Addiction and Chronic Pain - Tactics?

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

First of all thanks to 'Ray in Virginia' (this is how you come up on my

screen!), I have made a similar journey despite the whole medical community

seemingly 'against me' in reasonably trying to manage my case. But, I never

really stopped, only to rest!

I agree with being young makes it all much harder, I'm only 26 and

doctors generally have a big problem dealing with someone that young, female,

who's also very knowledgeable and doesn't shut up.

I'm right now printing Ray's e-mail to deliver the gist of it to my GP the next

visit. He's been the best of all GP's and specialists until now, but still he's

not that understanding about pain and questions some of my diagnoses without

offering extra help, he's also desperately wanting me off narcotics (but would

prescribe marijuana if it was available!). Recently I've become a patient of a

pain clinic and they are very good indeed. (Finally!!!!) My GP, however, has

probably been indoctrinated into this old-school of thinking, according to which

chronic pain sufferers can easily become addicted, they keep wingeing too much

and eventually become a burden on everyone. My biggest problem is that I never

feel vindicated in my fight, I don't feel that he is a genuine ally!

It is so easy to get angry, I have problem controling that in myself, when

medicos just don't seem to understand. I don't normally wish anything bad on

anyone, but I really wish they'd all spend just one week or even one day in

excrutiating pain (and the rest of my problems) and experience what it is

like... even then they wouldn't appreciate the long-term struggle we endure!

I guess it is important to understand where the medicos are coming from: a

perspective that dictates undermedication and a mindset that has a problem with

the subtleties (and not-so-subtleties) of chronic illness. I'd like to know what

sort of strategies you think we should be using when

1) we understand where they are coming from but

2) have diminished capacities/resources in fighting for our rights and

3) still want to achieve 'optimal care' whatever that euphemism means.

So far, in my understaning these are some of the most important ingredients:

- an understanding spouse/family with whom you can vent, plot, be comforted,

understood and helped.

- at least one medical professional who has at least some/most of these

qualities: compassion, reliability, professionalism, transparency, respect,

experience, humility, ability to listen, ethical conduct etc.

- some flexibility in most major aspects of your life: work (paid and unpaid),

family etc.

- someone who understands your anger, perspective and history, is available and

is prepared to entertain your point of view; accepting you and vindicating your

actions and thoughts.

Feel free to add to the list and offer tactics! Another thing I learned: you can

never have enough of helpful ideas!

cheers,

Nikó in Sydney

Hypothyroidism, ulcerative colitis, celiac, arthritis of SI joints (AS?), PTSD.