Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain

Hello @elmay. I'd like to invite @franknstein, @medic7054, and @dawn_giacabazi who discussed going through a pain rehab or cognitive therapy for pain course. You can read some of their experiences in the Chronic Pain > Pain rehabilitation > https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pain-rehabilitation-21da8b/ discussion.

@elmay, you listed a lot of different things that you continue to be active in despite your pain and limitations. Do things like yoga, biking and walking help or make things worse for you?

Thanks for your reply. Biking does not seem to hurt me . I cannot ride an individual bike any longer due to very poor balance. My husband and I have been riding a tandem bike for over 25 years. That still works for me and is a source of pleasure in warm weather. Yoga is a mixed bag. I think that sometimes I try to hard and actually hurt myself. Knowing my limits seems to be hard for me. Swimming (I used to coach it) used to be my best exercise, but the university pool closed for good and the high school pool is just too cold for someone with fibromyalgia. Walking is great when it is safe Lasy winter I fell 6 times, once resulting in a hip and back injury and another time a concussion. If I walk with my husband it is usually safe. Thanks for referring me to some information. I appreciate it.

I have had fibromyalgia for about 40 years. This disease has far too often been in charge of my life rather than me being in the driver’s seat. Now, at 75, I’ve found some help.

My doctor has been great about helping me to search for relief. It was his suggestion that I try cognitive behavioral therapy. It is not a magic wand or silver bullet, but it is really helping me to cope with the pain.

I have ups and downs, and sometimes I forget to practice my skills, but I am so much happier with my life now that fibromyalgia is not ruling me. Have other fibromyalgia patients had similar experience?
EO

Hello @elmay. You may notice I moved your new discussion on CBT and fibromyalgia and combined it with your discussion from the past on Behavioral Cognitive Therapy and Chronic Pain - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-forchronic-pain/. I did this so the members you connected with then could see your update and the good news that it has really helped with your fibromyalgia.

I'd like to invite back @dawn_giacabazi, @rwinney, and @jenatsky who have all also talked about cognitive behavioral therapy working for them as well.

@elmay, what would you say has been the biggest turnaround since you have started the therapy?

There have been a few big things that have helped me. The fist one is acknowledgement of the pain, both by others and myself. Then came talking to myself (a lot!). I needed to continually remind myself that I had had this pain or worse many times before and had lived through it. I reminded myself of something I had learned from a former sixth grade student. Whenever something was really hard, she would quietly whisper, “I can do this.” She did not let the difficulty overpower her. She’s my hero.

Of course there are many other aspects to CBT, but self talk has been a key for me.
There is a long list of strategies for dealing with pain. I am trying to practice as many of them as there are that fit me. Elmay

Mindfulness training did it for me. I skipped CBT as my wife is a psychotherapist with whom I chat continuously. It cannot hurt and we learn about ourselves too.

Great advice. It helps me.

Another vote for mindfulness! I have learned it over and over through the years - it got me through challenging kids, repeated rounds of eldercare, a stressful career, and both acute and chronic pain We are teaching it to my 7 yo grandson, so he can recognize when he is approaching sensory overload and take control before a meltdown.
I use it now for managing chronic pain from a hyper-reactive inflammatory system - truly works better than painkillers!
Sue

When I had attack of panic anxiety that made me jump out of bed cuz my breathing got stuck, and started again as some phlegm cam out to clear my windpipe, my emergency physician told me what u r telling me looks like anxiety attack, I said, 'Me anxiety? I'm retired, no worries.' My physician then suggested CBT, to which I said, 'I know what it is; can do myself.' Was told it's not the same. I said, will try myself first. I came to realize that I was devastated that my five fulltime years of research and writing and getting edited still means 'No One Wants to see Your Work! And YOU have to accept it.'
I accepted it slowly realizing some 'masters have produced work which nobody liked when they were alive. So, gudlukkn! You Will too have to accept in life such things happen.
But all is not lost. I still use the insights and data and the conclusions I reached to help me steer my views about the world and life. CBT, aka clear thinking is what WE are inclined to if we let our curiosity stay unchained.