Opportunity Knocks Again: Public Comments on Patient-Focused Drug Development for Chronic Pain

As an advocate, registered nurse, and patient, I feel we are forced to work within a system devoid of a plan for addressing the physiological, psychological, financial, and social consequences of living with persistent pain.

If we want change, we are obliged to share our unique individual circumstances and our life encounters. If you have been affected by having your opioids restricted, if you want pain management that fits within your personal framework, it’s time to use your voice.

ID: FDA-2018-N-1621-0001

Summary:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is announcing a public meeting and an opportunity for public comment on “Patient-Focused Drug Development for Chronic Pain.” The public meeting will provide patients (including adult and pediatric patients) with an opportunity to present to FDA their perspectives on the impacts of chronic pain, views on treatment approaches for chronic pain, and challenges or barriers to accessing treatments. FDA is particularly interested in hearing from patients who experience chronic pain that is managed with analgesic medications such as opioids, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants; other medications; and non-pharmacologic interventions or therapies.

The public meeting will be held on July 9, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Submit either electronic or written comments on this public workshop by September 10, 2018. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for registration date and information.

Comment Now!

Due Sep 10 2018, at 11:59 PM ET

https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FDA-2018-N-1621-0001

My comment:

First, thank you for listening to the voice of patients. As an RN and lead author of five books on pain and integrative therapies, I am sickened when I read about another suicide by a fellow pain patient, resulting from the crackdown on opioid prescribing. I am concerned about accountability, because physicians bear the consequences of not treating their patients. I am angry about the false narrative of media reporting.

As a person living with persistent pain and autoimmune disease, I use every alternative tool available to me, including invasive pain management. I participate in physical therapy, but Medicare doesn’t allow enough visits to be therapeutic. I do everything I can to keep opioid use to a minimum, yet I feel judged by my government for needing it? I have severe damage to my body from NSAID overuse. They are not a safer than opioids. I do not tolerate the side effects of antidepressants. Anti-seizure medications disconnect me from reality. I feel like a free guinea pig for the pharmaceutical industry, as I take the risk of off-label trials while they make the money. I am elderly and I am angry that my primary doctor will no longer prescribe the small amount of opioids that work for me, that I can afford, and that allow me to participate in integrative therapies.

Pain physicians are overworked and now either restrict their practice to interventions only or require monthly visits. Many of us do not have transportation to pain clinics or the ability to make co-payments. These practices are driving the cost of pain care to the moon. There is a lack of evidence that urine drug tests are consistently accurate or that they are having any effect on drug addiction, yet these companies make a large profit off vulnerable patients.

People who live with unrelenting pain should have their pain managed well enough to participate in integrative therapies like mindfulness, tai chi, physical therapy, etc. Education is needed, not prohibition. The money wasted on the war on drugs could be used to develop outcome-based programs to help people with drug addiction and research for those of us who live with daily unforgiving pain.

Again, thank you for taking public comments. I am more than a statistic, I am  one face of pain.

In healing,

Celeste Cooper, RN / Author, Freelancer, Advocate

Think adversity?-See opportunity!

http://www.CelesteCooper.com

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Learn more about Celeste’s books here. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others. 

The FM/a® Blood Test and Campaign 250: Participation in Fibromyalgia Exome and Treatment Study

The FM/a® Test, is real, and it is making a huge impact on the way fibromyalgia is diagnosed. So, what is it? And, how might it affect you?

My July 2016 blog, FM/a® Blood Test – “How To” and My Results, has been trending on social media and my fibro-friends have told me they have found it very helpful. The following is one excerpt from that blog that sums it up.

“FM/a® is a multi-biomarker-based test which concerns immune system white blood chemokine and cytokine patterns. Patients with fibromyalgia have a significantly dysregulated pattern regarding these proteins.

I am often asked why I had the blood test done. Wasn’t I afraid the results might be negative? Of course I had concerns, but for me it was worth the risk since, like all of us, I have suffered the physical and emotional agony of living with an invisible illness. If there was a blood test that would confirm my symptoms were not all in my head, I wanted it. It was worth it, because now I have affirmation that I have a biological test that confirms I have fibromyalgia, and I can participate in important research, making a difference in the lives of people worldwide.

I am happy to share other important news that might influence your decision.

“The FM/a® Test is a recognized diagnostic tool that provides an objective diagnosis of fibromyalgia for Gulf War veterans with this disorder who are seeking to qualify for disability coverage. Additionally, the FM/a® Test is now covered for veterans by CHAMPVA insurance, as well as Medicare and most PPO insurance plans.” (Business Wire, accessed November 21, 2017)

In my April 2017 blog, I shared “Breaking News" regarding sequencing of exomes (fibromyalgia disease-specific gene markers) that will improve the diagnosis of fibromyalgia through the application of the FM/a® Test. (Press release). In that blog, I also shared the announcement of “Campaign 250”. Following is an excerpt.

Breaking News

Under contract with researchers from both UCLA and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, Campaign 250 will conduct Whole-Exome genetic testing on up to 250,000 patients who have received a positive FM/a® fibromyalgia diagnosis… Based upon the findings of this testing and once treatment protocols have received regulatory and institutional approvals, FM/a® Test positive patients will be invited to participate in a fibromyalgia-specific vaccine clinical trial to reverse the biology of fibromyalgia…

That time is NOW!

I am honored to say, “I am officially a participant in Campaign 250”. I signed the consent form, which is straightforward, and I submitted my blood, one tube is all it takes. The only qualification is to have tested positive with the FM/a Test. The genomics draw test kit came with detailed instructions. 

I am also happy to share that FM/a® testing is now offered to patients from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Turkey, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

Would you like to participate?

 PLEASE VISIT

https://fmtest.com  

The website provides information you can share with others and your healthcare providers. You will find answers to frequently asked questions, a brochure to download, personal testimonies, access to peer-reviewed medical publications, and a scrolling list of insurance companies known to cover the test (at the bottom of the page). In addition, there are videos to guide you through the process, such as why me, how to get the test, how can I be sure, how can I join, exploring effective treatment, how to get the FM/a blood test, and more. If you have more questions, you are encouraged to give their staff a call.

"From what we get, we can make a living;

what we give, however, makes a life."

~Arthur Ashe

Follow @TheFMTest on Facebook

Additional Information:

FM/a® Blood Test – “How To” – for a detailed account of the process

Blood Test for Fibromyalgia: FM/a Test ® Is Real, Q&A

EpicGenetics Announces Major Clinical Study to Locate Genetic Markers Unique to People with Fibromyalgia and Explore New Treatment Approaches

 (Signature line appended July 2018)

In healing,

Celeste Cooper, RN / Author, Freelancer, Advocate

Think adversity?-See opportunity!

http://www.CelesteCooper.com

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Learn more about Celeste’s books here. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others. 

The Painful Truth Documentary Is Here!

As stated in my blog in September of 2015 The Painful Truth: A Book, a Documentary, a Meeting with Lynn Webster, MD, Dr. Webster’s message is irresistible. His dedication to writing the book and producing this documentary (with Craig Worth) is a testament to the spirit and determination he has for people living with pain. He advocates for awareness of the seriousness of untreated or undertreated pain, suicide and addiction. (You can view more information at The Painful Truth Documentary  website.)

Over the weekend, I got an email from Dr. Webster and I am so excited to share it with you.

Dear friends,

I'd like to share some exciting news: "The Painful Truth," the documentary I co-produced with Craig Wirth, was distributed by NETA on March 1 [2017] to all public television stations in the United States. On March 3, it aired on KENW (Portales, NM) and on WXXI (Rochester, NY), and later this month it will air in several other states including Georgia and Montana. I am hopeful that the documentary will air in as most major cities, though this is a decision that is at the discretion of each local station. 

When documentaries like this air on public television, it is common for the host stations to include a discussion with relevant community members. If your local public station decides to air this documentary and you would be willing to make yourself available for a panel discussion, I would encourage you to reach out to your station to offer your participation. It could be a great opportunity to discuss how important it is to Transform the Way Pain is Perceived, Judged and Treated as described in the 2011 IOM report Reliving Pain in America.

Dr. Webster is building a list of the stations and air dates/times for the documentary, which will soon be on the documentary's website, 

www.ThePainfulTruthDocumentary.com 

Please visit the website periodically to check availability in your area and/or contact your local PBS station. 

The release of this film is timely, and it offers the opportunity to have an open dialogue with our healthcare providers and our communities.

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

Stop Discrimination against My Sisters in Pain, Sign the Petition

Are you a woman in pain? I am. My sisters, we have been identified in the Institute of Medicine Report, “Relieving Pain in America…” as an under-served community that is discriminated against when it comes to treating our chronic pain. It’s time for that to stop!

I have experienced pain most of my life. I had my first cystoscopy at age five. At puberty, I developed migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome. I have lived with premature degenerative disc and spinal disease for 30+ years, and have come to know other chronic pain and health issues intimately, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, Hashimoto’s, ME/CFS, post herpatic neuralgia, and interstitial cystitis.  After having extensive shoulder surgeries, I returned to work as a nurse (considered to be as physically demanding as that of a construction worker). I paid my own way as a single mom with two small children. I was board certified in emergency nursing and I was an expert witness as a legal nurse consultant. I was a typical type A. But eventually, my ability to keep up - caught up with me.

I will never forget the words on my neurocognitive exam report, which concluded I have significant short-term memory loss compared to others my age and education. I didn't need a report to tell me that. I knew I was slipping. But the hardest thing to bear were the words that said I would be a danger to patients. You see, I was expecting my symptoms would lead to a treatable diagnosis. I would get fixed, and I would get back to a job I loved dearly. After all, I pushed through any obstacle in life. But, it was not to be. All I could do now was put my head in my hands and weep.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; 

the most massive characters are seared with scars.”

~Kahlil Gibran

Soon after, I found it was easier to let people think what they must rather than defend something I was struggling to accept myself. I learned the worst, and the most damaging, was not the pain, but the change in the way I was perceived by others. At the most vulnerable time in my life, I had to accept that my family, friends, colleagues, and physicians had forgotten about the person I once was. Through therapy, I learned the very same people that criticized me for seeking pain care, would indeed do the same in my position. I learned that chronic pain could only be appreciated if you experience it. I learned that I needed to be compassionate with my otherwise healthy friends and family, because they have no control over their perceptions anymore than I have control over my pain. But I also learned there is no free ticket to being a bully, which resulted in learning the importance of choosing my friends wisely. 

Women are caretakers, not the other way around. Maybe when we step outside that role, bias emerges. But, as human beings, we all deserve to be treated with the same respect and to have access to the same pain care. I could tell horror stories about the abusive comments and treatment I have suffered at the hands of those who took an oath to do no harm. But from adversity comes opportunity. I took control, and over a decade later, I now have a great team of healthcare providers. But, because of the amount of time it took to find providers with whom I could build mutual trust, I fear what will happen when my husband and I relocate. At my age, I will be dead if it takes that long again. This should not be the case. Regardless of our socioeconomic status, race, gender or where we live in this country, we should all have access to the same pain care and be treated with the dignity and respect we deserve. 

If you are a person living with pain or a caretaker, male or female, stand with your sisters in pain become the catalyst for making a difference. Stand with us as an advocate for changing pain care for women. We are in this fight together and we must serve our compassion by being supportive to one another. 

Cynthia Toussaint has made it easy for us to speak up. Please take a minute, that’s all it takes, and sign this most important petition.

End Pain Care Bias Toward Women 

In Chronic Pain

(click on the title)

Don’t stop here. Share often and cast your net beyond the horizon.

In healing and hope, Celeste

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

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

Celeste Cooper, RN

Author—Patient—Health Central Chronic Pain Pro —Advocate

NEW Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the books you can find here on Celeste's  blog. 

When a Peek at Chronic Pelvic Pain Isn't Enough

Chronic pelvic pain comes in many forms and there are different symptoms and diagnoses to consider. Following are links to my three part series as contributing chronic pain pro at Health Central.




1 - Essential Elements of Pelvic Pain in Men and Women 

Pelvic pain can originate from different sources and it can be acute or chronic. Regardless, there are contributing factors to consider. Some are very treatable and others can be more difficult to manage. Acute pelvic pain is a warning sign that comes on suddenly lasting a few minutes to a few days depending on the cause. Chronic pelvic pain can be constant or come flares and symptoms can vary in character and intensity. Knowing what and when to report any unusual symptoms to your doctor is important, because some causes of pelvic pain when left untreated can cause permanent damage that could be avoided when we know what to do…

2 - The Secret to Pelvic Pain and the Myofascia 

If you have chronic pelvic pain (CPP), you know the symptoms. What you may not know is that myofascial trigger points, shortened pieces of muscle fiber that form a knot and shorten the muscle involved, play a role of their own in this painful disorder... 

3 - Why knowing the cause of pelvic pain is essential to treatment

Chronic pelvic pain can be constant or come and go with a flare up of symptoms. Symptoms can be mild to severe and can vary in intensity during the day or with a flare. The character of pelvic pain can be different too. For instance, someone with painful bladder syndrome or prostatitis has a symptom in common, burning with urination (dysuria), but pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome is described as cramping or churning. Symptoms vary depending on the underlying cause of their pain. That’s why it is important to know how to report your symptoms... 

 (Signature line appended, March 2018)

In healing,

Celeste Cooper, RN / Author, Freelancer, Advocate

Think adversity?-See opportunity!

http://www.CelesteCooper.com

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Learn more about Celeste’s books here. 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.  

Part Three – The Future for Treating Chronic Pain by Celeste Cooper

In Part One and Part Two, we read about the history of medicine, the human instinct to relieve pain, and the holistic approach. So, what could the future hold?

In the days and years ahead, we will see information sharing between pain care providers and patients as a welcome opportunity. We will be partners in investigating new concepts and applications of therapeutic modalities. Our provider will be the leader, the steering wheel, and the patient will be the vehicle. Both will work together to keep the chassis from falling apart and the engine running smoothly.

The future offers hope. Treatment options that fit within our own moral framework will be available. When all other options have been exhausted, neither provider nor patient will be judged for their choice for minimizing pain. We know that one in seven to ten people will exhibit addiction/abuse behaviors, one of those could be us, but our providers will be acutely aware of how to identify risk and resources will be available and affordable to all. Long-term studies on the effectiveness of opioids, medical marijuana, and other centrally acting agents, such as antidepressants, and anti-seizure medicines will be available. Providers and patients will be informed and improved patient function will be the yardstick by which we measure all things.

"Spirituality is a person’s sense of peace, purpose, connection to others, and beliefs about the meaning of life."

~The National Cancer Institute

Care plans will include assessment and education for healthy coping strategies, assessment of our support systems, and our providers will undergo education for meeting our spiritual needs—theirs and ours. (See Part Two.)  Integrative medicine, which includes both traditional and

complementary medicine, will include therapies such as active release therapy, acupuncture and ultrasound guided trigger point injection and will be available across the United States. Physicians will learn how body kinetics and the myofascia play an important role in chronic pain. And, just like water in a gas tank causes engine malfunction, providers and patients will understand the effect of nutrition on our general health, so we can expect referrals to nutritionists when needed. Massage, acupuncture, acupressure, QiGong, warm water therapy, classes for meditation, biofeedback, and movement therapies (such as Tai Chi and Yoga) will be front and center. We will be seen as human beings and will be respected for input in our care. Last, but certainly not least, all helpful therapies will be covered by our insurance providers and will be available to everyone, not just the affluent.

Our perceptions will shift from a “healthcare system” to what the Center for Practical Bioethics calls “a learning healthcare system.”  Modern informatics will allow access to our data with the goal of improving outcome, and benefit/risk analysis will be individualized.  As discussed in Part One, we will “look up”  and we will no longer fall into the abyss of usual thinking. All those present in the modern medicine model will admit we don’t have all the answers and will exhibit a willingness to open their mind to new possibilities. We will be fearless.

“Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear 

and no concept of the odds against them. 

They make the impossible happen.”

~Dr. Robert Jarvik

(Inventor of the first permanent total artificial heart.)

Conclusion:

In this partnership, we will open our minds and hearts to new possibilities. Our healthcare provider will lead the movement for patient centered care by embracing the power of communication, trust, compassion, and touch. We will work together in learning how the mind affects the body and we will join hands as facilitators to share the news on this phenomenon. We will all play a pivotal role in the way pain is perceived, judged, and treated  as set forth in the Institute of Medicine report, “Relieving Pain in America.” What we do today to change our perceptions will affect the future of pain care for the 100 million Americans who suffer daily.

 

This is not the end; it is only the beginning.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

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

Celeste Cooper, RN

Author—Patient—Health Central Chronic Pain Pro —Advocate

NEW Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the books you can find here on Celeste's  blog. 

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

Part Two – Chronic Pain in the Present – The Question by Celeste Cooper

In part one, you read about the historical evolution of patient care and the value of “looking up.” In this segment, we will explore how our provider asking certain questions, in a certain way, can open the floodgates of information that might improve our care.

Every individual has a primal instinct to preserve life and avoid pain. Our ancestors either found a way to treat their pain, live with it, or not. Things are not so different today other than the availability of advanced diagnostic tools and interventions. Despite this, the Institute of Medicine report—“Relieving Pain in America”— states people living with chronic pain are judged, discriminated against, and underserved. Most staggering of all is that approximately 100 million Americans presently live with chronic pain.

No doubt, chronic pain, and other illnesses that can accompany it, has an impact on society. However, the impact is not limited to society. We, as patients, are also affected. Scrutiny by government agencies and non-reimbursement for integrative treatments are two things that make it difficult for our providers to develop care plans. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a therapeutic massage, acupuncture, or other integrative therapies we know help reimbursed by insurance? At the The Center for Practical Bioethics symposium, Patients as Teachers, we learned a great deal about ethical dilemmas associated with untreated and undertreated pain. There are people who want to make a difference. The wheels of progress may turn slowly, but they turn.

“Continued emotional support is vital to the functioning of a family member 

in pain and to aiding in his or her rehabilitation.”

– INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE, RELIEVING PAIN IN AMERICA, 2011

At the Pain Action Alliance to Implement a National Strategy, where you can now participate by clicking on the “Join” square here and scrolling down to the bottom of the page, we hope to see a movement toward a moral imperative for patient centered pain care. It doesn't just begin with caring organizations, it also begins with the willingness of patients to become involved. We need to give a voice to our pain, raise media attention from our perspective. I don’t know one person living with chronic pain that doesn't want to see a change in the way their pain is perceived, judged, and treated.

Nearly every one of us experiences medication side effects, medical devise failure, or invasive procedures that come with their own risks. We live with the hope that the next thing will get us back on our feet or minimize our pain to a dull roar. We are optimistic when we walk through clinic or hospital doors, but we don’t always leave that way. We become complacent because our provider doesn't listen, or so it seems to us. We understand our providers become frustrated, because we do too.

This brings me to the type of questions every provider should ask. Each is simple and reflects the climate of healthcare in the 19th century that you read about in Part I, A Look Back and Look Up.

"How is your family?" “What do your friends do to support you?” Open-ended questions such as this should be answered with honestly. It is important that our provider understands not only how pain affects us physically. Many of us have no support at home, which makes us feel isolated and alone. We become angry because we have lost control over our lives, and sometimes, we lose even more, our dignity, and our relationships with others,. We need and deserve this balance in our lives. Speak up.

Ask your provider for resources on how to cope. If they don’t have them, talk with them about why it’s important to you. It will not only remind your provider you are a human being with the same needs they have, it may help them change their personal perspectives for making positive change in their practice. Research tells us these approaches influence how we cope emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, which improves they way we cope with physical pain. When we find balance, we regain control.

Management of chronic pain takes an integrative, patient centered approach emphasizing communication, patient and provider education, and ethical preservation of our patient right to choose. These goals are a moral imperative. So, next time you have an appointment with your provider ask yourself, “What one question would I like my provider to ask?” If they don’t ask, simply say, “I wish you would ask me about…” Then ask for resources, you deserve them.

What could the future hold for pain care? That’s coming next.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Updated Post Script

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

Celeste Cooper, RN

Author—Patient—Health Central Chronic Pain Pro —Advocate

NEW Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the books you can find here on Celeste's  blog. 

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

Part One - A Look Back and Look Up: Could history be a guide for treating chronic pain? by Celeste Cooper

The original article will appear in the September issue of Kansas City Nursing News as a contributing columnist to honor pain awareness month. It is rewritten from a patient perspective.

This is the first article of a three part series to kick off “Chronic Pain Awareness.” We will explore the history of the patient-physician relationship, its effect on trust, and question how specialized medicine and advanced technology has made an impact on patient care.

As a registered nurse turned author, advocate, and patient, I have worn many hats. I have also seen many shifts in the delivery models of healthcare. However, the biggest pendulum swing affecting me is the treatment and judgment by others as a chronic pain patient. I went from a high functioning nurse collaborating on patient care to healthcare consumer. I have felt judged and I have been treated differently by some. I have thoughts on why this might be. 

In American history, the local doctor treated everything. Patients valued their doctor as the authority. It didn't matter if we knew our blood pressure, because patients trusted their doctor to know what to do, but more than that, this trust was mutual. Because of this, we felt comfortable sharing our experiences including how living with chronic pain affected all aspects of our lives, and our doctor listened. Our doctor knew how chronic pain was affecting our families, our ability to socialize, our emotional and spiritual stability, and the financial impact having chronic pain created for us. Our doctor felt obliged to help us lead the most productive life possible. Physicians weren't required to get the government’s permission to prescribe medication and other treatments, and if they saw we were abusing our medications, they spoke us, because they cared about this too. They didn't judge because they knew who we were before chronic pain. Today, it is unlikely the doctor treating our pain knows us at all.

With time and the human desire to explore, make things better; find a vaccination for polio, for instance, the delivery of medical care has morphed into a system of specialties and advanced technology. The days of bartering or trading services and patients feeling responsible for making sure their physician was also cared for has become outdated. So, how did we go from historic trust and physician-patient familiarity to distrust and judgment? It seems out of place to me and against the grain of what I learned in nursing school and from my life’s lessons. Living through this shift in attitude is probably the hardest thing for me to accept, because I have seen different days in my more than six decades of life.

Humans, as do animals, interact and recognize non-verbal cues by establishing eye contact. So I am disturbed that some healthcare providers no longer look at me while I talk. Instead, they are busy looking at, and documenting, on their laptop. Would the local doctor of the 19th century, the one who would take a dozen eggs for their service, ever consider it respectful to bury their head in a book while their patient was sharing their innermost fears? Would any of us be able to communicate and foster trust with someone who doesn't look us in the eye?

Studies show there is judgment affixed to having or caring for someone in pain. Can we, as patients, and our providers look back and learn? Can we all simply “look up?” (See “Communication with Your Healthcare Provider, here.) As a patient, I want to feel the warmth one can only experience through compassion, touch, and trust. I want to feel the security that is fostered when my physician comes eye to eye with me, smiles, or reaches out to touch me in a gesture of "I care." I want to feel secure. I want a mutual exchange of information, and I want my doctor or nurse to explain things in a way I understand.

We must embrace technology, but not at the expense of becoming less human. Would Florence Nightingale think we have advanced? Would she believe we have to sacrifice eye contact or compassionate behaviors in order to appreciate the advancement in technology, specialization of medicine, or communication and trust?

As patients, we have made some changes too, but I suspect our anger, our distrust, and our own attitudes have evolved as a result of poor communication and the aloofness technology has infused into our lives. How can we effect change in our relationships with our providers? Can we simply ask our healthcare provider to see us as a fellow human being, a member of the same team? We also have ownership in this process. We too should keep those few minutes with our physician sacrosanct and return our cell phones to our pockets, treat our appointment time as we would our time with an old friend. CAN WE simply—

 UP

See tips for effective communication to learn more about how we can foster our relationship with our healthcare provider.

In the next segment, (here) we will explore how your healthcare provider can gain a plethora of valuable information that will give them a better understanding on how chronic pain affects your life.

Side Note:
Advocates are coming together to address the needs of our society, in particular, the needs of approximately 100 million Americans who live in chronic pain. The PAINS Alliance, an initiative of the Center for Practical Bioethics believes that the only way to realize transformation in the way pain is perceived and treated in America is "to combine the collective power of organizations and those they serve — people living with pain — in a sustained effort to improve the delivery of pain in America." I am pleased to be a participant in this most important, energetic, and patient focused alliance of influential organizations and individuals, and now you can be too, here . 

This collective and integrative group has a mission to advocate for and act collectively to actualize the recommendations set forth in the Institute of Medicine (IOM)  report “Relieving Pain in America, A Blue Print for Transforming Prevention,Care, Education and Research. Those who participate believe it is our vision that all Americans living with pain will have access to integrated pain care consistent with their goals and values. You can now join as an individual . 

“Continued emotional support is vital to the functioning of a family member 

in pain and to aiding in his or her rehabilitation.”

– INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE, RELIEVING PAIN IN AMERICA, 2011

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

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

Celeste Cooper, RN

Author—Patient—Health Central Chronic Pain Pro —Advocate

NEW Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the books you can find here on Celeste's  blog. 

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