Pain, What Is It Good For?

By Clarissa E. Pearson, Owner

Did you know that sickle cell patients are often not listened to or understood? Those that are able to make changes to increase awareness of this disease are just learning of its seriousness and are beginning to establish and create laws regarding this disease. Pain is never fun, but having to fight for adequate pain treatment increases the level of pain. Because of this, sickle cell patients will often put off receiving medical treatment, until it becomes absolutely unbearable.

The question is why should anyone have to suffer from excruciating pain and how can we fix the pain and heal the patient?

Many things are being done to increase the awareness of sickle cell disease at the same time there is also a disconnect. For example, practices that truly advocate for the disease receive the most up to date information regarding the sickle cell community, but many hospitals that may be highly ranked for treating cardiovascular disease or breast cancer may not spend the same amount of time, energy, and money on sickle cell disease.

Through the Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2014, Congress finally recognized sickle cell disease's need for better treatment. As awareness of this disease increases, the true physical pain in which sufferers must deal with will be addressed with better care and expertise.

The sickle cell awareness train is coming to town. Let's educate ourselves of this disease that currently affects almost 100,000 Americans and break the sickle cell cycle.