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- Written by James E. Patterson James E. Patterson
In the 1990s, I had a serious spinal injury while serving in the U.S. Foreign Service. While recovering from neurosurgery for my injuries, a colleague suggested I read how President John F. Kennedy managed his chronic back pain.
According to the back-pain website SpineUniverse, Kennedy “underwent multiple spine surgeries, relied on daily use of a back brace (and sometimes crutches), and tried various alternative treatments.”
Coincidentally, Kennedy and I had similar spinal injuries. In 1995, I had discectomy at L5-S1. Prior to surgery, I had intractable back and leg pain. The same was true for Kennedy, who underwent an L4-L5 laminotomy and L5-S1 discectomy in 1944.
Historians tell us that Kennedy found little relief from his surgery. I had relief for a period of years and continued to work.
In 2006, I was working in San Francisco when my spine demons returned. I was prescribed opioids. The physician wrongly said opioids were “non-addictive” and prescribed me tall bottles of 90 opioid tablets! Today, it is unlawful in some states to prescribe that amount.
Opioids caused more health problems for me. They aggravated my preexisting ophthalmological and neurological conditions. My vision was seriously impaired for months. Fortunately, in 2015 I found the right medical professionals to diagnosis the problem and end the opioid “therapy.”
My difficult struggle through highly addictive opioid “therapy” frightens me still. There is life after opioids!
For anyone challenged by chronic pain, please be aware that physicians are prone to write prescriptions for pharmaceuticals. Drug manufacturers send salespeople to physicians’ offices. Ergo, physicians prescribe drugs to their patients.
Patients must ask for pain-management alternatives to drugs. Alternatives include chiropractic therapy, physical therapy, aquatic therapy, acupuncture, neuromuscular therapy, home exercise, yoga, tai chi, appropriate medical supplies and equipment, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a psychologist trained in chronic pain management.
Psychologists are great resources as they are not M.D.s.; they cannot prescribe drugs for chronic pain. Most psychologists prefer physical medicine rather than traditional drug “therapy.” Not everyone goes to a psychologist for depression.
Based on my experience as a working professional managing chronic pain, each day involves physical medicine, including exercise. My pain-management regime includes acupuncture and neuromuscular, aquatic, physical, and massage therapies.
Maintaining control over chronic pain requires discipline, resourcefulness, and persistence, among other personal traits. Chronic-pain psychologists can help develop these traits.
Psychologists can also help manage problems associated with chronic pain, including anxiety and depression, and can help with recovery from opioid addiction.
While in the U.S. Senate, Kennedy began using a therapeutic rocking chair, which he found relieved tension in his lower back as it kept his muscles contracting and relaxing. Kennedy became a believer in the Kennedy Rocker, and in 1960, he took his rocker to the White House.
While at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C., President Kennedy treated his chronic pain with a regime of physical medicine, including swimming, weightlifting, and massage therapy, among others.
If you or a loved one is managing chronic pain, consider how President John F. Kennedy managed his pain. It can be done successfully and effectively with physical medicine.
James E. Patterson is a Washington, D.C.-based writer and speaker.