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...
Yes, I know this article may be wishful thinking but there might be some doctor out there that will "get it!"
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THE PAIN PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS
The RIGHT to have it UNDERSTOOD that Chronic Pain is a progressive disease of the nervous system; caused by failure of the body's internal pain control systems. Also to have it understood that pain is a malignancy in the sense that when left untreated, intensity increases and spreads to areas that weren't previously affected, damaging the sufferer's health and functioning.
The RIGHT to a medical professionals' honest attempt to find adequate, if not aggressive treatment allowing the patient a normal life as much as possible. Also with the understanding, a patient does not have to be incapacitated and covered with bedsores to be suffering in pain.
The RIGHT therefore, to have an honest attempt by a doctor at lowering pain levels, reducing suffering through restoration of functioning in life activities to as close to normal as possible and hopefully arresting and reversing the damage done by chronic pain to the nervous system.
The RIGHT to be prescribed some form of relief however "short-lived" it might be during our search for a pain specialist that will regularly see us and treat our condition. Pain is the 5th Vital Sign and is by law, to be treated and relieved by those in the medical field.
The RIGHT to refuse prescriptions of Anti-inflammatory non-opioid medications such as Motrin, Naprosyn and Vioxx. These medications, called Nsaid's, kill 16,500+ patients each year through bleeding from the stomach and toxicity in the liver and kidneys. Might as well shoot us, than allow us to die unmercifully from these deadly medications.
The RIGHT to not be seen by doctors who begin office visits with frowns, scowls, shaking heads from side to side or any other preconceived negativity towards us. It's rude. It's degrading. And by all rights, should be punishable by law.
The RIGHT not to be labeled as "doctor shopping" or a "drug seeker" when we change doctors. It's only that we continue to have pain, that we seek out others to treat us. It's continued pain that causes us to seek out others to treat us. Who doesn't expect answers when seeing a doctor? And who in their right mind doesn't look elsewhere when answers aren't forthcoming?
The RIGHT to not be lectured about the dangers of DEPENDENCY. For patients who truly suffer from intractable, on-going, never-ending pain who are already dealing with a permanent problem called pain - and for whom the word "euphoria" is more associated with making it through the day without contemplating suicide, than any effects from medication - never experiencing a "euphoria". In fact, dysphoria and/or depression is observed more typically with the use of narcotics than "euphoria" in the pain patient. Dependence is a physical phenomenon, not a sign of addiction.
The RIGHT to not be regarded as an "addict" or "druggie" or any other negative derogatory when we dare to ask a medical professional for treatment of our pain. Psychological dependence (addiction) should not be confused with physical dependence.
The RIGHT not to be judged or viewed with any preconceived notions when we are lucky enough to receive proper pain treatment. After all, proper pain management means "able to function normally". That's all we want - to be normal.
The RIGHT to no assumptions made if patient takes medication and appears to be functioning somewhat normal. The assumption that a patient taking opioid medications is automatically an abuser just because with proper treatment they are able to function somewhat normally is PREPOSTEROUS! The GOAL is to get patients to the point where they can function somewhat normally. The concept that you must be all but crippled to qualify for opioid therapy needs to end!
The RIGHT to be treated and viewed by everyone, as human beings who only want to live like everybody else. Normal, without pain, sharing joys with family, attending church, grocery shopping, taking in a movie, fixing dinner...loving life.
~~Courtesy of... Chronic pain mission
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THE PAIN PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS
The RIGHT to have it UNDERSTOOD that Chronic Pain is a progressive disease of the nervous system; caused by failure of the body's internal pain control systems. Also to have it understood that pain is a malignancy in the sense that when left untreated, intensity increases and spreads to areas that weren't previously affected, damaging the sufferer's health and functioning.
The RIGHT to a medical professionals' honest attempt to find adequate, if not aggressive treatment allowing the patient a normal life as much as possible. Also with the understanding, a patient does not have to be incapacitated and covered with bedsores to be suffering in pain.
The RIGHT therefore, to have an honest attempt by a doctor at lowering pain levels, reducing suffering through restoration of functioning in life activities to as close to normal as possible and hopefully arresting and reversing the damage done by chronic pain to the nervous system.
The RIGHT to be prescribed some form of relief however "short-lived" it might be during our search for a pain specialist that will regularly see us and treat our condition. Pain is the 5th Vital Sign and is by law, to be treated and relieved by those in the medical field.
The RIGHT to refuse prescriptions of Anti-inflammatory non-opioid medications such as Motrin, Naprosyn and Vioxx. These medications, called Nsaid's, kill 16,500+ patients each year through bleeding from the stomach and toxicity in the liver and kidneys. Might as well shoot us, than allow us to die unmercifully from these deadly medications.
The RIGHT to not be seen by doctors who begin office visits with frowns, scowls, shaking heads from side to side or any other preconceived negativity towards us. It's rude. It's degrading. And by all rights, should be punishable by law.
The RIGHT not to be labeled as "doctor shopping" or a "drug seeker" when we change doctors. It's only that we continue to have pain, that we seek out others to treat us. It's continued pain that causes us to seek out others to treat us. Who doesn't expect answers when seeing a doctor? And who in their right mind doesn't look elsewhere when answers aren't forthcoming?
The RIGHT to not be lectured about the dangers of DEPENDENCY. For patients who truly suffer from intractable, on-going, never-ending pain who are already dealing with a permanent problem called pain - and for whom the word "euphoria" is more associated with making it through the day without contemplating suicide, than any effects from medication - never experiencing a "euphoria". In fact, dysphoria and/or depression is observed more typically with the use of narcotics than "euphoria" in the pain patient. Dependence is a physical phenomenon, not a sign of addiction.
The RIGHT to not be regarded as an "addict" or "druggie" or any other negative derogatory when we dare to ask a medical professional for treatment of our pain. Psychological dependence (addiction) should not be confused with physical dependence.
The RIGHT not to be judged or viewed with any preconceived notions when we are lucky enough to receive proper pain treatment. After all, proper pain management means "able to function normally". That's all we want - to be normal.
The RIGHT to no assumptions made if patient takes medication and appears to be functioning somewhat normal. The assumption that a patient taking opioid medications is automatically an abuser just because with proper treatment they are able to function somewhat normally is PREPOSTEROUS! The GOAL is to get patients to the point where they can function somewhat normally. The concept that you must be all but crippled to qualify for opioid therapy needs to end!
The RIGHT to be treated and viewed by everyone, as human beings who only want to live like everybody else. Normal, without pain, sharing joys with family, attending church, grocery shopping, taking in a movie, fixing dinner...loving life.
~~Courtesy of... Chronic pain mission
Hugzzz ~Sandy~
The American Pain Foundation has a Chronic Pain Bill of Rights too.
The one you posted is very specific and I can tell the person who wrote it lives with pain. Isn't it unfortunate that we have had these common experiences no matter what walk of life we are from? It's like once we are in pain, we are all the same!
Every pain clinic should receive this.
Now then, after 7yrs of suffering multiple reactive syndromes in chronic pain thanks to the HELL I was put through by the medical community & the Federal laws, on my own, I've found a wonderful chronic pain psychologist at the same time I've discovered DS and it's magical elixir of similar suffering people. My body is shot, my mind isn't. I've always been stubborn and damned if I'm not going down swinging because I'm just tired of life in the CP lane. It doesn't have to be so miserable because it's MY life.
:-p {ladyfairhair, please do not take any of this as an attack on your post...just the way CP has treated me.}
I posted a journal entry here on DS titled "Living With Chronic Pain." To make a long story short, it has turned into an article, I am submitting it to several agencies and magazines, and it has skyrocketed by epic proportions. I took it to my Missouri Writers Guild meeting last night, and now have more ideas of where to send it. I intend to get the message out, to educate and inspire, and tell professionals and people who do not understand what it's like to have your life revolve around just trying to find SOME kind of relief. I pray that I am able to reach as many people as possible.
Anyone interested in reading a portion of the artice--my journal entry--is welcome.
1. Patients have a right to proper, respectful, informed and nondiscriminatory pain management and care.
2. Patients have a right to choose and access health care providers who can provide proper, respectful, informed and nondiscriminatory pain management and care.
3. Patients have a right to have their pain managed with collaborative and multidisciplinary efforts.
4. Patients have a right to have their questions and concerns about pain and pain treatments addressed.
5. Patients have a right to ask for and receive a referral to a pain management specialist.
6. Patients have a right to receive accurate and understandable information about their pain, their health, their diagnosis, their prognosis, their treatment, their health care providers and the facilities in which they receive treatment.
7. Patients have the right to receive knowledge and information about all pain treatment options available to them before giving informed consent.
8. Patients have the right to participate in their pain treatment decisions. If patients cannot fully participate in their pain treatment decisions, patients have the right to be represented by conservators including family members and/or guardians.
9. Patients have the right to make informed decisions about their pain treatment.
10. Patients have the right to speak confidentially with their health care providers about their pain conditions and concerns; however, the privacy of this information can be compromised in certain situations such as a workers' compensation claim.
11. Patients have a right to have their pain and the conditions that cause their pain examined regularly and their treatments adjusted for continued or improved pain management.
12. Patients have the right to read and make copies of their health information, pain history and relevant records.
13. Patients have the right to ask their health care provider to amend or correct any information (both pain-related and not) in their health records with the understanding that a health care provider cannot change an original report.
14. Patients have the right to refuse suggested methods of pain treatment.
15. Patients have the right to have their pain-related medical bills and costs explained to them.
16. Patients have the right to complain about or appeal issues related to their pain treatment, health plans, health care personnel and health care facilities.
17. Patients have the right to objective and timely internal and external reviews of any complaint or appeal related to their pain treatment, health plans, health care providers and health care facilities.