hibbs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/22/03
Posts: 275
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Bad news for patients in pain
For millions of Americans living with chronic pain, the federal government has decided to inflict some more.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is reverting to a heavy-handed approach of targeting doctors who prescribe "too many" narcotic painkillers, even if they follow accepted medical practice. That spells more misery for physicians and patients.
Long-term use of painkillers at high doses is often the only way some patients can relieve the agony of cancer and other diseases and lead functional lives. Undertreatment of pain is common, notes the American Medical Association, which has documented years of DEA harassment of physicians who legitimately prescribe narcotics.
In August, DEA reached a compromise with medical experts that would allow physicians to treat pain without risking prosecution for diverting drugs to abusers. But two months later, DEA abruptly broke the deal.
Officially, DEA withdrew the guidelines because they contained "misstatements." But the pain experts who helped write the protocols believe the about-face occurred because a Virginia physician facing drug charges unsuccessfully tried to use the guidelines as evidence in his trial.
The new policy is vague, and DEA promises a clarification soon. As things stand:
Physicians cannot write multiple prescriptions with instructions that they be filled on future dates. If patients run out of pills before returning to their doctors, they're out of luck, says Russell Portenoy, a pain expert at New York's Beth Israel Medical Center who helped write the now-discarded rules.
Patients with any history of substance abuse may not be able to be prescribed narcotics, even if their pain from disease is documented.
The government "can investigate (physicians) merely on suspicion that the law is being violated, or even just because it wants assurances that it is not," DEA warns. That sends a clear message: Doctors who prescribe a high volume of painkillers to alleviate suffering, the very purpose of medicine, will face intense scrutiny.
The bottom line: Patients, particularly the estimated 25 million Americans who are at least partially disabled by chronic pain, will find it tougher to obtain relief. Physicians who fear losing their licenses or liberty will limit the prescribing of narcotics, and many pharmacies will be reluctant to dispense them.
To be sure, drug seekers do scam physicians, a tiny handful of whom are indeed drug pushers. Doctors must take care to ensure that patients don't become addicted to painkillers, as happened to radio host Rush Limbaugh. And stopping illegal diversion of drugs is important. But it shouldn't hinder patients' ability to receive the care they deserve or scare doctors away from using sound medical judgment.
Law enforcement and pain relief needn't be in conflict. DEA needs to write a more reasonable prescription.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-12-07-our-view_x.htm?csp=15
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dmoe
Member
Reged: 03/25/04
Posts: 160
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Just another thing that proves we are really not living in FREE country.
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Therion
Member
Reged: 06/14/04
Posts: 147
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My mother-in-law died in horrible agony from lymphatic cancer. No doctor in my area was willing to prescribe effective analgesia. I watched her beg for death. Do you think Bush's mother would suffer so? Or any close relative of our "elected" representatives?
I HATE AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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fromabove
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/20/04
Posts: 219
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Quote:
My mother-in-law died in horrible agony from lymphatic cancer. No doctor in my area was willing to prescribe effective analgesia. I watched her beg for death. Do you think Bush's mother would suffer so? Or any close relative of our "elected" representatives?
I HATE AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEN LEAVE OUR COUNTRY!!! YOUR HATERID IS NOT WELCOME HERE!!!
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The truth is out there...
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clothesguy
Stranger
Reged: 09/28/04
Posts: 15
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I hate to agree with that too? LEAVE AMERICA? I have seen a lot of people that I am close too who have had cancer, and had terrible types of cancer, and they were all very comfortable right until their last breath. DOn't blame America, it is the greatest country on this planet. You had the wrong doctor. Maybe you should have tried to find the right doctor.
God has truly Blessed America!!!
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barett
Newbie
Reged: 07/07/04
Posts: 48
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I understand why you are lashing out. I heard my mother
whisper with her dying breath, "Please take me now."
But, she was doped to the max in a very kind and
attentive place. It was the best that can be done
for cancer patients. My sympathy goes out to you.
It is not America. It's your situation, doctors,
etc. So very sorry. Barett
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KrisMom
Stranger
Reged: 12/10/04
Posts: 14
Loc: Long Island
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Just MHO, if the DEA is SOOO concerned about illegal drug use - why aren't they doing MUCH MORE about the real drug problem in this country. Our young people are addicted to Heroin, Crack and snorting things like Ridolin? These are the problems our wonderful country has and the young people are our future. Lets hope the DEA gets their priorities in order and takes care of THESE problems instead of bothering those of us who support our country, live within it's rules and ARE IN PAIN!!! Again, Just MHO
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WE may not have it all together, but together, we have it ALL!
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eolson55
Stranger
Reged: 02/08/04
Posts: 4
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I have had cronic back pain sence I was in my 20's and even today I can get a gram of heion for $40.00 24 hours a day seven days a week in downtown Portland but it is like pulling teeth form a alagator to get a script for hydro's form a doctor. I have read on many chat boards how people got started on herion because of there back pain and had nowhere else to go. I just find this so unbelivable how our goverment could care less about people in pain.
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Therion
Member
Reged: 06/14/04
Posts: 147
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You're getting your wish, my friend. I am leaving this benighted country. Although I was born and raised here I do not like the direction things are going, especially with health care. I'm in my second half century of life and I recall when the "live and let live" ethos was predominant. Now it seems to be "live like WE want you to live or you're a SINNER." I've suffered chronic pain for over two decades and have been inadequately treated the entire time. I leave this country every year to have at least a month of entirely pain-free life. I've been treated better in BOLIVIA for cripe's sake than I have here!
I seem to be one of the last American's who truly believes in LIBERTY in the truest sense of the word. Our founding fathers were fleeing religious persecution. I never thought I'd have to flee my own country due to persecution BY the so-called religious.
Truly, I've often wished I was dead. I have been unable to sleep an entire night since 1971 without waking up screaming due to what I was forced to witness and participate in while in Vietnam. I KILLED CHILDREN! And for what?????
A word of advice to all those seeking adderal, ritalin and the like. Join the military. You'll get plenty of speed, courtesy of the government. In Vietnam OUR GOVERNMENT handed dextroamphetamine out like candy. It made us PSYCHOTIC. Just like they wanted us to be when we went out on patrol.
So, please don't be angry with me for being angry. My situation is not of my own making. I joined the military - I was not drafted. I was full of patriotic fervor and the desire to serve my country. That fervor was utterly destroyed about two months after landing in Vietnam.
Finally, I do not hate the American people - the finest people in the world, in my humble opinion. I hate what is happening in our name.
Peace.
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mackmoves
Member
Reged: 05/21/04
Posts: 153
Loc: Jacksonville
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You shouldn't hate America. America is you , me ,us. NOT this clown in office and his "handlers". I would like (and pray) that they at least will remember us in their dealings and ventures (i.e. wars and sacrifices). There are Many like you that wish they could leave, wish I could , at least for half a year to give it a shot. Problem is that I only speak enlgish. When I was a teenager I though it was funny when I heard a person from another country speak english and leave a word out, or not get the sentence exactly right. The funny/sad thing is that in almost every other place in the world these people can speak at LEAST 2 languages.
Our history looks to be founded on trickery. Usually tricking eachother, but now this has extended to tricking the "lower" 95 percent of the country and teaming up with people they alienated us about at first.
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I'm not doing anything illegal, it's none of your biz. why
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Therion
Member
Reged: 06/14/04
Posts: 147
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How about:
I hate "AMERICA."
I love Americans.
The quotation marks are indicative of a nationalist ideology that I abhor.
Hope this clears up my feelings a bit.
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Opie_Yates
Old Hand
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 476
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Funny...a lot of what's going from the people with the legal power are initiatives to remove religion (at least Christianity) from our lives. The struggle against religious persecution seems more of a problem than people imposing religion. I think you're confusing religion with morality.
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I'm not a doctor, I just play one on a message forum!
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fromabove
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/20/04
Posts: 219
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Quote:
You're getting your wish, my friend. I am leaving this benighted country.
Thank you!
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The truth is out there...
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Therion
Member
Reged: 06/14/04
Posts: 147
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You're very welcome. I'll send you a virtual postcard. 
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Lablady2
Enthusiast
Reged: 05/05/04
Posts: 239
Loc: New York City
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I feel your pain. Although I do not suffer physical pain - just anxiety and tension - I can well understand how you must feel. I am certain that the horrors you saw in VietNam never will leave you. I am of your "vintage" and know many guys who are in the same situation.
I too hate what is happening to our country. Most people as individuals are good people - but with the right wing religious freaks out there, the hawks and warmongers - who could blame you for leaving.
Godspeed and I wish you my very best...........
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avonmonnj
Banned again
Reged: 10/25/04
Posts: 33
Loc: we wont get into that here
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I agree with Therion, and feel for him. My father died of lung cancer - I'm an only child and sat alone watching him - and when I asked the doctor for more pain meds he replied "I'm not going to KILL him with morphine, if that's what you want". I could have killed HIM right then and there. I drove home so hysterical that I don't even know how I could drive. I was hyperventilating and heaving and couldn't stop sobbing.
There's alot about this country that doesn't represent me, but that doesn't mean that I should have to leave. There are people who DON'T agree with the present direction of the country, and we have just as much right to be here as anyone else.
Change is inevitable. So is atrophy. Which is where I think many people's brains have found themselves - in a state of atrophy.
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floridagator
Stranger
Reged: 12/04/03
Posts: 21
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I lived in Canada for 25 years, quite frankly yes medication is cheap, but just try to get proper
medical attention for pain, impossible. To this day
nothing has changed 16 years later.Yes oxycontin80's
are 250 US per 100 but you'll never see anything beyond tylenol 3's they don't carry hydrocodone in tablets it
is used only for cough medicine which is very hard to get it
is classified N they classify pain meds,sedatives,barbitals
amphetamines all with a N not C2-C5.Doctors are all underpaid and could care less about the people they see.
Doctors there claim they don't want to raise any red flags
the best I got was Tylenol 3 and valium 5mg. Here in south Florida I get oxy80's / 180 and oxy 40's /120 and xanax2mg
and valium 10 mg.You have to seek a pain doctor to help you with pain, not a GP.I to date have no qualms with good old USA and feel blessed to live here................Paul
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DigitFreedom
Member
Reged: 12/03/04
Posts: 168
Loc: U.S.A.
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Quote:
I lived in Canada for 25 years...Doctors there claim they don't want to raise any red flags
the best I got was Tylenol 3 and valium 5mg. Here in south Florida I get oxy80's / 180 and oxy 40's /120 and xanax2mg
and valium 10 mg.You have to seek a pain doctor to help you with pain, not a GP.I to date have no qualms with good old USA and feel blessed to live here................Paul
Where I live it's unheard of for anyone to get prescribed Valium. It's like "pulling hen's teeth".
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D.F.
Fighting for the right to affordable & uncensored internet access for all
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avonmonnj
Banned again
Reged: 10/25/04
Posts: 33
Loc: we wont get into that here
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One of my doctors told me that per-capita pain and related meds are prescribed more often down South, and especially in Florida. You could have fooled me - with all the recent legislation and Bush being down there and all. But that's what he says.
Don't know if it's just because of the aging population or what...
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ladydociii
Stranger
Reged: 04/25/04
Posts: 22
Loc: New England
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Quote:
Quote:
You're getting your wish, my friend. I am leaving this benighted country.
Thank you!
You know what? That just sucks as a reply to a fellow human being who is obviously suffering and who has obviously more than "done his time" re: serving this ridiculous machination we call a country. I'm a Patriot BECAUSE I love this DIRT that I stand on--and would do ANYTHING for this ground beneath my feet... ...but anyway. Yes, suffering is a terrible thing. I inherited a horrible degenerative Spinal Disorder from my father. Along with that goes Carpal (wrists/hands) & Tarsal (ankles/feet) Tunnel Syndrome AND Collagenous Colitis (which pretty much accounts for over-all auto-immune symptoms). MY doctors are actually AFRAID of me. My PRIMARY doesn't want to give me ANYTHING... ...the Gastroenterologist is resentfil and says he's not going to prescribe for what's not in his "venue". X-rays don't show a lot of what is happening in my spine b/c of the way my "bony pelvis is positioned". I now remember when I was 15, over and over--coming home and finding the gun cabinet open and my father... ...gone, wondering whether he had decided he just couldn't take it anymore. He never got an inclusive diagnosis (to THIS day) about what was wrong w/a man who never took a sick day, worked 80 hours a week--and suddenly at age 45 began to need multiple spinal fusions, nerve root decompressions, racz catheters, etc. Today--he is on an internal Morphine Pump that directs Morphine directly into his spinal canal. ...and I'm the one in my mid-40's, not feeling good about, "Well, we really can't read your Xrays--but there's nothing here to justify an MRI... WELL! Wasn't THAT cheerful? Sorry.
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~It is not society that gave man freedom, but rather society that took it away.~
S. Freud
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Opie_Yates
Old Hand
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 476
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Wow...very compelling, ladydociii. Good luck, and doctors suck (well, a lot of them do, anyway).
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I'm not a doctor, I just play one on a message forum!
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