Hi Deanna....
Do you think that someone who has not experienced a lot of pain
in their life and then has a sudden onset of RA and FM would
think that the pain is worse than it is? I know that I have had a
lot of surgery, etc. and that has given me a high tolerance to
pain. This is just a theory on my part and I could very well be
way off base. But, it is food for thought. What do others
think of this?
Now and Then.... You might just be on to something. It's so hard
to understand levels of pain for others. I know that pain is
different for everyone, but understand that the pain we feel is real to
us, individually.
Don't know if Dr. Phil (Deanna) may be able to explain either. Deanna??
I have had broken bones, three surgeries and bit by a black widow. RA pain has been the worse pain I have ever experience. I always wonder how others are experiencing this pain also.
I love Deanna being our Dr. Phil
My best friend and I both have a knee that has no cartledge left and we both have bone on bone. We react entirely different to the knee pain even though we have the same amount of wear and tear and our xrays are almost identical.
I can function well with taking 1 pain pill that relieves the edge of the pain. I can work through the rest of the pain as long as the edge is gone. Others have to dull the pain entirely. There are times when I want to entirely stop the pain but I know I'll damage myself further. This is why physicians use a scale of 1-10. Your 5 is a different level from another's 5 but your scale gives the Dr. something to work on with your numbers. There are certain things I can do that promotes the endorphins to start working and that helps control my pain as long as I'm doing that particular thing, such as art work, shopping, or a very good book. Sometimes I just log onto the computer and look at the great art works and I forget about my pain.
I've found what works for me but there have been times in the past when nothing worked. I would lie down with a blanket wrapped tightly around me with music playing. We all do what helps us. If you haven't gotten to that point with your pain you will eventually find what will make you feel better be it endorphins, pain pills, or the blankie.
I think everyone's tolerance for pain varies - it depends on where the pain is, where you are, both physically and emotionally, how long it lasts, how tired you are, etc. (Of course I've always joked that testosterone makes any pain 10 times worse!)Dr Phil...oooh... he annoys me. I hope I don't annoy all of you. But very funny, Now and Then.
Pain. Linda did a very good description of how doctors and hospitals are rating pain. I would agree also it differs from person to person. The problem with FM is that "they say" that it makes you more sensitive to pain. So, it doesn't hurt as much as you say it hurts in "their profession opinion." To me, that is a cop out on their part especially when they don't seem to have come up with a good treatment plan for it. And, it doesn't explain why they prescribe opiates for FM.
I also see my Fibro and RA as different types of pain. RA seems to make me sick all over with my joints swelling. Fibro seems to hit my muscles and is more achy. But that's the way I see it. My joint paint is definitely different from either of them. In my knees, it is not so bad, but is supposed to be bone on bone. But then, I wear knee braces all the time. Bracing certainly helps with pain. However, you cannot brace hips or shoulders. But using a cane helps relieve my hip pain. The pain in my shoulder and my neck are extremely sharp and penetrating. Those go right up to a 10 point on the scale for me.
The flare pain can bring me up to a ten as well. That's also when I'll have to go the bed and just wait it out.
I also had 8 surgeries and very painful conditions long before RA. But I wouldn't rate my pain tolerance as high. The pain is so different. I think that's one of the struggles that I personally have with all this. One day, my pain levels are like background noise. Other days, it is intolerable--just give anything to stop it. Plus, it moves from joint-to-joint, muscle to muscle, tendon to tendon. So, I never feel like I get it under control. A good day seduces me into thinking I am getting better, the medicines are working.
But the next day, no way.
This is just my take on the whole pain thing....I think that there are several factors that come into play when you are dealing with the way the same pain (causes) effect different people (reactions). One is the persons understanding of the cause of the pain and its physiological effect on them. For example, for someone who knows nothing about the body during childbirth the pain can be scarey and cause an extreme response. For someone who is well read and understanding of just what is happening, the pain is stilll intense, but the response is calmer...less paniced. Another thing is the persons conscious or sub-conscious emotional feelings towords their own reaction to pain....some people whether they are really aware or not....have deep feelings about giving in to pain....so for some crying out and rolling in the bed is okay while for others it just is an unacceptable way to behave...no matter what the pain level is. And finally, I think that each persons expectations of pain releif is different...some are not willing to accept something that only takes the edge off, while others are. I dont think that these are things that are within everyones control. Each person is different and I dont think that this applies in every situation. It has just been by experience in working with patients and dealing with my own pain that fear, openess, and expectations of total relief cause a more intense reaction to pain...in many cases. I do believe that even those who know what is happening, are trying to be strong, and who are only looking for a little relief still have times when none of that comes....but it is in the most extreme cases. That is just my opinion...I really find this thread interesting. I am always wondering "where my pain is at" If I am being a wuss" what could I do differently. I really enjoy reading all of your opinions. Anyone else?Crunchy, what you say makes a lot of sense about what makes us susceptible to pain overtaking us, or being more on top of it mentally.
I think there's also a lot of impact from prior experience and from our underlying psychological responses to the pain situation.
I haven't had a baby, but I wonder if the births that come after the first one are sometimes easier to handle because you know what to expect and that you survived the first time.
I think a couple of other severe pain situations have helped me prepare for RA pain. My RA pain hasn't reached what I call severe yet--in other words, I've had worse. My RA pain is constant and some days enough to stop me completely in my tracks and wish for narcotics, lots of alcohol, anything to deaden it further. But that's not every day, and I also know I've had worse and survived it, and that helps.
What doesn't help is that I know this is a forever thing, and that fast or slow it has to get worse. Always before I've known that I WOULD get better, the pain would be gone, I just had to hold on. With RA we know the pain of the moment (probably, hopefully) will get better eventually, but the pain itself is always with us.
Also, the long-term experience of pain wears us down. A week or two of really bad pain is one thing. Many long months of severe pain really wears down our minds and bodies, and of course we feel pain in both and cope with pain in both.
I think it's these two aspects, plus the big aspect of loss of major functionality, that makes RA pain different from a lot of other kinds of pain. Because of them, I sometimes feel like Roxy said more like a "wuss" with RA pain than with the worse pains I've had before. It's why I keep telling myself this is my big mind game to play, and it's the mind game I have to win if I'm going to keep creating my life and not give in to that awful RA chant that goes on between our ears to just give up, give up, give up, it's just too hard.
Oh, and IMHO, there are no wusses on this board. Especially those of you who are having the worst times right now. I know you guys aren't here to be heros and martyrs, but wow you are humbling and inspiring in your strength and perseverance. Because, on some level, all the rest of us know something about what it is taking you to keep showing up and doing this, to continue doing everything you can, keep searching for more you can do, and help others along the way. If you guys are wusses, I don't want to hear what you'd call the rest of us!
I had two babies both c sections. The first one I was totally unprepared for and it was horrible. I went through labor for 15 hours then had a c-secton. My body was worned out and I was emotionally exhausted . It took me the about 6 weeks to feel normal.The second time I had a c-section it was planned. I didn't go through labor. I was mopping the kitchen floor on my hands and knees a week after my son was born. I felt great!
I think if you are prepared emotionally and spiritually, you can handle just about anything. When I was first diagnosed in Sept 05 with RA, I was totally thrown off balance. My pain seemed much more severe then it is now. I don't know if it is because I got used to the pain and built up a tolerance or what. I still have days when the pain is unbearable but I feel much more equipped to deal with it now then before. Great topic!!
I gave birth 5 times with no drugs. It was just as hard with the 5th as it was with the first. The way I feel now is I would NEVER EVER do it again!!!
This pain I have with RA is constant. I think with childbirth, we know it will be over soon but with this pain now, sometimes it seems that it will never stop. I'm hoping and praying I will find something that works for me.
Hi new to the post my name is Julie. I say let the Docters deal with
our pain for about a month or 2 and then tell us our pain isn't so bad.What do you guys think.Sorry for the smartmouth just having a bad day.Hope yours is better and God Bless
Has anyone else used lyrica for pain? I had constant pain that really got to the point that I was wiped out. The combination of provigil and lyrica has really worked for me.I think that how our pain affects us lies in how we let it affect us mentally and spiritually. My pain can be horrible and I do use pain meds but I am mentally and spiritually healthy and work hard on those areas since they are areas that I DO have control over. I hate the pain and debilitation but don't let it control all of my life as for obvious reasons it does control some of it.
Take care,