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Pain-sufferers not to blame

I have never sent a letter to the editor nor have I ever expected to. But I speak for thousands of West Virginians and millions of Americans, many of us senior citizens. Your editorial of April 9, in which you criticized a woman who suffers from complex regional pain syndrome, concluding that “she does not understand” — four days later I am still appalled by the insensitivity toward those of us who suffer chronic pain.

Like you we are concerned about the opioid crisis that plagues our nation, caused by irresponsible pharmaceuticals, drug kingpins, greedy doctors, and criminals who prey on and encourage addiction in our innocent children and youths, for their own unconscionable, selfish purposes. This plague is not the fault of those of us who suffer chronic pain, and we should not have to suffer the unintended consequences of recent legislation that ties the hands of our physicians who try to alleviate our pain.

In 2012 I suffered an outbreak of shingles. The blistering eventually went away but the chronic pain has not at all. My diagnosis of post herpetic neuralgia has continued and worsened, despite several changes in medication and four surgical procedures that resulted in a worsening of my condition. Three daily doses of a common opioid made the condition much better. I have never, not once, used prescription medication oftener than prescribed. But recent changes in the law allow my physicians to prescribe only two per day. This means that I have to choose which 8+ hours I want to suffer often excruciating pain. It makes me wonder if anyone on your editorial staff has ever suffered from chronic pain.

It is not “she who does not understand.” It is you who does not understand.

Philip Sturm

Parkersburg

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