Ankylosing Spondylitis Support Group
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic form of arthritis--it is an inflammatory disease that causes joints, cartilage or other fibrous tissue (such as ligaments and tendons) to turn into bone. Ankylosing spondylitis is part of the group of rheumatic diseases. The disease is characterized by progressive stiffness, tenderness, and pain in joints. Pain can be episodic and...
Sep 22, 2009
WHEN COPS PLAY DOCTOR - How the Drug War Punishes Patients
Reason.tv - Videos
"The steady stream of celebrity stories about prescription drug abuse makes Americans keenly aware of the dangers of overdosing on medications like OxyContin and Vicodin. And from President Obama's Drug Czar to California Attorney General Jerry Brown, politicians are calling for greater power to monitor doctor-patient relationships in order to fight the "epidemic" of prescription drug overdosing.
But maybe the real epidemic is underdosing. Countless Americans suffer with severe chronic pain because doctors are afraid to treat them properly.
Michael Jackson's death unleashed a flurry of media stories about all aspects of the pop star's life, including his alleged prescription drug abuse. On the same day countless millions watched Jackson's star-studded memorial service, reason.tv interviewed another musician.
Sen Clarke-Redmond, a man who enjoyed an active life before the neurodegenerative disease ALS, often referred to as Lou Gerig's disease, rendered him nearly immobilehe can no longer even play the piano.
The disease also left him in almost constant pain. Redmond is prescribed some medication, but not nearly enough to keep his pain under control.
Dr. Frank Fisher says Redmond's case is an appallingly common one.
"Chronic pain in America is an enormously under treated disease," says Fisher, a Harvard-trained physician. "It's a public health disaster."
Pain specialists like Fisher and patients' groups like the Pain Relief Network battle law enforcement officials who are forever on the lookout for "pill mills" and patients who misuse pain medicine. Fisher notes that the same medications so often associated with celebrity addiction are the same medications that combat pain most effectively.
Fisher has treated his patients with high doses of opioids-that is, until a swat team raided his clinic and threw him behind bars.
"They were trying to give me 256 years to life," says Fisher who argues that fear of prosecution often prevents doctors from treating chronic pain patients effectively. What allows doctors' medical decisions to be overruled by police?
"What we're dealing with is a mass insanity," says Fisher. "We call it the war on drugs."
"When Cops Play Doctor" is written and produced by Ted Balaker and hosted by Nick Gillespie. Director of Photography is Alex Manning, Associate Producers are Hawk Jensen and Paul Detrick.
Approximately five minutes. Scroll down for embed code and downloadable versions."
http://reason.tv/video/show/when-cops-play-doctor
Tami Strand
Pain Relief Network
WHEN COPS PLAY DOCTOR - How the Drug War Punishes Patients
Reason.tv - Videos
"The steady stream of celebrity stories about prescription drug abuse makes Americans keenly aware of the dangers of overdosing on medications like OxyContin and Vicodin. And from President Obama's Drug Czar to California Attorney General Jerry Brown, politicians are calling for greater power to monitor doctor-patient relationships in order to fight the "epidemic" of prescription drug overdosing.
But maybe the real epidemic is underdosing. Countless Americans suffer with severe chronic pain because doctors are afraid to treat them properly.
Michael Jackson's death unleashed a flurry of media stories about all aspects of the pop star's life, including his alleged prescription drug abuse. On the same day countless millions watched Jackson's star-studded memorial service, reason.tv interviewed another musician.
Sen Clarke-Redmond, a man who enjoyed an active life before the neurodegenerative disease ALS, often referred to as Lou Gerig's disease, rendered him nearly immobilehe can no longer even play the piano.
The disease also left him in almost constant pain. Redmond is prescribed some medication, but not nearly enough to keep his pain under control.
Dr. Frank Fisher says Redmond's case is an appallingly common one.
"Chronic pain in America is an enormously under treated disease," says Fisher, a Harvard-trained physician. "It's a public health disaster."
Pain specialists like Fisher and patients' groups like the Pain Relief Network battle law enforcement officials who are forever on the lookout for "pill mills" and patients who misuse pain medicine. Fisher notes that the same medications so often associated with celebrity addiction are the same medications that combat pain most effectively.
Fisher has treated his patients with high doses of opioids-that is, until a swat team raided his clinic and threw him behind bars.
"They were trying to give me 256 years to life," says Fisher who argues that fear of prosecution often prevents doctors from treating chronic pain patients effectively. What allows doctors' medical decisions to be overruled by police?
"What we're dealing with is a mass insanity," says Fisher. "We call it the war on drugs."
"When Cops Play Doctor" is written and produced by Ted Balaker and hosted by Nick Gillespie. Director of Photography is Alex Manning, Associate Producers are Hawk Jensen and Paul Detrick.
Approximately five minutes. Scroll down for embed code and downloadable versions."
http://reason.tv/video/show/when-cops-play-doctor
Tami Strand
Pain Relief Network
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A friend sent this to me..As far as I can see, grief will never truly end.It may become softer overtime, more gentleand some days will feel sharp.But grief will last as long as Love does - ForeverIt's simply the way the absence of your loved onemanifests in your heart. A deep longing accompaniedby the deepest Love some days. The heavy fog mayreturn and the next day, it may recede.Once again, it's...
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Today is my 25th birthday, to my somewhat lack of surprise I can see already no one really seems to care. I've always been the kinda person to make sure that everyone I Care about feels appreciated and knew somebody had their back. I can count 4 times this year when I Went out of my way to make sure a "friend" felt good on their birthday, especially if they got left hanging. Its early in the...
Thank you,
Tami
No wonder we suffer so.
Tami
Different people have a different number of pain receptors which is why some people feel much less than others. It is something we must live with because the consequences and side-effects of medication can result in death. Our choices may be death or live with pain--what would you choose? Personally, I choose life. Despite what I might feel on a bad day, I know I'm alive and I'm thankful for that.