2 Comments

Such a sad tale. Not at all uncommon. The journey of chronic pain, as treated here, is chasing a mystery. Pain emits from hidden causes, traditional medicine is most ineffective, except when it comes to a physical characteristic, fixable with surgery. The drugs and treatments usually create many other problems, especially with all arthritis - which gets worse the longer you have pain. Then pain begets pain. Pain chasing is a river-of-no-return. Docs want to solve it, but treatment decisions in the hands of insurance companies is the downfall. Personal experience, multiple modalities, little to no lasting effect of change. Only 'management' works in some ways, some times. Would health care insurance cover that? Sometimes. Parts. Mostly not. Sad to see what she went through. And, the life shattering effect on her son.

Expand full comment

Thank you for your comment, Jeanette. I doubt there's a person in our age group who hasn't either directly experienced this scenario or closely acquainted with someone in the midst of it. I doubt anyone has more respect and affection for the people in the medical profession. But finding trustworthy care can STILL be.a challenge in the midst of a system that degrades and oppresses the medical practice of individuals by putting the decision making power in the hands of the insurance industry or their algorithms.

Expand full comment