This is an absolute travesty. People in chronic pain are more than capable of deciding if painkillers help them. CBT and exercise is not a response to agony. theguardian.com/society/2021/a…
It would be fantastic if people with chronic pain could take up acupuncture, suitable exercise, and CBT as well as the option of painkillers - except there’s barely any access to these services on the NHS. It’s just cruel to dangle that option, whilst pulling the painkillers.
I became bedbound with post-viral fatigue and it still took me three years to get a referral to a physiotherapist. A specialist nurse fobbed me off when I kept asking. I still don’t get any sessions - and I’m far from alone. And they wonder why we crash and need more pain relief.
I find it remarkable they pull painkillers for being harmful and addictive but recommend antidepressants, as if they’re smarties. I tried SSRIs for pain relief and had terrible side effects, so came off them. Antidepressants can be beneficial but the contrast is telling.
(To clarify for anyone not familiar: some antidepressants are proven to provide pain relief for some chronic pain. This *is not* because the person is depressed. It’s because some of the pathways for pain and depression are similar. The human body is a complex beast.)
I had so many messages in response to this today. I’m sorry I can’t reply to them individually (pain! fatigue! irony!) but reading them all. Love to you all.
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Getting a lot of tweets from non-disabled people telling me we shouldn’t call Greta Thunberg disabled. Each follows a similar message: “I can't see Greta as disabled. Her achievements are incredible.” I just want to quickly unpack this. 1/?
It’s for Greta to identify how she wants. She talks about her disability openly but I’m not sure if she personally uses the term ‘disabled.’ That’s entirely her decision. (Please correct me if she’s made this clear publicly.) But that isn’t the issue here. 2/?
When non-disabled ppl say ‘I can’t see you as disabled. You’re incredible!’ it isn’t a compliment. What you’re saying is that disability and achievement are mutually exclusive. You’re saying disability is negative and you’re respecting someone more by not labelling them it. 3/?
I have had a mixed day online. I’ve had a Canary writer make fun of my disability via sub tweets. I’ve also had amazing warrior disabled writers form a mini movement to help each other get work in a society that too often shuts really talented people out. 1/
It sounds really trite but I honestly don’t know why people aren’t more kind to each other in this space. I never engage with Twitter beefs - there are few things less important - but inevitably people tag you so you see it. And even with thick journo skin, it affects you. 2/
(To be clear, it was mocking how I use my disability benefits, that I was well enough (and could afford) to go to uni, and that I’ve never had a fit for work test myself - no one was making fun of the fact I use a wheelchair.) 3/