Posted on Aug 23, 2015
The VA's Attempt To Fight Opioid Dependence Leaves Pain Patients Cut Off
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Did you Know that the VA’s Attempt To Fight Opioid Dependence Leaves Pain Patients Cut Off?
Did you Know that the VA’s Attempt To Fight Opioid Dependence Leaves Pain Patients Cut Off?
By Darisse Smith
Darisse Smith is a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot and freelance writer living in Southern California. She has a B.A. in English from Davidson College and has worked as a stand-up comedian, motivational speaker and healthcare policy advocate. Follow Darisse Smith on Twitter @StimSerene.
Did you Know that the VA’s Attempt To Fight Opioid Dependence Leaves Pain Patients Cut Off?
By Darisse Smith
Darisse Smith is a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot and freelance writer living in Southern California. She has a B.A. in English from Davidson College and has worked as a stand-up comedian, motivational speaker and healthcare policy advocate. Follow Darisse Smith on Twitter @StimSerene.
The VA's Attempt To Fight Opioid Dependence Leaves Pain Patients Cut Off
Posted from taskandpurpose.comPosted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
DAV
Health
What Would You Do
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Virginia Department of Veterans Services DAV Health What Would You Do
Edited 8 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 28
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I will be on pain meds for life and I beg them to do more to do everything they can to repair me and get me off of everything. They can't have it both ways. If they throw in the towel and say they are done cutting, or that it is too costly, then they need to accept that we will require pain management till we take the dirt nap. Every time I need my meds refilled I have to go to the VA and pee and bleed. They treat me like a druggie criminal. I'd like to see this kind of treatment to our civilian counterparts. You can't draw welfare until you pee and bleed. Fair is fair. The world would implode if they tried that, but keep treating me like a dirt bag for getting blown up in Iraq defending my country.
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SSG William Egan
SFC Mark Merino - I JUST HAD C4-C6 FUSION (29 FEB 2016)....IT IS GREAT. GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE DOING BETTER AS WELL. IN THE BEGINNING I WAS ON THE OTHER END OF THIS DISCUSSION. I WAS INJUREDIN IN 91 SO I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS PAIN FOREVER IT SEEMS. AFTER THE SURGERY I JUST TOOK TYLENOL BECAUSE I HAD BEEN IN SO MUCH PAIN FOR SO MANY YEARS I WAS GOOD.
IN THE MID 90'S I WAS TAKING 6 DARVOCETS AND 6 FLEXIRILS EVERY 3-4 HOURS JUST TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF THE PAIN. IT ABOUT KILLED ME...DESTROYED MY MARRIAGE AND CHANGED MY PERSONALITY. I QUIT COLD TURKEY AND LEARNED BIO-FEEDBACK AND SOMETIMES JUST TO TOUGH IT OUT....BUT IT IS THE OPPOSITE NOW. THEY ARE STINGY WITH THE MEDS AND YES THEY DO TREAT YOU LIKE A DRUG ADDICT IF YOU NEED THEM PAST 5 DAYS. I AM GOOD BUT SOME PEOPLE DO NEED THEM LONGER. THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE MEDS AROUND SO YOU DON'T BUILD UP A TOLERANCE TO THE MEDS. JUST MY OPINION.
PRAYING FOR ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS SUFFERING...WHETHER PHYSICAL OR STILL FIGHTING THE FIGHT.
IN THE MID 90'S I WAS TAKING 6 DARVOCETS AND 6 FLEXIRILS EVERY 3-4 HOURS JUST TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF THE PAIN. IT ABOUT KILLED ME...DESTROYED MY MARRIAGE AND CHANGED MY PERSONALITY. I QUIT COLD TURKEY AND LEARNED BIO-FEEDBACK AND SOMETIMES JUST TO TOUGH IT OUT....BUT IT IS THE OPPOSITE NOW. THEY ARE STINGY WITH THE MEDS AND YES THEY DO TREAT YOU LIKE A DRUG ADDICT IF YOU NEED THEM PAST 5 DAYS. I AM GOOD BUT SOME PEOPLE DO NEED THEM LONGER. THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE MEDS AROUND SO YOU DON'T BUILD UP A TOLERANCE TO THE MEDS. JUST MY OPINION.
PRAYING FOR ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS SUFFERING...WHETHER PHYSICAL OR STILL FIGHTING THE FIGHT.
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PO1 Robert Gasser
SFC Mark Merino Sorry to hear about your situation my brother. Stick in there!! It's a crying shame we get treated like a common drug addict!! You are correct about the rest of the BS too!! Wish I could collect a check sit on my ass without have to take a piss test. Gotta work tho!! I have major hip issues and I'm taking (turmeric with bioperine) it's a natural anti inflammatory. Try it out. It may help during those times of need. Good luck brother and hang in there!!
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Col Dona Marie Iversen
VA is doing it because the civilian hospitals are doing it, due of the Rx drug epidemic. It's called ISTOP. Now all the civilian pill poppers have turned to smoking, snorting & injecting Heroin, easy access and cheaper! Here in NYC they have amesty drop off all your drugs like they do guns.
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Yes. I have suffered with chronic back and nerve pain for decades. Although the VA handles some of my pain management (I am 80% SC) and I recently inquired about surgery that they were ready to comply with, I have been told many times that they would not bring my outside Vicoden prescription under the VA umbrella. Because of this I am forced to keep an outside doctor and insurance solely for this component of my complicated pain management. Despite at least a decade of opioids use I am not dependent and handle my use conservatively only using it when I have a severe pain spike. I have seen both local doctors and the VA fall under the intimidation of the DEA to roll back opioid prescriptions with no alternative addressed. They all seem to be running scared. Cruel, stupid and dangerous as some patients will now be moving outside the system for relief.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Back are the days of not being appreciated. I remember some of these new guys coming into this forum starting topics about pride in ourselves and in our country. To me this laid the groundwork for this kind of shoddy treatment. Maybe they are trying to hasten people to commit suicide or die? I mean, afterall, we have some members here who see wrong in everything about the military. Makes one wonder....
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Suspended Profile
If you need help with your claim to get you to 100% S/C, please contact me off line...
SFC Gregory Brown
LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow - good morning ma'am, I'm not the one you asked to contact you, but I could use some help.
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Suspended Profile
SFC Gregory Brown - What's going on? Please contact me off line, and I'll try to do what I can...
Suspended Profile
It's not just the VA. This is a problem nation wide due to changes in policy by the DEA and FDA. This has resulted in myriad deaths and od's from street drugs such as heroin. In states where Medicinal Marijuana is legal, it's not a bad thing to try - versions with High CBD - the analgesic and Low THC - the psychocactive component - can be very beneficial for pain patients...
PO1 John Miller
LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow
I actually don't use MJ for pain management, as my pain isn't "chronic", not to mention the fact that I hold a security clearance due to my working for a defense contractor (federal laws don't ya know), but I am a very strong advocate for the legalization of MJ.
I actually don't use MJ for pain management, as my pain isn't "chronic", not to mention the fact that I hold a security clearance due to my working for a defense contractor (federal laws don't ya know), but I am a very strong advocate for the legalization of MJ.
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Suspended Profile
PO1 John Miller I'm glad your pain isn't too bad. Also glad you are a supporter...
Suspended Profile
LTC Royal Brown III - I'm sorry to hear your son is suffering. In general I see my civilian pain doc every 8 weeks now, because my dosage is so low, but when I was on Fentanyl patches, it was every 4 weeks, and it's a 30 min drive to the clinic, when I-5 is okay; when it's hammered like it was yesterday ---> It's crying time again...
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