When we talk to patients, they'll say things like, 'Well, of course I had pain. She believes most of the pain still experienced by patients in hospital is unnecessary because it's treatable. While narcotics have suffered some bad press, Johnston believes many people confuse dependence and tolerance with addiction . She explains that people who are taking heavy doses of pain killers for a long time may become physically dependent on a drug, but they can then be weaned off it. The incidence of actual addiction is extremely rare.
Studies show pain can be harmful, can result in complications and longer hospital stays.
If you treat pain, people recover faster. All of which get in the way of healing or feeling better. While she acknowledges hospital staff are stretched to the limit, she believes asking patients about their pain could and should be incorporated into what they're already doing. They still have to see patients, take blood pressure. They could get a pain rating at the same time they're doing those things.