But many doctors have received inadequate training. Even cancer specialists, who see chronic pain cases every day, say their education in this area was often lacking. In a large survey, only 12 percent rated their medical school pain-management training was good to excellent. Only 27 percent gave a good rating to their residency program. They don't take pain seriously if they don't have a reason to explain it.
Inadequate training can lead to inadequate medication.
Narcotics such as morphine and codeine are the most powerful painkillers available. When given to pain patients with no history of substance abuse, less than 1 percent ever become addicted. Yet most doctors still refuse to prescribe these drugs. In Burger's case, they eventually were. She found a pain specialist who prescribed a small daily dose of narcotics.