What is Degenerative Joint Disease
Osteoarthritis (OA, also known as degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or in more colloquial terms "wear and tear"), is a condition in which low-grade inflammation r...
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The Pain Problem
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The Problem
"People in severe pain are unable to mobilize to defend their rights. Chronic pain is a disease and when left untreated sufferers often find it beyond their power to place telephone calls or use computers. These people cannot work, attend to their families, enjoy social or sexual relationships, or participate in holiday celebrations. When pain is overwhelming, they cannot think clearly or even sleep. 50 to 70 million Americans live in chronic disabling pain. According to a 1999 survey, one third described their pain as â??almost the worst pain one can possibly imagine. Over the past twenty years the medical community, in concert with policy makers, worked in good faith within the current legal paradigm attempting to get pain treated. Safe harbor laws were enacted, medical board guidelines drafted, and for a short while, a few doctors began to treat chronic pain with opioids. In 2001, the United States Department of Justice unleashed a torrent of criminal prosecutions against physicians and called this crackdown the Oxycontin Action Plan. All over the United States conscientious physicians have been prosecuted, jailed, or have lost their licenses to practice medicine. Dr. William Hurwitz, a pioneering pain physician, was tried and convicted of violating the Controlled Substances Act. He is presently serving a 25-year term in federal prison. Dr. Ronald McIver is serving 30 years, and Dr. Freddie Williams is serving a life sentence. There are countless other examples. Due to this public health disaster and humanitarian catastrophe, untold numbers of our trusting citizens have been unable to recover from injuries or illnesses that would, with proper treatment, be entirely manageable. Unable to find relief, these pain victims are often driven to suicide. Patients are routinely required to sign unilateral pain contracts, promising to see only the designated physician for care, relinquishing their rights to visit emergency rooms, and to use more than one pharmacy. Often the patient must agree to waive his right to medical privacy, and permit government agents unlimited review of his medical records in order to be eligible for opioid therapy. One such contract required that the patient not anger any county employee. Violation of these contractual provisions may result in draconian sanctions imposed by the physician, including the cessation of pain treatment. Patients are forced to sell businesses, give up jobs, and to relinquish custody of their children. As a consequence of being labeled non-compliant,the abandoned patient will find it nearly impossible to procure replacement care." Excerpts from PRN's Constitutional Claim on Behalf of Americans In Pain Tami PRN http://www.painreliefnetwork.org/p... Posted on 08/22/08, 07:08 pm |
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Thanks for sharing this info. 
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Your welcome Jeanne. I am working on a new forum here at DS called War on Docs and Pain Crisis. Alot of educational material and some excellent video's. If you can, please watch PRN's the Chilling Effect, Thanks!
Tami PRN
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Unfortunately this situation is not confined just to America...it happens in other nations. My mother-in-law and mother both suffered & died from ovarian cancer (don't even start me on how so many women in this age bracket have this!) & nothing stopped their pain, particularly in the final stages. I really wanted to help my mother-in-law as she was alone. In the end she just gave up as the pain was too much for her to bear. I still struggle with this.
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Very sorry for your loss thermomedic and the
unconscionable suffering of millions. You are correct, under-treated pain is a catastrophic global crisis. Even declarations by the WHO and the UN, seem to fall on deaf ears. The United States must change their drug policy as it pertains to opiates, because much of the rest of the world follows our directives. I empathize with your ongoing pain and struggle. Take good care, Tami PRN
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Many thanks for your kind wishes Tami St. It seems so unbelievable that man has achieved so much.....but, then again so little.
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"50 to 70 million Americans live in chronic disabling pain."
Wow, not only is that astounding, it's frightening. I truly wonder if part of the problem stems from the restructuring of our food chain. There are so many phony boxed food meals and lite foods and made-made, genetically altered food that it makes one wonder about the end result of such a change in eating patterns. I have stopped fixing anything to eat that involves a microwave and opt for foods I have to cook the old-fashioned way (by chopping and baking) instead of popping into a microwave. Were we as ill a nation when our mothers and grandmothers spent time in the kitchen. Of course, we were kids then but still, one wonders. The food industry, in an effort to making more money, have given steroids to cows and keep chickens in tightly contained containers and it all is just such a greedy and unhealthy way of treating those who depend on farmers for a healthy product. What could be more crucial than the food you put into your body? All those snack foods with salt and fat content just are no good.
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why do we have to hurt with chronic pain? I read the above and it seems like we who have chronic pain must always suffer. I don't care if I become addicted to meds. I think my life is worth living now because that is all I have and life in chronic pain is not much of a life. Believe me!
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And the 2 doctors at my local Pain Clinic insinuated I was addicted to morphine! And that the cause of my head and neck pains (despite test results I had lordosis and bulging discs) was morphine - and they wouldn't even treat me for my back and leg pains. I stopped taking morphine and valium in February, and I'm still in a lot of pain. These doctors think they know my body. I attempted suicide in June because of chronic multiple pains - because these know-it-all doctors wouldn't do anything to help me deal with my pains. I may have been dependent on morphine for pain relief, but I certainly wasn't addicted to it.
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I have never had to sign anything or had anyone check on my prescriptions. Maybe they are more suspicious of young people? It is a shame that people abuse and sell their medications. it hurts everyone.
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Anyone with any kind of pain should read 'The Divided Mind'(The epidemic of mindbody disorders).I suffered from a very painful swollen knee for 6 months...Xrays and MRI showed no problems at all.Cortisone shots only offered temporary relief and PT was useless.
Test for arthritis were negative.Doctors told me to continue what Ive been doing and give it more time,but nothing helped. A friend of suggested that I read this book,I'm the worlds biggest skeptic when it comes to this stuff,but I figured nothing to lose. This was absolutely amazing,within days after reading and absorbing each page I became pain free...no more swelling or stiffness!This book has been an incredible eye opener for me..changed my whole outlook.The mainstream medical community for the most part doesn't accept Dr Sarno's plan of treatment,they would prefer to pump you with pain killers and often don't make the right diagnosis. Google his name if you're not familiar with him.Definitely turned things around for me...big time! -pete51
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