Comments about ‘Masking pain might cause lasting harm’

I feel that there needs to be other ways to deal or better yet, solve the problems causing the pain. On my daily job I see a lot of patients that come through the office seeking pain meds. And I agree with the fact that over a certain time pain meds don't work. And then the doctor have to try something different or stronger and you risk the cause of damage organs. Yes,we need to find a better way of treating patients no matter what's their lifestyle profession.

Chronic Pain & I have been partnered due to a fall for over 12-years. Area of injury was both wrists arms & elbows and now is spreading to both shoulders. Have not been able to maintain work and am on SSI for way to many years. My condition is considered permanent and I've been to three different pain management centers; therapy centers; Tens Units;Acupuncture Sessions;Bio Feed Back Therapy; Hot/Cold therapy and more. My body can not handle heavy drugs and have been to many doctors with no positive relief. Doctors agree I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) now classified as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD/CRPS-1.) The professionals state there is nothing more that the medical profession can do for me at this time. I have researched the internet and can attest to the truth that "patients are their best advocate."
The endless quest searching for articles like this one, continues to be the only motivation in order to stay positive. After reading this article, I am in agreement that "masking pain..." DOES "..cause lasting harm."

Ihave had cro nic pain for30 years now and evry time i ask for something to be done all i hear is more surgey i have had 2 on my neck for a broken neck and 3 on both my shoulder,s plus a few other,s if it wasn,t for pain managment i would not be able to function, thank god for pain med,s is all i have to say, the one,s that are against it are the one,s that are not in severe pain!!

Over 6 years I have been taking medication to help with my TMJ pain. The medication helped ease some of the pain but over the years it has affected my stomach and caused other problems. I finally got the $$$ to treat the TMJ problem and no longer take pain medication and no longer have the other problems that the medication was causing me.

I've had chronic pain due to myofacial pain syndrome for quite a few years. The doctor recommended a cortisone shot to the area where the pain originates but the cost was more than I could afford. I'm on SSDI and in the waiting period to start Medicare so have been uninsured for 2 years. Thank God for pain mede. They're cheap and they keep me going! So long as the individual is aware of what is causing the pain and respects their body, the medications are a Godsend.

I have been diabetic for 27 yrs.I also have fibro/myofacial/chronic pain syn/ severe tendonitis/RSD/psoratic arthritis/ cheiroarthropathy...the list seems to go on & on. If it wasn't for the pain meds, I would not be functioning even at the level that I am. As for masking the pain, I did that for about 20 years and it landed me in a huge world of hurt.My doc & my PT are baffled.Did I mention depression? I think it goes hand in hand with chronic pain.If anyone reading this is in pain, please for your own sake, seek help now.DO NOT wait or think it will go away on it's own, or that you are imagining how bad it hurts.If your doc won't help, find one that will.And, yes, masking the pain does make it much much worse in the end, I think.

I have suffered with migraines, because I was told by doctors that there is no pill available to treat migraines. I found out later it was not true. I am now 51 years old and still have not been given a "good" pain pill. Over the years my migraines and chronic pain became worse. My doctor will only prescribe Tylenol. Now I have chronic pain throughout my body, but in particular my head, neck, shoulders and my left arm. Pain is a very hindering illness. Earlier this year, I was admitted for pain, and kept overnight for observation. I was given scans, etc. I was advised to tell my primary care provider to find out what is causing the pain. I really appreciate this information, I believe it will help on understanding what the dangers of taking these type of pain medicines and that the cure (Tylenol) is not a cure. Thank you so much!!!!

I have read PJ's comment and would like for them to look into state health ins. such as Medicaid the will kick in after your bills get too high. I have had severe chronic pain and surgery's as well as nerve blocks. They help but the pain meds. are helpfull on bad days.

Yes, the above article is true. And obviously - acute injuries need time to heal.

However, there are also studies that show that when pain goes *untreated* it poses a risk of becoming chronic pain. Sometimes long after the original injury has healed, because the nerves get trapped in firing pain signals.

It is unfair to expect people to live in pain for any duration. Nor should we be over-prescribing medications. A sensible course of action is needed. Moderation in all things.

Due to an accidental injury (hit behind left ear--in occipital region, with a golf club in the full force of the swing), I was told for approx. l8 years that it was "all in my mind." Thus I went through many "treatments?" during that time (and even after receiving proper diagnosis I still suffered at the hands of people, like you and me, but think they have God-like powers. I couldn't even begin to go thru all the nightmarish experiences, losses (people, divorces,career,dreams, facial deformity (I was finally diag'd as having TMJ due to Arthritis & nerve damage to the greater Occipital Nerve), friendships, sank into a DEPRESSION that still reigns over my life. From all the drugs for pain, psychiatric meds, alternative health promises,Behavioral Modification, treated like a criminal.There is just no way to encapsulate the massive emotional/physical/mental/spiritual hemorrhages that have decimated MY LIFE. I am now 63 yrs. old. This began when I was l8. I am but a shell of who and what I was and could have been. To this moment, I ask WHY? Why did no one step up and fight for me when I could not fight for myself? CP is of epidemic proportions.

I have been in severe pain since Aug. 05, 2005. I cannot do any kind of work that requires me bringing my body on a slant. I was on medicaid but was terminated because I made over 700.00 a month. I am on SSD. If I made 700.00 I would be in a shelter. So that leaves me uninsured. I will not be eligible for medicare until Feb. 2008. I am on vicodin, Flexeril and neurotin for low back pain. Taking meds for pain is TOTALLY masking over the cause. I did not mention it is a workers comp case and while my papers are buried somewhere in the court system the pain is still there. And yes it is getting worse. Like others have said the meds seem to stop working after awhile. I am masked out as well as being drugged out.

I have fibromyalgia and if it were not for my doctor and my pain clinic I would no longer be functioning. Pain does cause depression; your mind and your body work together. I am still working because I need the insurance to get my medication and treatment. I do yoga, have acupuncture, walk (slowly), and try to stay as active as I can without making it worse. Lyrica is a new medication that might help some of you. You need to ask about it. It does help me and I have tried most of the other drugs mentioned. It is new. I feel for all of you and will add you to my prayers. Prayer helps me too, because my family gets tired of hearing about it, there is no local support group and if I did not have God to talk to, I would be very alone. The tape "Gentle Yoga with Naomi" which can be purchased on the internet has helped me a lot. Unfortunately sometimes drugs are all you can take until stem cell research or its equivalent will be done to help some of us in these conditions.

Stubborned, determined personalities bare the roots to develop chronic pain! Childbirth, gallbladder, multiple body injuries combine enabling our spirits to fight harder; until, we collaspe! Diagnosed with fibromyalgia and multiple other problems, my interist considers it a case of which came first, the cart of pain or the horse of fibro? How do you keep increasing your pain meds? About once a year they become ineffective! Now, I am about to loose my job of 35 yrs plus, and my insurance. Nothing is inexpensive when you have no insurance to barter the bill! Yet, our doctors are so controlled by government and insurance, they truly miss the opportunity to fight the problems we need! Our system is a no-win deliemna. But all the time, we, who suffer chronic pain, realize the problems without resolution! After all, we are broken, but still stubborn and determined to be the person we desire! Can research find an answer to mend our spirit? When?

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 14 years ago after suffering a job related knee injury that required surgery. I lost 1 and 1/2 years of work and the doctor said I could not do my job ( I am a package delivery driver with UPS). I got angry and went back to physical therapy. I am still doing my job but some days it is a very difficult challenge. Without pain meds. it would be impossible. I have to have the dr. change them on a regular basis but I am able to still function almost normal. Pain meds are a necessary option for those of us who suffer with a disease that is incurable and no one knows what even causes it.

I have Fibro and Cerebral Palsy. I found that loosing 70 lbs helped a LOT with pain. This, however does not mean I am pain free. I take a cocktail of suppliments/and Topamax to cope with pain and topical ointment when it gets to bad down my spine.

Moving is all important I have found. So is de-stressing. Keeping your life's battles down to a "Salad" size portion (small plate) and only handling what you have to "today" and emotionally releasing what does NOT have to be there (grudges, anger, fear, etc) helps a big deal. I learned to Meditate. This slowed me down. I was a fighter.

Finding Good exercise that you can move to: start with chair stuff. Range of Motion. Then move to walking, even just around the block, even with a cane.

Everything you can do with limits on pain meds will help you so that when you really need your Pain pills, they will work.

Hugs to you all.
Mary

i have been in constiant pain for 4 tears now. I have had 2 neck fusions and my neck still is not better. The doctors cant seem to find out what the problem is. So they just mask every thing with pain pills. I have to take 29 pills a day and am still in a lot of pain.I cant work right now until the docs figure out what they are going to do with me.So I sit home most days and feel sorry for myself. I hate it. I have been to a number of different docs and they dont know what it is either. I cant hardly afford the meds any more. Since I cant work all my bills are not being paid, and of cource every one wants their money now.I FEEL SO HELPLESS. I dont know what to do anymore? Pain meds just mask the pain after a while because your body gets used to them so what is left?

As a CRPS/RSD survivor, I am acutely aware of the need for early diagnosis of injuries which on the surface may appear to be superficial in nature. One of the failures that I noted and experience is that so few "Medical Professionals" had absolutely NO Knowledge of the very existence of the Neurological Disease for which I was finally diagnosed fer to late to prevent this progressive disease for which there is NO KNOWN CURE! Doctor's were to ready to simply say" It is all in your head" than admit their medical ignorance which can condem a person to a lifetime of severe chronic pain.

By the end of the day my pain has worn me down until I don't even wnat to go on. What can be said to make this any better.

Chronic pain is awful. I have lived with it since 1994. I'm trying to do without hydrocodone now but it is horrible. I feel like a walking burning blob of pure pain. I quit taking the hydrocodone Friday 1/11/08 and I've been in agony. What good does it do when doctors tell you you've got disc problems but not bad enough for surgery? Or fibromyalgia? Or osteoarthritis? Grimace and bear it? If pain meds isn't the answer then what is? Where is my quality of life? Or is that only for the rich who can afford to pay for it? Is my life any less important?

While acute pain is the body's way of alerting us to injuries, no one needs ever continually suffer from chronic pain without proper relief. If your Dr. refuses to treat your condition(s) with no more than OTC NSAIDs, find another Dr. willing to consider other treatment options. Your GI health may well depend on it. Personally, I suffer from head and spinal injuries as well as am a survivor of Ovarian Cancer (thrice times over). Admittedly, I would have very little or no quality of life, whatsoever, had I merely accepted their many refusals to effectively treat my pain and their underlying conditions, never bothering to pursue consultation with a pain management specialist. Although I now face life-long dependence on opioids, my future is much brighter that I have relief necessitated by my own disease's progress.
**George** depression and anxiety often accompany chronically painful conditions due to the social stigma and isolation that typically accompanies chronic pain. Seek help from a qualified therapist. Honestly, there is help for you! Don't accept anything less than R-E-L-I-E-F.