Hello my Zebras and Spoonies! Thanks for coming and hanging out with me today, I’m glad that you are here. Today I want to talk about the way that pain is managed (or not) while those with chronic illness are in the hospital.

The first reality that must be mentioned is that there is a significant inequity when it comes to pain management in our current health care system. Women are less likely to get medicated for their pain then men and they are less likely to get adequate pain control. This is equally true if you are a person of color. And if you are a woman of color you will face even more hurdles. There is also the reality that if you have a history of substance abuse you will like not be given any pain management at all. I find all of this this completely disgusting as a nurse and completely infuriating as a patient. I’ve experienced this on both sides. I’ve seen patients that were not being well medicated and I couldn’t account for it beyond their gender or their history of substance abuse. And I have been the patient in pain that has not been taken seriously.

Continue reading “Pain Management in the Hospital” →