The Challenges of Treating Pain in the Emergency Department

摘要

Every day in every Emergency Department (ED) of this state,and I imagine, in most states, these stories are repeated. Just becausethey are familiar doesn’t mean that they aren’t true. Thereis (no question) a lack of availability of clinic appointments, andit is true that covering physicians don’t want to prescribe narcoticpain medication for patients they don’t know. Dental coverage isonly common among well-insured people and tobacco use alongwith little dental care means there are many patients waiting forthe dental clinic appointments which are available; three monthsis typical. Prescription narcotics are among the most abused/misused medications, and not just sons-in-law, but sons anddaughters and neighbors have been known to take mom’s meds.And disc disease is an endemic finding, which probably wouldbe present on your MRI as well as mine.