Pain—When It Affects the Person

ABSTRACT

A young man with acute maxillofacial injuries and a tracheotomy in intense pain was denied pain relief for several days. Intermittent suctioning of the trachea was agonizing. He became psychologically affected to such an extent that he was totally focused on his pain and suffering and unable to make intelligent decisions regarding his future treatment. He required major maxillofacial surgery but refused consent for the same. A doctor called in to counsel him found that pain was his predominant problem and treated it. The patient was magically transformed to a sensible person, now thinking straight and promptly consenting for surgery. The author, a doctor himself, learned from this experience what a devastating experience pain can have on the person, that one should look for pain to find it, that most of the time pain can be relieved by simple means, and that relief from pain changes the whole attitude of the sufferer.

KEYWORDS:

• adjustment to disease
• pain
• palliative care
• psychological well-being