Diseases

Chronic Neuroimmune Diseases

The Painful Dilemma

Introduction

Millions of Americans suffer from pain. Among the most tragic victims are those whose lives are consumed by chronic, intractable pain.

Although narcotics can frequently help, they are typically avoided or given at inadequate levels. A number of factors are involved, including the fear of patient addiction and the threat of disciplinary action f or overprescribing. In addition, pain is difficult for the patient to describe and the physician to evaluate.

Whatever the reason, the result is often unnecessary suffering. Evidence is steadily accumulating that persons with intractable pain do not respond to narcotics in the same way as do street addicts. Their motivations are different, and so are their psychological reactions and tolerances to the drugs. The pain patient can be treated with narcotics with little risk of developing the self-destructive behavior characteristic of addiction--even though dosages may sometimes far exceed the "normal."

The public needs to know that more can and should be done for those people with chronic pain.

The Painful Dilemma

Albert Schweitzer once said:

"We must all die. But if I can save him from days of torture, that is what I feel is my great and ever new privilege. Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself."

Everybody has suffered from pain--especially the intense acute Pain that flares up when a toe is stubbed or a finger burned. That pain soon goes away. But at least 20 million Americans suffer from chronic pain that lasts for weeks or months--or may never go away. Most of its victims are the middle-aged and the elderly.

The most common form is low back pain, which arises from osteoartharitis or other causes, and is estimated to afflict 15 percent of the population. Cancer patients often suffer severe pain as their condition worsens. Burn victims may have excruciating pain during recovery. Chronic pain includes tension and migraine headaches. Individuals with arthritis often suffer from chronic pain.

In fact, chronic pain is one of the nation's most costly health problems. The price tag each year comes to nearly $50 billion for medical costs, lost income, lost productivity, compensation payments and legal costs.

To the individual, the impact can be devastating both personally