The philosophy of pain?

Question

What is the philosophy of pain? I understand that pain is entirely subjective, and nobody can definitely pin down pain, as one cannot study pain as one would study, say, cirrhosis or influenza. In todays world, we are taught that we should deal with pain, rather than kill it. Why is this so? In this modern age with such wonderful medicine as morphine and oxycodone why is it's use discouraged so? I understand the risk of addiction, but would that not be considered the lesser of two evils? Is it not better to live a blissful, pain-free life, than a life of chemical independence and agony? I ask this, for I suffer chronic pain.

To those of you who believe opiates are unsuitable medicine, especially for a young adult (20) such as myself, let me ask you:
What is the reason you have for prohibiting people like me from receiving adequate relief? Why should I live with my pain when we have the technology to get rid of it by taking a pill? It is far less time consuming than alt. medicine.

Answer 1

For someone at 20 with a lifetime ahead of them ...doctors would rather find a solution and cure for the pain than to risk an addiction issue....pain relievers are only a maintenance drug and do not eliminate the problem.....but if the pain is going to be there forever without a doubt then i would find any method possible to relieve the pain whether it's holistic, chemical, or even acupuncture.....

Answer 2

I completely agree with you and I empathize with your pain. I too, am a chronic pain sufferer. I was put on oxy a few months ago, after years of having to "deal with" the pain. You are SO right..doctors, family, society really, wants us to "suck it up" and just get on with our lives. What they don't realize, is that, as much as we want to live normal lives, we simply can't unless we receive help. For me, the only help has been the medication, but already, my doctor is telling me it is time to take me off of it. Why?? If I don't take it, my pain is still there. When I am taken off of it, the same problem exists! My chronic back pain, as I've been told, is something I will always have. I've had all the surgery that I can have...so what now? I'll never understand why us asking to live without excruciating pain every day is considered selfish or we are treated as addicts. It doesn't matter how old you are..pain is pain! You deserve pain relief and I think the medical community owes it to those like us to try and provide as much freedom from pain as is possible. Even if it does come from drugs. There have been studies that show that taking oxy and others for terrible pain, drastically lessens the addictive quality of the drug because we are taking it for pain rather than taking it for "the feeling" it gives us. Honestly, the oxy does not have any other effect on me other than lessening the pain, so I could care less whether or not it is addictive. We have NO life without painkillers. I'm going to see a pain managment doctor..see if you can do the same.
I feel for you and what you are going through. I wish you the best. Bless you.

Answer 3

The reason is that what you're doing is not killing the pain but just temporarily run away form it. Pain is part of nature and it is just natural that you would feel pain. Pain exists simply because happiness and joy exist. Everything is like a coin with two sides and each exists because of the other. If there will be happiness, then pain will surely exist. Hence why try run away from it? It is impossible to always be at a state of happiness.

I don't have the right to tell you what you can't do but I can give you suggestions. Seeking the relief of pain through drugs is just plain stupid. Yes, after taking the drug you would feel no pain, but how about after? After the drug goes off, the pain would eventually come back. Drugs lie to you! They are not pain relievers but simply just a time out.

You may say that's enough already, but it is not! Why run away from pain? Why don't you just open your arms and accept it? Pain is simply a part of life and it is it that adds spice to life. I know pain is an unbearable feeling but try to enjoy it and convert this negative energy into something positive.

Try to look around you and see the creation of God, you'll see the wonders of the Lord. Every time pain comes, calm down take a deep breath and turn pain into a new driving force.

"Pain and happiness are one."

Answer 4

Pain can be pinned down. Specific actions in your brain correspond to the pain you feel.

If popping a few pills every day makes you feel better, I personally don't have a problem with it. Unfortunately, my opinion won't help your situation.

Despite that, though, I think opiates are used conservatively because they can be a danger to society (see Opium Wars). A downward spiral of more and more opiates is not going to lift you from your situation. You'll need more and more for less and less effect. The last think you need on top of your chronic pain is an opiate addiction to leave you penniless and even more unhappy.

Try some pot.

Answer 5

I do not know what sort of chronic pain you have; but I belive your doctor did NOT prescribe morphine or oxycodone for whatever pain you are going through. If I am wrong on this, I would like to apologize ahead of time.

Philosophy of Pain is something that healthcare professionals have to think of. Unfortunately many healthcare professionals may be experts in their fields, namely, health related fields, but they are not necessarily experts in Philosophical issues. I believe what you are saying goes to the real of Bio Ethics of Health Ethics in which the issue is Quality vs Quantity; or in a better expression Quality of Life vs Mere Survival.

For example, a terminally ill cancer patient can suffer greatly before his/her deaht. There are some cruel doctors too, who say, "it's painful because it's cancer." I feel no sense of human heart in them. One reason why some doctors do not want to prescribe more pain killers may be that the patient has taken too much already. Perhaps under the recommended usage, maybe the decision not to give more pain killer is right; but that kind of a decision will simply prolong suffering intolerably.

There is something called Principle of Double Effects. In a nutshell, if you administer pain killer to a terminally ill patient with a good intention to genuinely releave suffering from that patient, even if that medicine may ultimately kill the patient, the decision to give pain killer is justified.

Whether or not my version of Principle of Double Effects is justifiable, this goes with Quality of Life versus Mere Survival.

In short, I think Philosophy of Pain should be cultivated more too.

I do not know what sort of pain you have or what is really causing your pain, the best that I can think of to say to you is that I wish you good health.

Answer 6

Pain is one of the human learning processes. Pain is corrective and joy is reward. It is the way God created us. Pain tells us that something is wrong and joy tells us that all is right. To have no pain or joy would make us robotic.
(Psa 8:5) For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
(Hbr 2:7) Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: SPEAKING OF MAN
(Hbr 2:9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. GOD MADE FLESH IN ORDER TO KNOW AND SAVE.

Opiates are just as you stated addiction, but would that not be considered the lesser of two evils? Hence evils? Man was not made to be addicted. He was made to be free and to be able to manage without addictions. At a certain point of pain become passive as God has placed a release system built into out hormones that releases and act like opiates and he feels no more pain. It takes allot of pain to release it but by that time he or she is very near death or even that comes upon them. This life is only flesh and blood. The next one is much better and no pain is involved. However it is not for us to take that life but live with that which we were dealt to handle. Prayer is a phone line to the creator and if one believes in that creator nothing is impossible.

Answer 7

The simple answer to your question is that its just not healthy to indulge in so much drugs--regardless of their "temporary" relief from pain.

If you want to deal with certain problems properly, you must get to the core of that problem and make some changes. Popping a pill in your mouth doesn't really solve any problem in the long run.

=)

Answer 8

there is one way this philosophy can likely have universiality. it really is, there's no excitement and there are purely ranges of soreness. excitement purely modern-day because the least painful, maximum pleasant modern-day because the very least painful.

Answer 9

very subjective in every aspect
depends on your interpretation of pain (for some people it is way of God giving you a signal, or etc) as well as what is your values (pain-free or chemical-free)...

Answer 10

Pain is fresh bread