It is remarkable how painful a small splinter stuck in the corner of a fingernail can feel, especially if you are also in a down mood. Just as amazing is the way, a mother can soothe the headache of her small child with a light kiss on their forehead. How intriguing also are those times when we don’t feel any pain until you become fully conscious of an injury. Such is the mystery of pain.
As the human experience of pain is such a mystery, it is too simplistic to consider even consulting a dictionary for a definition when trying to understand it. According to recent statistics, one in five Australians experiences chronic pain on a regular basis. So, does the universe conspire against that proportion of us? Or does a roll of a dice secure this distressing fate to so many individuals? No…as humans we are merely sentient beings with sensitive nervous systems attached to a brain that has been wired to respond to sensations that alert it to an injury of some sort.
For eight years I have been trying to deal with chronic neuralgic pain in my left jaw as well as arthritic pain. At worst it is excruciating and debilitating affecting my ability to think, eat, talk work and sleep. At best it is a constant ache subdued a little by medication. The hardest part then was … getting help – neither the dentist in question or my GP were much help. Over the counter painkillers were a waste of time and money. In desperation again I admitted myself to Northside Clinic where I finally relaxed a little and was given medication, counselling and support. Then after chasing around many other specialists and alternative therapies, I eventually found my way to the Pain Management Clinic at RNSH. There I found an excellent source of support and assistance.
Pain is not just about physical injury. I clearly remember the day when I clasped the pain in my belly in my local church listening to the music specially chosen for the funeral of a close friend. I listened intently as her husband spoke of her long-term pain and suffering and the final relief her death had brought. I reflected on my own life. Despite a lifetime of all kinds of endings, the end of my marriage was the one of the hardest ones to bear. For years after we separated, I was in pain …emotional pain, and it hurt like crazy.
Current research is revealing that our experience of pain has more to do with our perception of it than the severity of the actual injury. How we react to the pain then adds another dimension to our experience. The psychological trauma involved with any painful event (whether an injury to or body, ego or emotional state of wellbeing) can persist long after the original event, prolonging the pain. Our understanding of perception is still in its infancy. However, it is increasingly becoming apparent that what we perceive through our senses is closely linked to our memories and imagination (encompassing out beliefs, thoughts and emotions). Just as our pain is intensely personal, our perception and measurement of the pain is only ever personal.
I am learning a lot from my personal journey with chronic pain. Some of the main things include:
So, is a day without pain possible? Probably not. It’s just a matter of learning how to live with it and that ain’t always easy.
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