Chronic Pain

[marcmagus]

Sitting here feeling tired and generally unpleasant and unfocused and not really realizing why, I felt a twinge in my wrist and an epiphany. Chronic pain doesn't just manifest as pain in the affected area, does it? In fact, you can experience those "secondary symptoms" while not consciously experiencing the primary sensation of pain? I think this may explain much which was unclear to me in the past...

Comments welcome.

Comments

[velvetmouse]

Bingo.

Sorry, I didn't realize that wasn't something you knew on a conscious level, or I would have tried to explain it. :(

For me, one of the hardest things about chronic pain is that I *don't notice it*. My pain tolerance is so out of whack that I quite simply don't notice the pain a lot of the time - but that doesn't mean it's not there, nor that my body isn't expending energy coping with it. I have to remind myself (or get other people to remind me) that yes, your body really is expending a lot of energy coping and letting you function. Just because you're not screaming in pain doesn't mean it's not there.

I notice it most when it's *not* there, like after an acupuncture session, and suddenly I have so much more energy at 9pm than I "normally" do.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

Very true.

In fact, chronic pain can cause sleep disorders that can become primary disorders of their own.

It's an ucky, ucky issue.

*hug* Didn't realize your wrists were that bad. :(

[marcmagus]

How could you have, if I didn't? ;)

[velvetmouse]

because we're supposed to be psychic and omniscient and it's obviously our fault when we're not. Duh.

;)

[marcmagus]

Mind-reading would clearly be insufficient, and I see no reason to suppose that empathy would give you awareness of signals which are being routed to /dev/null before they manifest as a sensation of pain. For all of your impressive qualities, I don't think I've ever accused either of you of omniscience...

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

*gigglefit*

BUT We're SUPPOSED to be, duh. I mean, aren't all women supposed to be Super-insert-feminine-noun-of-choice?

/sarcasm

(And yes, I purposefully didn't use my Supergirl icon, just to be extra-super-snarkeriffic, because I am in a silly mood today.)

*HUG*

Regardless, I am VERY sorry that you're experiencing that, 'cuz I grok. Seriously. :( Massive amounts of empathy.

[soulchanger.livejournal.com]

"I shouldn't have to tell you. You should just know."

Ever heard that one? :)

[wylddelirium.livejournal.com]

Or course it is. Your body is pumping out all kind of chemicals that aren't supposed to be used in that sort of level, and it makes your body feel wrought and tired and off.

I find gentle warm foods, patience, and advil help. Also, treating where you know your pain originates from, even if that's not actively hurting right then, helps too.

[marcmagus]

Yeah...if only tendonitis had treatments other than "stop doing the thing that's hurting your tendons"...

[jhadania.livejournal.com]

and anti-inflammatories... Aleve, motrin, aspirin, or prescription strength.

*hugs*

[muppetk.livejournal.com]

It does. I treat that stuff. Get thee to a local acupuncturist. (if you've got any reason to be in the city, you can call me, but someone local wouldbe more useful.) But laying off the hurty stuff for a week or three while being treated is a good idea too.

But as to the main post, hell yeah. Pain, even if you're not paying attention to it is being reacted to in your body. The rest of your body will be tense both because a) muscles tense in respond to pain, and b) pain triggers fight or flight reaction, meaning you've extra adrenaline being pumped through your system making you edgy at all times, and probably not sleeping as well, which makes you more edgy & in more pain.

Chronic pain can easily lead to (or exacerbate) depression. IT just gets frustrating to HURT and have seemingly unreasonable limits on your actions day after day after day. It's a reason that people in chronic pain are often referred to therapy.