHING. My heart goes out to all of you, I’m so sorry for what you’re going through.
Byron
Omaha,NE
I, too am in severe, constant mid-back pain due to spinal arthritis. I have had it for 6 years now and it will get worse over time. Tramadol helped a lot, however, I need a break from it every year or it stops working completely. In the breaks, i have been using Hydrocodone 5mg, 3 times a day. I have no history of drug abuse nor a criminal record of any sort. My doctor will only do 15 days at a time now- $72 per doctor visit. Multiply this by 24 and you get 1,728.00 just for the office visits. I have no insurance (High Deductible plans are worthless- its cheaper for me to pay cash) and I am not complaining about paying cash, but I can put out $150 and get 100 pills on the street and no more going to the doctor twice a month, and the pharmacy and all the added expense and hassle. I will be going to the streets now for my medication. Thanks DEA- you have just taken a bad problem and made it far worse.
lucy
florida
Today was my first experience at not being able to fill my script for Norco 5-325mg. I’ve been taking it for chronic pain for the past few years and have always been able to fill it at Target but today, I was told they were all out. Thinking nothing about it, went to Publix pharmacy where I grocery shop and they took the script and told me that they would check if they had any pills! Waited and waited, when finally the pharmacist returned with my script and asked me where I usually filled it. Told her and that they were out. She told me they were also out of it.
I asked her if they were really out of it or did she not want to fill it. Oh, we’re out! Now I began to consider that something was wrong. I thought that may be I looked like a drug addict or something else wrong with me but since I’m a senior, I wasn’t sure and my Dr. is a geriatrician, not a pain clinic dr. I took the script to Walmart and they too had to check. Asked for my drivers license and checked me out on the computer. They finally decided to fill it and returned my license.
I am confused about this entire situation. I’ve spent the last few hours trying to figure out how I’m going to get along without the pain meds if I can’t fill another script when these run out. I’m looking forward to my next dr.’s appt. in hopes that he can shed some light on this situation. It appears we have now reached “1984” and Big Brother is watching us and making up the rules as they go along. What are people in pain supposed to do? I guess just up and die. People with pain are paying the price for those who went to pain clinics and caused the DEA to make everyone suffer for their acts.
Mrs. B
Tampa, FL
Both my husband and I are being treated by pain management doctors and receiving prescriptions for both immediate and extended release narcotics. We have been using the same Walgreens pharmacy for over 25 years. Up until about 2 years ago our pharmacy ALWAYS had our medication available when it was time to fill it – EVERY MONTH FOR OVER 20 YEARS. Since then, on occasion, if our regular location did not have either some or all of the meds (and I can recall when they used to do partial fills and you would pick up the remainder when the order came in) we would go to another area Walgreens – always a Walgreens. Fortunately since we have been going there for so many years and have built up a very good relationship with the pharmacists we were advised to a new policy that Walgreens has adapted, and it is one that they have deliberately not posted.
If you usually go to Walgreens Store ‘A’, but because they didn’t have your medication you went to Walgreens Store ‘B’ the next month and had it filled – YOU WILL BE PLACED ON A NO FILL LIST FOR WALGREENS…..ALL WALGREENS.
It is not like you went to John Doe’s pharmacy to fill it and want to return to Walgreens – no you just go to another Walgreens.
As I have read on other posts these stupid laws and rules have made it more and more difficult for those in need of medical assistance/medication to actually get what they need. These ridiculous new laws, rules & regulations only make it harder for those in need. It isn’t going to do what the legislature thinks – they will not accomplish what they are setting out to do.
It’s also interesting that some pharmacists now act like they know more than my treating physician. Just because they can give me a flu shot does not mean they know my medical history or what is in my best interests.
Just a word to the wise about Walgreens – it is supposed to be your nation’s pharmacy – but only if you go to just one.
Mrs.W
What the DEA is implementing will NOT effect those that are breaking the law, the ONLY people it is going to effect are those of us that are not breaking the law. It is saying we are all guilty until we prove we are innocent and that in itself is unlawful, pain patients are being burdened to endure sanctions that should be put into place for only those that are proven abusers! Heck, people that murder have more rights than those of us who suffer from intractable pain, we are simply being punished for needing relief from our pain, it is time for the DEA to go back to the drawing board and this time use their thinking caps to come up with a law that is protective of those of us who need relief from pain medications, put the laws in place for those that break them and stop making law to make our requirements for relief from intractable pain a crime!
Silvia
La Verne
Had back surgery 20 years ago that went bad and left me numb from the waist down and in horrible leg pain, twitching, prickling and other issues. Been taking Norco 4 times a day, this is the only thing that worked for me after all therapy failed to alleviate my pain. I’ve been taking the same amount for at least 18 years and have not increased the dosage. Norco just took the edge off so I was able to function. Now I’m in the same situation as other patients being sent to a Pain Management Doctor that told me he would not Rx Norco but doesn’t know yet what he will suggest as an option. What a screwed up system! May the DEA and Congress get never ending pain to see what it feels like.
Ron
Northeast PA
Well put Silvia,
I am in the same situation, my back and neck are a train wreck. I have had several surgeries, including fusions, discetomies, Foraminotomies and on and on. Over the past 10 to 12yrs I have tried every other procedure out there in lue of using pain meds. I have been poked and prauded , taped ice packs to my ass and any other suggestions the Doogie Houser like doctors can suggest . All with no relief . I am not only upset with the DEA ruling but also with doctors in general. Because I truly believe they just don’t know what to do or at times how to fix the core problem. And by changing a law is not the answer!! No matter what you do (just like anything else) you will always have doctors and patients which abuse a privilege. I don’t care what anyone says, but until you live with chronic pain you have no idea what it is like . Not to mention the stigma which is attached to using pain MEDS . You are automatically an abuser, just not true!! I have had genetic testing done called Geno-type testing. A medical professional swabs the inside of your cheek and sends it off for testing . This tells you by your body / DNA make-up what meds best match your metabolism. As like in my report typically my system metabolizes pain meds (or whatever class of meds are tested) much quicker than most. Resulting in higher doses, but more importantly it listed what med would work best for me. The doctor in return can analyze the pros and cons of using either a high dose, a different med or combination of meds which will give me the best relief.
All that being said my pain relief is controlled by a DEA agent which sits behind a desk. The drug problem in our country or the world for that matter will never be fixed. It’s big business illegal or legal, and no one person, agency , law maker, or country for that matter can fix it. Just look at history, one failed attempt after another. Now I am not supporting your local crack head or drug dealer this is not my point and issues such as these need to be addressed no doubt!! But when is enough , enough ? When are we going to stop our righteous law makers from controlling our every move?? Do we really need a socialistic government telling us what we should, could or can take as a responsible patient .
Lots of work to be done here and a change is needed .
Best of luck with you pain.
God bless,
RP
Steve
Grand Ledge, MI
Total agreement with above responses. Let the druggies have all they want while they Dr. Shop. Any elderly person that NEEDS hydrocodone or other schedule II’s will now have to go through unbelievable stuff to get pain relief. In reviewing comments the DEA got 53% in favor of moving hydrocodone to a schedule ll. Excuse me, that was 283 TOTAL people the said it would be a good move. There’s an example of a Democracy for you! “The State Attorney General and Senator from W. Virginia declared by expediting this ruling, that HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES will be saved!!!!!!! What a couple of brainiacs! Wait till they’re in chronic pain and the Dr. offers them only tylenol, because we’re too busy saving peoples lives, to really do the right thing! Pure Idiocy!!!
KIm
United States
It is amazing the lack of forethought that went into changing the medications that are being discussed, how could this happen? All over Europe you can find mild codeine 8-12 mg with tylenol available over the counter. Why don’t they just do that here, then all these people could at least find some relief!
Kristin
Dallas
What I am finding is that people who are having surgery and would normally be released from the hospital with hydrocodone are getting Ultram. My friend is crying in pain right now bc the Ultram isn’t helping her post surgical pain. She called her dr and the dr said she wasn’t allowed to give hydro anymore. That is a lie she just doesn’t want to prescribe schedule II drugs. So sad.
Mathew
SF Bay Area
I was once happy, I once lived without pain. But since the change from class 3 to 2, I have been unable to get my doctor to prescribe me anything that could help with the pain. When I was 20 years old I had my first attack of pancreatitis, since then I have had so many attack that I have lost count. When I go to the doctor or emergency room they look at me like I am some kind of meth head so I have just stooped going in when I have an attack. I am in so much pain that I must now resort to getting the medication I need by other means, so by trying to crack down on illegal drug sales , you have successfully made me and probably tens of thousands of others now resort to getting them illegally. All you have done is made it harder on the people who actually need these kind of drugs to get by on a daily basis, So I hope you are proud of yourself.
tommy
Maryland
The DEA is proud of themselves. Like any other government entity they outlive their usefulness and exist only to perpetuate their own existence, by any means necessary, especially “grey” areas.
With medical marijuana legislation they can no longer mount paramilitary raids, and roll tanks and platoons through chronic pain patients living rooms. They are sore about this, and still try god bless their souls (or lack thereof).
Now that Marijuana is off the hot-list they have to do something relatively easy to justify that inflated budget. An easy target. They wouldn’t want to be mean to Holders Cartel friends, or get hurt busting up a meth lab, or wander into inner city distribution hub’s. That’s scary, too hard, too dangerous.
Pain patients are the target.
heather
I have been trying for about a year to get my doctors to take my pain seriously, only to be referred from one doctor to the next. My pain management doctor for whom I have a referral from my primary care doctor because she supposedly “couldn’t do anything else for me” refuses to give me absolutely anything for pain and instead decided to start off with injections which were extremely painful and gave me no relief. I get it I’m only 22 years old, but I shouldn’t have to live with this constant pain while I work and take care of my one year old daughter because he’s afraid ill get addicted to the medication. He has absolutely no evidence to support that. This makes me ridiculously angry because I miss out on so many things I used to love to do because I waste all my energy at work then come home and have to do basic things for my daughter, I cant play with her or even have a good time with her and she doesn’t understand why and often comes up to me who is curled in a ball crying on the couch and lifts my head up as if she wants to know what’s wrong and all I feel I pure guilt and depression. Thank you so much for these stupid laws restricting people who actually need care.
pat
manchester
I have been on pain medicine management for sometime, and will be forever, having a spine that is shot and so many symptoms of pain and discomfort. That what is this nonsense counter productive unorganized BS that the law makers are making get it together man. I am 56, mom is 90, also on pain meds and have to see her deal with this nonsense. There needs to be a better plan and I think the people in pain and on meds can come up with a more organized plan for people getting there meds really what nonsense please rethink reconsider and redo the laws and let people live in peace for Christ sake
Violet E.
United States
I am 70 yr old female with chronic back and neck pain. also have dyskinesia. dr cut back my meds to 7 and am on anxiety meds. I also take meds for stomach and throat spasms. They help and he wants to take me off. Why? I lost 25 lbs now weigh 95 they say no cure or surgery can be done.
Alcohol and hard liquor are readily available for purchase. Pot is available, and so are street drugs. I don’t drink or smoke. How is this fair to people with actual pain? I want to know what can be done about this. I was called a drug addict by an ems driver and he shared his thoughts with the hospital so everyone could hear and then he laughed at me. Our country doesn’t care for seniors very well. I know what works for me and what doesn’t.
michaela
new jersey
Hi Violet. Thank you for your profound thread. Its asinine that these laws have been passed, however I do feel that there are certain amount of politicians that turn their heads when these illegal drugs are getting “smuggled” into our county to benefit their own selves.
And here I am (and yourself included amongst how many others?) Just trying “responsibly”) to get through life with some relief.
And we supposedly have freedom and rights in this country????? Its disgusting. There must be a better solution. Good luck Violet.
fred
point pleasant nj
my doctor is 1 hour away I used to get a 3 month supply of 10 mg ocycodone thru medco now I have to travel once a month 50 miles at a cost of gas and copay that totals over 50 dollars plus the cost of medicine. How can we change this new rule as I have 2 knee replacements and two new hips after a 30 year car.
mandy
Fort meyer
There is no reason for a dr to give you a 3 month supply of a pain medication. How would the Dr know if you are still having the pain 3 months later? It is the drs license on the line. Not yours..I’m very happy laws are starting to change and that will only continue ..good work DEA!!
Brandon
New York
I work long hours everyday at a car dealership, I have gone to a chiropractor and to dr and to hospital many times for x rays and tests and blood work. The doctor said if I want pain Meds it will take time and more x rays and tests. I have 3 appointments that I have to goto. Two at hospital and one at specialist and this is rediculous that I must suffer while going throgh all of this. I told doctor I would rather be fixed than take pain pills but It seems like I wouldn’t get pain Meds anyhow if I wanted them. How unfair that I must work everyday in major pain with no help. Obviously there’s people on the street that wil sell pain Meds. The problem with that is that you are threatened with long prison sentences for trying to get rid of pain when a dr should simply give it to you. Hopefully one day the person responsible for this crap will pay.
Jennifer
Florida
I don’t know what I can add to what has already been said. The problem is that most people you mention this too will agree with the DEA’s stance. They don’t care how many suffer.
robyn
port townsend wa
I totally agree. This is the worst law I have ever heard of. What about people with real pain? I fell off my treadmill and hit the top of my shoulder on the top of the bar, no fracture but excruciating
Pain. I was given percocet for 1 which I can’week, then told to use ibuprophen which I can’t take because of my kidneys. I have been going to PT for 5 weeks and still have bad pain. What this law will do is drive people to the streets for their drugs. That will create real problems. Don’t punish the pts many of whom are elderly. Punish the drug abusers on the streets. If any of you get pain, I bet you and congress will get your pain meds. People in government are so stupid, they have no idea how to fix a problem, so they punish everyone!!
Sue
Sunny South
I am going to have a painful outpatient surgery – and I will need some type of oral medication to manage my post operative pain. I am allergic to codiene.
My surgeon decided that oxycodone was not a good drug to use (and I agree)- but my insurance company DENIED coverage for oral demerol – even after going through the pre-approval process. I was astonished when they suggested that I use Dilaudid or oxycodone.
The denial was based strictly on the assertion that demerol was high risk (I am 66 and in excellent health and take no other medications). PATENTLY ABSURD.
linnie
streetsboro, ohio
I am 57. I have chronic pain that literally has caused me migraines. lose of control of my healthy sanity, I am so very very sad and upset crying, the biggest saddest most awful thing about this whole situation is that, I have so much to give, to love, to do, to be, to teach, to go, to help, to sing, to experience, to live…..and it’s all alllll going to waste. My life has wasted away, all that God meant for me to live and give and be, all wasted, all taken right away from me, when doctors could of helped, the pharmacies, this un Godly rules and regulations….lives are going to waste, suffering, till death, and never had the chance to live.
I pray something wonderful and good happens for people like me, somehow, by the mercy and power of God Himself moving in this most saddest pitiful situation…and especially in America, and especially for older people, crying, no hope, so much to give, people with the authority and the power to make all the rules, this is what they chose. Just don’t care. Just another unfair, unnecessary, fact, that is a reality and the ones who can change this, won’t. I want to live so bad. I wish I didn’t care, then it wouldn’t matter. And it would be wonderful to have even 30 or 40% of pain managed. I’m sorry to all of you out there suffering with same horrible nightmare.
bruce
Columbus,ohio
I thought Linnie was telling my life story except terrible pains from my tumor inside my spinal cord.- Apr 2010 .I do get some relief from my Pain Doc, but it’s definitely a low dose. It’s too bad the powers to be can’t slip on the ice and fracture their vertebrae- Feb2012, Pain so bad when I did sleep I went sleep walking fell down basement step fractured collar bone. Sept 2011. This all started from a local pain Doctor sent me in for a MRI for suspected bulging disc. That’s when they found the Tumor and bulging disc and degenerative disc damage. March 2010. Doctor never return my calls never even telling me what’s wrong. Found out from the owner of the Imaging center that we’re friends with. Ever since A state official got in it’s been hell for us that actually need the proper medicine to live a somewhat decent life. But we are all just preaching to the choir. Sick of this BS.
Renee
Never, never, never did I think this will all just get much, much worse. I switched to Tylenol 4 from Norco without it helping much only to have to go through HELL the last three days because Tylenol 4 is now becoming unavailable as a steady replacement.
First I hear that someone came in to fill a new script so they’re now out of it and cant fill my refill. They say they have to wait for more supplies.
The day they get supplies, I was told my script would be ready after three pm. Then, I get a call from the pharmacist who says there’s a manufacturer problem and they wont have ANY medication for over a month. Now, I have him calling another pharmacy in the town over to see if they can fill it there.
This is effing nuts. I’ve had it. Why can’t I get treated? What is going on?
I’m now realizing that there’s NOTHING. F-word, F-word F-word.
I hate this effing country.
Jeanie
california
I take Norco and we are getting ready to go camping for 2 weeks. My prescription will run out the first week we are gone. The pharmacy will only refill 3 days prior to when I run out of my medication even though I have a written prescription saying I can fill it sooner. Why am I being punished for the drug abusers? I don’t want to go on vacation now because I know it will be too painful.
Heather
Fl
I’m repulsed what this government is doing. I was a Rn who worked in psychiatric and drug treatment. I saw the addicts in there for detox. I never judged like so many peers. I was married to a man who was physically maimed. He was run over and had multiple herniations. He lived in constant pain. The psychological torture he had to endure from the medical community was horrible. Despite numerous tests, X-rays, mri constant urine and blood screens. He was always treated like he had to defend himself. Someone who is in constant pain has a poor quality of life. Now throw in the dr with his tests, trying to get an sppointment before his medicine runs out, finding a pharmacy who has the medicine. The patient has to go through too many hurdles just to have a good day. I watched him talk about killing himself nervous times. The mental and physical pain and throw in the expensive prices, can be too much.
He has since passed but I believe if I wasn’t part of his life he would have been gone longer. I think class action suit is a terrific idea. I also believe the media tv, newspaper, and social media need to hear stories from patients. Contact your congressman. The more people hear the other side, changes can be made. There will always be people who take too much but to sit in silence and do nothing is equivalent to the Dea and Drs. Have your friends tell your story on utube and share it. Save all these stories print them and send to congress.
Michael
Orlando Fl.
My pain medication was cut by two thirds, when I need my pain medicine. Why do people in pain have to suffer because the action of a few? Government should not make any decision concerning my medication. They screw up everything.
Robert
Glendale
I have been on hydrocodone for over 10 years, due to chronic pain, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and stage 4 gout. My doctor retired recently and a younger doctor took up his residence. The first time I met this new doctor was with my old doctor walking him through my list of problems. I had to describe to him in detail why I had to take hydrocodone. With some work, I was finally able to convince him of my need. Since the law change, I have to go to his office once a month. When I went this last month, I had to explain to him again why I needed to be on pain meds! He was acting as if I didn’t need them. He then ordered a barrage of tests and bloodwork and told me I needed to go to a pain management doctor, because the DEA was putting them under pressure. I told him that I had been to pain management before and all they did was put me on morphine. I told him this did not work because I need to take pain medicine when I wake up in the morning, and for it to take immediate effect to become active for the day. They only prescribed me a timed release morphine that would release a small amount over time. I told him this didn’t work for me so I returned to vicodin which my old doctor was compassionate enough to let me get back on. Not this one though, he didn’t want to hear it. The result is, that due to his paranoia, I am being pawned off to somebody else so it is no longer his problem! I ask, where is doctors ethics in this age? I am being forced against my will to return to a drug that did not work for me. And this is the same pain management doctor that wanted to perform invasive surgery to put a pain pump in me. And I know what that means, a little amount of pain meds mixed with prednisone, which destroyed my hip years ago when my doctors kept me on it for 5 years!
Margitta C
West Coast
I had an accident WRAMC in DC, once I fell down a few steps on brick stair. The bricks were uneven and needed fixing and while I walked down my heel (short) got stuck and I went flying 5 steps to landing. Heel broke of and I could not get up. People there helped me, but from then on my back was in pain. A few month later I fell again on the slippery floor, the only area that was polished on a daily basis, for it all needed was a machine that you pushed back, forward and sideways. It ran by itself. NO bending, NO getting hands dirty, but the rest of Hospital was never cleaned. The doors, bathrooms, chairs, phones, computers, and everything that needed hands on stayed horribly dirty. The Hospital had a whole fleet of cleaning people, mostly colored or imported. I cleaned my office as best as I could, but I had other chores to do. The floor was so slick one had to watch each step, and I fell backwards flat on my back but no one from my section (pulmonary) came to help, the other side Docs came to help me. My Supervisor took to see someone, it was not even a physician, gave some pills and told me it was just a sprain. We also wrote both incidents on paper, just in case.
As it turned out I had a ruptured disc only discovered after an MRI. I had surgery later on, but the surgeon screwed it up, and had left a piece of bone inside, so the pain did not stop. I had to have three more surgeries and my back is fused now like a ladder. I cannot work at all. And never received any compensation, because of all the lies before.
Now I receive two narcotics, they help when I lie down or sit in a good chair. The Doc hand the prescription for thirty days, but I have only one day to pick them up. No space to wiggle for if my husband cannot do I do not drive. But they need 7 days to write the prescription, for if you do not call in 7 days ahead you are screwed. Also since late, they do not have the pain clinic open on Friday , every one is off. A person can only talk to a machine, no humans are available.
Last month, I picked up my medication on the 14th, next month it should have been the 15th, it’s a Sunday. My pharmacy is closed on Sat afternoon and all day Sunday. So my Doc wrote the pick up date 16th of march, 31 days. I will run out of my meds on Sunday at 10.00 am. I have to wait till Monday to pick it up. He does that often, even 32 days and I am not supposed to utter a peep, just take it and be happy to be without. There should be up to three (3) days before the next 30 days, to receive your medication, but no do cannot. No Chance to be sick, or broken car, I was told what do I do if I or my spouse cannot pick it up that day, I was told we do not know -that’s just the way it is. A famous person wrote once an article about the way Americans think -first the do, then it is wrong and -then they think. Not -first you think (work it out) and then you do (act on it. I agree to that story.
So, why do I have only one day to pick up my meds, and mostly it is late, I really like to know?
Cheryle
Las Vegas
I am truly glad I found this site, quite by accident. My husband and I are dealing with the exact same problem as all of you are and I feel for all of us. My husband has had 3 knee replacements on his right knee, now needs a replacement on his left knee….he has also had 5 back surgeries in the past several years, not to mention very bad headaches resulting from a 25 ft fall off of a machine at a previous job. He is in horrible pain all the time. We did not have medical insurance for a long time due to my losing my job because of illness so we both did without meds, or I’m sad to say we went to friends and the street to get the relief we needed…. Finally got insurance, found a great PCP who didn’t hesitate to help with pain meds for both my husband and myself…(my story in a second) and things seemed to be getting better for my husband…No longer in horrific pain, no longer an angry mean person because of the pain and got some semblance of a life back. Then this stupid DEA crap takes effect and he’s sent to a “pain management” clinic…Doc gave him oxycontin, oxycodone and muscle relaxers…once again, back to having some relief….when he got his last meds filled, our pharmacist (an independent wonderful place) told him that these meds could no longer be filled there as it was costing the pharmacy far more than it was worth to fill…whatever that meant….so my husband starts stressing about where to get the meds filled…Walgreens, not accepting new patients Walmart-out of meds, CVS-no new patients….so where is he supposed to go? Shopping around like an addict? Being labeled an addict? It’s just not right…Everyone on this site/thread has a legitimate reason for needing these meds and we’re being punished for being in pain? It makes absolutely no sense at all. In my case, I have Crohns Disease and suffer daily from horrible abdominal pain, nausea etc, along with a host of other problems that require meds to survive…I have been taking Dilaudid, 4 mg 2 x per day for roughly 10 years….pain management scoffed at me when I told him what I was taking, telling me that Dilaudid doesn’t work for pain. I don’t have “stupid” tattooed across my forehead….so this “Dr”…tells me he won’t give me that but wants to prescribe “gabapentin” for nerve pain….I don’t have nerve pain…I have stomach pain….and I refuse, absolutely refuse to take gabapentin…as I’ve heard nothing but horror stories about that stuff and it had major interactions with other meds I take for a blood disorder and high blood pressure….so now I’m screwed too…I’m hoping that my PCP will continue to write my script for the Dilaudid as he has in the past, but I surely don’t want him in trouble for trying to help me….my husband has just about given up and says that he’ll just start self medicating with heroin….which will lead to a divorce because if that happens, I’m outta here..I refuse to be around or involved with that crap…I honestly can’t believe the way things are turning out with the Sch II meds….punish the truly sick and screw everyone else…..Such a sad commentary on the “government” these days….I an only hope that these jerks that did this find themselves or one of their loved ones in our situation, let them see how it feels to be “labeled” a drug seeker when all you want to do is stop the pain. Thanks for listening
Tonyia
Texas
I have fibromyalgia as well as degenerative disc disease. My doctor will not prescribe anything but tramadol now which does not work for me. He sent me to a pain management specialist who will only prescribe Tylenol 3 which also does not control my pain. We are in early March and I have already used all my sick time , vacation time at work due to severe chronic pain. A combination of Hydrocodone 7.5 and a TENS unit controlled my pain and made it possible for me to live my life and work. I cry all the time and I am becoming depressed. I don’t know how much longer I can handle this level pain 24 hours a day 7 days a week with no relief. Something has to change.
charlotte
nj
I take oxycodone for MS pain, arthritis, herniated disc complicated by residual pain from being rear ended by a mac truck. Mostly, my pain is from the MS though, at least my neurologist says. I am in fear that this kind of thing will happen to me too as a new doctor took over in my pain management office. He asked me to go to Kessler institute for a second opinion because he said he has had problems with over-prescribing and must have a second opinion asap. He laughed when he saw what I take and didn’t hesitate to send me to another doctor for an opinion in fact, he laughed and said to the nurse who was training helping him navigate the computer, here is another one. What does that mean? Is he assuming I am a drug addict or something? I was sent to this place by my neurologist when they decided to no longer write prescriptions for narcotics. Now my pain management is sending me for a second opinion? Is this because of the doctor’s fear of the new rules or does he have something to hide? I don’t know what to do and have been putting off the appointment out of fear they are trying to take my medication away. I have been on narcotics for pain for approx 12 years now and can’t imagine someone taking away what finally gave me back my Q.O.L. What will I do if they refuse to write for me. I have never broke contract and have always complied with the doctor’s orders.
DEBORAH
florida
I have been reading the above stories with a combination of horror and extreme empathy for all chronic pain sufferers. I have several medical conditions which cause severe chronic pain.
The troubles all began with a fall, broken bones resulting in surgery and addiction to pain medications. After years of misery including being jailed and being sent to rehab I finally signed up for the local methadone clinic. This is not a pleasant option, it requires rising very early 7 days a week, standing in line for up to 2 hours and being required to attend 4 classes a month, meeting with a counselor, etc.
Some of this is extremely helpful and some of it a pain in the butt but I have learned one lesson NEVER TELL THEM YOU HAVE CHRONIC PAIN! I don’t know if this is the case everywhere but here you cannot use the methadone clinic for pain! It is only there to get off narcotics. I guess you have to go to a doctor for chronic pain but then you get addicted to the meds and pretty soon you will have to go to the clinic to get off the meds but then you are still in pain!
All I know is that the DEA should not have the power to tell doctors what kind/quantity of meds they should give to patients!
Twig
Alabama
This issue has me absolutely horrified. Horrified because the decision makers on that FDA panel did not consider the snowball effect this decision was going to have. It literally virges on a person’s and doctors ethics to be able to treat pain properly, at all levels of severity.
This week hit an all time low for me, because we are starting to see how bad the DEA and FDA have bound our hands in treating pain. Pain comes in all levels. Some more severe. I am not in that category where I need any of the re-classified Schedule II medications. However, I do have a medical issue that I have been using a Schedule III for 20+ years to control acute issues of pain.
The reason I bring this up, is for the first time in over 20 years, I could not find anyone to refill my simple medication. Not because of what it was, but because there apparently is a Nationwide Shortage of the milder Schedule III alternatives which is an after effect of Doctors changing their prescription treatments. Many Doctors, who’s hands feel tied by the DEA, have dropped writing legitimate prescriptions ( the ones re-classified to S-II ), and started with lesser strength S-III alternatives in fear of the DEA ( or they claim ) taking their liscense. I don’t know who is telling the truth ( but does it matter ), because I do know some Doctors treat people as criminals almost, and the DEA need to have their “war on drugs” to justify their budget. After the banning of Darvocet along with other medications years ago, a low strength option, there isn’t many choices out there if you have a Doctor who is scared to write from the Class-2 drugs. So, for the first time, my normal pharmacy of 10 years told me, they ran our of my medicine and it hasn’t been in stock for over a month. From their suggestion, I contacted over 20 pharmacies trying to get a simple Tylenol/Codeine filled . The pharmacy tried to help best they could, but they can’t fix the system. They all had the same issue…. out of stock, as it seems to be what doctors are prescribing more in some areas. Now, this may seem trivial compared to the plight of some, but like I mentioned, pain levels vary, and I may not be in the same category as many here, however the trickle down effect, has hit others.
The new rules are a shame on ethical treatment and quality of life. This ruling needs to be re-evaluated, and the DEA’s bias needs to stay out of it, and just use scientific evidence. The worlds population is increasing, as is life expectancy, so its going to naturally have a rise in prescriptions to give people quality of life. QUALITY OF LIFE, is all we ask regardless of a person’s illness level.
It’s almost as if… ” The Mighty DEA finally dealt with the majority of the Meth problem, so we have to target something in order to justify our budgets ” That target is Patient/Doctor relationships on health. Get the DEA out of my medical history.
/Twig
SRB
71291
My thoughts are this, The side affects for Hydrocodone are far less than most of the other pain relievers and much cheaper as well. I feel the drug companies have some to do with this move so they can better sell the higher priced stuff. Maybe. All I can say is it is a pain in my back, legs and very piss poor move. I have been using this drug for over 10 years and it works. I do not hurt at night all night but because I travel I am unable to get refills as needed.
Debbie
Mi
I think this whole situation is horrible what right does the government have controlling us and tell Dr’s I wish I knew where we could go to fight this whole situation last I heard we were suppose to be a Democracy does anyone know who we can complain to that can do some good?
Colleen
Milwaukee, WI
I’m always amazed when I read the letters from pain patients, then i
have to remind myself that I was equally uninformed in regards to
Methadone. In reality Methadone is the best pain medication available. It is active for approximately 38 hours how does that compare to the usual four hours well obviously there is no comparison and so few people know the facts. All narcotics have there problems but if your someone who deals with chronic pain do a little research on methadone, you will be pleasantly surprised.
I have been taking Methadone for twenty years and the only problem I have is problems with decay because it has caused my mouth to be dryer then usual but that can now be addressed by using “biotene”. It has been a long time since I have read the information and I may be off on the exact time frame that is covered.
Don’t let the fact that it’s a medication used to treat heroin addicts scare you off, educate yourself! You will be glad you did! As chronic pain patients we need all of the help we can get, it’s a tough way to live your life. Methadone gave me my life back!
Cherie
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America
I now join the many who have lost their pain management and I too would like to know where or what we can do to help fix this mess. I have no clue if we don’t do something soon we’ll all be dead.
Len
Houston, TX
I couldn’t agree more about Methadone. It works better for me than all those newer, ridiculously priced medications coming out.
My pain doctors over the years have tried at least 16 different drugs on me before I found Methadone. There are no side effects and it does not make me all fuzzy like a lot of those other ones did.
As I told my family- It just works!
My problem now is finding a Houston pharmacy that will fill my script for Methadone.
I haven’t found a single one in the past 5 weeks since relocating here!
tina
Michigan
here all the hospitals treat you like you are a junkie and they make you feel like crap and they don’t bother to hear anything you have to say so that makes people go to the street to get anything
Ruth
Michigan
I am dealing w a torn ACL and fractured shin bone. My PCI prescribed norco 325-7.5 every 6 hours as needed for pain. With all that I’m reading about this drug, I am wondering why dr’s prescribe it if we are not supposed to take it?! What a mess!
margie
texas
I am in pain on a daily doses and I have also gone through some of the problems most posters listed. What I see here is that everyone seems to blame the DEA. The DEA is not in the practice of medicine but does regulate those that handle narcotics, i.e., pharmacies, doctors, etc.
Blame your doctors for being afraid to prescribe a medication that is now more restricted. If he or she felt it was being prescribed for a legitimate medical purpose why are they now giving you a hard time. They just do not want to write for a schedule II narcotic (triplicate, or similar) so that their prescriptions are not scrutinized.
Remember prescriptions by a particular physician are only looked at by pharmacy staff or law enforcement if they have concerns (all patients receiving same medication from same doctor, complaints from doctor’s staff about his practice, etc.)
I got sent to pain management, which they gave me hydrocodone /APAP 5/325 and had to go through the drug screening, medication contract, etc. I was referred to a surgeon, who based on testing needed surgery or I could continue with meds as long as I continued to do physical therapy, eat healthier. I went back to my regular doctor so he could prescribe therapy again. I saw no reason for seeing a pain med doctor when all I was seeing was a NP. It made no sense.
I am tired of getting injections on my back and neck–they have not worked or worked for a short time. The charges for this was not worth it because I still had pain. I continue to do flexibility exercise, use a heating pad or ice pack, take hot showers to alleviate stiffness, eat healthier, and go get a massage every so often. I refuse to take 4 pills a day. Two is the max for me. I figured if the meds are not taking the pain away, that what is the point. You have to figure out what works for you. We have to help ourselves and expect our doctors to do their share.
Diane
Illinois
I have suffered with migraines for years. Sometimes it gets so bad i lose my vision and half my body goes numb. The pounding hurts so bad. My dr was prescribing me two vicodin a day. Now it’s one. So i have relief half the time. I have tried so many medications and home remedies. Nothing will stop them i am back to crying myself to sleep. Less time with my children and a harder time taking care of my 75 year old mother. My doctor said he cut me down because of the dea. Really what is this world coming to when we let people suffer. I feel so sorry for all of the people who deal with horrible pain and can’t get relief. My mother also takes vicodin and her doctor has now cut her medicine down and will not be prescribing any narcotics. What is she going to do? What are all of us going to do?
Korey
New York
I had to respond to your comment about migraines. I don’t know your story or situation but I was in a similar one as yourself. I had debilitating migraines that were so severe that I was in bed days on end. My doctor was prescribing me Percocet 5-325 4 times a day as needed, which to be honest helped a little but never really fixed the issue… And I tried EVERYTHING… I went to a neurologist who handed me this list of specific vitamins about 6 different kinds, all with different time frames of how often to take… I thought he was a fool & 3-4 weeks later my migraines started to disappear… I continued with the vitamins & eventually my migraines disappeared for good. Apparently sometimes when there’s no specific cause to why they’re happening, it can be due to an imbalance & I stopped taking the vitamins after 6 months & have never had the issue again.
Jeremiah H.
california
I have read all of the above emails and it appears that most of those who have written are uninformed about the change from Class III to Class II for Norco. For many of us who use Norco and other Class II medications for chronic pain it will not be the end of the world as we know it. Under the Class II rules doctors are given some latitude in writing prescriptions. According to the Federal Register, at their discretion doctors are allowed to write up to four consecutive monthly prescriptions in one visit. Therefore doctor’s visits for Norco could be as few as three per year. Doctors, of course, are expected to use their best judgment for their patient’s needs. Among other things, if the doctor feels a patient is at risk of abusing or selling the drug, he/she may require more visits in order to more carefully monitor the patient and their actions.
I learned this information on my own and passed it on to my own doctor, who confirmed it for himself. Now I only make three doctor’s appointments per year for my pain management regimen. Hope this information helps.
Rob
CA
This issue, in my opinion, is why has Vicodin been moved to Sch. II? That is what is the issue for many out there who don’t, or have never used the stronger and more addictive drugs like oxycontin or ms contin….Sch. II drugs since inception. The Sch. II oversights have been in place for many years and so have the prescribing restrictions. Vicodin has worked well for many patients for decades as a schedule III drug. As I see it the move by the DEA has no logic behind it. Nor does our government for allowing this small agency to wield so much power and influence. I have seen the statistics the DEA uses and they are skewed in their favor of reporting without taking other factors into consideration. But, why should the DEA consider other variables or opinions, more informed opinions in fact, before they unilaterally make changes that impact all people in this country. Now we are getting into politics and I don’t want to go any further than this.
richardo
detroit
In essence all they did was because more people to go to the streets and get on heroin because of the rules the have enacted people with start overdosing on heroin instead of pain medications> These people are obviously the dumbest people on earth! It should be none of anyones business what we ingest in our bodies!
Maxi
Florida
It doesn’t matter how many prescriptions a doctor writes, the pharmacy will not fill them.
Maxi
Patricia
MD
My sister went to 4 pharmacies: no hydrocodone. I agree that Dr.’s can fill the prescription but many pharmacies don’t have it and she was told, “and we don’t know when we’ll be getting it in.” Are they kidding? Where do the pharmacies obtain the hydrocodone? What are the pharmaceutical companies doing? I would imagine they are the ones that distribute. Patients will be charged more at the pharmacy – it’s happening now. And why hydrocodone? Which drug is next for those of us who really need it? Who do we need to get involved to let the DEA know that there are legitimate patients suffering because of this insane action.
Meg
Pittsburgh
I have been living in chronic pain since 2003 when I contracted a case of neuro-invasive West Nile Virus while living in Colorado. No one knows why I never got better, but my whole life was upturned. I have a wonderful, caring husband but we have had to file bankruptcy due to my medical bills back in 2005.
Between 03-08 I had been to see rheumatologists, neurologists, infectious disease doctors, sleep specialists and several pain specialists. All of these doctors said I would likely need to be on opiates for the rest of my life so I chose to always go with the minimum dosage to just get by but I was never pain free or even functioning from such sever pain on many days and I often wished I was dead. Through the help of a wonderful family and counselor I finally agreed to take enough medication to actually live instead of being bedbound.
Fast forward to June of 2008 when we transferred back to PA to be closer to family and live in a less expensive state. My new PCP was great about giving me enough pain medicine to actually allow me to work part time and things were looking up. In 2011 I started blogging and working from home…all was well but then in 2013 my husband lost his job of 9 years. With no insurance. I asked my PCP if we could change from my twice per day 60 mg Oxycontin to something less expensive and he put me on Roxicodone 30 mg 4 times per day…couple that with my Norco for breakthrough pain and a muscle relaxer and we thought I would be fine. We never dreamed my husband would be out of work for 11 months, deplete our savings, have to cash in our stocks etc. My meds were running us upwards of $600 per month. Then to add insult to injury he had to take a job making approx 25K less than he made at his old job. My meds were not working but I couldn’t afford to go back on the Oxycontin that had previously worked so well, so before long I was once again a prisoner to my pain waiting till the day my husbands 6 month probationary period working for the state was up and I could be added to his health insurance policy.
This is where things went from bad to worse to horrific. In the summer of 2014 I was eligible to be put on his insurance but my doctor wasnt in their network so I had to find someone new but I had a hard time finding someone who was taking new patients. At my last self pay appt with my old doctor he said I had to pee in a cup as part of some new regulation and even though I thought that was silly since I NEVER ran out of my meds, lost my meds, got them filled early etc, but I complied…three weeks later I got a bill for $933 to prove I WAS TAKING my medicine…which it showed I had been taking exactly what was prescribed. Well that was the first of the horror show to come.
I finally found a new doctor after doing a lot of research and I found a group of docs who said they worked as a team to give you the best of all their disciplines. Well I didnt know at the time that this was just a huge money maker for them because they toss you to a new specialist or more every month. The PCP said I needed to see a rheumy for the pain because she cant prescribe it. I was in panic mode. I sat by the phone waiting for them to call with a cancellation so they could squeeze me in because I had never had to go off my meds cold turkey. By the way, over the course of many years I have tried every drug and/or combination of drugs and the only combo that worked well enough for me to be a contributing member of society was the oxy/norco/flexeril cocktail.
I was able to get in to the rheumy who did a bunch of bloodwork and took some xrays but said he couldnt find anything wrong but that I might have fibromyalgia or chronic pain syndrome (I disagree but wont bore you with all that since this has turned into a very long post}. So, he gave me a few days worth of my roxicodone rx and said I needed to follow up with their pain mgt doctor. So, now I needed to find a ride to that specialist because my hubby cant keep taking off work to take me to the doctors and I cant possibly drive…I can barely shower at this point because I am in so much pain.
The very first thing the pain doc wants to know is where I was getting all this medication I was taking , Huh? From my previous doctor. I was very shocked that he didnt seem to believe me but a friend had said to make sure I took proof of what I had been on before so that I could show that I actually had been on it and was not just asking for a more potent drug. I had all my old bottle with me…clear back to the last year I took Oxy. I even brought proof that I had always gone slowly up with the meds etc. He didnt want to hear it. All he cared about was that I was on much too high of doses and that he wouldnt stand for it and said I needed to go on methadone for my addiction. Taken aback I started to cry and insisted I was NOT a drug addict. I begged hi m to look at the bottles and my paperwork,, but again he just stared icily at me and said that my old doctor hadnt forwarded my records and he was sorry but he couldnt help me. I said I had signed a release of records and that I dint know why my doctor hadnt sent them but that I had never had an issue of addiction etc. He said there was no way a doctor would prescribe two breakthrough pain meds. I said well I have the rx bottles right here. He accused me basically of lying. Thank goodness I had a friend with me to help me or I think he would have shipped me to rehab that very day. I tried to explain that the only reason I was on the breakthrough meds was because my husband had lost his job and that all I wanted to do was go back to my 12 hour dosing of oxycontin which has less chance of abuse because its a ling acting medication, I even brought him the lab results from my old doctor so he could see I was in compliance…Nope, I had to agree to change to a morphine based drug at half the amount of what I was taking and an NSAID…a flipping NSAID ? You have to be kidding me…I had debilitating pain and he thought an NSAID was going to work ? I explained that my bll\oodwork showed no inflammation so why would I take that and ruin my liver ? He said that was my only option or I could have nothing…so I was bullied into taking what I could get.
I left that day in tears and he wanted to see me again in a week…I explained that I couldnt drive and it was hard to get a ride, He didnt care, so I returned the next week and he changed my meds yet again,,,cut the opiate in half but this time gave me a drug I didnt recognize but later found out was a neurontin derivitive and I had gone into great length on the pile of forms he gave me to say I had a bad reaction to all those types of meds. By the end of the weekend I was pacing, wringing my hands and talking a mile a minute and was crying all the time. So, off to see him again. This time he says I have fibromyalgia and you simply dont treat that with opiates. I did point out that my pain as the opposite of fibro …instead of a small touch hurting like crazy my muscles form into bricks and I can find anyone, even my very strong husband, who can squeeze them hard enough to unclench them. I can be like that for hours and all I do is cry and beg my husband to kill me. I know if our dog was in this much pain and we didnt get her medicated they would charge us with animal cruelty but a PERSON IN PAIN has no rights.
Well, now I have to see their neuro doc which is another copay and who knows how much more I have to go through. I said to him…look, I already have gone trough all the tests. I have been to the best pain doctor in the state of Colorado and her diagnosis of having West Nile that had become chronic was awful and that she would treat me like a dying cancer patient, He still didnt care, I told him we had an epidemic of West Nile that left some of us in horrific pain. I had news articles, CDC reports etc, but NOTHING will change his mind. He is insisting I be completely narcotic free because he now thinks my medicine that gave me my life back is actually CAUSING my pain. Its utterly ridiculous but he has me over a barrel. He says if I try to leave and go to someone else he will advise them that I am a drug seeker, What can I do ? I have no life, I cant even make the bed or shower daily, I can barely function and we are now living on less than $40K a tear and will likely lose our home. We dont have any activities or niceties anymore…its all just a sea of gray. I love my family but I dont know if I can hold on much longer,
Sorry to all for my very long post. Please keep me in your prayers. I know I cant live in this constant pain much longer.
David
Houston
My MD said that in reality, Tylenol & the other NSaids “can” actually cause more permanent damage to my liver than hydrocodone. That is of course assuming you do not have a proclivity to addiction to the drug itself. I have been taking up to 2 x 10mg per day for 15 years. Normally I would only take 1 per day. And after several months, I would go off of the hydrocodone for a month before getting back on the 1 or 2 a day regimen.
If you outlaw/restrict hydrocodone users, then do the same with:
Alcohol users (with much more devastating side affects affecting millions of families worldwide);
Marijuana users (that are now being allowed in more and more states every month) …….
I would scream about the insanity of this change in the laws, except I would only get a headache with which I would need to go take a drink of Tequila & chase it with a beer and 2 Tylenol & a “Joint”!
Gary
NY
People in this country had better wake up! The government is taking control over every aspect of our lives. Before long they will be taxing us on and telling us when to go to the bathroom.
Henry
FL
same situation but with dilaudid
Renee
Then they’ll be tellin me to head for the bathroom every 10 minutes with all the iced tea I drink.
Cheryl
Potomac , md
I currently am on vicodin 10 mg 3 times a day and the fentanyl I patch. I was in a Car accident many years ago and suffer daily as does my husband he has knees, back, neck and shoulders (years of doing drywall and construction).
I saw other posts about Dr visits etc and cost my insurance covers it so it must be hard for those who pay out! It’s still very inconvenient for any of us that are chronic pain patients. We need to fight this !!! Has anyone heard of a group that is trying to fight this? If not maybe it’s time to organize one !!!
Annie
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
I am stunned at this ridiculous government! Did they not even consider the real patients who need this medication? I have a property full of 70-80 year old seniors who are suffering because they cannot get their medication. This is horrible to see them in so much pain!
They should go after the doctor’s who are writing script s for patient who they know are not in need . People have significant illness or injury and have been on these medications should not be penalized.
What is this country coming to…
Teresa
Florida
I am ready to fight this We need to get a group together with a class action lawsuit or get something done…..
I have had enough of all this as a cancer patient. Rheumatoid arthritis patient, etc…
My oncologist retired in January, my new oncologist is messing me around,& she isn’t good with patient care… 2 months w/ her & I am changing oncologists, she didn’t even exam my neck, & iI am in chemo for thyroid cancer recurrence on my liver & 3rd time in my neck…
I have rheumatoid arthritis & neuropathy, & she is changing everything around & says its a fresh start, maybe a fresh start for her, but, I still have incurable diseases that can’t be erased.
The meds I take work well for comfort measures.
I am gonna fight this!
sue
Leesville Louisiana
I pull my back out and went to a urgent care it was a waste of trip didn’t work for me I can barely walk what the point in having a urgent care if I had to go to the ER I would have to be there for ,6 to 8 hours so I have just been suffering I suggest we all contact our reps it seems to me it us not about the pain meds but a way to make more money and besides they are going to make it worse because the people that actually need the medicine is going to have to get it off the street that is not true.
Becky
Pensacola, FL
I thought it was just me. Diagnosed with chronic hepatitis c, scoliosis and now a kidney stone. Not one doctor will give me anything for the pain. As others, I’m being treated like a drug addict. I ask for a lactose free non narcotic med and still snubbed. What are we suppose to do. Turn to street drugs?
Michael
Apple Valley, CA.
I have severe back pain and have been on pain killers for 15 years. Because of this new rule it is very likely that I will not be able to fill my prescription when it is due. This is very dangerous and will land me in the ER. I can’t afford that. So what do I do? Get sick and be in extreme pain, or go to ER and go bankrupt? I work for a major newspaper. This story will be told. The DEA needs to figure this out!!!
Jon DOE
FREDERICK, MD
I sit here at 3 am in intense pain after surgery on my wrist. NO pharmacy in this town even HAS Lortab, as prescribed by my surgeon. Can’t get a substitute called in. I called the doctor to get a substitute, but I would have to drive 50 miles back to Baltimore to get a new Rx. I would like to thank the drug addicts, drug dealers, and the DEA for serving the public good by their actions. As usual, no one in the Federal govt. understands the concept of unintended consequences.
Hurting4sure
California
My story is the literal exact same as the one on the article. I am a male though and I’m on work comp. Something needs to be done about the sea. Maybe a class action civil rights lawsuit.
I am in a lot of pain and all the pharmacies in my area that will take new patients are out of 10/325 hydrocodone. The ones that do have it will not take on any new patients. I usually get it filled at Walmart but all the stores are out of it.
jordan
missouri
My grandma has been on tab 10 for 11 years and was taking 8 a day now they lowered her down to 6 a day and she has all kinds of pain problems. I think it is wrong that they are doing this to a 65 year old women I think it’s time for we the people to stand up to these criminals and protest this I mean I am not going to set back and watch my grandma suffer because of the DEA its sad that they would to this to old people just because young people abuse it. I think we need a nation wide protest on this I am getting sick and tired of this. When are we the people in america finely wake up and put an end to this criminal country I mean enough is enough.
g j
bunnell fl .
I have been in pain for many years. In 1978 I had a wreck on my bike. I was hit by a car. I broke my back and both legs my left arm was broke, 13 bones in all. Now I am 54 yrs old with a lot of pain. My Dr. will not give me any meds for it. I have Hep C with a very bad liver. I started drinking again to help with the pain. I am dieing, with no help in sight.
Linda
Fletcher Nc
I am going through the samething. 2 herinated disc,nerve damage in right leg, degenerative disc. I was going to pain Dr in Sc then moved here to NC. I was released from SC yesterday to force me to get. Pain Dr here in NC. I don’t understand what we are supposed to do anymore. I agree about a class action suit!
Lynn
Alabama
I Was Treated Like A Junky-Addict-Criminal yesterday when I saw a doctor at a Pain Management Clinic! I went to the Dolay’s Clinic in Hoover for the first time yesterday and saw Dr. Hill who treated me like I was a drug seeker. Before I went to Dolay’s I was prescribed 7.5mg 4 times a day. Dr. Hill’s option was for me to order a dispenser that would only dispense TWO pills per day. What the $^%$^!! So because my pain that was eased by the Norco 4 times a day, his solution was to Decrease my medication. What a crock of crap. I suffer from debilitating scoliosis with degenerative disc disease and arthritis. Thanks but No Thanks Dolay’s Clinic.
zlloyd1
Virginia
I recently had a tooth start to go bad, and the pain has been nearly unbearable while I await getting the tooth fixed, but the ONLY pain relief that I could get from my dentist was Ibuprofen 800mg, which does absolutely NOTHING to help me sleep, or function.
My old dentist used to prescribe Vicodin, or codeine pain relievers when I had trouble, but now it seems that you just HAVE to SUFFER because some politicians want to appear tough on drugs….
I am honestly sick from this pain, but there is NO RELIEF allowed anymore for patients, and it is disgusting. I am NOT a drug seeker, nor an addict of any sort, but when I legitimately NEED pain management, I want actual pain relief, not a big aspirin that has no effect on the pain at all!!
Tami c
Texas
Is it possible to file a complaint that the new rules violate the Americans with Disabilities Act? Doesn’t this rule cause us an undue burden? Aren’t we being discriminated against because of our treatment for the disabilities?
Rob
CA
One word, or rather, one action: Civil liberties “lawsuit”!
mark
mich
Agree100% thats just what we need to do!!!
Krickett
Oklahoma/Texas
Talking about pharmacists making you feel like a drug addict or a criminal, it is infuriating. I have been in 6 different car wrecks and also suffer from Fibromyalgia. I have neck and back problems and hurt all day and everyday.
A few years ago I found an amazing PA, with her doctors consent, we started a trial and error program. I saw her once a month for over a year. We tried amitriptyline, with flexoril, and Ativan. The combo didn’t work very well at all. Then we tried Soma, Naproxen and continued the Ativan to no avail. I have tried Lyrica, which I was incredibly excited about, since I had heard so many great things about it. Unfortunately, I felt great for the first 3 days but then the dry mouth and sinus side effects were more than I could handle. I stopped taking it and waited about a week and tried again, again the same side effect. Finally, She prescribed Lortab 10’s 2 to 3 times daily, and flexoril at night with ambien. Hoping that with the good nights sleep that I would also feel much better. Bingo!! I felt better than I had in years. At first I was a bit tired during the day but then that went away. I didn’t ever feel buzzed or anything from the lortabs, I just didn’t feel the pain. She would prescribe me 100 a month with 2 refills and started only seeing her every 3 months. Life was getting better. Then my PA switched doctors and the DR she went to doesn’t believe in long term narcotics use. He wants me to go to pain management. Which I have no problem with, except, that I travel for my job. Many times I have driven 5 hours 1 way to keep my appointments with my PA. I don’t have the time available to go to the pain management. Very aggravating. Now I have moved even farther away from my PA and am actively looking for a new primary physician. Another huge challenge when you tell them what you have been diagnosed with. They don’t accept me. Talk about feeling like a drug addict. I am very very frustrated. fortunately when I knew that my scripts weren’t going to be filled anymore, I started try to wean myself to less each day, so I still have meds for now. I understand , that people want these meds on the street for the high but come on, I wouldn’t even know what it felt like to be high on these meds, they just make me stop hurting for the most part. It truly sucks and I hope we all find a solution soon. As for me…I keep trudging through. My muscle massager is my best friend along with a muscle rub. Good luck everyone and thanks for listening.
Jeff S
Tenaha Tx.
I suffer from sever Rheumatoid arthritis in my feet. I also have severe gout attacks in my right foot. I recently had my Achilles tendon repaired in my right foot.
After surgery I only received over the counter equivalents of pain meds. They would not give me any real pain meds. For years I have been prescribed Hydrocodone and only took them when the pain in my feet got too severe.
I once was an avid outdoorsman and a wildlife researcher. Now I have not walked more than a few minutes at a time in over 6 months. I lost my job and insurance and now am almost bedridden. I have no insurance because of losing my job because of the pain and now I am being forced at age 43 to go on disability. All because I can not get the pain management drug I had used without addiction for years.
I am now taking of ibuprofen a day . They have put me on Meloxicam and tried dozens of crappy drugs that do nothing…
TS
New Jersey
I agree with everything said – one more comment: my understanding is that the big problem, at least in New Jersey, is that heroin is cheap and available. This was the argument for ‘cracking down’ on Vicodin – that people start on Vicodin and then turn to cheap and more dangerous heroin _when Vicodin becomes difficult and expensive to obtain_. A lawyer friend of mine says the same thing: he has many clients prosecuted for heroin because they couldn’t get Vicodin.
So what does the state do in this situation? It makes Vicodin _more_ difficult to obtain.
So even beyond those of us who are in pain and who need Vicodin for legitimate purposes, what could possibly go wrong with this drug policy aimed at abusers to force them to use the cheaper more dangerous drug?
Rob
CA
Sarcasm. I get it. Wish it’d help things. Puts a smile on ones face, but that is about it. Not much else to smile about regarding our gestapo DEA.
Jay
Upper MI
As a Veteran, I have health care with Veterans a V.A. facility, so I have deal with three Administrations: V.A. for my health care and the D.E.A. and the F.D.A. I have in the past called the V.A. and had a argument with my health care provider who prescribes my meds. When I get so mad all I did is talk very loud and screamed at my health care provider. Before hung up my phone, I apologized to him, because he is super person. He doesn’t like it either He had said that he gets more but chewing from all of other out-patients. I smile with my family and my grand-children. I am very thank full +
Jay
Jay
Jay
Upper, MI
Bob,
Are there Pain Clinics in your location ? My brother see’s a pain specialist and “It Helps Him”, and he see’s the Doctor every month.
Jay
Jay
Upper MI
Stopping medication suddenly could result in serious harm ? We should of had time to wean off hydrocodone. This is true and why was the dosage of hydrocodone lowered so fast, that was the DEA’s and FDA’s biggest royal screw up and detox began within 3-5 days. And had nothing to help with the nervous jitters. Why did the U.S. Gov. caused us to feel SH**Y when these quacky scientists and doctor and all who had this plan to mess up our brains, hearts and the possibility of death due to their quacky insane decisions of these low lifers, causing us anything from A to Z, in medical conditions.
Jay
JD
United States
I have read almost all the comments: I am in much of the same position. Chronic pain, proven reasons for the pain. After moving to a new state & new doctors I am treated like a drug addict, even with the proof. The pain is so bad, after taking myself off the pain medication as I got tired of being treated so horribly. WHAT DO WE DO? There are so many of us, isn’t there anything we can do, so we can all get proper treatment again? I am very afraid as my pain has increased to such a high level, I almost feel like I do not want to live like this anymore. It is very sad when you are under a doctor’s care and in more pain and more depressed then you have ever been in your life.
Why won’t they help me? I still have a few pills, but again they will not give me anymore. Even with the proof they (the Doctors) insist it is just due to old age & that everyone has changes. This statement is so unfair as I have been in pain from a bad fall & very bad car accident & there is proof!!!! I guess the doctors know it all as all bodies & people are the same in their eyes. When I was a kid Doctors cared.
Annie
pa
This really is terrible…. I am in the same boat I’m afraid. I just moved to a new state also and am being treated much the same way…. I don’t know where to even start looking for a new pain management to help me with my meds I have been on for more than 10yrs now… the pain is miserable as the weather is a lot colder here than what I’m used to and I’m almost out of my pain meds as well does anyone have any suggestions to help me plz….it’s cold and miserable here and I’m not able to make the 10 hr drive home…..
Ric R.
Georgia
I am tired of the parroting of the huge numbers of OD’s, and prescriptions. Anyone recalled the huge increase in population of baby boomers reaching middle and old age when aches and pains get real. Not in any of the articles this baby boomer has read!
Jay
Upper MI
The Big Change
DEA New Law ? or a New Rule ? Or just a combination of Drugs a little bit here or a lot there and it maybe a Batch of B******* to be the New Hydrocodone Combination of Medications ? The DEA did not call me to let me know about WEANING OFF Hydrocodone 10/325, before the MED was stolen from me and all who had withdrawals, sudden DETOX and have been since Oct. 3rd 2014.
Jay
Linda
United States
One of the reasons we are suffering more now having to go every month to get our prescriptions for pain is something I firmly believe – all the dumb celebrities who buy prescription pain medication illegally, they overdose and die or go to some fancy shmancy rehab for a week, come out and do it all again. It has given medication like vicodin, oxycodone, oxycontin all of that a bad name, it is publicized widely by the dumb media so of course who suffers? The little people ! us!
SS
Los Angeles
The problem with these types of sweeping changes is they don’t understand that not everyone is an addict or has the potential to become one. Most of us really do take medication as prescribed or opt not to at all but it is good to have for emergencies. I know an older person who was diagnosed with shingles. This person refuses to take any pain medications.
Brian
long beach, ca
Doe’s anyone know when norco will be available in So.CA.?
John
Anaheim
Norco has been available for years in S. Ca. Norco is a brand name for Hydrocodone & is sometimes called Viconin all are the same thing so buy the generics it does the same thing. I have taken hydrocodone since 2006 so know for a fact what Norco is just a brand name for hydrocodone it’s available at any & all drug stores
Susan
Brian, I was able to finally get mine filled from Walgreens. CVS ran out last month and again this month and kept telling me there was a shortage from the manufacturer. If you haven’t gotten yours filled yet, check around. It’s out there.
Donna
Saint Louis
I have severe scoliosis, spinal arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteitis pubis and can barely walk. I am a senior and my health issues are well documented with frequent X Rays and MRI’s etc . It is a complete outrage that I now have to paid a doctor visit fee (not covered by my insurance) EACH and every month, plus a State Narcotics lab testing fee to test my blood to make sure I am taking my medications instead of selling them, plus the price of the RX!. I do this just to get my one month bottle of pills so that I can exist. Yet, druggies seem to have no difficulty getting what they want and need. This is a case of punishing the honest public to look like we are doing something about the rampant drug problem in this country.
Jay
Upper Mi
Lab testing fee. This should be paid by state you live in Donna. The Federal Government made new a ruling ? And what is new ruling: Not a new law is it ?
Donna make sure you take care of yourself.
John
Just goes to show that the government is run by complete morons, the addicts will get their drugs no matter what,while we suffer from these policies. In 2006 I broke the entire lombar section of my back along with an ankle burst & the tibia fibia after they took the fixator off & I stated walking severe arthritis set in in every bone I broke & since the back breaks were from compression all the cartilage between the vertibrea is gone I have lost 2 1/2 inches in height L1 lost all height, L2 is 50% gone & wore down so I now have scoliosis L3, L4, & L5 are wearing down also & they are “crowding” the nerves my pain is severe & my dr is “uncomfortable writing the prescriptions so he send me to pain Mgt. I have come to the conclusion that both primary care & pain Mgt are complete morons I have been taken off Morphine sulphate 100 mg & 4 hydrocodones of 10 mg & put on 20mg of oxycodone & sent on my way. I am now in the process of changing my primary care & will not go back to pain mgt which I hate anyhow & he isn’t “comfortable” with writing these prescriptions either, & the hell with my comfort. As far as both of these morons are concerned they can kiss my rosey red butt
Dee
Indianapolis
I’m so happy I found this. It makes me feel like I am not alone. I’m 46 years old. I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, bulging discs, chronic migraines and a 40 degree curvature of my spine. In addition, I was shot in a robbery several years ago and still have bullet fragments in my back.
I am a chronic pain sufferer and will be in pain management for life. I signed a contract with my pain doctor and I am also one of those that takes my medication as prescribed and I pass every random drug test. I see my doctor every three months and get three months worth of signed scripts that are each dated so I cannot fill them early.
I had a snag this month. My husband’s brother lives in Chicago and is dying of cancer, so we have been going a couple of times a month. Last month was different. He was literally on his death bed. I wasn’t sure how long we would be there, so I called my doctor’s office to let them know I was going to full early because of that. I called my pharmacy, who told me they were out of meds. Okay, this happens occasionally. I called around and found that Meijer had them in stock. I head over there and my insurance company would not let me fill. It was too early. I explained my situation and the pharmacist told me he understood and that he would fill them but I would need to pay cash. I was reluctant because of the price but I felt like I didn’t have a choice. So, I get my prescriptions and we start the 4 hour drive to Chicago.
On our way there, the nurse calls me and tells me she understood what was going on but that I had filled 2 days early for the past three months. True, I try to hit the grocery and get my meds at the same time because it is hard for me to get out. She said that because of that she wouldn’t be able to approve of me getting my meds early. I panicked and just thanked her for calling. I lied to her and now I feel horrible. I have an appt on March 10. My state uses that stupid system that tracks you by your ss number. I’m afraid when I go, they may be able to pull that and see that not only did I fill early but I went to a different pharmacy than what I typically use.
It is so difficult to even get your foot in the door for chronic pain sufferers that I don’t want to lose this doctor. He’s been great. I have injections and have tried various things but I will always need pain management and will always be dependent on meds. I feel just awful about this. Thanks for letting me pour my heart out here.
connie
mi
I have ms and myasthenia gravis. I fell and broke my back. I also have degenerative arthritis. Can’t have knees replaced or lower back surgery because of healing issues.
Ms is painful. Back is painful. I see a pain management specialist.
This law is asinine. Class 2. Really.
Renee
With all Hydrocodone products now a schedule 2, they cannot be filled early at all!
Kimberly C.
Okeechobee Fl
Suicide deaths will far outnumber overdose death by abuse. Why do honest non abusing people be denied relief? I feel judged when repeatedly denied more pain medication at the pharmacies. I can’t enjoy any quality of life with what I have worked my whole life for. Instead of punishing innocent suffering people why not have a program where anyone with the meds that are known to be abused be called in and have our pills counted?? If you’re short the amount, then you’re cut off. I have to pay someone to do my chores now because I hurt too much.. I thought this was a free country..The United States of China?? I can’t wait for whoever caused this insanity to have an accident or be in pain..then what..Oooops..they will say.. I wasn’t thinking about the good people…Big DIRRRRRRRR…SHAME ON OUR GOVERNMENT..FIX THIS.. What’s the use of living if we have to suffer..This makes me SO ANGRY!!!!!!!!!
George
Pacoima, IL
Legalize all drugs end the “war on drugs.”
Portugal made all drugs legal. Taxpayer funds there are directed to rehab NOT incarceration.
Portuguese police and authorities decided it is FAR superior to make drugs legal and fund rehab than to fight a “war on drugs” and fund enforcement, adjudication and incarceration.
America fought the “war on drugs” and lost. The war is over.
Legalize drugs. Stop bad behavior.
America experimented with Prohibition. It failed. Prohibition was repealed.
The government has no constitutional authority to make drugs illegal.
The government can make bad behavior illegal, like DUI, assault, battery, rape, murder, etc. illegal.
Jackie
R.I
It’s hard when your in so.much pain to even drive to your doctors office. You just want to stay in bed . Let alone when the weather is bad out. Or u can’t get a ride to your Doctors office and there are know buses running!!! Why should we have to suffer more, I hate it because I’ve been seeing the same Doctor for years. I don’t abuse my medication. I know it’s not my Doctors fault he’s only following the new laws set by the Government, which I don’t Believe is working all that well. (Do you really want the government telling you when you can take your MEDs) I sure don’t. And I don’t feel I’m alone in this , We all have to speak up. If not, they win. Freedom of speech!
Renee
Let’s all move to Portugal.
BARNEY
CENTRAL FL
http://www.wesh.com/health/pharmacies-denying-legitimate-prescriptions/30986442 This local tv station in Orlando Fl says they talked with the DEA. DEA said they have nothing to do with people getting pain meds?
M. M.
VA
Can’t you just call in for a refill a few days before your monthly supply runs out? Then as if you were driving to the pharmacy to pick up meds before, stop off at Dr office and pick up the written script? I’ve been picking up Ritalin this way for a long time… or they will mail the script to you before you run out. I don’t think you have to “see” the Dr. Or at least my son doesn’t. He is seen every 3 months but gets a new script every month.
Kay
NH
Your plan works well if your doctor is in your area. I must drive over an hour on 3 different busy highways from NH to Boston to pick up my script. We’ve had two blizzards in a week, the roads are still being cleared, and I have to make a day’s work out of picking up a piece of paper.
With all the great minds in this country, there has to be a better method of prescribing and monitoring medications than putting the onus on people in chronic pain.
tayty
Alabama
I see my doctor every 4 months. For 6 years he has written me A script for my Lortab which later changed to Norco 7.5 and he added 3 refills to it. I have degenerative disc disease and have had it for about 9 years. You’re right about going by the doctors office and picking up A script each month. But now with my doctor I have to take a drug test every time I pick A new script up to prove I am taking it. I have been wondering how many others have to do the same thing and is it part of the C2 law? Any help would be great.
Krickett
They did that to my Dad last week. I think its weird but probably a smart idea. At least they know your not selling them. Which is always their first darn thought. Good luck
Donna
I appreciate your attempt to help. You may be able to do that with Ritalin but patients can not do that in Saint Louis for Narcotics. My son was on Ritalin and it is very different from medications used for pain.
Kay
Houston TX
I will give you a perfect example of how flawed this new system is. I was told at my chronic pain management doc today (been seeing for 5 yrs) that I was 3 days too early to get my px so I either needed to come back then to pick up px (I live 45 minutes away) or I could take the post dated px and try to get it filled somewhere else other than THEIR pharmacy. Yeah, right! It’s bad enough that I HAVE to take these stupid pills and get dirty, judgmental looks from people you KNOW, much less go shop around at pharmacies (and get shamed, told you’ve “been flagged to the FDA” because you had to go to Walgreens instead of your normal CVS because CVS was “out”of your med. ) no thanks.
I’m a 51yr suburban housewife, law abiding citizen that takes this last-resort, only-other-option medicine that has long term negative side effects, medication AS PRESCRIBED. It just so happened that the 3 days was due to a clerical error on their part and when the PA read me what was in the “system”, I was floored! It had at least flat out lies in it. One being that at my last visit I met with Dr. So and so. In 5 years, I’ve never laid eyes on that guy!
When you try to refute what they’re saying, you become “confrontational” or “argumentative”, which just so happen to be “drug seeking behaviors”. You can’t win!
I’m hooked! On these horrible pills (that are the ONLY thing that works) and I’m hooked on these doctors and these pharmacists! And yet they could’t care less if I had to suffer through massive withdrawals on a drug THAT THEY GOT ME HOOKED ON IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Well, this was the 3rd month in a row (funny how that coincides with the DEA changes in the law) that they’ve screwed up and I just couldn’t deal with one more month of icky withdrawals so what did I do? This law-abiding, takes her meds as prescribed, suburban housewife called her ex husband (drug addict, dope fiend) and got him to score her some dope on the street! Yup! I did it! Anddd it cost me an arm and a leg! $10/a pill! Remember, I was 3 days short. You know how many that is, I’m sure. Do the math.
THAT’S CRAZY! Is THIS what you want, DEA?!! Is THIS how you’re going to stop illegal drug use?!! Guess what? I’m not the only one who’s had to resort to this, I guarantee! I’m sure nobody wants to admit it, but I promise it’s happening far more often than you think, especially after these ridiculous new rules.
I HATE that I had to resort to that! I positively hate it. But what else is there? DEA, come up with something better! This is NOT going to work! Hell, it’s only been three months and I think it’s failing already!
susan
fla
I feel your pain…I have considered the same thing.. I have no time to take off at work so every appt. I go to…I do not get paid for. For an everyday regular person like me…this is a hardship…I should be able to save my time for being sick (I have chronic migraines) but now no pay for sick days……no pay for hours taken to go to a Dr appt….it just never ends…let’s see if suicide rates will go up among people with chronic pain…..
Crystal H.
Nashville TN
I COMPLETELY AGREE!!!! This has old cost patients more trips, visits, tons more money and the DEA can’t just find those getting pain MEDS with nothing wrong??? I have MRIs and tons of other tests and imaging so that I was given a PROPER diagnosis and treatment procedure and treatment plan for chronic pain…I played rough sports most of my life and have been injured numerous times beyond the athletic world….All in All they made it awful and costly for those in pain and needing treatment (physical therapy) so on and so forth……I AGREE COMPLETELY WOTH THE WRITER OF THIS ARTICLE…thanks
robert t.
ms.
there is no answer , we cannot elect the dea, but , whom ever appoints them can be bought off by drug lords, to get us chronic pain people to use a street drug, I have had a massive stroke , leaving me only with the use of 1 arm and hand , plus use of 1 leg , I live alone , since o lost my wife . my dr. is 50 miles away, as I write this note , I feel on Christmas morn , on icy steps and have broken several ribs and I am in pain, I also have a broken neck in 2 places , crushed elbow, so is it here pondering suicide, no co. will insure me, I just got Medicaid, so every time I stub my toe , I will go to the hospital cost the state and/or the gov… money instead of just treating me with pain medication. We need a third party 4 pres. a salt of the earth working man., with the power to re vote in 6 months.
Jeff
Arizona
I have been going to the same DR for the last 20 years. extream Joint pain has taken a toll on mw the last 5 years. I started on Percocet but the DR didn’t think the included Tylenol was good for my health. He switched me to plain Oxycodone 7.5 MG after a year. My pain kept increasing over time and he would ask if I wanted more pills or try a higher does. I kept saying no that I didn’t want to take higher doses. I tried Celebrex but my pain was not being controlled so I reluctantly agreed to higher doses over time. I have been taking 15 Mg for the last 8 months and it seems to be controlling my pain level.
In Dec the DR started acting real strange. Telling me I needed to sign a pain contract to meet DEA rules in Jan. At my January appointment I was routed to a different room with a DR assistant I have never had before. He said he was helping my DR today and asked if we had discussed a pain contract. I had some issues with it as it stated that only my DR could give me pain meds. He is often out on travel for meetings and they have in the past put me with one of the other DR’s in the same office. the pain contract said that was not allowed.
The DR made some notes that said I could get meds from his associates in that situation.
The other issue was I had to get them from the same pharmacy. problem in the past has been my pharmacy does not have the meds in stock and our forced to find a pharmacy that does. I was told to just call the office if that happens and they will make arrangements.
Then I was asked to give a urine sample. Ok no big deal, I have nothing to hide. Big mistake, I just received a bill for $1300 dollars from the Lab that did the test, My insurance won’t cover it because it’s out of network. My DR is in Network and never told me the costs for giving him my urine sample was going to cost me this much.
Then he wanted to give me 30 mg pills instead of 15 mg and wanted me to cut them in half.
Said the DEA was investigating patients getting over 120 pills a month. I told him they can investigate me all they want as I have nothing to hide. Cutting pills in half made no sense as it would be hard to cut them exactly in half. the total MG was the same. He said it was up to me but he was trying to find away that would keep me off the DEA suspect list. I gave in and said ok. when I went to fill it they said they did not have any 30 mg in stock and would not have them for 6 days. Said they had 15 mg in stock like I always received in the past and suggested I get the DR to change the Script. told the pharmacist what the doctor told me about the DEA and was told that the number of 15 mg’s I received in the past was not a issue for the pharmacy following DEA rules. I was told it was possible my DR was being limited on the number by the DEA. went back to the DR office as he had said it was my choice two days earlier when I seen him. He was off but his assistant said she would call other pharmacies to see how could fill it for me. after a 40 min wait she said no pharmacies have it and the ones that do won’t accept new patients. said she left a message with my doctor and another DR in the office has no problem writing the script for 15 MG instead if my DR agreed.
Told me she would call me when the DR called back. Received a message 1.45 hours latter to call her or stop by the office. When I get their said the DR gave me two choices. 1)take the original script for the 30 mg and get it filled when they are back in stock.
I told her that won’t work as I will be out of pills in two days and will have to wait another 4 days after that when they expect their next order in. Choice 2 was the other DR would write a new script for the 15 mg but for a reduced number of pills meaning I would only get a 20 day supply instead of 30 day. I was really confused and said why would he do this when two days ago he said it was my choice. I asked if he expected me to go 4 days without meds to follow his new demand? She seemed confused as well but said that’s what he said. I took the 15 mg 20 day option and will just have to go back in earlier.
This has made me question the professionalism of my DR and he basically lied to me.
I now suspect he is under investigation and is trying to Cover his you know what.
I want to change DR’s now as I no longer trust him or believe he has my best interest in hand. I can’t make a fuss over it or I will be labeled as a problem patient or drug seeker.
I hope to change DR’s without issue.
Donna
I agree. I have an extremely well documented collapsed spine. I have been in pain management first at Washington Univ in Saint Louis and then private clinics for over 15 years. I have had every test under the sun that all show clear destruction of all major joints in my body. There is no way I am faking pain and doctors know that. I am very careful with my pain pills and space them out at the lowest dose possible. I exist on a small social security check and small pension. I am wearing the same old clothes I bought years ago and driving an ancient car. BUT I am supposed each month just to get a new RX to pay a doctor fee, a state testing fee, plus an RX cost each 30 days plus drive 30 miles in my old car to the doctor office to pick up the script. The total out of pocket costs of my $10 medication in office costs and driving costs is about $100 a month. The insurance company pays out another $150 a month for that office visit just to get a piece of paper. Something is terribly wrong with this system.!
dogk.15
Texas
My son, 32, suffered a bicycle fall which caused a spinal injury and foot drop. He has no reflex (dorsiflex) in his right foot. He had surgery with no help so far. He is following up with therapy with regular visits to his neurosurgeon. He cannot even get prescriptions for tramadol let alone hydrocodone. After surgery when he went for a refill for hydrocodone, he had to give a urine sample (35 dollars) and sign a bunch of paper work for 20 pills. He was self pay. Do you know how much 20 pills cost? His nerve pain and inability to walk correctly or drive a car is enough to send him over the edge.
I in the next month suffered a horrible back injury and since my primary doctor retired after 30 years I had to wait until the first of the year, find a new primary before I got a referral to an orthopedic surgeon. I had to beg my primary for pain killers as I cannot lay on my back or side and can only sleep on my stomach for about a two hour period before my back/leg starts spasm’ing. She finally gave me 60 pills to tide me over before my ortho appt. I have slept in a chair for almost two months and am exhausted. When I was sent for the MRI, I was given no pain killer and had to lay on my back and was in tears the entire 30 minutes. The ortho doctor refused to give pain killers to me. They all have the same line. I do not prescribe narcotics on an on going basis. This is an acute crisis. He suggested I go to the emergency room. Seriously?
These are only my stories, but I have heard this from person after person. Good people going through a rough ailment that need help.
I can’t even get tramadol. I know the schedule was changed on this too.
I am disgusted with the DEA. I worked every day for 48 years and retired at 60 to collect widow benefits and take care of my 90 year old mother. That is another story. She has severe RA and cannot get her painkillers either. They want her on biologics which twice have put her in the hospital and almost killed her.
Got Bless America!
Dottie
FL
Once again, our government has decided to punish law-abiding citizens because they have failed to put a dent in the illegal drug trade. I am a senior citizen, a cancer survivor and I’ve never in my life used Pot or any other illegal drug. I use prescription meds as they are prescribed and consider it a moral responsibility to be obedient to every law whether I like it or not.
I will not go to see my doctor every month for my pain meds. I will suffer and try to do the best I can for as long as I can survive. It’s offensive to me that I should be held to such stringent rules when I am not guilty of any drug offence, would never go to a “pain doctor” or buy illegal drugs and so I must be without meds. The people who don’t care about the law have all the drugs they want. I wonder if this is a conspiracy between DEA, Physicians and Pharmacies. They all benefit.
I hope I don’t have to be here much longer. Our society is breaking all the rules and the inmates are running the Asylum. God help us all.
Margaret B.
Draper UT unfortunately
You are exactly right people in chronic pain are the ones that suffer. This is the most outrageous thing I have seen when old people with chronic pain have to suffer because the drug addicts get their drugs and will no matter what but the people that legitimately need them suffer. It is ridiculous and it wont stop the drug addicts we already see that with heroin addicts they get it with no problem. My friend’s son is a heroin addict and I am just disgusted that he will get his drugs but with nerve pain that is horrible I have to suffer.
Bruce
Florida
Has anybody considered the obvious, any time a drug is made illegal, or a huge black market supplies demand crime increases. We now have Mexican drug cartels growing and distributing illegal drugs inside our country’s borders. Why? Because border security has become much tighter since 9/11. So now we have crime associated with drug trafficking that occurs in our country by these illegal operations. Demand outweighs risk, therefore we have more crime.
Does anyone see illegal distribution of beer, alcohol, or tobacco? Maybe a small amount, for small illegal profit, but most obtain those products legally through a controlled program and taxation process.
Odd that it works fine for products that people don’t really need, but products or medicine people really need are restricted? This will cause huge black market demand.
Illegal drug dealers know this very well. We all know when there is huge demand and a shortage that profits rise astronomically for illegal drugs. This crime wave is going to hit the USA LIKE A TSUNAMI! Since manufactures reduced production, now there will be an international interest in supplying Americans with what they demand. So now we have a global black market painkiller drug war. A war the government has lost for many many years. Also causing many law abiding citizens to become entangled into an already overburdened judicial system. Also families will be affected, children will be removed from their parents and foster services will be inundated with way too many children to place.
People will lose their jobs and only add to the difficult economic situation that already exists. All because lawmakers want to make a name for themselves off media ideology? Which is created by false statistics. We are the people, we need to use our voting powers to remove this kind of greedy trash from office! You can bet that the governing body of this country and their families are having no trouble getting their pain medications because they have created their own “medical system” that serves only them. Once again, does anybody in this country know of Mexican drug cartels making illegal beer in the USA?
Bill H.
New Jersey
I have legit prescriptions for both Ultram and 7.5mg Percocet and have been prescribed the meds for over a year. The Percocets were already a Sch2 and now the Ultram has been bumped up by the “medical professionals” at the DEA.
I faithfully see my Doctor every month, never “lose” a prescription, run out early or any other red flags indicating abuse or diversion. This past Monday, not only did my regular (4 years) pharmacy blatently lie to me by looking up the medication to “see if we have it in stock”, tell me they do have it only to say an hour later they are out and that I “don’t need them anyway” because I’m taking Ultram. Four other pharmacies gave me every manner of BS: “the DEA didn’t ship us our supply” (what?!?) “We never carry this, it is a medicine that not many people take” (WHAT?!?) “were not going to fill this and contribute to another persons addiction” (shaking head) “You look like a drug abuser and it is our choice to not fill this.”
Here’s the irony: I live 15 minutes from Camden NJ – the heroin capitol of New Jersey. Any drug anyone could want is easily found there. Yet the DEA is clamping down on pain patients.
I guess we’re easy targets.
Kay
Houston TX
I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through all that and I completely understand! We are treated with bias and prejudice and judged and shamed at every corner! Walk a mile in MY shoes, I say! THEN, and only then, can you judge me. Anddd I wouldn’t wish my chronic pain on my worst enemy!
rahlf43
California
Lots and lots of horror stories, and they are real. Now I haven’t read every post on this site but what is needed now is some pushback by the people most affected by this decision. Patients and doctors will have to badger politicians to look into the agencies involved in this decision and hopefully try to come to some compromise agreement that allows more sensible prescription of these drugs and some sensible methods of combatting abuse.
Abusers tend to be chronic, they can be identified and tagged as people who cannot get these drugs, that will stop a small number.
Doctors who are writing too many prescriptions are easily identified BUT therein lies a big, big problem, each doctor has a very different patient population and they have very different needs. So setting limits or constantly auditing doctors prescription predilection is going to worsen the problem. Doctors are already skittish. (this is where the bureaucracy will probably aim their efforts at reducing hydrocodone prescriptions.)
Essentially the Feds have put the screws to the doctors, they have been trying to control them since FDR and now they smell the kill.
Their isn’t an easy solution, doctors need to be super involved in trying to get some relief, pain patients can help but most of them already feel like the are wearing a Scarlet Letter and it is hard for them to act.
I hope somebody proposes some alternative to what we have now because it isn’t working. It may be reducing abuse numbers, but the loss of work days, mental health problems related to anxiety about needed medication, inability to function optimally because of pain reduces productivity and the self.
Lets start looking for a solution
Ms Molly
Hayward,CA
This is the sad results of the DEA’s unrealistic decision. The pharmacies in my town and surrounding area’s have become the Norco cops. They pick and choose whose scripts they want to fill. If they don’t like your profile they will just tell you they ran out. I have only had 2 scripts for back pain. I don’t abuse them nor do I take more than my 30 day supply and have a couple left over past my refill date. I took my script to a CVS pharmacy near my job which is about 15 miles from home because the CVS in my home town wouldn’t fill it. They were “out”. This CVS near work told me I had to take it to my home town to fill it and the only reason I got was that this was how the manager wanted it. I was barely able to walk by this time, it hurt so bad so I called the hometown pharmacy and she took mercy on me and filled it. I don’t know what to so if I need a another refill. Your pharmacy and not your doctor is really calling the shots over your pain management.
Pat
NJ
I was refused a refill of a pain medication at a Walgreens because it was two days early. I was leaving for Thanksgiving and was afraid they would not fill the prescription at the location I was going to. I had been taking the medication for two years and filling it at that Walgreens for the same amount of time. The cashier behind the counter took great pleasure in telling me no!!! It was if she were on a power trip. There was no pharmacist there at that moment to talk to at that particular time. I was leaving right after I refilled the medication.
Needless to say that in the two days after I ran out I spent the rest of my Thanksgiving holiday in pain and extremely uncomfortable and irritable due to the pain I was in. The drive home was excruciating due to the distance I was traveling without my normal dose to keep the pain in check while I sat in the same position for several hours. I have not nor will not shop at a Walgreens for anything ever again. The morons that have imposed these strict and upgraded certain drugs to higher schedules are too stupid to even realize that they are only making the people that legitimately need the medication, not be able to obtain it and have to live in life altering pain!
Also, instead of stopping the illegal sales of narcotics are actually helping the illegal sales, because that is the only way that a person in extreme pain can find relief. Maybe that was the plan by all of our government agencies in the first place. Well mission accomplished. I am sure the drug dealers are applauding the efforts of the DEA going after legitimate doctors, making them afraid with their Gestapo tactics of raiding a doctors office with a waiting room full of patients just because he happens to write a few more prescriptions for pain than what the DEA has set as a quota based on the size of the practice. Why would any doctor want to take the chance regardless of how compassionate he is ? Pure Insanity !!
Kay
Houston TX
I was floored the first time a pharmacist said they wouldn’t fill my px! I’d never heard of that before I started taking pain meds. I was told that they could refuse to fill a px at their discretion; they didn’t have to give me a reason. And they didn’t give me a reason. They just sent me away. I’ve not been denied again, so blatently but I’ve definitely been told they were out of my meds or that they would fill my px but they it would take an extra 24 hours because they had to “research” my file. .. whatever that means. This is out of control!
Sick of Govt
The government doesn’t care what they put people through one bit. I actually believe they enjoy making people suffer if you look at how America punishment compares to other countries. This garbage with pain medication is a front to put more people in prison because the government is under contract to provide private prisons with a minimum number of inmates each month. The amount of agony and suffering caused by the government is mind blowing.
Lee
united states
Your totally correct, the war on drugs is mainly to incarcerate a class of non violent victims, they now can legally seize your money, your property, and your life. While the government can and has jailed it’s population. They have gone after every ethnic class and jailed the people that can’t afford a good legal defense. So now they are starting to round up the chronic pain suffers! Because they know they will most likely purchase pain relief illegally. To those self serving jerks in their minds it justifies the purpose!
Stacy
United States
I do not have the time or the money to see my doctor every month or every 3 months to get a refill on my pain medication. I used to go every 6 months to my doctor for refills for my chronic pain. My chronic pain is permanent I have had it for 10 years. There is no other management that works I have tried it all. Seeing my doctor that much is a waste of time and money. I also travel a lot for work and I am not able to fill my prescriptions 2 to 3 days earlier then written. If I have a prescription written out for the 17th. And I get called to travel for work on the 14th. I can’t get my prescription filled a day or two early anymore for I don’t run out why I’m traveling. I have to worry about finding a pharmacy now in a place I never been to to fill my prescription on the exact date writen. I also have to find the time and transportation to get to the pharmacy on the exact time and date I run out. I have been left in sever pain in a strange area because I couldn’t get my prescription filled before I left for work. This Is only going to continue for me as I have no way of knowing when I will leave for a job and when I get back. I might have to leave tomorrow it all depends if I get the job or not. If I turn it down I don’t get paid and risk losing my job. I’m usually not gone for more then a week so getting my prescription filled a few days earlier was a huge part in being able to live a normal life and not be a slave to my health. This law is effecting my life in every way. I have suffered so much with my health and pain. This law only adds to my suffering. I am not a criminal. I do not want to be in pain I do not want to take pain medications. I do not enjoy the high this medication can give. I am not a addict this is not a choice for me. I need this medication to try and live a normal life . This law is effecting people that are just trying to live their lives the best they can. People that don’t deal with chronic pain do not understand are suffering until they go through it for years on end themselves . Please stop hurting the ones that are already in pain. Stopping drug addicts will never work they will happily move on to another drug to satisfy them. This law only hurts the people that really need the drug for its purpose.
Kay
Houston TX
God, I feel for you! They (doctors) can be cold and heartless. They took an oath to HEAL and NOT HARM. What do they think that’s doing to you by shorting you 4-5 days of medication? I can speak from personal experience and say that it is NOT HEALING!
denise
deltona,fl
My doctor prescribed norco 20 pills .5 mg for my ankle. I could not find a pharmacy that had them. I don’t drink but tried a beer. I had no choice. My sugar went nuts. I can get a stronger pain killer with no problem. I didn’t need the stronger pain killer. What the heck. Get the government out of my healthcare
NCM
PA
I was searching for an answer to a question regarding medication and (from what I truly believe was by the grace of God), was directed to this site. I thought I was alone in dealing with all the stupid fallout from the new DEA regulations until I started reading all the comments here. I have gone through so much over the past eleven years that it would take forever to get through it all. So I will attempt to give you the short version. I can see that along with me, some of you are really fired up about this. It is so painfully clear that anyone going into medicine today does so for the money and not because of their compassion for their fellow man. Most of them have proven they do not possess that quality. The medical oath now should be “Show Me The Money” I developed severe abdominal issues soon after Gastric Bypass Surgery in 2002, None of my Dr’s (PCP, Surgeon, Gastroenterologist) ever really tried to pin point the problem, they just gave me Vicodin and sent me on my way. Back then my insurance company required me to do the three month supply mail order Pharmacy for all my medications that I was taking on a regular basis. This meant even the Vicodin. So at one point I was receiving 360 Vicodin pills all at one time and they were placed in my mailbox at the end of my driveway by the USPS! Then after a few years of taking them of course your body grows accustom to it so they increased them from 5/500mg to 7.5/500. And over the years it went from every 6 hrs to every 4 hrs. I did however stop taking them at one point because I felt that maybe they had become a crutch I really didn’t need. But after about a couple months The severe stomach “attacks” were back with a vengeance. Now, this was about the time all the Hub Bub was going around about possible changes and restrictions & they changed it from 500mg of acetaminophen to only 325mg & the newer version Brand name was Norco. So in June 2012 after 8 yrs of never blinking an eye about giving me my scripts, my Gastroenterolgist was the first to wimp out and kick me to the curb and wanted me to go to a pain clinic. But not just any Pain Clinic, he wanted me to go to the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management. So his office made the appointment. Even though I was a little mift at him for it, in reality I should be thankful because for 8 yrs aside from the occasional Colonoscopy and Upper Pandenoscopy he never ordered any other tests and he diagnosed me with a Bleeding Ulcer, some Diverticulitis, Pancreatitis, Irritable Bowel Sydndrome and Post Gastric Bypass Syndrome. But after just one visit to pain management, then over the next 18 months I would endure…28 trips to Cleveland Clinic, a multitude of tests and procedures between four different specialist. Their Gastric Bypass Specialist and Surgeon Their Gastroenterologist and a Vascular Surgeon and two Surgeries to repair two different problems, that had they not found them when they did, could very well have killed me. But the story doesn’t end there. Because I still had other problems that caused me severe pain and this is where it all starts going down hill in a hurry with the Doctor’s and the Pain Medications. I swear you would have thought their prescription pads were ticking time bombs cause nobody wanted to write a script for pain medication. Although everyone agreed I still needed them and one Dr in Cleveland said I probably always will, it was like pulling teeth to get anyone to write them. Even the Pain Management Dr told me to continue taking them, but he said because I lived out of state he wanted someone closer and more accessible to me because he knew the law was changing and I would have to drive to Cleveland every 30 days and he didn’t see that it should be neccessary for me to have to do that. Now before I even went to Cleveland for my first visit I expressed my concerns to my PCP back home about exactly that same scenario and he assured me that what would happen is once the pain management Dr decided what medication he wanted me to have he would confer with him and HE (my PCP) would manage my medications here at home. At least that’s what he said 18 months earlier. That was before all the information the Dr’s started getting about the new guidelines with pain medications. Because now that it’s crunch time and after he and the Dr in Cleveland got into an argument over who’s gonna have to write my prescriptions, He (my PCP) not only refused to write me the script, he decided to kick me to the curb now too. Now this is a Dr I have gone to for about twenty years and I work at the hospital, we know each other, we are more like friends when we see each other and he had always been so kind and compassionate but he turned on me. All because of the new DEA regulations! Needless to say, I was devastated. And it just keeps getting worse. I was refused treatment at a local pain management clinic when I try to find a Dr closer to home like my Dr in Cleveland suggested. That too turned into a fiasco. I ended up getting so angry I started researching everything I could find about these supposedly new regulations. I called the Ohio State Attorney and The Ohio State Medical Board and filed complaints against that local Pain Management Dr for falsifying my medical record because 99.9% of what he wrote in that report was absolutely false. He made up stuff. He said he performed certain exams on me but he never got out of his chair. Some of my answers he said I gave were untrue. And last but least, he said he could not, (by law) ever prescribe me pain medications because I was a known drug addict. I have never been to Rehab. I have never been arrested or even suspected of using or selling illegal drugs. Yet he called me a “known drug addict” He said because on my information form I filled out in the waiting room prior to seeing him, my answer to the question…”Have you ever used Marijuana?” and I was being honest and answered “yes, when I was in High School” That made me a known drug addict. I am 58 years old now One would think the statue of limitations on the persecution of teenagers smoking Marijuana would have ran out by now! Funny, I was excepted to the pain clinic in Cleveland and I answered the Marijuana/illegal drugs question the exact same way, but they never once said they couldn’t treat me because I was a Druggy. I read where a lot of you were having problems with the Pharmacies either saying they are out of stock or blatantly refusing to fill your prescription. Well (knock on wood) the Pharmacy has not been the issue for me, it has been the insurance company refusing me. Controlling when I can get them. Basically counting my pills. Even going back months and seeing how many days I might have picked up my pills before the 30th day and calculating a day early last month then maybe 2 days the month before that, anyway they figured I had three more days supply and they would not let the Pharmacy fill it before then. Even though it had been exactly 30 days since I got them the month before and I was out. They would not authorize to pay it. They have taken it upon themselves to be Judge and Jury and consider themselves a higher authority than my own Physician & Pharmacist. My Dr handed me my prescription the day before in his office which I go to every month to get. I signed and abide by the controlled substance agreement that I signed in his office. I adhere to the random urine tests and pill counts. The Pharmacy where I go was willing to fill it because it was well within their timeline regulations and it wasn’t like I ran there directly from the Dr’s office. I didn’t even go till the next day because I was tired. I agree, something has to be done about all this madness! And the Government can’t seem to figure out why they can’t get a handle on the illegal drug market? But I don’t think making it near impossible for someone with legitimate chronic pain who is hurting so bad some days that they contemplate suicide is the answer.
Charlene
United States
I had a knee replacement March 2014 and I have had a very hard recovery. I think my pain is worse than before the surgery. I have been on Norco since the surgery which helps. I had gastric bypass so I am unable to take any kind of NSAID’s which leaves me very little room for other medications. Since this new class I can’t get my Norco regularly and remain in pain. I would have to see the Dr on a monthly basis which I can not afford to do. I believe the wonderful people in the DEA who decides our fate really do not take into account the REAL people with REAL pain. This is so sad I have other people telling me how much pain I am really in. Sickens me deeply.
Mark H
CA
Makes me sick in the pit of my stomach when tens of thousands of Veteran’s can no longer go to a civilian Dr. to receive help for NON-SERVICE connected injuries..yet the VA will only see a patient every 6 mos IF YOU’RE LUCKY!! So all Veteran’s had to chose to receive all prescriptions that have ANY narcotic in them whatsoever from 1 and only 1 provider!
Go with the VA and I waited 2 1/2 mos for my first refill on my pain medication. THEY CANNOT COUNT TO 30, NOR DO THEY CARE AND EVEN TOLD ME TO GO TO AN OUTSIDE DR. IF I DIDN’T LIKE THE WAY THEY MADE MY MEDICATION LATE EVERY SINGLE MONTH … sometimes by as long as 2 weeks, sometimes as long as two days because I decide to drive way too far for being as sick as I am to simply get the prescription that was supposed to be mailed to me. The VA claims that mailing medication is the best way for a patient to receive it on time…but really we do not ever receive pain medication on time. All other medication comes on time even when I do not order it..but pain medication..NO WAY. EVERY SINGLE VETERAN I TALK TO..has this same exact problem. I called Congress and the news for help. Someone needs to bring the truth to the public. Why allow such unnecessary pain come to the people that are in REAL PAIN..PAIN that only the person him/her-self has to live in …every day! Pain even on the medication .. no less when you run out and no-one helps!
File paperwork for years to try to bring about change but a Marine goes into the VA at Loma Linda and committed suicide on Christmas ’13 and a monument gets erected. What is the answer? Since when do we allow Law Enforcement (DEA) make their own laws? Stop the illegal drug use … do your jobs DEA! Stop the drugs from coming to people that abuse them like you were hired to. All you did is stop a Cancer Patient from receiving medication that I’ve been on for years!! I don’t think I’m part of their problem seeing how I receive my medication and use it to prescription. What is next, we let the local PD make their own laws..b/c they cannot enforce the laws they’re hired to enforce?
Ridiculous when I see 70 year old Veteran’s not receive Cancer medication for over a week overdue…& no one will help???? LAND OF THE FREE: people that pay a ton of money in taxes AND HOME OF THE BRAVE: that are suffering after defended this country! THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS COUNTRY!! Semper Me…only worry about yourself rather than others!!! GySgt USMC
Lisa
Dallas
The new laws are not stopping addicts from getting Hydrocodone- My mother-in-law is severly addicted- She gets it from friends, family members etc- She uses 1 doctor to help her score even more- We have even confronted him about her addiction and he still prescribes them- She is on medicaid, so she can go to doctors all day long and not be out of pocket- She knows how to manipulate to keep up her addiction- Not long ago, she was in withdrawl and went to a hospital emergency room and even though we told them she was in withdrawl, they still gave her some (there excuse, so she would not be in withdrawl anymore) Sad that these type of people who lie and manipulate the medical system penalizes people who do not abuse and in real pain -An addict will always find a way to abuse the medical practice regardless of any Law trying to stop this.
Lisa
Ky.
I have been on 2 pain medications for many years . I had been on Ultram for 20 plus years of course it was NOT a schedule drug and as an added benefit my doctor added hydrocodone a few years ago for the worst days for breakthrough pain. I went to the doctor the other day and BAM! Now I have to go every month and can only get Ultram or the hydrocodone.
I was told I’d have to have cancer or be dying from some painful death to ever get both again. I wish they could live in my body for about 6 months they’d change their minds.
I am 54 years old and have wore my poor body out working and have too many ailments and lengthy to mention. But if my primary physician thinks I should be on these 2 medications. We all hear the stories of why the gov’t is cracking down on some of these medications but as long as the elderly have been on these medications and never broke the laws why should we have to suffer? Seems like in this country the weak and needy are always the first to suffer. Another thing I’d like to know is how are we supposed to come up with all this added expense to keep running to the doctor?
Shar
Florida
I too am a severe chronic pain sufferer. I too am extremely frustrated with all the HUGE extra expense and hassle the new law has created for me. It’s really hard for me to get out and make it to the doctor a few times a year much less every single month.. I too have been chasing pharmacies around town to obtain my Norco. Does anyone know if any of our law makers are now working to change this awful law?
Chuck S.
Texas
30 a month in 2005 when I broke my neck I was using 360 a month plus morphine patches and still today I use 150.
Chuck S.
Texas
Va has the easiest way to refill hydrocodone 30 days from your last they put in a computer that auto alarms them that u need your meds and since they have their own in house meds they send it over and your meds are mailed the same day.
Darlene
Chuck…I deal with the VA for my Hydrocodone…it is a nightmare. The first month..the pharmacy lost them and it took two weeks for them to realize this…the second month it took 10 days from the time my doc sent in the script before they filled it and sent it out…This month….my doc sent in the script on the 22nd of January….it is now the 27th and they have not sent them out yet. My doc is well aware of this and all they have to say is they don’t know why it takes so long. The pharmacy says they are overwhelmed and backlogged.
Shilling
United States
The DEA is practicing medicine now. They won’t be any better at than their war on drugs.
Lisa
Ky
The DEA is playing doctor just like the insurance companies are. “If” you think either of them care about our welfare think again ;)
Anthony G
Raleigh, NC 27603
I live with a great deal of lower back pain and arthritic pain. This new Big Brother law has me angry. I’ve had to resort to going to the black market and pay a fortune to dealers and god knows where they get the pain killers from. I used to get 30 a month and take as needed and now my doctor explained that they’ve come down hard on her and she can’t prescribe them. Why do we have to suffer like this and have the government control our pain? They sell these pill over the counter in Europe and Canada and there’s no abuse there, maybe the US should consider changing its way of life like having people work so much and having insurance companies gouge so much and so forth. Maybe the real issue is people get addicted because of the unhappiness they face on a daily basis in a country that is too hungry for money.
Jonathan
United States
Let’s address the stated purpose of the rescheduling: to save lives. It bears repeating that the Centers for Disease Control quantify opioid-related deaths according to a very liberal standard; any time an opioid is found in the decedent’s body, even if he or she died of a gunshot wound or injuries sustained in a car accident, it is recorded as an opioid overdose. Therefore, when an “epidemic of overdoses” is cited as justification for making pain meds more difficult to access, the public should be aware that said justification relies on grossly inflated statistics. The “epidemic” has been manufactured. (The problem of fudged statistics being used to rationalize a fear-mongering campaign against opioid painkillers goes back to a series of articles written for the Orlando Sentinel in 2003. The author, Doris Bloodsworth, claimed that there were 570 OxyContin-related deaths in 2000-01; as it turned out, there were only 71. The Sentinel printed a retraction and Bloodsworth resigned…but by that time the faulty stats had, in the words of investigative reporter Radley Balko, “inspired congressional hearings, protests, and promises from politicians to combat this new epidemic.”)
So if an inordinate number of deaths really can’t be attributed to opioid painkillers (the deaths which do result from them are caused by the acetaminophen rather than the opioid itself, yet tighter restrictions have not been placed on acetaminophen), what is the purpose of rescheduling these medications? The reality is that physicians were already extremely reluctant to prescribe opioids, let alone grant refills–so the present situation is not one in which greater caution is being exercised by doctors, but one in which prescription painkillers are practically impossible to get. Who benefits from that? And how, specifically, do they benefit from preventing the treatment of pain with opium derivatives? It’s a much more complex, abstract issue than it might appear at first glance.
Joel
England
I am an American living in England for over 35 years. I have just been reading all the comments about the problems and procedures so many of you are having with pain prescriptions and wondering what the hell is going on in America. This is ridiculous DEA ruling or law and must be ruining so many live. I have in the past had problems with my back and shoulder and required strong pain relief that would be classified as class 2 . When I had surgery the surgeon prescribed the required pain relief to see me through recovery. Or I go to my general practitioner for pain prescriptions. He decides what I require and write the script, I stop at the village chemist where it is filled without any questions. And on top of that it is all free.. doctor and medicine. If I require help to get to the doctors transportation is provided. If I was unable to get to the chemist they would drop it off free of charge.
This is all besides the point. I am writing about my 66 year old baby sister who lives on her own in Okla without any care help or assistance. All her adult life she has suffered from spinal problems. From the age of 18 she had been on pain killers. Recently she told me that the medicine she has had on prescription for years was being classified as a class 2 drug and all the problems she had in getting it. Going each month to her doctor, getting a prescription then taking it to the chemist with proof of identity and being asked all these questions and being looked at as a druggie.
She live on her own and has no one else to collect prescriptions for her, so in savior pain she has to drive herself first to the doctors then to the chemist. As she is in savior pain this must be dangerous not only for her but for others.
Now she has just been diagnosed with cancer with little hope of surviving. We are looking into how she will be able to get help and to get the medicines she will require. I will be going to stay with her as long as I can but even so I fear I will have the same terrible problems as everyone else suffering with pain and not be of help for her to control her pain… and it will be getting worse; not better.
I have no sympathy for the doctors and pharmacist who are afraid of loosing their licenses.. My doctor said to me that is his DUTY to “fight for my health and not to look after the money of the NHS”. Once doctors stand up in mass, looking after the interest of their patients (and not their cash flow and golf club fees) there will be a sudden shortage of doctors. Then the government will have to reconsider and people who are in pain and deserve relieve from it will again be able to get the medicines they require to live their lives. As well the doctors, nurses and chemist will no longer have this sword hanging threateningly over them.
Pain is not a matter you can legislate away.. it is real, people through no real fault of their own making have it and it ruins lives. Pain medicine should be controlled… but by doctors and not the government. I wish all of you living under this law good luck in this fight for freedom to live free of pain and in happiness.. Perhaps another Constitutional Amendment should read “to be free from pain as far as possible should be considered”.
Brian
michigan
So those who suffer with chronic pain must also suffer the inconveviences, costs, and life interuptions because no ine can think of a better way to deal with the abuse issue? I’ll tell you who came up with this solution, someone who does not depend on pain medecine to help them live a functional life. People who are small minded and ignorant to the lives of the great many who suffer, literally suffer through their lives.
Dan
Florida
None of the stories here are horribly unique, which is exactly a huge problem. Although the hydrocodone reschedule doesn’t affect me (I am on an oxycodone regimen), I’m facing a lot of the same trials.
We moved here to Florida from Maryland to help my mother with her health issues. I was being seen in Maryland for the past 8 years for chronic LBP w/ sciatica and neuralgia, which stems from a car accident and nearly immediate deployment for a year. I have run the gamut of treatments, like so many here with little success. I have had a SNS implanted and subsequently explanted as it made things worse, I cannot get RF ablation because of how my motor nerves and the damaged nerves touch, and so forth.
I brought my multiple-year records to my new pain management doctor last month; he verified all that I told him against the records and contact with my old pain management doctor. He wrote me a script for nucynta last month, which I was able to get filled at a Walgreens (who is not in my insurance network) so I had to pay cash. The nucynta didn’t help much this time around, and seemed to make me more depressed than previous nucynta courses. For these reasons, my MD and I decided to return me to the percocet regimen. Simple on paper but not in practice.
I went to my military pharmacy, who was unable to fill the percocet (not enough on hand), but they were able to fill my muscle relaxer script. The pharmacy tech told me to just go to a CVS or other civilian pharmacy and I would be able to get the percocet filled. Yesterday, I went to 3 different CVS pharmacies and 5 different private pharmacies, all of which are Tricare network. All of them said “We are out of stock, check at another pharmacy”.
I finally spoke to a pharmacist at one of the private pharmacies who explained to me that no pharmacy here in FL is willing to fill a single narcotic script. They claimed they can be fined by the state and the DEA if they only fill that. Not too sure if that is accurate or not; I have heard of pharmacies telling patients they are out to avoid the risk. I think there should be a method to request inventory quantities to confirm what the pharmacy is telling me. I read yesterday the courts have already ruled that if there is a legal script and pharmacies are unwilling to fill it they are interfering with medical care and may be liable, both criminal and civil.
So does anyone here know how I can get the pharmacy to truly identify their quantities, sort of like a freedom of information act request? Are there any class-action suits against the chains and the states/ federal gov’t to end this persecution of those of us with legitimate needs?
Kathy
California
Regarding your question about class-action lawsuits: I haven’t heard of any being filed, but there needs to be some type of legal action. There seems to be a ground-swell of people crying out for help with their legitimate pain. Reading, over the years, about the effects of constant pain……I learned that it can affect a patient’s immune system negatively. One of the 5-6 vital signs that are taken in an Emergency Room – is pain. Why is it called a “vital sign” if it isn’t treated as such? Yes, I’ve heard of abuses, but like others have said….ways can be found. One might then ask: why are there so many robberies or home invasions?
Another look, by those in Congress (a terrible place to make medical rules!!) need to be taken. Consideration of those who are now suffering daily need help sooner rather than later. A family member with chronic pain is considering moving to Oregon because of their suffering. I don’t need to spell it out why they’d want to go there. Congressional folks and the DEA can use their imagination.
Renee
One pharmacist who has been rude, in your face and refuses to fill a legitimate physician signed prescription. Before this change took effect, I was told at a Walgreens that they would not fill a small script for Tramadol because I already had 10 Vicodin at home and in this pharmacists opinion, that was enough medication to treat the injuries I had (although he had no access to my medical records and hadn’t laid eyes on me).
My mother went to them because I had two black eyes, a broken arm, chipped teeth and a busted lip. I tore open my right thigh. All this from slipping on rocks in my yard. I was so furious, I called Walgreens home office (Corporate) and filed a complaint. I first went online and got the store number and the name of the pharmacist.
It took three months, but they conducted a full investigation and I received the results of that investigation in the mail. I had just about forgotten it. That pharmacist was told which incident this was and he did indeed remember. Because he did not have any other marks against his record, he WAS written up only and was told any further incidents such as this one will result in his termination.
So please don’t accept this kind of behavior from pharmacies. Look in their eye and ask them their store number. Write it down in front of them and take their name off of their name tag. Follow through with a complaint. There is also no reason why pharmacies would run out of Hydrocodone products as well. As long as that particular pharmacy has a good record, they should be able to get all the supplies they need. When you hear they’ve “run out”, I think they’re most likely lying.
Nina
Most Pharmacies do run out of Pain medication. Why? Because you’re not the only one taking the medication. There are other people there who take the same medication like you. Some pharmacies have a specific day in a week when they order C-2 medications, so some of them cannot order it everyday. I understand that it is extremely FRUSTRATING.
Candice
Lansdale, PA
Well, maybe if the emergency rooms get inundated with people seeking out their pain killers, the hospitals will complain. I plan to be at the ER next week since my primary did start me on viercodin 5 years ago and now refuses it to me so–of course-, I still have pain but now we are going to put withdrawal as a priority and will be heading to the emergency room. This is inhuman and I am not going to stop complaining until it gets turned around. This cannot be constitutional. Itis my basic human right to treat my pain–maybe if I start declaring that it is my religion, I can get a lawyer who will agree to sue.
Jsissie
Md
No one wants to be addicted. Not even street or poverty persons with addiction. It is unbelievable that the land of the free has at their fingertips a real solution to all of these problems, plus producing work and productive members of society, and they think that all Gods flora and fauna are under their control. As each day in pain and unwanted regulated need for medication continues we need to be more aggressive to regain our pursuit of health. Please become proactive and work towards freedom and do it legally by voting. May we all soon be free to pursue relief from our pain.
Doys H.
alaska
I have nerve pain after a bad hernia repair and was trying hard to only take 5mg twice daily, can’t work sit on the darn couch am now on Lyrica the side effects are wild funny, not, I had no side effects from the Norco. I also have bad allergies and a cough, that I have to keep in control as not to tear apart my chest after open heart surgery I have never taken a pain pill unless there was pain. This was a bad decision only helping the black market as I inquired the 10 mg used to be 10.00 now it is 20.00 pretty sick.
J. Hager
Wells, Maine
This new classification for hydrocodone is VERY frustrating. I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 37.5 years. I have 9 artificial joints and several other orthopedic reconstructions. I have been approved for Social Security disability payments for 21 years. Up until 3 years ago my pain was managed by Darvocet then the FDA pulled that drug with no warning because of possible cardiac side effects. So I was switched, not by choice, to hydrocodone. Indeed, hydrocodone is a much more addictive drug than Darvocet. So now with the new regulations so tight, if I drop a pill down the kitchen sink accidently, or am awake all night and therefore take an extra dose, I have to just tough it out until I can get a new 30 day refill. Prior to the new rules, when refills were allowed, I could refill at the pharmacy a day or two early which would cover any accidently destroyed pills or extra doses. And it gave me some leeway so I could arrange my trips to the pharmacy easier.
I don’t wish ill on anyone but these are medications that, for people like me, make the difference between participating in life and slowly becoming less and less able to move around. It is still unbelievable to me that this is what has come to be acceptable.
Lisa
Ky
If you happen to accidentally drop one or two down the drain you’re treated like an addict. The innocent in this country always suffer with the guilty. Doesn’t matter how good you’ve been your whole life or what you’ve done you’re always guilty until proven innocent.
Dixie R.
Texas
At this time I don’t need pain medication, but after minor knee surgery I needed it for a time. He gave me hydrocodone for a few weeks then suggested I take Aleve. I took one a day for two days and they helped. Then I realized I wasn’t supposed to take them because I take a blood thinner. Also can’t take ibuprofen. Fortunately haven’t needed anything since then. But if or when I do I think it’s almost criminal to punish everyone because some people abuse this. It has also been a huge profit maker for doctors.
Jay K.
Upper MI
And I have been detoxing from the “New Hydrocodone 10/325” for 3 1/2 months now and that doesn’t even relieve acute, severe pain. I have spinal stenosis in my lower lumbar and arthritis in the cervical of my neck and it compresses the spinal cord what kind of help can I get from the V.A. Administration ? The DEA made me feel guilty and I wasn’t able to speak on my behalf of over taking and being a seller on a street corner ???
Ana
san pedro ca
It hasn’t affected me at all my doctor is a county doctor and has had no problem refilling my scripts I also just go pick it up. I have medical and with osthoarthritis in lower back and brain surgery in the past have always been given hydrocodone since I was 19. The problem for me is that the pharmacies are now always running low. I het a script of 120 a month and it’s hard to get all of them at once, luckily vons works with you and gives you partial refills so I think if you really needed and it’s proven by MRIs you shouldn’t have a problem with the script my doctor did the pain management thing but they traded my norcos for morphine than dilaudid and it was keeping me sleepy all the time they both agreed on norcos again.
Pamela K.
Orlando, Florida
I agree with just about everyone on here. This is cruel and inhumane. The Government DEA, insurance companies, doctors (most of them are chicken crap and afraid of losing their license). I have thought about suicide often because of this very real crises. There are more deaths from alcohol and smoking cigarettes than taking pain meds. Most people are often under medicated. This is a horrific problem. Something needs to be done.
Carole Mudron
Florida
My husband went to see our primary care physician today and was told they couldn’t write scripts for pain meds and he would have to fine a pain management facility. He has spinal stenosis in his cervical and lumbar spine. He has been taking Tramadol once or twice a day to help reduce the pain. Is tramadol a class II narcotic? I’m having trouble believing his doctor wouldn’t write a script, but my husband is very hard of hearing and often hears what he wants. Is any of this information he relayed true?
Tyler
arizona
At the same time hydrocone went schedule 2, Tramadol (Ultram) went from unscheduled to schedule 4. This is on the same schedule level as xanax, ambien, etc. This was done because of the addiction potential of Tramadol, which many believed wasn’t addictive because it was marketed as a “non-narcotic” pain killer. It isn’t a natural narcotic (opium), it is, however, a synthetic narcotic (lab-made) and absolutely acts on the same pain receptors, causing addiction and dependence issues.
This particular medication also acts on serotonin & norepinephrine receptors, which are also involved in depression, making withdrawal from this medication extremely harsh.
I am a primary care provider and all PCP’s can write these medications, but in all likeliness won’t due to the liability with addiction and dependence. No Dr wants to be responsible for their patients’ addiction. That’s why your husbands PCP choses not to write them. I do the same thing – get them to pain management. Chronic pain control is not a family practice matter – IMO.
Rob
CA
Tramadol is not sufficient for mod-severe pain and certainly not for chronic pain. Yes it is a synthetic, but it has more troublesome interactions than Norco or Vicodin. It makes absolutely no sense to do what the DEA did in league with the FDA and HHS. They (DEA) scheduled it as an alternative to Vicodin, and you can almost bet on that. Tyl.#3 and Tramadol are not even on the same efficacy level as Norco or Percocet. The studies on pain control have already decided that matter. You would not prescribe Tramadol or Tyl.#3 for post op pain, I can tell you that, even for a tooth extraction it does not work. Even pain specialists will now be hesitant to prescribe Norco. A shame, too. This decision was left in the hands of a small govt. entity and that is why we ended up with a loused up decision like this. Who stands to profit? That is the bigger question. Make room for other profitable medications, or more room in prison for drug offenders who can’t get what they need to calm the pain. Thanks DEA and FDA!
Shiela D
Southern Michigan
It’s really a shame that Dr’s and people who have no idea who we are get to decide what we need to have a good life. After all, the “Pursuit of Liberty and Freedom” is what the United States is all about.
My life is normal because I take my prescribed pain killers. And yes, I feel like crap when I don’t have them, but it’s not like they otherwise have an adverse effect on my existence.
Get over it DEA, FDA, or anyone else that claims to know how each of us feel because of some flawed statistic. This country is under attach for these very same restrictions and ultimatums. I love the United States, so lighten up and let Dr.s to their job.
Peace and Love!
Matthew G.
Baltimore M.D.
Tramadol also known as ultram is not a schedule 2 drug but it was recently changed to a schedule 4 drug which means it’s in the same schedule of drugs as xanax and valium. They are really starting to stricken up on all pain killers, they don’t care about the people these drugs are helping all they look at is the negative effects they have.
Carroll
VA
I don’t know how widespread the problem of doctors refusing to accept patients who are taking narcotics for pain, even cancer, is but it’s unconscionable. Good people such as my wife who worked hard managing a dept store with pain meds can no longer work at all because Dr. Yousef at Community Medical Care took cut one pain med out with no warning (said it was DEA rule) one month and next month cut her remaining kind of pain meds out. Both times there was no chance to taper off. The 2nd time was because my wife was referred to a pain Clinic an hour away but only notified 2 hours in advance of appointment and asked to collect and bring MRI and xray films from a 3rd facility. Our elderly neighbor has the same Dr. and is in final stage cancer. He received the same treatment from Community Medical Care. Now when we try to find new dr in the area they refuse to see any patients on “controlled substances” I’ve read DEA laws and found none to support this limitation of pain meds so I’m assuming the drs are scared to death of making a mistake and getting in trouble while risking their ethical and moral responsibilities. Whatever is happening needs to be fixed and we are all for a class action law suit against the entity responsible for people with clinical proof of severe pain suffering needlessly.
Kathy S
Maine
I managed to rebuild my destroyed life after a failed back surgery (diskectomy at L5) and two car accidents (fusion at c4 for herniated disc) left me in chronic pain. I was depressed and became suicidal when no doctor seemed to believe me when I told them how much I hurt. I finally was referred to a new pain doctor who prescribed painkillers. He saved my life; I could not have gone on the way I was, and I could not have regained hope without narcotics. Still, I lost a lot, including a husband who didn’t want to be the only breadwinner, and all my friends. Despite all that, I found some level of happiness after my pain was brought under control. I was even able to work for awhile, until the pain increased and I had to stop.
Since then, I homeschooled two kids, wrote two books, took care of my mom until she passed, and now am caring for my dad. All while managing my pain with big, bad opioids. I have flare ups that are frequent and unpredictable, including three or more migraines a week (oh, fda changed the formulation for cafergot and won’t cover it any more on medicare. I found another med that worked almost as well – bu-talb, and now they’ve taken that away too). I am 100% disabled and on disability. (What I wouldn’t give to be able to work again! )
Then, bam!! Last year, a new doctor took over at my primary care practice and he referred me to a pain clinic, saying I am on too high a dose of morphine and need to be evaluated. (Two 60mg per day er + 3 15mg per dày ir. This man never met me before, neverexamined me or looked at my voluminous records). So, left with no other choice for access to the narcotics that enable me to function, off to the clinic I went. For the last six months, with NO choice, the doctor there has been weaning me off them. I am absolutely devastated as my pain increases, and it is not withdrawal. It is the chronic, dibilitating pain, including neuropathy, that I have been diagnosed with! I have, for over 15 years, taken my pills exactly as prescribed. I don’t use illegal drugs and don’t drink alcohol.
I have been doing a lot of research on this issue and from what I can understand, current thinking in the medical community is that opioids are not the best thing to treat chronic pain (!!!). Yep…try telling that to people like me who have tried everything else, including antidepressants, neurontin, etc etc etc, including a pain clinic’s intense, multimodal approach, and nothing keeps the pain under control but narcotics. The good news is is that there have been many studies done on successful long term opioid use in people like me. Yes, we are dependent, but we are not addicted.
You mentioned a class action lawsuit, which is exactly what I am thinking, as it seems our options for medical treatment have been taken away without even asking us, the ones who are suffering. I am planning on contacting an attorney very soon. When I wake up crying after two or at the most three hours of pain-wracked sleep and just want to end it all, (and this happens every day now), then it is time to take action. We have a right to live as pain free as possible! We should not be punished with the removal of the drugs (that at best kill only half our pain but that allow us to function somewhat normally) by a decision that lumps everyone into one category – it is unconscionable, inhumane, and totally unfair to people who are not at risk of abusing or diverting their medication.
Beastie
Texas
Tramadol is not a class 2. It is not even supposed to be as addicting according to Web MD and my mother’s doctor has no problem providing these meds for her.
“What is Tramadol?
Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever. So yes it is Narcotic but Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of Tramadol is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. This form of Tramadol is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain. Tramadol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
For those of you who may have missed it, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has officially scheduled Tramadol as a Schedule IV substance within the U.S. under the Controlled Substance Act, which will be effective as of August 18 of this year.
The only reason for this I can see is that doctors try to provide this medicine when they can’t provide the schedule 2 drug and in doing so the DEA caught wind of it and changed the schedule of it as well.
Sorry folks its the way the good old American States Works. It’s a Big Suck for me to because I take Norcos for cancer pain back pain osteo pain all over my body and surgery pain and I too have to go every three months now to get my scripts. It makes me feel like a criminal. But the pain forces me to have to do this and if you are in pain I am sorry but it will force you to do it as well.
Well wishes to all of you fellow pain sufferers. I hope you have a less painful day today.
Kenneth
Texas
I’m certainly not a drug addict but I have a bad back and at times I have some real problems with it and I have to miss work because of it.When I do have these problems I’m in real pain and now I can’t get pain medication not even just for a few days which is usually all I need till it gets better so I can get back to work. Now only the crooked doctors and drug heads are the only ones that can get the medications that they need and there not in pain.What are the Feds going to do next?
Michael M.
United States
I am in total agreement here. I am outraged! My Dentist prescribed Tylenol 3 for the cracked tooth I have, which is causing me terrible pain, and I can’t get that filled because all of the pharmacies have it on back order because of government regulations. I hope some of YOU Congressmen, Senators, DEA, and other agents are in need of some kind of medication to relieve your pain, even temporarily, and ARE NEVER ABLE TO PROCURE IT! Maybe then you will understand what it is like to be in pain and have no recourse, even through your Doctor! You jerks in the US Government are the worst pain that we have!
This “Land of the free” crap needs to end. We are the “Land of prisoners, prisoners to POLITICIANS!”
Vietnam Vet
Los Angeles,CA.
The fear is so strong about losing their Dr. license for prescribing pain meds at the Veteran’s Administration that even after major surgery I was only given NSAIDS such as Ibuprofen ,Tylonol 3 ,Naproxin and refused Vicodin even though I had sharp, persistant pain. I was told to give it time, referred to a Pain Clinic and when I finally went to another Dr. I was accused of “shopping around” for pain meds. I stopped the NSAIDS after a month due to stomach pains. One doctor confided in me that the entire VA hospital staff have been “sternly warned” against prescribing pain meds and if they can’t avoid it due to extreme screaming pain then make the patient jump hoops to get any more. Also, printed flyers were passed out to all patients that the Emergency would under no circumstances give out pain meds to anyone coming in with pain.
Debra kern
United States
I agree its only going to get worse ..my norcos are cut to twice daily an I get questions about how many I’m taking an looked at like a druggie by a nurse who apparently doesn’t have chronic pain..scoliosis an fibro…an have to work regaurdless of the horrible pain like many of us:(
Patricia Watkins
WA
I have been disabled for 28 years now, prior conditions worsen, new conditions started etc. I have only been on pain medication regularly for the last two years. My primary Care Dr. that I’d been with for over ten years just retired. I have been to two different Dr.’s now one who won’t write anything over 5/325 tablets and the other whom sent me to pain management. This was a joke. What really irritates me is for 28 years the federal government has paid me SSI benefits for being disabled, and presumably expecting me to worsen through time, as well as my Physician of over 10 years has no bearing on the pain management person who was rude nasty and down right insulting and ultimately referring to my new Dr. I don’t need medicine for pain. How ridiculous and ludicrous. I’m 50 not 20 I’ve never been arrested charged or convicted of any drug offenses. Disabled for 28 years, and until his retirement had a credible Dr. for over 10 years. So now I get to suffer, like mobility wasn’t hard before, now it’s almost impossible and a catch 22 as my arthritis has gotten real bad as well so non movement increases joint pain and stiffness makes you feel beat run down and ya like this is not living it’s existing. People like me don’t o.d and aren’t the problem yet they’re going to force people like me to buy illegal contraband to feel better and have ten times the overdoses and illegal drug activity as before. And before telling a Dr. with mass years of medical school what he can and can not do or prescribe. Go to school yourself not sit on a self righteous panel implementing laws for others but not yourself before you sit judgement on any and practice what you preach.
Michael M.
Patricia, I am in pain, but it is only temporary. As bad as it is I will suffer through it and eventually in a few days or even WEEKS be over it. Your story hit me in the stomach like a bowling ball. How can they be so thoughtless? You are in my prayers dear woman. I know that may not seem like much but it’s the best I can do. Please know you are in my thoughts. I am so sorry for what you are going through Patricia! :(
Candice
Lansdale, PA
I absolutely agree with you and in the same situation. I am panicking just thinking about the pain I am going to feel later on tonight without my pain meds that I have legitimately been on for 5 years. Then to add withdrawal symptoms is just plain cruel and inhumane but these doctors. The worst of it all is the everyone you talk to at the doctors treat you like an addict. It has been so debilitating both physically and emotionally. I too, hope that these politicians who approved this law all get a horrendous disease that requires pain medication or have to have surgery without it. But of course, they will get the Doc to bend the rules because they seem to be worth more than the people who elect them.
hubert jackson
Michigan
Class Action law suit is our best bet…
Melanie
Texas
Way to go Patricia! And the rest of you as well. I’ve been wondering who the hell changed the laws like this, playing doctor. It’s the DEA. They are not doctors, yet tell doctors what they can and can’t do. The medical insurance companies have been doing this for years, and now it’s the government. This is a HUGE mistake. The majority of the population is people in their sixties and older. Most of us are in pain. I myself am on disability due to my back pain. My whole back is messed up, with 10 herniated disks, degenerative disk disease, spondylolisthesis in the lower back, pain from surgery to remove a tumor on my spinal cord to the thoracic spine, and my neck bothers me constantly, with pain, with stenosis and 4 herniated disks in there. Now my knees are getting bad, especially the left one.
I can’t work, and am in constant pain. Despite all this, I take pain pills rarely, afraid they’ll give me a rebound headache, which just adds to the pain. I truly should take them more often, because they do help. My family doctor quit prescribing pain pills for me because of the new law. He said I have to go to pain management now. I’m about to travel that road now, which will cost me too much, and my Medicare, for frequent visits, and traveling to another town to boot.
Personally, I think this prohibition on reasonable pain prescribing will lead to more illegal methods of obtaining pain medications. Some people will probably buy them illegally in order to avoid the hassles involved in getting pain relief legally, despite the fact that they live in dire pain and are legitimate users of pain pills, and not druggies. This “war on drugs” will backfire, increasing illegal activity. Stupid DEA! We definitely need to fight this, with at least a petition. Who knows how to start a petition that will reach widely out there on the internet?
We really need help. This is not going to work, and is already leaving many people suffering.
Candice
Lansdale, PA
I absolutely agree–I will help with anything that is needed to begin the process!
Laurie
so florida
Taking Vicoprofen for years. Was a class III now a class II type drug. Even my doctor says the whole thing is insane. Monthly scripts need to be written. Pharmacies are constantly out of stock, since November. In December had to go to about five pharmacies before I could get it filled. I am 53 years old and a productive member of society. These new laws have just profiled me as a “drug addict”. Unbelievable!
Pharmacists are micromanaging the customer. They are making a decision if you can get it filled or not. I wish someone would find out what is really happening to all of the medication that is “out of stock”…
Michael M.
It’s not the pharmacies, it’s the government. The pharmacies cannot fill the prescribed drugs because of new government regulations. The DEA is the culprit.
It’s amazing that in this so called “land of the free” we are not even able to even manage pain, while in Europe, prescription medications one cannot obtain in the United States are available over the counter.
We are NOT the land of the free as our politicians (of BOTH parties) contend. We are a land of slaves, and subject to the whims of people who care nothing about us. Nothing about us AT ALL!
Catherine
California
I have also been taking Vicoprofen for pain over the last 4 years. I have back pain caused in part by an unstable spine and a bulging disc.
I also have continued neck pain after surgery for a double discectomy and fusion.
I am 68 years old and now have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to try and get a prescription each month from my doctor.
Words just fail me as to why this is happening.
I am definitely not a drug addict but I do need my medicine to relieve my pain. How can they lump me into the same category with drug abusers.
Somebody in congress needs to step in here and put a stop to this.
Ken
Florida
Where have you people been? I live in Florida and due to lack of health insurance had to go to a methadone clinic for pain control. Well, I got health insurance and that’s when all hell broke loose. I was so happy to get into pain management and get away from the clinic. That’s when my hell on earth began. I couldn’t find Methadone anywhere at any pharmacy in this state. So , I went with mail order and that seemed to go ok, until one pharmacist there said I should send one script for 90 days instead of three different scripts. Guess what, I did and they wouldn’t fill it, just sent my script back. I can go on and on, all I can say is it’s an awful way to live. I have even had one female pharmacist tell me to get out of the store and to tell your doctor not to send any more of his patients here because I won’t fill them. So all of you with all of your wisdom, do tell what is a person to do, when the doctor himself tells you I gave you the script, you are on your own now. I do believe the people have to band together, remember strength comes in numbers and we can all sit back and write and discuss our stories of horror. What are any of us doing about it?
KR
Florida
I am having to switch doctors after seeing the same doctor for 18 years. I was in a car accident at the age of 32. T-boned at 40 mph. I started my daily intake of Norco about 3 years ago. Last diagnosed with 3 damage disc in my neck and 2 in my lower back 5 years ago with degenerating dics disease.
There are times my lower back will go out, I have to have help standing, or I just wont let anyone touch me, the pain is so bad. I am scared that my new doctor will want to start me on a different treatment plan and or send me to pain management.
I have dealt with pain management with my husband and mother. My mother was on so many different meds she was incoherent most of the time and had to have round the clock supervision. We have since gotten off many of the meds. Now, since she is living with my sister and we have control and see the doctors with her. Mother doesn’t remember most of her surgeries and about 3 years. She now, can be on her own and function, but not drive. My husband was given many epidurals and other treatments by pain management. None of these relieved the pain, often led to migraines and such.
I have fought pain management and am scared of surgery after watching them. I work and help run my husbands business. I am the provider of our health insurance, which we cannot afford to go without. If I am not working, we lose our health insurance. Our premiums through my work have risen, I changed to Florida health care and they wont cover meds I have been on for years. I moved over tho Florida health care so I could get necessary MRI’s and so on, since there are co-pays and not my very high deductible with Blue Cross Blue Shield. It’s all a mess, I feel everyone’s pain, I am scared of the future and what this means to my health and well being.
I was continuing to see my doctor that has treated me for years, because I was comfortable with him. My last visit, his nurse, who I do not care for, informed me that I needed an MRI to continue getting my pain meds. They needed proof there was something wrong with me so if the DEA showed up, they had it on file. MRI’s are not good after 6 months she told me. Well, she also told me that my insurance would probably not cover the bill since he the doctor was not on Florida on care. So, I’m looking for a new Dr, feeling very confused and angry.
This same nurse hates that I take pain meds, and has been heard making comments about me, by my husband, while he was in the seeking treatment. That time, he was in severe pain and the Dr wrote him out a script for the same pain meds I take. We don’t share meds, and that was the first time he had a script written for pains meds in years. I guess this new law has made this nurse paranoid, but for those of us that are really in pain, our pain has just increased, because as difficult as it already was, it just got tougher and will continue to do so.
Elizabeth
Dallas, TX
Almost 3 years ago, I had a multi-level spinal fusion and have needed ongoing pain management since due to some nerve damage that makes my legs ache/hurt, especially at night. Personally, I’ve never had any issues with obtaining as much pain medication as I need; I feel that both my orthopedic surgeon and now my pain management doctor both provided/provide me with optimal pain relief – and never once has anyone insinuated that I’m an “addict.” None of my doctors, no one at my pharmacy… When I click on an article like this, I always see so many people discussing their struggle to get adequate pain relief and the stigma attached to taking pain meds, but I’ve never experienced any of that, and I’m not sure why, honestly, when it seems to be the experience the majority of people report having. And when hydrocodone became a Schedule II drug, my doctor let me know ahead of time, and simply gives me three prescriptions to be filled every 30 days instead of a 90 day prescription like I got before. So the only difference is that I now have to go to the pharmacy once a month instead of once every 3 months. But, seeing as how the pharmacy is literally directly across the street from my office, I’d call this a very mild inconvenience. Sometimes I wonder if people get so worked up not because of the actual substance of the changes, but because there seems to be this general prevailing anxiety amongst chronic pain patients that they’re not going to be able to either get enough pain medication, get it when they need it, etc. I don’t know if I’m making sense, but it’s almost like the fear of what could potentially happen ratchets up anxiety/anger, etc beyond the reality of the situation…
In any case, wishing the best for all of you – and hope the change really doesn’t turn out to be as bad as expected. Take care –
Rachel
Los Angeles
It sounds like you’ve been lucky. My husband had spinal fusion surgery twelve years ago and has been on Norco ever since. Unfortunately over the last few years his pain has worsened so his dosage has been increased. He will probably need surgery again soon. Since the new law went into effect pharmacies in Los Angeles have been out of stock. Also my husband’s insurance company will only pay for a three-week supply at one time so we are forced to go to the doctor and the pharmacy every three weeks. This week while trying to fill his prescription I’ve been to seven pharmacies. Six of them were out of stock and at the seventh the pharmacist refused to fill the prescription because she thinks that my husband takes too many pills and that his three-week supply should actually be a six-week supply in her opinion. The prescription I was trying to fill is the same one that we have been filling for the last three years. His doctor is fine with it, the insurance company is fine with it and other pharmacies have been fine with it, but she didn’t like it and she was at the only pharmacy with Norco in stock and she refused to fill it. Now we are forced to either continue going pharmacy to pharmacy to try to fill this or to change medications. He has tried other meds and Norco has worked the best for him without making him feel tired or loopy.
documented pain proof
georgia
You are LUCKY!! I was also LUCKY just like you until my last visit on 1/5/15 when I was told I was going to have to go to a pain clinic. I have several MRIs, all types of documents to prove that I have LEGIT REASONS for pain meds…NO DOUBT…NOTHING AT ALL ANY DEA AGENT COULD ARGUE WITH PERIOD!! But yet after 8 yrs with 0 problems BAAMMM…. I wish you the very best in your continued care, but id be willing to bet within the next 2 months you will have a similar story to share.
Elizabeth
OH
Consider yourself very fortunate for now Elizabeth from Texas but know that your time is likely coming. I had a similar experience until our insurance changed & the new co. thinks they know more than my physician & pharmacist, but even prior to that had times where multiple pharmacies were out of medicine & I had to check all over to find a store that could fill my script. It’s real & really happening to all these people. Lend your support rather than your skepticism since they are essentially advocating on your behalf also!
Erica
Ohio
This new law is a slap in the face. I realize individuals abuse opiates & the DEA is trying to curb that activity; however, what about the individuals who are in pain and need their doctor’s pain therapy. I’m in my early 30s and the stigma of being a drug addict hurts. I have horrible joint arthritis in both feet as well as my knee, which is actually just the bones rubbing together since my cartilage is worn away. My pain management specialist and neurosurgeon had to fight to get my back surgery approved due to my age. One would think approving a 30 – something year old’s individual would benefit greatly and be able to live life after fighting for my L5-S1 injury and degenerative disc disease, rather than someone older who has lived a long life. I’m tired of the stigma(s). I wish the DEA and the medical field would take a patient’s pain seriously instead of assuming the worst. There has to be a better way to help in this situation.
Jen T.
Pflugerville, TX
Oh, Erica! I totally agree! Everything you said here rings true.
The stigma of being a drug addict is THE WORST. And people from the DEA are the biggest ones propagating the stereotypes. Don’t think for a second that attitude doesn’t trickle down to the doctors trying to “help” us (but who are so scared to prescribe anything over a Schedule IV! Good luck finding anything in THAT category to help!), to the pharmacists who are sometimes far worse than doctors with their open contempt for people they dismiss as potential candidates. We’ve _all_ felt it, so it’s not just in our heads, and it’s not just _our_ problem. It’s this stigma that’s shoved down our throats with every pill we swallow! If there should be a war on ANYTHING, it should be a war on that. A war on the type of bigotry we have to face, those of us who live with constant, chronic pain.
I have never ONCE (not even one time) taken a pill to “get high”. My medicine doesn’t work that way. But, because I take Norco, now I need a hand-written prescription each time. I have to see a pain doctor before it can be prescribed. And I have to go back every single month for a refill. Seems like the insurance, and the doctors, and the pill makers are all getting paid. How handy for them! While we suffer.
I, too, wish the entire Medical Establishment would take THE OATH they made (which is such a ridiculous joke these days) even halfway seriously and TREAT their patients like people. People who need them. Who need them not to judge, but to treat. And to treat each with respect. It’s not too much to ask for. Especially when I’m lining each and every one of their pockets for the privilege to do so.
Anna
Iowa
I’m glad you are able to get enough pain meds. Many people suffering from chronic pain are now being denied pain meds. If you continue to tell everyone that your doctor is not following the rules and is giving you three prescriptions at one time, you too will find yourself without pain meds. People are being denied pain meds not because they are no longer in pain but because a group of bureaucrats decided that too many people were getting pain meds.
cyndi
lakewood, ca
Well put. Thank you!
Matthew L.
Orange Park FL
This just getting so bad. I have been on hydrocodone for 10 years they keep changing the rule moving the goal post. About 3 years ago they started making the pharmacy fax approval from the doctor. You call in your script but you can’t call for a refill until its due in 24 hours or less, so God help you if the pharmacy waited till after noon on a Friday.
So you call to check on the meds on Saturday they say by law they have 72 hours to fill it and the weekend does not count. Pretty bad right? Gets worse. You call Monday they say the doctor has not approved the script yet. So you call the doctors office they say we too don’t scripts after noon on Friday. So you ask when will it be approved they say under the law we takes 72 hours.
Here’s how it worked. You’re out on Friday. you see your script filled until Thursday the following week. I worked something out with my doctor to fix this.
Then there’s the pee in cup every 6 months. I asked why they said to make sure I was taking the meds and no selling them makes me feel like a criminal. What the hell happened to innocent until proven? Don’t I have a 5th amendment right to not incriminate myself? And why is a invasion of privacy to ask that a welfare recipient to take a drug test?
Last year they made yet another new rule that one has to do the above every 3 months. Now the rule is every 2 months you have to suffer the indignity of hand your piss to somebody through a tiny window that has a sign on that says most insurances cover this testing but if your does not you will be billed. This is such crap and a burden and expensive. It was 30 dollars a year in copay then it was 120 dollars a year in co pays now 240 in co pays plus possible lab fees. Trip to the doctor is 27 miles round trip. This may not seem like a lot of money to some but I am on a fixed income and this is going to be hard to afford.
Is there no law to protect us from this arbitrary rule making? They call them rules and not laws so they don’t hold any legal liability for any damage they might cause. I have been searching for a ACLU lawyer to challenge this on the constitutionality of all I have a right to privacy I have a right against illegal search. I have a right under the 5th amendment to not piss in a cup. who’s with me?
Moore
Denver
This situation needing paper script is maddening but what I have been dealing with is pharmacists who are micromanaging. Depending on which branch I go to, they seem to have set their own rules. Last night my poor roommate got stuck waiting for my prescriptions to be filled because they suddenly wanted my Doctor’s approval for my oxycodone script calling for 20 tabs over 100. I usually get 120 so there was no change. This felt like a pharmacy rule rather than a government requirement. I also get ms contin for long term relief. That script is rarely questioned. I have been taking it for about 6 mos and am about ready for a dosage increase. One thing I want to bring up about the doctor visits, I am on medicare and my doctor or prescribing nurse come to my house!!! I feel so fortunate to have this service because like so many of you all leaving the house is difficult. One of my wound care nurses told me about this home service and helped me get set up. I have had the service for a year and have not had an additional bill. This is such a relief. Now if we could just get the meds under control.
Rodger
Central Tennessee
I’m four days away from my 80th year. My wife is four years younger than I am. She has had 28 surgeries beginning in the 60’s the majority of which were major and left her in chronic pain.
Our primary care doctor handles all of her maintenance medications. Fortunately for her our PC quickly adopted the three consecutive 30 day prescription technique that minimized the number of trips required to smoothly continue her therapy into 2015. So all is well in that respect.
That is, all was well until we decided to spend Christmas with our daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Waco, TX. Reviewing my wife’s prescription needs revealed that she would run out of one of her pain medications during the time we were in Waco. No problem (ha!) Our PC wrote a script that we would take with us and fill at the appropriate time (22 December) at a CVS pharmacy (our choice since we had done that in Illinois while visiting our granddaughter there).
The day came – CVS said no. The reason. The script had to be on an official Texas form. Perhaps we could get our Texas granddaughter’s PC to do the Tennessee to Texas translation… Nope! Perhaps a urgent care facility could do the job… Nope! Perhaps the emergency room physician could do the job… Nope! Perhaps we could get a “permission slip” from the Texas office of Health and Human Service in Waco… Nope! That office summarily handed us off to the Texas office for Medicaid. We did get from that office a suggestion as to how we might get the medications my wife needed to control her pain.
The suggestion was to have our Tennessee PC issue a script to our local drugstore who then would overnight ship the needed drugs to our Texas location. It worked along with an overhead expense for the shipping.
The shipment was dropped at the doorstep without as much as a doorbell ring – on the day my wife’s pain medications count went to zero. My bad. I should have had the drugs shipped with a signature request required since we knew we would be at the delivery address during the delivery period (we had the tracking number).
Mary’s post United States January 1, 2015 at 10:06 am reported a similar experience re not being able to get medical treatment in Texas (Houston in her case).
I, in my frustration, characterized the situation with the statement, “Texas hates sick visitors.” in an email to the US Department of Justice (probably not the correct office but a starting point) that continued with the following paragraph…
Realistically no visitor that is dealing with chronic pain that visits any state should have to go through such an ordeal. I understand the need to maintain control over this class of drugs BUT either the Texans or DEA officials that are in charge of applying the needed control have; 1) failed to consider scenarios such as that I have described above in making the laws, 2) have not adequately educated the medical profession on how to apply the laws that deal with the scenario, 3) or have scared the medical profession into a weird form of “butt covering” behavior.
I am going to go along with Theresa R of Atlanta, GA December 28, 2014 at 7:29 am and her request….
Who is with me?!! Will you hobble your way (walking or writing) to your Representative and/or Congressmen? C’mon and respond!!,
I am going to do just that next time those “Congress critters” (Thanks Jim Hightower) are within a couple hours of my home. I’m the caregiver. I can do it and I will! How about you?
For me to believe is insufficient for you to know. – rodalsa
Althea
California
Everyone who has suffered pain and mental stress due to this new ridiculous law should all band together and launch the biggest class action lawsuit in history. In this futile attempt to stop illegal drug use of legal drugs they have hurt millions of Americans. Are we not human beings? If we could make a television commercial as heart wrenching as the ASPCA show us wrapped up in heating pads taking 4-5 times the recommended dose of an OTC drug, not participating in family activities, unable to do personal care because we CAN’T move, maybe then pharmacists could see the result of this clever law.
This is just a way of thinning out the population. When euthanasia sounds like an option to human beings without terminal conditions this is a sign that the law is unjust. Lawmakers you are not saving people from addiction you are forcing good law abiding Americans to suffer. It is appalling what you have done to those who have no voice to cry out against you. I suffer because I need meds to be on two feet. I need two feet to have a job. I need a job for health insurance. My insurance only pays for 21 days of meds. The pharmacy is always out of my meds. To get my meds I have to be treated and yelled at like an addict when I finally get my meds and feel like an alcoholic in a bar after 20 years. I hoard and hide them from myself in case of emergencies.
kathy
munster
So here is my update. My mom who has degenerative rheumatoid arthritis and is on hydrocodone daily is becoming a new guinea pig. Her doctor due to new DEA rules is trying to use alternatives so she tried these patches which are useless and she did lab testing to discover my moms arthritis is in full flare. Surprise!
The doctor prescribes high dose steroids as that will bring the arthritis hopefully into remission to reduce the need for narcos. End result we have full blown immunocompromised state and now she has a full blown candida infection. She went down this route before with Remacaide once before ten years ago and got a full blown superbug that took a year to cure.
What is the DEA doing to my mom? Trying to get her killed by experimenting with her life to reduce her dependency on pain meds? She is 80 years old and crippled. She is not very mobile as it is. What is next? Assisted suicide to reduce her need for pain meds?
Matthew Lynch
Orange Park fl
I am 55 years old I broke my back and have 5 levels of fusion in my spine I have been on hydrocodone since 2004 and I have been through the ringer with different rules for these drugs
Jay K.
Rockwood MI
I’m a 100% Service Connected Disabled Vietnam Veteran and I seen my provider on the 8th of Dec 2014. Had to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy of V.A. and it was Hydrocodone 10/325. A newer pill, tablet is what I seen and at home the tablet was a rectangle-about 1/8″ thick. And after taking 1 tablet, I didn’t feel relief for severe chronic pain relief. Had asked questions about the difference with the newer tablet and my Doctor and Pharmacy at V.A. never had an answer from either one. I have spinal stenosis in my lower lumbar and arthritis in the cervical of my neck, and the arthritis compresses my cervical spine. And I’m not able to take NSAIDs do to muscle spasms and cause Severe Tinnitus. I use a scooter to go shopping and down stairs to help my wife often. I’ve been detoxing off of hydrocodone for 3 months now.
To all 50 States/ States Senators from other’s that put this B.S together with the D.E.A. ?
Anonymous
Florida
I live in Florida and have a prescription for Norco 5/325mg. I have been trying to fill it for over a week. There’s apparently a shortage and I’m told it could be 2 to 3 weeks before the pharmacies will have it unstick. It’s absurd to force people to live in pain.
Furthermore I went a few miles away to the next county where I was told I could only fill it in my county. So, I am to suffer? The cost of time, money and pain is more than I can handle. It brings me to tears to be in such a position. Thank you government for my loss of hope.
Jen T.
Hey there, Anon!
I’ve never heard of this shortage. My pharmacy always has it stocked (and it’s a small town pharmacy). I’d call your doctor, seriously. Explain what is happening and ask, if you can’t take the 5/325, if he could prescribe you something different, yet comparable. Don’t suggest anything, just maybe ask if a different dosage or a different drug might help the situation. Explain that you are living in whatever level of pain you’re living in and that you really need some help.
If it’s a good doctor, they should be able to help you.
Wishing you the best.
Carolyn M.
Cumming, Ga
I have Multiple Sclerosis and live with extreme pain on a daily basis. This new law has caused such a hardship for me and my husband. We are in our seventies and have to travel into Atlanta on a monthly basis to pick up my prescription for Hydrocodone, about 60 miles round trip. What will happen when I am bedridden and can no longer go in for office visits? Will my pain medication be denied or will I need to be wheeled into the Doctors office on a gurney? I resent the government in between me and my neurologist. The doctors need to be able to do the job their patients pay them to do without the government tying their hands.
I resent the term “addicted” to Hydrocodone. I am not “addicted”, I depend on this medication to manage my pain to live my life. There is a difference!!!!!!! One would get addicted to speed, cocaine, or drugs of that sort.
I use to take 10/500 mg of Hydrocodone and unbeknownst to me the company reduced the drug too 10/325. I wondered why my medication was not giving me relief through the evening hours and had to take Tylenol to relieve the pain.
I asked the pharmacist and was informed of the change. Who are they saving by cutting down on the strength, certainly not me. They are killing me, I take more drugs than I should because I need to be able to live with the pain. Sometimes I ask God why am I still here?
Jen T.
Hi Carolyn!
There’s a HUGE difference (You could drive a Mack-10 through the difference!!) between being a drug addict (someone who uses a drug for recreational pleasure, for the high) and being drug dependent (someone who uses a drug for essential and necessary relief, for “normalcy”). This number the government keeps spitting out, the number of people addicted to pain meds, is just ludicrous. I don’t believe it makes any concession when it comes to this important difference.
Just because someone is ON pain medicine (and may very well be on it for the rest of their LIVES), doesn’t mean they are an addict or are abusing the drug!). What it means is that the drug, in whatever way, is reducing live-altering pain to a level that is– AT THE VERY LEAST–tolerable!
This whole situation is unreal, I tell you. Unreal. I resent it just as much.
You asked the question, “God, why am I still here?” My only answer would be, “You’re still here because you have the love of your family, the love of your friends, the times, still, when you smile and laugh. And, you might still be here because you have something left to do.”
Be well, Carolyn. I’m wishing you well. <3
anonymity
United States
Well I understand everyone’s pain and frustration, literally and several months ago when I too discovered this new BS law I was beyond livid! I also am treated for chronic pain and am suffering. I’m prescribed tramadol 50mg and hydrocodone 10/325 which both have become a scheduled II.
However, my doctor told me that more and more doctors are finding a loophole to the point where they have discovered that what they can do is write on the prescription do not fill until said date usually 30 days out therefore they can print out 3 separate prescriptions and give them to you all at the same visit thus less frequent visits and less out of pocket expenses.
Which helps a lot in the long run.
Hope this helps!
Good luck and take care.
Best wishes
Crystal
Very helpful information. Still, is a nuisance for doctors because they have to write them all at once and are always so busy.
Jerry
FBG, TX
Now just finding the doctors to explore this loop hole? And now that someone has mentioned this possibility, look for it to be closed.
I’ll bet that behind something like this, it’s a “money” situation. Too much of one drug that alleviates pain for OTC drugs OR drugs that aren’t selling as well. Our drug industry lobbyists at work again with our “bright shining honest politicians”.
CervicalFusion
Illinois
This is what my pain management doctor is doing, they will provide up to 3 physical scripts that are both stamped and printed with “RELEASE DATE” in at least 4 places on it. The first time back in November when I handed the first one to Walgreen’s they had no idea what it was and looked strangely at it. They then asked me to wait until they call the doctor’s office, which, they did and figured it out.
Cervical fusion, C3-C5 in 2011 and I was one of the luck ones, it worked great and I was pain free for nearly 2 years. I can’t begin to describe feeling of freedom, no referrals, no mixed up office crap, no trips to Walgreens. and I felt GREAT without the medication, I actually had a life back for a short period of time.
Now, L5-L5/S1 laminectomy time next month. hope it works as well as the cervical procedure.
RoseR
I am a lifetime spine patient at more than 54% disabled on my medical records and I could have Norco for life if I wanted it. My doctor and office are trying to shuffle around as many patients that will easily switch to Tylenol 3 or 4 so the maintenance patients like myself wouldn’t have to deal with constant returns for refills. Thing is, on Tylenol 4 now, it gives you a weird feeling from the shoulders up and does nothing for spinal pain. I could switch back but I’d have to pay for a doctors visit each and every month jacking up what was once a two hundred dollar a year to over $12,000 per year just to stay on Norco. It is also a 90 minute round trip to the spine center I go to. I know my doctor and my PA feel bad but they wont do anything to screw up their career either. They’ll never let a patient walk in with going through an official visit every month before writing a new script for Norco. I fall into the category where I was literally screwed by the DEA for interfering in my health and my life. I was functional with Norco. I could even work part time, but now I can’t and haven’t for three months now. They need to be sued and held accountable and thing needs to go back to the way they were. It’s either pay thousands a year or I can’t have my medication? I know they could care less about me, but I care even less about them. This was the worst thing to happen to my health. The statement they made saying “the ones who really need it won’t have a problem” really ticked me off. They just have no idea what they’ve truly done to so many people.
ken
michigan
Hello, Let me tell Everyone my story-
I’ve been on Vicodin then narco, 7.5 now for over 25 years, as I was hit head-on in 1987 by a drunk driver, lost my son, wife, took off, had a shattered femur, left hip replacement. Shattered wrist with 5 pins. 140 stitches in the head & skin grafts, now comes the government in mich! chronic pain good luck! you now! are required to pee in a cup monthly, drug management, class. 54 years old. where do they think people are getting the extra money? Cannot dare to smoke a joint, legal or not. I feel like my rights are being violated! I feel some people should be exempt! not even cancer patients? Thanks rick!
Joe
Georgia
If you have a legitimate medical issue and pharmacies will not fill or try to embarrass you in front of others for trying to fill (basically calling you an addict) you should consider responding. If this occurs enough maybe the pharmacies will change their policies or else they will pay a high price. I do not support those who do not have a legitimate medical purpose for narcotics.
slb
United States
I have to agree on how this is ridiculous and good at the same. I am 27 I suffer with degeneration of the lumbar spine in my l5,l4,l3. I also have a disc comprising and pushed in to my spinal cord in t3. Losing feeling in my leg, and two bulging disc in my neck comprising my nerves up there, and suffer from pain do to my sciatica I have three little children surgery is not an option right now.
Who will be watching my 2,5,9 while mommy’s at the hospital? I already have problem doing everyday activities. My children don’t have a mommy who can play only watch. And when I am on all my meds is the only time I can do the daily choirs clean, do laundry sweep ect…. Before I saw a Dr for my back pain I laid n bed all day. Crying on how bad it hurts. I got put on nerve med 3 times a day, muscle relaxant 3 times a day, RA med 1 time day, and norco. 4 times a day.
Then insurance stopped covering the four times to 3 times and now I have to see the Dr every month. They are making out that us who actually need this to feel just okay are drug addicts. We are not buying it off the street we are not miss using it why are the punishing us.
They need to because of these crack heads right well what about crack heads and meth heads and whatever because they can’t win that war they have to hurt the ones who are in agony pain. Now I have to find a sitter a ride everything. I can’t drive cause I have grand mal seizures. No more refill so no more RX home delivery. Thank you DEA for punishing the innocent. SLB. Jan 2015
Mary
United States
This is the same set of rules that I have lived with for the entire 16 years that I have been on Morphine so this opinion comes from experience. It isnt that bad, really it isnt.
My doctor and I have a deeply trusting relationship as it pertains to my Morphine use as I have an immaculate record. So I go in once every three months and she writes me three separate prescriptions so that I dont have to see her all the time. All I have to do to get those is call the office and let them know it is time to get them and they call me when they are ready and I go pick them up and fill them one at a time, one each month. I only actually see my doctor about once a year for my annual urinalysis (unless there is a problem either with my pain management or something else).
My problem isnt that, it is that I cannot find a doctor in Houston who will see me or treat me. For over a year (since I moved to Houston) I tried everything. During this effort I went to CA every month to fill my prescription (and pick it up from my doctor) every single month but that trip cost more than I make on Social Security so finally I was forced to move back to California. I left behind my only family (my son and granddaughter), the house I purchased in Houston, my fiance, and all of my worldly possessions. They are all in my house that I cant live in due to this issue. It looks like I will not be able to resolve this so we are now trying to figure out what I am going to do since the cost of living in San Francisco is too high for my small, fixed income. It is a horrible mess.
That is the fight I would like to see people fighting. It doesnt matter what schedule the drug is when you cant even get it at all. Lives are being ruined because people cant get their medications in Texas (and other states). I am devastated over it and I have no idea what I am going to do as I grow older. In the meantime I will stay put in CA just to get my medicine but I really miss my family. And I want to go home.
Mary
Jen T.
Hi Mary,
I’m so sorry to hear about your circumstances. Part of the problem with Houston (and I didn’t discover this, myself, until I’d moved to Austin) is that a few years back, Houston and a few other cities down here were known pill-mills. They’d just write script after script for whomever, no matter what the circumstance was. So, the DEA went and did this GIANT crackdown, taking away doctor’s licenses, closing clinics, HUGE stuff like that.
So, now, doctors in Texas are freaked as $&%# to write anything over a Schedule IV. It’s terrible. BUT! There HAS to be someone in your area (even if you have to drive an hour and a half over here to Austin) that can help you. It seems SILLY for you to separated from your family, your own _home_ for God’s sake. If you have a legitimate health history, your doctor should be able to fax your records over to _someone_ who would work with you, to get you back into your home.
Sending you the best. Hoping that you’ll be able to come home and find the relief you need.
Jen
karen
new jersey
I just had the same trouble with my meds. I take phenobarbital for seizures, and when I went to pickup my refill I was told it got not be refilled. My doctor was away for Christmas. For 4 days I had to take one third of my regular amount until I could reach my doctor. I am now on a different type of medicine. I am not happy with this change. I was on phenobarbital for 40 years with no problem.
karen
new jersey
I just had the same trouble with my meds. I take phenobarbital for seizures, and when I went to pickup my refill I was told it got not be refilled. My doctor was away for Christmas. For 4 days I had to take one third of my regular amount until I could reach my doctor. I am now on a different type of medicine. I am not happy with this change. I was on phenobarbital for 40 years with no problem.
Rob
California
It’s sad to see so many positively helpless and somewhat hopeless posts on this site. This is akin to taking away certain basic human rights, like the right to be pain free. The government should not infringe on this right. You and I know this. It is not going to save more lives. It is just another form of control.
I suggest finding an M.D. or pharmacy that is willing to do mail order. Even if that means going outside the country to get your legitimate medications in a timely manner when you need them. Might cost more to correspond with a physician over the phone, but if it means getting what you need then you should do it. As long as you have a legitimate script for the medication and everything is done above board.
Sounds crazy, but isn’t our government a bit crazy with this new ruling? Isn’t it? Everyone has to look out for themselves anymore. Nobody is going to help you in this matter. The FDA/DEA will not reverse their decision from October of 2014. If anything, things will get tighter and that is most troubling. Proper pain control, sane pain control, is no longer widely available to people.
Jen T.
Thank you, Rob.
I, too, think there should be a basic right to live pain free. I’m not talking about abuse, I’m not talking about rampant addiction, I’m just talking about my right, as a person, to live without the madness, sadness, and usual badness of living with chronic, constant pain.
It should be my right as a citizen (a tax paying one, too!) to put whatever pill in my mouth I want, as long as I’m doing it responsibly (as determined by -me-, not the US government), and doing it without causing any disruption.
I feel like this whole thing is edging on cruelty. It’s frustrating, angering, and defeating.
Richard
I know some may find it inconvenient to flow with the new law about pain meds. I can understand but I personally am not but what makes me mad is that my doctor is refusing to give me any treatment for pain.
I have been seeing a doctor for more than a year and half and he has been treating me for pain from two back surgeries that left me with metal on my spine and arthritis. I have a degenerative disc disorder and take two pain meds and anti inflammatories and muscle relaxers and injections all to manage my pain. The problem I have is that when you live on a fixed income you can’t afford to see both a MD and pain specialist. I have read the new law but have not seen anything about my primary doctor not being able to give pain meds that he has been giving me for almost two years.
Mary
This is my experience in Texas. I posted my story about how I am not able to find a doctor in Houston who will even agree to see me as a primary care physician because I am on Morphine. I tried for over a year. My life is devastated over it as I moved every thing I owned to Houston after my husband died to be with the only family I have left. Now, every thing I own and every one I love is in Houston and Im in San Francisco because I can get proper pain management here. It is a pretty bad situation. Having to get it written every month really isnt that big of a deal. Morphine laws have been that way as long as I have been on it (16 years) and it has never been a problem. Just out of curiosity what state do you live in where you are having problems getting your medication prescribed?
Thomas
ellijay, ga
“We” just discovered this new B.S. DEA mandated “new” law. My wife had hip replacement surgery and was given a too small dosage of hydrocodone and leaving the hospital was told if she needed it stronger (I firmly believe they know it will be too small of a dosage) to simply call the surgeons’ office for a new ‘script. Well, the next day turned into the Christmas holidays, then the weekend, then she called the office the Monday morning and never got a return phone call. Late in the evening she called the office where she was told “The ‘script was there for pickup” … that is when I discovered I had to drive 44 miles round trip mid-day the next day before she can hopefully get her pain meds she needed four days prior! All because the Federal Government cannot or will not do their job in law enforcement so to make it easier upon themselves they mandate to innocent citizens to comply to a law they have always done – just to appear something is being done to stem the illegal usage of prescription drugs. All the while we innocent civilians’ in pain suffer as a result.
Crystal
What if someone was brave enough to organize a People’s March on D.C. and a crowd of people in pain in walkers, wheelchairs and with canes showed up? Or maybe most could not march so a sit in.
diane
You cannot keep hurting the people who need the norco for pain. You now have made it impossible to both the Dr. and the patient to be able to continue their medication. All people are not bad.
You are hurting those that need that medication for real pain. Instead, you hassle them and make them see the Dr. more often and have to have a triplicate written each refill. Look down an alley somewhere and then start putting the screws to those on the street selling them, not us who need them.
Crystal
The price has increased so much that just the cost of the medication plus the doctor’s visit will make it impossible for many people to get pain medication anymore. People will just have to endure–but why? When there is a remedy why should it not be available?
Mo
Cali
I have major problems with my back and can not survive on disability so in order for me to work my full time paralegal job, I have to take hydros to keep the pain at bay. I rarely take them at work unless I am almost dying from pain but these are the only things that work! I have been seeing my doctor (primary) for almost 12 years, so once we spoke about the new regulations I am able to pick up my script from his nurse without seeing him and paying a $50.00 co pay! I feel bad for the people that can not get to the dr to get their script. This new regulation should be changed back for those people. Not everyone has the time, money, help, or ability to go to the dr’s office once a month to pick up their script.
Tracey
Fl
I believe that the people who are making these laws, and changing our insurance, would have to live by the same rules the American people have to, things would be so different.
Why is the Government exempt from the laws, & health insurance they force us to have? If it’s so great, why would they exempt themselves?
I have CRPS, just because of a minor metatarsal fracture that was misdiagnosed by many podiatrists. I saw a total of 12. My 12th Dr. I went to for a second opinion for the 11th Dr. wanted to operate on my foot for Morton’s Neuroma. She said I would end up in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, that if I did have a Neuroma, there is always an underlying cause, in this case CRPS. My life hasn’t been the same for two years. I have lost my job, my children can’t comprehend why I can’t be the mommy I once was. During this time I have had shingles 7 times. It took a psychiatrist to finally help me with my pain.
When the last foot doctor (the one that was full of knowledge), sent me to a Neurologist/Pain Management Dr. He couldn’t believe what I have been through. My only problem is that he was very upset that I obtained a prescription for Norco from a psychiatrist. I am not the type to speak what’s on my mind, but if could experience a couple of day of what it is like to be in my situation, I would have hoped he would have been more compassionate. The Narco took a little bit of the edge off, but I still couldn’t function. I was able to help with homework, but even that was hard. My husband quit his job (he was on the road traveling), to help. He’s been great for shopping, taking children to and from private school, but he just doesn’t understand what I am going through, & gets upset that I can’t perform all of the housework.
I just had a SCS put in my spine, it’s been 3 weeks today. I am in more pain now than ever, dealing with the incisions to implant a battery & leads in my spine. My doctor counts my pills every visit, & takes urine samples, for which I have no problem, up until now. My husband picked up my pain medicine now Percocet, after the operation, and their were 8 pills missing. Now, I have to call CVS, and deal with my doctor. The last time they were happy, because I wasn’t taking very much, but now because the pain of the operation, & CVS. I will be over. I don’t even know how to report the missing pills.
One more thing to deal with, and I probably wouldn’t even call if there wasn’t such tight government restrictions, but if I don’t, the one in pain (victim) is the bad person. I THINK THE GOVERNMENT MUST FOLLOW AND ABIDE BY THE SAME RULES THEY MAKE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THEY ARE AMERICAN RIGHT? WHY ARE THEY EXEMPT?
RoseR
Count your pills before you walk away from the pharmacy. Although, not common, techs will steal small amounts of pills from scripts and realize most wont know they’re missing. Never leave without a full count of what you’re getting. On a side note, I’d be ridiculously mad if my doctors office had me take urine tests and counted my pills. I’d refuse and find another doctor. Whatever they prescribe for each month is what they prescribe for each month. Period. No doctor on the planet should be monitoring your daily pill intake. If you run out two days early, then you run out two days early and you live with it. I’d never put up with what you’re describing and honestly, I’ve never heard of such treatment.
meme
Florida
My friend who lives in Ga. goes to a pain clinic and they make her bring her pain medication into the office and they count her pills. Isn’t that crazy? I live in Fl. and go to a pain clinic and they have never ask me to bring in my pain medication. I just do my monthly urinalysis.
Deborah
Tennessee
My daughter has bad pain all on one side unbearable, she had neck surgery because of compressed nerves, about 1 year later she fell in bathroom and hit her head on the sink. We don’t know what happened, Dr. Doesn’t either. She sure does suffer. She goes to a pain clinic in TN.
She gained a lot of weight because she sat so long. Couldn’t hardly move. They not only count her pills (Loritab 10 /4 a day.) But that weigh her and fuss at her if she don’t lose 5 lbs. a month. And threaten to stop the meds. I share they do. It’s the only way around here to get any thing strong to help.
kathy
Munster
Always count your pills. I just got shorted at the pharmacy for my mom’s hydrocodone 10 pills. I never thought to count the pills prior to this and now will have to have whoever picks up her script count the dose. I am also still trying to figure out how to get my moms script monthly and get to a doctor monthly. I travel 90% for work so will have to hire someone I trust and pay them to do this. My mom is 80 and does not drive and is permanently disabled. Thank you DEA for making my life miserable and giving me more of a challenge to take care of my elderly parents. Your rules are stupid for the elderly.
Jay K
Upper MI
I am 100% Disabled Vietnam Veteran and have been since 1993. In 1972 medically discharged with a 30% disability from U.S. Air Force. My prescription in “September was the real pain reliever Hydrocodone 10/325”. Now in October and November the imitation pain reliever is what had to pick up after my appt. with my Doctor at the Pharmacy. After getting back home I had taken 1 tablet and I knew it wasn’t a pain reliever after all.
Last October was my last real prescription of Hydrocodone 10/325. No one at the VA Pharmacy nor would my Doctor wouldn’t explained to me what a class 3 or a class 2 drug meant.
So when is the new approved Hydrocodone going to be useable for human consumption?
It’s been 3 months of severe pain and know most others who commented, “The Pain is More than Real” !
RoseR
there is no new approved Hydrocodone. It’s all the same thing. Ask first for Tylenol 4 and see if that works at all for you. It’s not working for many with chronic pain, but at least try it. Unless you work with your doctor, you probably can’t get Norco anymore.
patricia s.
United States
I have a pinched nerve in my neck and lower back,as well as degenerative disc disease. I have fibromyalgia. I suspect I have a pinched nerve in the middle of my back. I have arthritis in my hands, shoulder and feet. The clinic I have always gone to has decided to no longer prescribe pain medication. Is there no way to organize a nationwide protest to the DEA to find a better way to handle drug abuse? I find myself in bed more than out. I am unable to do housework let alone do anything enjoyable. Before I had two total knee replacements I had become a total invalid. After the surgery I improved until they took my pain meds away. Now I’m an invalid again. Is there no home for us chronic pain sufferers?
RoseR
If you had chronic pain, you would be getting medication in some form from your doctor. I’m not sure what you mean by saying they took your pain meds away, but there are alternatives to Vicodin or whatever you were taking.
Crystal
USA
The problem is the price. Before the pharmacy at the grocery store charged about $40 for 120 Norco. Then from November 2014 on it has not been able to obtain it. Walgreens does have it but charged $95. The doctor tried to help by changing the prescription to what he thought was cheaper–Percoset and that was $158 at Walgreens and $157 at the grocery pharmacy.
Jacqueline Terella
Tampa, Fl
I just had 1 of the worst experiences of my life. I’ve been on hydrocodone for many years on and off. Not to mention other stronger pain meds. I have cronic pain due 2 numerous accidents. Now it’s degenerated. I could not get my hands on my prescription at my own pharmacy. Then I tried 20 others! The same story… due to the new DEA law hydrocodone is now a schedule 2 classification. So they are only allotted so many. I missed out. Now I wait till they call me. In 1 – 2 weeks they said. What do I do? I guess I have to live in severe pain. Is there any thing I can do? If anyone knows I please invite them to help give me answers…..I feel sorry for all those out there with similar authorizations. Much love.
Crystal
USA
My thoughts too about organizing a national protest. But that would be expensive and one time, and most chronic pain sufferers are not able to stand and walk long periods of time for it to work. I have a better idea–a national party organized about pain, suffering, and human rights. Does not the U.S. Constitution speak about no unusual and cruel punishments? Being denied pain medication is cruel. The political party could endorse other rights as well such as the costs of medications and taking advantage of people on fixed incomes.
Theresa R
Atlanta, GA
I wish I had done a bit more research before my earlier post. THIS is an important link for us all: https://web.archive.org/web/20140925092151/http://www.aapainmanage.org/announcement/clinical-considerations-related-to-hydrocodone-rescheduling-2
It is an announcement from the American Academy of Pain Management in reference to Considerations Related to Hydrocodone Rescheduling. First let me say it validated my own experience – you don’t need a doctor appointment to get the prescription! Just call the nurse and if it is okay with your doctor, you will simply go in an pick up the prescription from the front desk.
To even bigger and better news in this article! A VERY important piece was noted regarding access to 90 day prescriptions. Why aren’t practitioners using this?!? I can only speak for myself; I am going to print the letter from the American Academy of Pain Management and bring it to my doctor for her to review in the hopes of receiving 3, 30 day prescriptions at one time. Before I copy/paste from this letter, I will say “see you later” and I hope we can ALL successfully use this tidbit of hope that you will see below!
For patients with stable pain control not requiring monthly office visits
Generally speaking, Schedule II prescriptions for more than a 30-day supply will not be fully covered by insurance plans, unless using a mail order pharmacy. Additionally, some states prohibit Schedule II prescriptions for more than a 30-day supply. In practical terms, this means that, starting October 6, patients using HCCP (hydrocodone-containing combination products) on a regular basis, and who would ordinarily obtain monthly refills at the pharmacy, will need to obtain a new written prescription each month. Again, as mentioned above, this does not mean that an office visit is required; that is at the discretion of the prescriber.
For patients who previously would have been issued an HCCP prescription with refills, DEA does provide an option that can meet a patient’s opioid analgesic requirements for up to 90 days. Following is the section from the DEA Practitioner’s Manual describing a Schedule II “prescription series”:
“…[A]n individual practitioner may issue multiple prescriptions authorizing the patient to receive a total of up to a 90-day supply of a schedule II controlled substance provided the following conditions are met:
Each separate prescription is issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting in the usual course of professional practice.
The individual practitioner provides written instructions on each prescription (other than the first prescription, if the prescribing practitioner intends for that prescription to be filled immediately) indicating the earliest date on which a pharmacy may fill each prescription.
The individual practitioner concludes that providing the patient with multiple prescriptions in this manner does not create an undue risk of diversion or abuse.
The issuance of multiple prescriptions is permissible under applicable state laws.
The individual practitioner complies fully with all other applicable requirements under the Controlled Substances Act and Code of Federal Regulations, as well as any additional requirements under state law.”
Note that this allows a prescriber to issue any number of prescriptions totaling a 90-day supply: 3 prescriptions X 30 days; 6 prescriptions X 15 days; even 90 prescriptions for a one-day supply.
This provision has, to date, been poorly understood by most prescribers, and consequently has been under-utilized. However, with the need to replace a very large number of HCCP refills (about 26 million per year nationwide), use of this practice may become more common.
Theresa R
Atlanta, GA
I can’t say much that has not already been expressed here. But I will share a reaction or two.
If a pharmacy is out of your medication and cannot locate another pharmacy in your area with meds, I think I would call my doctor and request a different type of pain medication (e.g., fentanyl patch or meperdine). Do whatever you can to get pain medication between the pharmacies and your doctor. I might also consider establishing a pain management doctor – specifically an anesthesiologist. They seem to be less afraid of appropriate prescribing.
Like you all, I am livid about these changes. The people who legitimately require this medication are the very population punished for a crime we have not committed. One point that seems almost minor, but important all the same, is lab work. I am required by law to submit to lab work to test for the possibility of me using street drugs. Of course I’m not and I begrudgingly allow the nurse to perform an invasive procedure (drawing blood) to prove that this 55 year old professor is not using street drugs. What boils my blood is that I haven’t given any impression to anyone that anything has been mishandled, misappropriated, or misrepresented on my behalf. I signed a document stating I will not sell this medication. I will only use one pharmacy to fill this medication. I will not give this medication to anyone aside from who it was prescribed to. I will not use illicit drugs. I will not seek this medication from any other doctor. I will submit to blood testing to determine if any illicit drugs are in my system. Seem like my right to live without pain is not a right at all (sorry US Constitution).
More than one of you mentioned suicide in your post. If any of the DEA/FDA or Legislators ever had to live with chronic pain without chance of relieve, I’d bet the word “suicide” would definitely be part of their vocabulary.
Once the legislators are back in action, I plan on marching myself up to their offices – with my cane – and hope I can address as many as possible before needing a wheelchair/scooter! After a recent conference in Athens, GA we spoke with an area Representative and we asked what is the best way to communicate our needs to you? He responded that seeing us in person with our stories makes a huge impact. Not that 3 or 4 of people with disabilities should come together – but no – just yourself and perhaps someone to drive or lean on as you make this trek. If that is not possible, write a letter. Not an email, but a letter telling your personal story – not the auto-fill on a blog. That was very good information. The most important thing is we must make some noise!! We have to be certain that our government hears us loud and clear!
Our venting here is important, but it won’t get the job done.
Who is with me?!! Will you hobble your way (walking or writing) to your Representative and/or Congressmen? C’mon and respond!! Let me know!
Rob
California
I would agree with you if I thought that lobbying this congress would make any difference in policy change. I don’t. I have never heard of any ruling by the DEA and FDA that has ever been a 180 degree reverse of policy. This pain relieving movement is going to end up going underground. Maybe that is what the DEA and FDA want, anyway.
This issue might be relieved if the feds would just legalize MJ and let it be regulated like ETOH. Problem with that is that it would bite into the pharmaceutical industry’s windfall of cash. And, we can’t have that, can we? I don’t know what the answer is. Ordinary people will find a way around this insane DEA ruling.
Susan
Auburn, CA
Agreed. We need to let the legislators hear from us! Real stories. Real people. Won’t do any good, but it won’t hurt either. This well-intentioned, but extremely poorly executed law only hurts us law-abiding folks who are suffering every day.
Bradus
KY
I’m very sympathetic to the effects of debilitating and chronic pain, my mum has been suffering from nerve damage and other things from a surgery, now a filed law suit has been established many years later. This isn’t the full solution, but it will help, it’s another lighter narcotic pain reliever similar to hydrocodone and oxy. It’s called kratom, it can be very effective in treating pain or weening off of them with. Two substances in the leaf are full opiate agonist, affecting same receptor as morphine. It’s only a leaf, unadulterated as naturally occurs. I strongly suggest taking this as opposed to going into w/d, only as someone who must absolutely continue to take pain pills, that otherwise can’t receive proper care and reach some form of healing or relief.
pepperc
AZ
For those of you interested in signing petitions, here ya go:
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/pain-patients-are-suffering-1
http://www.petition2congress.com/5202/first-do-no-harm-dea-targets-physicians-who-treat-their-patients/
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cppr1/
We need a White House and a Change petition, as well.
pepperc
I’m just going to add one more thought to this thread.
This fear of opiates causes damage.
Pain patients are injected with steroids, which is fine- short term. But doctors are relying on these injections more and more. My spinal surgeon said that they are the worst. He’ll run all the tests, bone density is great, vit-D is good… everything looks fine.
Then he opens them up, goes to put in a screw and the bone turns to ‘mush’. Nothing infuriated him more.
Whole body steroids damage so many systems when used for years. (I was on Kenalog for seven straight years to help with pain. Long before I ever took an opiate. Before my problem was even diagnosed.)
Mixing tylenol with opiates – when combined with all of the other ‘safe’ medications and the handfulls of OTC meds that chronic pain patients are driven to – kills people.
My mother has never drank – ever. Not even a glass of wine at the holidays. She’s never had pain meds. EVER.
Her liver is destroyed by OTC meds. Ten years of popping Tylenol, ibuprofen, and aspirin multiple times a day has nearly killed her.
But, hey. At least she’s not addicted to anything. /sarcasm
It really, really would’ve been nice for us to have those ‘terrible’ pain pills before we destroyed our bodies and the medical system ripped us apart to avoid them.
Marin L.
Chevy Chase, MD
I have a family member who has been taking hydrocodone, although was told by a pain doctor they should take oxycodone for their level of pain. Preferring to keep the stronger drugs for the time when they will be all that helps with pain, my family member is staying with hydrocodone. I believe it also helped their dignity to know they were taking a schedule 3, rather than the more scrutinized schedule 2. The entire pain problem is frankly embarrassing to them, especially when going to pick up a prescription and being “lectured” by a 20 something about narcotics being controlled substances. Oh for the days of being 20 and having no pain that requires their hydrocodone dose just to get moving in 3 hours time in the morning, as opposed to laying in a bathtub of hot water the entire day.
Chronic pain such as this is very real. And the sufferers are so innocent of wrongdoing. I remember several month ago when Obama said he knew beyond any doubt the worst problem we faced in America A great deal lands on the President’s desk. The scheduling of pain medication is one he could influence. His Obamacare has helped the poor, but at the cost of those who have worked and paid into health insurance all of their lives. Obama has the sectors he finds worthy. I am hoping for a president in 2016 who understands chronic pain.
A man was found in Florida recently dead with a self-inflicted rifle wound that blew off the top of his head. His suicide note read simply, “I can’t deal with the pain anymore. No one will help. Living in so much pain has become too hard. A life in pain isn’t worth living. I’m sorry.”
Sympathy
It was the young teens and 20 somethings that brought all this on by partying with it. So the government nearly bans it by making it extremely difficult and expensive to obtain. So how did the government act to stop a lot of what is causing pain–automobile accidents–not by ordering that no engines be built to go past 65 mph or taking away driving privileges for years rather than a few months? It doesn’t consider that speeders, red light runners are responsible for inflicting injury on others–no, it says you cannot inflict injury on yourself, that being overdose. What you do to yourself is not the same as hurting someone else.
Maureen
Washington State
Time to try Pot. I plan on getting a medical (rx.)
My husband’s been smoking for quite a while, I’ve never thought too much about it, for one I don’t smoke.
I’ve heard brownies are good.
Casey
The days of Drs giving you a script of something to take as needed are quickly closing also. Notice that drugs like xanax and hydrocodone have very few side effects? People that need something for anxiety (xanax) or pain (hydro) on bad days are screwed. They’re having to take God knows what with 400 side effects, i.e. Zoloft, and end up committing suicide. How many commercially pushed drugs have caused patients with no known history to attempt or committ suicide? That’s just one severe side effect. The drug companies don’t make money giving you a pill to take only on bad days. They want you popping something crazy everyday. Something that’s going to cause you at least one new symptom that needs another totally different pill of theirs. “As needed” meds do not fit in big pharma’s pretty, billion dollar making agenda.
care
WA state
I’m going to either have to take drastic measures myself or move to a country (in my condition) to find any relief. Existing is not living. w/o my meds i’m literally home bound. who cares? nada one. The american dream is dead history. there is no life liberty or pursuit of happiness anymore. peace and love.
care
jackie
memphis
I have been dealing with a spinal deterioration for eight years. They kept me on hydrocodone 10 mg three times a day for pain management to avoid surgery. I had my first surgery in September and was bed bound for two weeks. I fell the third week over the dog and went to the emergency room where the took a cat scan and said we see nothing wrong. I waited in agony for three weeks to see my surgeon and his X RAY shows I had a split rod and the screw was out sticking straight up. I went the next day for corrective surgery. Here it is January and I’m still in pain and I am not able to get medication for it.
I have always been a patient who goes once a month and not ask for more because I took it as prescribed. Now I feel like my doctors profile me over what THEY gave me and I didn’t ASK for it. What are people to do who have been on it for so long and withdrawal s kick in and they can’t help you with that and you can’t go somewhere to get help. I just want to be pain free. They need doctors to help us with the withdrawal if the patient is willing to come off the meds and only if they can find a pain management that helps.
Tramadol is nothing to me. Roboxin a muscle relaxer is nothing to me. I still not able to lift a broom! And can not sit directly on my butt because of the pain. I missed Christmas with family out of town of the fear I would hurt with a long drive ahead of me. I don’t drink and have never tried street drugs. But I’m starting to think pot maybe something to help. The DEA doesn’t realize they are pushing the ones who really need help to the streets. How does this make sense? Take away their meds, watch them hurt over withdrawal symptoms and when the are desperate we catch them on the corner? Really?
Bill G
United States
People with chronic pain have been treated like drug addicts. We the people who have to take medicine every single day are the one paying for all this. Please God help us.
Pamela
Fl
I am also a patient who suffers from Chronic Pain. I have 2 bulging disks and CRPS I have been on hydrocodone for almost a year now these meds have allowed me to have a life again, well I got my new script on Dec 9th for my pain meds and 6 pharmacies later I still have no meds !!!! And today is the 18th. I go every month to my appt. I pee in a cup every month and have never failed one. I have MRIs and x-rays to prove my diagnosis. I do not Dr shop nor do I pharmacy hop but I can’t get MY PAIN MEDS !!!! That is beyond wrong.
Now I have been without my pain meds since the 9th of this month and I know I will soon go into withdrawals because of the DEA which apparently they could careless about !!! Just because they could not get a handle on the abusers they are now punishing all of us, the honest ones !!!! I have gotten my Congressman address and email. I will sit down and write them a letter. I will write one everyday if that’s what it takes. Someone mentioned suing well I might just try to find an attorney for that reason. This is getting out of hand. I even put off a surgery because I’m afraid I can’t get my pain meds.
LYNN
ILLINOIS
To: Pamela in FL – Reply to December 18, 2014 comment.
Pamela, my daughter has suffered for 24 years and it started slow and then re-injury made her symptoms worse. Now she is in horrible pain just like you are. How were you diagnosed and by whom for CRPS? I know beyond a doubt that this is what she has.
I have studied this syndrome and it is the only one that meets the criteria of all of her symptoms. All they have listed for her is Fibromyalgia. She wishes that this is all she had.
We have not found one doctor yet who even cares to listen to her complaints. She was on pain medication, but can no longer get them just like thousands upon thousands other people who are suffering.
I hate it also that she is secretly referred to as a “drug addict” seeking more drugs. I wish I had the power of transference and could hold my daughters’ hand and transfer her pain to those that do not listen or even care. I bet then they would even if they felt her pain for one hour.
We have run out of options and her doctor won’t even speak to her about pain medication. We cannot find any other primary care doctor in our area who will even take her. They only want the EASY patients, who have no real illnesses or anything involving pain. We cannot find any Pain Management doctor who will even see her. They give no excuse and told her PCP that they don’t have to. End of story.
I am praying that she will still be alive within the next two weeks because she is asking my permission to please let her end her life.
She is on psychiatric medication and sees a psychiatrist, but this is only a part of her problem and she does take her psych medication. Her psychiatrist is a wonderful man and has stated that he wishes he could give her the pain medication she needs. He is so angry and upset that her doctors won’t help her and see that she gets the medical assistance that she needs.
I get up every morning and cry, get my act together and try to fight for her rights every single day. But I keep hitting brick walls, while my daughter lays in bed in terrible pain and is planning her suicide!
I wish that we had the million people to March on Washington like they did in France and tell our Government that we cannot continue to live like this anymore!
Is there anyone out there listening?
We need to group together and try to do the following:
1. Get on a talk radio show and get a DEA agent to appear with you and explain to the people why they cannot get their pain medication.
2. We need to flood the Internet with YouTube messages that feature people in pain and tell about our pain and get these to go viral.
3. We need to get all of our local newspapers to tell our story.
4. But mostly, we need the Government to get off their hindside and abolish ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS that keep people from getting the medications they need.
I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS AMERICA. DID I WAKE UP IN SOME OTHER COUNTRY?
sadend
It hurts me becuse people in pain have no way around this law we will lose already hard to come by money and people will in turn get desperate and do idiotic things to get money for scripts. I was blatantly asked threatened deceived and robbed. Knocked out and crap that should never happen it is sickening.
Threatend to give my meds up for sale and members of my fam and friends. Can’t trust people it hurts to see people so desperate to resort to that
but I feel this is going to have an opposite effect on prescription violations and illegl sales and rip offs.
Andre
Texas
Please help, I’m not going to be able to afford monthly trips to pain doctor so has anyone been trying anything else from the doctor that’s helps pain like lortab does??? I’m going to ask him next week but want opinions too.
David
United States
Andre, you can get your doctor to write three prescriptions (90-day supply) and present them to the pharmacy each month. That is the only work-around with respect to the new law. My mother is going through the same thing as all of you here.
Good luck to you, and I’m sorry that you are made to suffer thus.
RoseR
You can’t make a blanket statement like that. Although it can be done, doing scripts like that is up to the complete discretion of the doctor. Not all physicians will welcome doing that.
Bob C.
Austin, Tx.
There is a HUGE number of Veterans (I am one of them) that are being affected by this new reclassification. These idiots in Congress and the DEA cited the larger number of Veterans being prescribed Hydrocodone as a reason for the change. Here’s a wakeup call to you fools who issued the new directive. The “kids” that were sent to Viet Nam in the 60’s and 70’s are now in THEIR 60’s and 70’s and many suffer from debilitating conditions which were relieved by Hydrocodone. Now any Veterans on said medication are having to report to the V.A. for reclassification (in most instances by Drs. that are from other countries) and are being given Tylenol to relieve their pain. What a joke.
In addition to these elder Veterans, we now have many younger Veterans in chronic pain from injuries sustained while fighting the wars we’ve been involved in since Viet Nam. THAT is the reason for the increase in numbers of prescriptions. If you want to lower the number of prescriptions being issued at V.A. facilities, quit going to war with every other country on the planet. If there are a higher number of Veterans in pain, you are going to have more painkillers being prescribed. Do the math. Is this REALLY how we should treat our heroes?
Rob
CA
I am almost afraid that there is nothing we can do, including petitioning congress or the president regarding the DEA’s newest ruling on pain medication. Has anyone ever heard of a DEA ruling that has ever been reversed? I have not. Look at what the DEA did when it made pseudoephedrine a product that must be purchased with your ID. What kind of nonsense was that? Did that stop meth labs? NO!!!! Did that in any way cut the illegal manufacturing of meth? NO!!!
I am not espousing illegal acquisition of HCP’s or Tylenol 3’s, or whatever you may need, but what else is there to do when you are in pain and the M.D., pharmacy, and the government don’t care? Really, I think the M.D. and pharmacy have their hands tied on this one because HCP’s can now only be requisitioned by pharmacies in smaller amounts. The pharmacy could get much more of the Sch. III’s when HCP’s were a Sch. III. That has all changed. We won’t see it changed back, if ever, without a congressional or presidential ruling. Perhaps a supreme court issue?
The only other way is abolishment of the DEA. Does anybody see that happening in the near future? NO!!! Self perpetuating, just like our pentagon and its self perpetuating need to start wars and feed of the national budget. The DEA is the same and there is nothing we can do to stop it. I am afraid the pain compassion movement is going to have to go underground.
RoseR
Oh, it would be so very nice if Tylenol’s 3 and 4 actually worked as a suitable substitute, but for me it does not and I imagine with the hundreds of other chronic patients around the country, they’re realizing even taking Tylenol 4 is far from a suitable change. Codeine is also an opiate but not a synthetic one so that’s probably why it hasn’t been reclassified. I’m waiting for the day when they take away all opiates. I am now taking 4 Tylenol 4 per day along with three Tramadol (Ultram). I need the Norco back. Actually, I should say, I just want my functional life back. Where’s a good lawyer when you need one?
Tina
Orange County, California
This change in class is a bunch of crap!! I just had a root canal & my jaw hurts so bad I can barely talk and cannot eat at all. I suffer from frequent migraines & have a high pain tolerance but since the root canal yesterday, once the novacain wore off I’ve been in major pain. I AM NOT AN ADDICT but after a life time of severe migraines I do have a high tolerance to medications. The dentist suggested I take 1 advil & 2 tylenol but advil makes my stomach burn, probably from taking too much for so many years trying to control my migraines. (Even taking 4 at a time, it still never worked) Now after this root canal and the pain, I got to feel like a “druggie” when I called my dentist back this morning after not being able to sleep because of the pain. I really, really resent this as I’m sure most of you do as well. I (we) shouldn’t be made to feel like this when we need pain medication for a legit reason. And doctors should not be made to feel so scared to prescribe it. I’m sure the DEA has a tight hold on them and are watching all doctors & dentists. It’s just CRAP!!
care
yes
RoseR
I have never, ever heard of any dentist that will give out narcotics for a root canal. Sorry, they just don’t do it. Getting all four wisdom teeth out, yes. But that script is small and only three to four days worth.
petey d
new jeresy
We all need to go to change .org and start a petition to the congress or dea and fDA so everybody on here go there and sign it.
petey d
new jeresy
My wife is on roxicodone has had 3operation for cancer and been on these meds for 7yrs. It lets her live her day to day life but every month its the same thing. Pharmacys always out of the meds she was supposed to get them 6 days ago. So now I have to watch this poor woman not only in pain but now going through withdrawal. I’m so sick of seeing her go through this, we need to stand up and do something about this, lets start suing or lets get a petition started.
Dave
United States
I agree, my wife, who passed away from a combination of medical problems, had to take pain meds, she could not walk across the room without crying without the meds. Now my mother, who is 70 years old and has been through several back and neck operations, and the latest surgery was for a double bypass. She is in great pain and has been taking the same meds, being prescribed by the same doctor for around 10 years now has to go in and feel like a junkie on the street, because that’s the way she’s being treated! It is an outrage!
care
yes
Vern
I am in my 50’s now, at age 15 I had a 30 foot fall that broke my neck and messed up my lower back. Had surgeries, tried many different pain medications, tried microsurgery to try and kill nerves… None of it helped much and me and my doc settled on oxycontin which allows me to function and care for myself.
That has ended now. I live on disability benefits and barely get by each month. I managed seeing my doctor every 3 months and going to his office every month to get a paper prescription. But, I cannot afford to pay office visits to see my doctor every month now. I was already at my financial limit driving a 90 minute round trip to the doctor and pharmacy and 2 days later making another 60 minute round trip to go back to town to pick up the prescription. There’s no way I can afford to pay another 8 doctor visits on top of that every year.
What blew me away was that this year I wanted to get better health insurance than just basic medicare (already had a part D prescription plan) and found that where I live in Arizona, there were no health plans without an accompanying part D plan. And of those plans, none covered my medication. I am of the thought that insurance companies did it that way because they knew monthly doctor visits would be required and they don’t want to cover all those.
So now I join all others with chronic pain… unable to function or care for ourselves and just hoping life doesn’t drag on too long like this.
Martha Hoffer
San Antonio, Texas
WE must start a grass roots movement that has us speaking in front of Congress and Mrs. Obama as soon as possible. There needs to be an immediate list of those patiens that are identifyable chronic pain patients. The goverment has the list release that information make it public and let those names get immediate prescriptions refills if they have been getting thier medications for 5 years or longer.
This can be done by a push of a button. The abusers should be made to see a case manager to determine if they are still viable for the Hydrocodone pain therapy. Two seperate list the chronic sufferers list and the abusers of the system. Lets identify theabusers so the sufferers that need thier hydrocondone are no longer made to feel like criminals.
Miki
Clifton Heights, PA
I’m with you Martha H., so how can we get it started?
care
yes I have a similiar situation.
kathyK
munster
I just went through this today. My mom cannot drive has degenerative rheumatoid arthritis. I have to try to get her to the doctor each month for a new script even though she is not very mobile. I have to get a script. She used to have meds delivered and now we have to take off work to get a script every 30 days. This is impacting our costs, jobs, and stressing my mom. Is the DEA for real. They need a plan for the crippled elderly. My job could be lost over this.
Lisa
United States
My thoughts are with you KathyK. I lost my mom in 2009, age 59, due to complications from a 20 year battle of aggressive RA. What hell the scenario above will be for you and millions (?) of others; both the caregiver and the patient. The last couple of years she had a hard time going out at all. I hope the RA and other crippling diseases organizations can step in to advocate for a quick “moratorium” to halt the enforcement of these rules in situations like this. Good Luck To You and your mom. My mom’s biggest fear was falling. She died after laying on the floor 24 hours in January, hypothermia contributed. LIFELINE BUTTON. I HOPE your mom will WEAR one at all times.
Joseph J
Central Florida
I am fifty three years old and have had seven surgeries and will need the eighth one in the near future, my last surgery was approx six months ago. I cannot help but laugh when they say they are worried about people getting addicted to hydrocodone, what do they think my pain syndrome is, it’s addicted to me and I have been lucky that I can control my pain with 10/325 hydrocodone four times a day, now grant it I have taken this medication for almost fifteen years and believe it or not I still can control my pain with this medication. What baffles me is I have always went to my doctors once a month and have always had my pain medication prescription written monthly, never had I ever had hydrocodone with refills, never in fifteen years.
However in October 2014 I took my prescription to my pharmacy that I have always used, a very large pharmacy and was told that they would not have anymore until the next month and to try back then…I said wait a minute I have taken this for years and today is my thirty first day into a thirty day supply, what can I do, they suggested I try some other pharmacies, so I did.
On my 5th day of trying different pharmacies I found it, and they filled it. So when I went for my nov appointment and received my monthly hydrocodone prescription, the same thing started happening again, I ask the pharmacist what in the %@#* is going on, they explained to me that before when it was a class three they could order as many as they wanted and as many times as they wanted, but now its a class two, they can only order so many a month and can only order once a month.
But what baffles me is I also take a class two narcotic for break through pain and they had no trouble filling that one, never have had any trouble , but the hydrocodone is hard to fill, will they get this straightened out so those of us who do not abuse and do not doctor shop and who absolutely have legitimate pain syndromes, I have always gone to a monthly doctor appointment, Im lucky that this still works for me, I don’t drink, I don’t do street drugs, I need this medication to have as close to a normal day as possible, I am near crippled and very close to another major surgery on my neck, I do not want to go stronger as long as this works…will I always have trouble from now on in filling this hydrocodone prescription…I hope not, my doctor has already told me he would take me to a much stronger pain medicine if needed…I hope I dont need it, Im not after euphoric feelings, just ease me so I can function and let me have pain relieve without something that will knock me out and make me a veg…I pray I can go this month December 2014 and not have any troubles…Love your column, always have and read it every sat paper…you’re good people with great advise, thank you for your help!
Gerald L. A.
SLC,UT
Physicians are afraid to treat patients who are victims of pain. The DEA targets them and instills fear in how they choose to treat their patients and what they prescribe. More and more, Doctors are refusing to treat their patients who have chronic pain.
Now hydrocodone has been reclassified as a schedule II drug. I hope the geniuses in Congress and at the FDA/DEA who came up with those new restrictions are ready for a huge increased in heroin use and suicide.
kathyK
munster
by the way my mom said the DEA is pushing the elderly to suicide with this new rule. She needs the pain control. Her body is a pretzel of deformity
Rebecca
home
It is excruciating to deal with chronic pain. I understand the need to crack down on pill mills, however it should be left up to the doctor regarding scripts. How are we (those who suffer from chronic pain) supposed to function??
Lynn M
ILLINOIS
I have a daughter, who because of a car accident over 20 yrs., ago suffers from CRPS – Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. She was taking a Schedule II medication, and then when the DEA passed their rules – 2014 regarding Hydrocodone, etc., we cannot find a physician or pain management doctor who will write any prescriptions for Schedule II medications, regardless of the pain she is in.
I would like all of you on this web site to think of this. We have all watched other countries refuse to comply with the politics of their leaders that do harm to them. We could all bond together, in a quiet peaceful manner and this would be our way to protest the actions of the DEA.
What would happen if all Physicians, Pharmacies, Pharmaceutical Companies, and patients in pain would just ignore what the DEA has done with regards to Their (not we the people) Rules and Regulations? Do we all have the courage to stand up to them?
This would be a massive quiet protest as to what they are trying to do to the American people that are in chronic pain. Think about it! By the time we try to get this overturned by our legal system, we will have seen thousands upon thousands of people suffer, use illegal drugs, enter into poverty, or commit suicide. How is the DEA going to investigate thousands and thousands of doctors, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, patients, etc. and try to put them in jail? How are they going to arrest the millions of people who are in chronic pain and will just simply ignore their Rules and Regulations? Did they even give a thought as to how it would affect us? Did they ask us – we the people – how we felt about this change? Did they put it to a vote and ask the millions of people this would affect how they felt about their (DEA) changes?
We are Americans and this country was founded upon our rights. Where were our rights when the DEA and politicians went along with this horrendous act that was forced upon the ill, poverty ridden, and people living in chronic pain? How many people that were still able to work and support their families is this going to affect? How many will now be forced to draw the (can barely live on) disability, the health care costs, food stamps, and any other government provided programs. American is in a horrible financial debt now. How are we, as a country, ever going to pull ourselves out of this situation? We will now be putting more and more people on the government payroll, and we think that we are in debt now? Just wait until the full power of the DEA goes into action. To quote: “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
This is not what Americans want to do! There will be a backlash to what the DEA has done that will never be recoverable for this great nation. Shame on the DEA for doing this to us! We can right this wrong – we must protest in silence and ignore the DEA’s rules!
Rob
CA
I work as a nurse and suffer on and off chronic pain due to degenerative disease in my spine and osteophytes(bone spurs). I also have peripheral neuropathy. I have had two back surgeries and several epidural injections to deal with the sciatica. I know what it is like to work with pain in an ongoing basis. At work the other day I noticed that an admission to the hospital was due to salicylate overdose. I found out that the individual had a stomach bleed from too much aspirin. Apparently this individual could not get refills on his/her pain meds and took too much aspirin containing OTC’s and wound up with a GI bleed. We will see this happen with Acetaminophen as well. Naproxen, Advil, Aspirin, and Tylenol are easy to buy. We will see increases in OD’s on OTC non-narcotic pain relievers. I have seen what this leads to first hand. Kidney failure and gastric bleeding will be more prevalent as hospital admissions. There are consequences to the actions taken by the DEA that will have far reaching negative affects on real people.
beth c.
georgia
How do I sign the petition? I have chronic back and leg pain that has been manageable with norco. I could work and take care of myself. Not anymore without taking off work going to the dr. etc…
Trigger
GA
Someone mentioned an issue with not being able to get adequate relief, and being faced with a situation of using NSAID’s and then get admitted into ICU due to severe gastric ulcer bleeding. This has personally happened to me. Suffering from Chronic Pain, and always doing right. It’s nigh impossible to keep a month by month situation with Doctor’s visits on a perfect schedule, and if you cannot see your Doctor, no other Physician wants to take you in.
Due to Holidays, I ended up past my 1 month supply, and I resorted to those ” powders ” that work fast. Totally unintentional issue, but they literally tore holes in my stomach and gastro tract. When you are in severe pain, these may end up doing more harm than good. I ended up in ICU, due to severe gastric ulcers in my stomach. I had passed out and had bled so badly, it was affecting my breathing and ability to stay conscious. I almost died, and could have, if someone had not checked on me. I ended up having to get a transfusion, along with approximately 70 thousand dollar hospital bill. ( My insurance paid it all but the Ambulance and copay thank goodness). In short, due to this new law, Doctors cannot write for refills, call in, nor help you, until it is within a few days of the current prescription ending, and you have to see them in their office for a new script. If its a holiday, or worse, your Dr has to leave, you will end up in withdrawal, or accidentally almost dying due to NSAID bleeding because you are trying to alleviate the pain. We have got to get the laws changed back, because they are taking too much of a drastic approach with this change, and it has literally changed my life for the worse.
Gayle A.
Texas
I also wondered how the DEA could keep up with all the manufacturers, too. My pharmacy told me a few minutes ago that now there are only two pharmaceutical companies in the United States that are allowed to manufacture hydrocodone products anymore. That makes it much easier to control.
I had a stroke 10 years ago and limp, which throws my entire body out of kilter. I would imagine that I’ll be in a wheelchair in the near future. My husband was shot in the face with a .38, lost 4 inches of jawbone and two vertebrae in his neck. He’s also had a disc removed from his back. He does not know about this hydrocodone shortage yet and, frankly, I don’t have the heart to tell him.
RoseR
I agree with some of what I’ve read here. They should separate lifetime chronic pain patients with the medical records to back them up and allow them the same treatment they had before all of this. There should be an exemption rule for patients like us.
My accident was in 2001 and at a near 60% disability I will NEVER be ok again. I will never be without pain for the rest of my life and I cannot improve. Ever. Patients like me should have an exemption to this new classification where they have the medical records to back them up and a doctor to sign off on each and every exemption case by case.
mark
Poulsbo, WA
This new bureaucratic policy is 10 shades of wrong. Without daily pain medication I would no longer be functional. I travel for work – weeks at a time and at a moments notice. My doctor tells me I now need to pick up a 30 day hard copy prescription each month and refill locally. I would have qualified for disability years ago, but I had hoped to work another 5+ years. I might as well throw in the towel and go on the government dole now. There is no way I will have the pain medication I need when I need it.
Drs will be afraid to prescribe – huge numbers of people will not be functional enough to work. This is going to cost the country HUGE! What the heck are they thinking?
Rob
that’s just it… they act and don’t think. The kind of thinking used by the DEA/FDA is the same kind of thinking that our last administration to enter Iraq and really mess things up.
Quoting statistics that were either out and out lies, or misleading, the DEA made their point. That is exactly what the DEA did when it quoted ER/morbidity statistics regarding prescription drug fatalities. They did not show all the angles of those stats, for example, how many deaths that included prescription drugs also included illegal drugs, and alcohol. Another example, how many of the prescription drug fatalities included non-narcotic medications, and OTC’s. Doesn’t matter, trying to roll back this absurd rule will be like trying to change one of the letters of one of the words of the constitution or the declaration of independence. The rules were made for people, not people for the benefit of the rules!
Joy J.
Spring, TX
Every time I see a news report or read an article on this subject of pain pill abuse, my blood pressure goes up! I have seen no reports about the people who TRULY need these meds! This is a hot news story but, unfortunately, has continued longer than most.
I just read that Tramadol has been added to the list! What a joke! I have suffered from migraines for over 30 years and this is the only pain med they will inject me with (no prescription)! I want to start an Internet petition but really do not know how to do it…any ideas? This has gone waaaaay too far!
teresa
ca
And now here comes the additional ugliness we could all see coming. Besides the cancer patients and veterans having difficulty getting their refills because of these ridiculous restrictions, CBS 13 news delivered more bad news last night. A fire department employee, a paramedic I believe, was going to the homes of Citrus Heights residents claiming he had to do a smoke detector inspection.
While in the homes of his mostly elderly victims, he would ask to use the restroom, and proceed to steal pain pills. So now we have private citizens victimized by a stranger’s addiction. I pray these patients have compassionate doctors to issue refills, but there’s a serious lack of compassion in the medical community toward chronic pain patients. Not to mention, instead of the fire department employee’s need for additional pain pills being something personal to be worked out between him and his doctors, he’s now in jail for RX theft.
Making life a nightmare for pain patients doesn’t stop the determination of addicts. Sorry DEA, you should have left this one alone.
Rob
CA
I agree with you on this one! Sensationalism. Why this one incident becomes representative of all people I will never know, but watch, it will further dictate policy….the sins of the very few. People will turn to other means, unfortunately. This is, perhaps, what the government wants. Get more people to break the law and thereby increase the population of jails, fines, and prisons. Absurd!
Jackie
POMPANO BEACH, FL
I have been reading what you all have wrote I’m going through the same thing I want to hire a attorney and start a class action suit against the DEA and or the attorney general, those of us that need our medication are treated like second class citizens. I had to go through withdrawals last years because of this, and was ready to commit suicide, I was on the floor puking, shaking ect. It say’s in the instructions do not stop taking without your physician’s knowledge. My Doctor knew and there was nothing he could do no one would fill my medication does anyone care I could have died? I did and my child, friends and my doctor did also. So what are we to do if our doctors who we have been seeing for years and years if they can’t help us who can? We need to stop this now before 2015 starts or we get too far into it.
Blaire Drinkard
United States
I am really irritated with our government, I am on oxycontin, hydro/oxy codone. My prescription runs out Friday and I will need them Saturday morning but y he pharmacy says I can’t get them until Saturday which means to prevent withdrawal I will have to get up early Sat am… Anyone have some opinions or solutions. Who do i need to complain
Linda H.
Florida
Sad fact that we who are in pain must suffer. Won’t change until the politicians need the drugs.
Maria S.
utah
I am on hydrocodone an oxycontin have been on hydrocodone for over 4 years I have severe chronic pain arthritis fibromyalgia cerebral palsy. The problem I’ve been having in the last couple months is with the pain clinic they make me bring my pills in every single month and they take my other pill bottle and count them with their dirty hands three different times a couple have been missing. I did think they have no right touch my pills.
I’m willing to take him to the pharmacy and have them counted I’ve never abused my pills or have any reason for them to think I have. It’s almost like the assistant wants to get her hands on my pills. Tje last time I took them and I had 6 left she took them all out of the bottle and put him back in when I got home I only had 5 left I called to talk to her to ask her how many pills are in the bottle first she says I told her I only have 5 then gmod for a minute and said oh yeah only 5 so by law do we have to take them to them to have them counted I need to know what the law is.
RoseR
Sweetie, take another person with you at all times. A witness. If you can’t do that, dont let anyone touch your pills. No dirty hands should be touching your pills by law. It’s a health risk. If for some stupid reason (and its stupid) that your doctors office requires a pill count in his office, then YOU count them while they watch. If anyone in that office demands to physically touch your pills again, tell them, you’re calling your attorney and also reporting to the police each and every missing pill. The people there (or one of them) is taking advantage of you. Stand up for yourself.
Frankly, I’ve never heard of this. Only you can make it stop. Try though, to have a witness go with you to your next visit. That’s ridiculous. I’d never allow someone else’s hands touching my sterile medication. Even the pharmacists doesn’t touch or handle the actual pills themselves. What if that person had a mouth cold sore? That is just wrong on so many levels and legal levels as well.
Renee
palm springs
I’ll stick to the facts…
Bad accident in 2001.
Back surgeries, Spinal Fusion, Bone Grafts (one of the most painful things anyone can go through).
On Norco (4 per day).
After the schedule change, I was switched to Tylenol 3 because I’m on maintenance and only see the doc (PA) twice a year and they’re a 90 min round trip.
After 4 days of no sleep, called and complained. They suggested Tylenol 4 (twice the strength) before anything else.
It’s been one week on Ty-4, and its just not the same. Nowhere near it. Even with Ty-4, my sleep is being affected mostly. Waking up and not being able to move cause of chronic pain. This happens 4-5 times every night.
I have no doubt, my doc will switch me back. I have lifetime medical reasons for Norco. Problem is, do I drive that long drive once a month and pay an office visit each time? Just for a refill? (I pay cash. $68 each visit-$30 per script).
My medical would now cost me all that money per month just so the DEA can try and prevent illegal abuse.
My pharmacy has said they’ll accept scripts that have same day dates but a “do not fill until” _________. Will my doc do that? Don’t know, but I can’t afford to shell out $100 per month (doesn’t include gasoline bill) if he wont. I have a great case for suing them. Their statement says anyone who really needs it won’t see a change. OMG. How stupid they are.
charles e. m.
nc
I have syringomyelia very rare spinal tumor condition some days are worse than others but the real problem is the doctors in my area look at me and say “you have what?”
This condition affects my central nerves in my spinal cord (which is 10mm in diameter and one of my tumors was 7.5mm x4mm long) my spinal nerves are what they call tethered. All my receptors send random and continuous pains (pins and needles, cramps, etc…) The only thing they could or can do is put a shunt in to relieve the pressure and keep me comfortable with pain meds so I really don’t know what will happen after they are done screwing everyone out of their meds…
Sorry everyone… I know it sucks, they are already cutting my meds even though my wife and I where told my condition will continue to worsen and none of the damage already done is reversible.
payne
ky
This is so stupid. My husband is in chronic daily pain. If it were not for me being able to pic up his script, I am not sure what he would do. I am not for really wishing pain upon anyone but I certainly wish the idots that voted this in had to live with some. They might think a little differently and use a little common sense. Oh but we must remember, they have no compassion nor common sense.
I really like the person that commented about no longer voting and he is so right. The DEA wishes they could just control the world. Seems they are doing a good job of it. Would really be sad if they worked themselves and the congressmen we have in office right out of a job, but we all know that won’t happen either. Too many higher ups that think alike but they never tell what they do themselves while living off those high paying jobs and of course, getting their insurance free some of them. Would love to be around to soothe them whenever they could get to the point of chronic pain.
MRSTL14
Missouri
I agree as I am in constant pain and having the ability to get a decent pain medication that previously was able to have refills with it and now has to be a written script is BS. This is just a way to compensate the medical Doctors, and staff more obviously because it’s prescribed more than others narcotics (According to THEM) because of the convenience factor. It’s almost like it was issued to balance out the Obamacare that a lot of medical professionals seem to complain about. For what I don’t know, I guess they don’t get paid as much or have to take in more patients, I still don’t get it.
Rob
CA
Nobody is listening to our stories or our pleas. we are just blogging here as the miserable commiserate with each other. I tried the “get a hold of your congressman” bit. No go there, either. The government won’t stop till it controls every aspect of our lives. This is what they wanted. Our vote in matters like this never get heard. What matters most to people are the kinds of things we will never be able to vote on. This is why I don’t vote any longer. Your choices: Crook 1, Crook 2, or Crook 3. Lousy choices. The initiatives we vote on are created or manipulated by the crooks in office. Again, our votes and our opinion mean nothing. I predict that people in pain will go to overseas pharmacies and to underground sources to get what they need to treat pain. I don’t blame them. desperate times call for desperate measures. Sad and stupid.
vicki
Charleston SC
My local pharmacies are out of hydrocodone because of this new law- every time the government tinkers with something-they make it worse! Some people are posting they aren’t having issues- what about when you can’t get the medicine? Now drug abusers are resorting to heroin, buying online and robbing people. Doctors and patients are not criminals. If I had a child I would rather they take drugs (hopefully they wouldn’t) from a drug store than off the streets.. Supposedly in April they are adding another new law about other controlled substances.. When the new congress convenes we must write & call.
Louise M. S.
Deland, Florida
I have a prescription for this pain, I live 24/7 with chronic back pain and 3 years
ago my OP Dr prescribed Aceptomycian/Hydrocodon for me to take times 3 a day.
I can no longer get my medicine, no will fill it because of new rules. I only take it in morning and it carries me thru the day. Once in awhile I take 2 but rarely. This is not good. how canI get help?
Jim S.
United States
I am on Medicare and live in Florida. I have been on Vicodin for several years now. My medicare part D prescription plan charged me zero copay on the vicodin. However, next year, all part d plans are raising vicodin to a higher level drug for which I will have to pay a hefty share. My current part d insurance plan is raising their monthly premium and copays for my drugs a total of 84% next year! Everyone seems to be in collusion to ‘ween’ us off pain drugs? This is crazy? There is no compassion, it is all about power and money. I’m on a fixed income which is very low. Although I will be able to get the vicodin each month, it will be difficult for me to afford.
Everyone needs to get their congressman involved in this!
MRSTL14
Yeah, I agree. It’s another way to squeeze more money out of everyone. For those who can afford it won’t suffer at all. Those having financial issues to have a way of life will. That is THEIR agenda.
Jackie
Jim I also live in FL and on a fixed income I’m to the point where it’s gonna be my meds or eat so it I can get my medication because we are second class citizens, then comes the real fun getting it filled, last year while waiting for my prior auth to be approved I went a month w/o m medication, they gave me two choices 1st go through withdrawals, or hit the streets. I was on my living room floor puking and shaking and suicidal I WILL NEVER GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN I WOULD RATHER BE DEAD. I want to get lawyer and see if we can get help this is crazy to have to go through this all the time. let me know if you would like to help me start a class action suit against the DEA and or ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Pam
United States
This is defiantly not with thought to responsible patients. I’ve been told with my back and neck issues cannot be repaired with surgery due to the fact of other health problems the Neurologist does not feel I would survive the surgery. So I’m living with the fact that the discs are pressing against my spinal cord and with time this will leave me paralyzed from the neck down. I have been with a well known Pain Management doctor seeing him every month with no refills till next visit. I have no problem with that,I even gave up a powerful pain med of my own choice but too limit myself and others who are in need and who don’t abuse their meds, God help those who changed these laws they may never be in any of our situations then they will realize the suffering they made for many.
MRSTL14
Yeah I used some of the following but also refused Opana, Methadone, Morphine, Butrans, Fentanyl and chose to stick with Norco 10 mg 5-6 daily. I could of easily used more due to my pain but I would also use 1000 mgs of Advil/Aleve with Aspirin to help with pain. I have the same problem where surgery can’t be performed without extreme “Possible” complications so I stick to spinal injections and pills. It does make you want to punch someone in the back as hard as you can multiple times when they don’t relate, so they can then feel the pain. However I don’t get what the hell they care what someone decides to do for their pain.
Terressia S.
las vegas
Went to over 10 pharmacy’s and was unable to get norco. I have been on pain meds for two years and am enraged with the DEA. My brother died from cancer, and I can’t imagine if he was alive if he couldn’t get his meds. What the hell do you do when you can’t get meds.
Rob
CA
I agree with you and am sorry that you are running into this mess of not being able to get your pain meds. Between the FDA and the DEA I don’t know who to be more ticked off at. I know there is a moderator who helps keep this clean, but I can think of some choice words to use when describing what I think of “Nixon’s” DEA. They can’t catch the illegal drugs, so they go after the legal drugs and make them tree times as hard to obtain in a legitimate manner, i. e…… doctor patient relationship. Well, where there is a will there is a way. People will go after marijuana, instead. Maybe this is what the government wants, anyway. To you know where with the FDA and DEA. Vote to make MJ legal and never go back to HCP’s or any other narcotic for pain. What is the alternative? Nobody in government listens to us anyway. Any petition sent to government goes through a culling process and probably never gets read by a representative. The public has nobody’s ear on this one. Too many officials are afraid to be told that they are “soft” on drugs, thereby perpetuating the failed war on drugs. What a crazy world we live in where the nanny state decides that we are all little children who can’t think for themselves on any matter. May as well put rubber on the roads and sidewalks so that when people trip and fall they won’t get hurt. How ridiculous!
Joy J.
Spring, TX
Totally agree w/ the comment… what do they care about who gets pain pills? It’s the new form of Prohibition!
Jim Slaughter
United States
We have had these rediculous rules in Florida for the past few years. They did it to put the pill mills out of business. It is inconvenient to have to go in person each month to your pain management doctor and then go in person to the pharmacy but I have never been denied or told by any pharmacy they were out of stock, etc.
I don’t know how disabled people are able to fulfill all these responsibilities!
Diana W.
Vancouver WA
Genetics, sports and excess weight caused my knees to pretty much be useless when I was in my early 30’s. I have had three surgeries, hundreds of hours of physical therapy and finally a gastric bypass. The pain lessened a bit, but I still had to take a pretty low dose of Vicodin every day. I was considered too young for a knee replacement and even if I had one the chance of having to have it at least one more time is great. I even tried injections…lots of pain from the shot but no pain relief. Acupuncture was interesting, but ineffective. I can no longer take anti-inflammatories due to the bypass. I have Kaiser, which is the only plan I could afford after having “been retired” from a 30-year job. I didn’t like it but knew I could “jump through the new hoops” in order to get my pain meds. They forced me to sign a multi-page agreement…they made me watch an asinine video about addiction (seriously, there is a man in the video who asks, “what if I become pregnant while on opiods?”…true!)….they made me schedule an appointment with my doctor to prove that I do, indeed, have pain (even if the numerous x-rays, MRIs, etc. don’t already prove that). He gave me my refill….for a reduced number of pills which meant I could only take them at bedtime now, and had to suffer from morning until night with pain. My dosage ran out…I messaged the doctor about a refill. His nurse messaged me back that it would be at the pharmacy the next day. Three days later I went to the pharmacy….not only was there no prescription waiting, they told me that my doctor wouldn’t authorize it. I messaged my doctor to find out what I was supposed to do…that was a week ago. I have had to work, and cook a huge thanksgiving meal without any pain relief. I have probably gotten about 20 hours sleep total in the past week. It was not a very good thanksgiving to me. I may have to go on disability now because the pain is really starting to make it impossible for me to continue my job. People who suffer chronic pain shouldn’t have to be treated like a criminal to receive medication. I pay over $1000/month for my health insurance. Sometimes there just isn’t a solution to a pain issue. Sometimes it just is what it is and the only thing you can hope for is a pain pill that takes the edge off.
Diana O.
New Jersey
My 82 year old Mother had spine surgery on 11/3/2014, she had been on pain meds for chronic back pain for years, she went to rehab for 2 weeks and was released in my care 5 days ago along with her prescriptions from the attending physician. I took her pain prescription to a local Walmart, she usually goes to another Walmart closing to her home but she is with me for some recovery time. The pharmacist said he needed the Dr. to call him on Monday after 1pm to verify the script as it was not her regular pain management Dr. (What?? she just had surgery and under the care of the rehab Dr.) Well I had to wait until Monday and I called the Dr. Office and told them to call the Pharmacist at Walmart to confirm so I could pick up her pain medication.
They called and when I drove over an HOUR to pick up the meds the pharmacist now says I cannot fill it as the Script does not have the Dr. DEA number on it, I said for him to call the Dr. Office to get it and he refused and told me I had to get a whole new Script.
WHAT??? an 82 year old Woman in chronic pain along with post-op spine surgery pain and you want to play. I now had to call the Doctor office and go another 1/2 to their office to have them put the dea number on the script (THAT HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN FROM A PHONE CALL) and then drive back another 1/2 to get it filled and then back home another 1/2 hour. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! and I can assure you I WILL be sending complaints all over the place. I don’t know who is worse the DR. for not putting the required DEA# when he wrote it or the Pharmacist for just calling the DR. to get it while I was there.
Rob M.
CA
It really is bull, isn’t it! Something has got to give. The DEA and FDA are going to have to back off of the ‘paper” only requirement and allow the electronic version to be used where applicable. This going back and forth to the MD’s office is really unreasonable. Surely, the MD can send an electronic version that can be verified by a code and have the required information on it. This change won’t happen soon, just like any other government decision, but something will have to give on this. I am sorry this has happened to you. We all have to deal with this now because of the dictatorial powers of the almighty DEA.
Penny Hammack
United States
I visited my primary care doctor – at a Senior Medicine Practice – and asked for a prescription of Vicodin. Was told that the doctors in the practice will no longer prescribe Vicodin and I will have to go to a pain clinic. Like many seniors I have limited funds and transportation is a problem. I waited until I was scheduled for a visit and my current supply is running low. I have to wait until the pain clinic contacts me for an appointment whenever that may be, get to the appointment, go to my pharmacy and wait for the prescription to be filled. I feel like I’m being punished for having severe back pain.
Janie
Georgia
The Orthopedic prescribed a compounded topical cream which is wonderful for any pain. It expires before I use all of it. Well, it has tramadol in it! I had 2 refills left which can’t be filled. So, now I am working on getting his office to call me back! I just can’t believe this would extend to a topical. Really, how are you going to abuse that! The current bottle says discard after 11/30/2014. But, it lasts a long time after the expiration date.
I am allergic to oral codeine and morphine and most of the derivatives and combinations (hives). This has been the best pain reliever for me besides cortisone, without the side affects. I am going to hound my representatives relentlessly!
RoseR
I dont understand the part about Tramadol cream. I take the pills and since Tramadol is only a schedule three (after moving up from a four) it is still easily available and can be refilled several times over the phone or on a script.
May C
Florida
I had major back surgery a few months ago. Upon my discharge from the hospital, they gave me 2 prescriptions… While my out-of-town mother is driving me, we actually had to go to 9 different pharmacies to fill these.
This is getting ridiculous when a surgery patient can’t even get pain meds.
I have chronic pain still after the surgery.
I’ve had the prescriptions almost 15 days now. I’ve spent days, gas and time trying to get these filled. 37 pharmacies and counting.
I was out of work for short term disability due to surgery. When it was time to go back, I dealt uncomfortably with a day.
I was in so much pain and so uncomfortable… Now, I can’t even get my pain medication that I need right now…
I am so frustrated
Lou G
San Antonio
I stated this before. To contact your congress members, wait until the new congress is sworn in. Copy this website’s address, make your comment, and send it to each of your senators and your representative. If enough of us do this, maybe something will be done. All of us get some satisfaction that People’s Pharmacy allows us to vent our frustrations out here, but unless our congress people hear us, it will do no good. Having said that, with a new congress taking office, our complaints will probably go to the back of their “to do” lists.
Rob M.
I wish I had your optimism about our congress, new or old version. I don’t. I think this ruling will need to be challenged in the courts. A large advocacy body, like AARP, or some disabled rights association will also be needed to put pressure on the right people in power to show them that this is an important issue to be dealt with. That way this won’t be dealt to the “back burner” as you state. Challenges to the DEA will also need to be pressed in the courts. The dictatorial powers of the almighty DEA will have to be challenged and exposed for all of America to see that their failed war on drugs is now a war on common people who abide by the law and are being hurt by this new HCP ruling.
MK
No. MN
Very well put, Rob! We are being treated like the criminal who hijacks the truck @ the level of the warehouse. I had back surgery almost 8 yrs. ago, after being hit by a semi. The recommendation was for multi-level fusion & hardware. I was an O.R. Nurse & massage therapist for many yrs. & knew this procedure would not improve my life. I’ve taken 7.5 -10mg. of Vicodin once a day since that time, plus Tramadol 50mg 3-6 times daily w/Neurontin. My PCP had me choose between the two last week; “one or the other, not both.” He has never reviewed my scans or old records, or, even examined me. I know with certainty, that I’d have needed much more medication had I allowed multi-level fusion of my spine.
My huge, nationwide pharmacy of 10 yrs. only had 26 tabs, not the 56 ordered in brand name. They would not satisfy remainder of rx w/generic, as brand name has 300 mg of tylenol & generic has 325!….they’re killing us w/ridiculous technicalities. It seems as tho’ the pharmacies & physicians are in collusion. We, the “legal” relief seekers-(let’s just call us that) are the ones being shamed. And, they offered me nothing else to ease me through the transition.
I can’t help but wonder how the suicide rates will be impacted by this. Illegal drug usage will likely rise….at least.
PCP plans to retire early–the end of this month.
DM
Florida
Theoretically, I would have no problem with the switch to C2. I do have a problem with it because I take another C2 med daily and it can be a fiasco getting it filled every month. Even today, C3 meds are always in stock at any pharmacy… C2 is another story. Due to all of the other DEA bs lately, there are always shortages, and I mean ALWAYS! Now Hydro will be rationed as well. Total BS!
Steve
California
This rule is absurd.
Someone needs to amend this law immediately.
Is there anyone who can sponsor legislation to overturn this ridiculous law?
Stupid rule.
Rob
CA
I have contacted our duly appointed representatives online and have received the canned response from their respective offices. They regurgitate the DEA’s response or agree with it. The DEA seems to be nobody’s responsibility. The thing is it is a government agency. I thought congress and the president had oversight and control over the nation’s agencies. It appears not.
I am not sure to whom we can go if the congress and president choose not to do anything. A powerful lawyer or a powerful agency is what is needed. Patients with pain need to unite on this and take back our freedom and right to be pain free without these unworkable constraints on how a physician can treat his/her patients.
Joe
H town
Most doctors I talked to said they went into medicine to heal; to help people who were injured and sick. Not so much about the eventual money, especially after the medical school loans they had to repay for years and consistent medical knowledge classes all the time. They said the first thing they were taught was the Hippocratic Oath, and abided by it like gospel. But now, the almighty DEA has complete control, with all their years of medical practice, don’t ya know? It’s upside down. Now, if you can get sympathy from the governing rules of CVS and the pharmacy penalties and drug
shortages that seem to be the norm, I’m convinced it has nothing to do with anything except ….money. Follow the money. Override the doctors and the pharmacists, and get everyone on the street for pain relief, or even weed. Make junkies out of everyone and legalize it, then tax it, and take the money out of the poppy fields of Afghanistan. I’ve heard it all except for this…”When will you have it in stock?”
Frederick Drury
Kern Co, CA
Government is now out of control with laws that do nothing to stop criminals from getting whatever they want. This law makes no sense whatsoever, unless you’re a politician or pharmaceutical company!
Repeal Schedule upgrade for common pain meds before Heroin becomes the only logical alternative for people in a state of health care crisis.
Joan
California
I have been being treated for chronic L spine arthritis for about three years using Nucynta. I have had to go in once a month for a prescription and take periodic blood and urine tests to ensure I was not selling the drug on the street. It is an expensive drug that cost me a $100. Co-pay per month because there is not yet a generic.
A week ago I received a letter from my insurer, Blue Cross, telling me that if I want to obtain more than 120 pills of said medication – the amount I am prescribed in a month – per year, I will have to have my doctor submit a pre-approval. This is effective 1 January, 2015. So, what I am to do? I could get by on a little less that I have had access to, but as it is, my quality of life is lessened because of the pain. And mine is a degenerative condition. I have good insurance through my husband. And we pay through the nose. We are both retired. My insurance gives me one month to find a solution on my own for my severe back problems. Since, I was going in once a month and getting a legitimate prescription, what more can my doctor do? This is Blue Cross and how they treat their insured!
RobinsNest
Houston
In this day and age, NONE OF US SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE THIS CHRONIC DAILY PAIN!
… I’m so SICK of my meds being taken from me because the dang drug addicts are so irresponsible!
I’m old and on a fixed income… this government is totally out of touch with their citizens!
Cody
Colorado
Where are these doctors actually willing to write RX for pain medications? I’ve had one back surgery in my 40s. I’m looking at another within the next 5 years (degenerative disk disease, C4-7 and T-7-9, congenital). My PCP will treat me with Predisone once a year, and my orthopedist will do steroid injections once or twice a year (in between), and will *grudgingly* write an RX for Tramadol (once daily).
I’m willing to drive an hour to appointments, even monthly. I’m willing to sign a contract, take a urine test, and bring my meds to every appointment, to demonstrate I’m not abusing or selling anything. I asked for something for breakthrough pain, to be used 5 or less day a month. Nope, can’t do it–fear of the DEA and not willing to write RX for anything other than Tramadol and/or Robaxin.
So I am now getting Tylenol 3 from an out of country pharmacy. I hated to resort to this. I’m in pain every day despite using heat and monthly massage. Most days–I can bear it. Those 5 or 6 days every month where it’s bad? Tylenol 3 at least helps me function, though I sometime cry from the pain. I’m terrified of when he gets too scared to prescribe Tramadol.
Jim
Colorado
My father has this same issue, except he has had numerous unsuccessful surgeries on his back. The tramadol seems mostly ineffective, and he hasn’t been able to use hydrocodone for a few years. However, when I have given him powdered mitragyna speciosa leaf that I put in capsules, he says it works better than he remembers the hydrocodone. Look it up — it can be addictive, but if you are looking for a legal breakthrough pain solution, google “mitragyna speciosa”.
The People's Pharmacy
According to Wikipedia: “The pharmacological effects of kratom on humans, including its efficacy and safety, are not well-studied.[5] Most side effects of kratom are thought to be mild, although isolated serious adverse effects such as psychosis, convulsions, hallucinations, and confusion have been reported rarely.[4] “
J
Florida
The DEA and anyone else behind this hydrocodone mess are idiots if they think this is a solution. The drug addicts will just go to the streets and shoot up heroin. As you can see this is what is happening. The Mexican cartel, according to local news, is invading our Country. This drug is dependent not addictive. Millions of good honest people use it to relieve chronic pain and have been without addiction for years. Yes we are dependent on this drug the same way a diabetic is dependent on insulin. Yes they may die without insulin and we may die without being functional enough to get up and move without hydrocodone. It will just take a little longer. To the DEA: Get a real job! One you can do right!
Steve
We have to find someone who through AARP we can start a movement to get this going.
Instead of complaining, we need to contact our reps. And get something done about this.
Call, write, NOW
seth
cedar city
I was just told my 1 year doctor relationship is changing during my last visit. They doubled the cost of an office visit, no warning. I read the paper from the pharmacy that stated new prescriptions needed for each refill. The doctor said he would do that for me 2 visits ago, called today and was told no, sorry about your luck. I have no insurance, no med plan, nada… Pregnant wife, 10 month old baby, working 50+hrs a week and going to community college for 15 hrs week + study anytime possible… Our government would be a better place if it was still full of hard working real americans like myself. I am on a down hill slide, but I was hanging on by a thread. Now what? Chronic back issues make 18hr days hard!
Shawn
PA
Unfortunately it will never get changed back to the old schedule 3. Just another example of big brother wanting to control drug abuse but making laws that effect law abiding citizens. Hard to buy even allergy meds anymore because of all the meth addicts making speed out of it. I asked for the largest box of claritin d that the pharmacy carried and they rolled their eyes at me. I said I don’t have time to come back every 10 days for allergy meds. What was the problem? Tired of all the junkies making it hard for all of us! Just my two cents.
Warren
Missouri
I use Fentenol patches (Schedule II) to stay functional. I see my pain management doctor four times a year (unless I am having an emergency pain condition) and he writes me three prescriptions for the patches, one for each month. My pharmacy fills the current prescription and holds the other ones until thy become effective.
Neither my doctor nor I nor the pharmacy are inconvenienced by this procedure and we have never been questioned by the DEA. The doctor has full control of my medication at all times. I personally see no problem with this solution.
Michael
California
I’ve got three discs no good in my lower back which causes 24/7 pain and have been using hydrocodone for four years with no problem of my doctor prescribing or getting it filled at the pharmacy. Now thanks to the DEA changing hydrocodone to a schedule ll drug it’s been a frustrating nightmare getting my meds. First all the refills I had left were suddenly no good. My doctor didn’t have the proper prescription form and I was told at the pharmacy the script was no good. I go back to my doc and he tells me he doesn’t have the correct security scripts and will no longer write scripts for hydrocodone. I wrangled with my insurance to get a new doc who can help me. He’s got the right prescription forms, writes me a script and go to the pharmacy. Now the pharmacist says the script isn’t written correct, it has to say Vicodin, not Norco and they refuse to call the doctors office, they tell me I have to get it rewritten by the doctor. Another trip to doctor and I get a new script. Back to pharmacy again. The pharmacist says it’s too soon (by 3 days). Finally after almost 2 weeks I get my meds and during those 2 weeks I’m in total pain losing sleep. The war on drugs has been a failure so the DEA’s solution is to take more of our Constitutional rights of having some quality of life away from us and imposing more control over us and making it more difficult to have that quality of life. Whatever happened to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”?
Joe
htown
I think that they’re making sure everyone is smoking weed by the time they finally legalize it and tax it. They are creating the market and this is one of the steps. It also defunds the money going into Afghanistan where they grow the opium to make the pain drugs. Expect pharmacy robberies to go up exponentialy and more people going to the street for what they had legally before. Then they can’t get pain meds for their bullet holes, if they live through it. Whatever the reason for this is…I can assure you this, it’s about money. It’s not about their concern for your health or the quality of your life or whether or not crime goes up. It’s about money. Always has been. And get ready for more to come.
vicki
Charleston SC
DEA is making more changes next year- you will be hassled about all controlled substances eventually- they took away my friend patches in Florida and she was compliant…she was hit by a freight train literally…she can’t walk-they are going to get worse next year- this is just the beginning! Don’t ever think your Government cares about you- they want power! My husband has terminal cancer & they are cutting him back- no euthanasia but you must suffer…is that compassion? Maybe in hospice you get meds but not while you are trying to live with what little energy you have left…It’s terrible..
bye felisha
Thank you god! a rational and educated person on this thread.
Lynn M
ILLINOIS
Warrren:
You should consider yourself very fortunate that you have not had to justify getting your Fentneol patches as of this date. However, I hope that you have been reading the stories of all the other people who are contributing to this web site.
What are you going to do when or if your doctor decides to join the thousands of other doctors who absolutely refuse to write any prescriptions for any Schedule II medications whatsoever? I believe it will be just a matter of time. Good luck!
RoseR
Because Fentanyl patches are NOT widely prescribed and do not need to be mass ordered by pharmacies. See the problem now?
Bonnie C
Conroe, TX
Why is our government dictating MD’s who have a license to treat pain? How can we chronic sufferers get this barbaric law repealed? I have taken various mgs. of Hydrocodone for 14 years, only to be told my pharmacy is out. My pain level is so bad that I wish I could die! I am taking Aspirin, two, every 2 hours, chased with Tums. My stomach still burns. I beg of any replies or suggestions. I have been declared disabled by a Judge, and am a senior widow.
Incidentally, I have no toilets out of six, no heat, and no food. All in all, it’s a painful way to die. My family are all deceased being an only child, so after taking care of them, there is no one to take care of me. Please reply. Thank you, and may God bless.
Helen M
Modesto, CA
Bonnie, please contact your area agency on aging, tell them what you just wrote, and perhaps more, see what kind of help they can give you. If your income is low enough, you can get reduced rates on electricity and gas, and ask your utility programs how you can get a HEAP credit on your gas or electric bill. Again, if your income is low enough, contact the Catholic Charities, not limited to Catholics, for help. Hopefully, you will be supplied with an Advocate for your health and well being who can assist you thru the maze of getting what you need. Including finding a pharmacy that can supply your hydrocodone. My husband went thru that and finally switched over to CVS who never seem to be short of his pain meds, oxycodone and fentanyl patches. If they do not have them on hand that day, they will the next. This is not a commercial for CVS, just his story. There is also the Salvation Army, who can help with food and utilities. Please try any or all of my suggestions and let us know what happened. The information may prove helpful for someone else.
Joe
CVS is the worst pharmacy to deal with. For chronic pain patients with a monthly six year history around here, they all say, “we’re out of that medication, sorry”. I go when will you have it? They say, “we don’t “know…try Walgreens next door”. You can’t do that on a pm contract here. If you ask too many times, they get all snotty with you and you’re toast….they label you a seeker, if you can even understand what they’re saying under the mumbling. Be glad your local area cvs is regular, because the ones in the Houston area sure aren’t. Bring your arm in a bag to get an aspirin…with a prescrition.
Johnna
Albuquerque NM
Have you tried medical cannabis? Or “awe therapy”?
http://theweek.com/article/index/230934/could-awe-therapy-make-us-nicer
pepperc
AZ
“Awe Therapy”?
With that attitude toward pain, you have *got* to work for the DEA.
RoseR
Wow. I am replying a lot today but I agree with Helen… there are so many programs out there that can help you. If you can work at least diligently enough to find a helper… someone from a church, neighborhood or someone who can come over, sit with you and makes notes of all your needs and concerns, then make a bunch of phone calls and get you hooked up with any and all agencies that will help. I promise you they’re out there for each state. You just have to look and yes, dig a little. I strongly suggest some kind of free helper if you can’t do the research on your own.
Sharon
TX
This new classification is utterly ridiculous. Tylenol 3 and Tylenol 4 are no substitute for Hydrocodone, but that’s what some doctors are now prescribing. I choose to take Hydrocodone 10/325 versus stronger drugs, for severe chronic pain associated with back and neck problems (too many to list). Others I know, with similar problems, take drugs such as Morphine and Oxycodone, but I’ve stuck to Hydrocodone for 6 years because there is almost ZERO risk of addiction and it takes the edge off my pain enough to function. I am furious about this new classification. I feel like squirreling some of my pain pills away to assure I will always have some, for my most excruciating pain. But any skipped dosage makes me unable to function. And the less I move around and do things, the worse my symptoms become. For me, the choice is to get out of bed each day or get a wheelchair. And getting out of bed requires pain meds.
Joe
At least you can get tylenol 4. You can’t in Houston…the pharmacists all say “we’re out…we don’t have any.” I can’t figure out who lies the most, the DEA or the pharmacists. It sure gave them a lot of arrogance lately. I guess you have to our your severed arm in a bag and walk in there and you might get it filled. This classification is “almost” on the #1 level of LSD now. Crazy. What’s crazier is that weed is class 1 too, but you get drug tested for that, and I don’t even like the stuff.
RoseR
I have no trouble with Tylenol 4 scripts since the change, but I’m in Southern California and use Target exclusively and have for over ten years. I never move around to different pharmacies and I can’t say enough good things about my Target. When this change was first new, I called Target and asked what they would accept regarding scripts with the new change and they would accept the three scripts with the “do not fill until” date thing, but I never went that route. I had the Tylenol 4 for 6 weeks now and hate it, but I’ve had no troubles getting it and at least in my area, I can’t recommend Target enough. They’re really good with me, but they also know me very very well.
pepperc
You are in my exact boat. I recently asked for a decrease in my pain meds (big mistake) because I had a good month and (like an idiot) thought that my pain was improving.
I don’t WANT more opioid medication. I don’t want anything stronger. That is a dead-end road. I take just barely what I need to survive and bite the bullet from there.
Reneer
I had finally found the perfect combination for me. I am nearly 60% disabled and have surgeries and bone grafts. I was abruptly taken off Norco and put on Tylenol 3. It made my head fuzzy for a half hour and did absolutely nothing for my actual pain. Tylenol 3 is really only for short term use anyways.
Who in the HELL does the DEA think they are screwing up the lives of TRUE pain patients? I was functional. I had some semblance of a life. Now, I do not. I cannot get rid of the pain long enough to fall asleep or sty asleep. If I don’t get enough sleep, I will get ill. This was a colossal mistake changing the scheduling. How dare you dictate what I can take for pain. I do not care if some abuser has problems. He doesn’t get a hold of MY medications. Put the law and the scheduling back to where it was. I cannot live like this.
b. felisha
sounds like withdrawal symptoms to me.
Rob
CA
Amazing of the 16 million Rx’s written (going by this article on faith) in for narcotics, only 17 thousand deaths (supposedly, but not by narcotics alone). That equals 0.0010625, or less than 1 %. This is something we should be alarmed about? No. The DEA and FDA have another agenda. What is that agenda? I don’t know, but none of the recent decisions on HCP’s makes any sense at all. Neither does the response by many MD’s or Rx’s, if the new DEA rules are followed to the letter. What the hell else is going on and why isn’t congress or the courts reacting or responding to this big power play? They are in it as well, maybe? Who the hell knows. I am angry at our lack of representation on this issue. Anyone suffering chronic pain should be angry, whether it is directly affecting them, or not!
Allen
Atlanta area
M y doctor writes a script every month and I go by the office and pick it up. I don’t have to pay him to write any refills.
Connie
Canton, MI
Surprisingly, I didn’t have to make an appointment to get my refill today. I just had to pick up the prescription at the doctor’s office. I take Norco 7.5 (60 tabs) a month.
The real problem came when I tried to have it filled. My regular pharmacy said they no longer carried Norco. The pharmacist said, because of the new laws, it was too difficult to get it. She also said some people were getting it substituted with Tylenol 3. That just wouldn’t help my pain at all. So I went to another pharmacy… same thing. I called probably seven pharmacies… no luck. I don’t know what I’m going to do.
No one on here has mentioned this problem. I’m wondering if it’s just in my area? But why would that be?
Johnna
Albuquerque NM
Could this have anything to do with it?
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mie/news/2014/2014_3_7_bpatel_etal.html
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110802/FREE/110809971/canton-pharmacy-owner-25-others-accused-of-billing-fraud-involving
Joe
Its the same in Houston too. You can get the doctor to sign off on it since he knows your medical history, but the pharmacies have all the power now. The most common I’ve heard, and it’s always for the “new” pain app tylenol 3 or 4, and it’s “sorry, we don’t have any in stock”…or, “you can try the pharmacy down the street”, and they already know they don’t have it either. But mostly it’s because they just can’t get deliveries anymore. They’re pretty tight lipped about it all, and when you ask any question about why…you’re automatically labeled a drug seeker, even if you have a 5 year history print out with one pharmacy. You’re just too much of a risk for possible license revocations for distributing an opiate. So, I notice the local bars are doing well lately, and the marijuana busts are almost every day and increasing. Yup, you can still legally drink yourself to oblivian and get in a car, but you can’t nurse a broken leg at home with legal Dr. issued scientific controlled pain meds. It’s BS.
Penny H.
United States
My current representatives and senators so often have views diametrically opposed to mine that I feel like they don’t represent me at all. And one of them makes it almost impossible to contact her by e-mail, as if she doesn’t really want to learn what her constituents are thinking. I sincerely hope that all of them that are up for re-election are voted out this year.
Zoe
Ohio
My doctor prescribed hydrocodone to me before October 6th and I have one refill left. I looked up the specifics of the law and found I should be able to get that one refill, then I have to have new hard copies. I called WAL-MART and they refused to fill a prescription written 4 months ago. I feel like I’m being treated like a criminal and I find that feeling disturbing and sad. I’ve been getting the same script for five years and I requested the doctor to give me less because I took them only when pain brought tears to my eyes. He lifted an eyebrow and I said, I know I’m asking the opposite of what you usually hear. When he was writing my new script he laughed and said, are you sure? Of course I said. My prescription was cut by 30 pills a month. WAL-MART knows this, yet their “policy” is not to honor pre 10/6 prescriptions.
This was my last refill before I go back to the doctor, who is 65 miles away and get hard copy refills. Why 65 miles? Because NO ONE in this rural area will write prescriptions for pain medication. Listen up DEA, I don’t care about people who are addicted to a medication that’s not prescribed to them. Sounds tough? Well, it is. It’s time we STOP babysitting every druggie in the world and leaving honest people in the dust. Legalize it ALL, I don’t care. My best friend died of an overdose of cocaine but that was his decision, not mine. Additionally, cannabis should be LEGAL in all 50 states. Truly, that is one drug that relieves my pain. Even with the refusal of WAL-MART to fill my medication, I have enough to see me through because I don’t take them all the time. I have sympathy for people who have been affected by this draconian law and didn’t have “left overs” like I do.
Tim
It gets much, much worse. You will find it impossible to fill your prescriptions because the pharmacists are terrified of being arrested by the DEA.
You will probably wake up at night, head spinning and wanting to puke from pain and be angry that this, THIS, is their solution to other people who abuse drugs when you don’t.
If there was ever an example needed to prove that this government does not care about you, this is it.
Joe
Nailed it…exactly right. Even if you have all your forms and signatures legal and ready to go, the pharmacists just say, “we don’t have it in stock…try going to Walgreens”…or, “try going to Walmart”. Even with most pain management contracts people agree to…to only go to that pharmacy, so you’d be in violation of that and then get permanently denied. They know that and ignore you. So, I noticed the amount of people being busted for weed has dramatically increased because they have no other way of chronic pain relief…then they lose their jobs because of drug testing. The only way you can get a script that you usually got for 5 or 6 years is to walk in there with your severed arm in a bag and say….yeah, it really frikkin hurts, got anything to help?
b. felisha
None of your actual business
If you worked in a pharmacy, you would know that there have been manufacturer backorders left and right on all strengths. It’s not our problem that doctors are over-prescribing a narcotic. The DEA is trying to get doctors to transition to a less addictive and harmful drug. And no… believe it or not the pharmacy doesn’t lie to you. we actually are trying to help you. If we didn’t want to fill it for you, we would tell you that. There’s just a wide spread shortage.
Rob
CA
Widespread shortage? All of a sudden after the DEA enacts new rules there is a wide spread shortage? Sounds fishy to me. Trying to get people to transition to a less addictive narcotic? There aren’t any left! Tylenol with codeine is less efficacious than hydrocodone….look at the studies. Over prescribing? How? When? Oxy? maybe! Percocet? Maybe. Hydrocodone? Doubtful. It has been a mainstay for over 25 years.
No. There is an agenda here. The DEA has too much power and influence. They can turn things on and off at will. This isn’t all just because of the Florida pill mills.
wendy
It’s getting VERY strange! I was trying to locate a pharmacy that sells the actual Norco 539, made by Watson, which has always worked very well for me. But now the only 10/.325 ones are made by Qualitest, Mallinckrodt, and a Watson 853. According to the customer relations people at Watson, the Norco 539 is now a capsule, but no pharmacy had heard of it. (I called 5 or more.) The Watson 853 that Walgreen’s filled my scrip with was so bad that when I took one, I started sweating profusely, got so weak I collapsed onto a nearby chair, and projectile vomited for 3 minutes or so. And we’re told that the FDA has safe guidelines for generics! The fact is, the active ingredient can vary by 20%, and the inactive ingredients can be just about anything. This is just purely vicious.
MK
United States
Yeah…well, that “shortage” sure came on all of a sudden, didn’t it?
I’m hearing many recent stories like these (about treatment at the Pharmacy) from coast to coast. Yes, it’s been happening to me, too. No doubt the boom has been lowered from above & you are just the mouthpiece. You all do have a choice in how disrespectfully you may be talking to your customers, however–(you remember…the ones that pay your wages?). You’re making yourselves look bad.
Helen
california
I am having my first experience with pain meds while waiting to have back surgery. I have discovered that that they are just like all the generics. No two brands work the same. I needed to get a second prescription which I had to go to the Dr. for a written Rx, thanks to all the addicts out there.
The manufacturer is different, AMN instead of MAL. The MAL 5-325 worked for me, the AMN brand does not work at all. Now I am stuck with just having to tolerate the pain. AMN website is not working properly so I have not been able to contact them. This generic drug business continues to be out of control and the refill policy for pain medications which affects legitimate patients is ridiculous.
ann
Knox Indiana
Well, if people can’t get their pain medication there would be a lot of people taking their life due to unbearable pain.
RRose
You don’t have to go to your doctor one a month for a new script. Your doctor or pa can write several same day date scripts (make them all that same day date as your visit) and just put a note on there “not to be filled until” 30 from that point. I only go to my spine institute twice a year and would never ever ever pay for an office visit once a month just to get a new script. No way.
Rob
C
That’s a terrific idea if your physician goes for it. What if that is not the case? for most of us that is not the case. I see my physician every three months and we talk about my pain and then decide whether or not a new Rx. is needed. This is going to be the new normal for some people…….a pattern like this. It’s a shame. frequent visits should not be necessary unless ongoing assessment is needed at a more frequent basis.
William D. C.
United States
I’ve been taking hydrocodone for years because its the only thing that really helps my migraines, which, perchance, are bad enough that I have considered suicide when I have them without medication on hand. Someone needs to reschedule this drug to class III and alleviate the extra burden that it has put on pharmacies, doctors and patients. While I can’t physically afford to become addicted – I know some people have become addicted to these pills, but I also know some people have become addicted to alcohol and cigarettes and it seems awfully easy to buy both. Where is our lobby, foolish big brother.
Rob
CA
I have three words: Class Action Lawsuit. The DEA and FDA need reigning in on this whole issue of HCP’s and prescription power. I have petitioned congress and the president with little hope of intervention….they are worried about the elections, not yours or my pain issues. Interesting that this decision comes at this time. Law makers don’t care. We are on it alone. I am a nurse and have been for nearly 20 years. I know what this new rule will do: more visits to the ER for heroin overdose and cocaine and meth use. All are illegal, but will become easier to get for people in pain. It is too bad that the government is so upside-down, idiotic, on this issue. I see people resorting to medication from over seas that are not as safe, but what can we do? Nothing. We will be receiving no help from our duly appointed representatives, either. Again, a law suit in federal court or the supreme court will be needed to reign in the DEA and their power grabbing.
Vicki
Green, Ohio
Obviously you don’t live in unbearable pain~alcohol & cigarettes are far more deadly and they are addictive..we can’t treat pain patients inhumanely~that’s what this boils down to..teens sniff gas for a high~we can’t tear out the pumps!
Lou G
San Antonio
I’ve posted twice here about this subject. Reading all the comments, if each one of you that posted a reasonable complaint, copied your post onto an email and sent it to your Congressional Representative and Senators, perhaps if enough complaints from throughout the US, would call for congressional hearings on the matter. We need to wait until elections are over, and a little time for the dust to settle, as some of these folks may no longer be there.
debs
Alabama
Thanks so much for your comment, Lou! I think that is an excellent idea. I will prepare a letter in advance to post after elections.
Lou G
San Antonio
Mine is prepared also, debs. I’ll send it in January, although hindsight tells me that because of the new congress, even if many of us send in complaints and/or suggestions, this will be a low priority. Nonetheless, I will send mine in.
Rob
Tried that Lou. A response came from both congressman and senator—-they were form responses that did not address my questions or concerns. This is election time and they only give a damn about their seat and retaining power. A lawsuit is what is going to be required to make any change. It always ends up that way. It would be hard to put this on a ballot as a measure to vote on. No way would the powers that be put that kind of power into the hands of voters. We get to vote on congressional seats, the president, and that is about it. We get no say on anything of great consequence and that is where our system fails. There are no checks and balances when it comes to these things. The DEA and FDA need a checks and balances apparatus in order to keep them honest and not give them too much power over the lives of ordinary Americans.
Kathy
california
I would like to know if there is any organized campaign going to help with this ridiculous pain med situation. I’m interested in joining up if there is.
It’s hard to be calm under these circumstances but it helps when writing messages. They, whoever that may be, won’t listen if we seem hysterical.
I think this is one of the more serious mistakes our government, or a government agency, has made in my lifetime. I’m 70 years old, I have more than one condition causing chronic pain, I am not an addict, My doctor has been aware of my prescriptions for years so I see no reason to change that.
Is there any hope for an organized protest, one that might lead to letting doctors get back to treating their patients?
Kathy
Bill S.
Placitas,NM
Hydrocodone and its equally addictive cousin, Oxycodone have a very checkered past, having been developed in the lab by German scientists during WWII to treat Nazi soldiers after the Allies cut off their opium source.
While there is no doubt of Hydrocodone’s legitimate use in the United States,the large percentage of drug addicts misusing this narcotic pain medication skyrocketed over the past 20 years,and the change of classification was finally implemented by the FDA.
What needs to happen is that the Pharmaceutical Manufactures need to find a less addicting alternative to this old drug.
Hopefully,they’ll have an incentive to do so.
Helen M
Modesto, CA
If these drugs are falling into black market sales and use; why didn’t the government trace their source before assuming they are coming from my medicine cabinet?
I have spinal stenosis and now, because of a short bout of prednisone, osteoporosis in my back, which has curved enough that I lost an inch in height. There is no cure, nor treatment, for these problems. Additionally, I have wide spread pain from fibro, a condition that not too long ago doctors said was all in one’s head. I can have up to four norco and four tramadol a day. I seldom take more than one of each, thank heavens, so I was not caught with two pills left when this happened. The pain management clinic is overwhelmed and the telephone tree has been disabled so you no longer can make an appointment. I went in person, only to be told they no longer make appointments at the front desk, given an extension to dial, left a message, never heard back. Now I have another extension to call. In addition to the above conditions, I had surgery on my eyes at Stanford this month, a hundred miles from here, which required three trips and one more to come. Where am I supposed to find the time and energy to focus solely on getting an appointment? My dose is not high, but it takes away enough of the pain that I can function for several hours a day. When we began with this PCP several years ago, he made it plain he would not write prescriptions for pain meds, nor get into any management of the pain. BTW I am 76 years old, have had cancer four times, am fighting to avoid being home or bed bound; the government should be helping me, not making life harder.
Little
Virginia
I know this is a very controversial issue, but when you say this drug is addictive, how about you think of all the drugs out there that are addictive….caffeine, sugar, cigarettes, ALCOHOL…..etc. And several of these are on black market, and or used in an abusive way. How would the representatives that voted to control the hydrocodone from legitimate pain patients feel if we took their alcohol away or put restrictions on that! They even started selling alcohol here in Virginia on Sundays, which has been banned for as long as I can remember and they got a lot of brag on the decision because sales doubled!!! It’s all about control and money to them. And I can guess that almost every representative that voted yes on this idea is a drinker.
No matter the drug or chemical, there will always be controversy and no new law is going to stop illegal activity. This new law is only going to cost a lot of money, cause healthcare to be even worse, cause turmoil and more chaos on the illegal scene, and especially cause more doctors, specifically PCP’s, to disappear or stop helping people from fear of repercussions. And did anyone think that a legit pain patient might turn to be illegal for the actual reason of “chronic pain” and may turn to the streets to find what the doctors are afraid of giving? This new law is going to turn into a bigger problem than anyone realizes…. the lack of a person not getting pain relief is a terrible fear for a person who is TRULY in pain and when fear is injected, people tend to do irrational thinking.
The representatives, in my opinion, didn’t consider all the outcomes….
Tapar
CA
A lot of people will be upset with this new law on pain meds going on Schedule II and lying about meds that have refills left can be filled until April “2015.” I have severe neck and back pain, and now can’t get my meds even with a new script. I went back to my doctor’s and ask for a substitute for pain (Tramadol), but it’s not helping my pain. I’ve been off hydrocodone for 2 days and supposed to take 3 tabs of 50mg tabs but instead I’m taking 2 a day for 4 days then I’m going to take 1 tab of 50mg tabs for 4 days then cut the 50mg. into half and take the 1/2 a tab for 4 days then stop taking it. I rather be in pain than have these drugs control my life.
Peggy M.
Greensboro NC 27410
My husband is in the same situation. He has been taking Hydrocodone responsibly for years and now this has happened. It is outrageous!
Little
Virginia
I had 5 refills on my Lortab and Kroger Pharmacy took them. I read the law on this new change and it stated that an old prescription for hydrocodone would honor the refills, but got a letter from Kroger who made their own rules and took my refills. Legit pain patients are being mistreated, and I do not understand why a pharmacy can make their own rules when the legal document states refills would be honored on a prescription that was written prior to Oct. 6th. Someone is lying.
b. felisha
don't care
It was up to the company’s discretion to honor/ not honor refills. CVS and Walgreens didn’t either.
Ed
portland, or
I have been dependent on vicoden for 20 yrs., following an accident that shattered my left ankle, and left me handicapped. The pain has increased with age (arthritis), and because of other serious health related problems, and medications (blood thinners, etc.)required for them, this is the best and only pain-killer that I can take that will not damage my kidneys and liver. All my other meds are killing me slowly.
I have/had a contract with my dr. – a six month, renewable, prescription. This kept me from over-using when my pain increased, and worked out fairly well for me. Now, I have to cripple in to the dr. office, and pick up a piece of paper that I had to REMEMBER to order 3-4 days in advance, and cripple down to the drug store to submit it, and pickup.
There is a reason that this drug was prescribed so much: it is the safest, best choice for chronic pain relief. I am 75 yrs. old, and hardly an addict. There should be some way to determine REAL need from the rest. I think short-term rxs for temporary pain relief, with no refills are common now, and should continue.
Don
Texas
I completely agree with your quoted readers comments. I have 30 years in the medical field(ER) and have seen patients (usually repeat offenders) who attempt to abuse the system. However in my experience the majority abusers are those that obtain these drugs illicitly ie. bought, stolen, swiped from medicine cabinet, etc.
Unfortunately with this reclassification MOST physicians will NOT write these prescriptions.
Yes as often the case with uninformed government action, those in the greatest need will suffer the most. Make your wishes known to your representatives.
Debs
Alabama
I have been using a pain management doctor for 3-4 years for chronic back pain. He prescribes (3) 10mg hydrocodone a month. I see him once a month for the prescription, have never received a refill without the monthly visit and have random urine drug screening for substance abuse, other drugs, etc. Will he still be able to write the prescription? Will it be reduced? He mentioned last month I would be switching to a transdermal pain patch (bu-tran?) because of the new laws. I am pretty worried the patch will not be as effective. I like the hydrocodone because, to me, there is no “high” involved. The pain just seems to be gone for several hours. I have never abused them or taken more than prescribed. I am scared I will be living with the constant pain again! Any thoughts?
Kevin
Chicago
Vicodin and all the other drugs listed are extremely addicting. THAT’s why this became a law. Patients are mostly becoming addicted because of ignorant, lazy doctors; they just don’t care. They continue to write these scripts and never care about treating the problem! Why does the patient have pain? They never ask.
Because of these doctors my Dad has been in therapy and on a million other drugs to try and get his mental state back. Vicodin only works for so long for pain, then users ‘think’ it’s still working because it simply satisfies their addiction. I know because I took it for years myself. Once I stopped taking it because I wanted my life and ‘head’ back, I only then finally had the motivation to determine why I had such bad pain. I too went to a million doctors and failed to get a treatment for my herniated discs or terrible nerve pain in my back (I’m in my early 30s and had such bad pain I couldn’t walk).
When I stopped this motivation turned into therapy for a couple years and it finally got to a tolerable state. I realize not everyone has an option to get cured, but the majority of the patients do; yet the doctors are preventing this forward progress and cure by simply prescribing these meds over, and over, and over again. Their ignorance and laziness to actually ‘treat’ a patient is why so many patients are suffering. Hopefully this law will stop the majority of this abuse. And may god bless the very few patients that really do need a life long dose of an extremely addicting drug to live their life.
Rob
CA
The vast majority of M.D.’s out there are definitely not lazy, especially with all the red tape that goes with being an MD. The lazy ones are the pill mill MD’s. The majority of MD’s are decent and follow the rules. The majority of people who take the medications are using them for the right purpose and not selling them or hoarding them. That is a fallacy perpetuated by the government—DEA; an excuse to create the new rules. Prohibition did not work in the 1920’s-30’s and is no more logical in the present situation. The DEA and FDA have no blanket medical degree or experience working with patients in pain. The DEA has a lot of power for a small entity within our bloated government. We no longer have a system of checks and balances that work. Sad, really. It is no small wonder that some have thought of turning to other means to get what helps them the most. You can’t blame them.
Warren N.
Missouri
@Debbs: I have been using the Fentinol trans-dermal patch for bout 2 years. It is the only thing that keeps me (mostly) functional without messing up my brain. The pain is just made tolerable as if by magic.
pepperc
I spent tens of thousands of dollars on chiropractors over the years before I ever touched a pain pill. My doctors put me through tests, physical therapy, massage therapy, TENS therapy, and so much more, then I had state-of-the-art spinal surgery after ALL of that failed.
My spinal surgeon told me that the surgery would extend my life and save my heart from being compressed until it quit, but that the surgery would probably not help with the pain.
And he was right.
But there was nothing lazy about my, or my doctors’, approach to my problem. Pain meds were the last resort and it’s all I have left.
Noah Vaile
Chapel Hill, NC
What I think is that it is just more government interference and control in our private lives. Making life a little more difficult, a little less easy for another, relatively small, group of people.
Why? Because they can. And they come up with a rationale that presumes irresponsibility on the part of the citizenry, punishing the guiltless under the guise of making it more difficult for the guilty.
Making law via regulation.
lou g
San Antonio
I disagree with the statement “Patients are mostly becoming addicted because of ignorant, lazy doctors; they just don’t care.” Do you have proof that this is the case? Perhaps some folks become addicted mentally because they think without hydrocodone they’ll be in pain. I take it as needed; if I can get by with pain, I won’t take it, not for fear I’ll get addicted as you claim, but I’ll get mentally dependent. So the longer I go without, the better it seems to work when I do take it.
You must have been in terrible condition to have gone to a million doctors. As one much older than you, and has had as many problems as you describe and back surgery, my doctors do care and they in fact state I’ll always have back problems because of degenerative discs. There is no cure, as you suggest. If there was, we wouldn’t have so many folks complaining of back pain. So the alternative is to try physical therapy, perhaps a chiropractor to massage and manipulate the back, surgery as a last resort, or drugs.
Bev
United States
I’m with you on that one! This is the first I’ve heard of this. I was just getting ready to make an appointment with my doctor for prescription refills. There’s no way I’ll be able to afford my co-pays and drive the 45 minutes to my doctor’s office every month…and then to the pharmacy…besides that, my doctor’s office was always crowded and overbooked as it was! I always have to wait at least an hour, and usually two, before I can even get to see him! Imagine everyone on a pain medication trying to get in there!
And it looks like I’ll be trying out some herbal tinctures very soon! Switzerland is looking better all the time!
Rob
CA
I could not agree more!
romulo p.
Philippines
I have crohn’s disease for many years now and I am taking prednisone, imuran and pentasa. I am also suffering from peripheral neuropathy and my doctor in the Philippines just gave some samples of Tramadol to try for pain relief. I have not started taking it because of my digestive system is already messed up due to crohn’s. Do you think I should start taking them ? Thanks.
hb
Studio City, CA
To say the new classification on medications like Vicodin or Norco are ill-conceived is a substantial under statement. Up to now, authorized prescription refills were available through the mail, a major convenience for the handicapped or aged patients, and certainly anyone in enough continuing pain to need them.
With any of these situations, it is not reasonable to require them to see their doctor each month to get the needed medication. Also, if taking these drugs, the patient shouldn’t be driving or even taking a bus, since judgement may be affected. How can someone in chronic pain and in a wheelchair be expected to deal with this? The costs of transportation and doctor’s visit could exceed the cost of the medication — just try getting a monthly appointment at your HMO just for prescription renewal and then also having it covered.
Talk about needless escalation of medical costs, this could send them through the roof! As for anyone that intends to mis-use such a medication, we experienced during the Prohibition Period of alcohol that such restrictions won’t stop mis-use. There is a terrible, unspeakable potential for patients in chronic, persistent bad pain for which they can’t get medication for relief that will be on everyone’s conscience if this stupid restriction persists.
Get real, legislators!
Ralph Y.
heath tx
After many surgeries to attempt to correct injuries resulting from a traffic collision about 10 years ago my wife continues to take hydrocodone to make the residual pain manageable. She and her doctor have worked out a method to ensure she has the necessary medication.
Meanwhile, I am highly allergic to hydrocodone and all its brand name formulations. Fortunately I can usually use Tylenol or something similar for pain relief. The worst pain hangs around a day or so after a dental procedure. I have no idea what I will use if I ever have a major problem. Any suggestions?
pepperc
My daughter is allergic to most narcotics and the only thing that she can tolerate for post-operative pain is Demerol. Thankfully, she’s managing just fine without the consistent need for pain relief and she knows that Demerol is there if things get bad. (Like a car accident)
You want to know what’s funny? She just moved to a new state and cannot find a family doctor to take her because she’s had so many surgeries as a child. It’s the same thing, “We don’t take pain patients.”
When she says, “I don’t suffer from chronic pain. I’m allergic to narcotics,” they say,
“We don’t take pain patients.”
She’s been hung up on too many times to count. She had to go to the walk-in clinic a few weeks ago for bronchitis.
The docs are terrified, and for good reason. These new regulations are career killers and they’ve worked too hard to throw in the towel.
Carrie
florida
Punishing the legitimate responsible user of pain medicine, because of some that abuse it or sale it is a, answer that does not fix the problem. It only punishes those human beings that really need it due to inoperative or fixable illness, so they don’t live daily in pain. Kinda like having a bad tooth ache for the rest of your life, and no one cares. I look forward to those that were a part of making it harder for legitimate patients to get there medications have pain issues in there near future. I hope they suffer in pain like they have just done to millions of people. I wish them alot of bad karma
Ma Crm
ATL
This is crazy, What can we get the DEA to change this ruling?
Lou G
San Antonio
As one that also takes Hydrocodone as needed up to 4 times daily, but I never take more than one unless I’m in severe pain, I sympathize and empathize with the person that wrote this. Fortunately, my prescription will last me more than a month, so I won’t have the same monthly problem having to see a doctor monthly for a refill. It seems those with chronic proven problems should be able to have a doctor’s statement at the pharmacy stating the person does in fact require the medication so perhaps they can receive a 90 day supply or 2 refills.
MJ, PharmD
Please become educated on the topic before posting articles on it or at least have someone who is educated do some proofreading. Amphetamines are schedule II drugs, just like hydrocodone now is, not schedule III as you say. Schedule II prescriptions don’t “last only one month.” Although it will vary by state, the prescriptions typically expire six months after they are written. Although some prescribers will require their chronic pain patients to come in for a new hydrocodone prescription each month, this is not a federal legal requirement. Prescribers can issue multiple one-month prescriptions, dated appropriately and marked with “do not full until [date]” at a single office visit to facilitate multiple fills of schedule II medications. If they choose not to do so, that is a prescriber issue rather than a regulatory issue.
If oxycodone should be a schedule II drug (and no one argues that it should be schedule III), then the virtually-indistinguishable hydrocodone should be schedule II as well. Opioids aren’t benign substances; these are dangerous drugs that require close monitoring.
Rob
Your statements are a bit confrontational. If the shoe were on the other foot you might not be so angry. Ordinary people can speak to this subject intelligently, and they have. You have a pharmacists perspective on the issue and that is fine, but it is not up to you to judge others. As to HCP’s, yes they can have a disastrous impact on peoples lives(as a nurse I see what drugs do to people—usually mixed with alcohol, other legal drugs, and illegal drugs), but so has alcohol and cigarettes, but you don’t hear anybody crying for a ban. I have read some articles where there has been a call for a ban on all narcotics. That is idiotic and absurd. Most people take their medications as prescribed and are not out selling them to addicts or pushers. Vast majority of diversion of narcotics occurs during robberies and heists, not by your 75 y/o aunt with chronic arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The new rule will have far reaching ripples of effect.
Ann
I agree with this person, and surgery is not always successful.
John M.
Carrollton, TX
I have had “severe” spinal stenosis and osteoporosis for some years. My neurosurgeon has been prescribing 10mg Hydrocodone for my pain, which is severe enough that I cannot function without it. My neck is now fused from C-1 to T-4 along with the Laminectomy needed to relieve the nerve pain I had. I now need the same surgery for the lower Lumbar region of at least 4 main vertebrae along with the Laminectomy. I hurt all of the time.
Now it is a pain in the butt for my surgeon to prescribe medicine as he sees fit because he now has over 380 patients trooping through his waiting room a month needing an “original” signed script! This is crazy, he is the Chief of Neurosurgery of a 750 bed medical center.
wendy
U.S.
I also have chronic, apparently incurable pain, and have been treated as a “drug seeker” by two M.D.s, even though I’ve consistently made 30 10 mg. Vicodins last for two to three months, by simply spending the majority of my time sitting or lying at home, because it was too painful to move, and only using the Vicodin when I HAD to get out to get groceries or suchlike. What in the world is going to happen NOW?
Jim S
United States
Florida enacted the same restrictions a couple of years ago because of “pill mills” which were rampant. Unscrupulous doctors writing prescriptions with multiple refills which were going to drug addicts and drug dealers.
Yes, it is VERY inconvenient. I must see my pain management Dr. every month for my Hydrocodone refill and I must personally pick it up at the pharmacy. I don’t know what a disabled person would do. In addition, the pain mgt Dr. charges medicare about $220 for a 5 minute visit, simply to write a Rx. One day a month, I must wait for up to two hours in his office to get my prescription. Once every 3 months I must also give a urine sample to be sure I am not abusing. My Dr. says he turns away a lot of people who are obviously addicts. His license is at risk if he violates these rules. Also the state prints and distributes special prescription forms for the Doctors for these drugs. I should also note that your primary care physician is not allowed to write Rx for these drugs so you MUST go to a pain management Dr. It is a shame that those who legitimately need the medications have to go through this!
Little
Virginia
Not true! Your PCP and even a Field Prac. Nurse can prescribe Hydrocodone. I had seen a FPN in October AFTER the law and she refilled my Hydrocodone. Where did you hear that a PCP could not prescribe these anymore???
Margie
SEA
I don’t have a pain issue. I have a chronic lung disease. My doctor usually prescribes Cherra- Tusssin cough syrup for me to have on hand because the coughing can be debilitating. My cough syrup now requires a written Rx!! They have gone completely crazy and over the moon on this.
I guess I could start drinking Jack Daniels which works too, but not as well.
By the way, it took me two years to go through one bottle of cough syrup. So I’m not mainlining the stuff!
Sam S.
Ohio
I have had to play this game for years now and understand the futility of this ridiculous hardship on real patients in real pain. I understand there are drug seekers and pill pushers who fill scripts and sell on the open market. My doc requires a urine test several times a year not just to look for illegal drugs but also to watch the level of the medications in my body. If I’m not taking the meds but selling them the test will show a very low or zero level of the schedule II or III drugs in my body. That test costs money just like the drugs themselves.
I had to drive 50 miles one way to pick up my monthly scripts, now that is down to 25 miles one way with a new office but the hardship of driving that distance to a person already in moderate to sever pain is a significant hardship. Was this considered by the drug crusaders? I doubt it. Was the increased cost to patients considered by the do gooders? Not likely. Our president told us to just take a pill and now the pills are so restricted a patient has to choose between paying for the pill or food on the table.
I can see the slippery slope as the DEA only seems to be of the mind to restrict access or availability of pain meds apparently because they are BAD drugs. I hear all about the “pill mills” but have never seen one. My docs don’t sell the drugs from their office and require a pain contract renewed yearly restricting me to purchase the meds. from one pharmacy only along with other restrictions so as to make my life more difficult so the drug seekers are curbed. Drug seekers will find a way to obtain the drugs they require just like people found booze during prohibition. It just cost more as illegal drug sales will go underground.
Meanwhile, those of us who require stronger meds to have even a little bit of a life continue to jump through increasingly small hoops, more expensive hoops that cause more consternation and anguish will the drug seekers move on to the next doc to try to fool which then causes the docs who will prescribe pause and give thought to the futility of it all.
Recently I had to change primary care docs. The new doc is a fine man and I really like him but when I called to make my first appt. the scheduler asked if I used schedule II or III meds. I thought that was a strange question to ask for a first visit but told her yes I did. She said the new doc. will not, under any circumstance, prescribe those drugs. I explained to her that I already had a pain mgt. doc. who dealt with those issues and I guess that calmed her down as I did receive an appt. This is where the DEA has us, doc. who are so afraid or tired of endless paper work to justify prescribing drugs that we need daily yet have been vilified in the popular press due to the abuse of a few.
Sorry to take so much print but the frustration only adds to the pain I continue to deal with each day. If I could I would require every legislator and every bureaucrat and every crusader of the anti pain med ilk to receive a medication that causes the level of pain I deal with daily and force them to take that pain pill for a year before they vote or restrict any pain med. I’ll bet in two days the pain med bills would all be rescinded. Once they had to live with my pain I suspect their fear of pain meds would vanish.
Pill mills are rather easy to ascertain. Why not concentrate on them and not on the poor pain patients who now have far higher costs and in the end the drug issue the legislators won’t be a bit smaller, just more secret and expensive for the addicts. Pain patients are not addicts, there is no “high” when you are in writhing pain, just a little bit of relief or a lessening of the horrible, intractable pain we live with daily. When we need a higher dose it is not a sign of addiction but of a level of tolerance that is well documented if they would only use science instead of emotion driven misconceptions inflamed by a willing press.
I have not heard of a pain patient robbing someone to obtain the money for their black market meds but I’ve heard of pain patients putting off dentist visits, eating less than they need, etc. so they can afford the pain meds they require to live.
Please stop criminalizing my pain until you too suffer it or a loved one suffers it. Then you can just say no, after you feel my pain.
Penny H.
United States
My pharmacy is saying that they can accept a new “paper” prescription or an electronic prescription each month. I certainly hope that holds because I really don’t want or need to see another doctor monthly. I agree that the DEA could certainly come up with a better method of controlling street use and/or addiction. I have taken Vicodin for many years for back pain associated with botched back surgery. When my back hurts I take it. When my back is not hurting I don’t take it and don’t feel that I am addicted. But… I need to have some dependable relief for my back pain and Vicodin is the only thing that has worked on a consistent basis.
Susan
Texas
Get your doctor to write as many scrips as s/he can, and pre-date them—for example, put on the written scrip, don’t fill until . Then take the scrip to the pharmacy whenever that date has passed. It’s worked for us. The pharmacist was the one who suggested this approach.
Jan S.
Virginia
I have a tiny dose, .25 mg of Xanax generic, Tramadol and with tremor at age 77, my dr. can no longer Fax in my Rx’s but I have to stop at the clinic, get my form and send his Rx in myself. This is ridiculous.
Sheryl
Texas
I share her thoughts completely. I have chronic pain due to a slipped disc, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and knee problems. I certainly cannot afford to pay $45/month for a doctor to write a script, plus pay $21 for the script.
I, too am on a fixed income (social security), and can’t afford this. This new ruling is outrageous and is punishing those of us who rely on pain meds to make life tolerable. Surgery isn’t an option for most of my pain issues. I very much resent this new law.
It is obvious no one in the DEA who instituted this law is in chronic pain on a daily basis. This law should be abolished immediately. If there are people abusing this class of drugs, they will now just move on to something else, like heroin. For those of us who rely on pain meds to make it through the day in more comfort, this law will make it impossible to do. I can barely afford the medication, let alone the added copayment to get the prescription written monthly.
Karol
Tennessee
In this area, we have been dealing with this philosophy/legislation for over a year now, and it is one reason our mother has been “surrendered” to a nursing home. She is 90, in chronic pain from bone on bone osteoarthritis and compression fractures from osteoporosis.
For years, she dealt with this pain with grace and fortitude and hydrocodone. Her physician had treated her for many years, knew she would not abuse it, and wrote her script for 6 months at a time. At one time, she was taking 10 mg. 4 times a day. But after having shoulder replacement surgery, she was able to drop back to 5 mg. twice a day. She occasionally took another, but one to get her moving in the morning, and one to help her relax in bed at night seemed to do the trick.
She then moved in with my sister, lost her previous doctor, and to receive a new prescription, was required to come to the new office every thirty days and have a blood draw… presumably to prove that indeed she was the one ingesting the hydrocodone! She was wheel chair bound, often had to wait long periods for the doctor and then again for the blood draw, and the logistics of this were exhausting for all concerned. Perhaps this big net catches some bad fish, but it is an enormous burden for others.
R.D.Gay
So.Florida
AMEN! Just about in same boat here in So.Florida for last two+ months.
Been on methadone (.05mg) for six years.
At first I had difficult time filling prescriptions; chasing from pharmacy to pharmacy
then just told that they not carry that drug any longer. So many lies not only from the
pharmacies but from Dr.s and legitimate Pain Clinics. Just cut off. And I still do not have an answer as to why, not from my Medicare nor from the Dr.s
They still have X-rays and diagnosis but act like some miracle has occurred and my spine
has healed itself! I simply have no quality of life, not only constant pain, no sleep but also immobile. What in #*+!#$@ is going on? Drug czar? He who knows nothing of pain or drugs. I have read many “white paper reports” and all are inconclusive etc etc.
I have been on these pain management medications for six years. There is no
surgery available that will help for more than a year or so and then I’ll be back in the
same condition.
I’ve NEVER been involved in an automobile accident. I’ve never hurt myself while
woodworking with high power tools etc etc. If I were going to abuse or off-myself, I would have done it by now. This is typical Fed over reacting, over reaching, not happy unless they are in our home medicine cabinets.
Those that abuse will abuse, if not my .05mg of methadone then they’ll find crap like heroin on the streets… which is now rising.
How about a War on Pain?
Sick and hopeless in So.Florida
vicki
Green Ohio
I think it is a terrible law…what about people who just want to function and have to work & travel for their job? My husband has terminal cancer and they don’t exempt him from these laws.
I have done research on this topic (since it hit close to home) and nursing homes will suffer the worst from these new laws..Ok we don’t allow assisted suicide but we will deprive people of pain meds. I fault the DEA for this…why don’t they worry about meth abuse instead of picking on people who are in chronic pain?
I personally can’t take aspirin like drugs because I suffer from ulcers….now they are labeling Tramadol as a narcotic. Vet clinic personnel are now being drug tested and Vets are afraid to prescribe Tramadol here in Ohio.
This is barbaric and it must stop…but how? I don’t like how the government is interfering with a Doctor treating his patient…I have been told I must go into pain management for Tramadol. I take 2 a day..same dose as I have taken for 15 years. Drug tests are 400.00 every 4 months for Tramadol? Everyone should contact their local rep & complain..you never know when you might need pain relief!