Chronic Pain Support Group

Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

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/ Chronic Pain Support Group

Awesome letter from doctor to chronic painers

jordansmamma
jordansmamma
I have been working on finding a way to better communicate with doctors regarding my struggle with chronic pain and the help that I am humbly and desperately looking for, and one of the things I've started is a thoughtful letter expressing my appreciation and gratitude for working with me and an articulate expression of the struggle that I face everyday and the depth that it effects me physically, emotionally, and mentally. I'm pretty much pouring my heart and soul into writing this because it is so important to me to help doctors get a clearer view of who I am as an individual living with chronic pain and what I am searching for in terms of medical care.

I found this beautiful letter from the point of view of a doctor to people living with chronic pain. Clearly, this doctor is very compassionate and empathic when it comes to "us" and I found it both interesting and informational. It will help guide me through writing the rest of my letter.

http://updates.pain-topics.org/2013/06/a-doctors-view-of-patients-with-chronic.html?m=1

Have you guys seen this before? I want to find this doctor and just hug him/her and say "thanks".
Jonsparky
Jonsparky
Hi,
Thanks for posting this, it is very helpful. I will go a little easier on my doctors after reading this!
billwfriend
billwfriend
hugs read 1/2 of it....could not stay awake to keep reading...maybe later
freefrompain2015
freefrompain2015
I am normally not known for coming down to hard on docs. If I find a bad doc I normally don't say much or argue with them I just leave, and go find a new one. The kind of docs I like are the ones that are willing to work with me for the long term. The wrost feeling in the world for me is when a doc runs 3 tests, tells me they have no clue and walk out the door. Then I'm left feeling terrible, out on the streets with no help. I also agree with keeping a small group of docs. That's what I do as soo as I find a doc I like I keep them, tends to go much better. I don't like trying to break in a new doc. Oh and docs don't have to be scared of me, just listening to me. I don't expect them to know everything.
jordansmamma
jordansmamma
Freefrompain2015,

I agree with what you said! in regard to doctors, I've never felt ill will towards them if we were not a good match as patient--doctor, rather it just built up feelings on frustration and disappointment within myself and a big thing that changed in me is, very undortunately, hope. Only because i have exhausted ALL typical treatments and ideas, which is why I have this personal crusade to keep going until I find more.

I know that doctors are just people, too, and I now take a more personal approach when working with medical care professionals. Especially with an invisible disability like CP, everyone's struggle is different and mine is so deeply enmeshed with my body, heart and soul that I feel like I need to approach doctors from the point of view of me, Amanda--32 year old mom--a good hearted person with a big issue--i am desperate for help, not as another one of us clumped into the category of chronic pain. So I think by trying to reach deeper into doctors, I'm praying that they can see me as more of a person asking them for help rather than just another one of their everyday patients.

This is real life, and just like there are some of us that might be a-holes, it is the same for doctors...we are all just people. And just like some of us are genuinely kind and wonderful people, the same goes for doctors too. So if you come across an a-hole, just hold your help up high, grit your teeth, and be kind and respectful...then do all the venting you want when you leave!

All I want is to for my individual struggle to be taken into account in an effort to understand the kind of care that I could benefit from :)
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