Walk a Day in My Shoes (or in My Wheelchair)

I just read an email from a person (a veteran and senior citizen) who had a negative experience with a doctor in the VA system. The doctor challenged his use of prescription pain medication and questioned whether he was malingering and using these medications to avoid working. Horrible treatment. The saddest part is that this is NOT an isolated incident. It happens regularly (in and out of the VA system) to thousands of people who have chronic pain.

This person wrote: “If only this doctor could spend but a day in my wheelchair, and suffer the pain which I do and have, his attitude would definitely change.” That’s a powerful sentence and probably very true.

I replied: “You are not alone. Thousands of people feel exactly as you do and that’s why the American Pain Foundation is so important. The bottom line is that everyone deserves timely and effective pain management – and that sometimes includes prescription pain medicines.

Let me say that not everyone has to fight to get appropriate pain care. I now have a wonderful doctor and family nurse practitioner and am getting the health care support I need, but no one should have to fight for that kind of support. Every day I believe more strongly in the importance of uniting to take action and raise awareness of the undeserved stigmas and unacceptable treatment of chronic pain. Will you join me? Join with the American Pain Foundation so together, we can make a difference.