Lots of comments from people who have no experience with chronic pain aghast that doctors would fulfill patient "demands" for painkillers instead of treating th

Lots of comments from people who have no experience with chronic pain aghast that doctors would fulfill patient "demands" for painkillers instead of treating the underlying cause. Pain is self-report, so all a doctor can do is prescribe based on patient demand. Maybe they can't identify an underlying cause, or maybe the treatment (ex: back surgery) is too risky. Spine surgery that might not work and can leave you with say, loss of bladder control? I'd take the pill every time, and if my doctor didn't just hand it over, I'd find another doctor.