re: the DXM stuff, it makes me think about how chronic illness treatment needs to be more systematized than it is, like there should be a wider Theory of Treatment that doctors know about and agree to. it should be something like:
minimize the ongoing damage to the patient's lifestyle, job prospects and physical body (stop things from getting worse immediately)
attempt to reverse or treat the damage that has already been done (DXM is in this category! it appears to reverse the hyperalgesia feedback loop. ketamine also, ditto mexidol although not pain-specific for mexidol)
anticipate the usual course of the disease and its injuries and apply theory to prevent new symptoms or the worsening of symptoms (ie, hypermobile children should be expected to develop [and warned about] paradoxical tension in stabilizer muscles, bad posture, and dental problems)
give the patient the best possible basis for strengthening over time (nutritionally, physical therapy, support tools and garments, etc)
and yet not one single doctor who has ever treated me for anything has said anything about this
