Pain As A Symptom — Letters that should have been in the new york times

2.17.19
To the editor

Regardless of whether we consider pain a sensation or an emotion (Haiter Waraich NYT 3/17/19) it is a symptom with many causes. Opiates are no more a cure for pain than Tylenol is a cure for febrile seizures. The underlying condition must be addressed.

This point was driven home to me many years ago when I treated a man with intractable back pain who made a suicide attempt. Electroconvulsive therapy treated his depression and eradicated his pain. Fifteen years later his wife called me after failed back surgery - his depression had returned.

This case illustrates, albeit dramatically, the link between mind/brain and body.

Attention to the psychological and social dimensions of pain - not only the concretely physical symptoms -- are necessary for all patients complaining of pain.

Respectfully submitted
Larry S Sandberg