PA 6
Outline
1. Introduction
a) Hook and qualification- “For over 40 years, an exact solution to
chronic pain has yet to be found, creating a debate over which type
of treatment is most effective”
b) Common Grounds- Patient frustration with ineffectiveness of
treatment methods
c) Fairness- Some feel surgery and heavy medication are ways to
cure pain
d) Thesis:
Even though some patients still lean towards popular treatment
methods such as surgery and heavy medicines in search of a
“quick fix”, psychological methods are the most effective methods
when coping with chronic pain due to the decrease in stress and
pain, and the ability of patients to take an active roll in managing
their own pain.
2. Argumentative Point 1- Psychological techniques help reduce stress and
therefore pain, and enhance patient’s quality of life
a) Topic Sentence- “There have proven to be several patient accounts
where psychological methods have lowered patient stress levels,
thereby reducing the level of over-all pain and improving patient’s
quality of life.”
b) Evidence- Case studies regarding relaxation techniques reducing
stress
c) Implication of evidence to larger purpose- relaxation reduces felt
tension and tightness in body therefore allowing the patient to
avoid pain
d) More evidence- case studies regarding relaxation techniques
improving quality of life
e) Discussion-Psychological techniques and results have lead
patients to rather take the time in learning to manage pain rather
than resort to surgery and medicine where most of the time
patients are left feeling minimum improvement in pain
3. Argumentative Point 2- Psychological techniques allow patients to take an
active roll in managing pain
a) Topic Sentence- “The ability of patients to take an active roll
against chronic pain leads patients to favor psychological methods
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
over surgery and heavy medications, in which control in the latter
treatment is given to doctors and medical care providers.”
Discussion of point- Techniques leading patients to take an active
roll in managing pain
Evidence- case studies on patients who embraced and accepted
pain
Implication for larger purpose- allowed patients to find peace with
pain
More evidence- case studies on positive thinking and embodied
knowledge
Discussion- “attitude controls pain” and “ability to control pain by
knowing bodily tendencies”
4. Counterargument
a) Acknowledge the Counterargument- “Even if its true that surgery
and heavy medications result in “quick fixes”, psychological
methods are a better option because they focus on long term
management of pain.”
b) Valid points- Immediate relief of pain, seeing trustworthy doctors
c) Invalid points- communication flaws, ineffective diagnosis,
inefficiency with follow up
d) Due to ineffectiveness of these treatments, psychological
treatments have become more popular because of positive results
5. Conclusion
a) Take- Aways- Psychological methods are most effective because of
the decrease in stress and pain due to relaxation techniques as
well as allowing the patients to take an active roll in managing
chronic pain through personal choices of the mind.
b) Larger Implications and Direction for Readers- Chronic pain is
something that will not go away and patients have to be able to
find a way to manage their pain. Patients should lean towards
psychological methods that will help in long term coping rather
than short term fixes.
c) Final say- These methods can be used effectively by all
experiencing chronic pain with no outrageous health costs
6. Sources
a) Clarke, Kathryn A., and Ron Iphofen. "Accepting Pain Management or Seeking
Pain Cure: An Exploration of Patients’ Attitudes to Chronic Pain." Pain
Management Nursing 8.2 (2007): 102-110. EBSCOhost. Web. 9 Jun. 2014.
b) Kugelmann, Robert. "Complaining About Chronic Pain." Social Science &
Medicine 49.12 (1999): 1663-1676. EBSCOhost. Web. 9 Jun. 2014
c) Nilsen, Gudrun, and Ingunn Elstad. "Temporal Experiences of Persistent Pain.
Patients' Narratives from Meetings with Health Care Providers."
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being 4.1
(2009): 51-61. EBSCOhost. Web. 9 Jun. 2014.
d) Seers, Kate, and Karin Friedli. "The Patients' Experiences of their Chronic
Non-Malignant Pain." Journal of advanced nursing 24.6 (1996): 1160-1168.
EBSCOhost. Web. 9 Jun. 2014.
e) Wilde, Mary H. "Embodied Knowledge in Chronic Illness and Injury." Nursing
Inquiry 10.3 (2003): 170-176. EBSCOhost. Web. 9 Jun. 2014.
f) Walker, Jan et. al. "In the System: The Lived Experience of Chronic Back Pain
from the Perspectives of Those Seeking Help from Pain
Clinics." Pain 80.3
(1999): 621-628. EBSCOhost. Web. 9 Jun. 2014.