a true story from a patient i had

Let me explain where this leads as to everyone talking about pain is this pain is that. I have a freind who was a patient of mine at BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER his story goes like this

He was deployed to Iraq while his wife was 5 months pregnant with twins the day his wife went into labor he was out on patrol when his partol was hit by an IED then small arms fire came in he was the gunner of a M1 .50 cal machine gun as he returned fire his vehicle was hit by a RPG round setting it on fire he mantained his fireing until the 2nd RPG round hit were it knocked him to the floor of the vehicle he got up to retuen fire but he could not see nor could he feel his hands due to the fact that his hands and gotten melted to the weapon due to the heat of the fire...

when I started treating him at BAMC he had full thickness burns to his face and both arms he is blind for the rest of his life. he was on methadone and morphine with an oxy kicker some time fyntinal just to stop his pain after about 4 months on all of that he wanted off why becouse it made his life hell

he used to bring down pictures of his two twin daughters and say arn't they the prettiest things you have ever seen think about that at this point he had never seen picture nor would he ever see his daughters faces but it was the pain meds that was making his life hell not what happened and not what his life was going to be but what the pain meds were doing to him. know is your life worth living without the pain meds yes it is will make you stronger yes it will

stay strong
medic

[GoingToMakeIt]

Nice post. Life is what we make it. This story helped me to remember that.

[usarmymedic1]

thanks I read a post and it made me think of this story and I had to post it

[10356]

wow what a powerful story To me he is a hero I have never been hurt like that but I do know pain I have hep c stage 2 liver disease one kidney need a shoulder replacement that is very tricky as my immune system is so compromised have 3 plates and 15 screws in one foot c1 thruc7 is ruptured in my neck and in the lumbar L1 thru L5 also not counting the knee I take pain med as prescribed not always as prescribed but since I have been on this forum. They wanted me to go to pain management but they would have put me on heavier drugs I just had my Dr. take me off morphine and drop me down to norco about 5 mo ago, without it I would barely get around it makes me feel like a coward and guilty I was once an Heroin addict have not done in decades. Dose this make me a bad person or suspect? Do I even belong on this forum? well I'm about to cry so gotta go Limbo

[josh231]

wow i couldnt even imagine all that send chills through out my body, and im kinda speachless, its an eye opener

[flmagi]

Such a sad story. You've really seen alot of hurting people in your job. Thats gotta be tuff on you too. How do you handle dealing with all that?  I really admire your strength and compassion.
Did this guy get off the pain meds?  I wish him and his family all the best the world can offer.

[usarmymedic1]

Yes he got off the meds the last time I saw him he was holding one of his twins he was getting ready to go home for the frist time on leave and he stopped by the clinic to show off his girls

[Shotrock]

Thanks!  Those twins are lucky thier father is a hero... Thanks again!

[worried878]

Thanks for the story...we need to remember and be reminded...pain meds can ruin our lives and have ruined parts of many of our lives...I needed to be reminded and thank you...

[newgirl2708]

I have no problems.

[usarmymedic1]

I deal with it in the way I just remember tht I am helping them be more functional in life as much pain that I cause in therapy it is better for them in the long run they will beable to live a fuller life becouse of what I am doing.  but nothing can cover up the screams of debredment of a burn patient just have to do it and feel about it later.

[Mikeinthesouth]

Thanks Army

[belle10]

amen!