I am writing in response to Victoria Hugo-Vidal’s Oct. 13 column, “We need more options for treating chronic pain.” I appreciate her addressing this issue. I have had difficulty finding effective options since 2016.

Our current health care model is designed to treat symptoms rather than looking for underlying causes. If blood tests and imaging are considered “normal” there is little offered except pain medication. This comes with its own problems. I finally found a functional practitioner, along with a physical therapist, who helped identify the source of my pain. My pain was due to scar tissue and adhesions from several surgeries. I received some injections and therapy, but my insurance only covered a few sessions. A friend told me about a massage therapist who does abdominal massage and she taught me to do self-massage. An acupuncturist and chiropractor also helped, but all those services were paid for out of pocket.

I still live with some pain every day but, through what I have learned and self-care, it is manageable. I am glad I found ways to handle it without pharmaceuticals. I’m sure lack of insurance coverage deters many people from accessing the services I have found helpful, but I also think physicians need to tell their patients there are some alternatives to pain medications. We as patients also need to advocate for ourselves. With the shortage of physicians and wait time to get a referral we also need to do more self-care.

Joanne Anderson
Gorham