Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Politics and Pain


It has been a while since I posted, so I am going to start tonight, even though I am in so much pain I can hardly sit in my computer chair. My body is telling me to give up, that I am doing no good, then I will get a nice comment or e-mail and it then it gives me the courage to go on. There so many people just like me, either lying in bed with out the strength or courage to get up, while others are sitting in pain and and loneliness, staring at life passing them by, remembering plans and dreams they had for life or retirement. We aren't talking about a few thousand people, we are talking about 75 million people.
It is absolutely insane, what is going on in this and other Countries regarding Chronic Pain. In our country, the source for it is in the little photo to the left. They could also come together as it is non-partisan and do something to correct it.
Its that time again and I'm sure like me, you are tired of all of the phony promises. I don't know where they have been for the last 4 years, but it sure as "hell" hasn't been working for solutions for people living this ghastly life of Chronic pain. I can only speak for myself, but when it comes to trying to describe Chronic pain, I have no words to describe it to the point that I feel I have gotten my point across. When you have 75 million people suffering like I am, you have an epidemic on your hands. Even many of our wonderful military men and women who come home after being blown to hell by IED's or other ways are having the same problems, getting the powerful medication that it takes to knock out their pain.
This medicine is not illegal folks. It was approved by the FDA just for this purpose, yet all you hear is addiction, addiction. There no studies that I know of that shows a high level of addiction with people who live in chronic pain. I have researched this mess for to long. Most studies I have seen, have been around 2 to 3%, and for 75 million people that is nothing. Most people in chronic pain who are lucky enough to get someone to help them, hate taking the damn stuff because of the side effects. We are not lucking for a high, we are looking for a life. Most of the time we not only have to suffer from the pain, but we suffer the humiliation by a Dr. yelling at you about getting addicted. Most of them don't have enough education on it to know the correct words to use.
Its Chemical Dependency Doctor!!!! To be fair, all Doctors are not this way. We have many wonderful physicians who are educated and compassionate. They are just caught between a "rock and a hard place" with the justice dept. The Senators and Congressmen could put a stop to this insanity by putting control of the medical profession back where it is supposed to be, with the state medical boards. Then the DEA could get back to the job of stopping this massive amount of illegal drugs coming across the Mexican border. Yes there is an illegal drug problem in this country and I am all for going after them, but please not the doctors, and pain patients who can hardly make it through the day.
These politicians want your vote, so please do what I have done and continue to do. Write them, Call their offices. Its obvious from polling data that this country is fed up with politicians who forget who they represent. People are angry and their patience has grown thin, so no matter what state you live in, please jump in let them know that pain is a human issue, not a partisan issue.

5 comments:

Dew said...

I appreciate your dedication and focus on the quest toward relief of the Chronic Pain Patient; specifically, your life experience of chronic pain, articulated through an educational blog,is an inspiration to me.

I am recently diagnosed with RSD/CRPS,(6/11/08). I have always been active in politics with the goal to change the status quo for the so-called "underdogs", referred to by many individuals.

Further, my passion is to champion a "voice" for those that feel/believe that they don't matter and/or feel invisible. I see that passion in your blog, and it is comforting for me, to read your words which celebrate justice and humanity.
My chronic pain experience,(beginning 3/07 -currently), with the medical profession, is reflected within the blog you have shared with your readers.
I want you to know, you are making a difference with this blog. You give me Hope..
I Thank You, so much :)

Sincerely,
Dew
(new member of rsdsupport.com)

Jerry said...

Hello Dew,
You made my day or should I say night. Thank you for your kind comments. I am so sorry to hear about your Chronic Pain. I have read some but not enough on RSD.

We have some wonderful research going on in areas like your problems. The bad thing about diseases like that, is you go into a doctor's office with one strike against you. They can't see it like cancer or other diseases, or at least to my knowledge they can't so they are reluctant to give you anything strong enough to stop the pain. Just remember, there are people out here that care. I am one of those. Later.

Jerry

Anonymous said...

Hi Jerry,

It's nice to see you post again. I know how hard it can be to do what a lot of people take for granted like writing a few paragraphs. What you write is absolutely correct in my opinion. You are an inspiration to me and many others even if you don't realize that. I have been reading your blogs for a while but this is the first time I commented. I just wanted to let you know how much it means to me that you take the time and with your pain to write the truth. As a person who lives with CP for 7 years now I myself have researched a lot myself. Your right the addiction rate for those who live with CP is very low but addiction is made out to be an epidemic instead of Chronic Pain itself. As our nation ages with the baby boomers I am sure the estimated CP population will grow. Once again thank you for what you do. I agree with Dew that your blog is educational and an inspiration to me as well.

Sincerely,
Kim

Anonymous said...

Hi Jerry,

It's nice to see you post again. I know how hard it can be to do what a lot of people take for granted like writing a few paragraphs. What you write is absolutely correct in my opinion. You are an inspiration to me and many others even if you don't realize that. I have been reading your blogs for a while but this is the first time I commented. I just wanted to let you know how much it means to me that you take the time and with your pain to write the truth. As a person who lives with CP for 7 years now I myself have researched a lot myself. Your right the addiction rate for those who live with CP is very low but addiction is made out to be an epidemic instead of Chronic Pain itself. As our nation ages with the baby boomers I am sure the estimated CP population will grow. Once again thank you for what you do. I agree with Dew that your blog is educational and an inspiration to me as well.

Sincerely,
Kim

Tami Strand PRN said...

Hi Jerry,
Finally got signed up with Google. Nice to see you posting again, I have read your blog for a long time, very educational and informative. In fact yours one one of the first blogs I came across, when my life changed so suddenly.
Thanks for giving your time to educate, share, and empower other pain sufferers. I wish you the best in your struggle, and as you can, please continue your valued effort. I hope you recieved the material I sent your way.
Peace,
Tami Strand
Pain Relief Network
http://www.painreliefnetwork.org/prn/category/mainpage