3 ms·

I was one who called the other guy lazy. You are different, and I know there are many others who are in similar situations as yourself. The current opiate epid

I was one who called the other guy lazy. You are different, and I know there are many others who are in similar situations as yourself. The current opiate epidemic and crackdown is also unfortunately affecting people like you, who are legitimately in pain. I don't really have anything, besides saying that we as a society should do what we can to get you healthy, but I feel that when there's people who are healthy enough to train for the army, and mentally capable, and still refuse to do anything, that's when society in general starts feeling "why do we have welfare?" and, essentially, their behavior hurts those who actually need the help. I wish you the best.

vrtx0 10y ago
Thanks -- I genuinely appreciate your sentiment. As Sontag said: "Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place." Just as we don't like to think about dying, we don't like to think about getting sick. Fatigue, depression, pain, etc. -- they're all real, and can be completely debilitating. Nobody is immune. But sadly, people can indeed fake many of these symptoms; even the best MRIs and latest technology (like DaT scans) can't prove or disprove nearly as much as I thought before my first hand experience. That said, I don't _think_ that anybody faking a condition would subject themselves to as much radiation or spinal injections as a truly sick person would... Anyway, you make a very valid point about what society sees, and their knee-jerk reaction. I felt this first hand when I moved from CA to FL (the former "pill mill capital of the US") nearly two years ago. Years before I moved back here, the state legislated limits on opioid prescriptions, and I had to reduce my dose when changing doctors. Did this legislation reduce opioid prescriptions in the state? yes. But heroin use has also skyrocketed. And legitimate patients are still suffering. But I digress... Thanks again for your comment.

vrtx0 10y ago

Thanks -- I genuinely appreciate your sentiment. As Sontag said: "Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place." Just as we don't like to think about dying, we don't like to think about getting sick. Fatigue, depression, pain, etc. -- they're all real, and can be completely debilitating. Nobody is immune. But sadly, people can indeed fake many of these symptoms; even the best MRIs and latest technology (like DaT scans) can't prove or disprove nearly as much as I thought before my first hand experience. That said, I don't _think_ that anybody faking a condition would subject themselves to as much radiation or spinal injections as a truly sick person would... Anyway, you make a very valid point about what society sees, and their knee-jerk reaction. I felt this first hand when I moved from CA to FL (the former "pill mill capital of the US") nearly two years ago. Years before I moved back here, the state legislated limits on opioid prescriptions, and I had to reduce my dose when changing doctors. Did this legislation reduce opioid prescriptions in the state? yes. But heroin use has also skyrocketed. And legitimate patients are still suffering. But I digress... Thanks again for your comment.