Thread by @ravensspirit68

1/Here's the content of the letters being sent out for the National Pain Council letter drive.
I'll also be composing a letter for the White House, POTUS, and FLOTUS.
@JonelleElgaway @ThomasKlineMD #PainCareCrisis

My name is Arianne...

2/ I am one of tens of millions being harmed by the unauthorized and baseless set of new standards and one-size-fits-all "rules” set forth by the CDC for treating chronic pain.

3/ I have two painful conditions, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and a C-spine injury, both conditions leave me dealing with daily intractable pain.

4/ The CDC’s position is, “Long-term use of opioid pain medications do not work and are dangerous”. This assertion has created a CHILLING EFFECT on doctors from prescribing opiate class pain medicines.

5/ The fallout and unintended consequence of the CDC’s ‘dangerous drug’ narrative has resulted in the needless suffering of tens of millions of people, just like me, now denied needed medicine.

6/ When I had access to pain relief with traditional FDA-approved opiate pain medications I still had quality of life despite my severe spinal injury and my chronic illness. Now with my medicines taken away, (without my consent), my pain is no longer managed.

7/ In fact, uncontrolled pain from my C-spine injury has made my chronic illness exponentially worse and has also led to other serious health problems due to being unable to be active or engage in daily self-care activities without extreme difficulty.

8/ Doctors now fear persecution & arrest by the DEA due to the ‘dangerous opioid’ narrative; and more than once this has been articulated by doctors in no uncertain terms.
“It’s my license or your medicine.”

9/ I have had Myalgic Encephalomyelitis for 30+ years and my C-spine injury happened in 2010. I only sought pain relief after my C-spine injury and my pain was controlled well from 2010 to 2012 with the help of properly dosed opiate pain medications.

10/I had no real bothersome side effects other than constipation which was easily mediated. I did not become addicted to opiates. I did not misuse them, abuse them, nor overdose.

11/ I used to have less pain, was able to sleep, and could carry out the roles I had chosen for myself and my future, but that is no longer my life.

12/Here are the things I can no longer do since my opiate pain medicines were abruptly discontinued without my consent in 2014, even against the CDC's own tapering guidance.

13/
I rarely sleep.
I can no longer work in my garden.
I rarely see my family as I can no longer travel.
I no longer host or attend gatherings or celebrations with family.
I am no longer able to engage in community activities.
I can’t even sit through a whole movie at home.

14/ Basically, I have gone from functional with pain medicines to housebound without them and even my relationship with my spouse has become more strained as intimacy and closeness are the last things one’s able to engage in when pain dominates every moment.

15/ The American Medical Association has confirmed harm is being done by the CDC. ama-assn.org/press-center/p… This horror has ruined lives especially since 2016 when the CDC guideline was officially released, with doctors believing the CDC Guideline was legitimate and mandatory.

16/
PLEASE SUSPEND THE CDC OPIOID GUIDELINES -- IMMEDIATELY!

Respectfully, yada yada yada

@threadreaderapp please unroll. ☺️