Nîmes: Doctor Jacques Jaume’s book on pain, “gives us access to our conscience”
Long-time pain doctor and palliative care practitioner, Jacques Jaume, now retired from Nîmes, publishes a book on “Pain”, its genesis, forms, treatments and interpretations.
Pain and its treatment have guided the entire professional life of Dr. Jacques Jaume. He graduated in Sophrology and Algology, participated in the first pain consultations at the University Hospital of Nîmes in the early 90s, and then founded the Gard Palliative Care Association. “with two other people in 1994, at a time when they had not yet entered the hospital”.
Is pain a blessing in disguise?
Pain is positive, it is a signal that something is wrong. A part of our nervous system exists on purpose to create pain, warn us and protect us. But it becomes harmful if it is too violent or becomes chronic. Chronic pain that lasts more than six months becomes a real disease that requires special care. Pain also varies by age. There is, for example, a decline in its perception among the elderly, I saw some who walked on a fracture.
You say pain allows interaction?
With pain, we are in the truth, we need to say it. Everyone says “My head hurts, my stomach hurts…” And the presence of another is part of the healing. It is communication that generates empathy, the need to move towards the other. This created social relations and civilizations. Pain also gives us access to our conscience
Are physical and mental pain always connected?
Pain always has a physical, psychological and moral component. And even spiritually. How many patients say “but what did I do to deserve this?” with the idea of punishment. But the doctor has no answer to that.
You also mention pain management at the end of life
Even if palliative care is what is left to do when there is nothing else to do, dying does not necessarily mean suffering. Death belongs to every individual, neither society nor family, which sometimes has a hard time bearing the agony and would like to shorten it. The power of dying does not belong to the doctor either, he is there to relieve and wash away. In my entire career, I have never had a request for euthanasia. For me, the best lesson in palliative care is Panisse’s death in Marcelo Pagnolo. Everything is there, relatives, doctor, church.
