Posted November 17th, 2024

The Painkiller Trap — why we reward Treatments

“Its cause and effect, misaligned incentives, and unintended consequences.”

Pain is not the problem. It is a sign of the problem.

Today, pain signals are often ignored --- a common symptom that is rid of with a painkiller. While it is often misunderstood, the reaction to pain signal is immediate resolution of the pain, not why the pain exists.

When pain shows up, instead of asking why it’s happening, we just try to make it go away quickly. Painkillers, injections, and even stronger drugs like opioids may bring short-term relief, but they don’t fix the real issue. And over time, the real problem gets worse—and harder to treat.

Many professionals who treat low back pain rely on their training and experience to offer immediate relief—usually through painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers, physical therapy, or cortisone injections. But in many cases, the root cause of the pain is still unknown or hard to find early on. Instead of asking why the pain is happening, we often focus on just making it go away.

And so begins the cycle: painkillers, then stronger painkillers, and in some cases, opioids. Each step provides temporary relief—and with it, the illusion that the problem has been solved.

The real cause—like weak muscles, bad posture, or a nerve getting squeezed—is not being fixed. And just like any problem we ignore, it usually gets worse over time.

Indeed, it is just repeating the postponement of a precise diagnosis.

What started as an ache becomes a chronic condition. What started as a remedy becomes a dependency. And the person who once sought relief now finds themselves managing not only low back pain, but addiction, loss of mobility, and a diminished quality of life.

Let me give a name to a modern tragedy, The Painkiller Trap.

Perhaps, more than a tragedy of fate, but a consequence of incentives.

Doctors are under pressure to offer fast relief. Patients expect to leave with a prescription. And the medical system is not set up to reward prevention—it rewards treatments. Even if the treatment is temporary. Even if the treatment avoids the problem altogether.

There is a lesson here—not just about health, but about how society often chooses the convenient lie over the inconvenient truth.

Pain is not the enemy. It is a teacher we should listen to.