Lovely, a country allowing its citizens to become a nation of cripples for the sake of adequate pain relief.

People who suffer chronic pain tend to have general physical capabilities similar to those decades older, a new study finds.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/chronicpainmakes50yearoldsfeel80

This is not a new topic and the USA is not alone in not giving out strong enough meds for people in chronic pain. Doctors do not want to increase your dosage when your body has got used o the dosage or to change you onto a stronger pain med. This makes Chronic Pain Patients look else where for some decent pain relief. Unfortunately there is little to be had in the USA or in the International Pharmacies. People with this condition have banned together and lobbied your government with little or no affect. Here in the UK and Europe we have the same problem, in which they will only go so far with the pain meds they will give you and will only put you onto morphine once you become terminal. Mean while the patient spends not just months by years in pain that has a detrimental affect on their lives meaning that the quality of their lives is poor. Doctors hands are tied by the DEA as to the amount that they can prescribe and if they go over that they will lose their licence and they way they make their living. The Government give no thought to the misery this brings. They are not in pain so they do not give a dam about the people who are in chronic pain and are at the maximum dose that is allowed.
I realise this is not the answer you want but back in 2007 a member of this board set to with a huge campaign about this. If you look hard enough you should be able to find the old threads about this. Worth looking into.

Perhaps Dr. Regina Benjamin might