Word To the Wise

If you are a chronic pain patient, first of all, You are NOT alone.  There are millions out there suffering from some sort of chronic pain and thousands that are not getting any treatment what so ever.  So how does it make sense, that the people who need help can't because they are called crazy, or depressed, or drug addicts when the people who don't need help, drug addicts, have all of the access?  I will tell you a few reasons why...

1) People who are in severe chronic pain can not go into a doctor's office groomed up because they are in too much pain to stand, much less make themselves look pretty.
2)Many people who have severe chronic pain and/or have gone for periods of time without treatment are frustrated, skeptical, desperate,confused and angry
3)People just can't believe in something they can't see right away (the reason why many people with chronic pain go without any testing)

What can we do?
If you are a chronic pain patient one of the best things you can do to help you get treatment is to take people with you who witness your everyday trials.  A lot of family members will never be able to understand what you are going through because they are not living it, but if they acknowledge that you are in pain and need help, then they can be a great witness to a doctor letting them know that you are in pain even if you don't look it.  I know, I know, you've had to build up a certain amount of strength to the point where everyday people don't even realize there's something wrong with you.  But this is where having a witness can help.  You don't have to be "weak" and lose that hard earned "skin" but you also have someone to let the doctor know that you desperately need help.  A spouse is great, parents are good, kids, siblings, even close friends that you trust.
Another thing to remember is that if you don't have that "skin" yet, or if you can let it go for a short time, this is okay.  It doesn't make you weak.  It doesn't make you any less than or what you are going through any less than.  Sometimes it can help, sometimes it won't.  There are some doctors that won't listen the second they hear the phrase chronic pain because in most places it has become synonymous with drug addict, which is something that we should try to change.  But cussing out the doctors, or hitting them in some cases, isn't going to do that.  Stay calm but allow them to see how much you are hurting.  Like I said, some doctors will have their mind made up before you even get to the appointment, but some will see what's in front of their faces, your suffering, and have a change of heart.  It's worth a shot.