{"id":3718,"date":"2018-06-24T13:06:25","date_gmt":"2018-06-24T13:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/translatingpain\/?p=3718"},"modified":"2018-06-24T13:06:25","modified_gmt":"2018-06-24T13:06:25","slug":"partners-in-my-care-by-anonymous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/a-bel-abroad\/partners-in-my-care-by-anonymous\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Partners In My Care’, by anonymous"},"content":{"rendered":"

I sit in my place\u2014the patient\u2019s chair\u2014prepared to be a partner in my care. I\u2019ve brought an expanding bible of medical tests and consultant notes, a list of medications and interventions, including what has worked and what hasn\u2019t, and a diary of symptoms I now describe with familiarity. Muscles spasm in my core when I eat, radiating into my chest, back, arms and neck to form hard cords that bind me. I\u2019m in need, seeking help to turn what\u2019s chronic into manageable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You look on me from your place\u2014the physician\u2019s desk. You steer me to start \u201cmy story\u201d at the beginning, before pain. You lead me with questions that turn my persistence to find answers into anxiety. Then you say (in medical language): your emotions are the cause of your pain and you should accept that. Silence follows. You\u2019ve removed me from the partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n