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hronic pelvic pain and/or associated intestinal
disturbance are a major cause of misery for thousands
of patients. Often in constant pain, the patient experiences
loneliness, hopelessness, frustration and desperation
with thoughts of suicide. Family and work relationships
are strained to the limit. Although ADHESIONS are
often (but not always) the cause of this pain, treatment
for adhesions is not performed either because the
surgeon does not believe that adhesions can cause
the problem, or because lysis of adhesions is considered
too difficult or futile.
Adhesions are an almost inevitable outcome of surgery,
and the problems that they cause are widespread and
sometimes severe. It has been said by some that adhesions
are the single most common and costly problem related
to surgery, and yet most people have not even heard
the term. This lack of awareness means that, excluding
infertility, many doctors are unable or unwilling
to tackle the problems of adhesions, many insurance
companies are unwilling to pay for treatment and many
patients are left in misery.
Read Dr. David Wiseman's "A
Patient's Guide to Adhesions and Related Pain",
which describes adhesions, their treatment and their
relationship to pain and bowel obstruction. In addition,
stories from patients are featured to illustrate how
adhesions (or suspected adhesions) affect their daily
lives and how they cope with a sometimes-insurmountable
problem.
A key lesson and source of comfort for patients with
this problem is that they are not alone and the importance
of mutual support among patients cannot be underestimated.
There are no easy answers as yet. In drawing attention
to the human side of this problem, we hope to (begin
to) educate patients and doctors about the range of
treatments available, be they of a medical, surgical
or psychological nature. In addition, the establishment
of a group to provide support and information to adhesions
sufferers is proposed.
Please review our large
collection of links to find more information
about adhesions and related disorders. |
