Every doctor treating patients with chronic pain should read this

Posted by kdks99 @kdks99, Jan 20 6:34am

This article is an excellent description of what it's like to live with chronic pain and current research and potential treatments. I would welcome thoughts and comments.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/12/magazine/chronic-pain.html

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

kdks99 | @kdks99 | Jan 27 10:17am

In reply to @catartist "Can’t open it - any other way in?" + (show)

Here’s a link. Hope it’s helpful.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-am-starting-a-new-discussion-about-suzetrigine-a-novel-drug-for-pain/

catartist | @catartist | Jan 27 12:05pm

Thank you!!! Will be asking about this!

timely | @timely | Jan 28 9:42am

Is everyone aware that all USFDA trials have been suspended?

kdks99 | @kdks99 | Jan 28 10:29am

yes but this trial is complete… awaiting final approval which the FDA cannot release but hopefully will be available on the Vertex website on or around. 1/30/25

jenatsky | @jenatsky | Feb 2 9:28am

The NYT article is very nice but would do nothing for a doctor who sees many many patients a day with varied stories. The article is only one story of the many they must encounter on a daily bases. Doctors don’t need to read this article since everyone is different with different reactions to medications and different life stories. I was a nurse and auditor and I have read thousands of medical records over my 10 years career in consulting and 40 years of nursing. I was bored 1/2 way thru as I have read it before. Your docs don’t have time to read such long articles due to their overwhelming patient loads.

philipsnowdon | @philipsnowdon | Feb 3 2:54pm

In reply to @jenatsky "The NYT article is very nice but would do nothing for a doctor who sees many..." + (show)

I haven’t read the article. However, I’ve been managing very severe chronic pain and acute chronic pain due to CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME, FIBROMYALGIA, CHIARI MALFORMATION and all of their related, debilitating symptoms which completely changed the trajectory of my life.
The continuing battles that legitimate chronic pain patients must continue to fight with their doctors and or along side of their doctors is unacceptable. We have more than enough research to clearly explain and determine where the overdose deaths are coming from that have been very loosely and unscientifically associated with “OPIOIDS!” The deaths are not due to authentic and legitimate chronic pain patients. They are overwhelmingly and directly due to the high abuse of “Street Drugs” containing poisonous FENTANYL!!!!
There are very little statistics that directly link overdose deaths to chronic pain patients who use their opioid medication in effectively or abuse it. This is a “wives tale” that continues to be told that is completely false and extremely misleading. The correct and accurate information is very easy to find and could easily be used to serve the patients and doctors more accurately and professionally.
There is a horrible and severely unfair bias against opioids that the patients and doctors continue to be mistreated by that cost and prevents patients from getting appropriate access to opioids to treat their pain and threatens doctors with the prosecution and the loss of their medical license.
It’s more ridiculous than blaming the consumption of pure drinking water as a leading cause of cancer!!!
It’s “BAD MEDICINE” and directly ignores “LEGITIMATE SCIENCE and ETHICAL RESEARCH!”

rashida | @rashida | Feb 4 1:35am

In reply to @cheryl333 "I want to read it but I would have to pay for a subscription to the..." + (show)

@cheryl333 here is the link @kdks99 posted that does open and you don’t need a subscription:
https://www.medcentral.com/pain/suzetrigine-pending-approval-signals-a-shift-in-non-opioid-pain-management

loriskt | @loriskt | Feb 4 11:46am

In reply to @philipsnowdon "I haven’t read the article. However, I’ve been managing very severe chronic pain and acute chronic..." + (show)

Very well stated! I was on a low dose of hydrocodone for years and it helped my chronic pain, but every doctor I saw during that time tried to get me to get off opioids. I finally gave in to try low dose naltrexone, which didn't work as well as hydrocodone. After 4 years of worsening pain, I sure wish I had stayed on the hydrocodone. I've felt the way you do about opioids. The people who need them for actual pain we live with every day are being denied relief because of those who abuse them, and doctors should be able to differentiate between those who need these drugs to live our lives and those who don't. I wasn't even on a dose that I could get addicted to. Makes me really angry!