I am actually a little stunned that not more people are speaking out about this. There is so much hesitation. I suppose I would be too if the DEA and government came down on me like a bag of bricks every time I was involved in anything to do with pain medication.
Time and time again people in clinics and hospitals in Southeast New Mexico talk about the harshness of doctors and hospitals, especially the pain specialists, in regard to pain control. The laws and the doctors who abide by them here now require their patients to submit to bi-monthly drug screens if they have to take pain medication for any period of time. This is to protect the doctors presumably.
This I can understand. However using confidential patient information, such as that which is gathered from lab tests and drug screens, should not be used as conversation topics for gossip at the local convenience stores and bars. There in SE New Mexico- this is a frequent occurrence done by clinical personnel, EMT's, paramedics, and yes even doctors. To say nothing of the difficulties cause by the DEA's sanctions.
It is true the Drug Enforcement Agency has caused chronic pain suffer's many difficulties.
However the DEA is not the only difficulty for chronic pain sufferers; the problem also lies with the doctors.
Don't even come to anywhere near the crooked little state of New Mexico for pain control. I wouldn't go that state if I were you, nor would I go to west Texas, east Arizona, or southern Colorado.
And I work with pain patients and physicians every day...
I was being seen by a doctor for more than a year. At the end of each visit in my presence, he would dictate "patient is not abusing pain meds and is not addicted." During the last few months I saw him, I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type II, insulin dependent and developed a lump on my forehead. At my next to last visit with him, he accused me of being addicted to Vicodin. I asked him what brought that on, as I had always taken less than what was prescribed. The only answer he gave me was, "You're addicted!" I had major concerns about my blood glucose levels as they were very low and attempted to show him my records. He shoved the book back at me and said, "You're addicted!" I said, "What has that got to do with my diabetes?" He gave me no answer. I then showed him the lump on my forehead. He told me, "You're addicted!" I became very angry with the doctor. He told me I was in denial and he gave me a recipe for withdrawal from the Vicodin, told me to return in one month, and that I should be down to 1 Vicodin per day in 30 days.
I came home and immediately started taking 1 Vicodin every 8 hours and did so until I returned to his office 30 days later. When I saw him, he asked how many Vicodin I was taking per day. I told him I was taking 3 per day and that I was in constant pain. He jumped all over me and told me that I had refused to follow his instructions. This was a sure sign that I was truly addicted and that he would no longer see me. I then ask him if he would prefer if I smoked marijuana to ease my pain. If looks could kill, I would be dead now.
Subsequently, I have found another doctor. I did tell my new doctor about being accused of being addicted to Vicodin. My new doctor told me that would be up to him to decide. To this day, I take 3 Vicodin per day. My doctor is not satisfied with that because he knows I am suffering. However, when I reach for that 4th Vicodin, I feel as though I am doing something illegal.
Another person, having seen her physician for five years, suffers from Fibro also. She was prescribe pain meds by him for five years, Percoset and Vicodin. He even wanted her to take Oxycontin. For some reason, he dropped her as a patient. She has tried to find another doctor. She is always asked who she last saw. The other doctors' offices tell her, "we will get back with you." The next day she gets a call saying, "Sorry, we can't see you." Her former physician is slandering her by telling the medical community that she is a drug addict. She has been without pain medication since March, 2010.
We both live in the State of Ohio.
When my former physician accused me of being addicted, I told him that I was going to go to Pain Management. He accused me of going to a "pill mill." I had never heard of such a thing and told him that where I was going they didn't even give pain medication. He then, without my permission, sent a letter to the Pain Management telling them that I was addicted to Vicodin.
I have later come to learn that the doctor is an alcoholic, his son is a drug abuser, and that other's in his family are abusing drugs and have stolen his prescription pads. I am extremely angry that I am being accused of something that I never did.
My friend has been slandered and her doctor is guilty of defamation of character, in that, she can not receive medical attention in our community.
This is definitely wrong and inexcusable. If we were to have done this to the doctors, they would have filed a lawsuite against both of us. Yet we must sit by and suffer at their hands!
In the past two years I have suffered from a broken hand, two hand surgeries, and right now have dozens of stitches in my left elbow because of an elbow surgery. All these were treated by the Veterans Administration, in Wichita Kansas and Oklahoma City.
In each case I have had analgesics prescribed that were inadequate to the level of pain, and in one VA emergency room visit I was prescribed a medication which had a black box warning for four different conditions and medications I was taking at the time. The doctor and the nurse assured me they had looked up the medication when both my wife and I separately asked them if it was safe for me. (The warnings were for depressive disorders, CNS depressants [which I have been under prescription for by the VA since 1995], epilepsy, and MAOI antidepressants; the warning was for elevated risk of sudden death and/or suicide.)
It was apparent to my wife and I when I looked up the patient information sheet on line (the VA refused to give me one) that both the nurse and doctor had either lied about looking up the medication, or lied about looking in my medical records.
To-day I am headed to the VA to have these stitches removed. My arm has swelled so badly that it shattered the splint applied only two days after the surgery, and actually broke an Ace bandage from the swelling. I have been unable to sleep more than 60 minutes since the surgery three weeks ago, and the pain is greater than the worst I have ever suffered, which was when my old appendectomy scar ripped open from infection seven years after the surgery.
I fully expect I will either be ignored about the level of my pain, or will be directed to a drug abuse counsellor for "drug-seeking behavior" when I complain later to-day about it, as was the case when I complained to the hospital Patient Advocate about the emergency room treatment in Wichita.
Karen, That article about the Dr. being prosecuted for prescribing pain medications is very disturbing and frustrating. We the Patients become victims and the Doctors and it has got way out of hand. This is such a tremendous tedious touchy subject for all. Doctors have become literally scared to treat a person like me who's had extensive spine surgeries and suffer with acute chronic pain! I can certainly understand the Doctors fears of prescribing anything for pain relief! but then who suffers ? we as patients suffer with the pain. It feels like it takes an act of Congress anymore to get fair treatment.. Things need to seriously change.
Don't penalize the Doctors doing right and don't make us patients suffer in Pain! because of a few bad apples so to speak. My Doctor who treated me for 12 years who retired once stated when he was giving me the injections for pain, " he got into the Medical field to become a Doctor to help people get better and to care for people like you" (meaning me) little did he know how much of a self made-Lawyer he'd have to become by doing so just because of all the red-tape.
"Let the Doctors do what they trained for"
I have often wondered how doctors about prescribe pain medication.
How could the judge instruct the jury to ignore if Dr. Hurwitz acted in good faith? I hope this judge was subject to election, and was voted out.
I live in Texas and have long wondered if there would be repercussions. I thought it was likely because this is Texas. How disheartening to hear how harsh other states can be.
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Clearly it should be up to DOCTORS to decide what their patients need not prosecutors. How are they to know what people living with chronic pain need?
It really is sad how we as patients have little to no rights at all when it comes to our care. Something really needs to be done about this.
Hugs,
Bekah
I agree with you 100%