Pain

[carrie]

Don't know why but I was thinking about my last visit to the dentist, all that drilling, pushing and poking and no pain. If dentists are so efficient at pain control why do so many terminally ill people suffer intense pain? I know it's not the same thing but exposed nerves can be very painful, the signal from the nerve to the brain is blocked by the dentist why can't it be done by doctors?

[newcastle]

Don't know why but I was thinking about my last visit to the dentist, all that drilling, pushing and poking and no pain. If dentists are so efficient at pain control why do so many terminally ill people suffer intense pain? I know it's not the same thing but exposed nerves can be very painful, the signal from the nerve to the brain is blocked by the dentist why can't it be done by doctors?

Probably because, with, say Stage 4 cancer, the pain is referred to the brain by nerves in the affected organs and bones inaccessible to injected anaethetic.

In such cases they tend to use morphine or similar opiates which can suppress all feeling....up to a point.

If you want the patient to remain conscious, it seems there are no drugs which are 100% effective in all cases.

[A-Four]

Don't know why but I was thinking about my last visit to the dentist, all that drilling, pushing and poking and no pain. If dentists are so efficient at pain control why do so many terminally ill people suffer intense pain? I know it's not the same thing but exposed nerves can be very painful, the signal from the nerve to the brain is blocked by the dentist why can't it be done by doctors?

With regards to general pain, I am sure there can be little worse than a kidney stone, which untreated, can be excruciatingly painful should its passage be final especially in the male, which can often be upto 10 mil in size when passed.

With regards general everyday pain paracetamol seems to be the order of play, quite strong, some such even advertise different tablets for various pains, for example period pains,......quite ridiculous really.

We then come to such so called pain relief as DF118 and Tramadol, short medium term quite good, long term,.......absolutely useless. Very expensive, and quite understandable that many countries have banned this highly addictive drug.

We now come to Morph, this is increasingly being used by GP's in the U.K. for patients who are awaiting operations for such ailments as crystallisation of bones,....very painful, but patches eliminate the pain, patient sees no need for operation, more patches please,.......music to the ears of a reluctant government.

When people come to their final furlong or 50 metres of life, we often hear from relatives who visit such patients that perhaps it is a waste of time visiting, as they do not recognise their nearest and dearest, and are totally in La La Land. In other words the patient's pain has increased so much, that it is in fact the morphine that carries you off, and certainly not the pain.

For those who have serious life long pain, the new thinking is for 'pain management' taught by specialists, also new drugs that are not addictive to help sleep at night and give pain relief, that are a fraction of the price of Trams or DF118's, and none of the usual unpleasant side effects.

[Major Thom]

I have suffered from pain for years, but since we moved to Cyprus the Medicare here has now got it under control, with Dichlofenic, Norflex and Vitamin B. The Doctors tried to get it under control in Luxor but failed, maybe not their fault, but since living here I have had 18 blood tests done, and numerous other tests. They are very thorough. At least though it is now under control and I am able to go about pain free. Pain can effect everyone at some time and I never wish it on anyone.

[A-Four]

Very interesting post MT. It is true that future treatment for many illnesses will be identified through blood tests, being that each individual person will respond to different types of treatment. Very often inexpensive drugs and remedies work much better than expensive high addictive drug in use at present.

A good example of this being that many people between the age of 60 - 65 years of age suffer from short term memory loss, for many people, after a blood test it is discovered that Folic Acid tablets (5mg) can rectify the situation. The price per 28 tabs is absolute minimum.

Years ago, I remember my own GP on the West Bank, Luxor once asked me why I had chosen him as my doctor in Egypt, I told him that the reason was simply because no one in his family had a pharmacist business around the corner. We both laughed,.......but in all seriousness he knew exactly what that meant.

[Major Thom]

We see our GP's in an area of the General Hospital, it costs 3 Euro's to see one. We if needed can see the consultant the same day, prescriptions are 0.5 Euro's. Most things can be found out from blood tests. I was surprised they are hot on keeping your vitamin in the body inline. I had my prostrate tested both by blood test and by examination, and in men they are keen to keep an eye on the prostrate. (Not a bad thing) So far I think every inch of my body has been checked out, and all I said was I had not seen a Doctor for quite some time. My main concern was not being able to walk far without stopping for 5 mins (Approx. every 100 metres) A frind form Luxor I told about it and he told me it sound like the Sciatic nerve, I took him up on it and sure enough that was the problem. There unfortunately can do very little about it, but medication now gives me the freedom. Not one Doctor in Luxor picked up on it, they told me a) It was torn ligaments, b) torn Muscle in the calf. One even thought i may have a hairline fracture of the Fibula. Now I am back to walking 5KM per day, and now the season is back with us DANCING, yeeeeeaaaaahhhhh.