This article is so interesting, and makes so much sense, explaining how chronic pain makes you even more sensitive to pain, noise, emotions, light, sensations. It's called sensitization. For months I have been SO hard on myself, telling myself to quit being such a baby about my pain, but now I see that my/our smaller pains are probably more severe than the same pain in others who don't deal with constant pain.
Oh I agree! The slightest knock on my arms or legs can REALLY hurt and within 2 days I have a beautiful bruise! Sometimes I find a bruise where I have knocked myself with even realising it!!
I think we are very sensitive to medication too, since being diagnosed with fibro I'm now allergic to penicillin and any changes in dosage of my current medication can make me feel quite ill so I try and persuade the doc's to leave my tablets alone!
Lucy xx
Think I am going to ask the doctor who runs the pain clinic in the hospital where I work the rheumy I see Monday often refers people to these clinics is they have multiple problems..{I am never going to get used to saying worked} .
I actually don't think many pain doctors even know about this phenomenon. I found that looking for private doctors who are have studied pain problems on their own have helped me more than "pain specialists", but I know every Dr. is different. I know I have had to teach my doctors a lot of these things, because in medical school, they are taught ONE day about pain and pain meds, and most don't even understand the difference between addiction and dependence, and would deny their own mother pain meds even through cancer for the fear of addiction. The risk is small when in serious pain. So few doctors will deal with chronic pain meds.
Hi Sheila W,
Out of all the medical professionals I've seen I think the only one who spent a good amount of time with me and seemed to really understand was a Consultant Anaesthetist who also specialises in pain management, at least he's had more training and insight into how we feel. He also was able to refer me to his pain management team programme, consisting of himself, a specialist nurse, physiotherapist and psychotherapist, I will be meeting the team every 6 months who will monitor how I'm doing, just waiting now for my first appointment.
Lucy xx
I understand this, I got to the point a few years ago where I could not be touched! Too much acupuncture, chiropractics, massage, pain management injections, too much riding in the car, too much stress getting to all of these places, and I CRASHED and BURNED, over and over.
I have remained very sensitive to anything invasive, and make it clear that there will be no spinal taps, or Mylograms, or anything of the kind. I will no longer allow anyone but my Chiropractor to touch or push on my back or neck! And I just do moist heat and adjustment with him, nothing else.
My body will just not tolerate being handled much, or pushed much, my Rheum even took me out of the pool!
So easy does it everyone!