What’s Massachusetts thinking? The newest twist in the painkiller abuse debate is that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has proposed legislation that has me in dejected disbelief. The bill would restrict both doctors and dentists from prescribing more than 72 hours of medication to patients upon initial injury or surgery. I understand the thought but it…
Read MoreDr. Lynn Webster: Hello, this is Dr. Lynn Webster. Thank you for listening to this pain topic series of interviews on lynnwebstermd.com. Today I’m proud to have Dr. Bob Twillman, most of you probably are aware of Dr. Twillman. Dr. Lynn Webster: Hello, this is Dr. Lynn Webster. Thank you for listening to this pain…
Read MoreCarl Jung once remarked, “The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.” When I think about the nation’s patchwork quilt policy toward opioids, I’m reminded of how right he was. In my book “The Painful Truth,” I devoted some space to outline a brief history of opioids, and…
Read MoreIn my column in Pain Medicine News this month, I talked about a tragic dual suicide attempt of a married couple I knew, both of whom suffered from chronic pain. From one standpoint, a story like this is as shocking as it is incomprehensible. From another perspective, it’s becoming another sad milepost in society–not unlike the rash…
Read MoreDr. Lynn Webster: Hello, this is Dr. Lynn Webster. Thank you for listening to this pain topic series of interviews on lynnwebstermd.com. Today I’m proud to have Dr. Bob Twillman, most of you probably are aware of Dr. Twillman. He is executive director for the American Academy of Pain Management and I believe is probably…
Read MoreFighting Chronic Pain as a Teenager Chronic pain is almost always life altering, but it can be an especially difficult adjustment when it impacts someone whose life is just beginning. Ali Goldsmith was 14 when she started to feel the effects of chronic pain. After surgery to remove bunions, her pain worsened when her doctor…
Read MoreSuicide and Chronic Pain Of all the consequences that accompany chronic pain, none other is as heartbreaking as suicide. While the physical impacts of pain are recognized and can often be improved, the stress associated with chronic pain, social stigma, and feelings of hopelessness can be overwhelming, sometimes leading a person to feel that life…
Read MoreWhy I Wrote “The Painful Truth” People in pain have never been heard as legitimate patients. With more than 30 years of listening to heart wrenching stories of how people in pain are ignored and denigrated, I wanted to give them a voice. The scarcity of the public and medical understanding about pain has translated…
Read MorePrior to having chronic pain, John Kay was ambitious in all aspects of his life. He married early and, through hard work, advanced quickly in his father’s land surveying company, often volunteering for the most challenging assignments that would set him apart from the rest. John’s eagerness helped him climb the ranks at work, but…
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