Tell your story of living with chronic pain, by leaving a reply at the bottom of the page. Do not mention specific medications or dosages. Stories are not published right away.
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My story starts in 1996 while working as a bricklayer and stonemason. I had a fall and broke my back in three places. I wouldn’t want to have two surgeries in the next two years, six screws, two rods, three cages around the front of the vertebrae. I’ve been seeing the same pain management doctor since 1996. I don’t need to be told Peter and a half ago and now I have to be down to certain dosage of medication. So I was gradually weaned down to the dosage that they say is the guidelines. Me doctor realized I was struggling with this little bit of pain medication and put me back on all my pain medication. But then my doctor disappeared. I have no idea what happened to him. We were told nothing, and once again I’m being weaned down off of my medication. Going to be told this time they believe that I would be better off on Suboxone which could not be further from the truth. How can you treat a human like this? We’ve been married 43 years, two kids, one son dealing now stage 4 testicular cancer. I was told no Xanax, I was taken off of that. I had to make a choice either take the Xanax for anxiety or pain medication for the pain. So my case it was a no-brainer pain medication. With what’s going on with my son I could really use a Xanax every once in awhile. I’m not ashamed to say after seeing article after article about what was going on with pain management I called my local newspaper and talked to a reporter. He said Mr Rini I’ve had plenty of people call but nobody wants to put their name out there for everybody to know. I said I will, I don’t have anything to hide. I was interviewed for two hours. I have a reporter in my home only thing story was published. I’m so frustrated, my family depends on me being around the house and doing what I can. I don’t know what to do. Thank you yours truly Michael O.Rini
In the last two years I have broken my femur in the same place twice, last time was two weeks ago. I was cut off pain meds so take Tylenol. I wish this pain on no one!
I have been dealing with severe chronic pain for well over 20 years with no known cause or diagnosis, until August 2018 in which I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I have tried every OTC medication I can think of with no relief. Doctors, hospitals, urgent care centers have refused to treat my pain. I suffer on a daily basis and I feel like I am not cared about. I would love to rally with others in hopes that we all will get the help that we need and deserve.
I have broken my neck in 1997. I have diabetes,gout,. My pain is unbearable my pain management Dr will not sribe me the meds I need. He says all he will give me is not what I need. I’m not one that abuses narcotics but I do need them. They have no answer for my arthritis. I just suffering in silence it’s not right
I had back surgery in 2006. I had a disc crumble and fall on top of another disc and it was pinching a nerve. Unfortunately I have degenerative disc disease. I have screws in my back and I suffer with back pain daily. My life is not the same anymore. I am prescribe a narcotic pain medicine for my pain and I am so tired of hearing of all the people that abuse it and how I could lose my pain meds because of them. I’m not addicted to my pain meds and I could do without them as far as not being addicted but Not without due to my pain. Enough is enough. Treat me like the mature, responsible human I am and Not like those that are or got hooked.
I have multiple chronic pains that were managed with medications since the crisis caused Drs to pull medications back I don’t have a life, I’m lucky to get out of bed and eat. Why do I pay for someone’s lack of control. why not apply this to alcohol too another substance regularly abused that causes deaths the same case could be made for guns.
Recently it’s gotten I can barely function I don’t leave the house talking hurts eating hurts moving hurts sitting up hurts i can’t do anything without feeling atleast one pain sleeping hurts but atleast I don’t realize how much because I’m asleep.
I can barely walk because of disc degeneration snuck into an old car accident spot, but I also have it in my upper back and neck, I am diabetic type 2 but do not have pins n needles pain, I do have a nerve in my hip that causes pain, I looked anorexic and now fat I am not giving up when you have chronic pain it never goes away it’s there for life and the pain does not get better but with proper use of pain killers they take the edge off and you can feel like a somewhat normal person
My last two years of work found me in chronic pain due to many mishaps from childhood on that caused trauma to my spine. Somehow I made it to full retirement although I knew I was a fraction of the productive worker I once was. I had a surgery to save me from paralysis and give relief to some of the pain now knowing my full spine was diseased and damaged. A neurologist prescribed pain medication for me and such relief was found because I had forgotten what it was like to be out of pain that ranged from level 4-9 depending on how much I moved. I took only 25% of the prescribed dosage due to finding how long and well this lower dose medium grade medication worked for me and I was able to skip days taking the medication if I had little activity prior.
Fast forward 17 years. After 17 years of great success with medication that enabled me to remain active I was informed my medication would no longer be prescribed by a new clinic I visited since my neurologist doctor had retired. I was informed by another local clinic that the medication was no longer prescribed except for cancer patients. I have known several cancer victims who got better and never took pain medications. My condition is degenerative and I will never recover from it. I panicked at first knowing my pain will return and life is about to change in a big way.
Due to the lack of access to proper medication I now spend most hours of days in a bed..all day and all night. Walking is so painful I limit it to about 30 yards. Self care has been so neglected it is frightening. I have witnessed through the media how government and the medical community have robbed me of a quality of life because of the actions of others. I consider what has been done to remove access to medication to those who need it so desperately as one of the most sadistic chapters in medical history. I can only wonder who it is and how they feel in their conscience that has done this withholding of relief to chronic pain victims. Do they sleep well knowing the pain and suffering they have caused in mass?
Depression, anxiety, and pain walk hand in hand and feed each other. I call it the pain monster that lives within me. It takes over mind, body, and soul. I beg for mercy on deaf ears.
I’ve had two fuse disc, and at least five back surgeries. I have limited use of my right leg now due to nerve damage. I can walk but it hurts, that’s where the pain pills help. I actually can take half a pill most of the time, but there are times when I need a stronger dose. My Pain doctor refused anything stronger and told me I was not allowed to take anything stronger. So next time the pain was severe I took a leftover pill from my surgery. So my Dr dropped me after a piss test, said he was not going to get in trouble with DEA. But he never would ever give me something stronger for those few times it was needed, so what was I had to do. I was blessed with another Dr who gives me my original pills, but will not give anything stronger also for fear of getting in trouble. Not good for those who are really hurting and only take what is needed.
I’ve been living with CRPS for almost 7 years now. First the Navy refused to accept that my pain wasn’t “all in my head”. Once they realized that sending me to a shrink wasn’t gonna fix it, they sent me on my merry way to deal with the VA. They also refused to see my pain and after a long battle to see outside care, I got my diagnosis from the first doctor I saw. Then the VA forced me through all these pain meds not meant for my condition so they be ok with approving my actual treatment. I’m scheduled to have a device implanted into my spine to control my pain, because the original injury was never treated correctly.
If we want to correct the problem with not being treated for the pain we have, we need doctors to accept that we are in pain in the first place. Many of these doctors say they understand, but until you have experienced what it’s like to be in pain, 24/7, without anything to make it better, day in and day out, people leaving you because they don’t like your “negativity”, then they will not understand why we seek relief so fervently!
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I just want to be able to give my 3 and 4 year old sons a hug without cringing in pain, be able to run with them after never being able to, to have the patience I want to have with them. My pain gets in the way of me being the mom I want to be. I just wish my doctors had paid attention years ago.
Thank God ❣️ Decades of chronic pain I have lived and the older I get the less care I receve. The President of the United States was on television saying that the purpose was not to take away the drugs from senior citizens or other people who actually needed the medicine! Therefore I agreed with him! Now it turns out that it has done me great harm!
My name is Terri H Perry. My brother is Ernest Daniel Howard. Dan is currently suffering from advanced small cell lung cancer. When he was diagnosed 3 months ago it was already stage 4 and had spread to his spine, brain, and other parts of his body. He made the choice to seek palliative care until such time as the good Lord sought fit. Dan has suffered from pain his whole life. At the age of 3 he had a rare kidney cancer called Wilms Tumor. He had his kidney removed and underwent several years of treatment. Back in the mid 60’s treatments were in their infancy and there were many side affects to his body as he grew older. Dan also suffered from heart disease. During Dan’s 40’s he suffered a stroke, had a double bypass, and had a heart attack 6 weeks after his open heart surgery. He also has one bad valve in his heart. The damage done to his heart was so severe he only had 1/3 use of it. This caused him to become disabled at the prime of his life which was devastating. To add to his health issues all these years his bones became weak due to the cancer treatments he was given and this caused his spine to degenerate and curve (scoliosis). He sought various treatments for years. His primary care physician would subscribe pain medications including opioids to relieve the pain. Many years passed during this process and the opioid strength was increased as the pain increased. Long story short…..his primary care physician retired. This caused HUGE issues when it came to him getting the medications he was use to having and needed. New doctors would not prescribe the strong opioids he had been taking and failed to understand to events that lead up to his current situation. He had to go cold turkey off the meds which was horrifying and painful in itself. Although I agree other options for pain management should be sought it was not handled in the manner in which it should have been. There was no reason for him to have suffered like a drug addict who is being detoxed from drugs. He was finally referred to a “pain specialist”, which in my opinion he should have been to years ago. The pain specialist helped with injections, ablations, and medications. For the past two years Dan was doing well at managing his pain. But here we are today….. During an MRI in July 2019 of his back it was discovered he had advanced cancer. The point I want to make is what we have learned during this process. Because of the recent attention opioid abuse has received it is hurting those individuals who need these medications for daily life. I myself take an opioid for pain relief. I had bi-lateral fusion of my SI-Joints 5 years ago. It did not give me 100% pain relief and I still see a pain specialist and use pain medication. I’ve tried other alternatives available however at the end of the day the pain medication is sometimes the only relief. Every year it seems harder and harder to get these medications due to regulations. I agree there is abuse and some regulations are needed however, we need voices for those who DO NOT abuse the drugs and need them. There should be more studies on addictive behaviors and genetics than using laws and scar tactics. For Dan I am speaking out because as I write this, he is lying in a hospice inpatient facility that will not increase his pain medication because I’m told DEA is “all over” them for giving him what’s he’s taking now. Isn’t it the mission of hospice to make individuals comfortable and relieve their pain?? Instead you have the hospice medical staff worried about what DEA will do or think? This is insanity. Who is to say how much medication is enough or too much. This is not the job of the DEA…… Dan and others who suffer from pain and chronic pain can benefit from opiod medications. The suffering needs to end!
I am 75 year old female. I have Osteo Arthritis and have constant pain in my neck, hands, knees , feet. It is a struggle to get my opioid meds. I am treated like an addict when I request a refill: pee test, grueling questions,
Amen! Hi my name is Joy n ive been in pain n pain management for over 20 yrs. Im writing because i cant find an address for the CBC. I think thats the Department making the Opiate guudelines. Im not sure who to write. Im from NYC n had one Dr. For 18 years. For the past 3-4 years its been hell finding a Dr. Who will give me the medicine that ive been on for 17 years. I explain that ive tried many many combinations of meds. N finally found one that subsides the nonfunctional pains…the ones that render me useless to all. I have injuries from conducting the NYS road exams as my career as well as a blood disorder thats extremely painful n a connective tissue disorder. All documented still its a battle. I have a Dr. Now but has brought my milligrams down quickly to the max. Allowed. Its nit an Opioid crisis its when people use fentanyl the wrong way..shoiting sniffing or mixing meds. With others ir alcohol. Speaking of…when people started drinking n driving they didnt ban alcohol or tabacco causing lung diease etc. No they raised the taxes n made more $ off them. I could go on lord knows but my neck n wrist are killing me just writing this i had to stop 4 times. Please can someone tell me where to write n if there are any groups in NY that you know of? Thank you
Last year I left my Pain Management Drs. of 15 years because they were blackmailing me to have stem cell injections and ketamine infusions or no pain meds. I went to a Rheumatologist who agreed to take me on as long as I stayed at 30mg. and exercised. I have done everything he asked. 4 months ago. He said he was being forced to taper me off my meds by the CDC and took away 2 of my meds and I have been searching for a new Dr. since. One Dr told me this was a lie and has agreed to help me find a new Dr to prescribe my meds as He does not. I am so angry that this Dr let me waste an entire year with him. I thought I finally found a Dr that would keep me on my meds without having to worry every visit. I am hiring an attorney because I believe this is malpractice.
My name is Sandra Carlson. I have spinal stenosis, degenerative arthritis. diabetes. After many xrays. mris, and mylogram, I have no cartledge in lowerer spine and surgery is not advised. Since 2000 have had both knees and hips replaced, carpal tunnel surgery, rotary cuff. In the 70s I had 2 back surgeries. I have seen surgeon for my back and due to severe damage I cannot have surgery. Since the pain restrictions changed I get very little pain relief. I feel like this is very personal when everyone is now treated the same, no matter what they need to help pain. This ruling treats everyone the same and does not let their doctor prescribe meds to help patients with pain. (sort of like one shoe fits all).
I am 65 but the last two really bad years of tortuous, unending, unbearable pain has aged me so rapidly, that I look a horror. I’ve have had a couple car accidents in my life and several fallson my back. I’m thinking perhaps the brain injuries made me more sensitive to pain, since it sounds like other people are living with worse problems and surviving. The pain was so intense last year that it caused a heart “episode”, nearly a heart attack, I just imploded, although I didn’t tell my doctor. There were years when suicide was the first thing that came to mind upon awakening, despite a wonderful meditation/yoga class I faithfully attended, until I couldn’t. 5-6 years ago I was prescribed what I consider a wonder drug, (starts with a V ). I was able to manage my excruciating pain and feel like a normal person for a decent part of the day… with limitations of course. With this med I could time my relief , so was able to actually work part time and be in the world. I was active. Then the “opioid crisis” came along and there went my meds, with no explanation or apology from the doctor. It was back to bed for me, and I’ve missed every single family, worldly, educational, pleasurable event since. I am a complete hermit now, in a prison of pain and loneliness. I can’t even get a dog now. It’s really sad, really frustrating. This sort of confinement is the opposite of my nature. Without work, I fell into poverty, despair, and a chaotic mess. I’ve never received a word of understanding or sympathy. Others will assume it’s a matter of willpower and psychology, which is hurtful as well. This wasted life could have been repaired so simply with a proper dose of meds. Someone else mentioned that they were “blackmailed” into costly procedures as an alternative. Same here. I never really got to experience middle age. I went from young at heart to decrepit. I don’t even have really major health issues, yet, but sitting in bed all day is unhealthy and the difference between having the right dose of medicine or not, is like night and day. Living versus dying. Now I just feel ancient, worthless and trapped. It seems so unfair. Hope this story makes some sense, I’m out of practice.
The federal government or rather the DEA steps in between patients and doctors and prevent patients from receiving the required amounts of oxycodone that helps me through the daily struggles with pain. It is unbelievable that the DEA steps in and interferes with the patient and Dr. confidentiality. Basically you the DEA are doing more harm than good. If the DEA thinks that by going after patients that have a Real medical condition that requires opiates you’re sadly mistaken. You should go after the the dope dealers including your own that are in the public service like your police force that kill thousands. Don’t punish us – we need this medication to have a normal day without pain. But even now the pain is so severe because by you interfering with doctors and patients you are causing thousands to commit suicide and believe me I’ve thought about it. So please do us right, go after someone else not us.
Hello,
This was back in 2015. I had tripped over my dog (he was black, it was 4am) and tried to brace myself. I fell onto an out-streched hand. I broke 1 of the small bones in the hand/wrist area, as well as an avulsion fracture in my wrist. I went to the local urgent care. My 16 year old daughter came with. We were putting into a room immediately. I was honest about the medication I take. I have Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, so I am hyper-flexible. I have had many dislocations and subluxations that have cause joint damage all over my body. This is why I take medication.
The doctor came into the room. He asked what happened. I answered him. He showed a flashlight into my mouth (I have friable gums and am missing teeth as I was in the process of getting dentures.) With NO X-Ray done and not even a glance under the ice pack, he says to me IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER, NO LESS “Why don’t you come back when you decide to lay off the Meth” !! I am not exaggerating. I am being 100% honest. He then turned and walked out the door, and 2 minutes later the nurse returned with my discharge paperwork that says ‘strained wrist’ ‘no splint needed.’
I was so shocked, that I just had to leave. In the car my daughter is tearing up, asking “mama do you take meth?” At which point I explained what the doctor assumed, and she pulled up pictures on her phone and said they don’t even look like my teeth!
I went to a different facility 65miles away that was an Orthopedic Urgent Care and it was the only one near us back then. After they gave me a proper exam and X-rays, the doctor came into the room and says “I don’t know HOW they missed this.” She then had me sit for an MRI which is how we knew of the avulsion fx. The Doctor here was amazing and very sweet, especially when I told her what had happened to me earlier. No questions. Just a script for pain meds, cast and sling, and a hug out the door. (Also the suggestion that I report that physician from the local Urgent Care!)
The doctor at 1st UC made a knee-jerk assumption about me, rather than inquiring with my PC doc, or checking the PMPD, Which would have shown I never refill early. And I don’t see multiple doctors. 1 doc, 1 clinic same scripts. No dosage adjustments in 10 years!! That man broke my daughter’s heart, and had me shattered. That was the first time someone ever BLATANTLY called me a drug addict! But it wasn’t the last!!
I don’t think it should matter what type of pain problems you have. We have opiates and as a citizen you should have a right to them. There are risks and side effects to many legal substances. Personal risks are choices to be made by individuals not the government. This is not a free country and Doctors are not Gods. No country and no doctor can evaluate your pain. Even if your pain treatment has created a “dependence” on opiates it is not a problem unless it is taken away. Then you have TWO problems. Increased pain and withdrawal. Three problems when you realize another civil right has been taken. Abusers might well have created a national problem but law abiding responsible citizens did not. They suffer anyway. They give up and kill themselves. When the news stories report an attack on a doctor they do not consider that a sufferer might feel that he is being murdered and decides that it is the only justice possible. The report will suggest that the drugs made the person do it. No, it was the lack of drugs that made them do it. The real evil is that most Doctors are convinced they are helping. So what if they die? We offered alternatives and they refused. I should not be pressured into treatments that I don’t want if the opiates work for me. Like so many, I was started on opiates many years ago. My brain and body are permanently changed. People are dead and there are more to come. They did not have to die in order to change prescribing statistics! A living human being dependent on opiates is better than a drug free dead one. The News Media should be presenting the victims/citizens who will not be heard. They want us to donate to save the animals but not the human ones.
The JacknBox Story: The Result of failed Policies
On the way home from my primary care doctor appointment my mom, who drives since I am unable to, stopped at JacknBox. As she pulled up to the drive thru window I was in tears. In tears from the pain and the devastating news I had just received from my primary care doctor. All I wanted to do is bash my head on the dashboard from the unrelenting and excruciating pain caused by my Arnold Chiari Malformation-1, a pinhole next to my brain stem, spinal cord and spinal canal, and my neck that has a dead man’s bone and a metal plate with four screws that has been compared to that of an injured football player, arthritis and ganglions from a 2011 neck surgery. For 16 years I was treated successfully with 4 medications; 1 opioid, 1 controlled substance, 1 benzodiazepine and 1 antihistamine for my ACM-1 and pinhole. To make things worse my primary doctor had just informed me that since I was unable to find a pain management doctor to treat me, he could no longer treat me for my ACM-1, pinhole, and neck pain. He said he can treat me for everything else but that.
So there I sat in the car with swollen red eyes and tears from crying. The young man who was at the drive thru window asked if everything was okay and my mom explained that my primary care doctor can no longer help me because we could not find a doctor willing to prescribe my medications due to the opioid epidemic. He looked at us funny and replied “Why … I get my pain medications all the time and there is nothing wrong with me. In fact, I’m high right now.” Astonished my mom asked him where did go, who was his doctor. His response should come to no surprise … as he stated … ”oh I don’t go to just one doctor, I go here, I go there, I go everywhere and they give them (opioids) to me and there is nothing wrong with me…”
This occurred in July of 2018. As I pointed out to Christina Corieri who is Governor Doug Ducey’s senior political health advisor and who wrote some of the language that is in Arizona’s 2018 Opioid law. This law was based off the CDC guidelines and recommendations. The laws and policies that are being implemented to so-call “stem the tide of the opioid epidemic” has only accomplished two things: (1) those who medically need and depend on prescription opioids to function and have quality of life are no longer able to obtain them and (2) allows those who are actual drug addicts and drug seekers to obtain them when and how ever they want.
Since this true story that occurred in 2018, lawmakers/policy makers and politicians, both state and federal, have continued to enact and support failed policies which produce the same two results. As I informed Christina Corieri who was speechless in response to this true story, I informed her those who are addicts or drug seekers, they will find a way to obtain opioids. You can enact all the laws and policies, however, you cannot save someone who does not want to be saved. Currently the only contribution that has been made to the “so-called opioid epidemic” is preventing Chronic Pain Patients, such as myself, from receiving their medically necessary medications that is now producing devastating results.
How ERs are treating CPPs: A personal account at St. Joseph’s Hospital
In May 2018, I went to Urgent Care, which was my first time ever going to one. The doctors there had never heard of Arnold Chiari Malformation so they looked it up online. When the doctor who was treating me saw that if left untreated it can cause paralysis and/or brain damage he immediately referred me to the ER. Both my mom and I explained that all they will do is treat me like a drug addict and offer me that drug addiction IV which is why I don’t go to the ER anymore. The doctor informed me that because he is unfamiliar with ACMs and since St. Joes has merged with Barrows Neurological Institute they have neurologists on call. He also reassured me that he was contacting them to “give them the heads up that I was not a drug addict and that I was bringing my recent MRI. I immediately went to the ER.
The nurse at the ER took my blood pressure and immediately asked if was overdosing. I told her no as she informed me that my BP was too high and heart rate was too fast for it to be caused by pain; the only explanation is an overdose. My mom told her that I was not overdosing. They finally called me back into the room. The ER doctor came in with the nurse and asked what’s going on. I explained that I had ACM-1 and pinhole and that I don’t have my meds. My mom told the doctor that I just came from urgent care and they were “giving you guys a heads up” his response … we did not receive anything and if we did it means absolutely nothing to me. He proceeded to point to the wall stating, ”you see those … due to the CDC guidelines and our opioid law I am unable to write you any type of opioid prescriptions so if you’re here for that I won’t be giving that to you.” As I handed him my recent MRI and my mom explained that I am exempt from AZ opioid law. He looked over my MRI and bluntly stated … ”yeah so what do you want me to do with this.” My mom and I were livid. I was in so much pain I couldn’t even respond to him but my mom told him … ”I want you to get someone down here to treat my daughter. Don’t you have on call neurologists?” He informed her they do but no one is going to give your daughter pain medications. I can offer her the drug addiction/overdose IV and that will take her pain away because it contains Benadryl and magnesium. We both stated I’m not a drug addict. He then informed both of us that was all he was willing to give me and stated word for word here … ”take it or leave it. it’s up to you but that’s all you’re going to get here, so I need to know what’s it going to be.” I told him no and he said that’s fine I’ll have the nurse get your discharge papers so just wait here. I was in so much pain and livid I told my mom let’s just go. As we were leaving the nurse gave my mom my discharge papers and told my mom she didn’t understand why I didn’t take the IV? My mom told her I’m not a drug addict, I have Arnold Chiari Malformation-1 and a pinhole and that IV will not help my daughter. The nurse then claimed that it “cures” Arnold Chiari Malformation and all of its symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Arnold Chiari and it comes with 25 different symptoms … all I got that day was a $1,000.00 ER bill and treated like a drug addict.
Prior to this opioid hysteria and losing my meds … In the 16 years that I was being treated with my medications not once did I have to go to ER. I have been all but bedridden. I found out Monday November 12, 2018 I have to go to a cardiologist because they found an irregular heartbeat. I have high blood pressure and a fast heartbeat. My primary believes it’s because I was taken off the Valium cold turkey after being successfully prescribed for 16 years. Prior, when the CDC published its guidelines, I was six months away from my master’s degree from Grand Canyon University with a 4.0 GPA in criminal justice with an emphasis on legal studies. The university had also offered me a job upon my completion/graduation and they were going to work with me and my medical conditions so that I could work. I suffer from depression due to all the threats I received. I do not trust doctors … it’s taken me a year just to trust my new primary … I have gone broke due to all the medical bills … I have all but been cut off from family because they don’t believe me. They think I’m a drug addict who needs to go to rehab. One neurologist I saw ordered an MRI in 2017, only to tell me that I had been miraculously cured. Claiming my brain shrunk and the pinhole grew shut … He ordered an MRI of my neck not my head but due to his diagnosis I was deemed as a drug addict who was doctor shopping and red flagged. My primary order a new MRI to be done in May 2018. You know it’s pretty bad when both you and your primary are hoping that a painful, incurable and inoperable neurological medical condition shows up on an MRI, and it did. However, because a previous neurologist who was not my doctor and was just a consultation diagnosed me as cured based off of an MRI that was ordered and done incorrectly. It is like I have to prove to the medical community that yes I have ACM-1. Despite 17 years of documentation and that there is no cure for ACM, only treatment. I have ER bills that I cannot pay from 2017 to most recently in May of 2018 and I did not receive any help or treatment. After my last ER ordeal I don’t even go to the ER anymore … why should I? They won’t do anything except charge me for non-treatment and further red flag me. I have been fighting for two years to find a doctor who will treat me. In August 2018 I finally found a Pain Management doctor who was willing to take me as a patient. However, due to the CDC Guidelines and despite being supposedly exempt from the Arizona Opioid law, he is unable to write my medications for the quantities and dosages that provided me quality of life for 16 years. Of which in those 16 years, not once did have to go to the ER. Why? because my neurologist and (then my pain management doctor who took over my treatment) not only prescribed my medications and the proper dosages but made sure I never had to go one day without them …
I live with chronic pain everyday for the past 12 years. It has changed the way that I live and deal with my own hurtles. Every single day is different from the other. Sometimes you feel stronger than others. If it wasn’t for my stimulator and my medications I wouldn’t be able to function or get out out of bed. Now today I was informed… after nerve damage, nerve infections, risodomys, disc replacements, shoulder surgeries, and not to have anything else done because of all the damage. They are stopping all their scripts for pain medication even though I am on a low dose and never failed a test! I have no idea what I am going to do, but the GOVERNMENT HAS TO STOP INTERFERING IN MY HEALTH…BECAUSE IF I CAN’T BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE PAIN AND HAVE NOTHING TO HELP ME, I WILL HAVE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO MY OWN HANDS, AND I WILL BLAME THEM!
We see to now have doctors without honor. An oath to do no harm is a faint memory. Many doctors already are egotistical (apologies to the good guys), self appointed saviors of us uneducated peasants who are supposed to worship and admire them for their wisdom. Their has increased with the “so called” opioid epidemic. We would all like to think that doctors chose their profession to comfort and save the suffering. (A few might do that) but Doctors are in it for the money and to make “mommy” proud. The Government has not taken away the prescribing authority from doctors. If they are licensed they can prescribe if they want to. They now like to say “I don’t want to lose my license!” Now who is being stupid? That is not why they withhold medication. An educated, intelligent doctor can prescribe within the law even if he or she suspects the patient is lying. Drug seekers know what to say. If they is doubt…..better to write the prescription than let the sufferers suffer. We know we have people getting drugs that don’t need them and others suffering that do. How often do we meet Americans who get disability with a sleezy lawyer with a “buddy” doctor? These fakers are getting plenty of drugs and taxpayers pay for it.
I would not mind If my email address is shared here. I am a victim of the “opioid myth”. We really need to unite for the right reasons. You never know who you can trust these days. I think some of the “pain” forums are filled with people that just want to tell stories and it is true that “misery loves company”. That is not doing us any good in regards to reversing this “stigma” and national ignorance. There are thousands of Compasionate Doctors that would help but they are victims too. I am sure that many want to prescribe opiates but they are labeled as “OLD SCHOOL” and citizens by the doctors and politicians on a “mission” to degrade them just as they do chronic pain patients. With all of our valid complaining we still lose ground. I would ask people here if I could post my email address for one reason only. Unite. Pain patients are a minority but have civil rights that get crushed at the mention of opiates. Lets stop the murder of innocent human beings by the doctors and politicians that have sworn to help all Americans, not just the healthy who do not want drugs and have decided that no one else needs them either. The only way they could possibly understand is if they were inflicted with a painful disease, got relief with opioids and then have them taken away.
After almost 18 months of existing on a greatly reduced dose (70 pct.) of a once-effective opiod med, I’m in dire circumstances, my overall health deteriorating. Surgery postponed 2x due to impaired nutritional status. I can’t eat with increasing chronic pain. Adjuncts (Lyrica, cannabis) not effective. This governmental seige akin to genocide. It’s the new “Red Scare.”
R. Moreland, RN (Ret)
I’m a disabled combat veteran. I served in the Active Army and I was injured in 2007 during the end of my second tour to Iraq due to a Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). Yeah, it’s a rotten deal when it comes to pain. I’m not going to give along speech on what happened next but you have a vivid imagination….months in hospitals, recovery, surgeries, and various treatments. It would be 10 years before I could successfully sleep on my sides again…. I had to wait for the proper procedure. Again, I volunteered for my country so this is not a forum for me to complain. I’m just pleading for those who sincerely are suffering like myself to be allowed to continue their medications in peace. My doctors all trust me even though I take quite a bit. I am compliant!!! However, my body feels like knives stabbing throughout my brain down my spine down through my legs 24/7. I have two caregivers and a nurse weekly to check on me. Mental competency helps as well. It’s just important to be self aware. On the other hand, I’m not defending the “addicts” who abuse the medicine….not for a second. I’m only defending others in my shoes who sometimes can’t even wipe their own…..you get the message.
I was injured on May 10 1981 the front bucket from a backhoe came off the machine and fell on my (R) foot crushing it. From that RSD developed in that foot and leg. My doctor had a leg brace made for me and after learning how to use it i could not stand for long so in 1985 i went back to work as a backhoe operator.
In 1994 of May i was injured again. We were at the end of the day and i needed to cover the pipes with dirt so i went down in the trench to make sure the pipes was good. it was, so i told the men everything looks good and after we finished with the backfill we can set the manhole cover and go home. When i said that one of the men tried to put the cover on by himself and the 400 pound manhole cover fell on my head and left shoulder, then fell on my (R) leg and brace breaking my brace and injuring both legs, both feet, my left hip, my back, my neck my left shoulder, both my hands and elbows. It put a crack in my head, and now i have 80% loss of hearing in my ears with a ringing that never stops??? I’m in pain all the time, it never stops.
i was getting pain meds for that and now I’m being told that what the doctor was giving me for 20-plus years i will not get anymore and i will never get the meds i was getting again. I go to pain management for my meds and they have been giving me testing for other meds that I’m not supposed to be taking for over 20-plus years to make sure I’m not taking something that’s not on my list of meds.
Why am i being punished for what other people are doing? I’ll be 66 years old in November and now i am in more pain than i can take. They tell me to call the people we put in office, they are the ones that are pushing the new law without even thinking about the people that go to war, the people that do your pipes under ground, the roads, buildings you live in and (SO MUCH MORE). Also i was told that when people start taking their life then maybe someone will listen to the people that are screaming for help for someone to care because one day it could be (YOU). Thank You.
I developed severe scoliosis of the spine as a teenager, late 1950. At that time back surgery was unheard of. My lower back is curved like a snake that is crawling, I was diagnosed with Lupus at 45, the kind that attacks the joints, and then arthritis set in. I have been on pain medications since then, I am now 72 years old. I use my medication responsibly, but when the weather changes, I still have pain. Sometimes I just have to go to bed. My spine doctor is amazed that I still can walk upright. He says as long as I take the pain medicine as prescribed, and can tolerate the residual pain, he will not operate. The disc in my lower back have slipped and they press against the nerve in the spinal column. My doctors, there are 4 doctors that I see for my chronic pain, all understand my specific need for pain medication.
Ima living with breast cancer, suffering from chemo & radiation treatments. Neuropathy in legs. Bone on bone arthritis in my knees. Ankylosing Spondolitis. Bulging discs, degenerative disc disease. Fibromyalgia. Forced taper, quality of life is the worst it’s ever been. This is why so many people are on disability. Please stop the suffering & people from committing suicide. Our meds aren’t the problem especially when we follow Drs rules & contract. Always have good UAS. The real problem is illicit fentynol being put in presser with oxycodone, presser MMpurchased on Amazon. These pills then sold & people OD.
I’ve had Fibromyalgia 15-plus years. 2 tears in my spinal membrane that leaked over until they eroded the facet joints. Sciatica, Plantars fascitis and more. 2 months ago I figured this situation would affect me but I was not prepared for this! My rheumatologist of 10 years tells me point blank she’s removing me off of both my pain medications I’ve been on without ever having “one” problem! My liver is great. I don’t drink, don’t smoke, and I take care of myself. I lost 29 pounds down to 151. Thought I was doing everything right. I cried when I found there IS someone fighting for us! It’s DISCRIMINATION! My depression has hit an all-time high as I’ve been in bed a good 6 days now. They didn’t just put me back in debilitating pain, they stole my life. My joy, my will. My hope, time with my young adult kids and time with my grandkids. They put nails in my coffee. I feel hopeless and don’t even feel like an American anymore. Suffering in chronic pain needlessly is cruel and inhumane. I’m a POW in their War Against Opioids.
I am a 25 year CRPS survivor. Disease was brought in by a crush injury to right arm and two failed surgeries on nerves. I lived with debilitating female conditions for years trying to conceive. Had one unconfirmed miscarry at home. I accepted what wouldn’t be. Had a huge hand in raising my only sister’s babies virtually one handed. Then my severe spinal problems surfaced, Fibro, then the icing, acute Lyme Infection. In 2017 Dr sympathetically chose to not start weaning my 15 year opioid rxs, then feeling unsupported in my wellness journey from Lyme I left that office. When I arrived at new Dr office there went half my meds. She then finished me off over the summer. Now after over 19 years with severe complex pain, I’m at my sister’s Neurosurgeon. I was told by PC all these years surgery was last thing a CRPS patient needs. I’ve had 15 years of (unapproved by FDA) epidurals both lumbar and cervical. Had first MRI on neck ever without pain med this morning. Ugh I feel like I am a living nightmare. Can’t feel my face in front of me but my skull hurts. I get to sleep two nights a week now for four hours. In rural upstate NY. Thanks Claudia!!! Really thank you.
I’m a young woman 26 years of age. I have been chronically ill since I was a real young child. I had diagnosis doctors were baffled by because I was so off on every lab, out of no where at only 9 I was in agony and still am very much in agony. I suffered with a rare condition called cushings disease from childhood well until late 2018, when I had a bilateral liprosocpic adrenaloctamy. I have NO ADRENALGLANDS. therefore without steroids daily multiple times a day I will die. I need cortisol. Cushings disease has given me well over 10 diagnosis and then some. My bones are brittle and weak, my back is beyond repair my nerves are shot and I feel like the pain alone could take me one day. Not to mention the cysts and tumors my body grows within my endocrine system and just all over. Without my pain pills I almost cant function. And if you take your medicine for the right reasons you dont “get high” you barely even get enough relief. I’m on high doses for my age but just the right amount to get the edge off. And when I have more pain then normal I usually will have to deal. This whole situation even has me not able to get my mental health medicines I had for 4 years before this.. I must say after 2 brain Surgeries and 10 others, if I had my medicine taken away there just would be no point of life for me after that. My body is beyond repair.
I am a disable 60 year old finished carpenter and have been taking opiates for 20 years and the State of Massachusetts is going to stop my meds !!!
This opioid crisis they are having a fit over is not a one size fits all! There are so many people who need their pain meds to have any quality of life! I have seen a pain management Dr. For 12 years, he was suddenly shut down due to this deal with the opioid crisis. My back pain and Fibromyalgia make it difficult to function on a daily basis. I’m currently having a flare up and just have to stay in bed, can’t function due to the pain. While seeing a pain Dr we are randomly tested for taking to much or not enough of our prescribed meds. It’s unfair to just drop us off all at once, and there is no Dr in Texas that I know of who will prescribe any pain medication. I hope they come up with something for those of us who are not abusing our medicine. It’s very depressing and changes your life to no quality of life!
I live with Lupus, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, among other painful conditions. I also have a blood clotting disease so I am unable to take anti-inflammatory medications so the least invasive treatment for me is pain medication. If I am not able to use medicinal pain management and have to use alternatives like spinal injections I must come off my blood thinners, which puts me at a greater risk. The last time I came off of my blood thinners I had a stroke. There are no pain management clinics currently in my area, I am currently not sure what I will do for medication management. As far as I know now the nearest pain management is 3 hours away for me. I am disabled by my chronic diseases, the two strokes and other issues so that will be difficult. I had no notice that my rheumatologist would no longer prescribe my pain medication; I simply called for a refill and was told we no longer do that. I saw a spine and pain Dr and was told if you take the epideral injections we may use the pain medication but no we won’t prescribe it by itself. I asked why not since for 7 years it has been successfully working with my other medications. I don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t use illicit drugs. I eat a diet I have agreed upon with my family Dr, I am exercising, losing weight, and even meditate for pain control, so I do all I can in what I view as a partnership with my Dr. Really I am just one of many casualties suffering of this war on opioids because the weapons used were not selective but just dropped like an indiscriminate bomb on all of us.
I have an intermittent, but chronic condition that causes me to have abscesses in unpleasant areas of the body. They always eventually burst and drain, but in the meantime, I am in significant amounts of pain. OTC medicines DO NOT WORK, even though I’ve found myself taking 10-30 pills a day for only a mild reprieve. For a long time I was unable to get a standing prescription to deal with the problem. One night I had to wait in the emergency room for nearly 4 hours in agonizing pain, only for them to tell me what I already knew, the abscess was about to burst and I should just wait and let it do that. They prescribed me pain meds, but could not administer them because I had driven myself to the hospital. I wrote a sincere message to my doctor, and she agreed finally that I should have a prescription available for when I need it. I receive 60 to 120 pills PER YEAR. I am not an abuser. This medicine works. Yet the last time I filled my prescription I was asked to pee in a cup, and had to sign my life away, (meaning that if they determine anything in my “screen” came back in a way they didn’t want, I could never get my medication again). So I feel punished. I responsibly use a medication for what is designed for and do not, and never have abused it, or had anyone in my household abuse it, but because of new laws, I have to take a pee test to get my medication. I am appalled, annoyed, saddened, and terribly irritated.
I have lived with chronic pain for 15 plus years. In my county the pain clinics have reduced my medication to the point that I can’t function. Most days are spent in bed crying in agony. I’m 70 years old and just don’t know how to go on. This week has been the worst. The pharmacy didn’t have one of my medications and would not have it for 10 days from getting the script. I have called the pain clinic 4 days and can’t get the dr to return my call. I have called the pharmacy 3 times asking them if there was anything they could do and they said No. I can’t sleep, I can’t function. I’m in horrible pain while writing this thinking how and what am I going to do. No one cares that I’m in pain. God please help me is my plea. Why do I have to live like this. Please make my pain better. Why doesn’t the pain center care about me???
I have had fibro and chronic fatigue for over 25 years. The fibro combined with arthritis continues to beat my body every day. Some days are worse than others as weather also plays a big part in how my body reacts. I also have migraines, and some days when they all combine together, I can barely get out of bed. I have doctored and gone through all doors I’m suppose to over the years. My general practitioner, rheumatologist, a back specialist, a couple of fibromyalgia doctors, acupucture and pain therapy. I have tried several medications. I for years was prescribed pain meds. Now the powers that be, say those pain pills don’t work for fibro. REALLY!! Funny, how they worked for years on mine, when I needed them. Now I have a marijuana license, because our state is so kind. But to me, this is just a money maker. It’s not about helping the patients. It’s more costly for sure. I have to see the state doctor twice a year, pay out of my pocket, to say OK to a license I have to pay EVERY year for. It is totally ridiculous. My pain meds did the job much better and much cheaper without lining anyone’s pocket. And to buy the STUFF is a lot more expensive when you’re a retiree and on a fixed income. I think we should let the doctors doctor, and government needs to get out of our personal business. Give back pain meds where needed.
This is so sad that all of us suffer because of the bad Apple’s.
It’s not fair and criminal.
God save us.
I had a bad back operation fail and the surgeon messed up and crippled me. Stuck a screw in my nerve pocket and then I had another surgeon put the screw in the right place but the damage was already done.
I also have plmd periodic limb movement disorder and a sleep study doctor gave me methadone for over ten years and then just cut me off when the feds got involved.
I have been living a life of hell since he took the methadone away two years ago.
Hi,I have no discs left in my lumbar due to arthritis and being in a car accident in 1988.I have bone on bone in lower spine and the nerves are being squeezed,severe burning in my feet and it’s constant….Opioids alleviate this. Without meds the pain IS UNBEARABLE. I can’t sleep.I cannot get in a comfortable position it truly is unbearable and now my Dr is telling me that they are cutting my medication. I’ve always gone to Pain Management for medication. I’ve been taking medication for over 20 years and I take my meds as prescribed. I don’t drink nor,do I smoke. I’m self employed with a seasonal restaurant and I work my butt off. I stand for 10-12 hours a day with no breaks.I love my job and I like working my restaurant;it’s what I do. Without medication I will not be able to stand let alone work…let alone exist.
IF they take away my meds I will be forced
to find an alternative…I don’t know what and I don’t know where?
I’m a 47 y female I have had psoriasis Spence 13 I am now diagnosed with degenerative disease of the spine and inflammation is ridiculous I dont like Drs first off and dont go unless I need to see them well with the state of Fla s new laws I’m now labeled and they think all I want is there narcotics! Well wrong again I’m looking for biologics and my primary has dismissed me because I went to a different location for a second opinion. This is a sliding fee clinic and I have never asked for narcotics but it says in my chart do not percribe narcotics why
I’m a 49 year old woman who suffered many years from chronic pain in my lower back, sciatic nerve, and right shoulder. In 2016 I was in a car accident that required a disc replacement, plate, and screws. I also had 3 other surgeries on my wrists and left ulnar nerve. I had been on narcotic pain medications from 2010 due to my previous pain. After my accident I couldn’t bear the pain and so my Dr. Increased my doses. I was tolerating my pain with the new doses and refused any increases. Then in 2019 I was informed that the DOJ was “requiring patients have less than” a certain amount of opioids ( I can’t remember what the numbers were ) per month. This was “due to the opioid crisis”. My Dr started reducing the amount of narcotic pain medications I am prescribed. As a result, I am now more disabled due to my pain. My husband tells me I cry when I move at night and that he has seen how the decrease has made me experience more really bad days. Every day is bad, but sometimes even moving is horrific. I don’t understand how or why my pain levels are subject to what the DOJ is deemed adequate. Just before I was categorically placed in a group of people, that I really have nothing to do with, I had days where I could actually make it through the day without PRN doses. Now my doses of PRNs are the only reason I can move. I don’t use alcohol, I don’t break the law, I don’t cause problems for others, and yet because of this “opioid crisis” I am categorized as a “user”. I have been harassed by the pharmacists, made to feel like I am evil, and been denied medication by my insurance company because my doses are “too high”.
If someone can explain to me why I am being punished for others choices when I had no fault in my current situation I would be grateful. I’m not looking to place blame. I just want to be able to try and be comfortable in my issues. Thank you for your support ❤️
I had some back issues and a torn rotator cuff. My general practitioner doctor told me I needed to be in pain management, I did not ask for it. I was prescribed some so-called weak medications and what’s called a pain patch. I had no idea what the patch was about however I did tell the doctor my surgeon wanted to do an MRI, he had no response. When I went in for the test, I was asked to complete a form prior to the MRI, which asked me if I was wearing any kind of patches, I replied yes and described it. I was told by the technicians it was perfectly fine to get into the MRI machine while wearing this patch but then it dawned on me why would they be asking on this form about any patches, what did that mean? Nobody could answer my questions they just kept telling me it was fine to get into the machine. I then asked for the manager, who came down huffing and puffing and yelling at me that I was holding up their schedule. I asked her again please just tell me about the patches, again I was told they were fine without any other answers. I asked her to please go look it up on her computer because I did not have a smart phone, I could not get hold of anybody to find out any answers about the patches that I was told to leave on for a week. She quickly came back and said it’s just fine, I looked it up, you can get in the machine. At that point she had me in tears she literally bullied me to get into the machine, threatened to cancel my surgery that I’ve been trying to get for two years.
I broke down and got into the machine. I did notice the uncomfortable burning which I thought was the torn rotator cuff. Had a hard time getting out of the machine, five minutes later I was already out the door and in my car. My right hand started burning like it was on fire. I had to stick it in a cup of ice. Noticed my fingers were literally beet-red and curling up into a claw position which I couldn’t move for 10 months. Of course the surgery was canceled when they took one look at my hand that was swollen out of shape and extremely painful. The next day I noticed my other hand and my feet were very painful. Then I had double vision, my hair started falling out, confused, depressed, double vision, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies etc. I had to be held down by four people to open my fingers to tape up so they wouldn’t curl back up. I felt like they were breaking them.
Now 4 1/2 years later I am on those medications they were scared of to begin with. Before the so-called opioid crisis, they had me on the correct medication that made me feel pretty normal, I was at least able to carry on my life. I could feed myself, bathe, do my laundry and so on but then he decided he couldn’t deal with me anymore. I’ve been to a total of four pain management doctors who don’t want to prescribe anything for me. Says my case is too difficult and they don’t understand it. What it has turned into is called perpetual neuropathy, not the kind diabetics have, this kind is throughout my whole body. It has gone into my vital organs two different times that sent me to the hospital.
I literally have no will to live anymore at 59 years old, told nobody’s going to help me. I’m in the system now, I’m in pain management and disabled, so give it up. Nobody’s going to help me. My doctor says I don’t have cancer so he’s not going to give any medication to me anymore… I can’t handle this pain, I’ve never felt anything like it ever in my life. Maybe when the time I accidentally was electrocuted, but I could pull my hand away. There’s no answer and now no pain medication. A doctor did this to me, I didn’t do this to myself, but I’m sure punished like I’m a criminal. All this because the extreme overreaction towards somebody who did not have a profile of abusing drugs when they had had previous surgeries. I’m going to end up one of those statistics that doesn’t make it. My life is over.
My point is, not everybody fits in to the same category. Just because somebody you knew ended up abusing drugs, doesn’t mean everybody else is going to. Even though the doctor did this to me, I’m going to die. I can’t even get the medication to relieve my suffering. How is this right? Why do we have alcohol legal? Some people become alcoholics, it ruins their life, but they don’t take it away from other people, yet look how many it’s killing. Everybody is different and people need to be treated as individuals. Doctors are not taught that people are individuals, not everybody is the same. Why do I have to die because of somebody else’s stupidity?
I’ve been a Chronic Pain patient for 30+ years, was very stable with 30 years of pain medications until the CDC Guidelines cut my daily dose by 70%. This has caused nothing more than hell on earth for me and my family. I was very independent before the forced taper, now I’m unable to function without the help of family. I’ve tried all the alternative therapies over the years with no success, the only thing that made me functional was the higher level of pain medication. Been in pain management with the same doctor for 23 years, was told by my doctor sorry I know your higher level of pain medication helps your quality of life, but I have to cut to below 90mme or I could lose my license and face prison. Something needs to change and soon, we are losing the war on Chronic Pain by politicians and 24-hour news media. It’s a heroin and carfentanyl problem not prescription pain medications. Without proper pain medications, fellow United States citizens will suffer needlessly, and many more will pay the ultimate price of death by heart attacks, stroke and suicide.
I have both fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis and very aggressive osteoarthritis. I was managing well. Taken off my meds, and the pain has come back with a vengeance. I have been hospitalized twice with bleeding ulcers so I can’t take over-the-counter NSAIDs. Last year I had half of my collarbone removed because it had been eaten away by the arthritis. I never abused my meds yet I was deemed a career junkie by the CDC’s definition. The government has no business being involved with my healthcare. This is a devastating policy for so many people. I just want to manage my pain and live my life.
I have been on pain medications since 1997 following 9 surgeries. All my surgeries were due to one simple, one-day laparoscopy that went wrong due to a doctor’s mistake. I lost my career and my money; my life has been very hard ever since. For years, I was able to get all the medications I needed to live with bearable pain and take care of myself with moderate help. However, for the last 3 years, I had to cut down a lot of medications.
I have a very compassionate doctor who has kept on prescribing as much as she can. But, I live in fear of what will happen if she retires or gets more afraid and stops prescribing. She is always telling me that she is afraid one day the DEA will take her license away.
Filling the prescriptions that my doctor writes every month is very difficult. Many pharmacies won’t fill the prescriptions, others have their own rules no matter what the doctor writes.
I have talked to many people that went through horrible withdrawals. Doctors did not cut their medications 80% or 90% in one visit with total disregard as to the consequences.
I believe the protocol used to be that narcotics were weaned slowly, by 10%, as tolerated, and stop when the patient told that she/he could not decrease any more because the pain became unbearable.
These patients not only suffer the consequences of rapid withdrawal but also their lives became intolerable. Many of them now are bed-ridden, have no family lives, and some are contemplating suicide.
How long will this travesty keep on going? I think as a group it is time to find an attorney.
I have had CRPS for 27 years and have been on pain medications for those 27 years
In 2009 a friend asked me if I had considered pot. I never had used it but found that it helped me.
I live in Kansas, a state that unfortunately has not legalized marijuana. I was honest with my doctor about my use of marijuana and for SEVEN years he knew I used it and kept prescribing morphine and hydrocodone to manage my pain. I never asked for refills early, I rarely have a drink and have never nor would I try any hard street drugs.
A few years ago I was asked to sign a “pain contract “ that stated that I would not use any drugs including marijuana. I signed it but didn’t really worry as the doctor was already aware that I used marijuana.
A few months ago I went for my usual 3 month medicine check and saw his PA. I was not feeling well at the time and she suggested I might have a UTI and wanted a UA. She also apparently added a drug test to the UA which came up positive for marijuana. A few weeks later when I called for a refill I was informed I would no longer be seen there because I failed the drug test.
In the SEVEN years I had seen this doctor he had never ran a drug test and kept prescribing my pain medications, the fact that he knew I used marijuana had not seemed to bother him ALL that time. His office manager said that it was written in my chart that he had asked me to quit (untrue). I asked to make an appointment to talk with my doctor and was basically told to go to the ER and that I was not allowed in their office again
Losing a doctor is difficult when you are on Medicare, many doctors that accept it are not taking NEW Medicare patients. As a result I have been left with ZERO pain medications and can not seem to find help anywhere.
I live alone, and as I lay on the floor of my bathroom, sweating, vomiting and shaking from withdrawal I thought I might just die. It was nothing compared to facing what came next which is facing CRPS/RSD with no pain medication on board. Now I WANT to die… the pain is unimaginable.
NO doctor should be able to do what mine has done to me. I am literally all alone in an enormous amount of pain and am constantly thinking of ending my life because I can’t find anybody In Wichita to help.
I am being punished for marijuana????? Ridiculous
I’m writing this for all those I’ve offend who now desperately seek to punish me by making my life a living hell. They do this by legally seeing to it I am inconvenience as much as possible such as seeing to it no one can call ahead to save me anytime so that I have to go from pharmacy to pharmacy like a dam beggar to fill a doctor’s order. By ensuring that I can in no way refill 24 hours before 30 days has expired regardless of holidays or a work schedule. They know nothing is open past 6 nor is anyone who’s in charge working on weekends. Also by putting me on medication that they know has severe withdrawal symptoms knowing the odds it always being in stock when I (the last on the list ya know the patient) have been granted permission by the exalted ones to refill, seeing as how it’s been limited by those who also hope I suffer more due to my arrogant expectations. They’ve even turned my raping insurance company who rips large chunks of money out of what meager earnings I can scrape together in my “It’s my own sorry ass fault loser” condition. So yes to those I sincerely apologize for my errant ways. I humbly seek your forgiveness for the problems I know my problems have caused you. I am very sorry for mistakenly seeking treatment, relief or even ever once thinking the 1,000s of dollars I spend on insurance and office visits was actually for my benefit. How stupid of me. So from today forward I promise never to ask and only pay with out any expectations. Because trust me I too am very sorry the accident didn’t kill me. Sincerely It’s all my fault.
My name is Christine, and I have chronic pain. At 43, I never thought I would be in this boat. It is an absolutely horrible boat… More like a carved out canoe that has been through a hurricane… I not only have back issues, but diabetes, bipolar, PCOS, endometreosis, diverticulosis, Tachycardia, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers. As of now I have had more than a dozen surgeries for various issues. I have lower levoconvex scoliosis, and straightening of the cervical lordosis. Those came with “surprise” you have 7 herniated disks. One, in my neck, was so bad that it had ruptured and calcified, causing a bone growth that was cutting off my spinal cord at c5-6. To quote my neurosurgeon, “All you need is a good case of whiplash to be paralyzed from the neck down.” That was chiseled out and fused. Then my voice never came back. Had surgery for that and have to have it again. Then stenosis surgery to remove the remainder of the calcified deposits that caused my left arm no feeling or use. BUT…
3 weeks after my first fusion… My pain doctor informed me that I did not need opioids… I could take ibuprofen or have injections. UMMMMMMM… My surgeon told me I should not touch ibuprofen for a year. It causes a decrease of positive bone growth for fusion and healing. And I should not have a needle in my spine that has been degraded from surgery, and it will not help my pain anyway. So… I had to leave that idiot of a doctor. He was new at a pain clinic I had been with for years. I knew the voice surgery would be coming and he still told me I did not need any opioids after vocal cord surgery… I left that practice and now have a doctor that has actually looked at my MRI’s, talked to my surgeon, and sees my plan… I am blessed to have a TEAM of 6 doctors that work together. But that one was a weak link, my pain doctor.
I am one of the lucky that was able to find help, but could you work with 7 herniated disks? Could you walk? Could you even function? With no help, I can’t… I have them from C2 to L5. I take 17 prescriptions, and most I cannot take over the counter pain meds because of liver interactions. I have even had H. Pylori, causing many ulcers in my stomach, so no ibuprofen with that or I poop blood. Many doctors, because of the FDA guidelines and FEAR, don’t even look at that.
If I walk into an ER with severe abdominal pain… I walk in with a 2 inch file of my history. I say, “I do not want pain meds. I am under a pain contract. My doctor cannot diagnose diverticulitis without a CT scan, and he does not have a CT scanner and he sent me here. Here are my last hospitalizations from diverticulitis in CT form, and discharge papers.” Why? I have been improperly discharged with diverticulitis while labeled as a “drug seeker”, and nearly had my colon rupture because of that.
If you think you are doing good for true pain patients, you are making our lives a living hell. If you think this is fun, or I want to be on pain medication, you are SORELY mistaken. But, as with my heart, bipolar, or diabetes medication, it is part of me just functioning. STOP PUNISHING US!!! Spend money on stopping illegal drugs. Hire more officers, detectives… Keep that crap out of our country. Let us live. Let us survive. I am not a drug seeker. Currently I am a survivor. I am a pain warrior. I have had 3 major surgeries in 2019, and had my pain doctor, at the beginning, tell me I did not need opioids to get through a surgery that cut through not only the front, but back, and main muscles of my neck. You do that with Tylenol.