great story in the NYT today re Nebraska doctor having to tell his chronic pain patients he must

[Francis Booth]

22. I've been on a low dose of opiates for three years now, for chronic back pain.

I'm 60 and have suffered from terrible back pain for 20 years. I have inoperable stenosis and lumbar degenerative disk disease. All my lumbar disks are paper thin and either ruptured or herniated. I can only stand or walk for a few minutes; longer with a walker.

I had been taking physical therapy, which made my pain worse, and taking Ibuprofen for years - 1200mg per day - until I started shitting blood. My primary care doctor will not prescribe opiates, under any circumstances - even for terminally ill patients.

Fortunately, I live near a pain management center, where I am under long-term care. My treatment includes steroid injections and radio-frequency neuroablation, which burns the nerves in your back to kill them. These treatments have been very helpful, but the're very rough to get through, as they insert multiple 6" needles into your spine. I was also prescribed a low dose of opiates for the residual pain.

I've never increased my dosage - 15mgs of extended release morphine sulphate, 3X per day. I believe that's the lowest dose available.

As of the first of this year, I now have to take a urine test every time I get my prescription refilled at my pain clinic. The cost of the lab tests is over $2500 per month, which Medicare pays - for a $5 prescription.

I've never abused my meds; I've never asked for an increase, and I've never shown up early looking for a refill. I've never gone to the ER to get them. My pain doctor says I'm an ideal patient.

This is just going to get worse. Opioid patients are being treated like criminals and malingerers.