NEW! All-Party Group on Chronic Pain

danielfulshaw

Not dosh as such but could lead to better care. Finally it seems as if chronic pain will be taken seriously by our MPs

http://www.policyconnect.org.uk/content/policyconnect/gen/news/gen/MTA3MjowOjA=

black_paw

well done, had a read at last

pipkin71

Thanks for posting Daniel.

Brightness

Thanks Daniel, it's nice to know that at last the government is taking us pain sufferers seriously.

On another note, don't know whether anyone else has experienced this.....

I am early 40's and been told by numerous people that I don't look my age (even though I sometimes feel about 90!). I parked my motability car in a disabled spot in a supermarket and put up my blue badge. Got out with my stick and was stared at by some old people who were muttering to themselves. They followed me with their stares right up to me getting a flat trolley and walking past the cafe where they were sat.

I was so incensed at being stared at that I actually went over and asked them what the problem was (I shocked myself as I am usually quite quiet!). One actually asked me why I was using a blue badge as I was too young!!!!! :rolleyes: I then explained as nicely as possible that disability wasn't something that happened just to old people.

Then, one told me that I looked too normal to be disabled. I told them how insulting this was and that they should be thankful it wasn't them. I also asked them to define 'normal' as just because someone looked different it didn't mean that they didn't have feelings or a brain.

I was brought up to respect my elders but jeez, after that lot I sometimes wonder..... Do these people actually think anyone WANTS to be disabled?:mad:

Sorry Daniel, didn't mean to hijack your thread

danielfulshaw

No problem.. but I know a few young people who this has happened to. One was a 20 year old dancer and was involved in a car crash (not her fault) which meant she can't now dance and has so many opps leaving her in chronic pain. Everyone just thinks chronic pain = old and, worst still, that chronic pain is a NATRUAL part of getting older. That's not just the general public who think that but some GP's themselves!

pipkin71

danielfulshaw wrote: »

No problem.. but I know a few young people who this has happened to. One was a 20 year old dancer and was involved in a car crash (not her fault) which meant she can't now dance and has so many opps leaving her in chronic pain. Everyone just thinks chronic pain = old and, worst still, that chronic pain is a NATRUAL part of getting older. That's not just the general public who think that but some GP's themselves!

I was 18 when I was in a car crash and as I get older, health problems get worse. Chronic pain is an awful thing to live with and not everyone understands what you go through on a daily basis

Lyndale

I've had older people scowl at my wheelchair and tell me I would be fine if I just made the effort and that I should just "Suck it up and get on with it" The worst thing is that these comments are regularly made by my own mother. In the past she has told me to get out of my wheelchair and let her have a go because she needs it more. Only a week ago I had to stay with her for a week (My husband was given a few days holiday at a "carer's retreat") and during that time she told me "If I lay about in bed all day, like you do, I'd be in much the same condition." and if I cried out with the pain (I can control that when I'm awake but not when I'm asleep or drifting off) she would tell me to "shush". I was scared to sleep each night because she spoke to me in the same tone you'd use on a naughty dog. I'm bedridden, in constant pain, I am bipolar and one of the side effects of my condition causes chronic fatigue. I would sooner die that have to live another week like that one.

sfmedusa

Brightness wrote: »

Thanks Daniel, it's nice to know that at last the government is taking us pain sufferers seriously.

On another note, don't know whether anyone else has experienced this.....

I am early 40's and been told by numerous people that I don't look my age (even though I sometimes feel about 90!). I parked my motability car in a disabled spot in a supermarket and put up my blue badge. Got out with my stick and was stared at by some old people who were muttering to themselves. They followed me with their stares right up to me getting a flat trolley and walking past the cafe where they were sat.

I was so incensed at being stared at that I actually went over and asked them what the problem was (I shocked myself as I am usually quite quiet!). One actually asked me why I was using a blue badge as I was too young!!!!! :rolleyes: I then explained as nicely as possible that disability wasn't something that happened just to old people.

Then, one told me that I looked too normal to be disabled. I told them how insulting this was and that they should be thankful it wasn't them. I also asked them to define 'normal' as just because someone looked different it didn't mean that they didn't have feelings or a brain.

I was brought up to respect my elders but jeez, after that lot I sometimes wonder..... Do these people actually think anyone WANTS to be disabled?:mad:

Sorry Daniel, didn't mean to hijack your thread

No, that's pretty standard. I've even been challenged by a parking attendant to prove that I hadn't got the blue badge by stealing it, rather than it being my own.

I'm tall, young, and apparently fit looking. None of that takes away from the fact that I've got major degenerative spinal problems and one arm paralysed through surgery.

Sorry- back on topic.

Thank you for posting the link daniel. I'm very lucky that I have a fabulous palliative care physician who will sit and talk receptors with me for hours (I'm a bit anal about knowing how things work- I'm a biochemist). I couldn't wish for anyone better at treating pain and making me feel human in my way of coping, and I couldn't wish for more than for everyone else who's in chronic pain to have treatment as competent as that made available to me. Let's hope they finally come up with the goods that can make so many people more able, more fulfilled and in less pain.

danielfulshaw

Wow - seems like a lot of people have the same issue. If you get hit by a ball in the face it hurts. It doesn't matter what age you are, we all feel pain so why the prejudice?

http://www.policyconnect.org.uk/content/policyconnect/gen/news/gen/MTA3MjowOjA=