"The first step, he said, is "to recognize pain as a disease." He argues chronic pain has been assigned a "secondary role." For example, when a patient says their knee hurts, their doctor focuses on joint disease rather than finding a means to treat their chronic pain."

http://www.exchangemagazine.com/morn...ay/0205016.htm

I often wonder if I had gotten earlier and more appropriate treatment if my condition wouldn't be much better today. Of course If I had been treated then I'd likely still have been reinjured and the condition worsened.

It's funny, but I never cared about pain before RSD. If something hurt I turned the pain off and kept it off until it was healed. It's like the old joke; patient; "Doctor, doctor, it hurts when I do this.". Doctor; Don't do that.

It's odd having pain that can't be shut off and gets worse if you think about it.

Yes, I know a lot of pain can't be shut down and have some arthritis to prove it.

The whole concept of chronic pain being classified as a disease rather than a secondary symptom of a separate disease has many great advantages for us. Just imagine if all newly diagnosed RSD (chronic pain) patients didn't have to fight insurance companies, health care providers and governments for appropriate and timely treatment. This shift in thinking could help bring the issues patients have to battle constantly to the forefront of medicine. If chronic pain is indeed considered a separate disease that needs to be treated in it's own right, than perhaps even more money to fund chronic pain programs and research money would pour in, bringing more interest from the scientific community. Perhaps more doctors would be inclined to take up this type of specialty.

Just some thoughts...hoping for a brighter future for us all.

MsL

Boy this really does need to be done. I am sooo glad that my doctors arent giving me it is all in my head talks anymore. The first 3 years of pain for me was pure H*LL. Pain was tremendous, and all the doctors want to do is coach me on the evils of narcotics.

I dont know how many times in that time I heard that I am making it up, or it is all in my head, or come on it cant be that bad. I really feel for the folks that are still in that area of disbelief.