Do you think intense pain, in its own right, should always be treated? Or are there some circumstances in which people should be expected to suck it up?

[Greensleeves]

I've noticed a very wide variety of approaches to pain relief among the medical professionals I've encountered during my life. Some clearly feel that acute pain, even if it is doing no functional harm, should be treated to the best of medical capability, because nobody should be expected to just cope with it. I've met others (probably more of them!) who see pain only in terms of what it can tell them about functional injury/illness, and not worth spending time/resources treating if it's the only symptom. Bone pain from cancer, long-term nerve pain from a (healed) broken back, dry socket, that sort of thing.

I know there are other considerations, such as the side effects, addictiveness and cost of strong pain relief. There are instances, though, where a good dose of a strong pain killer would enable somebody to get a good night's sleep and a bit of relief in hospital, and they are brusquely told that paracetamol is perfectly adequate, when it clearly isn't (severe pain after a knee operation, for example). I think there's also an element of medical professionals - who are more overworked, stressed and undervalued now than ever - having to be a bit ruthless in how they prioritise issues, and self-protective in how much empathy they spend on patients whose pain, although debilitating, isn't actually an immediate threat to life, or a sign of a new injury.

Curious as to what others think.

Also a chronic pain sufferer...I think there is a balance to be found, and that many medical professionals have neither the time not the resource to find that balance. Pain is debilitating yes, but it also exists for a reason - to scream at you not to do x, y and z or to tell you something is not right. At the same time, simply handing out painkillers like candy is equally problematic as not giving them at all. Both extremes have a price to pay for the patient. There are alternatives. Some may not work for some people. Others work well. And some, combined, can make things more manageable. There is no one size that fits all. But this is a costly and time consuming approach to medicine, and one which is often not followed to save money.

It’s about quality of life.

Yes, pain should always be treated. That doesn't mean it's always possible to eliminate it, or that the best/right help always lies in a prescription. What is the point of modern medicine if we abandon people to live their lives in continual pain. Even if there isn't a great solution right now for a particular individual, doesn't mean we can't find something in the future.

Well.. some pain is neurological and some is psychological or biological... People also have different pain thresholds.
Pain treatment should be tailored to the individual but equally, painkillers should not be knee jerk reaction. Pain needs to be understood before it is treated.

As someone with a very painful spinal condition (flare ups every so often). I don’t believe anyone should be in pain. When my pain has been at its worst, even morphine doesn’t touch it.

YANBU
I was lucky(!) my sciatica turned into cauda equina and so went numb, which was blissful relief from the pain. I did tell a&e to cut my leg off because I couldn't take it any longer

My younger cousin was not so lucky 2 years later he repeatedly went to a&e with back pain (like me), and in despair he took someone else's prescribed meds. He had asked and asked for help with back pain after an accident
He died in his sleep at 34

I have a metal pelvic bridge from birth damage and stage 4 endometriosis: I have been on the WL since 2019 for this.
Whenever I ask for pain relief I am made to feel like a crack addict!

I was sent to the pain management clinic and after keeping a diary for a month he also concluded that without surgery I am in pain.
3 years later I am only given 14 pain relief tablets to last a month.

This ☝🏻
Im so sorry that you have been treated the same as me xxx

It would be easier for people to be honest about their pain if women weren’t disbelieved at every turn, and belittled while there. A level playing field, and understanding clinicians would be a start. We all know that not all pain can be solved, but most pain can be helped in some way, and even an easing of pin can be an absolute blessing.

(I have been managing pain from migraine and what I suspect is hereditary arthritis with otc pain relief/sleeping meds and sheer bloody mindedness for the best part of 25 years now. I’m at the point where every day is fucking agony, but I cannot face another general practitioner telling me that every problem I have is down to the fact I’m overweight.)

Agreed. Physical pain is awful, and no, people shouldn’t be expected to stoically endure it.

That said, I would rather endure physical pain than go through another bout of depression. The agitated depression I suffered back in 2016 was as close to hell as I ever want to get.

I am sorry you have too. It's horrible isn't it xx

The pain clinic I go to is totally rubbish. For context, I have severe neurological pain caused by a virus that is always there. I can no longer work or walk and on bad days cant have any one in the room with me as any sensory changes flair it to the point where I cant cope. I am very open to learning everything about pain and how to improve my life and spend (at least) 6 hours a day in meditation, have tried dozens of alternative therapies, had CBT, do daily journaling, have a pain group for peer support. You name it, I do it and I spend a great deal of time working on my internal self talk so I can survive. This week my symptoms were out of control to the point where I couldn't eat or sleep. I called the pain clinic and was told to meditate by an extremely bored and irritated sounding doctor. I just DON'T GET IT. I mean what did she think was going to happen at work that day? She's a pain clinic dotor? why was it a surprise to her that she had to talk to someone who needed help with their pain? I'm still baffled - i just cant imagine doing a job like that and having no curiousity or empathy for my patients.

We have had a look into this before and couldn’t find anyone reasonably local.

Tbh, her pain is at its worst when she’s tired or she’s over done it, so she does need to learn to listen to her body better, but she’s 17, she wants to do what 17 year olds do.

She also has Tourette’s which kind of makes everything harder. Ticcing is tiring, add a tic attack into the mix and she’s wiped out. Ticcing makes the FND symptoms such as seizures and dystonia kick in and then the pain worsens, which then sets of tic attacks, so it’s all a bit of a biscuits circle.

She has got to learn to manage all her symptoms, listen to her body and accept that, for now at least, she can’t do everything. If she’s been to college that day, maybe just go and groom her pony rather than blast round a cross country course.

Tbh, she is struggling to accept the FND diagnosis, so until she’s got her head around it, we’re not going to be able to think about managing her symptoms, including pain, better

@alloalloallo - it is possible to work by video, as there's no trance involved. I know Debbie Allen has experience of, and works with, fibromyalgia and pain management. She offers a free consultation so worth a call (and she is horsey!).

I’m a doctor. I think pain should always be addressed, and treated if possible. I wouldn’t leave someone to ‘suck it up’ when there were options available. However, sadly we can’t always make people pain free, no matter how hard we try. And sometimes trying in the wrong way can cause bigger problems (drug side effects, surgical complications, etc). Sometimes there isn’t much we can offer, doesn’t make it right but it’s a fact. I think as a society we struggle to accept that medicine has limits.

100% this. A huge part of my problem with some pain clinics is how condescending some of the staff can be, they can also come across as bored.

I am sorry but when I am in extreme pain from a spasm counting to 5 with my breath is not going to do fuck all. I have also been told if I have positive thoughts it will magically make the pain go away.

I bled solid for 6 months straight and was given Bacolofen by a GP, her excuse well you have your consultant appointment next week so no point giving you painkillers. I asked her if I would be pain free next week from the appointment she said no, To which I told her that her argument was not valid.

I am sick to death of being made to feel like I am a drug addict.