What Pain Teaches Us

@georgescraftjr
Thanks for the compliment 😘😘!!
I took a quick look, Yes i'll order it...certainly looks a great read. You dont reference ( or i didn't see) your own chronic pain. Have you heard of Dr Sarno' s, (now deceased) work and his TMS theories, Dr Shubner and couple others are continuing where Sarno left off.
Also I came across an interesting Podcast by company called Human Garage. They are dedicated to studying Fascia and are stating they believe its Fascia ( myofascia ) that's responsible in some cases for holding stored Trauma in the body, depending on reason for chronic pain. I do believe if we are able to change the brain's Neuroplasticity with regards to some pain, its easier to heal. Sorry this ended up so long. Pls share your story, if you feel comfortable to do so. Many thanks.

My 83-year-old husband George had multiple back procedures and surgeries to alleviate lower back pain and sciatica caused by scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylitis, and spondylosis. Following L-4/L-5 and L-5/S-1 fusion, he is in much worse pain than before surgery, but he is now able walk around the house with a rollator--albeit he is tilted sideways and bent forward. He is also in constant pain (level 4 - 10). Due to his confusion and balance issues (he has Alzheimer, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia and Parkinson's), he is unable to take most opioids because of the danger of falls. After experimenting with patches and other drugs, he now manages his pain by using Buprenorphine buccal films. Even so, he moans, groans and shouts "Help!", especially when pain wakes him up several times during the night. Unfortunately, due to his mental decline, "Mind over Matter" is not an option for him. Whereas, it is for me.

I try not to internalize my husband's suffering, since I have my own dance with pain.

I am 76 years old, and I have dealt with emotional and physical pain my entire life. As a child, I lived in poverty and was severely abused by my father. During my early school years, I overcame racial discrimination by being an exemplary student. As an adult, I worked for 42 years in a profession that was male dominated at the time; and I experienced sexual discrimination early in my career as well as age discrimination towards the end of my career. Running marathons and ultra-marathons taught me to use my mind to control physical pain. (I have rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis, spondylolisthesis and sciatica.) In short, I have learned to enjoy life by refusing to let pain, especially self-inflicted pain, control my life.

@bilt4pain , Can't say I'm with you on that thought. If I woke up pain-free, first I'd slap myself silly to prove I'm awake. Then I'd test, very carefully, one foot down, the other..... Once I'm sure I imagine I'd run, dance, bounce about with the dog, then scream and yell and laugh...Pedrov, that would be my noisy serenity.
Pain is real. It's humiliating to say to others 'I can't stand that long. I can't walk that far. Smiling, laughing, eating,' They all hurt. Sitting too long. Laying in bed for more than an hour. Each pain is a different disorder/disease/whatever you want to call it, but there's always the constant feeling that the others, not in pain, think you're just over-reacting. No. NO. NONONO.
So I finally, after all these years I once again get permission to see a Pain Specialist hoping to get sent to someone else who might offer help, but first I have to prove that I'm drug free by peeing in a cup, the bathroom door ajar lest I swap out mine for another's sample.
I'm faking it. Right.
Oh, if only I could leave this bed for more than a half hour at a time! Instead I lose a cracker, a stylus, an insurance card, a bookmark into the mess of bedcovers.
And I hurt. I just try to seek out a place I can tolerate. Wait unpatiently for my serenity.

@bruizersmom

Yes, pain is real.

People who have a high pain threshold or who are able to mentally manipulate their pain level are not minimizing your pain. We empathize with you, honor your pain, and admire your fortitude and will to live.

George's Wife

@bruizersmom Serenity comes when I least expect it. I feed the birds. In the morning drinking my coffee on the front porch watching the swift little flights from feeder to feeder. But it’s time to get up. When I do, I realize my last 40 minutes were pain free. I just didn’t know it at the time.

@georgescraftjr mentally manipulated pain relief?

@bilt4pain Hi, I am so hear to hear you have CRPS. I have CRPS too. It is a neck injection cause my left 5th finger pain for so many yeas. I am on painkiller every day and can not sleep at night. Once I fell asleep for 1-2 hours, the pain ( 8-9/10) woke me up. I have to get up and stretch or take painkiller again. How do you deal with the pain? Would you like to share the treatment that you have been through? How is your pain level? I am thinking to try Ketamine infusion. It is a horrible decease we have. Hope your pain is under control. Take care!

Pain is a warning sign something broken in body. Some thing can be fixed others cannot. Mine cannot since operation in 2006 and hemipelvectomy right leg side Ilium removed, my vascular system just does not pump blood back with collapsed veins Pain every day since surgery. I take Morphine enough to let me do daily PT, Swim and daily chores. I am constantly monitored for substance abuse so I keep track daily doses needed. I even lowered them so I can think clearly. When swimming laps for hour my body has natural help to eliminate everyday aches and pains and get runners high. Don't be afraid opioids. They work if one follows instructions. Don't overdo them or you will die.

@raymond111deluca , I have excruciating pain that I think is sciatica nerve damage? I have had around 18 to 21 x rays so I know it's not in bones besides a fracture in my foot. It runs from my tail one down my left side of leg all the way to my ankle then it radiates lightning pain like its breathing on my left side! I been to hospital twice no help, im gonna go again tomorrow! Any suggestions on what kind of PCP provider I should seek?

@farmer1978 I had that, and there are many things that could be causal. But in my case, it came from L3 L4, L5, where the main nerve root exits my spine. I have degenerative disc disease, and the vertebrae bones were compressing, the nerve root, and the discs were degenerating. Unfortunately, it took the doctors way too long to get me to an orthopedic surgeon (15 years) where my problem was solved by laminectomy infusion. The nerves were way beyond regenerating perfectly however seven years after the most amazing lumbar surgery, I am still finding ways to regrow the nerves. I had two hip replacements along the way, but it didn’t entirely solve the problem. Radio frequency of glacier, also known as RFA or RFI alleviated a lot of the pain that was referred from my lumbar to my legs and down my legs and to the top of my foot and the bottom of my foot. Also, my left side. If you have scoliosis in your back, which is a curve, it tends to tug on your muscles, which compress your nerves running down one side or the other sometimes both sometimes taking turns. If I were you, I would find a good team of doctors at a medical center. I am at Ucsd now called UC health. It is a teaching hospital and the teaching is innovative, so I get great care. But I have to demand it because the healthcare system is overwhelmed. Good luck.