PAIN - new device gains FDA approval

[marycarmel]

The FDA has approved a new device called "PAIN," short for Pain Acquiring Instrument Neat-O, an instrument which gives a patient's actual pain score on a 10-point scale.  It's actually being used in a Jersey City, NJ ER.

I'll try to go back and get the link so you can all read the article if you're interested.  But basically it tells what your true pain level is.  The article gives an example of how when asked what a patient's pain is at on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst pain imagine able, patients often answer 10 even though that's akin to being lit on fire or stabbed repeatedly in the thigh with a knife.

Now, personally I think being lit on fire would be more painful than being stabbed in the thigh but hopefully I'll never have to find out first hand.  But I see this as yet another tactic to deny chronic pain patients opioid medications.  

I know many of us have more than one CP condition, and I don't think this device can take that into account.  And pain is very subjective.  I have a high pain tolerance.  So does my oldest son.  He had knee surgery and only took Advil.  He had 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed, came home, took some ibuprofen, a half hour nap and was up and out.  And he ate chicken for dinner.  My oldest daughter has a low pain threshold but when you see her, it's very apparent she's in a lot of pain.  I also red an article a while back that said red heads feel pain more easily than blondes or brunettes.

I think maybe this device has a place.  Non-communicative patients, babies, stroke patients, certain types of mentally challenged patients may all benefit from this.  But I see it causing yet another hurdle for CP patients.

Thoughts?

[Tuckamore]

You're so welcome. You were trying to be helpful as you always are.

Try to see the humor in this - we all need smiles - especially with the challenges we face on a daily basis. A little humor helps. ;o)

Keep Smiling,
~Tuck

[marycarmel]

Thanks, Tuck!

[Tuckamore]

Here's another satire - from the same site. It brought a smile to my face. We can all you! I hope it does the same for you.

http://gomerblog.com/2014/10/cancel-case/

Readers - this is a satire!!!

Smiling,
~Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Don't feel foolish. I found the farce article and it took me a lot of investigation into the site to determine it was a satire.

Many other sites carried that "satire" and there is no mention of it being a spoof. Indeed if you read the comments below the article - the commenters believe it to be true and factual.

I would have taken it at face value - so I should feel foolish too - and I'm a nurse!

It wouldn't surprise me if in the future that such a device is actually developed. I have lots to say on that subject but this isn't the time for my spouting! :o)

Thanks for trying to keep us updated and in the loop. You are an asset to our community.

Peace,
~Tuck

[marycarmel]

Boy do I feel foolish.  Is there a way to
Have the post removed so someone else doesn't  make the same mistake I made?

In my (poor) defense, I actually got this from a friend who is a nurse and I'm really surprised now by how many people commented on it who were also fooled by it like I wss.

[fntn]

This is a medical satire site ....

[marycarmel]

The link for this article is gomerblog.com.