Big Pharma's Lockdown On Legitimate Chronic Pain Patients (Page 9)

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: Really agitadated right shoulder Oxycontin guy (# 157)

You of all people deserve the best! I'm so sorry for what your enduring and I think it's pretty sorry to fight and serve your own country just to be pissed on! Thank you for your service and all you done! I hope this all changes and I'm looking into how the lady in my area got media attention. I posted about that yesterday I think. Our news never hears both sides but they did. If enough in your area could get media attention and tell your stories it might help. There's more of us than there is of them. The *****s using and selling has got to be put in a different category than real legitimate pain patients who shouldn't have been done this way. Today my town had on front page 26 arrested for selling pain meds! It made me so mad because they typically don't put that on the front page! The lady on the channel 3 Chattanooga news channel somehow looked simple and not rich but she got her story out of you want to google it. She was explaining how that's how she lived. She has lupus like me but on a lot of things and believe it or not a lot agreed with her! It's going to take true voices and a lot of people to stop this. Our Military fought for freedom and even if this wasn't about opiates, it's the principle that rights are being revoked and to many people thinking they are God. This is a disgrace and every dr needs to stand up with us! It makes them look so uneducated and their years of college a waste! I do know there's several forums you can read with drs and nurses and a lot do want change but it's got to start somewhere other than a forum. I will see what my cousin who was pretty high up in the government says because he was a lawyer and took them down on his military benefits by himself! He was military intelligence years ago and they screwed him or tried to but I do intend on getting advice and from that lady who got media coverage. I will try to pass along what I find out!!! Again God Bless you sir and I pray they stop so you can be taken care of properly along with the others. Hugs to you.

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Re: Isabella (# 156)

I was looking at the guy who started this forum. His intro is magnificent and worded perfectly. Maybe you could ask him if you could use some of his words or his post? I signed a lot of petitions and they need to stay up. It probably wouldn't hurt to show the ones bedridden in pictures. Just a suggestion, I know it's aggravating and we all have enough on us without the worry of pain! Good luck to you and have a wonderful weekend :)

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Re: Roro (# 159)

I have told him to file a malpractice suit and he is reluctant to do it but I'm going to talk to him again. I just cannot believe a doctor would prescribe that much medicine and not know that he could have killed someone. I myself do have a pain management doctor but am also going through the issues that a lot of people on here are having. Thank you for the advice, I'll try to talk to him again about it.

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Re: Ktb (# 149)

Be careful with drugs like Lyrica. Doctors don't know how they work, believing that it turns off certain nerve responses. The main question is how Lyrica knows what nerve impulses to turn off. In other words nerve responses that are actually supposed to be on are turned off indiscriminately. This info was given to me by a doctor who prescribed it to me.

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Joann (# 162) --

Oh gosh Joann, I heard about the bad side effects and luckily my insurance wouldn't approve it because I couldn't take gab. Without insurance that medicine would be 500.00 and there's no way I'd pay that! That seems to be the "holy grail" their pushing for lupus, fibromyalgia, etc. it makes one wonder what the Gov intentions are because they NEVER have been concerned about making us healthy.

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I've been in pain management for several years now. I have pretty severe pain now all over my back, neck, my hip, my knees and my shoulders. I've gone through the various milligrams of Vicodin or Norco as it is called now. I've also went up to 10 mg of Percocet or oxycodone. At this point the oxycodone doesn't seem to be working like it used to. I'm doing pain management like I should be. I'm also doing physical therapy, I'm seeing a chiropractor, using over the counter Tylenol when needed, pain patches over the counter, TENS unit, as well as a compound cream that is made for me by a pharmacy that was prescribed by my doctor. I'm also taking 800 mg ibuprofen as prescribed for me to by my doctor. Nothing seems to be working. My question is, is there anything that I could suggest to my doctor that they might be willing to use?

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Re: Poohsy (# 166)

If you a going to suggest a new pain med do your research on that med as to why you are suggesting it .... if you go in and just say you think this is what i heard may help you may lose what you are getting now and not get the new one neither ...... take your research in with you and not until you mention in passing a few times what you have now is losing effectivness .... do not sound desperate and do not get loud & demanding .... that will likely get you looking for new dr

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Re: Ktb (# 162)

Hello Ktb. As the thread starter, I noticed your post and just wanted to say thank you so much for the kind words. I also wanted to add that anyone here is more than welcome to share my words (in quotes / referenced from MedsChat) for the betterment of everyone facing these challenges.

I am humbled by the amount of feedback here from quality people who helped grow this dialogue in such a meaningful way and hope others here feel the deep love & support from like-minded individuals as we all come together for this common cause.

Best wishes to you Ktb! :)

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Re: David (# 168)

David, Hi! And you're most welcome! Your thread hit it right on the nail! It spoke to everyone at every age and gender. Look how many have started opening up! We may have hijacked it but it's been remarkably good to hear everyone's opinions and stories! The person that wanted to start a petition hopefully will see all the new posts. Yours would grab a great deal of people and that's nice of you to allow your words to be heard. I know something had to be done. People protest and get lots of things changed whenever they come together! I just know this has affected every person in some way and if it hasn't it will soon. I seen a man in his mid 60s who was in remission from cancer at the Primary care dr and he only took 3 50 mg of tramadol a day. He sat a good while before being humiliated for the first time by them asking for a drug panel. He was offended & blown away because he didn't know how things were happening. He told them he would never return after that and I can't say I blame him. The nurses aren't trained on pain meds nor are the drs. I used to be a cheerleader, I ran, biked and I worked in nursing whenever. I graduated high school in 1995. I never dreamed I'd get lupus and other things that go along with it. I've seen Drs who are pain patients, judges, lawyers, nurses, a variety of people because pain doesn't pick and choose who will need opioid therapy just as a diabetic, heart, dialysis, and other diseases and disorders doesn't pick & choose who needs their medications to live a productive life.

This all is so surreal & scary because it is taking away our rights. I saw a litigation commercial today on GI meds but the media and DEA isn't on that! I'm not really sure what we can do except keep allowing our voices to be heard over & over & very loud. I went to college after graduating high school in 1995, got a degree in Nursing so I went to work at our local hospital and my how things have changed! I've seen patients get respected & we were to control pain; never in the ER did I have any overdoses where a legitimate chronic pain patient was involved. Every time I hear the news state overdose from opioids they fail to provide details that it's usually a cocktail of illicit drugs mixed with non prescribed meds or and alcohol. I get so tired of hearing those lies! Anyways, I went into agriculture and raised 120k chickens and run cattle and other livestock. Yes I was made fun of and still am but I've had to nearly stop because of this stupid and inhumane way we all are being treated!!! I can only hope this nonsense stops and we can get back to who we all were and deal with bigger issues going on in this world besides hurting chronic pain patients! Sorry this post is so long! You should hear me on the phone or texting! I'm a chatter box at times! But anyways thanks again for being so nice and speaking from the heart to open this thread!!! Have a wonderful week as I hope the others do as well!!!

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Re: Roro (# 167)

I've always been very nice with my doctor she's wonderful I love her to death she always comes in and hugs me I love her she's great my question is though is there something that might be able to help me better I know how to approach her that's not the problem and I know how to research my medications but I'm trying to find out if there's something that maybe more effective or may help me because I don't know what to look for. I'm not certain if there is a higher dosage of Percocet I've tried looking it doesn't really tell me. I'm not sure if I'm looking up the wrong words or where I'm going wrong that's the problem so if someone knows the right word to look for or suggestion please tell me. thank you for your suggestions though I appreciate that I would never go in there being demanding or anything like that that's not my nature and I would always take in research that is my nature. I do know that I'm getting ready to have to have MRIs so that will support my issue as far as needing the pain medication that I will need. I'm jumping through all the Hoops they're asking me to jump through and then some so there's always that issue out of the way.

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Re: Poohsy (# 166)

Hi ! Was you able to find anything to help your pain ? If it was a few years ago your dr would have done anything to make you comfortable but now it's like we can't ask for increases or changes due to not knowing if it will make the dr upset and drop you or something. A good dr that's familiar with you on the other hand will help you find something that works . One kind you may can suggest if your comfortable is morphine and take the others away ?? I know a lot don't like morphine because it's not good for long term pain but you might could ask! Sorry I couldn't be more helpful !

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Re: Poohsy (# 166)

10 mgs of percocet isn't a high dosage so you may ask for a higher dosage or try something else. When I found that the percocet wasn't working anymore my doctor moved me up to 10 mgs of oxycontin but that is a strong medicine and one of the ones that they are trying to get everyone off of now. I hope I gave you a little bit if help. Good luck to you, please let us know how you are doing.

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Ktb (# 170) --

Hi KTB I appreciate your feedback the bad thing is that I'm allergic to Morphine they give it to me once in the hospital and not only did it turn my veins black and start going up my arm red but it gave me hives. So they said I was allergic to that nothing you be careful with that as far as going forward making sure that I listed that as a allergy. I do appreciate your feedback thank you very much for being concerned for me and giving me an option to look for.

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Peanutsmom07 (# 171) --

Hello and thank you for your response at this time when I went to the doctor for the month of November she said she was not going to increase anything she was going to leave it alone she said she was going to order an MRI as a hold on until January and she said she can't order anything stronger at this time but didn't really specify why. I was trying to find out something that was Stronger on not really knowledgeable on strong medication or if there is anything stronger than 10 milligram percocet in that line of medication. I'm not a drug seeker as you can tell cuz I'm stupid when it comes to that kind of information. At this time I'm still in pain because the medication that I have obviously isn't working and what I have I'm combining with ibuprofen as well as gabapentin and ibuprofen I'm going to physical therapy and doing the exercises at home. Adding the chiropractic care to that as well. I will make sure that I try to keep everyone updated as to what happens with my medication as well as how I'm doing each month. Thank you for your concern in your assistance I hope you find this message well with you as well thank you for your help.

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I sat with a dear sweet Lady of 82 years old in the ER last month who had cancer. She was in so much pain crying and begging for something to help, they brought her two Tylenol it really peeved me off. She passed Saturday the 18th. We will be burying her tomorrow. Such a cruel thing to do to someone who was so active until 82.

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Wheezy (# 174) --

This is so so sad,she was already dying of that horrible disease who would it have hurt too make her passing a little bit easier! Well no more pain now,she has her wings ....fly high sweet angle,for there is no more pain!!!! From a 2 time cancer survivor who lives in pain each day from 2004. R.I.P

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I can tell you this, at least as far as FL. goes... My big mistake was moving here 1 month ago. Sure, before the move you make sure you have picked out the best doctors in hope of getting quality care. (I moved from another state) With that said, I never dreamed that getting your meds would be the problem. I didn't realize that pharmacies would lie to your face on not having your meds either. Years ago, there were a few doctors who decided to make the fast buck and fill anything your little heart desired. Buses were coming in from other states! Now because of those greedy fools, they decided to no longer allow the doctors here, to write you a script for pain meds, nope, you now must go to a "Pain Mgt Clinic" where one man decides if you need this or not, if you do, he will give you the appropriate amount. Forget medical records, I don't know why they ask for them because they don't care what your other doctor did, you know, the doctor who took care of you for years. They speak about people dying from overdoses. I got news for these governors, senators and the rest of the hypocrites in Washington... they are the ones who are killing these people. They have stopped their only means of being pain free and able to live some sort of a normal life. Now, because they can no longer get these meds, they purchase from websites, off the street and who knows what you are getting from these people.

An illicit drug is the next step for many and it does not discriminate folks, it will kill you. So when I hear that bad doctors from years ago killed, I don't think so and if they did, that is long ago, why punish the doctors today and even more important, the people in need? I mean, can you see any Senator on Capitol Hill standing in line at a Pain Clinic? Can you see Mrs. Trump doing the same? If you have the name, you have the money, I'm sure you get what you need, while the everyday people are left to suffer. I am not one in need, my hostility is for people, especially older people who are now told, "sorry, try something else." Really??? Something must be done to give our health care back to those who know best. CVS & Walgreens should stop their lying as well... They paid heavy fines a few years back, CVS was 35 million and Walgreens 18, if I recall..What games were they playing back then? Did you notice that in the rural areas, they never have the simplest meds on hand? They must always order something. Please tell me, what do they fill? I wish these doctors would come together and take back their rights and get back to helping their patients. Enough is enough...

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Re: Shell (# 177)

I’ve been on my pain meds for 15 years and right now my primary care physician prescribed them to me and has for all these years. When the day comes when he says it’s time to see a pain clinic I’m screwed cuz we have no insurance and pain clinics won’t want to give me these meds for my condition even though they work for me. No they will want me to use a med that will cost me $500 a month and have more side effects then the meds I’ve been taking. They should let people like us that have been taking them for years keep getting them and leave us alone!

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Re: Maria (# 178)

Maria I'm not sure where you live but I know I live in Ohio and where I live a primary care physician cannot and will not prescribe those kind of meds to you so you're very lucky person. I'm not sure what your take but thank your lucky stars that you've got what you've got where you are at believe me.

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Hi! 4 years ago I had 2 of my 4 traumatic brain injuries. During my physical rehab they diagnosed me with gastroparesis. I went from 0-19 scars on my belly. I had never had surgery in my 44 years of life, but I guess the scalpel slipped. That is how I got the painful gastroparesis. I have just this summer entered the world of pain management. They put me on liquid oxycodone. I can take 5ml every 4-6 hours, which really doesn't help so I got permission to take 10ml twice a day and it helps but I'm very afraid of this drug! No one will offer me anything else but prescription strength Alieve liquid, Tramadol...they don't work at all! They need to make true pain relievers out of something! If people don't have pain relief via medication, there will be many more surgeries, more depression, more anxiety, more fear, longer healing times, more therapy necessary, more side effects from the knock out juice, more people dying because the can't bear the life with pain. They need to look at the whole picture here.

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