Chronic Pain Patients Must Get Organized To Lobby For Their Rights. (Top voted first)

People with chronic, intractable pain are being discriminated against and it is imperative that we join forces to fight for our civil rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Please send information on existing associations and organizations that can help or how to establish one that can help pain patients fight for their rights with petitions, letters; emails to send to these state and federal politicians that are determined use prescription drugs, doctors and pharmacies to further their political careers. Drug abuse is not the same as opiate dependent because of chronic pain management and there are over 100 million people living with pain and many of us are unable to live without medication. If the deaths from abuse seems high, the suicides from pain patients that are unable to get relief will be significantly higher. If we do not fight these governors (Colorado's Hickenlooper is a perfect example) and federal agencies that are discriminating pain patients we will be even more victimized. Obviously these politicians no little about pain and they are not aware that chronic pain patients are voters. The statistics used to support their claims regarding deaths from prescription medications are seriously skewed and lacking in additional factors that contributed to the deaths. Compromising the doctor/pharmacy and patient relations is not the government's job; as John Boehner stated government needs to stay out of healthcare and let the trained healthcare professionals make decisions regarding their patients not some politician looking for recognition.

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I would love to see that happen. It is disgusting the way that we are treated and talked down to like a scolded 6 yr old. Im picking up my RX, not selling crack to babies!

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I agree have constant, chronic nerve pain and back muscle spasms from taking place of the muscles holding up the paralyzed arm, been 35 years - they want me to get the ephederal (sp?) shots-which I've never gotten help from-it's not inflamation.-I had a great pain doctor /neurologist but after my divorce could drive the 20 miles to see him--excruciating pain-crying all the way home, These new doctors are so afraid too give you what works-or maybe just want what puts more money in their pockets. Somedays I just sit here alone and cry. Movement makes it act over the limit-have no life any more-have thought of suicide-no pain after that but don't think I could do that. May try to see if that neurologist is still there & find a ride. I am not an addict-just want less pain and a better like!

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I have chronic head pain and have been given Vicodin and pain patch for pain management - my doctor retired and I live in Springfield MO (the bible belt) and am treated like a scumming drug addict trying to find a doctor that will help me has become next to impossible - "a controlled substance" after all.

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I AGREE, BUT WHAT DO WE DO? I HAVE BEEN TRYING AND MOST OF US ARE SO ILL WE DONT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO MUCH. I THINK WE ALL NEED SOME GOOD ATTORNEYS TO START LITIGATION AGAINST THOSE WHO REFUSE TO TREAT US. OR HAVE MIS TREATED US AND GO TO OUR REPS AND SEND MESSAGES LIKE THIS IS ONE, IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL DO. IF I DIE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IT WILL BE THEIR FAULT NOT MINE. IT IS MALPRACTICE.

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I agree 100%. If you have never lived whit Chronic pain how can you call it abuse? Visit some of yhe camcer patients & other people that are truely in pain 24 hours aday. Until you have lived it...don't judge people who are truly in pain Please!!

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Amen!!! I agree with you 100%! Anything Government controls is " Out of Control". They can't manage a once a year transaction ( tax returns ) without a Complete Disaster at who's cost..!? Ours !!! Yes we must fight for our rights! Where do we begin! I know it seems like there's no way " I " or " you " could possibly solve this.. I do know this POWER IN NUMBERS!!

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Re: Goatc (# 12)

Living with pain 24/7 is not by choice. I have a very good Pain Management Doctor that I trust to do the best for me. I have had to go through multiple changes in medications over the years due to reactions to the med, the med becoming no longer effective, or side effects. It's not easy trying to keep control of my pain but I trust my Doctor to do what is best for me and he has. I must say he does control what I take and how I take them. He does not easily give out pain medications even though I have been with him for years. I am currently on hydrocodone and hysingla and they are working for me, keep my pain at a tolerable level most days.
My Doctor and I have a working relationship that is best for my health. He is a Doctor with years of training and practice. We do not need a politician, pharmacist, or dug store chain telling us what is best. Yes there are those that abuse the system, and Doctors that dole out prescriptions with out need but there are those of us that live by the rules.
I frequently receive advice from family and friends on how bad pain medications are for me and that there are alternatives. They don't know that I research alternatives and talk to my Doctors about reducing my use of pain killers but come back to what my Doctor prescribes for me, he knows best.

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Re: BL (# 7)

Where i live it has not saved lives. The people that are cut off their pain meds are either going to the streets or killing themselves.

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We need a civil rights attorney that has the kahunas to take this on! We re being discriminated against ,made to sign pain contracts under duress, submitted to illegal search and seizure and treated like criminals. I have chronic pancreatitis due to gallstones and it is horribly painful. I have lost respect for doctors who are not standing up for the patients. We have opiate receptors in our bodies for a reason and they have skewed the numbers to make it look as if there is an epidemic when there is none. Statistics from the CDC in 2014 was 14,000 over dose deaths (and that was not all from opiates) 14,000 from a population of 317 million in 2014 does not make an epidemic, there is more behind this than over doses! We need to remind these politicians who forgot WHO they work for that we 100 million strong pain patients do in fact VOTE!

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Re: Kristyne (# 15)

Kristine, I hope you have a Doctor as good as mine. Finding a Pain Management Doctor that has compassion and respect for their patient is hard to do in many cases. I have only had two over the last fifteen years and my first scared me with the ease he dispensed pain medication. I had to control how much I took. Looking back now it scares me even more. Having been on pain medications for so long I have fought addiction and to date still maintain a fine line between addiction and pain control. It can de done with the help of a good Pain Management Doctor.
The pharmacy we choose or the politicians we elect can’t and shouldn’t get into the mix. It is a delicate balance between a well trained Physician and the patient.

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Chronic pain does kill.The cause of death on most death certificates will read heat failure complicated by respiratory failure if a secondary cause is given.If you are under a doctors care @the time of death I guessing heart failure. How ever if you have opiates in your system it may read complicated by opiates.sick but true .

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Well said. As of this month my Dr. will no longer prescribe pain medication that helps me live a somewhat limited life. Now I have to go back to square one, to a pain management Dr like I did years ago that did nothing to ease the pain. I had blocks..injections..physical therapy, chiropractors and even neck surgery. Let them live through half the pain that a lot of us endured and I bet they would change their mind. This truly sucks!

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Amen. I have Parkinsons and have been prescribed Vicodin to take in conjunction with Advil for pain associated with the disease. When husband switched jobs and we now have Kaiser where no one will prescribe medication...only PT which I've had for years. My life can be likened to quickly becoming the tinman...immobile with a tear stained face. I friend wants to take me to a doctor in the Bahamas or Mexico, but I'm a very scared. Is it eve

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I just signed the petition "Barack Obama: Stop the DEA from interfering with chronic pain patients and their medical professionals." and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name. Our goal is to reach 100 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

change.org/p/barack-obama-stop-the-dea-from-interfering-with-chronic-pain-patients-and-their-medical-professionals?recruiter=226947221

Thanks!

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Re: Goatc (# 12)

Tragic!!!!! Nobody know like we that are in pain every single second of the day.
I just prayed before getting out of bed,Please give me the strength to get thru another painful day. I refuse too just give up. I didn't fight so hard too get this fat too let some inconsiderate Dr take it away! Have a blessed!!!!!

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Thank you for a wonderful post, that touched my situation.
I appreciate you.

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Re: Fed up (# 23)

I truly hate to hear all the pain and suffering so many of us have to go through. I am one it seems of the few that has a very good Pain Management Specialist. He does seem to understand chronic pain and what it does to our lives. He also knows his limits placed on him by the state and Feds. It is a fine line to walk but he chooses to do so to help us. I am not pain free but live within a tolerable level. I only wish there were more like him out there to help all of us. My prayers and best wishes go out to all of you seeking help. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

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Re: pessimist (# 72)

My husband had an emergency surgery here in WI he sliced his foot open with a lawn mower blade. He layed in the ER for over an hour with nothing for pain moaning. When Doc finally came he cleaned his foot again without any pain meds. He got pain meds when they took him to a room in hospital and he was treated well and they even would not let him leave til they gave him a dose to get home. He can not walk or put any weight on his foot at all.

The problem was when I tried to get his meds at Walmart. That was a mess he has no insurance. The doc made the script for over what CDC guidelines suggest per day for acute pain and they had to make calls etc cause they have to go by CDC rules that are being made law they are lying saying they are just guidelines no they are law!!!

I had surgery at a different hospital and was treated like crap before, during and after surgery. When u wake from surgery in worse pain than you went in with, you would think you could get treatment. I believe that surgery and anyone with any contact with these meds should be drug tested. I believe the patients they consider nonspecial, their meds are being diverted by hospital staff... long story. That is my opinion from my experience.

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Re: myst (# 63)

DEA is by far the worst department. They tell pharmaceutical companies to cut supply. I just read in our local paper that people are having to postpone procedures because of shortages of Fentanyl, etc. All the DEA is doing is forcing people to street drugs for pain relief, which is killing people. Many are laced with ketamine, a drug used more in animals. I live in "progressive" CO. They are pushing Tylenol as post op drug after major surgery. Are they nuts! I've had multiple surgeries but now I'd sooner die than try to get by with Tylenol.

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I live in Las Cruces, NM and there have been doctors that over prescribed in the past and now it is next to impossible to get the pain medicine needed for chronic pain. One doctor got convicted and others have just left. I have gone through just about all pain doctors in tis city and got no where. I now drive to El Paso,TX t get what I need plus the attitude of this doctor is so much better. This is just another example of what someone has to do to get comfortable enough to be able to do things. From what most others are saying about their problems I guess I can say I am lucky to find someone. Good luck to everyone.

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