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...
To be seen by the PM at the VA hospital, I had to take a month of workshop classes. Most of it was a horrible waste of time, especially considering an hour drive each way, but there were some tidbits of information that I thought worth keeping. I thought I would share them with everyone. Maybe they can help.
First thought
Pain falls into two categories - acute and chronic. Acute pain goes away no big deal. Chronic sticks around... but then the VA broke down chronic pain into two categories - simple and complex. Simple was easy and encompassed 90% of the population with chronic pain. The treatments that the average doctor prescribes works and the person with the simple chronic pain gets on with life.
Then there are people who, for whatever reason, get worse instead of better. Those are the complex chronic pain. They get the same care as the other people, but don't get any better. Yet, because the same therapy/procedures/meds worked on the other 90% of patients, eventually the Dr and staff blame the patient for getting worse not better. (This is where patients get called drug seekers.)
The patient goes to a new Dr with hopes that they will get help - but as they are still part of the 10% who do not respond to normal care, it happens all over again - and again - and again - and again.
That is where I am, and where I 'assume' most of you are too. The workshop did not go into what to do when you are in that 10%, but just defined it. But definitions are important for understanding.
First thought
Pain falls into two categories - acute and chronic. Acute pain goes away no big deal. Chronic sticks around... but then the VA broke down chronic pain into two categories - simple and complex. Simple was easy and encompassed 90% of the population with chronic pain. The treatments that the average doctor prescribes works and the person with the simple chronic pain gets on with life.
Then there are people who, for whatever reason, get worse instead of better. Those are the complex chronic pain. They get the same care as the other people, but don't get any better. Yet, because the same therapy/procedures/meds worked on the other 90% of patients, eventually the Dr and staff blame the patient for getting worse not better. (This is where patients get called drug seekers.)
The patient goes to a new Dr with hopes that they will get help - but as they are still part of the 10% who do not respond to normal care, it happens all over again - and again - and again - and again.
That is where I am, and where I 'assume' most of you are too. The workshop did not go into what to do when you are in that 10%, but just defined it. But definitions are important for understanding.
I have chronic pain. But I keep having car wrecks so acute pain is here for awhile then I am back to chronic pain with additional injuries.
At least 5% of those 10% are not drug seekers and need options. I hope you are getting the treatment you need.
Glad to see you here, we have not met before.
Hugs-RJ
I too have been having the trouble of having new problems complicate treatment of older injuries. Like they found cancer in my thyroid when doing a CT scan to see if I was a good candidate for spinal fusion. And now my rotator cuff is torn - though that is not an official diagnosis yet. So I guess it is probably torn.
According to the Psych Dr running the Pain Clinic at the VA, he figures that less than 1% of that 10% are drug seekers. He said in the decade he had been running the program he had only come across two or three. The rest were just interested in getting pain relief. I have been lucky enough to have only been accused on drug seeking by one doctor and I just walked out of that consultation.
All in all, yeah, I am getting what I need. It is not in a timely manner, and sometimes they screw me for a few weeks by forgetting to renew my meds, or just changing them, but I am doing ok. But then again, today is a good day.
Then again, any day I spend even ten minutes on my horse is a good day. :)
yadlim
I have always understood the chronic and acute pain but have never heard of the 90/10 on chronic.
I am looking forward to part 2.
I might add that I am on the lethal 3 only I am prescribed zanax. The funny thing about this is my primary is very cautious with pain med and it the low dose of norco 3xday. The zanax was prescribed for sleep. Soma for muscle spasms. I didn't know they were lethal and have been on for at least 4 years.
It is good to know this because I do want to wake up every morning. I will take alive over pain. I have missed a dose of soma before and not noticed. I also went without it for six months and didn't miss it. I might see how reducing goes.