change for patients

[luvdolphins58]

I am wondering if anyone has ideas what we can do as chronic pain patients do to change our laws. Do we get a class action attorney?  Do we get petition send to Congress?  I know with as many people who are legitimate pain we can do something if we join together. Anyone have ideas?
I have experience this past week  that I don't want to go thru again

[Tuckamore]

Just so y'all know - when you search for "The Declaration of Montreal" - two very different Declarations will pop up. It confused me a bit till I did some reading - but sometimes I confuse easily. :o)

The one Phil is referring to is about Chronic Pain. There are two very different Declarations of Montreal.  

~Tuck

[philnoir]

Hi Tuck,

The Declaration of Montreal is a recognition of the problem by pain experts, and a strong scientific statement supporting treatment of pain as a right, not a whim of an individual practitioner.

It identifies problems with training, and accessibility to pain relieving medications, and calls for a remedy.

Most importantly, it serves as a beacon of hope for the person who suffers daily pain, and lives in a state like Kentucky, where whiskey distilleries are  promoted by the state tourism agency, and effective treatment of chronic pain is outlawed by a state legislature.

It's business as usual in Kentucky, but if you have chronic pain, better move somewhere else. You are not welcome.

In a crazy world, it is good to know that the real experts are aware of the extent of suffering due to pain, and are working to change attitudes and the treatment of chronic pain.

[luvdolphins58]

Thanks for your response. I'm going to look into the info u gave me. I'm sure other people get treated like I did this past week probably alot worse. I've never been drug addict and to be treated that way from a pharmacy pharmacist was so degrading, totally effen pist me off. I have been told so many times I am a rebel so to speak and don't even live close to a box little lone in a box. So I will try to figure this out and change this chit.

[Tuckamore]

Phil - enlighten me. What does the Declaration of Montreal do for us? It's great that it's been done - but if it's made no change how does it help us?

Thanks,
~Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Phil must have been tying as I was. I knew he'd be along soon - and I think he's been working on some things right?

[Tuckamore]

That's an excellent question. Thanks for bringing this up - it couldn't be more appropriate in our Pain Management Community. I and another member were just discussing this very issue.

I have no good answers. I've written my state representatives to no avail. I've not written Obama - I may yet do that. I don't feel we're being heard. We are so out numbered by the so many more powerful ppl and groups. Money talks and I doubt we have any.

The addiction issue even made the Republican Presidential debates last nite. A candidate is calling for more action! I  thought to myself what more can you do to us - besides refuse to RX any opiates. I'm afraid it will come to that.

There have been petitions. I just found a site to begin a petition and forwarded it to one of our members. I think she's going to work on it and I've offered my help. We are both sick and tired of this situation - living in constant fear and being treated like criminals.

Instead of (my) complaining I should get motivated to at least try to make a difference - try to make my voice heard. We all should. Let's get busy.

I know Phil has come across a few petitions in the past too.

We may not make a difference but we won't know unless we try.  It'll give us a goal. I see it like a person that doesn't vote. If you don't vote I don't think you earned the right to complain.

I and Phil have said it will take a smart, new attorney looking to make a name for himself to make changes. I haven't thought of a class action. To be honest I don't have a lot a law knowledge. I have an attorney in our family but he specialized in real estate law.

How about it members? Anyone with a legal background?

Again, great question. Thanks so much. I'll bet it's been on many of our minds - what can we do?

~Tuck

[philnoir]

I like your line of thinking.

There is a history to what's happening today, and this is not the end of the game.

Let me suggest that you first learn about becoming a pain advocate, and for that, you can start by exploring the US Pain Foundation, and getting their information package.

The US Pain Foundation was founded by a person living in pain who feels as you do -- that the mistreatment of people in pain because of the actions of a few percent is wrong.

They are attempting to unite pain advocacy organizations and people in pain around the country in the areas of awareness (September is Pain Awareness Month), education, and support. Visit their website for more information.

Learning that you are not alone is step number one.

Then I also like to tell people about the Declaration of Montreal. This document was signed in 2010 by members of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). It acknowledges the abuse and neglect that many people in pain around the world experience (over 1.5 billion of us), and calls for access to pain treatment, including pain relieving medications, as a human right.

You can find it here:

http://www.iasp-pain.org/DeclarationofMontreal?navItemNumber=582