Pubdate: Thu, 14 Apr 2016
Source: Tennessean, The (Nashville, TN)
Copyright: 2016 Annie Addison
Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/SITES/OPINION/submit-editor.shtml
Website: http://www.tennessean.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447
Author: Annie Addison

PAINKILLERS NOT A TREATMENT

Re: "Culture of healing needed to battle painkiller addiction," by 
David Plazas, April 8.

In response to your article, I would like to express how strongly I 
agree that our culture relies entirely too much on painkillers.

Recently my stepfather had a neck surgery, and as expected, he was in 
a considerable amount of pain after the procedure. After being 
prescribed 60 Percocet pills, he took a total of five. When asked 
why, this was what he said: "I was more scared of being addicted to 
the painkillers than I was of the pain."

This shows that as stated in the article, pain medications are given 
out too frequently and more than necessary.

According to my mother, a doctor at Maury Regional Hospital, "Pain is 
one of the five vital signs. We ask for it after we take the 
patient's body temperature." This means it is an indication of a 
patient's critical body functions, and pain is a necessary component 
to a healthy life.

Our pain sensors keep us from sticking our hand into a scorching fire 
pit or tell us when we have pushed our body too far in a workout. 
Pain has protective benefits. Eliminating such a key function using 
such a dangerous method is simply unwise and, as stated in the 
article, that's not healing.

Annie Addison, Franklin 37064 
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