I don't know. I have heard something like that, but I don't completely understand it. I think if you had a surgery to try and stop it, then it would help.

I have heard of the same thing... Will you also post this here... Pain is a nerve condition and we have started a neuropathy group... I would love for you to post the same thing, I'm sure you'll get a LOT of feedback there. It's a very warm and welcoming group.

http://dailystrength.org/groups/neuropathy

:)

I have heard of such a thing with people who have had lost arms and legs, not with pain. I don't know why it could not be the same for pain. Good luck.

I had a consultation with an eminent pain specialist (he is a professor). He told me my pain condition, which is neuropathic pain (nerve damage), cannot be treated for several reasons. One of those reasons was because I have had it for so long (7 years) that even if the nerve could be repaired (which it probably can't) that the pain would most likely not stop because the pain receptors have been switched on for so long that they would continue to send the pain message, therefore the I would still feel the pain. My understanding is that this pain receptor problem only applies to nerve pain, not muscular pain or bone or joint pain (however I could be wrong in that part of it)

Yes that's right, it's like when an amputee still feels pain in a missing limb, it's because of brain memory.

i dont know if my pain is nerve related, i have endo, but also they may have damaged nerves doing hyst surgery?

Pain travels through pain signals along nerves that go from the body up through the spinal cord and up to the area of the brain that is responsible for the perception and experience of pain. With any prolonged experience, the brain is strengthened/ further develops. For example, if you play chess all the time, the areas of the brain that are responsible for playing chess will strengthen. So it is for pain. We who live in chronic pain are constantly/ frequently experiencing pain.... and thus the areas of the brain that are responsible for the perception/ experience of pain are constantly turned "on"- meaning that the brain connection to pain is continuously strengthened. So, yes- even if the original root of the problem is corrected (i.e. through surgery), it's possible to still continue to feel pain (as the brain area responsible for pain is still turned "on"). There is also the concept of "central sensitizatin"- i.e. the nerves in the spinal cord may grow/ become increasingly sensitive to pain that is experienecd over and over. However, if your Dr recommends surgery, don't let this stop you- it's also possible that if there is something that can be "fixed" in your body, then that may help you to move better or to function better. As well, even if you brain continues to experience pain, perhaps over time if your body is sending less pain signals up to your brain (i.e. if the surgery "fixes" something that was wrong) that overtime your pain could diminish somewhat. I think your daughter's idea of counselling/ cognitive therapy is something to explore... many people have found some success in this.

Blue is dead on.

There are two concepts to be explored in this theory.



Pain sensitization is the body developing an overt response to noxious stimuli. In simpler terms, because you're in pain, your body just goes haywire. Things that have nothing to do with the injury or disease will hurt. Things like brushing your hair will hurt. The medical term for this condition is called allodynia. Pain sensitization can be healed once the original injury repairs, once the precipitating factor goes away.


Pain centralization is basically pain burning itself into your body. If your central nervous system was a CD or DVD and pain was the CD-or-DVD-burner....you just can't rewrite the disc. You've heard of phantom limb pain? That is this phenomenon. This concept is why it is so important to treat pain right from the start and to not let it get out of control, to not save up pain meds until things are absolutely at their worst.


The above is why you should get treated. Not a reason not to. And keep in mind that the both of these are still currently in the theory stage. (It is hard to have people in pain enroll in a study where they might get a sugar pill instead of proper treatment, especially where the theory is that if you let pain sit you're locking the patient into pain for life). But - this isn't something that is proven to happen to everyone with long-term pain (as of yet).

Counseling and cognitive therapy can help you deal with coping with the pain, and can help you learn to deal with stress and relax your body in such a way as to not provoke further pain. They can help you live a fulfilling life even though you have chronic pain.

Take care,
Laura

I think couseling would be great for chronic pain, all the talking can help you get rid of some stress that makes the pain worse. It won't stop the pain, just help you to cope with it better.

I think couseling would be great for chronic pain, all the talking can help you get rid of some stress that makes the pain worse. It won't stop the pain, just help you to cope with it better.

actually it is more that your nerves keep firing and sending signals to your brain that you are still in pain. i did an article on it a few months a go its called PKG or protein kinsane G its the the hormone your nerves give off that relay to your pain receptors that you are in pain. they get stuck in the on position and keep producing the hormone. .... they are working on a prescription medication to help the ones that are stuck on to go back to normal. they have a pill but it is still in trials they are finding that it is turning all of your nerves off and keeping them off(which wouldnt be a bad thing for us) so they dont produce the hormone rendering a person completely numb.(again not a bad thing) but if they get injured they dont realize it. so they are still working on the medication. they are predicting they will have it on the pharmacy shelves in early 2010 so maybe only another 2 years until complete relief. cross your fingers

Thats what I always say that CP patients need a counselor along with regular doctor visits. Good Luck and God Bless