Big Pharma's Lockdown On Legitimate Chronic Pain Patients (Page 6)

Is narcotic pain medicine becoming a thing of the past?

Why are doctors across America phasing out the practice of prescribing effective pain medication?

Will big pharmaceutical companies ever truly understand what it's like to face the other side of the coin?

Lately there's been a musty scent in the air surrounding the use of prescribed narcotic pain medication. Many doctors appear to be running scared as the DEA scours through fields of medical records, inspecting prescribing pads like a mouse scavenges for food in a dimly lit cellar.

Should the day come when doctors recommend Ibuprofen to a feeble man who's been involved in a terrible car accident (breaking several bones / requiring extensive surgery), is this doctor at risk of malpractice when there are more effective options available that they choose not to pick, out of fear? Fear of what? Doing the right thing? No, I don't think this is the reason... Somewhere along the line, in the not too distant past, doctors were loosely prescribing narcotic pain medication as if it would never go out of style. Nowadays, the harsh penalty of potentially losing their license for writing any unknown number of opiate prescriptions over so many calendar days or some other form of strict criteria, has been enough to prevent many physicians from taking even subtle "risks" with patients who are expressing obvious signs of pain and discomfort.

The unfortunately unique problem with pain is that it's not a physical object and in order for others to detect it, they'd have to rely solely on the backbone of our body language using their intuition - something that's gone missing in western practice. If more doctors took the time and really got to know their patients front to back, then they will be their own best judge of deciding what the right thing to do is, regardless of what the DEA thinks about their decision or what their drug representative wants out of the deal. Sadly, until patients are put before profits, the foundation of America's healthcare system remains in jeopardy like an iceberg affected by global warming.

While I believe that the vast majority of human beings in their right mind would choose to do the right thing, we must all work together to become the change we wish to see within every aspect of our lives; and knowing that by doing so, it will shine light on those crossing our path that need it most.

In the meantime, some patients may have to find another way to manage their pain without putting their life or health at risk. Others are turning to natural alternatives such as kratom, cannabis, turmeric and/or implementing various lifestyle changes into their daily regime... But the key is to never give up hope.

What will you do?

Warm regards to all who face life's challenges head on.

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Re: Red (# 98)

They tried to tell me my insurance wouldn't pay for them but the doctors practitioner is the one that change an my insurance would pay for it

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Re: Red (# 98)

CVS THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THEY HANDLE SO DON'T LET THEM SHOT YOU THAT BULL

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I have always said to myself why aren't the patients with legit pain fighting for their rights. I'm sure if we organized a protest and took it straight to Congress or Albany something would be done. If anyone reading this knows of an organization that will protest, it's time to stand up.

{edited for privacy}

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I took Ibuprofen for years for chronic pain, in addition to Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen. I thought I needed all of those to endure the pain and have some quality of life. Nearly four years ago, I stopped taking Ibuprofen. The week I stopped it, I lost six pounds - it must have been keeping water weight on me. The second thing I noticed, over time, was that I had less pain! I don't even want to take Ibuprofen again.

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Re: Isabella (# 104)

After 50 an you take hydracone it make you gain weight after 50 you gain an can't loose it

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Re: Bull (# 102)

Thanks for the advice,I will check it out next refill. Its so sad you have to look & find for yourself what is truely needed. It makes me feel like the criminal, I hate that. I just want too get threw the day & have some type of life too enjoy my husband,kids,& especially my darling grand kids I love with all my heart. Its got too get better!!!

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Do you feel abandoned and hung out to dry? If you have been treated successfully and then for whatever reason your doctor left / retired and now your new provider isn't helping you, expecting you to solve your own problems - treating you inhumanely or like an addict, please respond to this thread. I am curious as to how many of us are in this situation? If there are enough people, perhaps we could pick a day and stage a nationwide protest.

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Well said!

as for myself, I'm searching/waiting for the optimal legal case ... "Do No Harm" is still the mantra, since my med school days decades ago ....

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Re: Bull (# 105)

That's so tiring. I am 58 and can't drop this extra weight for nothing! I am praying I don't have to stay on these Norco's for the rest of my life.

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Re: Joann from Portland Oregon (# 107)

Hello Joann, yes, I am feeling your pain (along with mine). I do have a doctor that will prescribe morphine to me but he is not in my insurance network and I cannot afford him. All the doctors in my insurance network just want to stick me with needles and that is all they want to do thinking that is the solution and cure for everything. They have convinced themselves that it really works when it does not. I've been through it many times and they will not prescribe narcotics. Some THINK they are afraid they will lose their license and most could not give a s***. I wish they were all in pain like we are, then they might have a change of tune. By the way, the doctor that will write cost me $250 per month and I would have to see him once every month and get a U/A like I am a junkie. I don't sell my meds because I need them. He knows he has people by the ****s and that is why he charges so much. I will not see him anymore unless he comes way down on his fee. Meanwhile, I just lay around in bed and do not do much at all except put up with the pain. I did so much more with the meds and could carry on with the simpler things in life. Even function more socially. I am 61 yrs old. I have been diagnosed with Cervical Spondylosis since 1985. I kept my job and worked through the pain as best I could. Then in 1999, I stepped out of my SUV on a cracked cemented driveway and fell directly on my tailbone. It was very painful and would not heal properly so I had x-rays that revealed I have Lumbar Spondylitis. I've had 2 breast surgeries, abdominal hernia repair surgery, a total knee replacement surgery that keeps my knee from giving out but does nothing for pain. My other knee is close to a total replacement too and has osteoarthritis along with rheumatoid arthritis on most of my body. Elbow surgery to prevent my whole left arm from going totally numb where as my whole elbow went totally numb from a pinched nerve. Both of my hands go into spasms that I cannot control and wind up dropping glasses and things caused by my neck problem which is inoperable on because surgeons say they can't improve it. Half of my left hand is numb from my neck too. I am afraid to drive because my leg cannot move to control the accelerator or brakes sometimes and have to pull over to the side of the road as best I can without causing an accident due to my lumbar back problem. All of this has caused me to be diagnosed with depression and I do not want to go anywhere or do anything. Is this any way to live? My family thinks I am crazy because I don't care if I die and it seems as though many don't understand, including doctors that are supposed to be helping me.

I've read posts of some of the people in this forum that are in worse shape as I am and don't get the proper meds.

But of course from the doctor's point of view, we are just addicts who are seeking drugs... So to humor me, their idea is to stick me with needles! Don't we go through enough pain besides getting needles stuck in us? I wouldn't mind it if it would work. So what do doctors want to do when my pain really flares up? They want to schedule an appointment, then have to wait a few days to get a scheduled date for admission (while I am in severe pain) then get stupid shots that do not work after all this time when all I have to do is take medication at the time of the pain attack. I don't know if this is the way it will be in the future with big brother breathing down our neck, but I think people will start to resort to illegal means.

So Joann, you are not alone. I just wish we could do something about this mess.

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TO ALL....NOT BEING PRESCRIBED OPIATES...PLEASE READ THIS.

I've been reading more and more posts in this forum and many are complaining about not being treated fairly when it comes to getting meds/opiates. Many are asking and saying something has to be done about it and what to do. I have posted links for petitions and people (even an influential person involved in politics) to voice your concerns courtesy of RxChat.com who I thank dearly. But I cannot expect them to post links constantly because I don't know what exactly what their rules are when it comes to that. But I am truly grateful for the ones they did post. But there are petitions out there and organizations you can write to. If you will please take the time to read many of the other posts in here and not just post your own or read a selected few, you might find some older posts that have links or organizations mentioned you can write to if RxChat.com have kept them. I strongly urge you to look for them. If you cannot find them on here, start Googling and I am sure you will find many of them out there to write to or support. To the people that are still receiving their meds I applaud you but you may find yourself one day looking down the barrel of a cannon. This disease is spreading like wildfire. But you may be one of the lucky ones where things may not change for you. At least for awhile. But believe me, the government is trying to get rid of opiates. This is fact. It may not be happening to you now, but ask around. Read some of the other posts in here. This is not to be taken for granted. We have to make the opponents realize what they are doing is wrong. So please take the time to get your story and opinion out there. Thank you to all who participate.

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Re: Duro69Boyz (# 103)

Hey Duro, There are many petitions out there. Someone gave me fda info but I posted a few in the past that the forum let me do. But many of us are fighting. My best suggestion to you is use google and here are some below you can voice your opinion.

We can't post links on here. So go to fda dot gov, and the Report a Problem link is on the front page. Another is US pain foundation. Also: American Chronic Pain Association, Arlington, MA chapter.

There are many of us out there fighting man.

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Re: Joann from Portland Oregon (# 107)

Joann...Also keep your eye out for a reply I did for Duro69Boys. There is some useful information in there you might be interested in.

Paul

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Re: Claude (# 9)

Big Brother is always watching. Just not the "right" people. Said it before, will say it again. $$$$ makes the world go round. As s***y as I know it sounds. Big pharma, the legal drug dealers and their "non-affiliated" counterparts
- the illegal drug dealers, are the ones profiting from our "pain management" nightmare.

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Just like to say Rhodes Pharmaceuticals sent me a package few weeks ago to test the generic percocet I was taking. Haven't heard a word & friends say do u really think they would admit wrongdoing, it's their lab, their medication, what are they going to say? I guess my friends are right about them testing their own meds. Luckily I changed pharmacies & got a different generic. Just would like to add in the city I live in, CVS looks like a abandoned store. Only cars in the parking lot are the employees because they are parked a long distance from the entrance. Somebody is reading MedsChat, & other news stories because it's working in my city. All the other pharmacies are packed but not CVS. Keep spreading the word & I like all your guys' messages. I'm sorry for the ones that can't find a doctor.

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I'm so frustrated now that I actually want to cry. I have had too many needles in my back to count. I have also had 2 failed back surgeries and did do physical therapy a few different times at different places. None of these things worked. It took years of taking different meds to get my pain under control and found one. My doctor had me wait 2 months to decide if I wanted to try Oxycontin and told me it was a "lifetime decision". I have been taking the med for about 10 to 15 years and never asked for an increase nor did I take any other non-prescribed medicine. Now at age 50 he's telling me he wants to cut me down on my meds by 120 mgs a day then keep reducing it. He is doing this cuz I smoke and that makes your bones weak, I have gained weight due to it hurting my back worse plus I have hurt my knees about a year ago and no one will do anything to help. I don't know what to do and feel helpless but I will check into the petitions. This "opioid epidemic" is due to people illegally getting the opioids and either abusing them or selling them. I'm not one of those people so why am I being punished? I hope we all make it through this horrible decision made by someone who obviously never experienced severe pain.

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Re: Peanutsmom07 (# 116)

Have you seen an Orthopedist about your knees. Depending on the problem, surgery might be helpful. Losing weight will definitely help the pain.

It is recommended patients not be prescribed more than 90-120 mg Morphine/Morphine Equivalent Daily.

If your doctor wants you to lose weight then that is what you need to do. Many doctors are requiring patients maintain a normal weight now. If your doctor wants you to stop smoking, that is what you need to do. Some doctors won't prescribe opiates to patients that smoke. It is a matter of what you consider priorities.

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Re: BL (# 117)

Yep...... Blackmail made legal, yes all those things are good to do... But not necessarily the correct thing to do... I have known smokers that quit smoking and a short time later died... I also have known obese people that lost over 60 pounds that died a short time later.... My personal thoughts are that the bodies had a shock that created an issue that led to their death from the lifestyle change at an older age as they were over 50.... This blackmail idea may be a good idea for younger patients, say under 50 or maybe 45, but not older.... Also, drs take an oath to do no harm... I am pretty sure this "Do it, or else" ultimatum creates depression in many that it is given too... Also many pain clinics just stop taking care of patients which should make them guilty of malpractice by refusing to properly wean off of addictive medications. Pain sufferers can be addicted without being your typical addict. They take meds as directed and become addicted but only because they need the meds to have any life other than laying in bed watching tv and more than likely becoming obese by not being able to get out of bed because of the pain. So these blackmail ideas can easily backfire making things worse.

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I would just like to add to this post that I heard President Trump say that we're going to start working on a non-addictive replacement for opioids because of the addiction problems. Doesn't he know how long this would take? First scientists would have to come up with one. Then it would take years of testing on rats, animals etc. Then it's going to be tested on humans, then passed by the FDA and the rest of the agencies. This takes years to bring a new drug to the public because of legal suits if ppl get sick or worse die from taking the new drug over years. Trump thinks his ppl will produce a new non-addictive pain medication within months, but he doesn't know what goes into making a new medication and then get it ready for the public. Or he does know and is trying to get the anti-opioid ppl on his side.

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Re: Tommy (# 119)

He is talking about using experimental drugs that have finished being evaluated.

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