Finally! Someone is listening about pain!

[Debi]

Finally, Someone is Listening to People in Pain!

With "The Real Opioid Crisis in Three Charts," a patient advocacy group has briefed senior FDA officials on major changes needed in public health policy for the regulation of prescription opioid pain relievers, and doctors who prescribe them. Perhaps now someone is truly listening to people in pain.

www.acsh.org

As someone who suffers from chronic pain, this has been on my pet peeve list for a very long time.
My new doctor and I recently talked about this as well. For people who honestly have pain and need long term treatment, the hoops we have to jump through and red tape we have to deal with, plus the stigma attached to it, is ridiculous. The government has created "caps" that pharmacies have, creating an artificial shortage of these meds to top it off.

The "opioid" issue has been misrepresented for quite some time now. At least 85% of opioid-related deaths reported with such fanfare and fear are related to illegal drugs aka fentanyl/crack, etc. Yet is all "lumped" under one headline, with those using honest prescriptions for pain meds being lumped into that category. The patients who need them feel "guilty" for having pain and for asking for help, which is horribly wrong. Doctors are afraid to prescribe, and the whole fear-based system to get medical help has been impacted by this approach. Heck, it's my forum and I thought twice about even posting this because of the fear of judgment by others who are not informed about the actual facts. People in chronic pain do not get "high" when they take these meds...they regain function.

Finally, a group has stepped up to at least shed some light on this. My hope is that somebody in charge of the fear campaign listens.

 

[Ragnar0711]

I am in the same boat as you Debi and I agree

 

[K9-1]

I take valuim for nerve pain. I had a doctor that hesitated to give it to me,but offered me all kinds of other pain killers though? Most all pain pills just make me sick or don't work on me. Valuim works! Sometimes it doesn't kill the pain,but makes me okay with it.
Now if they would just legalize weed alot of problems people have could be solved. It's still a schedule 1 drug...higher than fentanyl which is schedule 3 or 4!
You can still find the right doctors to prescribe what you want it just takes some hunting.

Doctors and insurance companies don't like opioids. The fear campaign plus the amount of doctors,hospitals, ect that handed it out like candy got hit hard. So the fear of them getting in trouble is understandable, but when you have a patient that has the injuries that require such meds there shouldn't be an issue....yet there is!
I have no guilt asking for pain relief and if my doctor doesn't want to give me them I'll go to 1 that will ! Though valuim is pretty easy to get only problem is doctors and pharmacies don't make money off of it since it's cheap to begin with.

 

[K9-1]

Look how the government and people treat weed and it's still not legalized. I wouldn't get my hopes up on opioids.
I have 0 issue with people doing whatever they want to their bodies. As long as you don't hurt people or commit crimes I don't see an issue! Drunks hurt and kill people everyday yet I can get it at the gas station. Then the health related problems due to drinking. Yet it's fine?!

 

[Debi]

I take valuim for nerve pain. I had a doctor that hesitated to give it to me,but offered me all kinds of other pain killers though? Most all pain pills just make me sick or don't work on me. Valuim works! Sometimes it doesn't kill the pain,but makes me okay with it.
Now if they would just legalize weed alot of problems people have could be solved. It's still a schedule 1 drug...higher than fentanyl which is schedule 3 or 4!
You can still find the right doctors to prescribe what you want it just takes some hunting.

Doctors and insurance companies don't like opioids. The fear campaign plus the amount of doctors,hospitals, ect that handed it out like candy got hit hard. So the fear of them getting in trouble is understandable, but when you have a patient that has the injuries that require such meds there shouldn't be an issue....yet there is!
I have no guilt asking for pain relief and if my doctor doesn't want to give me them I'll go to 1 that will ! Though valuim is pretty easy to get only problem is doctors and pharmacies don't make money off of it since it's cheap to begin with.

And that's another problem...$$$. Since it's generic, there's no money in it for them.
I now live in a state where weed is legal both medicinally and for recreation. It's far easier to get that than a script, but I'm sticking with the script as my insurance partially pays for it. However, to get my script, I have to take a drug test every 3 months, prove I've been to a pain specialist (I have X3 and qualified easily every time through the Xrays), and sign a pain management agreement yearly. Then I have to find a pharmacy who stocks them.

My main concern is to treat people who have chronic pain with dignity, respect, and not like criminals. The same issue applies for people who have mental health issues. There's a giant stigma attached to it. As a former medical professional, treat what needs to be treated. Doesn't matter if it's body or mind.

***Climbing off soap box now***

 

[K9-1]

And that's another problem...$$$. Since it's generic, there's no money in it for them.
I now live in a state where weed is legal both medicinally and for recreation. It's far easier to get that than a script, but I'm sticking with the script as my insurance partially pays for it. However, to get my script, I have to take a drug test every 3 months, prove I've been to a pain specialist (I have X3 and qualified easily every time through the Xrays), and sign a pain management agreement yearly. Then I have to find a pharmacy who stocks them.

My main concern is to treat people who have chronic pain with dignity, respect, and not like criminals. The same issue applies for people who have mental health issues. There's a giant stigma attached to it. As a former medical professional, treat what needs to be treated. Doesn't matter if it's body or mind.

***Climbing off soap box now***

I'm supposed to do the drug test every 3mo also. They forgot the last time I was there.
Honestly I don't think anyone has any right to tell you what to put in your body. Especially not the government! Now I do think there should be age restrictions. Also if the drug causes you to hurt others or commit crimes you should be banned from taking it and have to face serious legal consequences.
I also don't believe that meds that keep you alive or are 100% needed should cost a small fortune! Like saving drugs should be free or atleast a reasonable price.
I'm very picky about my doctors. If they made me feel a certain way I'll go somewhere else that will take my money. I would also make sure to tell them about themselves and leave alot of negative reviews online....they absolutely hate that.

 

[K9-1]

All that said I love my current Doctor and staff! We always have a good time!
Also I know her husband very well and when there practice hadn't been paid by a insurance company my wife got them paid.
My wife works for a large insurance company for health care. So they kinda cater to us.

 

[Selectric]

Not being in chronic pain, i do not take any kind of medicine. When i am in pain, my previous doctor always gave me Naproxen. It's just glorified ibuprofen but it always helped. I had a foot injury i let slide for months and when it got to the point i couldn't take it anymore, he prescribed me that. The pain has not returned. Now, i do know people that have/had chronic pain/ailments and had to ween off the heavier meds. Sometimes it wasn't very easy to get off of them and that only worsened the situation. Plus i have to totally agree with the cost issue of any such important medicine. You should not have to pay out the ying-yang for something that is meant to help you. Money and greed are always hand in hand, skipping down the golden trail.

 

[garnetsilver]

It took me two years to get a doctor to take me seriously about my pain issues. I was someone who tolerated quite a bit of pain before I sought help, and I did not appreciate being called a 'drug seeker.' I went through most of my life not taking any kind of medication,prescribed or recreational. I just didn't see the point of recreational drugs, anyway.

When I checked my online record through the health network I used, someone had actually said I was addicted to opioids. When they got my letter telling them that I was about to sue for defamation of character, if they didn't remove that falsity, they fell all over themselves to make it right. I am glad to see that someone is trying to correct the falsehoods and to stop lumping genuine pain with addiction.

@K9, Yes those doctors hate bad online reviews!

 

[ozentity]

Now if they would just legalize weed alot of problems people have could be solved.

As we all know it's down to the dollar, the pharmaceutical companies are to blame and in a way you can't blame them, they would lose a lot of money and that's all that matters, lol.