According to WebMD, tens of millions of Americans suffer from it, it can last weeks, months, or even years. It can occur after an injury or illness or when none of those are present. You could have a control over it or you could be bedridden or anywhere in between. It can tamper with your emotions, your personal life, employment, social interactions, physical activities and cause severe depression. I'm talking about chronic pain and the way your peers dismiss it.
According to Scott M. Fishman, M.D., president of the American Pain Foundation, as little as twenty years ago, many pain sufferers were often told that the pain was "all in their "head" or they were hypochondriacs. More recently, medical researchers have found that chronic pain is a disease in its own right. Sometimes, patients are still being treated as if they are exaggerating the pain and will not taken seriously by their own friends. Everyone experiences pain in some shape or form but for chronic pain sufferers, it's a way of life. A sometimes fruitless, endless search of relentless agony.
According to Scott M. Fishman, M.D., president of the American Pain Foundation, as little as twenty years ago, many pain sufferers were often told that the pain was "all in their "head" or they were hypochondriacs. More recently, medical researchers have found that chronic pain is a disease in its own right. Sometimes, patients are still being treated as if they are exaggerating the pain and will not taken seriously by their own friends. Everyone experiences pain in some shape or form but for chronic pain sufferers, it's a way of life. A sometimes fruitless, endless search of relentless agony.
Why do I care so much about this topic? It's become a personal vendetta of mine, a pursuit to defend all who suffer. You may call me Captain Chronic. I've been living with chronic pain for years now...news to some of you, I'm sure. I had a car accident over ten years ago and have been feeling the effects for at least eight. It started as a stubborn pain in my upper back, the trapezius and then got progressively worse. I got so sick of being questioned, have you seen a doctor of chiropractor? Of course, but did my interrogators even suspect that I've tried getting to the bottom of this? What seemed the answer was some kind of drug: an anti-inflammatory for the headaches and inflamed tissue;a muscle relaxant; pills for the depression; pills for the IBS; pills for the acid reflux (a result from taking the NSAIDs) etc. I figured out after having internal bleeding that I'm allergic to some anti-inflammatories and am even sleepier when taking the anti-depressants and muscle relaxants that simply make you a zombie. Exercise is futile- first, you need to have some energy to perform it (not often is there any with a sufferer) then the exhaustion that follows when you do it and finally, the pain where it all stems is aggravated. See how it's cyclical?
Energy is definitely a factor to doing anything, even the smallest of chores but motivation is also another. Motivation is a mind-set which involves the willingness and desire to achieve your goals. Uh, huh. Does not exist when you have depression. Depression will suck that right out of you. You tend to feel like you are in a constant brain fog where memory, concentration and decision-making are hard to find. There's a serious loss of interest in activities you once found fun and important, like a job or a hobby. There's definitely a marked increase in agitation and thoughts of uselessness or hopelessness, no self worth and guilt. However, there's a social stigma that accompanies depression as well and that is another topic I'm sure I will delve into at a later time.
I've experienced great aggravation from trying to defend myself to pessimists. Numerous times I've heard "I would like to hear that you feel good for once," and I couldn't agree more. That type of response takes validity and acceptance away from me and puts me in the defensive mode. Aside from the quick answers to remedy my situation, take a pill; go see a doctor; suck it up; do some exercise; have positive thoughts; pray, etc. people who have not experienced chronic pain for themselves are quick to judge and are in my opinion without compassion and ignorant. If they did care so much as an iota for you, do some research on the net and you'll find tons of listings for some kind of pain because it is real and it's tangible.
Luckily for me, I have a passion to write to share my views, shortcomings and triumphs over everyday hurdles. As a Piscean, I dream and when I do I'm not in pain, I've accomplished much , inspired others and am happy. Blogging is effortless, no need for physicality, I can wear my pj's doing it, it's easy to come back to it later and I can make a living at it. I wish to make that dream a reality but first I need my loved ones on my side, helping rather than questioning. Charity really does start at home.
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