The nightmare world of chronic pain

Chronic pain is one subject that I feel I have to address. It is very personal to me, because I have lived it for 23 years. There are many things that can cause this level of pain, but I am not a physician, so I only feel qualified to talk about one area which is the spinal column. For those of you suffering from chronic back pain like me I urge you to go to this website. It is written by a neurosurgeon and you will learn a lot from it. I know I have. I hope it will help you. The Burton Report.

Reports differ on just how many people suffer from chronic pain alone, but the ones that I feel are credible say approximately 70 millon people of all ages suffer from it. 50 million suffer from severe or intractable pain. These are the ones like myself that cannot do anything without the help of very strong medication. American Academy of pain Medicine.

It is estimated that approximately 30,000 people kill themselves ever year because the pain is so great they just can't live with it or they can't find a doctor willing to prescribe the medication they need to live. To live in the greatest most technologically country in the world and to have to resort to that is a disgrace for this great country. Just think, 70 million people is almost as many as the entire baby boom generation.

Chronic pain knows no age limit, so it doesn't just affect baby boomers and older adults, but young adults and yes children as well. This is one of the best pain websites on the internet as for as I am concerned. They also have a discussion forum The American Pain Foundation.

The epidemic of back pain is enormous: It's a $44 billion industry, it's the leading workers' comp injury, it's the leading reason for disability for people under the age of 45, it will strike 90% of all American adults, it's the second-leading surgical procedure, and it's only getting worse.

Up to 85% of the US Population will have Back Pain at some time in their life.

On any given day 6.5 million people are in bed because of back pain.

5.4 million Americans are disabled annually due to back pain.

An estimated 93 million workdays are lost each year due to back pain.

90% of all back pain resolves in 6-12 weeks.

5-10% of low back pain becomes chronic.

Only 20% of all back surgeries are successful after 2 years.

The total number of spine surgeries in the U.S. approaches 500,000 per year.

An estimated $45 – 54 billion is spent on the treatment of low back pain per year and in many cases it leads to a life of Chronic pain such as the one I live.

Chronic pain is the least understood, most mis-diagnosed, under treated and even totally ignored disease in this country and probably the whole world for that matter. First of all we need to get some accurate definations for a few words. The first word is "ACUTE PAIN". Imagine the worst pain you have ever had. It could be a broken bone or even a tooth ache or worst of all a damaged or pinched nerve. Then remember the relief you felt when the pain went away or was cured. That is called acute pain. But what if that pain never went away and you had it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for days, then the days turn into months and the months into years. It is unrelenting, it never stops but in most cases only gets worse. That is "CHRONIC PAIN. ". Where is God. is a question often asked by people who suffer so much. I go to this site a lot myself.

I am very angry at the medical system as well as the politicians in this country because both could do more. Because of this I do not intend to "pull any punches" in what I say because chronic pain has destroyed my life along with millions of others. Has my life always been this way? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I was blessed with good lucks, I was carefree, with a love of life. It was just a simple fall at the age of 41 and my life changed forever. This type of pain is in fact a disease and should be treated as such. Intractable chronic pain cuts across all races and ages, "FROM A CHILD TO THE ELDERLY". You loose your friends, in many cases your job, often even your spouse. Your children will stop calling or coming around, not because they don't love you, but because they feel helpless, they don't know what to do. Another great resource site

In this modern society, everything revolves around physical looks, appearence and lifestyle. No one has time or wants to be around someone who can hardly get around and is constantly depressed. I know because I live it. Not only do people not want to be around you, they can be "VERY CRUEL", EVEN YOUR OWN FAMILY. They feel like after a while you should get better. They don't "understand it". Not only does chronic pain take a toll on you, both mentally and physically, but your immediate family as well, especially your spouse. Here is a good support forum. There are many more out there.

These people are the most ignored group of people in America and while there are a few doctors who are willing to help, most don't and want. If you don't believe what I am saying, try calling a new doctor for an appointment and tell them you are suffering from chronic pain. If they agree to even take you as a patient, the next words that will come out of their mouth is, I will tell you up front, we don't prescribe "narcotics". First of all they got their medical terms wrong. The correct name is opioids. Narcotics is a term commonly used by law enforcement referring to the drug trafficking trade, or drug dealers and addicts.

The next favorite excuse by some Doctors is "I'm afraid you will become addicted". Drug addiction is someone who takes drugs to get high, or to get a buzz. They put getting drugs first and think they can't do without them. Drug addiction has been a problem in this country for as long as I remember but most studies I have seen show less than 1% of people in Sever Chronic Pain that take opiods become addicted. Read this interview with a pain management specialist that understands how to treat chronic pain patients.

When a person is in severe chronic pain like myself and the millions of other people out there, they are looking for one thing. Pain relief. Yes, you build up what is called "chemical dependency" when you have to stay on opioids for a long perion of time. This can be easily overcome by slowely reducing the amount of pain medication or opioids that you are taking. I know because I have done it before. Why? Because I am not a damn drug addict. Spine and Health Institute. I challange any medical professional to show me one study which shows that people in chronic pain become addicted. There are a few courageous doctors out there that will help people like myself and other people in my condition. Often they are in chronic pain themselves. Once again I will yell this to the world. Drug addiction or the recreational use of drugs is a choice. Any Medical professional who can't talk to a patient for 10 minutes and tell that he is a drug addict needs to go back to medical school for a refresher.

On the other hand, any Doctor that can look at a person in intractable (severe) Chronic pain and tell how much they are suffering, then refuse to treat them, has no heart or compassion. As for as I am concerned they aren't worthy to even be called a Doctor. I am in no way implying that all Doctors are like this. I think the big problem is lack of education in chronic pain.