There are two pseudo-reasons. One is that long term Vicodin use actually can make a person think that they are in alot more pain than they actually are. It's a side effect of abuse of the drug. This has been mentioned on the show a few times, IIRC. Two is that the Psych med House is on is an SSRI. They are also indicated for treatment of cronic pain. Or, so Wikipedia claims ;)
I have no clue if those factors are enough to have such a large effect, but, there are things to point to.
Okay: I buy the Vicodin's actually causing perceived amplification of House's pain; that makes a certain amount of medical sense and is just the vicious cycle the show would have set up.
As for the SSRI, Wikipedia aside (with absolutely no disrespect, as I refer to it for some things myself), I'm not jumping on that explanation so quickly, not least because we have never seen House take it, or (correct me if I'm mistaken) heard reference to it in dialogue post-Mayfield. If the show is going to tell instead of showing, well... It doesn't make sense to me that damage that extensive can be apparently more or less fixed by antidepressants and talk therapy.
(Actually, I have issues with the entire Mayfield/Nolan thing, but that's a post for another day.)
Also, as far as I can remember, they have never mentioned that effect of SSRIs on the show. Based on people I know who are on anti-depressants, they are not something you take a person off of lightly. Side effects can be bad. But, again, I am not referencing the show here.
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house_wilson_ghc2009-11-17 08:02 am
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I have no clue if those factors are enough to have such a large effect, but, there are things to point to.
no subject
As for the SSRI, Wikipedia aside (with absolutely no disrespect, as I refer to it for some things myself), I'm not jumping on that explanation so quickly, not least because we have never seen House take it, or (correct me if I'm mistaken) heard reference to it in dialogue post-Mayfield. If the show is going to tell instead of showing, well... It doesn't make sense to me that damage that extensive can be apparently more or less fixed by antidepressants and talk therapy.
(Actually, I have issues with the entire Mayfield/Nolan thing, but that's a post for another day.)
no subject