10
University Daily Kansan
Campus/Area
Thursday, Nov. 21, 1985
Pain is eased at Med Center
By Stefani Day Of the Kansan staff
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Chronic pain is a complicated problem with no right or wrong answers, the director of a pain clinic at the University of Kansas Medical Center said last week.
The anatomy of pain, where it comes from and how to get rid of it, is much studied but little understood, said Kasumi Arakawa, director of the clinic and an anesthesiologist at the Med Center.
Arakawa said that chronic pain, which he defined as pain that lasted for more than six months, might have multile origins and a variety of associated problems.
"The problem involves not only suffering and pain, but also emotional distress," he said.
Because of the many factors that are involved in chronic pain, he said, health professionals don't agree on the best way to treat it.
"For instance, with pneumonia, the treatment is fairly well set. If the bacteria is sensitive to penicillin, probably the only treatment will be penicillin."
"But physiology pain is so difficult. I don't think we have any idea for easing it."
When Arakawa established the clinic at the Med Center in 1977, it was one of the few in the country. Although there are many pain clinics now, he said, they vary widely, some being headed by anesthesiologists, others by orthopedic surgeons, neurologists or navchiatrists.
When Arakawa first sees a patient, who is usually referred to the clinic by another physician, he spends about an hour evaluating the problem and deciding on treatment.
Sometimes he will decide that the patient also needs to consult with a neurologist, psychologist, orthopedic
surgeon or physical therapist.
Occasionally he will recommend acupuncture,he said, although it usually is a last resort because most insurance companies will not pay for it.
The primary treatment, however, is talk, Arakawa said.
The basic treatment at the clinic consists of an hourlong session once a week for six weeks. Often, Arakawa will give the patient a local anesthetic to temporarily dull the pain.
"As anesthesiologists," he said, "we have a rather gifted skill to cut off pain — even temporarily — very well. That will give them hope.
"I found out that when pain eases, depression eases too."
The initial, although temporary, easing of pain helps put a patient in a more positive mindset, which is part of the battle, he said.
"When we repeat the easement of pain, somehow they do very well," he said. "Even if we're not able to cure the pain completely, if we reduce the pain 50 percent, it's easier for them to cope with."
Another important aspect of treatment is drug guidance. Arakawa said.
Patients go from one physician to another looking for relief of pain, he said, and often they end up with a medicine chest full of drugs.
He said the worst drug that physicians prescribed was Valium.
"The Valium depresses them more. They are depressed already and they get more depressed. Also, it tends to accumulate and when that happens, the patient becomes more sensitive to pain.
"I have a couple of patients I didn't do a thing for but but off those ugly medications."
By Susie Bishop Of the Kansan staff
70 years of changing uses Building's history is varied
The purposes of many campus buildings have changed during their existence, as years and needs also have changed. One building with a long history of change is the former Oread Training High School, now home of the office of University Relations, situated next to Hilltop Child Development Center.
From 1915 to 1950, students in the School of Education remained in the high school setting. They attended school at Oread Training High School, which opened its doors in 1915 to give professional training to prospective high school teachers and administrators.
Students in Education taught one hour a day for a semester to obtain teaching practice.
Oread High, which changed to University High School in 1941, offered high school students the same curriculum and training as the public high schools did. But the high school students' teachers were students too.
Loda Newcomb, retired professor of business, taught岸hardn and typing at University High School in 1942. She also supervised the student-teachers and taught KU business courses.
Newcomb said yesterday that the high school students used many of the on-campus facilities, including University classrooms.
Gerald Pearson, retired faculty member in continuing education, said he filled in as a part-time principal for the school for one year in 1945. That year, the student-teacher staff and 15 supervisors taught 79 students.
He said the school's supervisors were KU faculty members, from the School of Education, and representatives from other University disciplines.
"When the students went to gym class, they used the physical education facilities in old Robinson," Pearson said. "When they wanted to do a play they used the theater in old Fraser."
But in 1950, after 35 years of service, the doors of the four-year high school closed, because the University couldn't afford the extensive additions that the school needed when enrollment increased dramatically after World War II.
Besides the problem of lack of funds, the School of Education began to realize that the concept of the University High School had become more idealistic than realistic.
"It turned out there were two kinds
of students," said Thomas C. Ryther, University Archives volunteer and retired professor of journalism. "Most were kids of faculty members, and a few kids who weren't getting along where they were."
In the successful new program students taught full time for a six week period in Lawrence, Kansas City and Topeka public schools.
The building became the new home of the Faculty Club in 1951. Roy A. Roberts, who then was president of the Kansas City Star and Times, purchased the furnishings and equipment for the new faculty club, where members could gather to relax, or eat. The club was dissolved in 1967.
The old faculty clubhouse remained empty for a short period while it was being decorated for the new occupant, the Kansas University Endowment Association.
The Endowment Association took up residence in the building in 1968.
"It was a nice setup for the Endowment Association, but they quickly outrewed it." Rvther said.
In 1976, the Endowment Association moved to larger quarters in Youngberg Hall on West Campus, its current home.
University Relations moved in when the Endowment Association vacated the building.
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