It is extremely important to understand that you cannot cure everyone. Often we fail to recognize the improvements we have made in the quality of our patients' lives. Unfortunately, our failures constantly are there to remind us of how little we truly understand. At times, this can be very disheartening, but remember, we do not cure many chronic illnesses. It is possible, however, to help our patients cope with their pain and lead fuller lives.
Few patients experience pain without a component of emotional turmoil and suffering.
Pain, by definition, is a sensory and emotional experience. If we do not pay attention to the emotional aspects of patients' pain, their quality of life is unlikely to be enhanced, despite improvements in the sensory aspect of their pain. The cost of chronic pain treatment is often difficult to track, because it tends to accumulate over many years and often is hidden as patients wander from one professional to another to address different aspects of their chronic pain problems. Taken in this context, a comprehensive pain treatment program actually can reduce costs. Many patients are not ready to accept the limitations of the medical community and cannot accept the lessons it can provide.