Hello All,
My name is Paul, and I have lived with chronic pain that has increasingly restricted my activities over the past 30 years. My condition worsened last summer, and I began a painful therapy that had helped my neck years before. Meanwhile, Colorado was rolling out new narcotics laws that had severe consequences for me, and other people living with chronic pain. Colorado also got on the bandwagon for "Narcotics Free Pain Management," and apparently to that end, some chronic pain patients were forced to have their pain meds cut 10% at a time, even if the current dosing were insufficient.
My PCP continued to prescribed my pain medication since last summer, because of a catch-22 in the new laws that prevented pain management specialists accepting me as a patient. Unfortunately, last month he left his practice, after being diagnosed with leukemia. He is a terrific doctor and human being,
and he was my major health care provider.
The Problem
I have lost the doctor I've seen for over 10 years, and am a chronic pain patient in need of both a new PCP and a new chronic pain specialist. I am very worried. I saw a pain management specialist today, and reducing my meds was at the top of his agenda.
I went through so much agony and sleep deprivation, I am struggling to cope, and appreciate any suggestions, etc.
----
Dr. Thomas Kline has posted 40 obituaries of persons living with chronic pain who took their lives as a consequence of being forced to taper, and unable to endure the daily suffering (and agony) they experienced as a direct result of being under-medicated. See #OpioidCrisis Pain Related SUICIDES associated with forced taper.
Last month, the CDC and FDA both issued statements that the federal opioid guidelines did not apply to long term chronic pain patients, and demanded that tapering be put on hold for an indefinite period of time. See this Scientific American article for a summary: Pain Patients Get Relief from War on Opioids : U.S. agencies warn doctors not to abruptly cut off the medications for long-time users
I feel so battered, that I did not raise the moratorium to the pain doctor I saw today. Does anybody live in Denver and have a pain specialist you like?
I do -not- want to die, but I am at the limits of my endurance, and crumbling internally. When the pain becomes agony, in those moments, I do so desperately want the pain to stop that ending my life seems like a rational option. It is hard right now.
Thanks
Paul
My name is Paul, and I have lived with chronic pain that has increasingly restricted my activities over the past 30 years. My condition worsened last summer, and I began a painful therapy that had helped my neck years before. Meanwhile, Colorado was rolling out new narcotics laws that had severe consequences for me, and other people living with chronic pain. Colorado also got on the bandwagon for "Narcotics Free Pain Management," and apparently to that end, some chronic pain patients were forced to have their pain meds cut 10% at a time, even if the current dosing were insufficient.
My PCP continued to prescribed my pain medication since last summer, because of a catch-22 in the new laws that prevented pain management specialists accepting me as a patient. Unfortunately, last month he left his practice, after being diagnosed with leukemia. He is a terrific doctor and human being,
and he was my major health care provider.
The Problem
I have lost the doctor I've seen for over 10 years, and am a chronic pain patient in need of both a new PCP and a new chronic pain specialist. I am very worried. I saw a pain management specialist today, and reducing my meds was at the top of his agenda.
I went through so much agony and sleep deprivation, I am struggling to cope, and appreciate any suggestions, etc.
----
Dr. Thomas Kline has posted 40 obituaries of persons living with chronic pain who took their lives as a consequence of being forced to taper, and unable to endure the daily suffering (and agony) they experienced as a direct result of being under-medicated. See #OpioidCrisis Pain Related SUICIDES associated with forced taper.
Last month, the CDC and FDA both issued statements that the federal opioid guidelines did not apply to long term chronic pain patients, and demanded that tapering be put on hold for an indefinite period of time. See this Scientific American article for a summary: Pain Patients Get Relief from War on Opioids : U.S. agencies warn doctors not to abruptly cut off the medications for long-time users
I feel so battered, that I did not raise the moratorium to the pain doctor I saw today. Does anybody live in Denver and have a pain specialist you like?
I do -not- want to die, but I am at the limits of my endurance, and crumbling internally. When the pain becomes agony, in those moments, I do so desperately want the pain to stop that ending my life seems like a rational option. It is hard right now.
Thanks
Paul