Chronic Pain Whatever the cause, support for managing long term or intractable pain.


advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-21-2011, 07:19 PM #1
kittycapucine1974
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
kittycapucine1974
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Severe chronic pain vs. intractable pain

Hi, everybody:

I would like to know what the differences are between severe chronic pain and intractable pain.

Thanks for your information.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 09-21-2011, 11:26 PM #2
Leesa's Avatar
Leesa Leesa is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,424
10 yr Member
Leesa Leesa is offline
Senior Member
Leesa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,424
10 yr Member
Default

Hi ~ This is MY understanding of the two: Severe chronic pain is pain that is extremely bad, and has been going on for more than 3 months without relief.

Intractable pain is pain that is not relieved by ANYTHING -- nothing seems to work.

Now whether or not I'm correct could be up for discussion. LOL I hope this helps a little. Best of luck & God bless. Hugs, Lee
__________________
recovering alcoholic, sober since 7-29-93;severe depression; 2 open spinal surgeries; severe sciatica since 1986; epidurals; trigger points; myelograms; Rhizotomy; Racz procedure; spinal cord stimulator implant (and later removal); morphine pump trial (didn't work);now inoperable; lumpectomy; radiation; breast cancer survivor; heart attack; fibromyalgia; on disability.



Often the test of courage is not to die, but to live..
.................................................. ...............Orestes
Leesa is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-22-2011, 12:46 PM #3
Dr. Smith's Avatar
Dr. Smith Dr. Smith is offline
Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lost in Space
Posts: 3,515
10 yr Member
Dr. Smith Dr. Smith is offline
Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
Dr. Smith's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lost in Space
Posts: 3,515
10 yr Member
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kittycapucine1974 View Post
I would like to know what the differences are between severe chronic pain and intractable pain.
Definitions can & do vary depending on the source, and there can be some overlap. (Intractable pain is chronic pain, but chronic pain is not necessarily intractable.)

Chronic pain is generally used with regard to the duration of the pain - pain that lasts beyond the "normal" period expected. Sources differ on that duration - anywhere from 3 - 12 months beyond what is expected. Chronic pain can be constant or intermittant.

Intractable is generally used with regard to constancy & nonresponsiveness to ordinary treatment measures.

Quote:
What is Intractable Pain?
According to many surveys, as many as half the adult population claims to have some form of chronic pain. Common causes include headaches, TMJ, carpal tunnel, backaches, bunions, arthritis, sciatica, and fibromyalgia. Chronic pain can be intermittent or persistent and may require over-the-counter or prescription drugs in standard, labeled dosages. Seldom does this pain interfere with activities of daily living or disable a person for more that a few days. Intractable Pain (IP) on the other hand, is very unusual and has four outstanding characteristics: (1) constant, (2) severe, (3) disabling, and (4) causes detectable biologic impacts on the body's blood pressure, pulse rate, hormone levels, and neurologic systems. It should be considered a serious catastrophic condition that, inadequately treated, leads to premature death. Some of its complications include dementia, osteoporosis, muscle wasting, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Definition of Intractable Pain
"A severe, constant pain that is not curable by any known means and which causes a bed or house-bound state and early death if not adequately treated. It causes adverse biologic affects on the body's cardiovascular, hormone, and neurologic systems."

From: http://intractablepaindisease.com/
Quote:
While not curable, [Intractable pain], like diabetes, and some other serious medical conditions, can be controlled to relieve suffering and prolong life.

ibid.
Doc
__________________
Dr. Zachary Smith
Oh, the pain... THE PAIN...

Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE.
All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor.
Dr. Smith is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-22-2011, 01:52 PM #4
kittycapucine1974
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
kittycapucine1974
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Hi, Leesa and Dr. Smith:

I thought that severe chronic pain was severe pain that lasted beyond the time it took for the injury or disease causing the pain to heal. Some people say it is 3 months, others claim it is 6 months, and others 12 months.

As for intractable pain, I thought it was severe chronic pain that was hard to control, but not impossible to control.

According to what you typed, Leesa, it seems that I was wrong: you said intractable pain was pain that is not relieved by anything. According to Leesa, the severe chronic pain I have might not be intractable pain because my severe chronic pain is controlled with Duragesic, MSIR, and Tambocor.

According to the criteria Dr. Smith gave, the severe chronic pain I have could be intractable pain. Dr. Smith said: "Intractable Pain (IP) has four outstanding characteristics: (1) constant, (2) severe, (3) disabling, and (4) causes detectable biologic impacts on the body's blood pressure, pulse rate, hormone levels, and neurologic systems." My pain is: 1) constant (or permanent) without treatment, 2) severe (or intense) without treatment, 3) disabling (I cannot do almost anything without the treatment mentioned above), and 4) my blood pressure goes through the roof without treatment, my pulse rate increases without treatment, my hormone levels are always lower than the normal level...

Thank you both for your information. I have trouble deciding what type of pain I have. If it was intractable, doctors would take me more seriously instead of acting like my pain was in my mind and all I needed is a shrink. I admit I do hate shrinks because they treated me like the doctors I just mentioned.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-23-2011, 02:02 AM #5
Dr. Smith's Avatar
Dr. Smith Dr. Smith is offline
Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lost in Space
Posts: 3,515
10 yr Member
Dr. Smith Dr. Smith is offline
Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
Dr. Smith's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lost in Space
Posts: 3,515
10 yr Member
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kittycapucine1974 View Post
I have trouble deciding what type of pain I have. If it was intractable, doctors would take me more seriously instead of acting like my pain was in my mind and all I needed is a shrink.
Not necessarily. Here's another definition:
Quote:
intractable pain

Etymology: L, intractabilis, hard to manage, poena, penalty

pain that is not relieved by ordinary medical, surgical, and nursing measures. The pain is often chronic and persistent and can be psychogenic in nature.

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedic...tractable+pain
I'm not saying I don't believe you; I do. I'm just trying to illustrate how these definitions can differ, and this one acknowledges that intractable pain can be in one's head. Other sources will point out that this does not make the pain any less real!

If I may suggest, google: definition intractable pain, read the entire site I quoted in my previous post, download Dr. Tennant's Intractable Pain Patient's Handbook for Survival, and peruse his other site:
http://www.foresttennant.com/

I know, lots to read & learn, but we have to in order to help our doctors help us. FWIW (and if it helps), September is Pain Awareness Month:
http://www.painfoundation.org/get-involved/pam/
google: pain awareness month

HTH,

Doc
__________________
Dr. Zachary Smith
Oh, the pain... THE PAIN...

Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE.
All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor.
Dr. Smith is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Does chronic fibromyalga cause severe pain in soles of feet nubiene Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue 17 05-14-2014 12:24 PM
Hormone Therapy for Intractable Pain Dr. Smith Medications & Treatments 5 10-05-2011 10:11 AM
Intractable pain survival - PDF Jomar Thoracic Outlet Syndrome 1 12-12-2010 08:42 AM
Chronic and Severe Arm and Hand Pain, anyone ideas? pamb Spinal Disorders & Back Pain 3 07-14-2008 02:48 PM
Gene Variation affects pain sensitivity and risk of chronic pain - NIH press release fmichael Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD and CRPS) 2 10-26-2006 06:35 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:13 PM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.