Where Is the Hurry to Help People With Chronic Pain? — Pain News Network

Where Is the Hurry to Help People With Chronic Pain? — Pain News Network: By Carol Levy, PNN Columnist Why is the United States and the rest of the world in such a hurry to get a vaccine against Covid-19? Easy to answer: The virus is a killer. As of the writing of this column, the number of American deaths stands at over 237,000 and is rising daily. The number of infec

A Different Perspective on Disbelief — Pain News Network

A Different Perspective on Disbelief — Pain News Network: By Carol Levy, PNN Columnist I was watching a 2009 episode of Law and Order . The plot line revolved around a fetus who had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). They talked about the trials the fetus would face if born, because he would have “fragile” skin that could tear at the slightest touch. Neve

A Pained Life: Don’t Throw Out the Bathwater — Pain News Network

A Pained Life: Don’t Throw Out the Bathwater — Pain News Network: By Carol Levy, PNN Columnist In 1976, my trigeminal neuralgia started. In those days, the environment regarding chronic pain was very different. My doctor had only one agenda: He wanted to stop or reduce my constant debilitating and disabling pain. He couldn’t cure me, so he ordered opioid pain m

What If You Can’t Wear a Face Mask? — Pain News Network

What If You Can’t Wear a Face Mask? — Pain News Network: By Carol Levy, PNN Columnist Of all the possible repercussions of trigeminal neuralgia -- all the things it keeps me from doing because of the pain -- I never thought it could make me a possible danger to others. But suddenly I am. Because I cannot wear a face mask. Because of trigeminal neuralgi

A Pained Life: The Language Barrier — Pain News Network

A Pained Life: The Language Barrier — Pain News Network: By Carol Levy, PNN Columnist Many years ago, I was in Brazil. I only spoke “pigeon” Portuguese. I walked into a diner, looked at a menu and saw something that looked good. The counterman came over. I thought I said, “I would like the egg sandwich.” But I must have said something bizarre, because

A Pained Life: What Price Would You Pay for a Cure? — Pain News Network

A Pained Life: What Price Would You Pay for a Cure? — Pain News Network: By Carol Levy, PNN Columnist I recently had my deep brain stimulator removed. The implant made my trigeminal neuralgia pain much worse. As much as I hated the implant for the entire 7 months I had it, I knew I had to give it a try. I was obsessed with finding a cure. I was looking for so