one woman’s journey navigating a new normal
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. It's also Pain Awareness Month. While suicide is a difficult topic to address, it’s vital that we do so. As suicide rates are elevated in people with chronic illness and chronic pain, it’s important to be aware of the ways that chronic illness and chronic pain can increase vulnerability to suicidality.
Macy’s new book “Raising Lazarus” focuses on many of the same themes she covered in her book “Dopesick”, but with an important new addition. She recognizes that opioid hysteria and fear of addiction went too far, depriving many people in pain of the medications they need to lead functional and productive lives.
People with Intractable Pain Syndrome (IPS) experience major health problems throughout their lives because of the physical and psychological toll that pain takes on the brain and body. Treatment for this complex and disabling condition must be taken seriously and done correctly.
Every day, our Research and Education Projects hear from persons with a serious pain problem who can’t obtain enough relief. There are multiple reasons, but a major one is that they are trying to relieve their pain with oral opioids. It appears to us that there is a gross misunderstanding and ignorance about the inability of oral opioids to ever provide good pain relief in many persons who have Intractable Pain Syndrome (IPS).
Kratom is a compound found in the tree leaves of the mitragyna speciosa plant that grows in southeast Asia. It is an herb and not an opioid, but it produces pain relief like an opioid. Biologically, it attaches to the opioid receptors (pain relief sites) in the brain and spinal cord, and relieves pain just like an opioid.
Pain patients need and deserve a seat at the table and yesterday, we had one. Read on and learn how you can add your voice to the discussion about pain treatment in America.
You Don't Look Sick Blog 