Chronic Pain Disease and the Opioid Crisis: Myra Christopher Changing the Narrative

If you are like me, you are upset by the reporting of the opioid crisis by mainstream media. I have found myself screaming at the television because of the skewed reporting. Make no mistake, there is an opioid crisis and it breaks my heart, but how in the world will we ever get those addicted the right treatment if we don’t look at the problem with eyes wide open? How can we blame and abandon people living with incurable diseases that keep the body at constant war with homeostasis because of the disease process that potentiates the disease of chronic pain?

“We must have balanced policy—policy that addresses two public health issues—untreated and inappropriately treated chronic pain and the opioid crisis—without unintentionally harming one patient population or the other. To get there, we MUST also have balanced media coverage.”

~Myra Christopher, Director of the Pain Action Alliance to Implement a National Strategy (PAINS, an initiative of the Center of Practical Bioethics)

Maybe you have read some of my blogs or visited my website where I share information on my personal opportunities as participant in PAINS and PAINS-KC. One of the pleasures of my own advocacy is getting to know and meet with Myra Christopher and the many other advocates and chronic pain citizens who share my journey. Following is Myra’s voice published in the PAINS Member Update, October 17, 2017.

Changing the public narrative about chronic pain as a disease

By Myra Christopher

Sunday night, I watched 60 Minutes on CBS as they interviewed Joe Rannazzisi, former Deputy Director over Diversion at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Rannazzisi was portrayed as a “whistleblower,” and he blamed drug distributers, unscrupulous physicians, and members of Congress for fueling the opioid crisis. The week before, NBC did a week-long series on the opioid crisis, and the week before PBS did one also.  I could go on—week by week by week—there is not a major news outlet (print, blog, television, radio, or web) that I could not list as well.

Before proceeding, I need to make two disclosures:

·        I have met and worked with Joe Rannazzisi.

·        We have worked with the DEA closely in the past—with Rannazzisi’s predecessor and colleagues at the DEA for whom I have great respect.

In 2008, we worked with the DEA, the National Association of Attorneys General, and the Federation of State Medical Boards to measure the impact of physicians diverting prescription pain medication. That study was published in the journal Pain Medicine (Vol. 9, No.6). I tell readers this to assure you that PAINS is very concerned about the opioid crisis and respects the role of law enforcement in protecting the US population from illicit drugs AND assuring that an adequate supply of medications is available to maintain the health and well-being of all Americans. My concern is about the irrefutable lack of media coverage of a related but separate public health issue, i.e., inappropriate and untreated chronic pain management.

On Friday, October 13, PAINS hosted a roundtable in Washington, DC, that included top officials in the federal government, leading pain care providers, people living with chronic pain and their advocates, academics and a handful of media representatives to discuss the need for more and better reporting on the “chronic pain epidemic” and the unintended consequences that pain sufferers are experiencing related to federal policy attempting to contain the opioid epidemic and the media frenzy around it. This is critically important because it is our view that media shape public perception and public perception leads to votes, which leads to public health policy – interestingly the foundation of the argument made by Joe Rannazzisi in his 60 Minutes interview.

·        For years, PAINS and others advocating for better chronic pain care have called for “balanced policy.” More than a year ago, PAINS decided to move upstream with our No Longer Silent initiative that led to last week’s meeting in DC. We must have balanced policy—policy that addresses two public health issues—untreated and inappropriately treated chronic pain and the opioid crisis—without unintentionally harming one patient population or the other. To get there, we MUST also have balanced media coverage.

“If it bleeds, it leads!” is an adage often repeated about media coverage. Granted, the chronic pain crisis is not as “sexy” as the opioid epidemic. However, both of these issues are critically important to our society’s health and well-being.

I will be honest that there are many days I feel pretty discouraged about ever accomplishing our goals, then I see a report like this one that appeared on the front page of the Worcester, Massachusetts paper which highlights the plight of Lauren Deluca and quotes PAINS Advisory Committee Member, Cindy Steinberg, who also lives with chronic pain. I encourage you to read this article and ask you to share it with your friends and colleagues via social media, email, carrier pigeon!

[Insert from Telegram.com, Worchester, Massacusetts]

“Ms. Steinberg noted that legitimately prescribed painkillers weren’t the main source of the opioid crisis. The majority of fatal overdoses were associated with illegally obtained substances.”

SHARE

Many with chronic illness denied prescriptions in fight against opioids 

by Susan Spencer 

http://www.telegram.com/news/20170923/many-with-chronic-illness-denied-prescriptions-in-fight-against-opioids

We will ask you to do the same with the report from last week’s No Longer Silent meeting when it is published in mid to late November. Until then, let me share just a few “take-aways” from that meeting:

Improving chronic pain care in America will require culture change. More specifically:

·        Changing the public narrative about chronic pain as a disease

·        Removing the stigmatization of those who live with chronic pain and those who care for them

·        Better education of physicians, nurses AND patients

·        Reimbursement models that support comprehensive chronic pain care, not just prescription opioids, interventional procedures and surgeries

·        Better data and more research

It’s a tall order but what one of my colleagues calls “worthy work.”

Comprehensive chronic pain care will improve the lives of millions of Americans, save billions of dollars and reduce opioid prescribing.

My conclusion

Will people be left to chew off their limbs like wild animals to escape pain? Will we continue to read about suicides because of untreated or undertreated pain? Will the public continue to blindly trust those in authority who have a political agenda? Can we make informed decisions based on unfair, unbalanced reporting? Are we ready for the consequences of staying silent? Your voice is only a click away.  Please join the PAINS Project initiative...

No Longer Silent!

Additional Reading:

About Myra Christopher

Patient Powered Research Network Pain Action Alliance to Implement a National Strategy in Kansas City (PAINS-KC)

The Symposium "Patients as Teachers," "Clinicians as Learners," a Synopsis

In healing,,Celeste 

"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Celeste Cooper, RN

Author—Patient—Freelance Writer at Health Central & ProHealth —Advocate

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about Celeste’s books at her website or find links here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.

All blogs and comments are based on the author's opinions and are not meant to replace medical advice.