Pubdate: Wed, 06 Feb 2002 Source: News Herald (FL) Copyright: 2002 The News Herald Contact: http://www.newsherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1018 Author: Neal Franks A STIGMA THAT PAIN SUFFERERS HAVE TO LIVE WITH As a sufferer of long-term, severe chronic pain, it was refreshing to read the Feb. 4 commentary "Fear of addiction to painkillers causes unnecessary suffering." Not only does "bad press" cause patients to sometimes fear taking these medications, it also interferes with doctors' willingness to prescribe them, even when it is the only effective relief. Furthermore, people who do not suffer such pain often view friends and relatives whose quality of life depends upon this relief as "addicted." Even with these medications, chronic pain sufferers such as myself experience a pain level that would not be tolerated by most healthy people. My advice to pain sufferers is to seek care by a pain management specialist. My advice to non-pain sufferers is to show support, tolerance and understanding, as wrongful judgment only leads to, as the article stated, "unnecessary suffering." NEAL FRANKS Panama City - --- MAP posted-by: Beth