I’ve seen it over and over and over. And over again. And over some more. Almost daily. On Twitter and Facebook both. Patients telling their stories. They got turned away from their long time doctor’s offices for one reason or another; their doctor is being investigated, they were ‘encouraged’ to retire, some minor infraction. Whatever the reason, they post in their respective group or tweet the Chronic Pain community where they are, what they’re looking for, and does anyone know of a doctor they can call? I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen it. And people try to help, and sometimes it works. Many times it doesn’t.

Why? Doctors are afraid. Yep. I went there. They’re getting a bad rap, and yes, some do deserve it. I won’t lie. But let’s face facts here. They really are between the proverbial rock and a hard place. They oftentimes have many patients, not just those with chronic illness and chronic pain. But it is those patients who draw the attention of the dreaded CDC, who then sends their lackeys the DEA to shut the office down. Once an office is shut down, regardless of the outcome, it’s game over, folks.

Drawing the attention of the CDC means abandoning other patients, who, although their situations may not be as dire, do not deserve to be abandoned. Don’t get me wrong. Neither do we as chronic pain and chronic illness patients. But that is essentially the position we are putting doctors in. Abandon many patients for a few. Not a good position to be in. There is also this to consider. 1 tiny mistake in all that paper work. In all those records. 1 tiny misplaced piece of paper and the office is shut down, the doctor threatened and ‘encouraged’ to retire, thus leaving all the patients without a doctor.

So, to avoid drawing the attention of the dreaded CDC, doctors are now not prescribing opioid pain medication. How do I know this? Well, a good portion of this was explained to me by my doctor. When he told me that he doesn’t prescribe opioid pain medication. Before I asked for pain medication.

You see, I had just moved to a new state, and was experiencing new symptoms related to a previous back injury. Note: new symptoms, previous injury. I didn’t want pain medication, knew better than to ask. I just wanted some answers, a game plan, or a possible diagnosis. Something. This is my back we’re talking about. Needless to say I didn’t get very far. I was almost immediately shut down and referred to a pain management clinic. No thank you. That’s not what I’m looking for. (I’ve since found a Neurologist and am being tested for a DemyelinationDisorder).

The victims of all this are those that can’t speak up for themselves. That don’t have the strength to fight for themselves, or that don’t have anyone to advocate for them. Those in hospice, palliative care, those that are bedridden. Those that fight to get through each day. The CDC doesn’t care about them. The CDC doesn’t care about the sick, the weak, the ones that can’t speak up. They don’t care about the suffering they cause. They only care about 1 thing. Shut down any and all doctors who treat pain. That’s their job. After all, that’s what PROP has told them to do.

***Update on Trini Yeager***

Trini’s Primary Care Physician apparently never gave up on finding someone to help her, and submitted request after referral after referral after referral, that were all denied, the eighth one was finally accepted. A hospice local to her evaluated her and not only is treating her, but got her insurance to pay for her treatment. She is now in much less pain and is able to rest.

Source: http://nationalpainreport.com/a-new-years-gift-of-pain-relief-for-trini-yeager-8842765.html