Posts Tagged ‘the painful truth book’
Canadian Survey Repudiates Government Policies Harming People in Pain
It is understandable that politicians want to reduce the harm from inappropriate use of opioids, but it should not be at the expense of people in pain. This is a human rights issue that must not be ignored.
Read MoreColor Hurts
This article, in a slightly edited form, first appeared on Pain News Network on October 26, 2019. It is a myth that the matador’s red muleta incites rage in the bull and causes him to charge; the truth is, all cattle are colorblind. The bull does not charge because of the color, but because of…
Read MoreThe 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 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.
Read MoreAre Prescribed Opioids the Culprits or the Scapegoats?
Solving the drug crisis will not be easy. However, the disenfranchised members of our most impoverished communities deserve viable solutions to their problems. It is crucial to understand the degree to which job loss and hopelessness contribute to the drug problem. Reputable data proves that the volume of opioids prescribed is not solely, or even primarily, responsible for the opioid crisis. Let’s be sure we are not using prescription opioids as the scapegoat.
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