Big Pharma's Lockdown On Legitimate Chronic Pain Patients (Page 75)

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: Mejane (# 1471)

You are so right on the effectiveness of medication being decreased. A generic only needs to be 80% as effective as the original version which further reduces the dose patients are currently prescribed. Lowering doses may not be the worst idea but in my case and most others the tapering will lead to ending the use of the opioid completely with no treatment plan going forward. So we do what we are told, follow doctors orders (really government orders) and at the end find there is no plan for managing our pain. That is a huge problem. Many will turn to illegal drugs or buying from unreliable sources putting them at a greater risk. There was no plan for how to handle patients once the opioids were taken away. Our rights as citizens have been violated and no one involved in making these decisions cares about the outcome.

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Re: C (# 1477)

Dear ones... debating is a good thing; to hear & acknowledge other’s different points of view/facts to weigh the info good/bad to ultimately come to an informed conclusion along w/research one way or the other.

Whatever your views may be, you are both admired for taking the time to care about our AMERICA as there are so many who could care less &/or just “hive” to the popular trend/hype of the moment.

Thks for your input but...

PLEASE NO POLITICAL TALK ON THIS SITE! This is a place for as it is named MEDSCHAT. All of us CP PATIENTS need this site to keep us unified as CHRONIC PAIN WARRIORS.

Blessings to all.

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When the doctors stop telling us it's laws that the GOVERNMENT are making are preventing them from writing pain medication prescriptions, laws that the American citizen had no input into, then I will stop bringing my opinions about the politicians and the policies/guidelines they are imposing on us Warriorls I I believe it is one important aspect on why all of this is happening that we have been discussing. So why leave that part of the issue alone?
Just my 2¢ Worth... Meaner (# 1482) --

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Re: Cliff J (# 1480)

The problem started when doctors were prescribing oxycontin to anyone who came in complaining of pain, even young people once they got a taste of them from stealing it or buying it from someone who stole it. Word got out among the druggies and before you know it people were on it everywhere. Doctors weren't concerned with MRI's, Cat scans, xrays, etc..because they were told by big pharma that this medication was not addicting. They weren't prescribing small amounts either, they were prescribing large amounts and to some people who really didn't even have pain. Some of these people were staying wasted out of their minds and of course they became addicted, physically and mentally. I say this because I've actually seen it from some people close to me. These people dropped out of life so to speak. No responsibilities to tend to since they were on SSD. It really was out of control with the amounts some people were getting and of course being irresponsible with them, some over dosed and died, like a LOT over dosed and died and this is when the government stepped in. There was clearly a major problem but this was nearly 10 year ago. A lot of these people turned to heroin when the government stepped in, they had no choice they were so addicted. You'd have to be a very strong person mentally to stop on your own or replace the addiction with another drug or alcohol. Doctors were also very freely prescribing methadone as a pain reliever, not anymore! What do these people do when methadone is actually a drug to help you wean off of drugs?! So, what to do about a methadone addiction? Suboxone? I don't know. One thing we all know now is, doctors are very strict with prescribing and with the quantities as well. Not just anyone with a twinge of pain can get narcotic pain medication anymore. You better have plenty of proof in the form of tests if you are getting medication and this is the way it should have been all along. I see people on social media complaining all the time wanting their opiates back, well if they had proof of a serious painful disease then it would not have ever been taken away. I do think it's a huge problem when doctors aren't prescribing after surgeries or dental extractions, this is so wrong! I hear about a lot of doctors lying to patients too, telling them that it's against the law for them to prescribe, it is not, that is a blatant lie. If you have serious pain issues you will get medication but you have to have proof and you won't be getting hundreds of them like some people were in the past. Let's be realistic here, no one needs to be on 20 to 40 pills a day and the people I know were actually taking that many. One would not survive if they were in that kind of pain 24/7, the high blood pressure alone would kill them from the pain.

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Re: Cliff J (# 1480)

But this is how a lot of these people got started on heroin, they were once prescribed narcotic pain medication. When the government started clamping down on the doctors they weren't getting it anymore because they probably didn't really need it in the first place. It all started w/ big pharma telling doctors it wasn't addictive so doctors were prescribing very freely. It was a whole snowball effect. Instead of getting help with their addiction they went to heroin. Narcotic addiction is very hard to break, it's like you become a newborn baby after years and years of use you don't even know how to live w/o them. When you abuse the medication as many did, they were escaping reality and their feelings. It's a rude awakening for these people to come back to life so to speak.

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Re: John K. (# 1478)

I've heard also that since most states are now legalizing weed that this is the reason they've stuck their noses in opiates because this is job security for them! Also, I think anyone's a damn fool if they don't think some of these cops and DEA agents aren't dipping their hands into the drugs and money that they confiscate.

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Re: C (# 1456)

Bull S**T! This is NOT Trump's fault! Puleeeeeze! The DEA became involved with pain patients and doctors under Obozo's time and the pill mills and all that started under doofus Bush's time! All these Trump haters will "reach" at any dang little thing to put him down. The truth IS, Trump has done MORE for this country than any other president in the past 50 years!

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Re: Vintage Lady (# 1455)

Couldn't agree more. These damn pain management doctors are just regular doctors who opened offices under this specialty, the bottom line is they charge a lot of damn money for an office visit and this is why they're in this business. One time I went to my appt., in which I have to drive 75 miles ea. way because no one in my fairly large city will prescribe, I was blindsided by my deductible that I did not have that day. This b- (the receptionist) absolutely would not let me talk to the dr. or anything - it was, have the money OR you will NOT be seen.Years ago you could go to the doctor and if you didn't have the money you'd still be seen, not anymore with this rude greedy younger generation, they are cold blooded sharks and this IS a fact. I have been forced tapered too but I was never getting anything very strong anyway even though I have 5 very serious problems with my back including a broken vertebrae. I know some people who have not nearly as many issues as I have and were getting hundreds of 30 mg. morphines and methdones! They were taking 40 pills a day! This is the problem, these types! The pharmacist probably does question prescriptions like this and it's been going on with these people for 30 freaking years! How is it that you've had so many operations for so many different issues and 30 years on you're still in terrible pain? No, they enjoy taking their pills and staying wasted around the clock escaping all reality. I've also seen them do street drugs on top of their pills, it's not about pain for these people it's about staying high. Now about the generics they have on the market today, they're absolute junk. They have definitely been reformulated and I believe a 10 mg. contains nothing more than 2 mgs. if that. Why do they have to put tylenol in these pills? That stuff reeks havoc on your liver and I hate that stuff! Even before my back issues tylenol never helped any pain I had. Watson used to be the best mfr. of hydrocodone now it's nothing but Amneal and Mallincrodt, suspicious? Very suspicious because this stuff is complete junk.

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Re: Ty Dollar Sign (# 1485)
Where to start? First, Watson hydrocodone is not even manufactured since 2016 some are left with the two products you mentioned. Second, I went to a nice pain management Doctor. He took good care of me but I was expected to pay his fee and then I was given a second fee for his Office rent. I have never went to a Doctor in my life that wanted me to pay their fee AND another fee to cover their Office rent. It amounted to $300 per visit. I went twice and told them that was enough. I then started driving 70 miles each way every three months but the Doctor wrote three different scripts and dated then 1 month apart each. This way I only made 4 trips a year and paid a normal Office visit fee. Don’t know where you live but it sounds eerily familiar to my circumstances.

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Re: Ty Dollar Sign (# 1484)
Thank you for your post.It is so good to read that others know the truth.I will never be able to understand how this decent God fearing man has been so maligned by the press,TV
etc.

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Re: Ty Dollar Sign (# 1484)


Don't make this about Obama. Using slang terms makes your reply not credible. Go hate on another forum. I'm out of here.

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Re: Mejane (# 1482)

THANK YOU NORMAL #CPP
Connecticut just added CHRONIC PAIN to the list of qualifying conditions for MEDICAL MARIJUNA program. I am getting my medical mj oil reimbursed by WORKERS COMP third party adjusters now. It was approved after another person took it to the CT SUPREME COURT in 2018 on appeal.
I now get FULL reimbursement from Gallagher Bassett and they still cover my low dose of Oxycodone 10 mgs TID. Each state is different. I lobbied with SEIU/1199 to get this program in place. It does not happen without action.

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Re: Ty Dollar Sign (# 1484)

I am not going into the administration at the time but I can say with 100% certainty the first revised guidelines for prescription medications was drafted in 2016. That was the first time my doctor tried to switch me from my medication of more than 10 years to Opana ER, with devastating results. I was able to appeal and was put back on my medication. Now I am forced to titer down and now that I am down to 1/3 of my original amount knowing I will soon be completely off with no treatment plan going forward.

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Cliff J (# 1486) --

Hey Cliff, I was having to go every 3 months but since this hysteria B.S. they're now making me go every 2 mos! I told them it was hard it enough for me to get there every 3 mos. as it absolutely kills my back to drive for that amount of time. You know what they told me? The N.P. say's, "Oh, well we have people that come from out of state so they make it here!" It's probably people who have moved and know they'll never find another doctor to prescribe, it's that bad. It's just a freaking money grab for the doctor using this hysteria crap as an excuse to get more money. Yeah, I know the Watson brand has been gone for some time, the only quality hydrocodone there ever was. I think my doctor must be getting more lax because usually the office is almost empty (the waiting room) and this last time it was full and there were 2 new patients filling out forms, very young healthy looking people but I know you can't tell what's going on with someone by looking at them, so. I know I have to be immune to my dose, it's been the same for 8 years! I know someone who said their doctor would ask if they wanted to try another pill per dose whenever she went and this particular person loves their pain meds, abuses the crap out of them! Anyway they used to live on social media and they have been mysteriously absent for the last few months which tells me they had to have gotten cut down! They were always putting on a fake front of being all happy and friendly when in truth they were actually abusing their meds and high! This person is every bit of an abuser of their meds, they caused so many problems within their family, started trouble with people all the time, nodding out all the time and even burning huge holes in their furniture! This person's doctor was definitely over prescribing and had been for many, many years. The last time I talked to them (I don't associate w/ them anymore) they said the pharmacist was refusing to fill their scripts! Too many and too strong and no, they don't have cancer or any painful disease. This person is part of the problem, when the DEA looks at the network they see how much someone is getting and I'm sure it raised some red flags. They've been on these medications for over 30 years! Must have been one huge rude awakening when their supply got cut down or cut off! Like, welcome to reality!

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Rootsgal (# 1488) --

I hope the program in CT is better than the medical marijuana program in NY. We have very limited choices and there is no testing to guarantee each “batch” is created equal. You can vape, get oral solution, or capsules in about 4 different ratios of CBD to THC.
After one month I developed CHS ( cannabinoid hyperemesis Syndrome) and had to stop using the oral solution.

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Re: Roro (# 1449)

You are probably absolutely right. They want to kill off a bunch of these people who are not productive society members. People who have hardly worked or never worked. The ones who've never worked get SSI and live with their family members because they sure can't afford to pay rent and bills on that income. If they don't have family they live on the streets. So, yes they could be supplying the tainted heroin on the streets, this gets rid of SSI recipients and cleans up some of the tent residents on the streets. OR, if they get caught with the heroin and go to prison they automatically lose their SSI benefits so here again they're making out. I think it's only a matter of time before Medicare stops paying for narcotic pain medications. I'm not sure about Medicaid and this is what these SSI recipients get as they hardly worked or never worked so they aren't eligible for SSD and Medicare. So keeping this fake opioid hysteria going they'll probably try to use this as a reason to stop covering the meds so here's another positive for them and more money to draw interest on. You never heard of heroin being tainted with fentanyl until all this opioid hysteria started so yeah, I do believe there is something definitely up. They have no solutions for the eye sore tent cities occupied by the homeless in every major city across America, so just kill 'em all off via tainted heroin. A lot of the homeless are mentally ill who self medicate and of course there are those who abused narcotics and ended up heroin addicts. They're living on the streets because they don't want to do the hard work that getting clean involves and they don't want to live in reality, it entails responsibility. Also, a lot of these people were never legitimate pain patients, they were prescribed when the doctors were lax and were told the Oxycontins were not addictive. Our government has no problem giving billions for immigration detention centers though but nothing for our sick citizens living on the streets. It's mind blowing! This country is absolutely a** backwards nowadays.

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Re: w John (# 1448)

I have another theory, narcotics on the streets bring in big money, right? Well who's to say that someone who works within these labs that produce the narcotics isn't switching the real ones out with fake ones or fake ones with very little legitimate pain medication in them? The same could be done by a pharmacist, bring in a huge box of fakes and just exchange them when no one is around. Also, don't think that pharmacists and pharmacy workers aren't dipping into your meds because they ARE! 9 yrs. ago I was Rx'd. Roxicodone and when I started counting them, the very first time, there were 20 missing! The damn pharmacist himself took them. I knew it was him the way he acted when I called, super nice and no questions asked just told me to come right on up and get them. Busted! 20 pills on the street is big money but the truth is, a lot of pharmacists are addicts so always count your medications as soon as you pick them up. I was actually getting good pain relief from the oxycodone but my doctor stopped accepting my insurance and wouldn't accept cash. I think he was scared or something because he got rid of a lot of patients and used that as an excuse or someone told him to watch out if he had medicare patients. Medicare/government - so there you go. I had to go 6 mos. with nothing and had to jump through so many hoops to finally get to the doctor that now rx's my hydrocodone. I had to go to a major spinal center and be examined and get another MRI and only then was I referred to the doctor I have now. I never resorted to heroin or anything else, didn't even drink and I made it through albeit in a lot of pain. Needless suffering brought on by all these *****s who abused the medications for years are to blame. Abusing to the point of over dosing and dying, so many of them and this is why the government stepped in. You will not ever O.D. if you take the medications as prescribed and no one forced these people to take all the crap they did. These people were mixing narcotics with benzos, muscle relaxers, and sleeping pills too, who does that?? The types of people I'm referring to never had legitimate pain issues that were ever serious enough to warrant prescription pain medications.

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Re: Mejane (# 1439)

The only thing I ever get is Mallickrodt, yep, still getting it, it never changes! It's the worst brand ever! I have complained to the FDA and to the pharmacy as well to no avail. There's another cheap brand also that's out there and it's Amneal. I actually finally got my doctor to switch my hydrocodone to percocet and that damn Mallincrodt oxcodone (percocet) was 20 times weaker than the junk hydrocodone!!! Oxycodone is supposed to be stronger than hydrocodone but it didn't do anything to help my pain and my doctor won't go above a 10 mg. nor above 3 to 4 per day. It was so bad that after four months I asked to be switched back to the hydrocodone thinking that since I was off the hydros for that time it would work better. It had to be better than that junk percocet but nope, didn't notice it working any better than last time. I will say it's better than the Mallinckrodt percocet though! I have such severe pain in my back and legs that after even taking 2 it doesn't help so I have to take 3 sometimes to even get somewhat of a relief and that's very telling of the weakness of this crap.

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Re: Ty Dollar Sign (# 1486)

Read what i said.....I never said it was his fault ..I sakd he could have put someone better in charge.then who he did..
Nelly Ann Conway doesn't know squat what we go through...understand .?

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Re: C (# 1499)

What we have here is the public whining about pain medication use by their drug addicted kids who have stolen their medication from Pharmacies and from their own relatives. When they run out of pharmaceutical pain pills they purchase street heroin and bath tub street fentanyl. This is THE PUBLIC bringing this issue up constantly and they are not separating the thieves and street drug abusers from honest chronic pain patients. Unlike obamler who appointed czars with no experience to frame policy Kelly Anne Conway is only heading up a small fact finding committee. You have made an issue out of YOU being a Libertarian, you interject politics into your post at every opportunity. You would have a point if Kelly Anne Conway was appointed as a Chief Medical Officer but she has not. STOP getting on your soapbox and act like a mature person. Even if someone posts something that you disagree with unless you can frame an opposing point then let it go. I have asked you, along with others, to stop posting political positions on a medical thread. We get it you do not like President Trump. I do not like ANY demonRATS and especially obamler who did NOTHING in eight years. From this point forward you will need to argue with yourself as far as I am concerned. I am done. Maybe if the socialists take power they will do something that you will like. Until then we have what we have. Deal with it.

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