Pain and Compassion After Surgery
Skin care and cosmetic enhancement/cosmetic surgery 09/09/06
Edward B. Lack MD
President, MetropolitanMD
Chicago’s Cosmetic Surgery Center
For the past 2 weeks I have had a toothache. Of course that does not take into account the many months that passed when my tooth would hurt periodically and I did not take the time to go to my dentist. For the past 2 weeks I did take care of it and after waiting 5 days in moderate pain to see an endodontist I finally got an appointment. After working on me for about an hour he found that the tooth had fractured and was infected and could not be saved. He offered to send me to an oral surgeon immediately (3:30PM on a Friday afternoon) and I agreed. Fortunately, a former colleague offered to wait until I could arrive and he pulled the tooth. My maxilla (the upper teeth containing bone) was throbbing before the procedure and became worse after. I received a prescription for vicodin and antibiotic and went to the pharmacy where the Osco pharmacist told me there would be a 20-45 minute wait. Persisting in his presence for immediate care he relented and gave me my medicines 5 minutes later. Once home I took the vicodin and put ice on my cheek and after 2 hours the pain subsided.
The real story is the next day when I felt worn out, sad, and depressed. I am a cancer survivor who so far has beaten the odds so I am no stranger to pain and surgery and medication. I also have had to take vicodin before and noted its profound emotional depressant effect. I operate on skin and fat and I routinely recommend patients walk to dampen pain and avoid the depressant effects of narcotics. So I need to be reminded form time to time how our emotions are affected by illness, drugs, and surgery. I know of nothing that makes me feel more helpless than being ill- especially ill and taking narcotics. I suggest that I need to remember this when I am ill or when one of my loved ones is ill or when one of my patients feels ill or in pain. Maybe we all need to remember. Understanding is powerful medicine that leads to forgiveness and caring.
Edward B. Lack MD
President, MetropolitanMD
Chicago’s Cosmetic Surgery Center
For the past 2 weeks I have had a toothache. Of course that does not take into account the many months that passed when my tooth would hurt periodically and I did not take the time to go to my dentist. For the past 2 weeks I did take care of it and after waiting 5 days in moderate pain to see an endodontist I finally got an appointment. After working on me for about an hour he found that the tooth had fractured and was infected and could not be saved. He offered to send me to an oral surgeon immediately (3:30PM on a Friday afternoon) and I agreed. Fortunately, a former colleague offered to wait until I could arrive and he pulled the tooth. My maxilla (the upper teeth containing bone) was throbbing before the procedure and became worse after. I received a prescription for vicodin and antibiotic and went to the pharmacy where the Osco pharmacist told me there would be a 20-45 minute wait. Persisting in his presence for immediate care he relented and gave me my medicines 5 minutes later. Once home I took the vicodin and put ice on my cheek and after 2 hours the pain subsided.
The real story is the next day when I felt worn out, sad, and depressed. I am a cancer survivor who so far has beaten the odds so I am no stranger to pain and surgery and medication. I also have had to take vicodin before and noted its profound emotional depressant effect. I operate on skin and fat and I routinely recommend patients walk to dampen pain and avoid the depressant effects of narcotics. So I need to be reminded form time to time how our emotions are affected by illness, drugs, and surgery. I know of nothing that makes me feel more helpless than being ill- especially ill and taking narcotics. I suggest that I need to remember this when I am ill or when one of my loved ones is ill or when one of my patients feels ill or in pain. Maybe we all need to remember. Understanding is powerful medicine that leads to forgiveness and caring.
posted by Edward Lack MD at 7:19 PM
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