Father’s Day [pain medication]

Happy Father’s Day!

My father passed away three months ago after a long and full life, ending with a very long, uncomplaining fight against Parkinson’s Disease.

He was lucky enough to rarely suffer from pain. Once, years ago, he had developed a kidney stone. The pain is said to be as acute as the pain of childbirth. He lay awake in pain before telling my mother, and then dodged her question about how he was feeling. The stone eventually passed. I doubt he took any pain medicine.

The stoic acceptance of pain may be admirable. Or it may be misguided, as pain itself can be harmful. Pain can release hormones that stress the heart and lungs. Pain can cause blood pressure to spike, leading to heart attacks and strokes.

Now, of course, a variety of pain meds are now available, and often, their benefits outweigh their risks. Be sure to consider the trade-offs: every year, 5,000 – 6,000 Americans die from gastrointestinal bleeding from drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin, according to an article in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Advice to those in chronic pain: consult your doctor if the pain limits your activities, and discuss the trade-offs.

Read one of our pain management stories, or read Tina Rosenberg’s nuanced story about pain, addiction to opioids, and the role of doctors and patients in treating pain, in today’s New York Times Magazine.