Why We Don't Understand Pain

Humans have suffered pain, well, since there were humans.

We had to fight the elements, animals, and each other, and we got injured. God, in his great wisdom, made us so we can't remember pain.

Oh, we can remember something hurt, but we can't remember the actual pain. If we could, we would be in just as much pain, as when it happened.

When a woman talks about childbirth, they speak about it fondly, and would lovingly do it again. If a woman remembered the actual pain every time she thought about her baby's birth, I'm sure there would be a lot more single child families.

If men remembered actual pain, I think we would be less bold when exploring, and fight fewer wars, but would be who we are today?

I guess that's why God in his great wisdom, made us, so we can't remember pain. 

I only hope God gave us the wisdom to show empathy to those who suffer chronic pain. 

Arizona Medical Board Repealed the States Only Guidelines for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

A few weeks ago I checked the Arizona Medical Board web page for any changes to the guidance the medical board provides to physicians who treat chronic pain. I was surprised to see that Substantive Policy Statement #7, the Guidelines for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Chronic Pain, had been repealed. 

The web page only said SPS #7 had been repealed in December 2014. Some Christmas present for all those Arizona citizens who live with chronic pain. Now their physicians have no guidance for treating chronic pain. Hopefully this is a temporary situation while the medical board issues new guidance for physicians. 

My fear is that things will return to the way they were before the guidelines were issued in 1996. At that time physicians would simply tell pain patients, "I can't prescribe pain medications, or I'll lose my license", and tell patients to go away.

The abuse of heroin is going to increase, you see it's cheaper than pain pills on the street. As pain patients have few other options other than simply ending the pain.

People I talk to are not afraid to die, they're afraid to die in pain. We talk about patients rights to refuse medication, and their right to die when pain is too much. We don't talk about their right to pain relief. 

If you know someone who has committed suicide because of chronic pain, please contact me. Only when patients file complaints and lawsuits over a physicians under treatment of pain, will things change. 

CVS Pharmacy's New Commercial

CVS Pharmacy's new commerical says how CVS is worried because, "many American's on prescription drugs fail to stay on them"

The reason many pain patients can't stay on their medications, is because CVS put quotas on some medications, and tell patients, "they may have your medication in a couple weeks"

This appears to be a PR commerical because of articles like this about my wife and I.
http://kdminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=797&articleID=58959

Pain in America #1

This blog is about the pain crisis in America.

My name is Jay Fleming, I've been a speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition for over 10 years.

My background is in Law Enforcement, working both unifrm and undercover, I was trained as a Moile Intensive Care Unit Paramedic, and have spent the last 20+ years suffering chronic pain from a failed back surgery.

My first real pain doctor was Dr William Hurwitz. He was one of the leading pain speciallists until DEA went after him. The Police State of Medicine by William Hurwitz, is something every pain patient should read.

The pain crisis is only going to get worse. Suicide rates will increase as pain treatment declines as the chilling effect of recent fines continues.

Every study say's pain is undertreated, yet pharmacy wholesalers have put quotas on pain medications, and physicians are reluctent to prescribe pain medications, not because it's bad for the patient, but because of fear of DEA.

According to DEA there have been no new regulations. There have been no rule changes. There have been no changes in the Controlled Substances Act,” said Payne.

“People will call us and they’ll say, ‘I can’t get my meds. And the pharmacy tells me that it’s your fault.’ It’s always popular to blame the government for something. We’ve been blamed in the past for having a chilling effect by a lot of people in the pain management community.”

That “chilling effect” stems from recent enforcement actions taken by the DEA against doctors, drug store chains and wholesale drug distributors.

Cardinal Health, one of the nation’s largest wholesalers, was fined $34 million in 2012 after it failed to report suspicious orders for hydrocodone at a distribution facility in Lakeland, Florida. Shipments of controlled substances from that facility were suspended for two years.

http://americannewsreport.com/nationalpainreport/dea-doctors-pharmacies-responsible-pain-med-denials-8822886.html

Pharmacy wholesalers have put quotas on pain medications, leaving patients to suffer withdrawals waiting for refills.

If you have had your dose of pain medications lowered by your doctor, because it was required by DEA. Please file a complaint with your state medical board.

The undertreatment of pain is a serious problem. Nothing will change until patients start filing complaints about the undertreatment of pain.

Please pass this information on.