As part of my pain fighting routine, I swim 3 times a week at the Physical Therapy facility I was treated at recently. I now have a gym membership which allows me access to all the equipment they have, including their lovely, warm pool. I have been doing this for about 2 years.
A few months ago, I noticed someone new in the pool. I'd see her once in a while and my only -- admittedly short-sighted and somewhat prejudiced -- thought was that she was obviously an athlete because she was in excellent shape, the kind of shape anyone would be envious of but those of us who've spent our lives as non-athletes can really envy.
Most people in the pool stay to themselves unless in a class or you've simply seen each other far too often not to say hello. By nature, I tend to stay to myself and go about my routine, which takes about 1 1/2 hours. It seemed to me that this girl -- who is probably in her early 30s but that's young to me -- was of a similar mind: keep to yourself, do your thing and leave.
Last week, I arrived just as the arthritis class of about 4 women were leaving. This girl was also in the pool but was in the jets at one end which usually signals the end of your workout. So I expected her to leave soon and to turn off the jets. But she stayed. I started, as I do every workout, by walking up and down the pool -- forwards then backwards 30 times. After about my 5th lap, I glanced up to find this girl half kneeling on the seat by the jets nearly in tears. I couldn't remain silent.
I said, "I can feel the waves of pain coming off you. You're having a bad day, right?"
And she started to cry. Just tears coming down her obviously agonized face.
I added, "I honestly do know how you're feeling."
And she started to tell me her story.
Nothing I had assumed was true. Her body's excellent condition is genetics; she hasn't worked out since 2000 because of a back injury which lead to neck problems which lead to low back problems and on and on and on... with no real relief. She wears a pain patch (I don't know what kind of medicine it is) that she rolled her eyes at and said how much it didn't help. She talked about her doctor and the rest of her pain team, all of whom she likes except the pain doctor himself (on a team with a neurosurgeon, pain psychologist and others). She said he was an ass and didn't hear anything she was saying and she was beyond frustrated.
Sounded like deja vu and I told her some of my own story. We talked as I continued my routine and she lingered in the pool, doing more stretches and floating, as we all do when we're done working out. She told me she's not a talker or a cryer but she'd reached her saturation point that day. As we were alone in the pool for about an hour, we talked and compared notes and commiserated. It is rare that you, as a pain patient, have this kind of opportunity to actually talk to another pain patient. Unless you're in a support group -- and so many of us aren't joiners by nature and our pain makes us even less likely to join -- there is no give and take between people going through the exact same thing, dealing with chronic pain, as we are.
She left the pool before me but I followed a few minutes later. When I got to the locker room, she was showering and I could hear her efforts to just move in the shower. By the time I was dressed, she was drying off and nearly in tears again.
I said, "It hurt to even get dressed, I know."
That's when she turned to me and said, "Thank you for talking to me. I'm usually not a talker but you really helped me today."
I got a little choked up, I admit, because helping people going through the same horror I've been going through for 40 years feels good. I actually find something -- finally -- good in what I've experienced with pain. If I can give one person a little understanding, then that helps me in return, to feel I'm accomplishing something for someone else. It's a great feeling.
I told her, she was welcome and to just remember there really are people out here to understand.
She told me her schedule and I told her mine. I wasn't able to get back to the pool this past week but I'll be there this coming week. If I run into her again, great. If not, I know I gave her a moment of understanding and, sometimes, that's all it takes to lift our burden, at least for a few moments.
The girl in the pool said I helped her but she helped me just as much. I got a kick in the ass for making assumptions about other people but I also got validation in return for my empathy and that is as a better pain pill than most.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Friday, May 27, 2016
DNA Pain Study
I am a patient at the USC Pain Management Clinic (Los Angeles, CA), have been for approximately 30 years. About three months ago, I became part of a DNA study about how the body of a chronic pain patient processes pain medication. It involved a DNA swab of the inside of each cheek and filling out some rather long, in depth questions about different aspect of my pain, of my daily ability to maintain my health, myself and my life. I got the results this past Monday.
The outcome told me that I am NOT susceptible to opioids . I already knew that from my lengthy dance with pain meds; trying this, trying that, etc etc etc. But having it written in medical-study ink gave some power to me as a patient. This study indicated strongly that I can be given opioids with no risk of physical addiction.
This is a new study and I don't know if it's taking place anywhere other that USC. But it seems to me that this is a HUGE step forward in pain treatment. If doctors can run a DNA test to see which medications a patient is and isn't reacting well to or has the potential to react poorly to a drug or family of drugs, addiction from doctor prescribed opioids would drop significantly. Which would mean more effective treatment of acute and chronic pain, especially chronic pain. People who can chemically process opioids would be able to rely on them without doctors and hospitals and family and friends and the public thinking them drug addicts.
This is just a first step. But it's an excellent step. One I will continuing taking part in. My recent visit to my pain doctor also included filling out questions again. They are lengthy and address different aspects of chronic pain and how it effects your life but that's a good thing. Details given by patients along with the DNA information is how treatment of pain is going to grow past the sense that you're a criminal if you ask for pain medication, even with good cause.
I have been fortunate to be treated at USC Pain Management Clinic by Dr. Linda Rever for 30 years. She knows me. She knows my reactions to different treatments; we've tried everything there is to try over time. And we might go on trying new things to see if my treatment can be taken in a different direction for better pain relief.
The study also showed my body's reaction to the other medications I'm on; a cocktail of multiple pain blockers. It showed I have a tendency toward toxicity with two of the medications in that cocktail so now the doctor knows to track those two drugs more carefully, to test for side effects. This is also information for *me* to use. I now know what to watch for in myself and to track what is and isn't normal reactions to the medications I take each day.
This is a powerful step forward in the shadow of the CDC's recommendations about opioid prescription, it's advice to try everything BUT opioids before prescribing them. Which sounds fine unless you're the person in pain right now. Not in a week, not in three months, NOW. Trying hypnosis and meditation and using psychological tools to overcome pain sounds great. But from someone who is often stricken with pain so bad that I am immobile, the only thing that will allow me to live to the next day when I am stricken with this level of pain is serious pain medication.
Not to knock these other treatments. I've been meditating regularly for about 30 years. Every night and, if it's a bad day, more often. I regularly see a psychologist who helps me deal with living every day with chronic pain. I've tried hypnosis and acupuncture and acupressure and things that seem like Voo Doo. I'm not telling anyone not to try alternative methods of pain relief. But access to opioid medication is necessary. Until something else comes along to indicate more precisely how each person should be treated -- possibly a DNA study of chronic pain -- they are the best option we have.
The outcome told me that I am NOT susceptible to opioids . I already knew that from my lengthy dance with pain meds; trying this, trying that, etc etc etc. But having it written in medical-study ink gave some power to me as a patient. This study indicated strongly that I can be given opioids with no risk of physical addiction.
This is a new study and I don't know if it's taking place anywhere other that USC. But it seems to me that this is a HUGE step forward in pain treatment. If doctors can run a DNA test to see which medications a patient is and isn't reacting well to or has the potential to react poorly to a drug or family of drugs, addiction from doctor prescribed opioids would drop significantly. Which would mean more effective treatment of acute and chronic pain, especially chronic pain. People who can chemically process opioids would be able to rely on them without doctors and hospitals and family and friends and the public thinking them drug addicts.
This is just a first step. But it's an excellent step. One I will continuing taking part in. My recent visit to my pain doctor also included filling out questions again. They are lengthy and address different aspects of chronic pain and how it effects your life but that's a good thing. Details given by patients along with the DNA information is how treatment of pain is going to grow past the sense that you're a criminal if you ask for pain medication, even with good cause.
I have been fortunate to be treated at USC Pain Management Clinic by Dr. Linda Rever for 30 years. She knows me. She knows my reactions to different treatments; we've tried everything there is to try over time. And we might go on trying new things to see if my treatment can be taken in a different direction for better pain relief.
The study also showed my body's reaction to the other medications I'm on; a cocktail of multiple pain blockers. It showed I have a tendency toward toxicity with two of the medications in that cocktail so now the doctor knows to track those two drugs more carefully, to test for side effects. This is also information for *me* to use. I now know what to watch for in myself and to track what is and isn't normal reactions to the medications I take each day.
This is a powerful step forward in the shadow of the CDC's recommendations about opioid prescription, it's advice to try everything BUT opioids before prescribing them. Which sounds fine unless you're the person in pain right now. Not in a week, not in three months, NOW. Trying hypnosis and meditation and using psychological tools to overcome pain sounds great. But from someone who is often stricken with pain so bad that I am immobile, the only thing that will allow me to live to the next day when I am stricken with this level of pain is serious pain medication.
Not to knock these other treatments. I've been meditating regularly for about 30 years. Every night and, if it's a bad day, more often. I regularly see a psychologist who helps me deal with living every day with chronic pain. I've tried hypnosis and acupuncture and acupressure and things that seem like Voo Doo. I'm not telling anyone not to try alternative methods of pain relief. But access to opioid medication is necessary. Until something else comes along to indicate more precisely how each person should be treated -- possibly a DNA study of chronic pain -- they are the best option we have.
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