pain
The Conversation Placebo
Pain remedies developed by the pharmaceutical industry are only modestly effective, and they have side effects that range from nausea and constipation to addiction and death. What’s often overlooked is that the simple conversation between doctor and patient can be as potent an analgesic as many treatments we prescribe. More
The Pain Med Conundrum
Under-treating pain violates the basic ethical principles of medicine. On the other hand, we are lambasted for over-prescribing pain medications. What are doctors to do? More
More Power to the Placebo
The hospital ward was quiet for the night, except for “the howler.†The patient and I were both pretty exasperated with each other. He was sullen and cranky; I was exhausted and at my wits’ end. More
