No one with chronic pain medicates to zero pain, despite what doctors and internet trolls believe. Despite this being a myth, the common view is that the opioid epidemic was caused by pain patients demanding that they never be in pain ever, and so they medicated themselves into painless zombies.
This is absolutely ridiculous, and every person who has experienced chronic pain knows it.
No one medicates to zero chronic pain.
No one.
The idea of taking pain medication for chronic pain is to be able to live some sort of life, despite the never-ending pain. If there’s a doctor out there willing to give their legitimate pain patient enough medication so they never ever hurt, I’d love to get their information. The majority of the doctors that participated in fueling the “opioid crisis” weren’t helping legitimate pain patients, they were fueling addiction because it was profitable to do so.
The idea of taking opioids for chronic pain is to be able to live some sort of life, despite the never-ending agony. Click To TweetPeople with chronic pain have always been expected to accept their pain and to a certain amount, get over it. Doctors have been telling women that their pain isn’t important since the beginning of time, and the opioid epidemic didn’t change that.
What it really means to medicate for chronic pain
Back in the day when I could get opioids for my pain, I used them to help me get through the more arduous tasks I had to do in order to be a parent and a member of society. I only had one pill per day so I had to use them very carefully. I generally saved mine for nighttime in order to lower my pain levels enough to sleep. Sometimes I took pain medication after a long afternoon on my feet helping at my children’s school. In both of these cases, the medication did not make my pain go away, it only made it bearable. It stopped me from being so consumed with misery that I couldn’t live any sort of life.
Nowadays I no longer receive treatment for pain. This basically means I don’t sleep, and because I don’t sleep I can’t function very well. I’ve had to drop many of my activities that support my children. I can no longer actively play with them, I have to play from a chair or the couch. I can’t take them hiking anymore, even though that’s one of my favorite things to do. I can’t take them on the kind of exploratory vacations I used to, because the walking just causes too much pain. I can’t concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes, because the pain takes over my whole brain. But at least I have the comfort of knowing I’m not addicted.
When it comes to the opioid crisis people in pain present a problem that no one knows how to solve, so it's easier just to blame the victim. Click To TweetWhy do so many people think that chronic pain patients want to medicate to zero pain?
And why do people think that people in pain are always addicted?
I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t know the answer to this question. As someone whose been in constant, agonizing, 24/7 pain for 9 years it seems obvious that the pain never actually goes away. For whatever reason, most people and most doctors think that pain patients are demanding no pain, and that is what makes them “addicts”. I do have a few theories on why this is
- opioid crisis hysteria
- not knowing the difference between addiction and dependence
- lack of experience with long term pain
- lack of empathy
- the need for someone to blame
Most likely it’s a combination of all these things. Unfortunately, none of these instances are easy to fix. The media and the government insist that anyone who takes pain medication ever is an “addict” and they refuse to acknowledge dependence being different. The opioid hysteria has people freaking out about loved ones dying of addiction, and when you’re freaking out it’s hard to use logic and easy to blame doctors or people in pain. To be clear, I do not want to demonize people with addiction, and I’m thrilled that addiction is now being treated seriously. It’s just ironic that people in pain are considered a menace to society.
Perhaps the real issue is that people in pain present a problem that no one knows how to solve, and so it’s easier just to blame the victim.
My pain pill each day just allowed me to get out of bed to do special things with my grandchildren. Now that they have been taken away, I can no longer do anything with them and my newborn grandson will not know his grandma at all. The older grandchildren might remember a little bit, but the baby will never see me out of bed. Makes me so sad. I’m only 65, but may as well be dead!!!!
I am so sorry Bonnie. I’m very limited now as well, so I know how awful it feels. I hope you know your grandkids will always know you love them, even if you can’t play with them the same way.
If I had zero pain, I would think I was dead!
Oh, my, I feel your pain, Bonnie! I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. I pray you find doctors willing to work with you, effectively addressing your pain, your specific situation.
Well said! No one understands nuance. Sharing.
I agree. People don’t understand unless they also live with chronic pain.
To be completely pain free is just a distant dream for so many of us isn’t it?! The issues surrounding the prescribing of opiates are starting to hit here in the UK now – I have followed your posts and fear the “hysteria” is making its way across the pond. Shared this all over and linked on my most recent blog post, Claire x