Share Your Pain Story

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.

1,008 Replies to “Share Your Pain Story”

  1. I cannot get anything else or a higher dose of medicine for my pain. I’ve been in the same dosage for over a 1 1/2 year. The Dr wouldn’t even consider putting me on something else, adding a breakthrough medication, or increasing what I was currently taking. I found out after months & months of telling him how severe my pain is & him not responding, that I needed surgery on my back. Once called & told the receptionist this is the reason why I’ve been in so much pain I need surgery while Dr **** has been acting like an ass. He dropped me as a patient for that comment. Whatever! He did me an injustice anyway by having me to suffer all that time. I would say some bad words toward him & call his name. He has no heart for his patients

  2. I have suffered from chronic pain as a teenager. Although I was in sports and very active I had severe fatigue. Not overweight. Normal in all aspects. Only until I was in my late 30’s did I get diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I also was in a car accident that hurt my right side. At 58, I still try to stay as active as possible, which isn’t very active. I experience high levels of pain daily. If I do too much I am in bed the next day, getting a cortisone shot, taking hydrocodone if the aleive I take doesn’t help, and using an ice pack. My mind wants more, my body says no. The hydrocodone, while not my first choice, gets me through the rough spots. A person can take responsibly. Not everyone is an addict. I don’t get high when I take it. It is relieving my pain. On a 1-10 daily rating, daily I am a 7, 10 being the worse. I have 10 days regularly. Short of going to the emergency room, my medication is my only relief. I can’t afford to go to the emergency room as I can’t work any longer. I worked until 2 years ago, but the pain is bigger than me. I pray that government controls the problem, not the illness. Don’t punish pain.

  3. At the age of 43, i had a sudden onset of Cauda Equina Syndrome, a rare acquired lumbar spinal condition. This caused nearly crippling bilateral sciatica, loss of bladder and bowel function, excruciating pain beyond the standard 0-10 scale–on the McGill Pain index, about a 38/50—and loss of mobility. I was medevacked for an emergency laminectomy open back surgery along with a discectomy. After 11 days in hospital I was relegated to a wheelchair and catheterization. The prognosis was grim because there were indications that permanent nerve damage to the lumbar spine nerves and the caudal nerve bundles were evident.
    After nine months of three time per week physical and occupational therapy, I was able to regain the ability to walk short distances, identify body function urges despite residual saddle anesthesia, negotiate stairs, and recover from the frequent falls I experienced.
    One problem remained: through diagnostic testing, neurologists determined that I had nerve conduction loss in both legs and permanent, complex pain bilaterally. The pain complex is best described as throbbing water balloons filled with sharp needles that constantly prod me, with bands of burning sensations that envelope both calves in a descending pattern from knees to ankles. Furthermore, constant lumbar pain existed as a constant moderately sharp ache. This pain complex has not ceased since May of 2004.
    After recovery time, the ONLY effective treatment for my constant pain was to initiate a Longterm Opioid Therapy (LOT) regimen. After nearly two years of attempting non-narcotic and non-pharmaceutical modalities, e.g., PT/OT, steroid therapy, message, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, the only medication that had the greatest efficacy with the least number of side effects was Immediate Release Oxycodone. I couldn’t tolerate fentanyl transdermal patches because of skin rashes and oral morphine was too constipating.
    With LOT, I maintained a high paying position with the state of Alaska, passed two home studies conducted by the Office of Children Services, fostered 19 children, raise seven children (3 natural born, 4 special-needs adopted) and participate in social affairs. I even returned to playing drums in a church ministry. MY QUALITY OF LIFE WAS OPTIMALLY AS GOOD AS COULD BE EXPECTED.
    Now that the Veterans Administration, the State of Michigan’s Prescription Drug Monitoring System “PMP-AwarXe” with the NarxCare Analytics Algorithm both incorrectly determining me to be a high risk for overdose or diversion, in March 2018 I was abruptly cutoff of LOT without regard to physical withdrawal. I had episodic tachycardia. Being wiser than the primary care medical staff at the VA, I self-tapered my remaining oxycodone and sought out a new physician.
    MY QUALITY OF LIFE HAS SINCE REACHED ABYSMAL LEVELS. I lost my job. I am in my bed 19 hours a day. I have 3 hours of sleep per night. I don’t not social or go to worship any longer. I push through the excruciating pain a few times a week to walk with my walker as far as I can to hopefully remain ambulatory. THIS IS NOT LIVING. I AM NOW ON THE DOLE OF THE GOVERNMENT, A SHAMEFUL BURDEN ON SOCIETY. All this because doctors are fearful of draconian interventions by the DEA merely for providing me a sufficient amount of opioids, a dose that had not increased in almost 7 years.

  4. This has happened to me which I fell from seven story building and brooked my pelvic, crashed my tailbone and brooked both of my legs in September 1997. I be came partially handicapped and dependent on pain medication in order to run my life semi-comfortable, where I was taking hydrocodone at night time Oxycodone at day time and OxyContin for the past 25 years, and I was able to go to work for 8-9 hours a day and got together with my family after work I basically had life, and now some of my Meds cut off the oral medications do to them following the CDC guidelines. Instead I had the pain pump which made me completely handicap and I was in pain 24/7. I couldn’t go to work or take care of myself I was completely in pain all the time. The pain pump wasn’t working the way the oral medications works for me. And than after 7 months I had enough with the pain and suffering. I became very depressed and I told my doctor that all I can think about killing myself, I do not want to live anymore and after he heard me saying something like that, he call psychiatrist to asked him for the antidepressant medication names, so he can put me on it and also he started prescribing me low dosage of OxyContin, and oxycodone. I still can’t go to work I still don’t have a life because I’m not getting enough pain medications like I used to get for the past twenty-five years. I know this is a world wide problem, and I do not know how I could handle this if it happens again to me, because my pain management is telling me that he will cut back my OxyContin Prescription, because he doesn’t want to lose his license, he told me. I most probably I will seek out to end my life without seeking help again. I say this because this issue is not about my well being far as I can see it, but about control and causing me and my family suffering. I do not prefer death unless that is my best option. The same can be said for the 4000 deaths. One thing I did not see is any statistics on how many of the 4000 can be attributed to getting uncontrolled medications to relieve their severe pain as they were not able to get the proper medication and level from their doctor. I personally would not ever sell my medications as all little that I have is used by me so that I do not suffer from debilitating pain to the point that death is a better choice than life. I have since a small child used (some unfortunately say abused as they think that any use of medication is abuse) so that I am able to breath properly, function normally and much much later not be in severe pain due to back and leg injuries, where doctors say that surgery probably will not help me. I have multiple compressed disks pushing on my spinal cord throughout by back a few in the middle, but mostly lower back. I know if lower parts of my body are hurting where I know there are no injuries that it is time To me this is not really living but existing by the use of medication. The same can be said for those with diabetes, my asthma, and other chronic conditions. It comes down to existing with the medication or death. When people say that people that do not have cancer should not be using such medications, they are basically saying to me that they prefer that I am dead. However they are unwilling to admit that. I know life on drugs is not a perfect life, but it is life none the less as without them the only choice for me is to die. The pain not accounting for withdrawals is so much that I am unable to breath properly or even walk properly. Then on top of it I am unable to get proper treatment for ADHD that has been with me since my childhood. That again adds more to my inability to function properly. All I can say is that my government is basically saying to me that I am better off dead at this point, as they do not want to let doctors prescribe for me the medications that help me to live a good and enjoyable productive life.

  5. In 1994 I sprained my ankle 3 times and tore the ligaments. In April 1995 I had surgery to clean debris from my ankle and sand the splintered bone. I saw 3 orthopedics which lead me to a Rheumatologist in 1999. I was first diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis then osteo, and now Rheumatoid Arthritis. My ankle is now bone on bone with an option of fusing it because an ankle replacement it not perfected. My Dr suggested I wear a walking boot for a few months to see if it would fuse by imobiling. After 2 years it is not completely fused but so stiff I can’t bend my ankle or move it side to side. I have a tremendous amount of pain and the muscle in my calf is atrophying because of lack of motion in my ankle. It continues to become weaker with every passing day. The pain I deal with on a daily basis has caused me to quit working and go on disability.
    I don’t understand why they have the right to limit my Dr. by telling him the amount of pain medication that I can now have after all the years of him trying to keep me comfortable to making me be in constant pain every day.
    I started Remicade Infusion in 2004 to hopefully help my joints from worsening but can’t help what’s already been destroyed. If a person has never had Rheumatoid Arthritis they have know idea how painful it is and the pressure changes are even worse. With all this being said I’m hoping they will realize people who really need pain relief aren’t out to get high on their meds and use the medication to keep functioning on a daily basis. It is very depressing and heart breaking that they have no comapassion for people with severe pain. So all they are doing is punishing people that really need pain medication to get it legally from their Dr. and are comparing us to the people that are out taking drugs recreationally and getting high and dying from overdosing. My Dr would not give an amount that would allow me to overdose when taken as directed.
    So if the law makers have any compassion for people in pain they would not be Over riding the Dr., Pharmacist, and insurance companies. For the past 3 months I have had to have a Pre Authorization from the Dr. to the Insurance Co. to allow the pharmacist to fill my RX. It’s just not right!!!

  6. I would like to thank you for all you have done miss Claudia Merandi .You have given so many americans hope that our lives could possibly be returned to the somewhat what one would call pain being managed .This fictional inhumane treatment brought on by heartless selfabsorbed politicians who call themselves protecting the American public from addiction and overdose are only createing a more devistateing outcry from the human beings who have been treated like criminals. We the people don’t wish to live with the health conditions that control our lives so please get off your soap box DEA FDA POLITICANS and stop trying to play GOD and leave my health condition and treatment as doctor patient relationship .Miss Claudia thank you again for all you are trying and are doing for the millions of desperate people who will now have a face a voice and hope that this night mare could possibly be considered what it is inhumane unconstitutional rights to palliative care . God bless you thank you and please keep the faith that you will have a impact on so many americans lifes. Joel Arkansas.

  7. I have been living with chronic intractable pain for over twenty years. I have tried everything my pain specialist gave me in the arsenal from physical therapy, epidural, cbt, aqua thearepy, so so many different types of non medication treatments, and so so so many types of medications. I am a mother of three, a grandmother of two. I had a work injury to my back requiring a spinal infusion multiple levels. The surgeries failed leaving me with chronic severe intractable pain. Two many diagnoses to write. I have lost a lot in my life due to my chronic intractable pain, The government has made it so that my pain specialist with twenty years of documented medical care records has forced my specialists hand and forcibly tappered my medications to not even what CDC quidlines recommend. I was told it was the law no more then 50morphine equivalent. As I go to my pain specialist each month in agony, upset, severe pain am told their is nothing else they can do. I just don’t understand how the government can tell me as a chronic intractable pain patient, that the opiate medication that gives you back your quality of life is now being taken away. How can they decide my medical care without seeing my medical records. I don’t know what to do should we all give up on living. How can you tell us just deal with it. You have not been in my body. How can you the FDA and CDC decide my medical decision without seeing my exstensive medical records. Please remember this was an accident and anyone at anytime in their life can have your world totally taken from you in a blink of an eye. You loose so so much when you have chronic intractable pain. Please please stop taking our rights to receive proper medical attention. Let the pain specialists who went to school for chronic pain have the right to help us not take our opiate medications away without our right to not have chronic pain that destroys you. I don’t know know what can be done for me anymore. My hippa rights have been violated. My human rights have been violated. My right to control severe chronic intractable pain has been taken away from me. When will the CDCand FDA decide to help, when we have all given in and die. Is this the country I was born and raised in. I have the rights to have medical care. I follow all the medical rules. I take my medications to function. Please STOP THE WAR against me and many others who suffer greatly from chronic intractable pain. This can happen to anyone at anytime. Please help us.

  8. I was sickly as a child but mom and dad divorced and mom didn’t have time to take me to the doctors. The fevers I used to suffer from!
    In my twenties I was diagnosed with Lupus, Vasculitis, Raynauds and Sjogrens disease. I started on low dose opioid like Tylenol with codeine. I was still in pain but managed to continue my work as a pediatric nurse, hospice nurse and volunteering for my county in Florida. As the years go on my organs are now failing, I have spinal stenosis with titanium in my back and monthly steroid injections in my knees, hips and back to be able to move. I have been on high dose Fentanyl and as needed dilaudid for years and managed to have a life. Now my meds have been decreased 75% and at 57 I am bedridden. I don’t want to live this way, I want to have my life back!
    A fellow Floridian who described her pain on here said not to vote for Governor Scott for Senator. I am asking the same thing. He needs to get out of politics.
    Anyway, I am going to use that addresses and phone numbers provided for my local and state politicians and start calling and sending letters. I urge you all to do the same. Do it once a week so eventually it might get drummed into their brains that we are not drug addicts and need our meds to live! More people will have to go on disability and there will be more suicides on their backs! Maybe families of suicide victims will start suing these law makers for the death of their loved ones. Maybe people will start buying meds on the streets and dying from the fentanyl out there. And someday you politicians will get older and get a disease and have pain. Or maybe your kids or parents and they can’t get pain meds because of the opioid rules you voted on.
    Us pain sufferers, while lying in our beds can still fight. Call your politicians! This has got to change or I will be one who won’t see my 60th birthday.

  9. So I was in a car accident in 2013. An 86 year old man slammed into my car as I was parked in the parking lot of a grocery store. I was a 45 year old, active, happy, pain free woman before this idiot hit me in my car. He told the police that he misjudged turning into the parking spot next to me! It jolted me so badly that I have herniated and bulging discs in the neck and back. I also suffer from nerve damage, and spasms in arms, legs, back and my neck. On top of that I have fibromyalgia! The pain is ridiculous on a daily basis. I dont sleep for more than 2 hours at a time…..if I’m lucky to get that. My meds have been reduced constantly. Ive tried physical therapy, chiropractic treatment stretching exercises and many other things. Nothing helps! So I depend on the pain meds to get thru my day, and because of the reduction of my meds that barely keeps me going. I cant lift anything, cant walk very far, no exercising, no swimming, boat trips, and long drives in the car just kill me. So I’m basically homebound. These Dr’s in NJ are getting ridiculous. They want to keep reducing the pain meds, but they don’t understand the pain I’m in.
    If I happen to need an extra pill one day, I feel like a criminal taking more than prescribed. But the reduction of my meds is almost half of what I was getting before.
    This has got to stop!!!
    I’m over being punished or looked at like a drug addict because of the pain I suffer from. I am dependant on my meds, not addicted!
    DONT PUNISH PAIN

  10. At age 19 I was in a landslide which paralyzed me I am now 62 and cannot exercise anymore. I have to live with chronic pain without the use of opioids because Doctors are afraid to prescribe it. No one cares or understands That people are in need of the use of a legitimate source effective pain relief.

  11. I have arthritis with bone on bone contact in both shoulders and left knee. The pain is intense. I recently replaced my right hip joint. I can hardly function anymore. To complicate matters I recently had 4 stents placed in my heart and my kidneys failed. I was taken off all NSAID’s and any opioid containing acetaminophen in order to get my kidney back functioning. That left me with only my prescription for morphine. Now my Federal BC/BS insurance is going to not renew my pain management physician’s contract that covers opioid connected services. I’m being punished for all the abusers.

  12. I so agree with the don’t punish pain. I have had chronic back pain for years and had both knees replaced and suffer chronic pain from the knee surgeries. I think the news media found something to put in the news and it was completely slanted. I have taken hydrocodone and oxycodone for years. I have taken it as prescribed. If people are abusing prescriptions I tell people, is it the doctors fault, the pharmacists fault, or is it the fault of the person that is abusing the prescription. If people are abusing how they are taking their prescriptions then don’t punish everyone. Due to abuse the milligram dosage is so minimal that its almost like taking baby aspirin. I will attend a rally for the first time in my life. I am 70 years old and most older people suffer from chronic pain. Don’t make us suffer because some people abuse their prescribed drugs.

  13. Out of the blue when I was 38 years old – over 18 years ago I developed trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain after one year of bumping into problem after problem with doctors either not understanding or unwilling to treat my pain I found a wonderful support group at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak Michigan I also found some amazing doctors It is been a real struggle over the past almost 20 years dealing with uninformed rude belittling and unsympathetic doctors and pharmacists I’ve been yelled that at pharmacies and not believed by doctors I am lucky enough and much wiser about these issues to now for the most part have things under control the changes on a daily basis and as I watch ridiculous politicians and others talk about the opioid crisis it blows my mind I get both sides of the coin but someone needs to actually sit down with the pain patient and try and understand What we go through I have a friend that is a hospice doctor and tells me that because of Hyppa laws after a person dies the family is left with the unused medications from them where do they think those are going -Duh? We are a true minority and just dealing with the pain is enough but having to fight this stupid system is ridiculous .I am so blessed to have found the doctor I have now and I have had some really good ones over the years but they are very few and far between and the honest and decent ones are being constantly harassed for treating pain properly. The unscrupulous doctors and patients taking advantage of the system have made it terrible for pain patients . Together we have to figure something out

  14. Do they really think that we want to be on these medications ? To have to deal with finding doctors and pharmacies that would help us ? I follow my medication regimen to the T. I’ve never overdosed or had a car accident from being under the influence I keep my meds under lock and key and I do what I’m supposed to do . I work and have raised kids and lead basically normal life besides having had all the issues surrounding being a pain patient . I have tried so many different treatments to try and help the situation nothing has really helped besides pain medication anti-seizure medication that I take for the lightning strike pain of my trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain . I do use bio feedback to help at particularly painful times which has -when I can do it .I have tried acupuncture cranial sacral therapy , injections yoga ,chiropractic ,massage , supplements vitamin B injections Nsaids over the counter medication and so many other non-opiate medications among other things I can’t even remember to try and help this but it just doesn’t . Trigeminal neuralgia is also called the suicide disease because the pain can be so intense . Mine is all on the right side of my face which is a very strange feeling and hard to explain to people because I am so busy and have a full life people don’t understand what I deal with on a day-to-day basis – except others who also do . Don’t they see what’s happened over the last 20 years with the “opioid crisis ‘ people are going to find ways to get rid of their pain and we’ve watched what’s happened over the years as people have had a harder and harder time . Good doctors are being treated like criminals for trying to help people with pain . Medication costs are ridiculously expensive and if you don’t have insurance well -.good luck , if you can get the insurance it’s so crazy expensive to be covered . We need to be listened to and understood . I don’t Get why they don’t talk to people that are having problems instead of making up stupid decisions about what they think is happening. Pain can’t be seen so you have to believe somebody if they have it Well you’re supposed to anyway . I wish there was a way to have some of these lawmakers live one day in our shoes . Things would change then wouldn’t they? I’m terribly saddened by people that are dealing with addiction issues involving opiates and it makes those of us who are legitimate have a really bad time .

  15. I was diagnosed in 1987 with a severe form of early onset degenerative disc disease. I was injured at work and could not longer continue in my chosen profession. As a result I changed paths and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business management . Unfortunately by 2000 the pain became too severe to continue work so I was forced to undergo a double fusion at l2-3 and l3-4. Unfortunately I now suffer from failed back syndrome and I am unable to work as the issues with my lower back are unresolved.
    I have been on numerous opioid medications. I believe I’ve tried them all as well as physical therapy, injections, chiropractic , weight reduction, talk therapy, massage, acupuncture tens units and surgery. None of which have been successfully in managing my pain.
    I have worked with my doctors to find a solution to my debilitating pain. I have discovered that a patch applied once every 2 days along with 4 pills per day work well along with moderate exercise and a healthy diet allows me a decent quality of life. I have successfully been on this regimen without a need to increase for almost 19 years. Unfortunately although I have had no issue with overdose, early refills or lost or stolen scripts, I am being forced to step down my medications due to the new CDC guidelines published in Oct 2017 as well as our new Nevada law AB474.
    What that means for me is that I am required to cut back to 1 lower dose patch every 3 days with no pill for breakthrough pain in order to be compliant with the CDC recommendation of 60 milligrams of morphine equivalent per month. I am currently down to a 1 patch every 3 days along with lower dose of pills. As a result of this drastic reduction in medication I no longer sleep more than two consecutive hours per day. I am no longer able to exercise nor am I able to complete the day to day duties my family requires. Instead I am bed ridden.
    I tried to get off of all narcotics in 06 with disastrous results and was basically bed ridden with no quality of life. My PM stated that I could take Suboxone to avoid withdrawal but it would not be effective for managing my pain and I have learned that if I took the Suboxone I will be labeled an addict by the medical community. This is not acceptable to me.
    I have done extensive research on the CDC guidelines and well as Ab474. I have called and emailed Govenor Sandoval, Dean Heller, James Settlemeyer and Robin Titus and President Trump. Both Sandoval and Heller’s office referred me to the pharmacy board. One man I spoke to there just explained AB474. Otherwise I have received zero communication or help for my situation.
    It appears that the CDC guidelines and AB474 leave no allowances for legitimate patients. Pain dependent patients are caught up in the “opioid epidemic “ fatalities and overdose statistics that are bloated (30,000+ including street drugs. The correct number is 17,000+) and mainly concern street level deaths and hospitalizations. The facts are that PM patients who abuse their medications and become addicted are 8% of pain management community. The majority of the deaths reported pertain to heroin and street drugs laced with fentanyl.
    Chronic pain patients need help NOW. We are suffering and being punished for something we have not done. We need help obtaining our medications today. The law must be changed and pain management patients must not be left to suffer. Please help us.

  17. My name is Brad. I was injured by using heavy equipment at my job. I filed a claim with “Workers Compensation”. They gave me two choices: one would be to retire early and to collect social security. My other choice was to get my contractors license and start my own business. I knew that if I continued to work, I would need pain meds. So I decided to work. Sometimes my hands lock up at the end of the day. But with help from pain management, I can tolerate the pain. Unfortunately, there is no amount of pain medication that can take all the pain away. But I am not an addict so I still suffer because I know that taking too much pain medication is too dangerous. I just want to be a productive member of society. I’m not looking for any miracles.

  18. Why are you taking away the only thing that keeps us from bed bound agony? I have severe spinal stenosis, a failed lumbar fusion, SIX reconstructive knee operations. I’ve had my gallbladder removed, a hysterectomy, and carpal tunnel surgery. I have Psoriatic Arthritis, Hashimotis disease, and absolutely no gut motility due to an undiagnosed GI disease. I am looking forward to having my intestines removed. Yet I am still not disabled enough for social security!! I have heard MANY stories of people committing suicide due to pain medication being taken away. People who DO NOT abuse it. People who would literally rather DIE without it. Even with medical cannabis (which I cannot afford) I would not be able to keep going. I’ve already had my medicine reduced, (which forced me to no longer be able to work) despite being on the exact same dose for NINE years with the same doctor, and absolutely no problems on my end. If you take my pain medication away anymore than you already have, why would I want to live in agony? I have to depend on others already for EVERYTHING. My pain is bad, yet mostly manageable. If you take anymore away, my death, like all the others, will be on YOU.

  19. I’ve had chronic illness my whole life, which comes with severe pain. I was able to deal with the pain up until a bad car accident when I was 17 (1996) that injured my back and neck. I started on opioid therapy at that time, which drastically improved my quality of life. I also did acupuncture, reiki, other religious and spiritual rituals for healing, massage, PT, steroid injections and health diet and pilates. With the assistance of opioid therapy, I managed to make a good life for myself. I worked my way through college and got my graduate degree in 2007. I opened my own agency providing mental health and outpatient substance use treatment. It was very successful and was a huge need in my small rural community. Due to the autoimmune disease progression, I became disabled May of 2014, but was able to keep my business going through supervising employees and doing the books and insurance claims. I became debt free in 2015! I purchased a new home Feb, 2016, a very proud moment for me. I accomplished so much on my own in the last several years despite being horribly ill. Then the CDC guidelines came out. I was forced on a fast titration off my pain medication. From 220MME to ZERO in 4 months. I lost my business, all I’d worked for, and will soon lose my home. I am bedridden now with a full time caregiver. I’m on public assistance (food, medical, caregiving ect.). No longer a contributing member of society. People lost their jobs with me. My community has suffered because the services I provided are no longer available. I can no longer do any hobbies I once enjoyed. I’ve lost friends/family because they cant understand that just getting up out of bed is a huge accomplishment for me but it causes severe pain so I cannot do any activities after that. The severe pain is causing cognition issues. I cannot concentrate on reading a book, I have difficulties watching movies and retaining what’s happening in the story. Pain is exhausting!! I no longer look like myself. The untreated severe pain has literally robbed me of EVERYTHING I had in life and I had a great life. There were certainly struggles, but ones I could deal with. Because of a few pills a day that were maliciously taken from me, I’m now a shell of a human confined to a prison of 4 walls and no hope. This has to change NoW! I won’t live like this much longer. I’ll join the ones that have taken their lives because of the unrelenting severe pain and agony. Until then, I fight for our rights to live with less pain or pain free. I fight for our doctors’ rights to provide that for us. And I’ll vote accordingly as well.

  20. I have suffered in pain for several years from a water skiing accident, and I can tell you, first hand of the affects of the cutbacks on my medication!!
    I take my medicine as prescribed, and always have for several years, and if taken properly, you can function on a daily basis, but without it, I wouldn’t be able to live a normal life! These medicines have helped me so much, but now, they aren’t working as good anymore, well they do to some degree, but ever since they cut the strength in half, as well as cut the amount per day in half, it is causing me to suffer a great deal! I’m back in bed, most of the time thru-out the day, I don’t cook as much anymore, it’s like I’m going backwards, not forward!
    So why are they punishing the patients who need it? This is a good question, that many people like myself, are asking, and are demanding answers, and are demanding CHANGE!!! Because I’m not buying it, that too many people are dying from taking these drugs!!!
    If that was the the case, I would have been dead along time ago!! They are using other stuff along with the medication, they are drinking alcohol with them, who knows what all?
    It’s not legit pain patients that are dying on these drugs, it’s the drug addicts, not us, but the Media won’t tell you that! Another thing you don’t hear the Media mention, is that people have been committing suicide , what they will mention, is another death associated with pain medication! What they fail to mention, is the reason of the suicide was due to the fact they were unable to get their meds, one reason could be, they were cut off, or the Doctor stopped prescribing them, another reason, they weren’t getting enough, due to the cutbacks, another reason they were sick of going to pharmacy, after pharmacy to try and get them filled because they aren’t in stock most of the time etc; etc. All of the reasons I just mentioned, were caused by our government!!! The “crackdown” so to speak!!
    They could care less about us! Patient rights? They don’t care about that either!
    Now when I go to the Doctor, you are forced to take a drug test! Talk about the government treating you like a drug addict!!
    They are even drug testing elderly patients!! What kinda BS is this anyway?
    We are treated like addicts, treated like dogs, but yet even though they treat us like animals, they wouldn’t dare let an animal suffer, like humans are at the moment! No no, it’s against the law to do that, but the government is getting away with treating humans like that.
    There is something seriously wrong with this picture folks!! Very wrong!!!
    They are turning law abiding citizens into criminals, ‘cause they are so desperate to take their pain away, that they’ll do just about anything to do so.
    Patients are turning to Heroin, because it is much easier to get!
    So hear this government….if you back enough people in the corner, they’re going to snap, they’re going to fight back! People are getting desperate to relieve their pain.
    Please let the ones in need have it! The Doctors know what’s best for the patients, not our government!!
    The DEA has taken this too far! You guys won’t admit it, but you’ve had many deaths due to the patients not getting the meds they need, and it’s just going to get worse!!
    I need surgery to try and help fix my problem, and my biggest fear is , what if the surgery doesn’t help, and I’ll be in worse shape than ever before, (‘cause there’s no guarantees with surgery) what will I do if I need more of the meds and CAN’T GET THEM??? Just suffer??
    Those are my only options??
    It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to figure out, that the powers at be, the ones responsible for cutting patients back on their meds, really didn’t think these new guidelines through they created, because if they did, I wouldn’t have to worry about surgery not working, I could take that risk and have surgery, but I can’t, because of the “what if’s”!
    I certainly want to be better, but this is my life now, and I suffer every single day, due to the chronic pain I have, and it was much more manageable before the government stepped in and made my life a living hell!
    The medication helps me lead a normal life, why on earth would the government want to take that away?

  21. Back in 2000,I suffered a injury at work,due to a co-worker pulling a roller chair out from under me.When I hit the concrete floor flat on my buttocks it blowed out L4and 5.That was my last day of work after 24 years and age 51.It was a Workers Comp.case .I was referred to Pain Management.Did all the things WC wanted me to do,injections,PT,massage,tens unit,ect,ect . Iwas also approved for 100%Social Security Disabilty at age 53.All while doing this rehab.,PM Dr.put me on loratab 500mg.during all this I had level 6-8 pain.Well in 2002 I suddenly became very weak and was losing blood.Lortab had given me bleeding stomach ulcers.Gastro Dr.said I had to get off pills,so Pain Management started me on a low dose patch. It helped some and in a few months I was put on a higher dose. By this time my pain level was a 4-5,and was functioning pretty good.As age and years came on with arthritis and degenerative disc diease in lower back,pain started to worsen and also started getting leg pain so PM Dr.statred me on Neurontin. Over the next few years PM Dr.has me on patches. Dropped one dose of Neurontin.I have been on this regimen for past 14/15 years with good results Pain level down to 2-3.Now the bad news.Due to new laws and the state of GA. for the past 3 months PM has cut my patch down to 1 every 3 days and gave me a lower dose pill 1 x day. My pain level is now a 7/8. PM says they are weaning me off patch completely. All I can do now is try to lay or sit comfortable as I can. I get up and walk some. I have not slept any more than 3-4 hours at a time.Pain will not let me sleep. I am so upset that these illegal drug people have started this.I am now 69 years old and suffering in pain,because of no fault of my own.Workers Comp has been paying my Dr.bills and meds.for the last 18 years. I have to go to the PM clinic once a month and only get a months supply at a time,and also have to do drug testing.I follow all the rules or I would be cut off from WC and put out of PM clinic.Just for the record,you hear about all the folks on the street over dosing,but I have yet to hear of anyone in our PM clinic die of over dose.My PM Dr. says he cant do anything about it,Govt. making them do it.Me being on WC I can’t even go anywhere else,unless I choose to drop WC and pay for it my self.Some one needs to help us.I pray we all get the help we need. I’am to old for this crap.My wife is having to pick up the slack that I used to do,and she has right shoulder pain.I worry about how bad I am going to be hurting and not a thing I can do.This is so unfair to us who do have pain.They did not think this through and get any feed back from the patients them selfs.

  22. I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus 24 years ago. At the time I was an Registered Nurse in an Intensive Care Unit , which I loved very much. I had to quit there because of the stress and germs. I continued working in a long-term care facility until Lupus started taking its toll on me little by little. A kidney problem first, many tests, many meds.High doses of steroids to try to get the large amount of inflammation out of my body. The high doses of steroids took its toll, too. My bones started breaking, spontaneously. Then, my right shoulder became necrotic. Avascular necrosis it is called. Then my jaw had the same problem. I then had a couple of spontaneous bone breaks in my feet. Both feet are very painful and very deformed. Very difficult to walk. I am in a wheelchair all the time. My right knee was replaced many years ago, but no doctor will try to do any surgery on me because of my osteoporosis. My left shoulder has a 100% torn rotator cuff, but I am a very poor candidate for any kind of surgery. So I live in constant pain. I have been seeing a pain management doctor for over 14 years. But now they are taking away any comfort they have given me .Now my pain levels are usually between 6 and 10.I used to do a few things around the house, but now I can’t even pull my own pants up when I go to the bathroom. My husband has to help me. More for him to do. He is in his 70’s, he has enough to do taking care of the house, too. We in chronic pain are literally being slowly killed by what they’re doing to us.
    I remember when I was first diagnosed with Lupus, my Rheumatologist told me to avoid stress and germs. This is the worst stress I have had in a very long time. That is why I say they are trying to kill us. Don’t forget, Lupus has no cause, no good medications, and no cure. Just measure us for our caskets. I only have prayer now.

  23. I’m not a Chronic Pain Patient. I have never used opioids. My husband is. He has been diagnosed with DDD at the age of 26. Since then he has been in several accidents – none of them were his fault – that ended with a neck fusion C5-C6, 4 facial reconstructions, broken back. he was declared Permanently Disabled in 2010 after he fell off a roof while helping a neighbor install a swamp cooler and broke his back the third time, right jaw and TBI.
    He relied on prescription opioids to perform daily tasks such as mowing a loan, fixing a fence, changing oil in a car. He took his medication as prescribed and had a good relationship with his long time doctor and pharmacy. After states decided to implement the CDC “guidelines” as policies and regulations his medication was decreased to the point where he can barely shower, and they want to taper him even more. he tried almost all the alternatives out there ( Gabapentin, steroid injections, nerve blocks – did more damage, and a lot of nonopioid medication with unnumbered side effects ) without results.

    Our 11 years old has never been camping or skiing – we are living in Colorful Colorado – because her dad can’t stand for longer than 10 minutes.

    we had some quality of life while my husband had access to the dosage that kept him functional – not anymore. I have to work two jobs to keep up with the bills and the household.

    I am not a Chronic Pain Patient but I will be fighting for my husband’s ( and others) right to pain management.

  24. Swimming accident hip bone and wire in my neck. Lupus and fibromyalgia neuropathy. Very chronic pain. Can’t imagine how life would be without all my pain medicine

  25. I have had RA and Lupus for years now. This started in my early 30’s. I was in so much pain I would just cry and cry and rock. I told my husband I did not want to live like this. The pain meds helped but made me sleepy and I did not want to be sleepy all the time. I was referred to a pain doctor and long story short I now have a synchromed pump implanted that continually gives me a very low dose of morphine intrathecally. I no longer require oral pain meds and can actually function and be a productive person. I pray to God they do not try to regulate internal pumps. I have been going to the same pain dr. For over 25 years yet I now have to provide a urine sample every visit. I have no control over the pump, it is programmed by the office. I take no other pain drugs, it is a waste of time and money. These guys know me well after 25 years. What happened to the physician knowing what is best?

  26. I was diagnosed with CML( chronic leukemia) at the age of 30. The cancer and medication caused me daily bone pain, my doctor referred me to pain management since I would require a long term solution. At 31 I found out I had advanced endometriosis, and will require a major surgery. They attempted surgery but were unable to remove an ovary because of the extent of the disease. I went back to pain management to try and manage my daily pain from leukemia and endometriosis. My pain medication was prn. I went to my appointments on time monthly and I was on pain medication. I was being drug tested every month to which I had no problem. The last time I went to my pain appointment, they dismissed me from the practice and explained my drug test came back clean. This makes sense it would be clean as my medication was prn. I saw a different provider each time. After I was dismissed, I started getting bills for the monthly drug tests. The bills were over 9000 dollars per drug test. I was drug tested for over a year and they were billing me 9000 dollars a month. I then discovered the doctor group owns the lab. Since then I have not been successful in finding a new practice as my eyes are open to scams. I reached out to a lawyer who said, the law protects these practices with the current epidemic. 3 different practices I have tried, one refused me due to being discharged, one wanted mris of my back and for me to order a back brace and get shots, and one wanted to do a serious of b12 shots. This has caused me great distres and a bit of a depression. I was taking the lowest dose possible before to get by. I now struggle with pain daily. I am a mother of 2, I work full time, I am a wife, young and a cancer patient. I am so disheartened as to the way the pain management was treated and I was made to feel like a criminal when I am just trying to get by as a functional member of society and raise good humans.

  27. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and deal with daily pain. I am currently recovering from my 5th hip surgery in 4 years. The past year has been horrible in regards to pain management. My first pain mgmt doctor told me that RA patients should not be in this much pain. I felt like I had to lie to him, to make sure that he would still give me pain medication. He threatened several times to get rid of my pain medication because if I was not controlled on medication, then there is no point in giving me the meds. In the days leading up to my appointment with him I would have nightmares, and would cry during the visits. I was in a horribly dark place at that time. I had just realized my 3rd hip surgery did not work, and no one would perform a replacement because I was too young. I could hardly move without excruciating pain. My life had become a living hell. My husband was always there for me, but he knew I was slipping away from him. I had thought many times of how it would feel to just go to sleep. Take enough pain meds, to go to sleep. Then my childhood best friend committed suicide, and my world changed. The pain and grief are still fresh. I thankfully wised up, and changed doctors, in the hope for better control of my pain. I would love to say that is the end of this story, found a new doctor and I lived happily ever after. However every story needs a good villain or two, enter evil insurance and meddling pharmacist. My new pain mgmt doctor wanted me to switch to methadone for my long acting pain med. Insurance would only cover 22.5mg a day, or 60mg a day. My doctor wanted me in the middle. So I no longer use insurance, and pay for my medication myself. I was told by insurance, that a doctor looked over my chart and made the decision. Now enter the meddling pharmacist, he denied filling my script because I wanted to pay for it myself. He told me it was illegal for him to fill the script. However, He had filled the script in the past, and I had a 4 month history of the dosage and medication at that pharmacy. He went so far as to call my doctor and request that he lower my dosage. Final note to my story, I recently had a hip replacement revision surgery, and was in the hospital for 3 days. During those 3 days I was tortured! My pain never got below an 8, and I spent most of my time crying due to the pain. The hospital would not listen to me, and made me feel like a drug addict. I know my body, telling doctors which medication works best on me, is being my own advocate, not a drug seeker.
    I do EVERYTHING asked of me by my doctors. I follow EVERY rule, guideline, and instruction. I live my life in pain, and I know I will always have pain. I use pain medication so that I am a functioning adult, and not a bed ridden burden. Taking the decision making out of my doctors hands is wrong. My doctor and I talk about all options, and they know everything about me. To the insurance companies, pharmacist, and law makers, I am just a number. I already have an uphill battle with my disease. Please keep that hill soft and grassy, and not rocky, dirty, and full of invisible potholes.

  28. Twenty six years ago, I was involved in a hit & run auto accident which caused me to have my first failed back surgery followed by another one a month later & that in turn caused spinal instability & a fusion was necessary 6 months later. I have had back & leg pain since that time. All conservative solutions failed. I have tried all types of pain control including external & implanted devices. I have been going to the same pain management doctor for over 10 years. About 5 years ago, I tried surgery one more time believing the doctor/surgeon when he said he could get me off of all meds & I could walk & run to my hearts content. Instead, I have been bent over, unable to stand up straight, & need a walker to get around.
    Now, due to the current pain med environment, the dosage has been cut & I wake up in excruciating pain & can hardly get out of bed. I lay on the couch all day as time goes by.
    I have followed every rule and restriction (no alcohol). If there is any more decrease in dosage, the only thing left will be wheelchair bound because the pain is so bad.
    I do not get “high” when I take narcotics. I am just able to think about something other than pain. I still have hope. I don’t want this for the remainder of my life. Since I became bent over after hardware was put in my back, I am considering having it removed and then go through physical therapy to retrain my muscles. However, I cannot go through that without pain meds just like I need meds to keep my blood pressure down. To me, there is no difference. I need both to function and live.
    I am 66 and the future does not hold a chance for a better, more active life as long as someone other than my doctor decides what pain meds I am allowed.

    I just reread the criteria for comments. My guess is that most of those involved in this task force do not have chronic pain. The best way I can describe it is like when you hurt your thumb on your dominate hand. Every time you move your hand in any way, you are reminded that you can’t do that, it hurts. You can’t use your hand without moving your thumb. You begin to realize how much you need your thumb. For chronic pain patients, everything we want to do requires that we consider our pain condition. It’s impossible to watch a movie if you can only think of the pain. You quit going places “just to get out of the house” because the pain during and after isn’t worth it. You give up things you used to love doing – such as gardening. Your muscles begin to atrophy but that doesn’t hurt like walking to keep them strong. As long as my doctor could prescribe enough meds to allow me to keep my pain in check while I did what I wanted, I could keep my weight down and good muscle tone. Now, I’m very limited.
    ———-

  29. I’m 45 and ever since I was a little girl I’ve suffered from chronic bladder infections. Around 2007 and 08 they started getting more intense and the pain was unbearable. My PCP sent me to a new urologist in 09. I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis/ bladder pain syndrome. There isnt a cure. Over 60 percent of people who have it can’t work full time and have a decreased quality life. The lining that protects my bladder is not all there. That means that my urine is basically touching raw nerves and irritating it. When people ask what it feels like I tell them the easiest way i can explain. It’s like having a bad bladder infection all the time, with burning fire, razor blades cutting it up with alcohol poured on it 24/7. I’ve learned diet modifications and things to avoid to not hinder it as much but there are times when aspirin, tylenol, nor ibuprofen can ease it. Hence why I take opioid medications. I’m not an addict. I depend on those meds on days when I need to do the simple of things. Otherwise there is no quality of life. Suicide rates are high with this condition and its been mentioned in prevention magazine as one of the top 10 most painful conditions. I understand the crisis, I really do but people with legitimate pain issues shouldn’t have to suffer for it point blank period.

  30. I’ve been living with Severe Progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis for over 10 years and Im only 44 years old. Been on different medications to help treat the progression with some of the medications causing severe hair loss, flu symptoms, nails don’t grow. To now a new one that is injected into me once a week that cost $5,000 a month. I suffer pain daily. I can barely walk, can’t drive because the pain is so intense. My everyday life is horrible. Doctors say it isn’t good for arthritis patient to receive pain medication because it stops you from feeling the pain. Well no kidding that is what I want BE PAIN FREE— I want to move not lay around on the sofa or bed all day in lots of pain. Im not a drug addict!! I need help with pain management. It isn’t fair.

  31. My post..
    I have been dealing with chronic pain for 28 years. First diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1994 after trying to find a diagnosis for 4 years. Since then I have had over 20 surgeries on my body. Some failed. Including two spine surgeries on my neck and a total knee replacement. I am also a breast cancer Survivor and have chronic pancreatitis. I also have arthritis and a few different bone diseases and the all too horrifying neuropathy. I am stating this just to give you a picture of who I am and what I deal with. I live in chronic pain everyday of my life. I get some pain relief from the medications I receive yet I’m afraid to tell my chronic pain physician that my meds aren’t working well enough. I am afraid that he will become fearful of me as a patient if he gives me what I need to be an active member of my family and society and who wouldn’t be? I understand the Physicians standpoint. Why risk your livelihood for people in chronic pain?
    I must tell you I can live on both sides of this fence that is being debated. I lost my 35 year old son on Mother’s Day in 2017. Yes to an accidental drug overdose. So believe me when I tell you that this is a painful and unbelievably hard fight for me. I would never want any parent to have to go through what I’ve been through but on the other hand I don’t want people to suffer like I suffer everyday. There has got to be a better solution for this problem! The suffering that I see on my social groups for chronic pain patients is beyond inhumane. The doctors are afraid that they are going to lose their licenses or be put in jail if they do their jobs! DO NO HARM! Is this America? I will never understand how we got to this point because some people decide to do the wrong thing. I agree that we need better Mental Health and Rehabilitation for drug addicts however I fail to understand why the people that are doing it wrong get better treatment than the people that are living by the rules. I am begging you to stop TYING the hands of good Physicians around this country because of a few bad apples. That is equivalent to jailing all police officers because one of them shot someone it illegally.

  32. I had a allergic reaction toTHC The only way treat is hydromorphone by IV now what I was accused of being an addict and kicked out of the ER ! tHE DRS ARGUED IN FRONT OF ME! OUT OF CONTROOL

  33. I worked for 20 years as an RN. I was a young widow with three young children.
    I’ve lived with pain since I was a child. They called it “growing pains” as I got older more joints were involved. One day the pain changed. I had dislocated my back. I tried to live with it for 6 months, but It just kept getting worse. The first surgery made things worse. The hardware broke & was hitting my spine a few inches above the fusion. I also started having lumbar instability, causing me to shake 24/7 . I got some neuro stuff. too. Pain through the roof. My good leg now didn’t work well. Last but not least I was alergic to the metal. And the fusion didn’t take.
    I wasted the first yr. listening to the surgeon…”It takes a yr”. I wasted the next year tying to get help in co. Every doctor in CO said to go back to original surgeon and have him fix it. He would not see me. Then I saw an add on TV.
    Two brother Doctors a Cedar Sinai looked at my mri. I went to LA. One of those doctors, the neurosurgeon, had to leave. The other, the orthosurgeon took the hardware out. He said no guarantees. It had been 2 yrs he did not know what would get better. I was told not to ever bend, lift, or twist or the fusion might break, because again it didn’t fuse all the way. It was better but still not good.
    My pain doctor finally found a mixture of things to make me stop shaking & make the pain tolerable. It finally worked. I had a small quality of life this summer, for the first time in 3 years. I got to play with my g-babies. I was still limited but I’d take any qualify of life.
    My pain doctor retire a few months ago. I can’t believe what I’m coming up across. I can’t even get past the receptionist/ma. to get an appointment. They don’t like the meds my doctor had me on. The ma told me to be completely off all meds and then they will see me.
    Why would they want me to go through that. I’m willing to change meds but I need a doctor to help me, and care if they work, not just prescribe them. What happen to the oath. If I had diabetes a doctor would help. Why am I the only one who cares if I can go out of the house, or if I shake, or if the pain is so intense I want to scream. A few crack heads abuse pain meds & all of us have to pay. Please…Don’t Punish Pain. I deserve a life.

  34. I have Ehlers Danlos amoung other chronic conditions. Im in too much pain to even attend the rally. I was taken off my pain meds cold turkey with no offer of a taper. Never given a reason and never offered any other solution other than pacing, tylanol, exercise. What is being done to people is a mass genocide.

  35. I have 2 vascular malformation tumors in my right elbow. I have had 10 ablations to get rid of them. Unfortunately the continue to grow. One is wrapped around my nerve that controls most of my hand. I have been on a course of opioid medicine just to help me live a normal life and not have to have it cut off as the doctors at Mayo want to do. As of Monday September 10 I have been told they can no longer prescribe my vicoprophen. So I will continue to try to function until I can not longer take the pain at all then at that point I will have no other option than to have my arm removed. The opioid did not completely remove the pain it just managed it but I at least could have a normal life. Also there was not step down given to me it was cold turkey cut off after 4 years.

  36. As a former Paramedic, Nat’l Registry EMS Instructor & Fitness Instructor, I’ve saved many lives. However, the pain/fatigue I’ve suffered from since childhood, became too much to bare, rendering me disabled, ending my 9 year career in EMS & my dreams of becoming a Nurse Practitioner in 2002. My husband & father of my 2 young sons died a year later, leaving me widowed as well. As I was a very well respected, decorated Paramedic, in the medical community, I was immediately placed on a Pain Contract w/a diagnosis (Dx) of Fibromyalgia; a Dx which I’ve questioned the accuracy of ever since. Thus, began my years of medical research & as I saw my youngest son deal with the same painful issues that I had, an accurate Dx became ever more imperative. With the help of my physiotherapist, a consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon & a Rheumatolgist both confirming my suspicion; to make a long story short, I’ve been Dx’d with Joint Hybermobility Syndrome (JHS) & am awaiting genetic testing for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which is a rare, genetic, connective tissue disorder that affects my joints, primarily. However the fact that my son & I also have POTS & other signs/symptoms, Vascular EDS is of extreme concern, as it can cause spontaneous Aortic, bowel & uterine rupture which has manifested in other family members.
    Initially, accessing life improving pain relieving medication via prescription by my doctors w/o any issues allowed me to implement a multi-disciplinary approach to managing my pain/fatigue. As I believe that the human body was designed to move, my Rx pain medication became a small, yet extremely necessary adjunct which allowed me to get out of bed & do the numerous modalities of treatment to manage my pain, including a form of physical therapy called Fascial Counterstrain, mild joint stabilizing exercise, stretching, constantly re-adjusting my body & Kinesiology tape to help hold it all together . However, because I’d gone misdiagnosed for so long, most of the muscles/tendons/ligaments that hold my joints together, have become so stretched, they’re like a sock that’s lost their elasticity,as explained to me by a Physiatrist. Hence, being able to move is extremely imperative to my health & w/o access to Rx pain releiving medication, I can barely get out of my bed, let alone take care of the numerous responsibilities of owning and maintaining my home, properties, vehicles, bills/banking, retirement acct. and most importantly, raise my sons. Being a contracted Pain Patient for 15+ years, allowed me to live the best quality of life possible for my condition. My sons have grown into outstanding, stellar young men; good American Citizens & men that anyone would want to be their neighbor. The aforementioned actions are not those that would indicate a person suffering from addiction; rather a positive, tax paying, American Citizen, who’s able contribute to society.
    In 2016, every patient on pain medication at the clinic I was being treated at, was pulled in by a Dr. from the D.O.J. who subsequently labelled every patient on pain meds. an “addict”; which was not only offensive, uncalled for and untrue, it set into motion 2 years of unnecessary suffering. In fact, at the time I was seen by the DOJ Dr. I had elected to try Suboxone in an attempt to try and bring down the tolerance that anyone who takes these sorts of medications for as many years as I had, would develop. Furthermore, this DOJ Dr. failed to do a physical exam of any sort, did not review the numerous tests I’ve underwent that show all the issues I’m dealing with, nor bothered to have any discussion with me as to why I was taking these prescribed meds for so long. Had he done so, he’d have seen that I was undergoing biopsies for a neurofibroma in my left brachial plexus, which was thought to be metastatic carcinoma, as well as the numerous tumors/cysts/lesions in my T-Spine, kidneys, ovaries, lungs, brain and hips; the multiple EMG’s/NCS’s that show a progressive worsening of the nerves in my legs. Because I found the side effects of Suboxone to be intolerable, I wound up withdrawing alone at home from both pain meds & anxiety meds which nearly killed me.
    I tried, earnestly, to live w/o the benefit of pain meds & was put on one antidepressant after another, which historically causes worsening depression. I was refused treatment by a Pain Mngmnt Dr. unless I underwent steroid injections, which I’ve tried w/o improvement. After trying to find a Dr. that would listen & take me seriously; again worrying about my son as well & being treated so abhorrently, I wound up in a state of “Failure to Thrive”, having a nervous breakdown, as I could no longer bare a life in so much pain; I was literally bed bound.
    Though suicide has never been an option; my sons need me, I fear that should my care be dictated by the government, rather than the Dr who treats me now, I’ll not survive. Please, as an American Citizen & former 1st-Responder, know that my life does matter, too.

  37. My history started when I was in my late 20’s. I had constant urinary tract infections and was unable to determine why. I’m an RN and knew who to go to, signs and symptoms etc. I had to stop hospital nursing and began to work for a company that started to process Medicaid claims here in TX. I traveled throughout the state and educated any and all providers on state and federal regs. One week I was in the Valley and woke up with severe flank pain. I had stones in the past and went to the ER hoping to get some help. Evidently, the DR thought I wanted pain meds (1981) and instead gave me a dose of a medication the was 3 times the normal dose and said that’s all he would do for me. I was far from home and my own MD’s so I took the medication. I vomited most of it up within 30 – 45 minutes and within 2 days was in acute renal failure. It was downhill from there. After hanging on to my kidney function for a brief period the DR’s started to place grafts in my arms to start dialysis. But it seemed that I clotted the grafts off as fast as they got them in. So I was transplanted before I ever dialyzed and all looked good for about 10 days when I woke up to an empty bladder and a great deal of pain over the transplant area. They had to remove the kidney immediately and I started dialyzing using central lines. I was on the road traveling the state and dialyzing in whatever city I was in at 4 AM so I could keep up my work schedule.

    Things didn’t work so well so again the DR’s hunted down a kidney – I was 39 and I received my second transplant. I had problems with this one also but they were from the immunosuppressants I had to take due to the transplant. They did 5 surgeries within 6 weeks of the second transplant and finally had to put mesh across my lower abdomen due to my incision from opening up .. This was terrible but I worked through everything.

    Just when my husband and I thought things were improving I started to have severe groin pain in both legs. I’m an RN but I sure didn’t specialize in orthopedics. I had avascular necrosis (AVN)in both hips due to the steroids I had to take every day to keep from rejecting my kidney. First the DR’s tried core decompressions – big holes drilled into your femur with the hopes of filling the holes in with bone as well as the femoral head which was so painful I would cry in the car going back and forth to different cities. This was just the beginning. Over the next 26 years, I had 9 hip replacements (revisions) in my L hip and 10 in my R hip. My last surgery on the R hip removed my gluteus maximus (big muscle on your buttock) and wrapped it around my thigh to try to keep the hip in for as long as possible. I was told I would not walk after 3 hip replacements/revisions but I stumble around. In addition, while they were doing my hips I was diagnosed as having severe AVN in my right shoulder. I began having surgeries (shoulder replacements) on this joint until after the 4th revision my humerus broke about halfway down. It did not heal and I was told I needed a humeral implant in addition to another shoulder replacement. By this time my shoulder was dislocated so badly, it would poke my chin. It was either remove the arm or have the large bone in my upper arm replaced with Titanium – this included the shoulder, the humerus, the elbow with a pin placed in my ulna to help hold it in place. I had the humeral implant in January 2014. Within 2 months my hip had dislocated again and the surgery where they wrapped my guleus maximus around my hip was done. I was unable to use crutches, my walker or rollator, and was left with holding one cane in my L hand to walk. I was screaming in pain at times and terrified of falling. I was offered an electric wheelchair but was afraid of losing my ability to walk. I have a manual wheelchair that I can only use if someone pushes me. After my first humeral implant, my husband and I noticed my shoulder was dislocated again. Every time I went to see the surgeon for post-op visits he wanted to wait before repairing the shoulder. Six months post op he did repair it and because the dislocation was very severe my nerves and blood vessels had shrunk and I lost about 5 1/2 from my primary arm. By this time I had 3 very invasive and painful surgeries in a 6 month period – had to have blood and iron transfusions to keep me going. I haven’t mentioned that again, during the hips and shoulder problems I had congenital back problems from my cervical spine to my sacrum and everything in between, I finally gave in and had 2 herniated disc fused in my lumbar spine. This occurred in the mid-1990’s. At times the surgeons were discussing what needed to be done first. Hips, Shoulder, spine?? And of course be careful of that kidney she might die. I worked until I was 51 then applied for disability. I filled out the forms myself and was approved in 2 months in 2001. I was constantly having surgeries, back and shoulder injections etc. After my 5th hip revision and 1st shoulder replacement, I went to a pain specialist. I have seen him for 24 years. I continued to fall throughout the 2000’s to this day causing a broken ankle that was pinned multiple broken toes and many cuts and bruises. In 2015 I started to have severe pain and swelling in my R knee. The pain DR did an ablation which was one of the most painful procedures I ever had. I should have known what was causing the pain – AVN was back. When I finally had my knee replaced the surgeon said it fell apart in his hand. I have done PT, OT, Mckensie therapy for my neck, a year of acupuncture, biofeedback, psychologist, and as mentioned above many injections of steroids into my back and shoulder.

    I haven’t mentioned my annoying pains – carpal tunnel, terrible neuropathy in both lower legs and feet, hands and fingers. My cervical stenosis and disc disease and Kyphosis cause headaches and pain down my L arm as well as numbness in my 2 outer fingers. In 2 days the pain DR is going to do an ablation of the medial nerve at the L5-S1 facet joints. I hope this will take away this one very severe and constant pain. Next week I’m supposed to have my L shoulder injected. I hope the pain I’m having in my only good arm is just a piece of calcium that was about as big as a nickel sitting on the rotator cuff but I’m still worried about more AVN. The pain DR is cutting my meds and I can hardly get out of bed so I can’t go to the rally. If they stop my meds I’m done. I’m 71 and been on narcotics for 24 years without a problem. I have never failed a urine test, lost any meds, asked for more meds etc. But I’m just done. My husband says he kept track of my surgeries and they are at around 70. I didn’t mention the problems I had with my artery that led to my transplant kinking up and the major abdominal surgery I had due to that. I have a short L leg and a very short R arm. They cut all the rotator cuff tendons in my R arm so I can’t move my upper arm away from my body.

    I no longer live with chronic pain. I fought very hard for a long time but I feel like the plug is being pulled by a bunch of strangers.

  38. I am a disabled Marine Veteran which I have had 9 major back surgeries starting in 1999 to my last one just a month ago. I am so tired of hearing about the opiod epidemic, I need the pain medication due to major chronic pain which I need just to get through the day. The people that need the pain medication should not be punished. I may need to go to the streets for help which I don’t understand. I can not help my condition, I just want to live the best I can, is that asking to much?

  39. I was in a car in accident in 1996 when my tie rod broke on a 91 mustang gt gong down I75 in finley, ohio. I ended up with 10 disc out and all the extras that go with it, all 6 of my lower lumbars and c3-c6 in my neck are damaged. I turned down pain meds for years only used muscle relaxants when spasms got bad and hot baths wouldnt help. Pain finally got so bad in 2005 I went off work on medical for some procedures, shots & therapy for few months well somehow that made things even worse for me.

    Now in a ton of pain, I cant take it anymore I start taking opioids and let me tell you I went through a ton of meds before finding one that was right for me. I have 3 kids I didnt want to be groggy or clock watching and most importantly I didnt want to feel high. After a few years of trial and error and mostly because now I had lost my job and had no money I was introduced to methadone and it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I feel like myself mentally all the time, I still have bad days in pain, its not a cure all but I cant imagine having to go back to living without and being bed bound for life. Last 9-10 years I have been on the same amount no more no less everyday and it still works great! I have not had 1 incident in all the years Ive been taking opioids I only take what the doc says too. Make no mistake about it my quality of life still isnt great, I still cant sleep for long periods of time, I have to get up sit in my chair or pace the halls a couple times a night til i can get the pain to reside so i can go back to sleep. I still have days I cant do anything but rest but I also have days I can cut grass, play with my kids, shop and do therapy workouts.

    I really dont understand why Americans would want other Americans to suffer even more then they already do. Trust me I know chronic pain patients arent the problem we are treated like criminals now as far as im concerned with all the pill counts and drug tests. For some reason people just dont understand pain until it happens to them, I know I didnt. People need to remember we didnt choose this life of pain. We need our meds just so we can stand to be in our own bodies. We should not be punished because of others. Chronic pain patients arent the ones out there eating poisons, detergents, allergy meds, paint chemicals and god knows what else jsut to get a buzz we are the ones that take our meds exactly as directed by the docs everyday. This is AMERICA- PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER

  40. I am 70 years old and a retired RN. I am writing in regard to the overreach by the federal government (DEA and CDC) in trying to stop the opiate problem which I perceive is an overreaction to outlandish negative media reporting. A back injury 26 years ago caused me to have to file for disability and reluctantly leave a career in nursing. The injury caused permanent damage to my lower back and osteoarthritis in my back, hips and other joints. Unfortunately, I cannot take Tylenol because of liver problems or Advil because of kidney failure. Consequently, I have been on large dosages of oxycodone (220 mg) to treat my pain. I have never experienced euphoria and after 17 years, I have never been inclined to abuse or divert my meds nor have I ever overdosed. Since the CDC and DEA have ordered doctors to reduce my meds by 2/3, I am having problems with excruciating pain. In fact, I am practically bedridden and can no longer get out and about, play with my grandchildren or do any of the things that make life worth living. I truly believe that the federal drug police have shortened my life or at least my quality of life in just the past two years of this unwarranted crackdown on opioid medications across the board, to include persons like myself who suffer from chronic pain. As a side note, two other examples of the results of this more severe regulation of opioids are (1) when my husband underwent his third surgery for cancer, his pain medications were obviously less available than in his first two surgeries during the previous 5 years and (2) my pain doctor is getting more gun-shy about my opioid pain care following two separate DEA inspections in recent years.

  41. I think most of us posting our stories are basically in the same boat. I have spinal issue. I’ve already had three cervical fusions 2 anterior and one posterior and I also have lower back issues from l2-s1 and last but not least si joint dysfunction as the cherry on the top. I had over a 14 yr history of pain management of complying. All the sudden I was told do to the new guidelines I would have to be tapered down. So as alway I did what I was told to do. It was lowered to 1/4 of what I had been receiving and with that so went my quality of life. Then 6 months ago my pain doctor shut his doors. I was left to scramble to find a new one. Most slammed the door on me because they didnt use the pain medication I was on. Only one would take me. As soon as he did he too lowered my medication even farther. The dose which I’ve now been on almost 6 month is totally infective. I have no life anymore I’m in pain almost 24/7 now. Where before yes I had some pain but on a lower level so I could function.
    I’ve been trying every conservative alternative treatment my doctor has to offer me with no luck including MM which I despise and am wasting money I cant afford to do as I am on disability.
    My neck issues are job related and I was told point blank by the insurance company they will NEVER EVER allow any increases of my pain medications.
    What got me with that statement is I’ve NEVER EVER ask for one myself EVER ! so when they said that I felt like they were calling me a drug seeker or addict.
    It seems even if your following everything they want you too . Your still being lable a drug addict and less of a person because of the need for pain medication.
    Our government are now just hoping to exterminate all of us by torturing us. No matter what they do there will still be illegal drugs on the street always has been and always will be.
    The news media is no better nothing but bombarding us with the lastest greatest doom and gloom on the opiod crisis. Then you have drug rehabs filling in between their reports on the evils of opioids and without them theres no hope.Im sure their making billions off all this no doubt. And then you have us just barely struggling threw each day with no hope in sight.
    Kudos to this movement the only hope we have now is to fight.

  42. My name is Dwain. In short I hit a car head on when I was 16. I was in bed for 2 month’s. It messed my back up.real bad. I finally got to where I could walk. All my life I had to work with back pain. I would just go out and I would be in bed for several days. I had 2 back surgeries one in 99 and 05. Neither helped. In 2014 my back went out and I was in bed for nearly a year with godly pain iny back and leg. After I could get out of.bed I couldn’t sit for.6 more months. Had to stand to eat. I been going to a.pain management for 2_3 years. It’s a life.saver. my pain never stops in my leg and back. My leg goes out and I fall sometimes. Now I have a torn rotator cuff too. Had it checked nothing they can do but replace it with a new one. Everything is on my left side. I have bad days and dome.better dsys. The pain clinic is a.life daverbecause I have to get epiduralbs and nerve block shots. Leave the doctors alone.that are doing things right and helping people that need tjrm. Thanks for listening and have a bless day.

  43. I was hit on my motorcycle by a drunk driver in 1994 . Which broke my leg and smacked my ankle I have had 8 operation on that leg and ankle before I made the decision to cut off the leg . I still had to work to pay for the insurance to do all these surgery the pain was unbelievable .so the last yrs I’ve been working hard with a prosthetic . Then had a knee replacement on the other leg and a shoulder operation yes My job had a lot of heavy lifting so my body is sore and arthritis and nerve pain And now the government tells the doctors not to give out the pain pills anymore and wants to put me on other drugs that alters the mind and has tons more side affects these pills are for depression and epileptic seizure medicine Witch I’m trying to fight I’m seeming my self on the couch more and more every day my Quality of life is going down

  44. I have rods, plates and screws fussing my lower lumbar. No Dr will do anything for my pain. I have degenerative disc disease and it is hereditary.

  45. 11 years ago in July of 2007, a perfectly healthy me began to cross the street in a cross walk, on a green light, and a Ford F150 without a signal hit me head on while taking a left turn. Accident recreation guesstimates truck was going about 35-40 mph when he hit me.
    I couldn’t work for 2 full years due to reconstructive surgeries and injuries. Even now I cannot take jobs where I stand, walk or sit too much. I basically need a combo of all 3 or I won’t make it through the day.. Yet, I am beyond blessed as I suffered no head or internal injuries.
    That said, after the last of my surgeries I was taken off pain meds. For 3-4years I white-knuckled the pain. My husband would meet me in drive when I arrived home from work as my body would freeze up on drive home and I would need help getting out of vehicle even.
    Finally, after much internal debate, I went to my PCP who began me on meds and scheduled me with a pain doctor.
    The vicodin was beneficial. My work performance improved as well as home and family life. I was able to do more while feeling better.
    But this doctor had a surgical room at his office and performed surgeries. For the next 18-24 months I had several different types of procedures: shots in lower back to ease pain and when that was not helping, he actually “burnt my nerves” in lower back. The recovery was awful! Took much longer and far more painful than was told would happen. To this day, I have problems with sciatica that I never had before this surgery. (I know there are more technical terms but mind drawing blank). After trying all procedures that doc recommended, my husband and I chose for me to not participate in those procedures anymore. Once I let them know? I was sent a termination from the practice letter, as well as a referral to drug rehab for my “addiction”. All
    for my refusal to inflict more useless procedures that left me in worse shape on my already damaged body, I was being punished.
    Returned to my PCP, who at this time was terrified to prescribe me any meds bc the govt had all doctors running scared. He would order me 30 or so a month just to keep me going as we waited for an opening with another doctor.
    Once I got in, I was questioned by the new doctor as if I was an addict instead of someone in pain! She had my records from first pain doc, of course. Wholly infuriating and embarrassing. Yet, when I stayed calm and explained to her what occurred from my viewpoint AND she saw my x-rays and scans? She admitted that unfortunately, those who have those surgical suites in their offices don’t make room in their practice for patients who refuse those surgeries they can bill insurance a fortune for. It felt so good to hear her tell me what I knew to be true.
    My right foot was in fragments inside my skin. It took 3 surgeries to piece it back together so that I could walk on it. I’ve adapted my walk so no-one can tell how crooked the foot is inside my shoes, but the rest of my body sure knows- especially my back.. Which was already damaged from truck impact.
    I don’t allow that to stop me from living.
    I work. Am active at home and with my friends. But I require help to keep normal functions going.
    I’ve worked diligently to insure I keep the meds at minimal dosage.
    Shortly after switching pain docs, govt regulations changed. If one was on instant release (IR) meds, now they also had to be prescribed extended release (ER) meds as well. Which was so stupid as there is so much more relief in IR meds.
    So, all of a sudden, I had to get another med to go along with the vicodin.
    And ER meds are pricey.
    At least if they’re even a little effective.
    So, I went from a controlled amount of vicodin per day to those PLUS another med!
    I did try just the ER med for a month or 2, but didn’t get anywhere near the relief as what IR meds give.
    I exercise, work, and have a good family and social life. I take care of our large yard. Without the relief of my doctor prescribed opiates? Idk if I’d even be able to work, much less anything else.
    Weather plays a factor in my pain, for certain. But some days I just have extra intense pain without knowing the cause.
    The stress of the govt constantly meddling and changing the guidelines for prescribing to those of us taking drug tests and following all their rules is immense. I cannot tell you how often I’ve, once again, found an effective combo just to be told the “new guidelines no longer allow those 2 to be prescribed together”. I’ve been on buprenorphine (ER) & oxycodone (IR, smaller dose) for close to a year and its been incredibly effective. No brain fog. Able to do more. Then last week was told nope, cannot prescribe those 2 together anymore. No bupe with an opiate.
    Doc worried about my liver with long term vicodin use and I don’t have to take as many oxy as I did vicodin/day. The oxy is more effective than anything else I’ve used. But the combo was by far the best relief I’ve ever had. And that’s now gone.
    I don’t see my doctor for a few more weeks so I’m not sure what options I will be given now. The govt has no right to tell doctors and patients what does and doesn’t work for them.
    I am positive I could take a few IR pills as needed and not require those ER pills.. Did that for almost 2 full years and was fine. The govt is actually creating more addiction issues than not with their ridiculous guidelines.
    Patients and doctor are being punished for having/treating chronic pain.
    I didn’t ask to get hit head on by a Ford F150 Whose driver didn’t see me.
    Yet, I know have to pay for a monthly doc appt (used to be every 3 months), and not just for one effective medication, but for 2: the one effective IR and then the so-so effective ER med.
    Time off work monthly..
    Cost of 4 drug screens a year. (I mean, at what point do we get a break when nothing has ever been wrong with drug screens after years of them??)
    Tired of being punished for doing what is necessary to live my life to the best of my ability.
    But when I get fed up and tell my husband I’m done? He reminds me of how he used to have to help me get out of my vehicle after a normal days work. How I used to just lay on the couch crying, not knowing how I was going to get through our granddaughters visit as I was in so much deep pain.
    But it won’t be long that the govt takes away our relief.
    And that heroin and powerful overseas fentanyl are causing deaths and OD? Somehow that’s fallen on pain clinics and patients? It all gets lumped into the same pot. Makes no sense!

  46. I have suffered with a genetic condition that impacts stability, healing and inflammation of every joint in my body. This has required surgeries due to injuries prior to I even knew what the problems were or the lack of my body to truly heal from them. This fear mongering campaigns that blanket all of those people who have pain control medicine has pushed many people to be ashamed they need medicine to help them. The tone of this new tactic is actually causing more damage to those who are fighting addiction and those who are using the medicine as they should. My doctor began telling me that she was being told by her company that she had to get me to this standard dosage. The argument being I could overdose but then agreed that my actual daily prescription dose was likely less than what I should be taking to help me do normal things (recover from cleaning the house, physical therapy, exercising and other physically impacting work due to my joints getting unstable and inflammation). They also pointed out that as with any medicine the body increases tolerance of the dose so minor adjustments over time is required. Even though they have this information they are being mandated to get every patient to the same dosage or lower except for cancer patients. Just talking with the doctor about it is a delicate thing because it’s always assumed I am trying to get something more. This has not ever been the case but the reaction is as if I did. Once just mentioning if I could try CBD oil I was told if it showed in my system they would violate my pain contract.

    If it’s about someone truly overdosing this plan makes no sense. First they give all the pills at the same time so if they were to take them that overdose could happen on day one. Second we are not all the same weight, height or biological builds so just like they wouldn’t give every patient the exact same dose of insulin it can’t fit here either. Finally I believe the reason Madison is seeing atrocious overdose percentage increases is leaving people with no options and having to chase a broken system for help. They are taking the pain control medicine away from large numbers of patients but many the pain doesn’t stop. They go from gabapentin to Lyrica to Cymbalta that all have many high risk OTC drug interactions to not have them work for them. Then what is left for them? My bet is people go to the streets to get help and who knows what they are buying or what that desperation can do.
    I have always been very careful because I do respect the risks and side effects of these medicines. In fact I have been prescribed this medicine over 10 years while I have been adamant that I wanted a partner in my doctor to make sure I wouldn’t have a problem with addiction. Like many people who take this medicine the risk of addiction scared me horribly because no one ever said one morning “I want to throw everything I have away to be an addict!”.
    Many of us who have to use this because of limited other options struggle with this fear.
    I have been working with my doctor to find solutions to meet her requirements but also make sure I am not trapped in bed without a life. We are at the required October date to get to this final low dose and I have had to limit a lot of what I used to be able to do to acclimate once again to a change in my prescriptions but I wish I had a voice that said “ Please stop hurting me, judging me and making me feel that I am bad because my body was made this way.”

  47. My pain started at a young age of 12 yrs old, I missed alot of school when I was in school I complained alot just wanted to sleep, the nurse call my mom or stepmom they said I had scoliosis in my back, when I tryed to get good jobs they didnt want to hire me cause of my back problems, now my lower lumber is messed up from birth so I cant sit, stand or kneel or lift or bend for long periods of time cause Im in chronic pain, I was told in my late 20s that I also had Fibromyalgia, so I have suffered a long time, now I have psoriatic arthritis and my right side is the side that is so weak I have fallen more than 10 times in the past 25 yrs, I walk with a cane now, I got 4 specialist to look me over so I could truly know what I had, drove all the way to Dallas Tx to a great back and fibro Dr and he said please dont do any surgerys on your lumbar because you will always be in chronic pain cause of the Fibromyalgia, he said that I out smarted all 4 Drs so he said go home fined u a good pain management Dr and just take the meds, so I did I was seeing this one Dr for 20 plus yrs at the same office but things change threw the yrs so I got a new Dr after 4 others that where great with me, I never abused my meds never a dirty UA, never missed an appointment, but a new young Dr comes in and says Mrs Cantu you dont have cancer, I said no Thank God and then he said I will start taken u off your meds, and I was pissed, Pain Patch Fentayl and Norco after 20 yrs, I let that office and I cryed untill I got home, I fired him and went to other pain Dr and he said no meds just injections and they would cost me 350.00 every shout, I fired him, I cant afford those shouts that dont last but 2 weeks or less on me, now I have 6 months with out meds and Im am suffering, but no one cares no one will help me and Im not a drug user or abuser, Thank God that I have my faith thats what keeps me going, Im very depressed and have alot of anixtey over all of this, Ty for hearing my story

  48. Wa state got rid of opioids and now uses social media to brain wash us to use cannabis for pain which does not work on bones . They are now the big drug store making money off pain ! If you can afford it ! They have nothing to treat pain …. I have never suffered so much in my life and surprised that suffering is the new lifestyle in our country they should be sued!!

  49. Hi my name is Mike I had a major surgery 3 years ago 350 Staples with severe complications after operation I tried to go to a pain clinic they wanted to give me pain cream for my leg I said okay cuz no doctor will ever help me with my pain so they had this pain cream made I put it on my leg it gave me 3rd degree burns from my groin to my toes I was in the hospital for 2 weeks they wanted to amputate my leg and to this day the doctors never said that they’re sorry they will not treat me for pain with all the damage that’s happened to me in 3 years I can not get any pain help it is pathetic

  50. I began my road to pain in high school when I jumped off a hay wagon into a snow bank, hit a big rock, and destroyed the cartilage in both knees. I started my nursing career at 20 and spent 22 wonderful years caring for behavorially challenged DD adults. This was a physically demanding job as you can imagine. I developed severe spinal stenosis after 30 and was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Still kept plugging away, gobbling NSAIDS. Then…boom…I have to go on blood thinners for the rest of my life. No more NSAIDS of any kind. Take Tylenol they say…yeah right. As osteoarthritis set into all those old injuries from over the years, and the stenosis, and the fibro…as you might imagine there are many mornings I can’t even move. I tried heat, stretching, etc but sometimes you need something stronger. That is when my PMD ordered Vicoden as needed. this worked well for several years. I took it when I needed it, if the other measures didn’t help. ( As I also have a seizure disorder, it was lucky I am a nurse, because now many doctors want to prescribe other meds such as Tramadol for pain not knowing they can lead to a seizure.) At my last appointment with my PMD he did not renew my Rx for Vicoden because my previous Rx “had lasted me so long”. So because I had taken my pain med with care and only when I really needed it…it was taken away?!?!? Maybe I should have been gobbling it up like jelly beans to prove I needed it…lol. I think I was just a good mark on the “off pain meds” column of some report. What I find truly interesting in all this in that during my nursing career, the medical community came out with a 5th vital sign…that being pain. We all went to classes to learn how important it was to assess a patient’s pain because of the impact it has on the body…thus the 1 to 10 scale and happy to crying faces for kids to point to. So…I still try and read and keep up…did I miss a memo? Is pain no longer this detrimental force it was portrayed as? If that were true the nurses in the hospital wouldn’t still be asking you that same question, using that same scale. Luckily, those brave hospital doctors are still treating pain…but only IN the hospital. Don’t be surprised when you are discharged and at home Motrin or Tylenol should handle things. I know that’s a little off topic, but a lot of us see more time in the hospital than we’d like. I feel we have been lumped in with opioid abusers and are guilty by association. We are now on house arrest without the benefit a trial, judge, or jury. Just locked away by pain, things will only get worse…decreased mobility, decreased socialization, increased falls, increased healthcare costs, just decreased quality of life a;; around.

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