Chronic Pain Sufferer Says She Can't Get Pain Medication Amid Opioid Production Cuts

Getting opioid prescriptions has become increasingly difficult as production is being cut. Suzie Suh reports.

[jackmeyer]

Withholding medication from people that suffer chronic pain is the definition of torture.

[christopher-tipstrumleslie]

This mess is no less than a hate crime against those w/ chronic pain and discrimination of the disabled.

[sousaechao]

D.E.A should stay out of doctor business they cause the problem

[janicea]

When I started my medicine for chronic pain, my doctor gave me a three month supply and my doc sent it in electronically and when I went to go pick it up, the tech told me it was on hold. I thought maybe it was insurance, and I was ready to pay cash, and the pharmacist didn't even look for two seconds before walking away and saying she wasn't going to "fill that crap!"

I was almost in tears from not only pain, but she said it pretty loud. So I called my doctors office and told them what happened. The office manager was livid and said for me to stay there and not worry. I overheard the pharmacist tell my doctors office I didn't need the medicine, and she wasn't going to fill it. Needless to say, my doctor canceled it and sent it elsewhere without me having to come back in. Within 2 hours, it was ready. These pharmacists are not doctors and need to keep their opinions to themselves.

YES, I did file a complaint against that pharmacist and I never saw her again at that pharmacy.

[FearEngine]

My dad called me from the ER one night literally crying in pain which he never does, he's 75 years old and been on pain killers for the past 15 years.
Because of his arthritis flaring up and running out of prednisone he had to take the rest of his morphine, but when he went to the hospital the young naive
doctor said he won't give him anything for pain. I never hear him cry. I contacted the ER right away and demanded a person in charge. The women I spoke to
was obviously reading off a mandatory paper for when they get calls from angry family members, and she continued to tell me it's the DEA's fault. I wanted to sue
everybody involved I was so upset. Theirs no empathy, mercy, or wisdom in this world anymore, it's just cold calculated government policy.

[sarahhull]

Thank you for finally doing a broadcast for this side of the story. What's being done to chronic pain patient's is wrong and they need their stories to be told.

[godforever]

I have rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia. scoliosis, myofascial pain syndrome etc. and nothing seems to work for pain relief accept some opioid medications and muscle relaxers. the doctors refuse to treat me for fear of losing their licenses and that has led me to find alternative treatment such as kratom. it works but only for my average pain and it just takes the edge off. its crazy how people seem to care more for people who abuse drugs than those with severe ongoing pain. drug addicts ruin pain management for us who need it and we are the ones to suffer. its so infuriating!!! I hope people will let the doctors do their jobs so people in pain can try to live a normal life and not have to worry about their future and flare ups. if you are reading this and are suffering with pain without treatment my heart goes out to you and may god help us.

[YourMomma]

I am also a chronic pain patient. My pain management clinic has completely changed in the last two years. My medication was not just cut in half, it was cut down 75%. I understand a family practice doctor being weary of prescribing a certain amount of a medication over a prolonged period of time, but when it’s a doctor who KNOWS you will always have pain, they know your diagnosis, they know YOU....then regulations on medication should not touch us. If we wanted to abuse drugs we would buy them on the street. Please stop making us suffer

[amereminion]

21 years with a spinal cord injury, and I’m treated like a drug seeker but I can get physician assisted death.. What a world!

[irishamericanpinupdoll]

I know what this woman is going through and it’s frustrating when those who don’t abuse them suffer.

[andreafigueroa]

I'm now being lied to by my doctor, and I'm being forced to stop the one medication that finally gave me my life back.. I guess doctors no longer live by the Hippocratic oath? Because it's very obvious that the people like me who have been doing very well on a medication being put on a different medication that they know will not work has not worked for me and therefore I just have to go back to bed and suffer.. I'd like to know what law is being broken to treat a patient with a medically necessary medication that is working very well? I'd go to court and fight for my doctors choice to treat me any day.. I spent four years in bed because I had to take the other medication I don't want to go back to bed again.. Hippocratic oath read it again.. Maybe people should start a class action lawsuit against the government for interfering in our medical treatment?

[vampirepitbull]

If my doctor can't give me a Hydrocodone! Then my neighbor dam sure should not be allowed to drink a case of beer every day.

[aworshipperscry]

This is a sore subject for me. Because everyone isn't trying to get high, or abuse pain meds. Some people ( such as myself) are doing right by them, by taking them as prescribed. It's a shame that everyone is put in the same category of a drug addict. I have Sickle Cell (SC) disease. So over the counter meds dont do a thing for me. Some people require stronger pain meds. Because of the nature of their illness. It's not fair! I can't get anyone to prescribe me nothing anymore.

[PinkAmor]

Like many others, Arlene's story minics my own. The most relatable part is when she says that sometimes you just want it to stop. Only it isn't sometimes for me it is all the time. The thought of stopping the pain feels like the best for everyone in my life not just myself. All I want is to be a normal mother, wife, daughter, friend, grandmother but that is just a dream. The pain and fatigue run my life. One doctor told me that I would never feel "normal" again. So, I have no choice but to rely on pain pills which most days barely touch the pain. Then to be told by a pharmacists that they can't fill it because there isn't enough (then find out there was but the pharmacists didn't bother to check or actually order more). It makes those thoughts of wanting the pain to stop even stronger. Instead of dealing with the actual problem, the true people who abuse opioids, those of use that really need them are the ones getting punished. A drug addict can walk into a methondone clinic and walk out with stronger higher dosage and more meds than I can from my pain doctor and local pharmacy. What is wrong with that picture?

[CameronAllen]

Yep! All of us pain management patients are going through the same situations! We all get judged, treated like junkies, etc. and we are sick of it. We just want to live somewhat of a normal life. Theirs a national opioid shortage and a lot of us have had extremely hard times trying to pick our medication up from pharmacies. A lot of them have to order, and most of the time they don’t even receive the medication, and majority of opioids are on back order.

[kellyanderson]

My mother in law is in her last stages of COPD and she can't get pain meds either, it's rediculous i mean she is dying give the woman some commfort already! My mother sufferes with pain too and she can't get nothing it is sad and it needs to end ASAP!

[sherrieharris]

People don't understand how a loving hug can hurt so bad that it hurts so less hugs. We need more hugs. Leave our meds alone before we all start dying. It's not fair to us suffers.

[joemug]

People should be able to choose what's right for themselves. Give this sad woman the damn meds.

[MrsDrSpencerReid-ho]

OMG!! I’m in her position with chronic back/neck pain which 3 independent neurologist said I would NEVER have a pain free life. I’ve been on Opioids for years and it DOES help the pain so I can get around & take care of myself. Now that doctors aren’t allowed to prescribe them anymore, I can barely get out of bed‼️‼️.
Where is the justice in taking pain meds that help legitimate medical issues for patients away & just making us suffer more ⁉️⁉️⁉️

[elliottfireice]

I am in the pits of hell. Don't know if anyone will read this. After 8 years of being on many different meds i decided to ask for help with my pain. The doctor had no empathy, when i asked for a referral to pain team she said she would do it for me. When i got home i got a text from her saying my referral was rejected and also that there is no evidence opioids help chronic pain. I didn't even ask for an increase of dose ! I was left considering ending my life. I felt alone, very upset and treated like a drug addict from the very people who are supoosed to help. I am so upset. I can only hope similar pain will happen to them. Its inhumane and nobody really cares