A PLEA FOR HELP
I
am now at the point in my life where I can barely stand or walk even with
a cane and have had to use a wheelchair and an electric scooter in order
to mobilize myself through a mall. What is more devastating to accept is
the pain continues without proper relief supplied by any Health Practitioner.
Many Physicians should take lessons from Veterinarians who seem to possess
more compassion and humanity for their patients. We must stop our Physicians
from practicing their antiquated medicine and live in the present.
These same Physicians are only afraid for themselves and not their patients.
There are three stages from injuries or chronic pain to overcome which
is basically very similar to a grieving process as anger, denial and eventually
acceptance. Many of us remain in the anger stage because of our doctors
inappropriate understanding and treatment of our conditions. I now suffer
from FMS/MPS/CFS, Osteoporosis, spina bifada occulta, scoliosis, CTS, TMJ,
etc. and daily chronic pain from these conditions/illnesses and with very
little help in alleviating the pain. Chronic pain robs us of our self-esteem,
self-worth and dignity. Must we resort to pleading for help? My quality
of life has been taken away; the old life has been taken away and
our so-called medical professionals refuse to allow us to live at least
in a pain-free environment. What happened to compassion being taught in
medical schools? Only physicians who live in chronic pain know the
difference and are willing to cooperate and believe in our situation as
any other patient who suffers from other illnesses. Many of our doctor/specialists
find it difficult to believe we are as ill as we state because of our outward
appearance. Why should I have to look outside the way I feel inside, even
though it is a mask to cover up the pain. I have tried to approach
others in order to help them in a positive way to accept their present
conditions. This is rather difficult when i cannot obtain the proper help
for myself.
Incompetence is something I cannot deal with. Lack of knowledge, lack of research, listening, patience, lack of inhumanity is intolerable. When are they going to listen? Only those who understand chronic pain take the time to learn the ways it affects one's daily living. We have educated ourselves in these matters. It is time our doctors take more of an interest and educate themselves in these same matters. Early evaluation is also extremely important as many of these conditions do not appear all at once. I am at no time pain free and it is common knowledge that addiction to certain pain medications is less than 1% . Many articles can be obtained on that subject. My cards have been dealt this way, but at least grant me some dignity to live life in less pain.
(c) Maureen B. Hall
I Am A Proud Member Of:
Phenomenal
Women Of The Web
(c) Maureen B. Black
1998/99/00/01/
mbblack@shaw.ca