A Bi-Monthly Publication

NEWSLETTER

Volume 2, Issue 1

"But that I can save him from days of torture, that is what I feel as my great ever new previlege.
Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself."

--Albert Schweitzer

Challenging the Myths of Pain

Advanced Pain Care realizes that its mission is two-fold. The first task is to set the standard for the treatment of chronic, acute, and neoplastic pain. As discussed in our last issue, the opening of Advanced Pain Care Center of Fort Worth provides the most qualified pain physicians, a state - of - the- art facility designed especially for pain patients, and a dynamic interdisciplinary program that provides a progressive treatment continuum. The second task is to educate the public, the medical and professional community, insurers, and employers about an approach that makes a significant difference in the lives of patients suffering from debilitating pain.

The real purpose of education is to create disequalibrium so that learning and enlightenment can occur. The basis of "disequalibrium" is to create a new way of thinking so that reliance on old ways of thinking is unacceptable. To proclaim a "better way", however, two old myths surrounding the subject of pain must be challenged:

Myth #1 "The pain is all in your head."

When a pain patient does not respond to standard treatment in a timely fashion, it is not uncommon for family members, friends, or even physicians to suggest that perhaps the pain is imaginary. Often this is a response based on the frustration of not being able to help. After all, most people want others to be happy, and they are often uncomfortable when attempts to help are in vain. At Advanced Pain Care, we assume your pain is real and that your pain has affected your quality of life. We seek to find and treat the physical root of your pain. If prolonged pain has emotionally or psychologically impacted the individual and the family, psychological counseling, as well as biofeedback, stress management, and family education as part of our comprehensive approach.

Myth #2 "Pain is something that you just have to endure."

As part of the life process, it is usually accepted that pain is a foregone conclusion. Commonly, conversations with a cross section of people reveal daily pain for themselves or loved ones. Individuals usually go to their family doctor at the onset of pain, and millions of dollars per year are spent for over-the-counter pain relievers. For most, the pain responds to these standard treatments and is not long-lasting. For millions of chronic pain sufferers, there is limited or no lasting relief. Often lingering pain is simply matter of fate and something to endure. At Advanced Pain Care, we are compelled to challenge the status quo. With our diagnostic approach, the highly technical skills available through our anesthesiologists/pain medicine specialists can provide significant relief for chronic and neoplastic pain patients. Quality of life can be restored for pain conditions previously considered "hopeless." In the case of acute pain or injury related pain, early intervention by our specialists can usually prevent prolonged pain and unnecessary work loss while providing the most cost-effective treatment.

Unfortunately, most people still believe in these myths. Many physicians are not trained nor even aware about the resources Advanced Pain Care provides for their patients who have responded to standard treatments for pain. Insurance and Managed Care Companies often do not understand that for many people, real help is available for the first time. Employers are not aware that Advanced Pain Care can have a dramatic effect on reducing costs related to pain resulting form on the job injury.

Over the next few months, Advanced Pain Care is committed to these challenges of setting the standard for pain care and for telling this message of real help and hope for patients suffering from chronic, acute, and neoplastic pain. Our newsletter will continue to educate, our website on the internet will provide our message around the world, our media department will produce series of educational videotapes for patients, physicians, and payers, and our marketing and clinical teams will be visiting referring physician offices and employers to provide increased awareness and relevant information.

Dan Taylor, President

Fellow American Academy of Pain Management

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