Big Pharma's Lockdown On Legitimate Chronic Pain Patients (Page 3)

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: MacTurk (# 1)

I'm in the same situation. I've been disabled for years due to a fall at work and now bedridden because my primary can't prescribe anymore and the pain management dr he referred everyone out to is a condescending piece of s***! He cut my meds in half on the first appt. and gave me a 2 week supply and now cut me off completely because I didn't have a 200$ copay for an epidural, which I've had tons of throughout the years with no relief. I asked if I could make payment arrangements as I am on disability and they flat out said NO! And I have a child to take care of! I want to jump off a bridge I'm in so much pain and always took my meds as prescribed for 13 yrs. with no problems! Can anyone refer me to a pain management dr in south jersey or Philadelphia areas? I would greatly appreciate it.

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I'll be 61 yrs old in Oct. I had been on the same medication for YEARS...Lortab 7.5 and Xanax 5mg. For YEARS I took 2 tabs a day, then 3, then 4...then had back surgery. Came out of the hospital taking the same dose I went in on. I have NUMEROUS back ailments along with Fibromyalgia :( I need surgery on at least 3 discs in my neck (Stenosis). I have arthritis all through my spine and body. In Dec '16 my doctor retired...NOT by choice!! He would not be a part of the Monopoly EMMH was becoming. He finally, around mid-April, opened his own little office. BUT, he can't help me. He has been my doctor for OVER 40yrs, he knows me! During the few months without my meds, I seriously thought I might die a couple of times! Went to several doctors, but they really screwed me up. Most all of them were giving me something that totally messed with my brain!!! Then, when my doc returned, he put me on Tramadol...it's useless. What I know for sure, I need at least 2 Lortabs a day and I can deal with life right now. I've needed surgery on my neck for almost 5yrs now. But after having 3 discs repaired in my lower back last year, I'm living with it.

The doctor that did that surgery does not want to do surgery on my neck! So, I live in extreme pain EVERYDAY of my life. Some days are worse than others. Now, he can no longer give me the Tramadol and not sure about my Xanax. I have NEVER taken it like prescribed (and the "Casper" report will plainly show that!!) I take 1 and 1/2 every night for a good night sleeps. Oh, and I have smoked marijuana since a head on car accident in 1992. BUT, I live in KY and can't get the appropriate marijuana I need (for the pain/sleep - there are numerous types for it all!!). Our State Reps and Senators are *****s! KY should have been 1st on the list for legalization...but I have to assume they were afraid it would hurt the bourbon...yet we ALL KNOW that alcohol will KILL you! I've written them on SEVERAL occasions, and as much as I begged them to let me come before the Legislature and explain MY knowledge and living proof of how it can help people (including seizures my son has!!). But, ya vote 'em in, but you can't get them to do anything!! My doc of 40yrs told me a few weeks ago that I'm going to have to go to a "Pain Clinic"...nice way of saying..."DRUG clinic"!! Sad times when an old woman has to suffer so much for other's bad choices...but I sure am!

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Re: Willette (# 36)

I hope your ultrasound went well. When you are going through withdrawal from meds your heart definitely takes a beating. These pain meds are not meant to be stopped in a short time period as some of the doctor's are doing, it has an effect on your whole body....not just the part you were taking the pain meds for. Let me know how it went. I'll keep you in my prayers.

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Re: Craig (# 40)

Hi Craig and all of you chronic pain sufferers. Craig, you made a statement about laying in your bed in the dark hoping the pain will go away. I am without my pain meds too and that is exactly what I think will happen to many people with chronic pain without their meds. That is certainly what I have been going through. I cannot find a doctor that is covered by my insurance and would be paying over $200 per month for a visit when I am on disability and is bankrupting me. I'm almost sure that many people that go to the clinics sell many of their meds to make it. But I don't play that game and I need all of my meds anyway.

What I want to know is how does the DEA get the authority to stop what is legal and make it illegal. Their job is to stop the ILLEGAL SALES AND DISTRIBUTION of drugs. Not stop the legally prescribed drugs. Your doctor is the only one qualified to make the decision of whether you need meds or not the last time I checked. So they say it is a problem because too many people OD on them. Most people that OD are hard core addicts and will OD no matter what they get their hands on including alcohol and not people with chronic pain. If anyone disagrees with me, I'll invite their reply and would like their point of view. The more I read these posts, it seems that many are losing their meds. Well, it's time for me to lay down again. Hope everyone in here without their meds can get what they need so they can feel better. Even people with meds, I hope you feel better too because sometimes I know I still had a lot of pain sometimes even with meds. Good luck all.

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Re: Paul (# 35)

Hi Paul. I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for the helpful & thoughtful feedback.

RE: "'I'm not sure it's really the big pharma companies that want to do away with pain meds because it seems they would stand to lose a lot of money...just from my viewpoint."

I totally agree with your perspective on this and appreciate you pointing that out. I should've clarified in my original post that when I think of Big Pharma as a whole, my thoughts tend to include the DEA, FDA, CIA, pharmacies, doctors, various mainstream medical institutions, NIH, etc...All programming society in a collaborative effort to make Americans think/believe/behave in a certain way. Whereas if one branch of "Big Pharma" (pharmacies) gets torn off, another limb (DEA/CIA/FDA) regenerates and thrives.

I also have my own set of conspiracy theories about what may be going on behind the scenes; such as a self-inflicted regime on Americans to create the illusion of scarcity to increase demand for the CIA's street drugs when doctors fall short...But that's another story and only one presumption of many, based on the direction this country is going. And while we as patients can always point the finger at someone, I now realize that it doesn't necessarily solve the problem at hand.

So I feel that sharing important information (like you have) on those links/petitions as well as others posting various alternative therapies or treatment options that works well for them is a noteworthy step in the right direction for us as a whole.

Thanks to all of the posters here that helped transform this thread into a living, breathing organism that won't stop growing until it's satiated with adequate pain relief.

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Most of you do not know it, but your doctor, or whoever is giving you the U/A is not verifying their results.

They usually use morphine or other opiates as Standards for reactions to measure the protein or other chemical measuring standards.

Ask them if they do a verification of the preliminary U/A using a gas or liquid chromatography or stereography.

If not, their diagnostic is cheap and can be totally invalid.

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Re: David (# 45)

Hey Dave. thanks for the reply. We just got to keep this thing going somehow and hope we get heard. I really gave a piece of my mind when I was looking for a doctor in my network that say all they do is shots and I had them all and are not worth a damn for what it was worth but it sure felt good to get it out. I believe in conspiracy theories too especially when I wrote the letter because it kept disappearing and someone deleted it and when I hit compose, someone said in the box "write something". I'm definitely being hacked or the email service is messing with me. That happened to me before and I found out who it was and I'll find out again. They just don't know it yet. I think I got my letter through with a lot of work. Anyway, keep on posting. I have the faith. Take care Dave.

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Re: Paul (# 44)

Just want to add this about us that are getting meds we are getting screwed too. I'm noticing the generic meds I'm getting from the drugstore keep changing and getting a weaker strength med. I've read there is a tolerance of 20% on generic meds. So even if you are getting medicine you're getting screwed too. I get percocet 10 and this month I got one I've never seen before. Has RP on one side & 10 325 on the other. Took one and it was like my fking drugstore ripped me off like a drug dealer might. Can't carry um back but ppl better ask before they get it filled. You don't want RP's What I'm getting at is either way it's looking bad when your drugstore rips you off. $$$$$$$

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I know people who have pain problems that are heading to the Methadone clinics. There will always be people hooked on a much stronger medication. So the street dealers will always be in business. So sad.

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Re: Buck Shot (# 46)

Absolutely do a medschat search on "suboxone false positives"... I know someone that had that actually happen to them and the pain clinic refused further treatments and did nothing about withdrawal issues.... These clinics need to be held to higher standards and forced to use quality diagnostics or stop breaking the 4th & 5th amendments of the constitution and stop giving drug panels completely.

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I have been a chronic pain pt for the last 15 yrs. I have all the same issues as everyone else has with dosage reductions and repeated inj's. that have never worked but are insisted upon anyway to cover my pain management doctor's ass with the Federal Govt. What I don't understand is we all complain but no one offers a solution! Back on Aug. 30th I proposed on this forum a solution and NOT one person supported or even commented on it. So are we just a bunch of whiners or do we really want a solution? If this time there is no discussion I will assume you don't want to put in the effort that it will take to effect change! See post #9.

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Re: Big b (# 49)

I know people who are selling their scripts and it makes me so angry. We need our med to relieve our pain and these people are profiting by it. The feds will never stop it and these people are the ones who make it difficult for us to get ours. I wish i could turn them in.

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Re: Tommy (# 48)

The same thing happen to me! I talked to the pharmacist & told him that was the 2nd time they changed my meds & they only helped for about an hr & the pain was back. He blamed it on the suppliers which I knew was a lie. So I picked up my meds earlier in the day on one refill but I guess as they fill they put it in an automated call system to let you know your script is ready. Well they called me a couple of times so I called to see if I had missed something, and they had a new tech in there working so I asked what the meds were because I had already picked up all my refills. She said let me check....she said it's your Tylenol 3 & your blood pressure meds, the same meds I had picked up earlier. My point being, instead of my Norco 10/325 I got tylenol. The script I turned in said Norco 10/325. I don't know for sure who was responsible, the Dr or the Pharmacist!!!

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Re: Claude (# 51)

Hi Claude, I put plenty of links up here and can put many more if medschat will let me. But you are absolutely right. No one here gives a flying ****. It seems as though the only thing they worry about is their non-potent generics. Except a very few who did answer my reply but don't know if they went as far as signing the petitions. Pretty soon they won't have even any generics to complain about.

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Re: Goat c (# 52)

those are the ones screwing it up for everyone that needs their meds ... why is it you did not report them threw crimestoppers or some other way ...... those that know and keep silent are also creating the problems for those truly in need ........ i hope you get the courage to do the right thing

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Re: Peanutsmom07 (# 43)

Hello,just wanted to update you on my Ultra Sound....I had 65 % blockage on the rt side that hurt so bad. They are just going to keep an eye on it for now. But the Good News is I went too see my PCP & she is doing everything too get me with someone too help with this pain. She herself do not prescribe herself but is sending me too a Dr that does. She gave me a couple of scripts too help until I see the Dr. I almost gave up but everytime I can't see away God always come threw. Thank You & take care. I will keep you updated on my journey!!& journey it is...Be Blessed

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Willette

Sorry to hear about the blockage but at least you know now and can do the things they tell you to keep it in check. I'm happy to hear that you will be getting your meds back:) I'll keep you in my prayers, please keep in contact and I'll do the same.

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Re: Tommy (# 48)

Yes Tommy, I believe you are right about the generics and we are being screwed. My Endodontist Prescribed me Perc 10's. I took 4 almost at a time. They were U17's and they did absolutely nothing for me. So I do believe what you all say in here. I think they are getting them abroad and it passing right through the FDA . Maybe some payola is involved. I don't know. I don't even bother taking them any more.

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Re: Paul (# 54)

I went as far as talking to my pharmacist about this. I told him that the generic Percocet RP 10s were not helping and weak. I said hope u aren't going to be using these for a long period of time. He said yes I signed a contract with Rhodes Pharmaceuticals for a year because I get these at such a cheap price I can pass it on to my customers. So it's a money thing to the independent drugstore to stay in business even if the RPs are pretty much useless. I emailed Rhodes Pharmaceuticals about their generic drugs and they seem to be a small 20 person family run company out of Utah running and making every generic pain meds u can think of, Google Rhodes Pharmaceuticals and you can see for yourself. I was trying to get the ingredients in a RP generic Percocet but I doubt they would give out how much opioids they are using in their generics. Probably 50% less if I had to guess. Who is going to look over this company to make sure they aren't using less to save money to make more pills & in turn more money? If you say something you're going to sound like a druggie. I'll try a new drugstore but I guarantee you that we are going to see these RPs at all drugstores because it's all about money. Maybe I'll turn them into the BBB. If enough ppl did this maybe it would get their attention. But living in this time of "you're a bad person if you take painkillers", ppl don't care if a company uses 50% less active ingredients in their medicine. It's an American problem that ppl don't care about til they get hurt and have to deal with companies doing this. I'm 64 years old and not after a buzz, but I would like to get the amount I'm prescribed. I read ppl putting down what's wrong with themselves and why they need these meds but I don't do that because it sounds like they are wanting sympathy, I don't mean any harm but you shouldn't have to explain ur medical situation. That's my opinion but if you want me to it's going to be a very long read.

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Re: Roro (# 50)

I want to. I know the pain management clinic they are using. That is a good place to start. I haven't thus far because one of them is family and i didn't want this person to go to jail just wanted her supply to be cut off. I will call her dr.

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