The Painful Truth

Author of The Painful Truth

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on Google+Follow Us on TwitterFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on YouTube
  • Home
  • About
  • Book
  • News
  • Documentary
  • Blog
  • Podcasts
  • Media Room
  • Contact
 RSS

Subscribe to the blog

Poll

What is the greatest priority for changing the way we treat addiction?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • Treating Babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
  • Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs
  • Marijuana and Pain
  • Virtual Reality Therapy for People in Chronic Pain
  • Breaking Bad 2018
  • Response to People in Pain
  • Everything Isn’t as Perfect as It Seems in Ireland
  • Yes, Restrictions on Opioids Are a Threat to Human Rights
  • David C. Holzman Shatters Addiction Myths
  • Opioid Lawsuits Threaten Lives of Pain Sufferers
  • Utah Opioid Crisis Summit
  • Repeating the Mistakes of the Past
  • Prescription Drug Advertisements
  • Family of Pain
  • The ACPA Presents Programs for Migraine Sufferers

Recent Comments

  • Kenneth R. McClelland on Why Keep a Pain Journal
  • Jim Gibson on Marijuana and Pain
  • John D. Waldron on Breaking Bad 2018
  • Deborah Scheers on Suicide and Chronic Pain
  • Shonya on Response to People in Pain

Archives

  • June 2018 (5)
  • May 2018 (4)
  • April 2018 (4)
  • March 2018 (5)
  • February 2018 (4)
  • January 2018 (4)
  • December 2017 (5)
  • November 2017 (4)
  • October 2017 (4)
  • September 2017 (5)
  • August 2017 (4)
  • July 2017 (5)
  • June 2017 (4)
  • May 2017 (4)
  • April 2017 (5)
  • March 2017 (4)
  • February 2017 (4)
  • January 2017 (4)
  • December 2016 (5)
  • November 2016 (4)
  • October 2016 (6)
  • September 2016 (6)
  • August 2016 (7)
  • July 2016 (9)
  • June 2016 (8)
  • May 2016 (8)
  • April 2016 (7)
  • March 2016 (10)
  • February 2016 (12)
  • January 2016 (9)
  • December 2015 (6)
  • November 2015 (3)
  • October 2015 (3)
  • September 2015 (2)
  • August 2015 (4)
  • July 2015 (5)
  • June 2015 (5)
  • May 2015 (2)

Archives for April 2017

Understanding the Roots to the Opioid Crisis

Understanding the Roots to the Opioid Crisis by Lynn R. Webster @LynnRWebsterMD

Every time I hear about an opioid-related overdose death, I can only feel empathy for the family of the decedent. Whether it’s the result of using street drugs that are laced with fentanyl or carfentanil, as in the case of a 21-year-old woman from Virginia, or a person in pain who accidentally overdoses, each death is far more to me than a statistic. I grieve for the victims and their families. Our society suffers the loss together.

Continue Reading...

Why Fentanyl Is So Deadly

Why Fentanyl Is So Deadly by Lynn R. Webster @LynnRWebsterMD

According to Martha Bebinger of WBUR, “About 75 percent of the state’s men and women who died after an unintentional overdose last year had fentanyl in their system, up from 57 percent in 2015 (PDF). It’s a pattern cities and towns are seeing across the state [of Massachusetts] and country, particularly in New England and some Rust Belt states.”

Continue Reading...

I Am Sorry

I Am Sorry by Lynn R. Webster @LynnRWebsterMD

 

Basketball fans are undoubtedly aware of an incident that took place during March Madness this year. It went like this.

March Madness Goes Wrong

Gonzaga was playing Northwestern. Gonzaga was up by 5 points with 4:54 minutes remaining in the game when the Northwestern Wildcats’ Dererk Pardon attempted to put the ball through the net. At this moment, a player from the opposing team stuck his arm through the rim and prevented the ball from entering the basket. This is called goaltending and should have been two points for Northwestern, making it only a 3-point game. Instead, Gonzaga got the ball and rushed to the other end of the court to score. A technical foul was called on the Northwestern coach, Chris Collins, for his vociferous objection to the non-call. This resulted in a 5-point swing in the score and may have determined the outcome.

Continue Reading...

“Step Therapy” Puts Insurance Companies Ahead of Patients

Step Therapy Puts Insurance Companies Ahead of Patients by Lynn R. Webster @LynnRWebsterMD

 

This article was originally published in the Salt Lake City Tribune.

A Process Called Step Therapy

Gary developed excruciating pain in his shoulder and arm following a cervical disc herniation several years ago. He was athletic and otherwise in good health, but the pain is now disabling.

For years, Gary was prescribed pregabalin for this condition. It provided him substantial pain relief until he changed insurance companies. The new insurance company sent Gary and his physician a letter indicating that before they would pay for pregabalin, Gary first had to try two generic drugs that were less expensive. This meant that Gary had no choice but to endure excruciating pain, once again, so that he and his doctor could prove to his insurance company that these medications were ineffective and that he required pregabalin.

Continue Reading...

Response to Stat News Article

Response to Stat News Article by Lynn R. Webster @LynnRWebsterMD

Open Letter to Stat News 

In Stat News, David Armstrong’s article on March 24, “TV documentary on pain treatment funded by doctor with industry ties,” misrepresented the purpose of the film, “The Painful Truth“; ignored several of my detailed answers to his questions; and unfairly criticized my professional associations.

Armstrong suggested that the TV documentary downplayed the role of pharma’s contribution to the opioid problem. It didn’t, nor did it advocate for the use of any drugs, including opioids, because that was not the purpose of the film. Rather, it focused on the lack of compassion and treatment for people in pain, and it shed light on the largest public health problem in America: chronic pain.

Continue Reading...

Copyright © 2021 Lynn R. Webster, M.D. | [email protected]