Question by Chris K: Why are pain sufferers castigated and stigmatised?
First, some background. I was involved in a bad car accident as a child (around 10). As a result, I have had chronic spinal pain that can be agonizing some days and almost unnoticable on others. Moreover, I would say that it is about a 7 out of 10 on average.

Compounding this is the fact that I am only 20 years old. No pain management clinic will see me, and my general practitioner tells me to, in summary, suck it up and deal with it. After all, I’m young. I shouldn’t be in any pain. I know my youth is a strike against me. But it seems that regardless of age (mostly) pain sufferers are told to “deal with it”, “accept the pain”, and “suck it up”.

I am NOT a drug addict, and I’m tired of being treated as if I am. Doctors view me as only trying to abuse their Rx privileges.

So why, on a societal level, do we abuse and overlook chronic pain sufferers? Is being “chemically pure” better than being out of pain and able to live a normal life?

Why?

Why is my youth an obstacle?
I have also procured opioid painkillers on the black market. They make my life livable. Why do doctors refuse me legal access to the medicine I so desperately need?

Advil and other NSAIDS don’t touch it. I see the ads and laugh. They don’t get rid of pain, or even cover it up. Just inflammation that leads to pain.

Best answer:

Answer by Paulie D
Most people don’t understand chronic pain. They think it’s only for old people. People think that if you’re younger that you’re just trying to get off work and on drugs. You might look for another doctor, or see a neurologist or a neurosurgeon. One of the problems with spinal cord injuries is that surgery often doesn’t clear up the problem, and you may still have pain. There may be therapies that can help you to manage chronic pain, but you may have to look for a pain management clinic out of town.

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