Top Two Reasons We Ignore Pain

This week began in a hectic way. A family member needed to be rushed to the emergency room at my local hospital. The entire episode was dramatic and stressful but thankfully not life threatening. The person had begun their symptoms four days prior. They ignored the pain, waiting for it to go away. They were chastised by family members left and right. Being told “how could you wait so long?” The reason: money and inconvenience.

Then I realized how similar I would have reacted and how foolish and stubborn I’ve been in the past to wait out the pain. As yes, most of the time the body heals itself but sometimes it doesn’t. I’m just like the person I was reprimanding and most likely so are you. Let’s face it, being in pain is inconvenient. It throws off our routine and costs us money both in medical intervention and missed time at work.

It’s easy to judge others for what appears reckless but the truth is that we would do the same. I’m lucky to live close to an excellent hospital. I had a trusted resource in which I could rely on because I’ve visited many times before. That hospital had earned my trust. We can blame the healthcare system but ultimately it’s our responsibility to build our healthcare team before things go wrong. Prevention can start by asking around for the best in the industry that you have access to. It won’t prevent complete stubbornness when we’re in pain but the barriers come down significantly.