steve
Actually Steve, I conceded that there is new research, that you quoted, that shows that MRIs can identify activity in the brain that diretly relates to pain.
What I'm correcting is your use of this article to indicate that doctors practicing medicine currently use MRIs as a diagnostic device for measuring pain. They do not. It is not currently a tool for use in diagnosing pain in any hospital or emergency room. Thre is only an isolated study at one institution. Perhaps some day it will serve as such, but for now, it isn't a validated medical diagnositc tool for pain.
What doctors use in practice are various subjective scales. Similar to how they attempt to guage depression.
You've hear of people with a high pain threshold? and those with a low pain threshold?
How some people require few pain meds for the same operation that another patient requires heavy medication? Its all subjective...
And it can be dificult to diagnose.
Pain can never be faked? Back injuries in car accidents never result in people faking chronic pain for an insurance settlement?
You've never heard of the controversy over the diagnosis of fibromyalgia? There is a debate about the actual effect of the condition including the chronic pain that always presents? ... Of course some people think these people are just faking....
Tom and you might want to actually educate yourself on what depression is before you keep offering profundities. Depression is a condiition that often leads to suicide. Some 34,000 people will commit suicide in the US this year. Its the number 2 cause of death of those of college age . Often severe depression precedes suicide attempts.
I've had three friends lose depressed college aged children to suicide in the last 4 years. One friend lost two, and another has a second child with the same history of depression as the first that took his life. Trying to help someone who's depressed can be a real helpless feeling , especially as the consequences of depression can be fatal.
A few myths, which the two of you seem to be enveloped within:
The following are myths about depression and its treatment:
source: http://www.medicinenet.com/depression/page2.htm
•It is a weakness rather than an illness.
•If the sufferer just tries hard enough, it will go away.
•If you ignore depression in yourself or a loved one, it will go away.
•Highly intelligent or highly accomplished people do not get depressed.
•People with developmental disabilities do not get depressed.
•People with depression are "crazy."
•Depression does not really exist.
•Psychiatric medications are all addicting.
•Psychiatric medications are never necessary to treat depression.
•Medication is the only effective treatment for depression.
•Children and teens should never be given antidepressant medication
So, you KNOW MRI's cannot show pain? Wow! I was not aware you are a medical doctor.
Actually Steve, I conceded that there is new research, that you quoted, that shows that MRIs can identify activity in the brain that diretly relates to pain.
What I'm correcting is your use of this article to indicate that doctors practicing medicine currently use MRIs as a diagnostic device for measuring pain. They do not. It is not currently a tool for use in diagnosing pain in any hospital or emergency room. Thre is only an isolated study at one institution. Perhaps some day it will serve as such, but for now, it isn't a validated medical diagnositc tool for pain.
What doctors use in practice are various subjective scales. Similar to how they attempt to guage depression.
You've hear of people with a high pain threshold? and those with a low pain threshold?
How some people require few pain meds for the same operation that another patient requires heavy medication? Its all subjective...
And it can be dificult to diagnose.
Pain can never be faked? Back injuries in car accidents never result in people faking chronic pain for an insurance settlement?
You've never heard of the controversy over the diagnosis of fibromyalgia? There is a debate about the actual effect of the condition including the chronic pain that always presents? ... Of course some people think these people are just faking....
Tom and you might want to actually educate yourself on what depression is before you keep offering profundities. Depression is a condiition that often leads to suicide. Some 34,000 people will commit suicide in the US this year. Its the number 2 cause of death of those of college age . Often severe depression precedes suicide attempts.
I've had three friends lose depressed college aged children to suicide in the last 4 years. One friend lost two, and another has a second child with the same history of depression as the first that took his life. Trying to help someone who's depressed can be a real helpless feeling , especially as the consequences of depression can be fatal.
A few myths, which the two of you seem to be enveloped within:
The following are myths about depression and its treatment:
source: http://www.medicinenet.com/depression/page2.htm
•It is a weakness rather than an illness.
•If the sufferer just tries hard enough, it will go away.
•If you ignore depression in yourself or a loved one, it will go away.
•Highly intelligent or highly accomplished people do not get depressed.
•People with developmental disabilities do not get depressed.
•People with depression are "crazy."
•Depression does not really exist.
•Psychiatric medications are all addicting.
•Psychiatric medications are never necessary to treat depression.
•Medication is the only effective treatment for depression.
•Children and teens should never be given antidepressant medication