I am so sorry to learn what you've been going through all these years. Dealing with chronic pain affects all aspects of one's life. I do hope you find the relief you need and deserve.
Oh Maud! Thanks for being so supportive. I just watched a movie last night that was all about the initial war on opiates. It made a very moving case and an enraging case for why opiates were so misused and how they were so misused in the beginning. Still, it makes me angry to see that that is the only story running. When is somebody going to make a movie about the chronic pain issues and the way we refuse to treat them. Sorry, I got on a rant!
Society has gone from under-regulating these drugs to over-regulating them. And, the onus of regulation seems to fall mostly on the patients. Even elderly ones with preexisting conditions. It’s outrageous. We’ve deliberately learned all the wrong lessons from the opioid crisis.
Wow! I couldn’t agree with you more about learning all the wrong lessons from the opioid crisis. Why do we have to swing so violently from one side to the next. Thanks for writing!!
Such a powerful, beautifully written piece. Thank you for sharing your story and illuminating how suffering is compounded for so manywho are battling chronic, and crippling physical pain.
Terry, I am so glad you commented on the post and the point of it. You had receptive ears, and I appreciate that. I am glad you didn't mind me sharing my story--I never want to be too personal--and that doesn't seem to be in my wheelhouse anyway! I am just a personal sort of writer, I guess. ANyway, thanks for being here and one of my readers.
Linda, I had no idea this was going on. Pain is a killer of everything, yet here you are, writing. Shame on top of physical suffering is a hard, hard burden.
Rona—thanks for the wonderful comment. Isn’t it special when someone you admire sends you kudos! I’m glad you understood about the shame coupled with the pain. That was indeed the whole point!
OMG your ending--"mercy is not weakness"--gutted me, Linda. I had no idea this was happening. I'm zooming out to what I have learned about the opioid epidemic, and it seems to me that the pendulum has swung to the extreme other side. Now there is nothing but suspicion and scrutiny and humiliation for patients managing chronic pain. Linda, I am grateful you have shed light on this by sharing your story so honestly, and also that you are able to articulate such a complicated issue in a way that humanizes those who are affected by this new health care problem. Sending you so much love across the miles and I dearly hope you can get to a place of comfort and quality of life that you deserve.
Jeannie--as always, wonderful to hear from you! I am glad you so much "got the point" of the post. I wondered if I was going to get a lot of flack for it. I'm sure there are those who would debate me. In any case, my friend, I am so happy to have you "on my team" and to have you be so supportive!
I am always here for you, Linda. You do such an excellent job of bringing complex and highly emotional subjects to light with such clarity and sensitivity. I truly think that's your gift.
This particular essay seems to offer a different but necessary angle to the discussion surrounding controlled substances for pain management.
So many have only received extreme ends of the spectrum, and you're offering a human glimpse. It's really important.
I am so sorry to learn what you've been going through all these years. Dealing with chronic pain affects all aspects of one's life. I do hope you find the relief you need and deserve.
Oh Maud! Thanks for being so supportive. I just watched a movie last night that was all about the initial war on opiates. It made a very moving case and an enraging case for why opiates were so misused and how they were so misused in the beginning. Still, it makes me angry to see that that is the only story running. When is somebody going to make a movie about the chronic pain issues and the way we refuse to treat them. Sorry, I got on a rant!
Society has gone from under-regulating these drugs to over-regulating them. And, the onus of regulation seems to fall mostly on the patients. Even elderly ones with preexisting conditions. It’s outrageous. We’ve deliberately learned all the wrong lessons from the opioid crisis.
Wow! I couldn’t agree with you more about learning all the wrong lessons from the opioid crisis. Why do we have to swing so violently from one side to the next. Thanks for writing!!
Thanks. I meant to say, “Society has gone from under-regulating these drugs to over-regulating them.”.
Linda,
Such a powerful, beautifully written piece. Thank you for sharing your story and illuminating how suffering is compounded for so manywho are battling chronic, and crippling physical pain.
How true, Terry! You obviously got my point. With a crisis like the opioid battles we can only hope to be more compassionate and more “merciful.”
Terry, I am so glad you commented on the post and the point of it. You had receptive ears, and I appreciate that. I am glad you didn't mind me sharing my story--I never want to be too personal--and that doesn't seem to be in my wheelhouse anyway! I am just a personal sort of writer, I guess. ANyway, thanks for being here and one of my readers.
Linda, I had no idea this was going on. Pain is a killer of everything, yet here you are, writing. Shame on top of physical suffering is a hard, hard burden.
Rona—thanks for the wonderful comment. Isn’t it special when someone you admire sends you kudos! I’m glad you understood about the shame coupled with the pain. That was indeed the whole point!
OMG your ending--"mercy is not weakness"--gutted me, Linda. I had no idea this was happening. I'm zooming out to what I have learned about the opioid epidemic, and it seems to me that the pendulum has swung to the extreme other side. Now there is nothing but suspicion and scrutiny and humiliation for patients managing chronic pain. Linda, I am grateful you have shed light on this by sharing your story so honestly, and also that you are able to articulate such a complicated issue in a way that humanizes those who are affected by this new health care problem. Sending you so much love across the miles and I dearly hope you can get to a place of comfort and quality of life that you deserve.
Jeannie--as always, wonderful to hear from you! I am glad you so much "got the point" of the post. I wondered if I was going to get a lot of flack for it. I'm sure there are those who would debate me. In any case, my friend, I am so happy to have you "on my team" and to have you be so supportive!
I am always here for you, Linda. You do such an excellent job of bringing complex and highly emotional subjects to light with such clarity and sensitivity. I truly think that's your gift.
This particular essay seems to offer a different but necessary angle to the discussion surrounding controlled substances for pain management.
So many have only received extreme ends of the spectrum, and you're offering a human glimpse. It's really important.