Posts by Lynn Webster, M.D.
The Annual Silver Pen Essay Contest
I’ve often said that writing can be therapeutic for people of all ages. The Annual Silver Pen Essay contest is a national program that invites seniors to contribute original essays and poetry. Entries are received at a central location in North Carolina, and then they are sent to their communities for judging.
Read MoreStephen F. von Till Shares an Original Poem Called “PAIN”
It is my privilege to share with you Stephen von Till’s poem, “Pain,” with his permission.
Read MoreChildren, Pain, and Rorschach Images
This article, in a slightly edited form, first appeared on Pain News Network on October 5, 2019. How a Child Responds to Pain No one saw it happen. My three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter was in the basement by herself when she broke her arm. My guess is that she was jumping on the couch or standing on…
Read MoreBelief and Chronic Pain
People who have faith in a higher power and turn to prayer may be availing themselves of the medical benefits of meditation.
Read MoreThe Opioid Risk Tool Has Been Inappropriately Weaponized
A history of experiencing preadolescent sexual abuse does not mean a person will necessarily develop an OUD. It is only a risk factor. It does not determine the outcome of using opioids, although it may partially indicate the level of monitoring, support, and education that would be appropriate.
Read MoreChronic Pain Accelerates Dementia
It can be argued that the most common type of dementia is associated with chronic pain. The amount, or severity, of dementia appears to be associated with the severity and duration of chronic pain. Undertreated or untreated chronic pain may accelerate dementia.
Read MoreThe Visible Few Pain Patients
The visible few are the small number of people whose stories have been heard by journalists, media consumers, and government officials. Their stories reflect millions of Americans suffering from chronic pain who live in the shadows and are invisible to most of us.
Read MoreIs Your Medication Effective or Was It Placebo Effect?
This article, in a slightly edited form, first appeared on Pain News Network on April 31, 2019. Most of us have been prescribed a medicine at some time in our lives, and if we got better, we probably assumed it was because the medication was effective. However, this may not have been completely true. A…
Read MoreTherapies of the Heart
In a recent blog, I noted that I would share my thoughts about pain management education with the NIH. I did so. A slightly edited form of my letter to the NIH follows. In the original, I included a formal bibliography. In this version, I have used hyperlinks for your convenience.
Read MoreWhich Drugs Do You Consider “Safe?”
Ten drugs that were removed from the market due to safety concerns over the last 30 years. It is interesting, and perhaps surprising, that four of them were anti-inflammatory drugs because most people presume these drugs are relatively safe.
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