If you could ask a scottish (or any other) he... - Pain Concern
If you could ask a scottish (or any other) health minister one question regarding pain services, what would it be? Please click an area and write your question in the comments box
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I've often been told by my GP that I should expect a few aches and pains as I get older, and that was when I couldn't pull my own nickers up at 63 years old! I insisted on a referral to a specialist but the GP only said he doubted whether much would come of it. I got my daignosis - osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia - and at least now I don't go around imagining all sorts of other things.
Hi Secondhandrose, you have my sympathies and understanding about what GP's say to us when we are in pain. I have been feeling unwell for quite a few years and because I have a history of Depression, I was always told it was down to my depression that I was feeling pain and if I did more things to take my mind of it then the pain would lessen. Only recently have I been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis. The diagnosis has helped me in the sense that it is not all in my head as I was often left feeling. Now it's about learning to live with it all.
Dignity is the thing I think that is so important.
This would also embrace education of GPs and other professionals, and the acceptance that chronic pain is frequently incapacitating, so that work is not possible and benefits are needed.
Before I had chronic pain I had no idea how much impact it has on your life. Pain is viewed quite oddly by non-sufferers and there are so many misconceptions about it, and about those of us who have it. This is particularly true if you don't have a simple explanation for it. It really should be recognised as a long-term condition because it is, and should get the same status as other long-term conditions.
But hand-in-hand with this goes the need for better services for people with pain, and better education for health workers and patients alike. We are only going to be able to cope better if we actually understand it better.
I am not looking for sympathy, but when I tell people that I have pain it would be nice if they understood what this meant and accepted it, instead of me feeling guilty. As someone once said to me, "so it's not a proper condition then."
The same happens with mental illness all the time.
There is no reason why you should ever feel guilty. It's not your problem. It's not about you - it's the other person. People are often scared or put off by subjects they either don't understand or subjects that way go into an area that scares the hell out of them! Try and understand it from the way they see may see it. I never understood pain before. I do now! Be well.
people need to know what real pain is
I'd like greater Education for GPs. Been seeing me mine with on and off back pain for 5 yrs was told I was stressed, may have CFS, should exercise more etc tried lots myself and then bam rushed into A&E with a severe large prolapsed disc. The X ray before the MRI showed my spine isn't curved at the bottom as it should be and the Ortho Dr couldn't believe my GP had never sent me for a back x-ray in 5 years at the very least. If only GPs were more clued up on the dangerous pain symptoms I might not now be into 8 weeks of recovery indoors. Better training for GPs I say and learning to listen to patients!
I agree. And maybe less labeling and more compassion.
I've had severe back pain since I was 14 - 15 and I was fobbed off by several gps at the same practice because I was overweight. All of them said the same thing - lose weight and you'll be fine. It wasn't until I was 29 I had an xray showing I have scoliosis (now untreatable) and had several discs L1 - L6 were almost worn out, 2 years later another xray showed L1 - 3 had completely gone. If any of the gp's I'd seen before they mave been able to treat the scoliosis, I've been told that nothing can be done due to my age, the hospital said they could try but my spine would possibly break in at least 2 places if they put the rods in! so they didn't want to try. The discs would probably have worn out a bit later as there was excercises and treatments possible. I would like gps to listen to people and not just assume that losing weight is the answer to everything!!
I also would like other people to hear what you say - I say I have arthritis in the spine and others say "I've got backache it's awful"! I know everone has a different tolerance for pain, but I hope others will agree arthritis (anywhere) hurts a lot more than an ache!
As I haven't been around for a while oping everyone's doing ok and not feeling the change in the weather too hard!x
Know that you can always find another doctor. You will get a feeling if they understand you or not. Keep going.
I think we all seem to be in a similar situation...Now, I fully agree with hatingmypain, your situation has been the same as mine...
I must admit, that after my accident in 06, which caused the start of my condition, I put on over 4 stone, with not working etc etc, that put me up to 20st, on which am now back down too just under 16st...on which my loss has been through my medication and not a diet...
I think GP's are to quick to blame weight or most conditions....
Joe
While I think there should be more facilities for everyone to be able to attend to get the help they need in their area, I also think that chronic pain needs to be widely recognised as a genuine health problem (just couldn't pick 2 options!!)
Yes! Yes, Yes, and Yes again,
The question would be .......why given the number of days, in the work place, lost due to chronic pain is there not a far greater investment iin services and clinics for pain management ?
I think this subject scares the hell out of people. That's why.
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