PAIN!
GODDAMNIT!!!!!
I AM FURIOUS!!!!
My Physician has refused to renew my prescription for Pain medications! That, by itself, is bad enough. But, like certain other physicians before him, he has set me up to face withdrawal from heavy-duty narcotics COLD TURKEY!! Not a controlled phasing-down...Not a change to similar, weaker medz to gradually wean my system away from the powerful narcotics. A sudden, unsupported stop!! It says very specifically in the drug information DO NOT stop this medication suddenly..."BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY AND-OR DEATH!!" So he is sacrificing a patient's (my) health and well-being in order to cover his ass with the DEA.
I HATE the DEA!!! While they hassle physicians for dealing with their patients, said patients suffer. They harrass physicians about treating their patients. They hassle patients who use other options such as marijuana to try to deal with their pain. And they don't just enforce stupid laws, they lobby for more and stricter laws with stiffer penalties. They act like anyone who takes narcotics is an addict.
I have been taking this prescription for more than Five (5) Years! During this time my dosage has gradually increased, but is well under HALF of the maximum dosage! I have maintained my current level for more than a year-and-a half, and try every few months to decrease my needed dosage. They don't prescribe this stuff for transient or mild pain. It is only prescribed for persistent, chronic, severe pain, such as Cancer, and Multiple Sclerosis (such as me), that doesn't respond to weaker medications. In fact, I was warned when first I was prescribed the narcotics that I would probably have to take them for the rest of my life. WARNED about this!! And even with the pain medication, I still need potent muscle relaxers to ward off the muscle cramping that are a side effect of the nerve pain.
The PAIN is Horrible!!! Were it only the pain from my spine, it would be tolerable, though frequently intense. I would not need the narcotics... at least not the powerful, highly controversial narcotic I've been taking for so long. Rather, it is the severe pain of my nervous system for which I take these drugs. Without the drugs, the nervous system hypersensitizes. Imagine the "Pins and Needles" when one sits too long in one position... but it never, ever ends... and it just gets stronger. Touch me very lightly and my skin burns!! I know I am bound for heaven because I live through HELL already! And DAMNIT... the dosage I have been taking doesn't even get rid of all the pain! But at least it does knock it down to where it is a dull roar.
At this point, I can expect to be in the hospital by late Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. I have enough of the medz to go through Tuesday (today)at 3/4 strength. I have been pushing my limits...waiting until I can stand it no longer before I take my med, then waiting another hour or two until it takes effect. By doing that I am pushing my "danger" point off a little, so maybe someone will get their head out of their ass and deal with this properly... not that it will help my pain any. Many physicians, and even the pharmacuetical companies say they are twelve-hour meds. However, I and nearly every other chronic pain sufferer I've chatted with on Harvard University's Neurology Dept Forums (which seem to be down right now) find that it works better when taken every six-hours. They also say it maintains a steady level the whole 12 hours. HAH!! Try proving that to a chronic pain sufferer who experiences otherwise.
I AM FURIOUS!!!!
My Physician has refused to renew my prescription for Pain medications! That, by itself, is bad enough. But, like certain other physicians before him, he has set me up to face withdrawal from heavy-duty narcotics COLD TURKEY!! Not a controlled phasing-down...Not a change to similar, weaker medz to gradually wean my system away from the powerful narcotics. A sudden, unsupported stop!! It says very specifically in the drug information DO NOT stop this medication suddenly..."BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY AND-OR DEATH!!" So he is sacrificing a patient's (my) health and well-being in order to cover his ass with the DEA.
I HATE the DEA!!! While they hassle physicians for dealing with their patients, said patients suffer. They harrass physicians about treating their patients. They hassle patients who use other options such as marijuana to try to deal with their pain. And they don't just enforce stupid laws, they lobby for more and stricter laws with stiffer penalties. They act like anyone who takes narcotics is an addict.
I have been taking this prescription for more than Five (5) Years! During this time my dosage has gradually increased, but is well under HALF of the maximum dosage! I have maintained my current level for more than a year-and-a half, and try every few months to decrease my needed dosage. They don't prescribe this stuff for transient or mild pain. It is only prescribed for persistent, chronic, severe pain, such as Cancer, and Multiple Sclerosis (such as me), that doesn't respond to weaker medications. In fact, I was warned when first I was prescribed the narcotics that I would probably have to take them for the rest of my life. WARNED about this!! And even with the pain medication, I still need potent muscle relaxers to ward off the muscle cramping that are a side effect of the nerve pain.
The PAIN is Horrible!!! Were it only the pain from my spine, it would be tolerable, though frequently intense. I would not need the narcotics... at least not the powerful, highly controversial narcotic I've been taking for so long. Rather, it is the severe pain of my nervous system for which I take these drugs. Without the drugs, the nervous system hypersensitizes. Imagine the "Pins and Needles" when one sits too long in one position... but it never, ever ends... and it just gets stronger. Touch me very lightly and my skin burns!! I know I am bound for heaven because I live through HELL already! And DAMNIT... the dosage I have been taking doesn't even get rid of all the pain! But at least it does knock it down to where it is a dull roar.
At this point, I can expect to be in the hospital by late Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. I have enough of the medz to go through Tuesday (today)at 3/4 strength. I have been pushing my limits...waiting until I can stand it no longer before I take my med, then waiting another hour or two until it takes effect. By doing that I am pushing my "danger" point off a little, so maybe someone will get their head out of their ass and deal with this properly... not that it will help my pain any. Many physicians, and even the pharmacuetical companies say they are twelve-hour meds. However, I and nearly every other chronic pain sufferer I've chatted with on Harvard University's Neurology Dept Forums (which seem to be down right now) find that it works better when taken every six-hours. They also say it maintains a steady level the whole 12 hours. HAH!! Try proving that to a chronic pain sufferer who experiences otherwise.