Without opioids, ‘pain so great, you question whether you should go on’ – chronic disease sufferer

RT America talked to Bill Tackett, a man who can’t live without hydrocodone and who has been prescribed opioids long term for his condition. Tackett, who was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in his 20’s and is now 40, is concerned lawmakers out to limit opioid prescriptions will harm patients as they try to prevent addiction. Find RT America in your area: http://rt.com/where-to-watch/ Or watch us online: http://rt.com/on-air/rt-america-air/ Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RTAmerica Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/RT_America

8 Responses

  1. I cannot go on

  2. Being forced to reduce or even off pain meds is killing us. Its stopped my life completely and made me basically home bound. I have never before thought about suicide but now I do more days then not.

  3. It is pure hell when how much you can do in a day is totally dependent on how much pain medication you are allowed to have.

  4. Living with crippling pain is not living at all.

  5. It is really bad when we have to turn to a Russian propaganda outlet like RT to get some insight into what is going on right here in the US. US mass media not only failed to cover this side of the opioid debacle, they are still lying and running industry supporting false narratives. The sick people, and patients who are negatively impacted by the refusal to explain the facts, are also the ones who have been silenced as the mass media still spews alternative facts.

    The for profit healthcare system along with various industry interests is still profiting from America’s Epidemic of Despair. The US response to all of this was to hide the facts, and find alternatives that are profitable, while Americans die. This is the result of unregulated capitalism, paid for politicians, and unlimited corporate control.

    • Right on! Kathy.
      Especially your sentence about finding Alternatives that are profitable while Americans died. A perfect example was given in the video where the gentleman stated that his $50 a month allotment of pain medication had suddenly become $2,500 when he switched plans that apparently would allow only a certain brand to be dispensed. If the news media were to run this type of information the country would become outraged at what we already see is the Ugly Truth about the capitalistic side of the issue, as you had also mentioned.

      I believe people are incorrect that the so-called crisis is a plot to eliminate chronic pain patients and save big money. I maintain that many chronic pain patients would do perfectly fine, as well as become more productive and healthier if given 30 or $40 worth of pain medication and told to use them responsibly. I think that the babysitting and probationary attitude seen from pain providers is another example of scamming big money from the system.

      • Depending on the pharmacy, $40 would be about 45mme of Norco per day.

        Sorry, but do you truly think $40 worth of pain meds is adequate for someone like me: who has interstitial Cystitis, 5 herniated discs, spinal stenos, 4 artificial joints, and over 30 broken bones in 5 years.. including an arm broken so severely in 18 places that they wanted to amputate… (but thank heavens called in a retired surgeon that put in 4 plates to save my arm), a broken hip that was replaced with an artificial joint that was WAY too big, and had to be replaced again, my pelvis broken in 3 places. AND 4 severely crushed vertebrae that they tried to fix with cement…. but failed? So, I’ll never stand up straight again, and I’ve lost 4 inches in height??

        (BTW…. these injuries aren’t my “fault”. A wet deck caused the original back injury, but the spinal injections from the pain management doctor destroyed my bone density and not only made me more likely to fall, but caused horrific injuries when I DID fall!! )

        My breakthrough opioids cost about $30 per month. But, the meds that truly allow me to FUNCTION cost about $800/ month. By “function” I mean get out of bed, take care of myself, do my grocery shopping, (limited lifting, of course ), do the dishes, make small meals, babysit my preschooler grandkids, attend church, etc.. BTW… I’m never high, buzzed, or even “euphoric” on my meds. They simply allow me a normal… though somewhat modified… life.

        Without them, I’d be back in a wheelchair and need a full time caretaker!

        Believe me… I’m 100% against anyone taking meds they do not need. I’ve had two close family members die from overdoses. BUT… they were never PRESCRIBED opioids!! They started with marijuana in high school, and eventually died of heroin and fentanyl overdoses.

        Am I the exception with chronic pain patients? Absolutely not! It’s true my injuries and illnesses are more extensive than others. However, tolerance is also a factor! It’s an unfortunate fact that our bodies become used to the medication we take. So, someone with the same issues I have that has been on medication longer, may require a bigger dose to get the same relief. We are all individuals, too. My dose may be inadequate… or possibly too much… for the next person with my conditions.

        I personally know about 2 dozen chronic pain patients very well. Some have had their meds taken through no fault of their own. Some have been given a “generic amount” similar to what you’re suggesting. All they want is to “function” … as I listed above.

        Is that too much to ask??

        Finally, to show you truly how ludicrous your suggestion is:
        Would you do the same to all diabetics?? Here’s $40 of insulin. Use it wisely…. or die.
        To cancer patients?
        To those with asthma.??… if you use too much today, you won’t be able to breathe tomorrow??

        Then WHY would it be OK for us? We didn’t ask to be in this condition any more than a diabetic or asthmatic!!

        If I wasn’t a nice person, I’d wish and hope that you’d find yourself in our shoes…. so you’d see how it feels. But, I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

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