I have had a number of discussions recently with people about chronic pain. Now, I realize that part of this is due to the age of my peer group [50+]. That itself sends up the first flag. As we age, those gremlins work their way in and begin to hammer, drill, poke and prod. Lots of parts just start to hurt. Probably due in part to how poorly we treated ourselves when it didn't matter; partly due to our bodies deteriorating due to age.
We know it's gonna happen. So, the second flag raised is what to do about it? We know that prescription pain drugs are given out like jelly beans at Easter. Do people realize that they just mask the pain and do nothing to get to the cause? Of course, for many of these chronic pain ailments, there is no fix. If that's the case, dosage of the medication is important. If you have serious pain and take enough medication to feel no pain, you're probably drooling on your toes and can't remember your name. These drugs should be used at a level where you have pain but can still function, [take the edge off].
True, intense chronic pain does push people to do anything to feel better. Surgery, drugs, pain programs, chiropractors, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, aromatherapy, ice packs, heat wraps, etc. My first experience with chronic pain was during a discussion with a co-worker. Her husband committed suicide because he couldn't take it any longer. That seemed extreme until I experienced true, intense chronic pain. I understood after that.
We know it's gonna happen. So, the second flag raised is what to do about it? We know that prescription pain drugs are given out like jelly beans at Easter. Do people realize that they just mask the pain and do nothing to get to the cause? Of course, for many of these chronic pain ailments, there is no fix. If that's the case, dosage of the medication is important. If you have serious pain and take enough medication to feel no pain, you're probably drooling on your toes and can't remember your name. These drugs should be used at a level where you have pain but can still function, [take the edge off].
True, intense chronic pain does push people to do anything to feel better. Surgery, drugs, pain programs, chiropractors, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, aromatherapy, ice packs, heat wraps, etc. My first experience with chronic pain was during a discussion with a co-worker. Her husband committed suicide because he couldn't take it any longer. That seemed extreme until I experienced true, intense chronic pain. I understood after that.
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