The article highlights the author's personal struggle with chronic pain that was consistently dismissed by healthcare providers. After experiencing intense pain in her forearm, she sought medical advice but faced repeated invalidation of her concerns, which reflects a broader issue in healthcare where the pain of Black patients is often underestimated. Despite her attempts at self-diagnosis and pursuing treatment options, she found little relief. This narrative emphasizes the need for better understanding and acknowledgement of pain in diverse patients and the impact of systemic bias in medical care.
“When I reported the pain to my primary care doctor, he couldn't see anything wrong. Instead of investigating further, he dismissed my concerns as an overreaction.”
“Studies have shown that physicians are more likely to underestimate the pain of Black patients relative to their white counterparts... My pain being dismissed was a regular experience for me as a Black woman.”
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