Pain-as a patient and a healthcare provider
I have been living with chronic pain since 2011 following an injury secondary to another chronic medical condition. I am 35 years old, I have a 3 pieces of hardware supporting my right femur post-fracture and I stand/walk all day at work. Pain has taken over my life-I have a high pain tolerance but lack of effective treatment and compensating has increased R hip pain, lower back/knee pain, compression in spine leading to muscle tension and sciatic type L leg pain with occasional L foot numbness. It hurts to sit (and drive). Long standing depression has drastically worsened as constantly tired and lacking motivation to complete daily house work or do anything additional is gone. Typically, a 7-8/10 daily, driving or sitting >10. I've given up medication wise as I've tried long term high dose NSAIDs (way above suggested max dose; as a pharmacist I'm all too familiar with what this can do), tylenol, topicals, SI joint injection, physio, low dose tramadol/ketorolac, and cannabis and the only thing that sort of works sometimes is a heating pad. My specialist has referred me to the multidisciplinary pain clinic at the UAH and my experience was dismal. I feel I was dismissed almost immediately by the pain specialist I saw for several reasons: age (I don't look like I'm in pain because of high tolerance but a broken femur at 26 yrs old due to a chronic condition means a long time to be in pain) and mental health issues (this was the biggie-I've been dealing with mixed eating disorder since long before the fracture and habits related to that were directly the cause of the break). I was told in no uncertain words that they would not be able to help me. Great. So, that's that. I guess I'll just be in pain forever-I believe this specialist when he was honest that the mental health aspect is not in his scope (cool because that's being dealt with) but it doesn't change the fact that there are pins and a plate in my leg that will be there forever. I am back to square one only now with new onset GI difficulties. No pain treatment other than a heating pad. No idea where to go or what to do. Its very disheartening to think that everything is going to hurt like this forever-one does not get used to it.
Thank you for your interest in this consultation with the Canadian Pain Task Force towards an improved approach to better understand, prevent, and manage pain in Canada.
The online consultation is now closed, and written submissions are no longer being accepted.
Feedback provided from the consultation will inform a report identifying best and leading practices, potential areas for improvement, and elements of an improved approach to pain management in fall 2020.
For more information on the Task Force, please visit the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/canadian-pain-task-force.html
Keep in touch with us via email at CPTF cptfsecretariatsecretariatgtcsld@canada.ca
Sincerely,
Canadian Pain Task Force