Some are not going to agree with this post… some will not understand it… often the truth is hard to swallow

We have lived in the house that we we built in 1974 and I mean that WE BUILT IT – about 70% of the labor was from Barb or me. We live on a acre lot and over the years, we – mostly Barb  – increased the amount of flower beds around the property.  Barb has reached a point where she cannot do much to help maintain those flower beds… Guess who the task of doing that has fallen on ?

My pain is handed on a day to day business by taking a NSAID… but.. when I have to do some manual labor – like pulling weeds and spreading mulch –  the intensity of pain in my lower back quickly zooms past “5” leaving it in the rear view mirror.  Luckily we have a very understanding PCP who gives me opiates and muscle relaxant… and although not tested… I strongly suggest that I am a ultra fast metabolizer.  To do such activity, I have to basically  “medicate my back into submission” and depending on how much activity, a dose may only last me 1-2 hrs, while I am working.

It takes about 120-130 bags of mulch to take care of all the flower beds… each weighing 25-35 lbs. – think  abt 4000 lbs total.  I have a F-150 truck so I can move bags around the property.  You just don’t have to handle a bag of mulch just once… some of them was picked up and moved 4-6 times.

At one point, I picked up a couple of bags and there was no pain… I was not drowsy, my mind was clear, I had all my facilities … in a sense … I was EUPHORIC about being pain free – at least for a 1-2 hrs.

Many of those in the chronic pain community continue to want to divide – segregate – those who suffer from the mental health issue of addiction from those with chronic pain and who have found a “mental peace” by using some legal/illegal substance.  Our SYSTEM, seems to demonize the actions of some people, when no one is harmed with the exception of maybe themself.

We have abt 50,000 suicides/yr and abt ONE MILLION attempts each year.  Could it be that we have a very serious undiagnosed/untreated mental health crisis in this country ?

When I was born Truman was President and I have some memory of Eisenhower as President.  Back then… there was two political parties and you were either white or black..

Now we have so many subsets of US vs THEM.  I am not going take the time to try and even compose what will almost not be a total accurate list and even if I was able to compose a accurate list TODAY by next week it could well be incomplete.

Those groups that are strongly opposed to people receiving opiates/controlled substances to treat their pain is not those who have addiction tendencies, it is the friends and relatives of those who have OD’d from using/abusing opiates and/or active addicts.

From the example that CBS put out today… they are not going to put forth anything by their own truths/beliefs. This week, a good example of this is Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida expanded the COVID-19 vaccine network by adding Publix grocery chain to those giving vaccinations.  Publix is the largest grocery store chain in FL and Walgreens and CVS was already providing vaccinations in FL, but CBS took a video of a press conference DeSantis had and edited a 2 minute video into a short clip and turned the whole context of what he said.  They focused that Publix had made a $100,000 donation to DeSantis’ PAC fund, but failed to mention that Publix had also made contributions to two Democratic candidates’ PAC as well.  It would seem that CBS has an agenda and will edit the truth to fit into their agenda.

The DEA/DOJ and the bureaucrats are using the existing laws, creating new laws or new interpretations of existing laws to suppress the community.  IMO, they have increasingly doing this since the Decade of Pain Law that expired in 2009 -2010 was not renewed.

Almost nightly I hear on TV about certain groups DEMANDING that police depts be DEFUND… but no one seems to have a concern about defunding the DEA ? and there is a lot of talk about the cartels flooding illegal drugs across our southern border, but where is the DEA at/around the border ? Is the DEA turning a blind eye and deft ear to what is going on at the border ?

I have read/talked to/heard about pts contacting law firms… If you pay attention to the TV commercials of personal injury law firms… you should see that they are all going after just a handful of specific types of accident victims.. and why is that ?… because they are going down well worn paths… that leads to a financial settlement…. unlikely that they will have to go to trial… just a handful of letters being sent back and forth… to get the insurance company to come up with some $$$.

If you try to talk to a law firm, don’t let them go down the MALPRACTICE PATH… it is a non-starter… each side will hire a “expert” who will testify that the party that they represent did everything correctly or the plaintiff was harmed because the defendant did something wrong. Many states have CAPS on financial awards for malpractice… meaning that most law firms will not take a case on a contingency basis, because even if they do win… they may not cover their expenses of taking the case to trial.

The truth is that there is not a “visible path” for law firms for getting an insurance company to come up with some $$$ for discrimination for denial of treating a pt for pain.

Those in the community can continue to contact their representative in Congress, but Congress is too busy creating gridlock… there is NO UNITY…. there is NO NEGOTIATION(S)…

Those in the community needs to look at what those states do when they are unhappy when this administration does something they don’t like or feel that what has been done is unconstitutional ? Up to a couple of dozen state AG’s have SUED the administration over what they consider unconstitutional actions by this administration. The various states’ Governors, Legislators, AG’s  can’t get Congress to take any actions.  I can assure you that they have a much better chance to talk to members of Congress over issues and MAYBE …just MAYBE…. get them to listen.

Does those in the community just really needs a GOOD DOSE OF REALITY ?

 

4 Responses

  1. Hi. I went through a long series of surgeries amounting 8 levels, in total to c2-t3 a rod and screws, and l5-6 failed laminectomy (post laminectomy syndrome) for which I have had 5 denervations. They work great but you have to get them about yearly or every other year. I still have the pain- I just cannot feel it. Healing from those takes about 3 very painful weeks.
    I was good with that for several years until, as they wore off.. as I was shopping the heavier the cart, the more it pulled my two spinal sections opposite each other. Going out was painful so I got everything I might need. That day we ate takeout and the next day leftovers because I was in bed.
    About 4 years ago some genius decided you could only Ever get one.
    I am just about bedridden. I pay for deliveries. I can no longer work on my house or beloved garden. I have always had the neighborhood best garden. Not anymore.
    Doesn’t it almost seem like those running things have the attitude: “Oh, that might help them. Quick let’s make it illegal.”
    A PAIN specialist knows the dynamics of “pain” but specialists (like spine doctors, pancreatitis specialists, even digestive or thoracic surgeons whose open thoracotomy surgeries cause intercostal neuralgia- the most painful cut you can get) who are trained in pain are a hella lot more about the types of pains. referred pain, and duration than ones who just treat “pain.”

  2. The DOJ/AG must keep insuring that they get settlements from Pharma Mfg. It is the AG writing every doctor or NP and Pharmacy in the Nation threatening letters saying in effect ‘don’t make opiates easy OR ELSE’. It is the AG standing in the court room when another innocent doctors is stitched up for “distributing”. Similarly, any advocate for opiate sanity from any place, of any qualifications, including an attorney, fighting for us will be resisted in the same way as the DOJ/AG has put fear and the promise of grief into all doctors.

    That Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
    Professor Dr. Martin Tobin that testified at the George Floyd today made a lot of sense and separated rather well what opiates do and do not do. He completely proved it was asphyxiation and then some.

    The “News” will say ANYTHING to keep the advertising profits strong, even FOX and OAN, I think taking a genuine stand for something, right or wrong is LAST on the station owners mind.

    The drunken CDC could have been dealt double discipline if the “News” had listened to us regarding the false narratives they helped promote regarding opiates on top of their oscillating treatments of the Corona.

  3. Steve I thought I was reading a story about me. Besides having a neck injury which I get small amount of pain pill for,my lower back injury was blown up when I got rear ended a few yrs ago. Ever try getting pain medicine for 2 injuries? It has gotten to point I cant walk anymore. I was given no choice but to fuse 4 disc’s in my lower back I no you can’t give medical advice but would you be able to DM me on your advice with fusion? Any thoughts would be appreciated . I’m backed into a corner with this. Thank you

    • Dennis you know the misery of having 2 sections (neck and lower) spine messed up and operated on. The way they hurt when your top and bottom twist or turn compounds the pain so much it is almost unbearable. Nobody can make your choice for you because the ramifications are unpredictable. Will you research a surgeon who is top in his field (and possibly travel to have your fusion?) Travel is by far better than having someone mess up your back worse.
      Pain from your spine can be “referred” and that means you cannot tell exactly where it comes from.

      If you want to talk to someone who has been there I would be willing. Steve knows my email.

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