Pubdate: Tue, 06 Apr 2010 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2010 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Author: Anthony N. Pannozzo LET LEGITIMATE DOCTORS TREAT LEGITIMATE PAIN Pain is real. Just ask one of the estimated 37 million to 45 million people who have been affected by a painful condition. Ninety percent of Americans will have lower back pain at least once. That is why I and my son, who shares a practice with me, are so concerned about the feeding frenzy sweeping through municipalities and state legislatures seeking to regulate pain clinics. We understand and agree that there have been abuses in prescribing drugs that do no more than mask pain and often addict the patient rather than alleviate the problem . Clinics should be physician-owned. There should be databases to prevent doctor shopping. Today's medications used in the treatment of pain are more effective and safe than ever before, but only certain medications should be used in these treatments. The legitimate use of drugs is on the rise and this is something that government regulation must address. Some addiction centers are calling the rise in painkiller abuse pandemic, and whole new departments are springing up to treat older adults who are self-medicating, doctor shopping for prescription drugs and are adopting a "better living through chemistry" mantra. Narcotic use as a treatment for pain has increased exponentially with the increase of pain clinics and that is just plain wrong. To be able to diagnose a pain syndrome requires a clinical physiology-oriented physician to diagnose and treat the patient. There is no pain source that cannot be treated, successfully, without drugs to cover up the pain. And to Florida legislators, be careful during your deliberations to stop abuses. There are legitimate doctors who know what they are doing, and these doctors are the ones you want in business when your lumbar pain flares up again. Anthony N. Pannozzo, MD Delray Beach Editor's note: Dr. Anthony N. Pannozzo owns Pain Centers Nationwide in Delray Beach. His son, Paul A. Pannozzo, MD, operates Pain Centers Nationwide in Phoenix and Chandler, Ariz. They are co-authors of "Arthritis and Other Pain Syndromes." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake