I have provided direct care for many patients in pain
over the course of my 26 years as a Registered Nurse. I have seen those patients who were in acute
pain from trauma, child birth, post operative pain, chronic pain such as from wounds/leg
ulcers, back pain, an old injury, fibromyalgia, arthritis and the pain of
terminal illness.
Furthermore, I have observed how people react to that
pain from those with low tolerance for pain (who could bear little) to those
with high tolerance (who were the silent soldiers). I have observed the stoic faces of those
“silent soldiers” who I knew must be
in pain, but who would ask for nothing. I have observed the grimaces, the groans, the shrieks,
and even the agony of those suffering from acute pain.
What causes most
pain? Inflammation! What causes the
inflammation? (Refer to my previous blog “Why Do I Need All These Pills” for a
brief explanation.)
Let me be very clear that both from a nursing
perspective and a very personal
perspective, I know about pain. I have
experienced intense post operative pain, the pain of trauma, procedural pain, childbirth
and the chronic pain of arthritis. I have at times been that same “silent
soldier” who just didn’t talk about the pain that wouldn’t go away. Instead I continued to traipse up and down
those long hospital corridors working 12 hour shifts, helping others while I
was in pain myself.
I am actually thankful that I have firsthand knowledge
of pain because I was never slow to respond to my patient’s needs because of
it. In fact, I have advocated for my
patients to some doctors who had deaf or calloused ears on behalf of their
patients whose pain was not being adequately addressed.
As for me, I would buy acetaminophen and ibuprofen in
100-200+ count bottles. Often, I would
take 800 mg. of ibuprofen several times a day and still be experiencing
pain. Pain would keep me awake at
night. When the alarm sounded in the
morning, I dreaded to step my feet on the floor because I knew the pain was
only going to get worse throughout the day.
I would mentally ask myself this question: Do I
want to harm my liver with acetaminophen or harm my kidneys with
ibuprofen? So I would alternate between
the two and still never be comfortable.
Narcotic pain relievers for chronic pain weren’t even
an option. Nobody needs a nurse whose
judgment may be impaired. There’s always
the issue of developing a high tolerance to narcotics, requiring more and more
to achieve the same level of relief. I
have known too many nurses who lost their licenses over mismanagement of
narcotics and vowed I would never go down that dead-end road.
So what value does pain have for me? Absolutely none! Pain is not an old familiar friend I hesitate
to part with; instead pain was a
hindrance to me living life to its fullest.
Yes, you just read the words correctly; I just
referred to pain in the past tense! J
In late November, 2011, another friend (also a nurse)
recognized my need and shared information with me about a natural product that
has changed my life. For the first time
since I was a child, I know what it is like to live my life pain-free! The photo below were actually bottles from my own medicine cabinet. These were actual bottles I discarded because they expired because I didn't need them anymore!
Now I begin (and end) every single day with 36 all natural
plant-based anti-inflammatories that don’t harm either my liver or my kidneys—Zija’s Smart Mix or Super
Mix made from Moringa Oleifera. For me,
pain has no value and was definitely not my friend—it prevented me from
living “life unlimited.” What is your
choice? Why wait another day to begin
living your own “life unlimited?” J
Pam Baker, RN
notmywil@gmail.com
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