PEOPLE IN CHRONIC PAIN NEED PAIN MEDICATION

For eight years I have lived with a chronically ill person suffering from
chronic pancreatitis, a condition characterized by nearly constant pain and
nausea. She has taken her medicine as prescribed, functioning as best as
her condition would allow. Her doctor was diligent and kind.Now she is
forced to go to a different doctor because her current doctor is afraid to
continue her treatment. It is not hard to understand his motivation. Fear
of loss of livelihood, wondering if his patients have lied in order to get
pain medication must haunt him. Equally haunting, wondering which patient
will suddenly get into "recovery" and in a fit of conscience and denial
blame the doctor for the patient's drug abuse.

Most people do not know how much suffering occurs before any doctor will
even attempt to relieve chronic pain. My greatest hope is that people will
someday be able to look at people in chronic pain as more than people who
"could do better if they would" and drug addicts.

JoElla Stephens