Presumably a patient with a smashed spine would be at least a para if not quadriplegic. If the pain lateralized at all a tractotomy would probably be like a miracle. Just off the top of my head a truly intractable joint pain might be alleviated greatly by a glycerol injection. I can’t recall ever seeing that written up or done, there likely is some reason it isn’t. No question, treating chronic pain requires a toolbox with MANY tools and a lot of creativity. It is an extremely challenging thing. Of course, we can also just prescribe narcotics.
Like i said- you and i are gonna disagree- I have pointed out numerous times there are people fro whom surgery is not an option, for whom drugs help somewhat, and you keep pointing to worse case scenarios to make your points- You know full well I wasn’t talking about paraplegics but about those who’s spines are beyond surgical repair- or for patients with other conditions who can’t get surgery because of the risked involved- who have to live with chronic pain for the rest of their lives— but people for who surgery is no longer an option- It’s either drugs, or lay in bed forgotten by all but those that have to take care of them- They don’t deserve that- not when there is help available that allow them to continue life with even the most modest amount of dignity, self respect, and ability-
[[Of course, we can also just prescribe narcotics.]]
We’re not talking about patients that can be cured by other means- again- you are making an ‘it works in some cases, so therefore, it must work in all cases’ argument, when there ARE other means available- We are talking about people who have no other options- they are out of options- surgery, pain management etc are not helping them- can not for various reasons- You don’t restrict their choices to things they can’t get or they aren’t eligible for, simply because a very few people become addicted to the very drugs - That is cruel-