How would you feel if you knew that the police person that helped you out in a bad situation, who you were so grateful for being there; took pain medication on a chronic basis?
Would it matter to you?
On my last visit with my beloved Pain Management Physician, we discussed again the subject of his patients and the wide variety of people he treats. Treats with medications along with other modalities to help chronic pain. He had just seen a police officer that obviously carries a handgun, and is authorized to use a wide variety of forceful and deadly weapons.
I just love my doctor, he has not only treated me with the utmost of empathy and desire to truly help my life and spine get functional again, but he has always stood by my side if I need any kind of letter, or to speak to someone, when it comes to the issue of drug testing, employment barriers, etc. I think 'barrier' when thinking of drug testing, because we basically never know if that is a reason we are not getting the job. Illegal? Of course!! But we would never really know.
I feel that whatever my doctor recommends regarding medication is the absolute way to go. No arguments from me, although we do have lengthy conversations about my frustration of not being able at this time to work in nursing the way I want to, and how he values my knowledge as a healthcare professional, and my knowledge of medications, anatomy, physiology, etc., which always makes the visit easier. For both of us!!
Back to the professionals he treats. Myself included. Whether handling firearms, or nursing a patient back to health, my doctor makes sure that his professional patients (and of course, all other patients) are exactly where we need to be as far as that slight balance between taking medications for pain and being able to function just fine, and taking medications for pain and not being able to function. It is a very fine line, and what he does is an art.
Reminds me of how a Psychiatrist must balance people with medications. Find what works, what the patient has adverse reactions to, if the side effects are more than the benefit of the drug. Pain management is that balance also. Remove the horrid pain of a really wrecked spine, and still maintain a state of focus, being tolerant to a dosage, and not feel anything that affects the CNS. (Central Nervous System) In other words, his patients don't walk around feeling 'high', or unusually tired, or unable to focus. In those cases, he would not ok the patient to be at work if showing the signs of misuse.
Remember, compliance is the key for all patients in chronic pain management!! We have as much responsibility to our doctors, as we want them to be for us.
How would you feel if you knew that the nurse taking care of you or a family member took medications so they can function at work without extreme pain? Or my example at the top of a policeman? I am not saying that these examples are those professionals who choose to divert meds, or take them on the sly, or simply to get high. I am strictly speaking of ongoing pain management. Key word--management. A physician is correctly prescribing and managing all medication.
I would love to hear your thoughts!!!
Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~
Thursday, December 29, 2011
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In my personal situation, I see pain meds as necessary to function. I know that when I hurt, I cannot do my job, or at least do it as well as I would like. I have a desk job, so there are really no dangers to others when I work. There are times that I look back at work I did previously, and it is wrong, or I don't remember doing whatever it was. But I don't know if it was because I was over or under-medicated, or if I just had a crappy day. That gives me something to think about, as I feel that I am developing a higher tolerance to the pain med I am currently on, and need more to get relief.
ReplyDeleteAs for others, I feel that if they are being closely monitored by their prescriber, I'm okay with it. I would much rather have a cop that is not edgy and pain-free, than someone who is miserable in their own skin, and much more likely to over-react.
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ReplyDeleteI don't rent cars for work, or drive other people for work especially when traveling because I am unfamiliar with DUI laws in all the states, and even tho I am under physician supervision I am unwilling to take the liability for the company on driving. I think that there is a fine line we walk between pain control and functionality. I choose to live with a great deal more pain than my physician wants me to because I lose functionality with higher doses of medication. There are physical consequences to this decision - as my blood pressure stays elevated due to pain response. I have to monitor when my pain is taking over and I lose functionality that way also. I don't have a problem with any responsible person taking pain medication for a pain condition. I have a problem irresponsible people whether they take medicaiton or not!!!:)
ReplyDeleteI do not have a problem with people taking pain medications if they have a condition that requires the use of pain medications, provided they are able to function well on those meds. Sadly most people do not think that way. They equate pain medications to being high and can not see any other outcome for a person taking those meds.
ReplyDeleteShauna,
ReplyDeleteThere have been studies that show that chronic pain patients tend not to be treated aggressively enough for their pain.
Between societal stigma attached to certain medications (often due, in part, to sensationalistic, slanted media stories) and many people's confusion about the difference between tolerance and addiction, many patients suffer needlessly by being under-treated for pain.
Many doctors are afraid to prescribe what is truly in the patient's best interest for fear that they will be audited regarding their prescription-ordering for controlled substances.
It is unfortunate that the patients are the ones who suffer in all this.
As far as the police officer scenario you mentioned, if the prescribing physician is a responsible one and thinks it's safe, the officer may well be more effective and safe on-the-job with medication than without.
Anyone who lives with chronic pain knows how very distracting the pain itself can be. Unless a medication is impairing the officer's ability to execute the job safely, I don't see a problem.
Obviously, pain management is a highly individualized and customized sort of thing. So, whether the officer would be safe taking such medication (at work) would be something the doctor and officer would need to determine.
Jeanne
the place in you banner is beautiful,i wish to have my home on sea side as well
ReplyDeleteGenetech
i want to have my house at the sea shore.
ReplyDeleteE-Clinical