FEELING THEIR PAIN

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firechief - 02 Feb 2005 00:28 GMT

Chronic pain impacts any suffer's life, but it appears to affect
people younger than 50 more than those who are older.

A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan and
the University of South Florida reports that patients age 50
and older were better able to cope with chronic pain, had
less less trouble falling asleep, and were less often
depressed than their younger counterparts.

The researchers suggest the difference may be due to
generational attitudes and expectation. "Older people
may feel that pain is just something that you deal with,
perhaps because they were raised in a time when pain
was not addresses in the way we deal with it today, or
because they feel that pain is just a normal part of getting
older," said Dr. Carmen Green, a pain specialist at the
University of Michigan.

Conversely, younger people may perceive chronic pain as
an unacceptable part of their lives. The expect more from
medical treatment and may experience pain differently
from older people if it is compounded by the stresses of
their jobs and family life.

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Nann Bell - 02 Feb 2005 01:29 GMT

> The researchers suggest the difference may be due to
> generational attitudes and expectation. "Older people
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> from older people if it is compounded by the stresses of
> their jobs and family life.

well, yeah, it is even more upsetting to hit chronic pain when you are
supposed to be runnning around and partying with your friends. But the
researchers' explanations are either off the mark or they used younger folks
who hadn't been in pain that long in my mind. Heck, I've had a pretty good
life despite chronic pain for 19 years and I'm not 50 yet! And there are
plenty of folks around here who I know are dealing with major chronic pain
and are younger than I am.

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Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare

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Bruce - 02 Feb 2005 02:23 GMT

The congregation says AMEN to that Sister.
Bruce

>> The researchers suggest the difference may be due to
>> generational attitudes and expectation. "Older people
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> plenty of folks around here who I know are dealing with major chronic pain
> and are younger than I am.

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Mercedes - 02 Feb 2005 02:36 GMT

My experience has been that doctors don't want to treat my chronic pain with
medication I need. My grandmother, who recently had a bad hernia surgery,
was given percocet to take home eventhough she had no pain post op while in
the hospital. Infact she told them she did not want the percocet. Before
this, aside from a dentist and optician, she has never been to the doctor
since the birth of my mother in 1954.

Me, on the otherhand, has a lot of pain on a daily basis and need a strong
pain killer. But I think (and this is my own theory) because I am younger
the doctors think I will become addicted and abuse the drugs. I know many
older adults who can go in and ask for stronger medication and have the
doctors fill out a script but when I tell them vicodin doesn't touch me and
I need about 6 percocet a day (was on it before) they look as if I have
three heads...as if I am milking them for drugs. I get so frustrated that I
dont even ask anymore. That is why *I* am in chronc pain atleast.

But on Thursday I am going to my orthopedic who is more understanding and
hope he will help me out. My xrays of my right knee have progressed to bone
on bone. There is a huge difference in jont spacing so it will be
interesting to hear his recommendations.

Shandi :)

> Chronic pain impacts any suffer's life, but it appears to affect
> people younger than 50 more than those who are older.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> from older people if it is compounded by the stresses of
> their jobs and family life.

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firechief - 02 Feb 2005 16:07 GMT

Shandi wrote:

> Before this, aside from a dentist and optician, she has never
> been to the doctor since the birth of my mother in 1954.

I was 59 or 60 when I woke from an early afternoon nap with
a cough and severe chest pains. Got a ride to the ER and
was immediately taken in because of the chest pains.

As a nurse began hooking up an IV, I commented, "I've heard
there's a first time for everything."

She was amazed that I had never been in a hospital (as a
patient) before. Joked with her about the hundreds I had
transported to hospitals in a police ambulance over 10 years.

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delcorso - 03 Feb 2005 17:49 GMT

Mercedes,
I've found that the orthos are much more willing to listen to
complaints about pain and seem to be more willing to help you out with
it. At least, that's been my experience. My RD won't give me
anything for my pain. And he tells me that my orthos need to be
dealing with that. He picks and chooses who he gives pain meds to
because I know 2 others who are patients of his who he gives pain meds
to. One of the nurses told me that he will not give pain meds to any
of his patients who will not do everything he says. I refused to have
a liver biopsy because of elevated liver enzymes in order to go back
on mtx, which made me feel crappy. And all I asked him for was a
script for ultracet to take at night so that I could sleep when I was
flared or I'd been on my feet a lot.
So, I do know how frustrated you feel. I think anyone who has RA or
any other type of arthritis should be able to have some sort of pain
med when they need it. Most of us don't want to be on them, but
longterm and/or intense pain does a number of you physically and
mentally.
I hope your ortho helps you out.
Carol

> My experience has been that doctors don't want to treat my chronic pain with
> medication I need. My grandmother, who recently had a bad hernia surgery,
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
> > from older people if it is compounded by the stresses of
> > their jobs and family life.

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