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You make sense, and I join you in frustration over the fact that chronic pain, whether it be from non-pre-counseled surgery, failed surgery, or other conditions, has no real medical lane and backing. After going through my ordeal, and watching my mother go through hers since I was 8, the facts were obvious...unless you want more meds, procedures or surgeries from specialists who stay in their lane, you are on your own to learn, self advocate, self-care, and problem solve for the future. Chronic pain, I believe is one of the number one disabilities in our country - hence the opioid battle which is proof enough that a lot of work needs to be done. Lanes need to shift towards education, providing care and options for long term health management, and insurance coverage for such care. It would be incredible if health care teams would be in place and programs like Mayo PRC be the norm not the exception.
What can be done? I'm glad you are advocating for patients to receive pre-surgery counseling. What advice or knowledge do you have for patients that you wished you had received?
Replies to "You make sense, and I join you in frustration over the fact that chronic pain, whether..."
And when pain escalates, and you need to take an extra dose, you risk running out and then the pain really increases. You are considered a « drugy ». Pain medication relieves pain if you have it and the relief is not a drug high. People taking pain medication that have no pain are the problem but those is pain are paying for it. The next problem is that the pharmacies often run out and take days or weeks to restock. By then, the one in pain is in severe difficulty, even a doctor can’t help.
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Great Question that I’ve never been asked! To begin with all should get 2nd or 3rd opinions before any surgery. Secondly try every option to see if they help. If surgery is last and only resort, then a multi team approach to include counseling. Mayo has a team approach as I see. It’s unfortunate that all major hospitals don’t have it. I was deemed total and permanently disabled by Social Security first time around with out needing a lawyer. ( I still get my FD pension as well ). The unfortunate problem though is , disability is a scam for some which makes it worse for the true patients. Sometimes we become our worst enemies by reading Dr Google. Most of us are guilty of this and for some reason we come out with the worst case scenario after reading it and become scared to death. Good forums like this are invaluable to all including our caretakers. A huge thank you to all mentors and moderators! Keep up the great invaluable work. The biggest thing I can say after being around the block a few times is be your own advocate! No 2 patients are the same. Yes, you might have similar symptoms but don’t self diagnose yourself! Let the Drs earn their money as the majority of them know what will help and what won’t. My next chapter will be on atlantoaxial joint ( lies between C-1 and C-2 ) I’m not worried as that’s a waste of emotion lol. Again thank all the mentors and moderators for keeping this site going…….David