Back to work to stop the pain | The Miracle of Pain

Another Blog Article by David E. Smalley, M.D.

This article is on a principle of pain relief that is covered much more in depth in the book, The Miracle of Pain. The content is educational and should not be used as medical advice.

The original photos below emphasize the wonders of nature around us, which reflect the miracles within us.

April 30, 2020 — Back to Work to Stop the Pain

Many elected American politicians, and some officials we have not elected, have created ongoing lockdowns that are not effective for the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by the Wuhan coronavirus. State governors and county health officers have invented measures that “keep us safe,” but are giving us a major case of chronic pain in the process, which includes financial, physical and emotional pain.

They should let businesses open now as they see fit. Businesses can figure it out. Businesses must be careful, otherwise people will not come. To stay viable, they must keep themselves, their employees and their customers healthy and happy. This virus is more virulent than influenza (flu), but taking away freedoms that are guaranteed in the U. S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights is no small matter and usually unconstitutional. Some politicians and officials are doing so gleefully. Others are doing so sternly. Others lack common sense.

We should be allowed to go back to work now, as we see fit, in view of the results of random antibody testing from Stanford and USC, which shows a recently revealed death rate of well less than 0.3%. We can return to work responsibly. At this point, keeping businesses closed is causing more harm than good. If we stop “social distancing,” or forget to wear a mask, there are always natural consequences. A customer may leave, or an employee may be fired for not being responsible when they have been told to wear a mask.

Keeping selected businesses closed and others open is not justified by the current facts of the virus. Businesses can adapt. Those with large gatherings are not going to get people to come back very soon anyway. Facts about the virus are helpful if used wisely. With those facts, businesses will take care of their customers and employees, or they will lose their business anyway. Each business or industry is much more capable to figure it out than a state governor or a county health officer.

On April 20, 2020, Riverside County in California let golf courses reopen with 6 pages of orders. Two of the 6 pages were common sense suggestions for golfing safely from the National Golf Course Owners Association. Golf course owners could have used those 2 pages previously without the county getting in the middle. The county’s other 4 pages are burdensome and unnecessary.

On April 24th, the Riverside County Public Health Officer issued another 24 pages of questions and answers. The answers are okay, but the directions from the state governor and county officer for “essential activities” are overly complex and oppressive. Maybe the county’s $1,000 fine is a source of revenue for a county strapped for cash. It is excessive, and it is a way of saying, “We have the power to make you behave.”

Sometimes when frustrated, I wished I had that power over my patients when I was in medical practice. Would all my patients follow my advice? Fortunately, after teaching them with patience, repetition and encouragement, 9 out of 10 did. But there was always someone who did not believe me or just wanted to do their own thing. I could not force them to behave and get better. I just had to teach them the consequences, and let it go.

In a free country, we are free to choose good or bad things, as long as we are not harming others, depriving them of their rights or creating panic. There are always natural consequences from our choices. Many news sources and some officials these days are guilty of the last one, creating panic. With the ongoing lockdowns, they may be guilty or complicit for the other two as well, harming others and depriving them of their rights.

Real harm is occurring in many businesses, including most medical offices. Even though those offices are open and are termed “essential,” they cannot function as they should be able to. Many essential, elective surgeries, procedures and diagnoses are being delayed. Cancer screenings and treatment for many serious illnesses and injuries are not done. Because of fear, many people are delaying going to the doctor or hospital. Many medical office and hospital employees are unemployed.

In the United States, we are likely overestimating COVID-19 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages a diagnosis of “probable” COVID-19. There is also a financial incentive since hospital reimbursement from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for pneumonia is about $4,500, and reimbursement for COVID-19 pneumonia is about $13,000. On the other hand, China has grossly underestimated COVID-19 cases and deaths by authoritarian decrees. The numbers of cases and deaths in many countries are like comparing apples and oranges.

We should always elect honest politicians to represent us. We should also always obey the law. We are a law abiding people and nation. However, enough of flattening the curve! We have done that, and the saying is worn out. Now, let us go back to work!

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