I’m compelled to write because of the outrage I feel in being denied pain medications that I have been prescribed for nearly 15 years.
I worked as a registered nurse for 35 years and was injured in 2002 while working in a psychiatric emergency room. A patient threw a chair over my head, and I have numerous herniated and bulging discs in my spine.
I believed that I would return to work. I tried physical therapy and chiropractors, and I considered surgery. That would have stabilized my spine, but would have done little for the pain. After weighing my options, I chose to go on a drug regimen.
Eventually, my doctor retired, and I sought another pain management specialist. I’ve seen or called more than 50 who will not treat me on my current regimen or offer alternative medications.
This is because the federal government is threatening to pull the medical licenses of doctors if they overprescribe opiates. This is an insult and an outrage to people in chronic pain.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has set up guidelines. I’m not a guideline or a lab rat to be experimented on. All I want is care for me.
Judith Costa, Holbrook
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
Some people do need opiates. And, the constant hysteria over trying to prevent someone from getting them because they might become addicted is leaving a lot of people in misery. There are a lot of people in this country who are struggling with pain, depression, and other issues. Instead of addressing these issues we just want more laws, laws, laws to make it harder to for people with legitimate needs to get what they need. Everytime a celebrity overdoses, wanting more laws is the reflex reaction instead of looking at WHY someone who has everything still needs to medicate themselves in some way.
And, instead of turning to doctors, then people turn to the street seeking something to alieviate their pain.
The key word there is overprescribe. Do people need pain medicines? Yes. Does everyone that is prescribed them need them? And need them in the massive quality they have historically been prescribed? No.
About 10 years ago, I went to the dentist for a root canal. The dentist prescribed me Vicodin. I never even filed it. I took some Advil and was fine. That kind of stuff is what needs to stop so that people who have a legit need can get it.
I was shocked. I would have said no if he asked me, but he just handed me the script. And it was for like 20-30 pills. I got my wisdom teeth pulled and got like two days worth of Tylenol 3 and that was it.
There are doctors who overprescribe. And, they have an absolute duty to MONITOR the use and need for these medications. Too often, they just write a script and forget about it. They should be monitoring the patient while on these medications. And, i do see a lot of younger people on powerful narcotics for WHAT exactly? It's ridiculous. Life involves some pain at times. You dont' always feel good. You learn to suck it up and keep going without running to the doctor for every stupid ache and pain.
On the other hand, those who truly need the drugs then are treated like drug seeking addicts. There are times people need to have them as well. Back pain is very painful. I strained my back badly one time. And, i didn't go to the doctor, i just waited it out with bed rest and warm heating pads, etc. But every move was painful. Luckily it worked it's way through. But, to have that as a chronic condition would be very difficult to function i imagine if you didn't have some pain pills.
DD went to the emergency room 2 years ago for acute stomach pain. We thought it might be her appendix. It ended up being very very bad ovulation pain and she went on BC to make it stop. But the emergency room doc gave her Fentanyl as a pain reliever. It's the most powerful pain relief drug on the market. And she was 16 years old. When I found out I was livid. It was in her IV so it wasn't an Rx but it was still way more powerful than what she needed. I refused the RX he offered her for Vicodin.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
It's the individual taking them who is responsible.
I have a high tolerance for pain.
And a sensitivity to many pain meds.
So I get the heavy stuff anytime I go in.
And now that morphine is off the table, I'm not sure what I'll get in the future.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I have Behcet's disease and I practically NEED to be over prescribed when I'm having a flare up. The pain is ongoing and unbelievable. I don't know what I would do if they restricted my pain meds in any way.
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Was it a bad day?
Or was it a bad five minutes that you milked all day?
I'd like to see the "Powers That Be" (those who want to restrict opiates
to those who really need them) suffer from a flare-up of the worst of the
episodes - chronic back pain, kidney stones, etc. And then tell them that
they can't get the opiates that will give them relief - oh no, you might
become addicted!
The problem is that too often, a strong opiates is the first option the doctor goes for. I got stronger pain meds from an ER doc when I got an infected hamster bite than I did when I had foot surgery. The difference? My surgeon knew me and my pain levels and prescribed accordingly. The ER doc just threw a prescription at me and left.
I haven't had anything stronger than Tylenol for months.
My script ran out and I have been dealing.
Poorly, but dealing.
I think I'm killing my liver.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Why do you need opiates Lilly? What kind of pain? Have you tried a Pain Clinic? Sometimes there are injections, accupuncture, etc that can be done as well. But, yeah, Tylenol is very hard on the liver. And, Motrin and other NSAIDS are really hard on the kidneys and gut.
Because all the treatments have failed or had adverse reactions.
What kind of pain?
Excruciating.
Have you tried a Pain Clinic?
No. Not yet.
Sometimes there are injections, accupuncture, etc that can be done as well.
I've tried everything.
But, yeah, Tylenol is very hard on the liver. And, Motrin and other NSAIDS are really hard on the kidneys and gut.
I can't take ibuprofen. It causes extreme stiffness and swelling. Acetaminophen is what I have.
I've been to specialists.
Lost weight, still losing.
I do the exercises.
I've tried all the drugs.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
The sister of my dad's boss killed her liver and died with Acetaminophen.
But every pain killer has some kind of adverse effect.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
