So compassionate Amy, I have accompanied a friend with chronic illness and pain to ER on a number of occasions, compassion like yours sorely needed and so welcome. It’s a hard place to be for everyone there, the small gestures and thoughtful conversations matter so much when they do happen💕
Thank you Sally! I understand why a lot of people can't or won't do it. It takes a lot out of you to bring that compassion in a system that doesn't do anything to support filling you back up or show healthcare workers compassion. On the other hand, most times I ask someone about why they come to the ER for a long-term there is so much despair and frustration and just feeling like there's nowhere else to turn in an industry that keeps saying “if I can't fix it, it's not my problem”
I can only give you one perspective of a long term chronic pain patient who might end up in your ER. I personally am aware that the probability of an ER Dr being able to cure a long term pain condition is slim,no offense. What might drive me to the ER is the inability of my current meds to reset my pain cycle. Basically I would feel that I was out of any options in my arsenal of pain mitigation in my tool box. I think in the last 30 years I have not gone to the ER specifically for pain control. I know I have been lucky. I know that extra minute or two spent with a patient in crisis [pain crisis- excruciating pain, anxiety that the dr will give you two extra strength Tylenol and say go see your specialist, anxiety that you waited too long to get something that will break the cycle, anxiety you won’t be believed, anxiety you will be called just a drug seeker by everyone in the ER (because you are looking for something to stop the pain), anxiety that you can’t handle it anymore and no one understands you really are at the breaking point.] Thank you for caring.
Thanks for sharing your experience Lisa. The scenario you describe is the most common one in my experience. It's a strange dynamic for sure. ER doctors have sort of been made to feel like we are responsible for ending opiate abuse in this country, which is sort of like ending climate change with individual action. We are, as a whole, weirdly afraid of being duped or taken advantage of. It leads to this situation where we have medications that at least in some situations would solve the problem but hesitate to use them. That said, the vast majority of people are trying to use the ER when what they have at home is just not working and it's not their fault that their primary or specialist is not giving them the help they need to keep things manageable.
Like I said, I know I am lucky my pain specialist does have my pain at a somewhat manageable level for the most part. I live on that edge of not manageable because I do have a backup for my every day pain meds. It was prescribed for breakthrough pain. And I use it judiciously. That is how I think I am able to stay out of the ER.
Yes. I was an ER nurse many years ago. Modern medicine does not have all the tools to heal - only some of the tools. I have since learned that we have the remaining tools. True health requires nurturing these four aspects: physical, emotional, spiritual, and social harmony. This is in our power. The body-mind-spirit connection is real.
Welcome Mary Ann. Tough work nursing in the ER, being asked to do the impossible all the time. I agree, if you can optimize nutrition, hydration, stress, sleep sense of purpose/meaning, sense of play/creativity, and connectedness to people and nature you solve 90% of health problems. It’s one of those things that’s simple, but not easy and there are SOOOO many barriers in the world today.
So compassionate Amy, I have accompanied a friend with chronic illness and pain to ER on a number of occasions, compassion like yours sorely needed and so welcome. It’s a hard place to be for everyone there, the small gestures and thoughtful conversations matter so much when they do happen💕
Thank you Sally! I understand why a lot of people can't or won't do it. It takes a lot out of you to bring that compassion in a system that doesn't do anything to support filling you back up or show healthcare workers compassion. On the other hand, most times I ask someone about why they come to the ER for a long-term there is so much despair and frustration and just feeling like there's nowhere else to turn in an industry that keeps saying “if I can't fix it, it's not my problem”
This was lovely. and good perspective.
Thank you! It's very easy to fall into judgment and/or feel like you have nothing to offer, so it requires vigilance to bring compassion.
I can only give you one perspective of a long term chronic pain patient who might end up in your ER. I personally am aware that the probability of an ER Dr being able to cure a long term pain condition is slim,no offense. What might drive me to the ER is the inability of my current meds to reset my pain cycle. Basically I would feel that I was out of any options in my arsenal of pain mitigation in my tool box. I think in the last 30 years I have not gone to the ER specifically for pain control. I know I have been lucky. I know that extra minute or two spent with a patient in crisis [pain crisis- excruciating pain, anxiety that the dr will give you two extra strength Tylenol and say go see your specialist, anxiety that you waited too long to get something that will break the cycle, anxiety you won’t be believed, anxiety you will be called just a drug seeker by everyone in the ER (because you are looking for something to stop the pain), anxiety that you can’t handle it anymore and no one understands you really are at the breaking point.] Thank you for caring.
Thanks for sharing your experience Lisa. The scenario you describe is the most common one in my experience. It's a strange dynamic for sure. ER doctors have sort of been made to feel like we are responsible for ending opiate abuse in this country, which is sort of like ending climate change with individual action. We are, as a whole, weirdly afraid of being duped or taken advantage of. It leads to this situation where we have medications that at least in some situations would solve the problem but hesitate to use them. That said, the vast majority of people are trying to use the ER when what they have at home is just not working and it's not their fault that their primary or specialist is not giving them the help they need to keep things manageable.
Like I said, I know I am lucky my pain specialist does have my pain at a somewhat manageable level for the most part. I live on that edge of not manageable because I do have a backup for my every day pain meds. It was prescribed for breakthrough pain. And I use it judiciously. That is how I think I am able to stay out of the ER.
Yes. I was an ER nurse many years ago. Modern medicine does not have all the tools to heal - only some of the tools. I have since learned that we have the remaining tools. True health requires nurturing these four aspects: physical, emotional, spiritual, and social harmony. This is in our power. The body-mind-spirit connection is real.
Welcome Mary Ann. Tough work nursing in the ER, being asked to do the impossible all the time. I agree, if you can optimize nutrition, hydration, stress, sleep sense of purpose/meaning, sense of play/creativity, and connectedness to people and nature you solve 90% of health problems. It’s one of those things that’s simple, but not easy and there are SOOOO many barriers in the world today.
Nicely done and a revealing perspective. You left me wanting more specifics....
Thanks Mary! It's a bit tough to give specifics in this scenario mainly because it's a composite of about 100 different people I have in my mind.
I understand.