MA II

MA II //

In response to my healthcare experiences, it really depends on the facility. I’ve been to 6 different state prisons all across New Jersey. Obviously, a lot of things changed through the years so I’ll only speak for this current bid that I’m serving now. South Woods State Prison’s medical is horrendous even though they have their own hospital. I had an abcess/boil and wrote to medical to be seen. I kept writing and heard nothing. I eventually found another inmate that had bacitracin ointment and lanced it on my own and kept it clean. I was still writing medical and grievances after the first month and when they finally called me down, I received nothing but attitude. They said “What’s the problem, it’s healed” and I told them, “That’s because it was infected and I got antibiotics and bacitracin from another inmate.” They told me straight out that they only see priority cases first, so I guess infection isn’t top priority. 

Here in East Jersey State Prison, you’ll always be seen. Even though it’s a lot better here when it comes to chronic care, it’s bad. You literally need to get lucky and see the right doctor to assist you. In 2023, I believe, I tore my right rotator cuff lifting weights. I couldn’t lift my arm for almost 3 months or sleep. All they did at the time was give me Bengay and Motrin and say I’d be fine. I kept complaining and 3 days in I got a Cortisone shot that lasted 3 days and an x-ray. They say the x-ray was negative and that they were going to send me for physical therapy. This was early May 2023, so in November 2023 I called the ombudsman because I’m still having trouble sleeping. My shoulder locks up whether I’m doing something or not. I roll my arm until it pops to relieve some of the pain and in the process I feel grinding and severe pain. Even shaking someone’s hand aggravates my shoulder. Within 8 days of calling the ombudsman, I saw the nurse, doctor, got another X-ray and started physical therapy. It was supposed to be twice a week because it was making my pain worse. I got scheduled for the orthopedic and an MRI on January 6th. I got my MRI in May 2025 but I’m still waiting to see the ortho. I’m thinking I need to see the ombudsman again because I’ve been dealing with this pain and discomfort for over two years, why? The physical therapist says something’s wrong and that I might need surgery and nothing ever gets done.

I’m still in pain and not sleeping. After a while these things start messing with your mental and you act out and they say we’re the problem. They treat us like caged animals and don’t care whether we live, suffer, or die. I’ve witnessed inmates receiving wrong medication and dying, or in South Woods hospital, they have inmate workers taking other inmate’s pain meds when they’re on their death beds. It’s very messed up and sad but that’s why they say only the strong survive. I really hope something gets done about our healthcare.