Thoughts on Pain ( I needed to put this somewhere )

This has been on my mind and heart for some time , especially in these current circumstances with constant stress, fear and fatigue in our world. I shared this in jest (sort of ) a while back but seriously  the added confusion has certainly upped the ante 

"Pain is a human experience. It can be uncomfortable, with the potential to be horrible. The commonly accepted definition of pain from the International Association for the Study of Pain, states that pain is “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, associated with actual or potential tissue damage…” Since pain is an individual’s experience, we should start any discussion of acute versus chronic pain with the understanding that defining and describing pain in an adequate manner is very difficult."

"Orionhealth -Acute versus Chronic Pain: 

Acute pain is of sudden onset and is usually the result of a clearly defined cause such as an injury. Acute pain resolves with the healing of its underlying cause. Chronic pain persists for weeks or months and is usually associated with an underlying condition, such as arthritis.

Medicinenet.com"

So what is this all about? I have had some conversations about chronic pain, and the judgement, derision and lack of empathy around chronic pain conditions.

Are the people that judge bad people?? Absolutely not, but it still feels bad.

So this is my effort to educate from the standpoint of someone who lives with chronic pain, and has for many years.

The hardest thing to manage with pain for me has not been the pain itself, it has been the fear, fear of judgement, of disbelief, of being told I was hysterical or that it was all in my head. Also the fear and grief associated with loss of ability and mobility.

Fear can motivate or paralyze, and fear can make pain worse.

How? Well when we feel safe, heard and understood when reporting our pain to physician and or family we are calmer and less on alert, when we are heard and feel supported.

However, when a doctor brushes off symptoms and states or acts like we are over reporting or worse “drug seeking” fear, lack and a feeling of being unsafe rises up.

Similarly with friends, family and coworkers. An example of this is in my circle I was once told after I explained my absence from a family work session (I had been having a bone scan) “Oh there is something wrong with you??  I thought it was just laziness”

Talk about a gut punch!!!

So already in pain, searching for answers and feeling very vulnerable I hear that someone I trusted thinks I am a faker.

That may or may not have been what they meant, but it most assuredly what I heard.

 So how do we help others in pain?

We listen, we ask straightforward questions and we believe the individual, because there is no place for judgement, and you have no way of knowing how one person’s experience of pain manifests for them. Pain and our response to it is very individual and how each of us experience it comes from a myriad of variables, from trauma, fear, past experiences with this and other pain symptoms and of course how heard and safe we feel.

How do we help ourselves?  

That is a big question, finding balance, honestly reporting symptoms and listening for the answers as well. Doing the research so that we are able to ask reasonable questions.

Write it down , when we go to the doctor instead of allowing fear and confusion to rule, make a list of questions and concerns and take it with you.

How am I helping me? Check back to the Keeping the water cool , and others. I am not perfect or completely pain free, but I am managing well on my current protocol of supplements, essential oils and traditional supports with my specialists.

A lot here about pain for a horse blog, but I felt called to share it , and I believe my horse pals, understand this better than most .

Be well friends and stay safe! 

And keep watching, we are late this year, but Reina is percolating a little hostage for  us here at Fern  Valley, she is due any day!  A couple pics of her past releases