Chronic Pain Expert Will Rowe shares Chronic Pain management news and commentary at ChronicPainConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025 en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/ http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/33555/shout Mon Jul 14 09:45:00 -0400 2008 Will Rowe I forget the name of the movie but I remember it featured a call to action: people all over the country opening their windows shouting out "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore." That's the sentiment that is bubbling-up, or needs to bubble-up, in the world of people affected by chronic pain.   Here's a string of objects for that pent up anger: mad as hell that they are not listened to or believed when they explain... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/33555/shout http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/31015/pain-care-maze Mon Jun 16 12:25:00 -0400 2008 Will Rowe If you have a heart problem you go to a cardiologist and get it taken care of.  If you have complex diabetes, you go to an endocrinologist and get it taken care of.  If you have cancer, you go to an oncologist and get it taken care of.  Where do you go if you have pain?    You might think you go to a "Pain Specialist."  Who might that be?  Here's a short list of possibilities: A psychiatrist, an... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/31015/pain-care-maze http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/28510/medication Wed May 21 17:19:00 -0400 2008 Will Rowe Opioid medications have a natural property that causes physical dependence. Other medications used to treat high blood pressure, depression, and inflammation can do the same. Common substances, like caffeine, have that property. Because our bodies adapt, it is normal for these chemicals to become "known to us" over the time of exposure. When abruptly or too rapidly taken away, our bodies revolt. That experience can range from uncomfortable to... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/28510/medication http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/27017/fired-provider Mon May 05 14:42:00 -0400 2008 Will Rowe There have been reports that some practices have a zero tolerance for certain behaviors that cause concern. Lost prescriptions may be seen as a "red flag" and treated as a breach of the "physician/patient" relationship. This may be considered an infraction of your pain care agreement or "opioid contract"; you might have been expected to sign such a document before an opioid pain medications was recommended as part of your pain treatment... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/27017/fired-provider http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/25656/relationships Mon Apr 21 14:53:20 -0400 2008 Will Rowe Unfortunately, we face a very difficult situation when medications are lost or stolen. Controlled substances, particularly opioids for pain management, have come under heavy scrutiny over the past few years due to unfavorable media reports, heavy-handed law enforcement attempting to crack down on the illegal diversion of pain medications and the public fears which are reflected by many in the healthcare professional... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/25656/relationships http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/22369/stolen-to Fri Mar 21 16:12:00 -0400 2008 Will Rowe There were a great many responses to my story about the fellow who had his opioid pain medicines stolen and the problems he had after that getting a physician to help him. One quick lesson in this situation is for people to be very careful about storing these medicines. Keep them out of sight and in a secure location. The fact is that opioid medicines are stolen or diverted out of all points along the supply chain--stolen from warehouses,... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/22369/stolen-to http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/21065/pain-bills Mon Mar 03 15:14:00 -0500 2008 Will Rowe Have you taken action yet? You know the old saying that goes something like, "If you are not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem."  There are three Pain Bills in Congress now: The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007 (H.R.2994), the Veterans Pain Act of 2007 (S.2160), and the just introduced (by Congressman Loebsack from Iowa) Military Pain Bill of 2008, (H.R. 5465). PLEASE, if you have not done so... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/21065/pain-bills http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/20552/opiod-pain Tue Feb 19 13:17:00 -0500 2008 Will Rowe I just got off the phone with someone who told me his story which is, unfortunately, an all too common story. He has been using opioid medicines for eight years to manage his pain. He tried everything before he tried opioids and these medicines were the only thing that worked to relieve his pain. With these medicines, this 48 year old has been able to work and support his family and interact comfortably with his family and friends. ... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/20552/opiod-pain http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/20013/ny-times Mon Feb 04 13:21:00 -0500 2008 Will Rowe The New York Times stirred up some old controversies recently with their article on fibromyalgia called "Drug Approved. Is Disease Real?" The author quoted two sides of an argument, one saying that fibromyalgia is a real condition that has a real diagnosis and real treatments. The other side saying in essence that the disease is not real, the pain is not real, and that sufferers of the so-called disease "live under a... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/20013/ny-times http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/18345/caregivers Thu Dec 27 13:03:00 -0500 2007 Will Rowe Caregivers play a critically important role in the lives of people with pain. Caregivers provide a great deal of emotional and practical support. Far too often, though, that role may be overlooked or minimized. We frequently become caregivers by default. We may be the parent, adult child or family member who lives the closest or "has time." We don't train to become caregivers, but rather learn about it on the job. Few experiences... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/3025/18345/caregivers