The patient was a 78-year-old businessman who acted and looked about half his age. He was very pleasant and talked freely about his lower back pain and the pain down the side of his left leg, which had been a problem for about six months. It was consistently more severe when he stood or walked on it, and it immediately disappeared when he sat down. His MRI scan revealed that …
People suffering from chronic pain are often angry. They are trapped not only by an unpleasant sensation, but also by their limited treatment options. The experience can lead to feeling not only like there is no end in sight, but also as through there is no hope. So strong are the associated emotions that I often call this state of mind “the abyss.”
All too often, when that frustration becomes too …
“You are the worst doctor I have ever met.”
This was the second patient in a row to explode at me when I explained that further back surgery for his back pain had a low chance of success. I spent a couple of minutes explaining the many successes of our hospital’s pain program. Then he exploded again: “You mean I drove five hours just to hear you tell me that you …
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