Sunday, December 28, 2014

Why We Don't Understand Pain

Humans have suffered pain, well, since there were humans.

We had to fight the elements, animals, and each other, and we got injured. God, in his great wisdom, made us so we can't remember pain.

Oh, we can remember something hurt, but we can't remember the actual pain. If we could, we would be in just as much pain, as when it happened.

When a woman talks about childbirth, they speak about it fondly, and would lovingly do it again. If a woman remembered the actual pain every time she thought about her baby's birth, I'm sure there would be a lot more single child families.

If men remembered actual pain, I think we would be less bold when exploring, and fight fewer wars, but would be who we are today?

I guess that's why God in his great wisdom, made us, so we can't remember pain. 

I only hope God gave us the wisdom to show empathy to those who suffer chronic pain. 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Arizona Medical Board Repealed the States Only Guidelines for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

A few weeks ago I checked the Arizona Medical Board web page for any changes to the guidance the medical board provides to physicians who treat chronic pain. I was surprised to see that Substantive Policy Statement #7, the Guidelines for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Chronic Pain, had been repealed. 

The web page only said SPS #7 had been repealed in December 2014. Some Christmas present for all those Arizona citizens who live with chronic pain. Now their physicians have no guidance for treating chronic pain. Hopefully this is a temporary situation while the medical board issues new guidance for physicians. 

My fear is that things will return to the way they were before the guidelines were issued in 1996. At that time physicians would simply tell pain patients, "I can't prescribe pain medications, or I'll lose my license", and tell patients to go away.

The abuse of heroin is going to increase, you see it's cheaper than pain pills on the street. As pain patients have few other options other than simply ending the pain.

People I talk to are not afraid to die, they're afraid to die in pain. We talk about patients rights to refuse medication, and their right to die when pain is too much. We don't talk about their right to pain relief. 

If you know someone who has committed suicide because of chronic pain, please contact me. Only when patients file complaints and lawsuits over a physicians under treatment of pain, will things change. 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

CVS Pharmacy's New Commercial

CVS Pharmacy's new commerical says how CVS is worried because, "many American's on prescription drugs fail to stay on them"

The reason many pain patients can't stay on their medications, is because CVS put quotas on some medications, and tell patients, "they may have your medication in a couple weeks"

This appears to be a PR commerical because of articles like this about my wife and I.
http://kdminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=797&articleID=58959