I am sorry your are having troulbe with your doctors and pain medications. Taking it away, won't make the pain go away. There is an unreasonalbe mind set going on because of all the people who misuse their medications. Those of us that really need them, should be alowed to have quality of life. In fact you should demand that you be allowed to keep your quality of life. That is what is at risk. I go to a private pain specialist, and yes in a state that is going overboard with withdrawing people from pain medication. Fla. My doctor has to be one of the best I have ever met. After two spinal fusions, and my disorder in the ankles, my quality of life would be compromised if I were taken off of them. Because he is willing to treat me, I have been able without fear, to adjust them to a lower dose, and I will try again this coming Jan. Maybe instead of the VA, you see a pain specialist in the private sector and tell him or her what is going on for a second opinion. I really wish for you all the best, and that today you have less pain. Take care of yourself, and I hope things work out for you. ginnie

Hi ginnie,

The percentage of people who misuse appropriately prescribed pain medications is actually very small - around 2%.
http://www.health.com/health/conditi...9482_2,00.html
http://www.chronicpainrevolutions.co...ic-pain/75.htm

People who obtain/use meds illegally is a different issue. It's the lumping in, along with celebrity poster children abusers, that in part condone the unreasonable mindset.

Google: politics of pain

Doc

thank you for your post. I know there are only a tiny fraction of the people misusing meds. It still makes it tuff on the doctors and patients. I would gladly give my thumb print, or any other information my doctor wanted of me. The meds. make my life bearable and gives me quality of life too. I really hope all those who are in pain, get the proper treatment. Here in fla. that mind set of misuse is a real big thing. I hear daily of someone dying, or being arested trying to procure meds. Even a grandson, stole medications from his grandmother and had her beat up. It is this kind of thing that makes it hard to keep in control. Fla. has a bad reputation in this. take care Dr. smith, I read all your posts. ginnie

A doctor would have no need/use for your fingerprint; the government would, and government interference in doctor/patient confidentiality, and/or legislating medicine is a big part of the politics of pain. The practice of medicine should be left to doctors - not the government.

More and more pain doctors and clinics are requiring monthly blood tests to insure compliance. Personally, I think that's presumption of guilt. An initial test, or one if a doctor has reason to be suspicious is one thing; blanket testing is another, like blanket drug-testing school kids. There's too much room for error, and not enough for appeal in the event of an erroneous test; the attached stigma is always following a person around. It's also expensive.

The problem, as with other illegal drugs, guns, (and I just forgot the third thing I was thinking of) is not the legitimate patients - it's the criminals, and penalizing doctors and pain patients is not going to solve that problem; they will obtain their fix via other channels as they have always done. Pain patients trying to obtain medicine because they are inadequately treated are not criminals, and need to be treated differently than those abusing drugs (some of which are criminals, and some of which are not).

I apologize for getting into this. This is what pain awareness month (September every year) is/should be about. IMO, every pain patient should be familiar with Definitions Related to the Use of Opioids for the Treatment of Pain
http://www.partnersagainstpain.com/p...ts/A7012R9.pdf
and with what the politics of pain are all about, and how it may/will affect them personally.
http://www.aapsonline.org/painman/pbmaterials.htm

I'll (try to) shut up now,

Doc

You are right, it should be up to the doctors you have, not the government going where it should not be, into private medical records. I think they are going to do this regardless down in my state of Fla. Somebody just sued the governor, as he tried to make a law for blanket testing for all medicare patients. I would hate to have people presumed guilty of doing something illigal. Gov. Scott is trying to do this, even though the people are against it. I like everybody else would have to comply to keep my benefits. Of course I am against what our governor is trying to do. This state has alot of problems with the illicit type of goings on, but what he proposes is not the answer. I am glad to get responce from you since it is in our headlines almost daily. I hate to see people who really have pain issues be turned away from doctors. thanks Doc for your input, and I hope this state can find a place where innocent people don't have to be tested to keep their benefits. If this passes it would set a bad thing in motion for other states. I think they want to reduce the number of people who are on medicare as there are so many in this state. Fair or not, that is what our governor is trying to do. I don't know how to stand against it except by trying to vote him out of office. Any ideas? ginnie

It's not really up to the governor, but the legislature, which passes laws. That may depend on which side which lobbyists are on. If it flies (and I could be wrong, but I believe it already has in other states, so the precedent may already be set) it could be challenged constitutuionally at either state or federal level (I'm not a lawyer) if it hasn't already. With the current climate and courts...

You're right that it's about denying benefits to as many people as they can. They'll bump people who have anything in their bloodstream that isn't prescribed, and they'll bump anyone that doesn't have exactly the right amounts - either too high or too low. These tests are better than they were years ago, but they're still a long way from perfect (false results) and people could go broke trying to exonerate themselves from some lab foul-up.

Two things I'm sure of are it's the wrong way to handle a complex medical issue and it's not about medicine anyway - it's about money.

I see the Gray Panthers are still around
http://www.graypanthers.org/
(I would hope they have some pull in FL), AARP, and other pain patient advocacy organizations who could tell you better than I how to fight it in specific states.

Doc

are any of the other "retirement" states friendlier? could point out to the fla governor that he would be losing money if retirees go some where else.

It seems to be about control, power and money. Fla. is from what I understand the worst of the bunch. The governor I believe is trying to be sued at the state level. The blanket testing he wants is to reduce the number on the rolls of medicare. I don't know about any of the other states, just that this would set a bad example for the rest. I think it an invasion of privacy, and assumes guilt. It would also be expensive for the state to put into action. From what I understand, he would like us to pay for our own testing. Our country needs to get a grip on this situation and not assume people are doing the wrong thing. I also believe we have our rights to put into our bodies what we want. Pain patients get a bad rap. because of the few who do abuse harder drugs. I have had two spinal fusions after reversing the curve of my cervical neck. I will be on pain medications and that is to allow me to have quality of life. My pain specialist is wonderful, but he is so busy these days I feel sorry for him. The paper work that has just increased takes an extra half hour to fill out on each and every visit. I would comply of course if this test were mandated, but I wouldn't be happy about it. I also get infusions so I will be seeing this doctor, probably the rest of my life, or as long as he keeps his practice. Pain can destroy a life, and those that need medications should not be made to feel they are criminals. My home is in trust to me, so moving isn't an option right now. ginnie

Most retirees are on fixed incomes, and figured this was going to be their last move. I don't think many are in any position to enforce that kind of tactic. OTOH, they do VOTE, and they're the largest segment (and growing) of the voting population.

Doc