Prejudice against Women Living with Chronic Pain

September is chronic pain awareness month and a perfect time to recognize that when it comes to chronic pain, women are treated differently than men.

by Jen Jasper
from  Broken Body, Wounded Spirit:
Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain
Winter Devotions

Discrimination

There is a centuries old bias against women. Societal beliefs and recriminations have blamed women for their pain, calling us “hysterical.” Today—not much has changed. Our pain remains misunderstood, mistreated, undertreated, and sometimes untreated all together — simply because we are women. The gender gap between men and women is more like a chasm. 

If you are interested learning more about what I have to say, please read Women, Pain, Bias, and Discrimination.

Women’s Experience with Chronic Pain

Do Women Experience Chronic Pain Differently? The answer is yes.

A review of over 450 epidemiologic studies clearly demonstrates women are at a significantly greater risk for developing chronic pain. As females we have a cornucopia of possible chronic pain generators, some dominate in women and others are specific to our gender. Disorders and diseases that cause pain range from pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, to menstruation, female related surgeries, child bearing, etc. Hormonal differences and genetics also influence our pain. We tend to be more sensitive to pain—not the same as tolerance—and the character of our pain can be different because of the source, such as childbirth. And, the words we use to describe our pain also play a role in the way our pain is judged.

There’s no doubt our pain experience and the way we relate to it is different from our male counterparts.

 “Our health care provider’s words matter too. We should feel safe when communicating our concerns and symptoms and never judged for having a medical condition that has no cure. Our provider should be part of our team, part of our plan, not part of the problem. When we feel heard, we do better.”  

[Excerpt] Chronic Pain, Women, and Words

Trust

In my blog, The Painful Truth: A Book, a Documentary, a Meeting with Lynn Webster, MD (pain specialist, author, and producer), I wrote about something Dr. Webster said at a PAINS symposium. It resonated with me and I will likely never forget it. He said he always asked his patients, “What do you want [from pain care]? The answer was always the same, “Doc, I just want my life back.” He heard this same response repeatedly. Dr. Webster witnessed a primal release of emotions from his patients when he replied…

“I believe you.”

Trust is important to every chronic pain patient, particularly those groups who have been identified as being treated with bias. It's not just women who suffer the consequences of disbelief, judgment, and discrimination. We all need to be heard and for our care provides to believe what we say. If our provider is disinterested, they are not to be trusted. Trust, like communication takes two.

Conclusion

I think our understanding of pain experiences between men and women has a long way to go, as does our understanding of chronic pain in general. However, when we look at the influence gender has on chronic pain, we can say — women experience and report pain differently. 

Women are more likely to be wrongly diagnosed, and possibly told to take an antidepressant for their unspoken “hysteria”. Some of us are told to go home and rest until it passes, or we feel unheard and dismissed like a student sent to detention for misbehaving.

Despite the IOM report, Relieving Pain in America telling us there is bias and discrimination against women, and the National Pain Strategy telling us stigma and vulnerability exists, particularly in women exhibiting pain from conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia — we wait for change.

If you have suffered as a result, you might find the Guidelines for Pain Warriors on my website helpful.

Additional Reading: Two interviews this past year with two brave women:

Lacy Fowler

Patti Young

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.  

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.