Originally posted 2019-02-14 10:00:54.
By Janice Reynolds, Guest Columnist
One thing we need to keep in mind when discussing the so-called opioid epidemic is that people in acute pain are being persecuted and harmed, as well as those with persistent (chronic) pain. In fact, much of the witch hunt may have started with acute pain.
It has long been known that when acute pain is left untreated or undertreated it can lead to persistent pain, as well as a multitude of harmful side effects from pain. I know my persistent post-craniotomy pain was at least partially caused by poor pain treatment after my surgery. Eight years later, I can still vividly recall the second night post-op, when the pain was horrendous. I cried and really wanted to die.
