Facts and fallacies of pain management
SEVEN out of 10 Filipinos suffer from a regular headache—the most common pain ignored by people.
Pain is not normal, and your body is telling you that it isn’t.
The International Association Study of Pain defines pain as an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience with or without actual tissue damage. Because of this, experts have taken huge steps in understanding pain and its treatment for over the last few years.
With various methods and medications that are made readily available, pain has now become manageable. One good example is paracetamol, which is claimed to be effective and suitable for almost all patients, even pregnant and breastfeeding women.
However, don’t let misconceptions keep you from seeking treatment. In the recent launch of Panadol, a paracetamol brand from GlaxoSmithKline, Dr. Joy Luat-Inciong of St. Luke’s Hospital Department of Anesthesiology presented the facts and fallacies of pain.
Fallacies
1 It’s all in my head. Inciong said pain involves both mind and body. “It’s not all in our head. It may be invisible, but what you feel is real.”
2 Pain is there so I just have to live with it. It may not be publicly controlled, but Inciong said there are many options to treat pain. She said remedies may come in the form of exercise, physical therapy, massage, acupuncture and prescription medications, among others.
“These treatment options may not totally treat your pain, but it can, and may, definitely manage your pain,” Inciong said.
3 Only sissies go to the doctor for pain relief. Most of the time, Inciong said, people think that if you have pain, you are not strong and “macho”—and this applies especially to some, especially to the male species and the older people.
“They are too embarrassed to complain,” she said. “If you feel pain, it is real. If it hurts, it deserves to be treated.”
4 I’m old, and pain is normal. The common excuse would be: “Matanda na ako. Talagang marami nang sasakit sa katawan ko. (I’m already old. It’s not surprising that my body aches.” But Inciong said pain is never normal. In every age group, it is abnormal, and the body has a way of telling you to pay attention to it.
Facts
1 The incidence of pain, according to statistics, is very high in the country. In a study cited by Inciong, seven out of 10 Filipinos suffer from a regular headache. “With 70 percent of the whole population, you probably know someone who is complaining about pain.”
2 Pain impacts the quality of life. “Whether it’s a headache, menstrual cramps or overexercising, it affects the quality of life,” Inciong said. Pain can cause overfatigue, sleep deprivation, anxiety and depression. It is also possible that pain may impair relationships and affect your job because you are not able to function efficiently.
3 Pain also has economic implications. Citing a finding that came out in 1995, Inciong said around $50 million in wages were lost in 30 days. About 8 percent of the employees claimed for temporary disability—possibly equating to an average of 17 workdays.
4 Pain strengthens patient-doctor relationship. A high number of patient visits may or may not be a good thing, but according to Inciong, it strengthens the patient-doctor relationship. A study she cited shows that 64 percent of those patients who can no longer bear the pain go straight to their doctor for treatment.
In addition to pain awareness, Inciong said the Southeast Asian Pain Societies declared in a congress held on March 15 that they will be supporting all efforts geared toward improving access and availability of essential pain medicines for all in need.
“As healthcare professionals, we commit to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in our practice and to always put our patients first,” she said.
